Tot liber toties malis, Quo tandem officio Tibi Is Heaven tremendous in its frowns? Most sure: Its favours here are trials, not rewards; Nec prius aut Epulas, aut munera grata Lyæi Fas cuiquam tetigisse fuit, quam multa precatus In mensam By this it appears that even the Heathen were in the practice of returning thanks to Heaven for the blessing they were about to partake of in their meals. [Let us follow] our blessed Saviour's example, of whom it is said, when sitting with his disciples, he took bread, and when he had given thanks he brake it. 1 Cor. xi. 24. When there is devotion in the heart there will be outward signs of it, especially at the times of our sitting down together to take our bodily refreshment. [This Note, from the words which I have supplied at the beginning, was found among the latest portions of the collection in the author's hand-writing, but without his initials.-Ed.] They whose latter end doth greatly increase ought, with humility and thankfulness, to remember how small their beginning was. O quam utile est ad usum Secundorum per Adversa venisse ! T Charity. When a certain person in the early times of Christianity, had made over a large sum of money for charitable uses, it was mentioned as being intended for such as were in necessity but ashamed to beg; not for any that would misuse it and this direction is also given, : That the religion of such who were in want should not be looked at: nor any neglected because not of the same profession with the donor. Uncharitable judging often springs from adding our own Fancies to God's Appointments. What may be expedient for ourselves, as a rule of practice, must not presently be made a rule of judgment. The least judicious are the most censorious. Let us look well to our Zeal, which is the grace of all others that soonest turns sour. Men may be truly devout who do not abound in the expression of Devotion: let us not therefore judge our brethren. Those who confine the church of God to particular nations, families, or societies, have made it far narrower than our Saviour ever meant it to be. I believe there shall never be an anarchy in Heaven; but as there are Hierarchies among the angels, so shall there be degrees of priority among the saints.-Brown. How well is it for us, that the grace of a good God is so much more extensive, than the charity even of some good men ! It is no wonder if those who have wrong notions of the kingdom of Christ, take wrong measures for the advancement of it. Neither wit nor wealth shall bear rule among the people of God: but the power of the Lord God must go over all, and in that must the Rule be. There are but few assemblies to be found in this world [are there any? Ed.] free from à mixture of good and evil; and the evil often so predominates, as to occasion sorrow to the truly religious. But in Heaven is an assembly in which no mixture is allowed: into which if we are so happy as to gain admission, nothing but joy will be witnessed and never-ceasing comfort. There ought to be no strife, but conference, among the servants of Christ.-Ambrose. They that despise Peace and seek after Glory lose both peace and glory.-Bernard. It may be said, All Christian sects have had those whom they call Martyrs-and shall we bestow that honourable appellation on the Schismatical, or the erroneous? I see not how we can avoid it. If a person lays down his life for the name of Christ, when he might prolong his days by renouncing his faith, he must stand for a Martyr in every reasonable man's kalendar, though he may have been much mistaken in some of his opinions.-Jortin. Charitas virtutum fons est et scaturigo: Charitas Prophetiæ virtus, Sapientiæ stabilimentum, Fidei fructus, Divitiæ pauperum, Vita morientium. All affectation of excessive severity looks like pharisaical hypocrisy: whereas the Spirit of Christ (which is made up of humility and |