But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that hê is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.-HEBREWS, xi. 6.

SAVING FAITH.

MAY we, by heavenly faith, descry
The Saviour's gracious form,

Holding the helm and steering safe
Through every earthly storm!

If we but make His love our own,
Though all around us frown,
When for a time we've born the cross

We shall attain the crown.

B. L.

WE may look home, and seek in vain
A fond fraternal heart,

But Christ hath given His promise plain

To do a Brother's part.

Nor shall dull age, as worldlings say,

The heavenward flame annoy :
The Saviour cannot pass away,
And with Him lives our joy.

Keble.

REFLECTIONS.

LET no man presume that he can see prospectively into the ways of Providence! His part is to contemplate them in the past, and trust in them for the future, but, so trusting, to act always upon motives of human prudence, directed by religious principles.-SOUTHEY.

That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.—Proverbs, xxii. 19.

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.—Romans, x. 4.

APPEAL TO CHRIST.

NCARNATE Word! by every grief,
By each temptation tried,

Who lived to yield our ills relief,
And to redeem us died!

If gaily clothed and proudly fed,
In dangerous wealth we dwell;
Remind us of Thy manger-bed,
And lowly cottage-cell?

If prest by poverty severe,
În envious want we pine,
O, may the Spirit whisper near,
How poor a lot was Thine!

Through fickle fortune's various scene
From sin preserve us free!
Like as Thou hast a mourner been,
May we rejoice with Thee!

REFLECTIONS.

Heber.

THERE is not, in my opinion, a more pleasing and triumphant consideration in religion than this of the perpetual progress which the soul makes towards the perfection of its nature, without ever arriving at a period in it. To look upon the soul as going on from strength to strength, to consider that she is to shine for ever with new accessions of glory, and brighten to all eternity; that she will be still adding virtue to virtue, and knowledge to knowledge, carries in it something wonderfully agreeable to that ambition which is natural to the mind of man.Spectator.'

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But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.—PROVERBS, iv. 18.

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the secand time without sin unto salvation.—HEBREWS, ix. 28.

SAVED BY FAITH.

TRE who on earth as man was known,

And bore our sins and pains,

Now, seated on the eternal throne,

The God of glory reigns.

His hands the wheels of nature guide
With an unerring skill;

And countless worlds extended wide
Obey His sovereign will.

While harps unnumber'd sound His praise
In yonder world above,
His saints on earth admire His ways,
And glory in His love.

His righteousness to faith reveal'd,
Wrought out for guilty worms,
Affords a hiding-place and shield
From enemies and storms.

REFLECTIONS.

Newton.

HAPPY are they who shall learn not to despair, but shall remember that, though the day is past and their strength is wasted, there yet remains one effort to be made; that reformation is never hopeless, nor sincere endeavours ever unassisted; that the wanderer may at length return, after all his errors; and that he who implores strength and courage from above shall find danger and difficulty give way before him. Go now to thy repose; commit thyself to the care of Omnipotence; and when the morning calls again to toil, begin anew thy journey and thy life.-"Rambler."

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from evil.-PROVERBS, iv. 27.

And now, Lord, what wait X for? My hope is in thee.-PSALM xxxix. 7.

HOPE IN THE LORD.

HE bird let loose in eastern skies,
When hastening fondly home,

Ne'er stoops to earth her wing, nor flies
Where idle warblers roam.

But high she shoots through air and light,
Above all low delay,

Where nothing earthly bounds her flight,
Nor shadows dim her way.

So grant me, Lord, from every care,
And sinful passion free,
Through pure religion's clearer air
To hold my course to Thee!
No sin to cloud-no lure to stay
My soul, as home she springs;
Thy sunshine on her joyful way;
Thy freedom on her wings.

Moore.

REFLECTIONS.

WITH regard to Christianity, confirm your belief of the authority of Scripture, for which you have sufficient evidence; and difficulties, which you must expect to find in religion as in everything else, can never overthrow it.-GILPIN.

The hope of the righteous shall be gladness; but the expectation of the wicked shall p ish.-PROVERBS, x. 28.

Be not thou afraid, when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him.-PSALM xlix. 16, 17.

FREEDOM FROM SERVILE HOPE.

W

HO hath his life from rumours freed,
Whose conscience is his strong retreat;
Whose state can neither flatterers feed
Nor ruin make oppressors great ;

Who God doth late and early pray
More of His grace than gifts to lend ;
And entertains the harmless day
With a religious book or friend;

This man is freed from servile bands,
Of hope to rise, or fear to fall;
Lord of himself, though not of lands;
He having nothing, yet hath all.

Southwell.

REFLECTIONS.

BETTER it is, toward the right conduct of life, to consider

what will be the end of a thing than what is the beginning of it; for what promises fair at first may prove ill, and what seems at first a disadvantage, may bring the greatest and truest gain.

When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish ; and the hope of unjust men perisheth.—PROVERBS, xi. 7.