ness and indifference are sapping the foundations of the visible Church. Sensuality and profaneness stain the Christian name. Pure and undefiled religion is branded as enthusiasm. While the humble follower of Christ, who mourns in secret over his country's crimes, and pleads for God before a sneering world, is made a butt for ridicule, and the sport of scorn.

The heart of man naturally revolts against this faithful exposure of its enormities. Our pride fondly shelters itself under the dignity of human nature. We cannot bear to be told, how wicked we are; how very far gone, even as far as possible, from original righteousness. But the Bible is no flatterer. It is a faithful mirror, in which we may clearly see, (if we have eyes to see) our real state, divested of all paint and covering. This offends our pride; we cannot endure the sight; therefore we turn away with disgust from this Holy Book, and consider it our enemy, because it tells us the truth.

Is not the language of our hearts too much in unison with those of old, who said, to the seers, see not; and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceit? And, are there not too many ministers who apply the flattering unction to the conscience, like those, of whom the Lord thus speaks: "Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying peace, and there was no peace and one built up a wall, and lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar; it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the Lord ?”

K

How awakening is the command of Jehovah to all his ministering servants: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.-Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord cometh, it is nigh at hand."

But, when the alarm is sounded, and when sinners are warned to flee from the wrath to come, they treat both the messenger and his message with contempt. They are like the sons of Lot, of whom it is recorded: "And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons-in-law which married his daughters, and said: up, get you out of this place, for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons-in-law."

now.

As it was in the days of Lot, even so it is When the faithful servant of Christ, with the Bible in his hand, and the love of souls in his heart, lifts up his voice, saying: "Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest; because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction:"-his voice is unheeded;-and with Isaiah he has to mourn-"Lord, who hath believed our report ?—I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people."

Regardless alike of the displeasure of the world, or worldly professors of godliness, St. Paul boldly declared: "God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. He that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption. Now the works of the flesh are mani

fest, which are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

Let us compare these works of the flesh which exclude the soul from heaven, with the already enumerated sins of the Heathen, and the nominally Christian world, and we must tremble for the millions who are living in the constant indulgence of these iniquities, and who are travelling, if grace save them not, to eternal ruin. It may sound uncharitahle to the fastidious ear, but the Word of God cannot be broken: "He that believeth not shall be damned. If ye live after the flesh ye shall die."

How faithful is the pen of inspiration. The very evils which we now lament, prove the truth of that Book, which has foretold those miseries that are coming upon the earth.

But let us not despond. The Lord reigneth, be the earth never so unquiet. He guideth the complicated machine of human events, and can, by his over-ruling power, make all these evils finally to promote the spirituality and enlargement of his Church.

Is any thing too hard for the Lord, whose wisdom is as infinite as his power, and whose love is commensurate with eternity?

Let us then, with fervency pray for the gra

clous outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for that promised season of refreshing from His presence, which, descending in showers of blessings upon our country and the world, will transform the moral desert into the garden of the Lord.

Blessed Jesus! look in merey upon thine inheritance; cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved. Show thy servants thy work, and their children thy glory.

CHAPTER XIII.

ST. PAUL'S PROPHETIC VIEW OF THE SECOND ADHIS CAUTIONS AGAINST UN

VENT OF CHRIST.

BELIEF AND SPIRITUAL PRIDE.

WHILE drawing the features of our fallen race, the inspired Apostle dipped his pencil in the darkest colours. But, when consoling the suffering Church, he, like the ancient prophets, presented to the eye of faith the brightest views of future glory.

Wrapt in mystic vision, he saw the blessedness of heaven, and rejoiced in the hope of glory soon to be revealed. With sacred delight he proclaimed the divine purpose and grace, which are now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. It was this glorious hope, this hope full of immortality, this blessed, this lively hope, yea, this good hope through grace, which supported the persecuted saints, and enabled them to take joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing in themselves, that they had in heaven, a better, and an enduring substance.