he stood at his bedside and solemnly addressed him as above, and immediately departed. It was like a voice from eternity. He was amazed, confounded! He lay a-bed most of the day revolving his condition and forming his plans. He arose, and from that hour acted upon it. The world knows the result. Paley took the hint, though roughly made, and rose like a clear light, and shed a lustre on the age and the literature of his nation, and England boasts no son of greater acuteness, perhaps none of wider influence than he. Let any one with the recollections of his own wasted hours, and with any just views of the value of time, look over this or any other city or land, and he cannot do it but with emotions of unutterable sorrow. In all our cities, towns, and villages; in even our colleges and schools, there is a talent that is now buried, ruined, wasted-that is now, and that is to be in this world and the next, a blighting and a curse; that might adorn the bar, the senate, or the pulpit: that might resist with success the evils of profligacy and infidelity, and that might bear every blessing of science and civilization around the globe. From those lips which now give utterance to horrid blasphemy, the gospel, "in strains as sweet as angels use," might "whisper peace;" and those frames now hastening to the dishonoured grave of the drunkard, might endure the cold of northern climes, or the heat of Arabian deserts, in diffusing the blessings of civilization and Christianity; and those hands that will soon tremble as if palsied by age, under the influence of intoxicating drinks, might make the wilderness and the solitary place glad, and the desert blossom as the rose. All that we would ask to secure the conversion of this whole world to virtue would be merely the talent that is now preparing to be a blighting and a curse. Soon to that mass of expanding youthful intellect the opportunity of preparing for future usefulness will have passed away, and it will be too late to prepare to accomplish anything for the welfare of mankind. I need not pause here to remark on the painful emotions which visit the bosom in the few cases of those who are reformed after a wasted and dissipated youth. Cases of such reformation sometimes occur. A man after the errors and follies of a dissipated early life-after he has wasted the opportunities which he had to obtain an education-after all the abused care and anxiety of a parent to prepare him for future usefulness and happiness, sometimes is aroused to see the error and the folly of his course. What would he not give to be able to retrace that course, and to live over again that abused and wasted life! But it is too late. The die is cast for this lifewhatever may be the case in regard to the life to come. Up, then, up! Lose not another moment! You may still succeed. GOOD MANNERS-THE DIFFERENCE. "WILL you have this seat, sir; I prefer to stand," said a fine little boy, sitting in a pew, when the chapel was crowded, to an old gentleman standing in the aisle. "Thank you, my little man," said the gentleman, smiling very gratefully upon the little fellow, and you shall sit upon my knee, if you please." When the service closed, the gentleman inquired of him his name, and asked him, "Why did you give up your good seat?" "Mother teaches me," said he, "never sit when an older person is standing near me." to Now look at another scene: "Will you let the ladies have your seat, and sit upon the bench yonder," said a gentleman to four boys sitting together in a pew. "I shan't," 66 says one: they may sit on the bench themselves, if they please," said another. Not one of them moved. All the people near turned and looked with surprise and disgust upon them. "They can't be sabbath-scholars," one remarked. "At any rate," another said, they have no bringing-up at home." them all out of the pew. Very soon the sexton came and ordered They were obliged to obey, and out they marched, with their heads hanging down, looking so sheepish and ashamed that nobody pitied them. worthy of imitation,-that of the lad, or Which example, children, is the most of the four obstinate boys? And which honoured their parents most? Cabinet of Things New and Old. SELF-EXAMINATION. BY THE REV. MATTHEW HENRY. CHESTER, Sept., 1700. (Furnished by Sir J. B. Williams.) 2 COR. xiii. 5. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith." BLESSED Paul was famous not only for love to Christ, but also to the precious souls of men-a principle which should act in all of us. The effects of this were: 1. An earnest desire of the salvation of precious souls, Rom. x. 1. This was his heart's desire; for this he (as it were) travailed in birth: he spent his strength, and was ready to spend his blood. 2. This desire was accompanied with a holy fear of the miscarrying of souls. I am jealous over you-afraid of you, Gal. iv. 10. You cannot think what a terror it is to a faithful minister to think of the damnation of any of the souls that he preaches to it is sad to think that we labour in vain; yet if it were only the loss of our labour, it were not so much; but it is the loss of the precious souls that I fear-least I should meet any of you in an unconverted state in the great day. It is in pursuance of this that this great apostle gives the exhortation here, "Examine yourselves." It must be your own work. Ministers cannot do it for you-only help you in it. 1. It supposes a doubt, whether you be in the faith or not. 2. The method for deciding this doubt. Examine: we must not expect revelation; try your ownselves, what principle are you actuated by? You cannot judge by the outside; you must search and examine, prove your ownselves. Doct. All that profess themselves to be Christians ought strictly to examine whether they be Christians indeed. We are all professing Christians by our joining ourselves to religious assemblies; but if we be not Christians indeed, our profession will signify nothing; we must be converted, born again, and be really what we seem to be. It is the soul's deliberate renouncing the world and the flesh, and resigning itself to God as its ruler and portion. You must be delivered into gospel duties as into a mould. He only is the true Christian that is one inwardly. You must try your state, and, if you are real Christians, your title is clear to all the benefits purchased by Christ. Shew, 1, what it is thus to examine ourselves: it is a work that requires time, pains, skill, and care. 1. We must concern ourselves about our spiritual state: this is H the first step. It is too true, but very sad, that it is very possible for men to make a profession, attend on ordinances, and yet have no true concern about their souls. Oh, the amazing stupidity of the most of men ! 2. We must consider with ourselves concerning it. "Commune with your own hearts," Ps. iv. 4. Talk this matter seriously with yourselves, to what end have we our thinking faculties? Men never begin to be religious till they begin to think. If you have some great worldly affair in hand, how do thoughts fill your mind about it. 3. We must suspect the goodness of our spiritual state-indeed some are too suspicious; I am not persuading to that; but a holy, religious fear, which is a means of our preservation—as the disciples," Lord, is it I?" Many have a hope for heaven which they sucked in with their milk, and, such as it is, it serves to keep them from melancholy; but though many are going heavily, yet it is toward heaven, and will end well. 4. Make a strict inquiry, and bring the matter to an issue. Many have some secret misgiving which yet comes to nothing. Examine closely, call a court, command silence; it is not a thing to be done in a hurry. "If ye will inquire, inquire ye," Is. xxi. 12. 5. Make an impartial trial, as thus. You call God Father; but upon what ground? Have you the nature and disposition of a child? Upon what ground do you hope for heaven? The word of God is the touchstone. Let that book be opened; let nothing false be given in for evidence; let conscience speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Are you prepared for glory by a work of grace? Try this impartially, without favour or affection. 6. You must pass an impartial judgment: judge by the acts. The tree is known by its fruits. If it appear upon evidence that thy hopes are false, that the love of the world prevails above the love of God, pronounce thyself unclean. Give not sleep to thine eyes till the matter be mended. Give all diligence about it, 2 Pet. i. 10., and if you can make it sure to yourselves that you are effectually called, you are made for ever; if the Spirit of God has been at work with you, to justify and sanctify you, you shall be eternally saved. Obj. What needs so much ado, such close examination? Ans. Such is the folly of the most of men-to be earnest about trifles, and unconcerned about things of the greatest moment. Some motives to this duty: 1. The matter to be examined is of great concernment: are you in the faith? It is not, am I a scholar? am I in the way to preferment? No; but am I a good Christian? have I a principle of grace in my heart? Man, woman, it is not thy livelihood, but thy life-the life of thy precious soul-that lies at stake. Is it an indifferent thing whether thou be a saint or a brute, a child of wrath or a child of love? If you have any regard to your precious souls, be convinced these are not trifles. 2. The rule we are to go by is very strict. In a great road it is obvious we do not inquire; but if it be narrow and many turnings, we are often inquiring; the gate is strait, the way narrow, many called, but few chosen; and we must be of those few, or we are undone. When Christ was asked a curious question, "Are there few that be saved?" he answers with a serious exhortation, "Strive to enter into the strait gate.' 3. It is an easy matter to be deceived: to be in the faith is an inward thing. You can see in a glass the complexion of your natural face; but no glass can discover the heart. deceitful above all things; who can know it?" 66 "The heart is 4. Multitudes have been deceived in this matter. The Church of Laodicea, Rev. iii. 17, thought herself rich, and in need of nothing, when really wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. A careful tradesman that sees others break, (who seemed thriving,) is alarmed to look to himself. "There is a way that seemeth right to a man, but the end is death." The Pharisee, Luke xviii., went down not "justified." Many have a hope for heaven ready to swear by, (as I hope to be saved,) and, perhaps, the next breath challenge God to damn them. 5. It is a matter which must be examined shortly, therefore we are concerned to examine it now. Shortly this will be the decisive question, Were you in the faith? not whether you went to this church or that; whether Greek or Jew, high or low, rich or poor, bond or free, learned or unlearned? but whether you were in the faith, and were really what you seemed to be? You cannot avoid God's inquiry, therefore must examine yourselves. 6. A mistake in this matter will be of fatal consequence. Those that cried, "Lord, Lord," were bid to depart. The higher men are lifted up in their hopes, the more sad will their fall be, Hos. xii. 8. What a surprise was it to her that came in disguise, 1 Kings xiv. 6, "Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam." Allude so here: Come in, thou hypocrite; why feignest thou thyself to be a true Christian? The house built on the sand fell in the storm. 7. The true discovery of our state will be greatly to our advantage, therefore we are concerned to inquire,-1. If our case be bad, there is hope that it may be mended; if you are not in the faith, get into it without delay; while there is life there is hope. A wound that is only skinned over is dangerous and threatens the patient's life, but when opened, more hopes of a cure. 2. If good, if you are in the faith, take the comfort of it; rejoice, and be exceeding glad. Inf. 1. We have all cause to lament our neglect of this great duty of self-examination, as if it were an indifferent thing. Hence it is that many good Christians labour under such doubts; they are wanting in this great duty. 1. Examine your settled judgment. What are your thoughts of God and Christ and another world? Do you discern the glory of an invisible God above that of a dark, blinded world? If you are in the faith, invisible things will be great and real to you. 2. Examine your deliberate choice. You are of age to choose for yourselves-which has your choicest love, your best affections, God or the world? Is your religion subservient to the world, or the world to your religion? All that are in the faith have chosen God's testimonies as their heritage for ever. 3. Examine your commanding principles. What do you govern yourselves by? The world says,-Please men to serve a turn,— Every one for his gain,-Let every man look to himself, &c.; but then there are other and better principles to steer by, that the favour of God is better than life,-that the salvation of the soul is to be first and chiefly sought after. 4. Examine your indwelling cares. I know what should most fill you; you know what doth. Is it care for the world and body, or for the soul and eternity? Rom. viii. 5. If in the faith, your chief care is to please God and get to heaven. I would hope that some are more careful for their souls than they seem to be. You should keep under your body; bring it in subjection. 5. Examine your outgoing affections. What is it you most delight in, most earnestly desire? Is Christ your chiefest good, fairest of ten thousand? Only you must not judge by the flaming of affection outwardly, for that is an uncertain rule. Lastly; examine your constant and allowed practice. Try your state by your walk. If you live in the neglect of any known duty, it is a sign you are not in the faith. "Be not deceived; his servant you are to whom you obey." Conscience is the candle of the Lord; then light it up and make a strict search, and if you find you are in the faith, take you the comfort and give God the glory. Those that are in the faith now, if God be true, shall be in heaven shortly. GOD, A GOD OF MERCY. EZEK. Xxiii. 11. "Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" IN the commencement of this chapter, | danger; the minister of the gospel is the relative duties of pastor and people are illustrated in a very striking manner. Under the figure of a watchman placed upon a watch-tower during a time of war, and appointed to keep a constant look-out, so as to be able to sound the alarm on the appearance of divinely appointed to keep watch and ward over the souls of those committed to his care, so as to warn them of the guilt and danger of unbelief, the evil of sin, and the miseries of eternal death; and at the same time to point out the way of escape from the wrath |