- God calleth his people to come out from the impenitent unbelieving world, not by a schismatical but by a godly separation. If God himself could endure communion with the unholy, then he would allow his people to endure it. But because they are his, and must be like Him, therefore must they withdraw from such. Believe it, Light and darkness, Holiness and unholiness, God and sin, are utterly irreconcileable. If ever we live together with God in glory, we must become holy, as He is holy. The carnal reasonings and confident hopes of wicked men, are that they shall be saved without conversion and holiness. Woe to those who cast their souls upon such hopes!—Baxter.

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A man may be a member of the visible Church before he has known his heart to be converted from the love of earthly things to the love of God. Till conversion, even the baptized and the most understanding men, are but as the straw and chaff in God's barn, and as the tares in the field, to which Christ compares them. But conversion doth ingraft them into the body, and make them living members. "By one Spirit are we baptized into one body." It is not the mere baptism with water, but the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, which is given in

conversion, that maketh us living members of the body.

Men may be truly devout, though they do not abound in expressions of devotion, nor are in the custom of using the name of Christ and of God in their conversation. Therefore we must not judge nor despise our brethren.

And the Lord said unto Joshua, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. Josh. xiii. 1. This will carry much instruction with it, if understood in a spiritual sense [of the perfect conquest to which we are called to aspire, even in advanced life, over our selfishness and remaining corruptions.]

Obedience to the Divine will is an evidence of our being related to Jesus Christ. He hath said, "Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

It is a lamentable reflection, that all the concern many hearers have with sermons, consists in hearing them. They are apt to conclude that their duty is over when the discourse is ended; whereas it is then only begun. Instead of carrying off portions of Divine

Wisdom to illuminate their lives, they leave behind them the instructions they have received.

Their tempers are still unsubdued, unsoftened, unsanctified: their conversation produces not the fruits of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. But the word of God is practical; every truth is declared to accomplish some purpose. If it reveals a refuge, it is that you may enter it and be safe. If it proclaims a remedy, it is that you may use it it is not your having of it, but your applying it, that will save you from death.

You say truly concerning the preacher, that mere preaching will not save him; and he may say with equal truth, that mere hearing will not save you.

Philip, king of Macedon, kept a youth in his palace, whose duty it was to remind him every day that he was mortal," indies sibi acclamare, Hominem te memine Philippe !" [No doubt this has passed with many for wisdom in Philip. Most probably it was but a part of the pageantry of his entertainments. It is however the way in which most men keep their consciences, and many, who can afford it, their chaplains also. To tell them, as often and as

loudly as they please to hear, of that which concerns every man alike—but in no case of that which is their own particular vice or weakness! . Had the poor boy ventured to add to his hominem but one or two of those qualifications which the more eloquent discourses of Demosthenes would have furnished for this use, he would have been spared, I imagine, the trouble of another day's repetition of his sermon.-Ed.]

The fear of God begins with the heart, and purifies and rectifies it; and from the heart thus rectified grows a conformity in the life, in words and actions.-Hales's Contemplations. It might be said, a conformity to that which is true, honest, pure, lovely, and of good report: to every virtue which might be named. J. K.

Silence: Watchfulness.

Gop expostulateth with his people after this manner: Keep silence before me, O islands, and let the people renew their strength: let them come near, then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment. Isa. xli. 1. And by his servant David; Be still and know that I am God. Which passages shew, that the beginning of instruction is laid in silence'; and that true knowledge comes from hearing what God saith. A schoolmaster, who is intent to instruct and inform his scholars, will require silence. Else, what benefit can they receive from his instruction, if their tongues are busied with vain repetitions?

Ibi maximè oportet observare peccatum ubi nasci solet: vid: in Cogitationibus: [Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. Prov. iv. 23.]