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afflicting their neighbours with their dissonance, fling aside the instruments which at first afforded them so much delight. Some begin to learn short-hand, but fall strangely short of its attainments; while others make large pretensions in other pursuits, which are in their turn neglected and forgotten. Thus, labouring without profit; ploughing and sowing, and reaping no harvest; paying a price, without securing the purchase, we go on, arousing within us a spirit of achievement, and then letting it die.

But, though it is so frequently thus in the common affairs of life, this want of perseverance and stability is yet more strikingly shown in holy things. Where is the Christian man who could not, were he humble-minded and open-hearted enough to acknowledge his infirmity; where is the most highly favoured of the followers of the Redeemer, who could not tell of seasons, wherein he has said, like the slothful man, "There is a lion in the way;" and wherein he has done like the children of Ephraim, who, "being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle?" Reason have we, indeed, to cry aloud to the Strong for strength, that our energies may be sustained, that our determinations may be kept alive, and that we may not let them die.

Do you know nothing, reader, of this weakness of resolution, this infirmity of purpose, this want of perseverance? Did you never, when reading the word of the Most High, or listening to some faithful minister of the gospel, whose heart, running over with zeal and love, and whose lip, touched with a burning coal from the altar of the Eternal, were both affectionately and eloquently addressing you; did you never feel moved to an ejaculation of feeling, a prayer of earnest desire, and a holy purpose amounting to thisFrom this day forward, come health or sickness, joy or sorrow, others may do as they will, "but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord ?" And have you not, in spite of the glow that you felt in your bosom, and the tear that swam in your eye, afterwards become cold and worldlyminded? In a word, did you go on, or draw back from your hallowed resolution? Did you maintain your ardour, or did you let it die?

I would rather that you should pursue this subject than myself, my pen having already run on to some length. If you put down half the things of which it may be said with truth we let them die, the catalogue will be found to be a long one. While, however, to our reproach, we let friends die, and opportunities of doing good, and noble resolves, and high-wrought emotions, and

benevolent plans, and hallowed resolutions, there are some things, more than others, that we should take especial care to keep alive in our memory; and the truth that Jesus Christ died for sinners, and that "He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them," Heb. vii. 25, is among them. This should not languish in our regard. This should be kept fresh and unfading in our remembrance: whatever else may die, this truth should live for ever. Let past remembrances lead to present humiliation, and to earnest prayer that the Holy Spirit may bring former lessons to our remembrance, and enable us, whatever we do, to do all to the glory of God.

ON MYSTERIOUS

ADVERTISEMENTS.

ALMOST every reader of the public journals, especially of "The Times," must have been, at one season or other, arrested by the mysterious advertisements which not unfrequently appear. These advertisements are usually the mediums of communication between those who are ignorant of each other's whereabout, or who, knowing it, have motives for avoiding the accustomed channel of epistolary correspondence. Whim, policy, deceit, interest, shame, fear, crime, and other things less censurable than some of these, have their full share in such mysterious communications.

Suppose, as this subject seems novel, we take a glance at a file of "The Times," making a brief comment on such articles of the mysterious kind as may take our attention. Here is one to begin with, and no doubt we shall find others as we proceed. We will treat each advertisement as if it had but just appeared in the newspaper.

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"B. will be glad of a private interview with C, at his convenience."

And who are B. and C.? and with what object is this private interview to take place? The wide field of conjecture is open-there is ample room for speculation. The case, whatever it be, is not an urgent one; it is no affair of life and death; or it would not be allowed to stand over in so leisurely a way to suit the convenience of C. Perhaps B. is an attorney, or a surgeon, or a 'monied man; and C. has applied to him for counsel, or assistance. Or, perhaps C. has to communicate something of supposed importance to B. But if we guess for an hour, it will bring us not a whit nearer the truth. The interview must take place, and all that we can do is to hope that it will be to the advantage of both parties.

"E. P. wishes to hear of his friends."

Ay, but how comes it that E. P. is absent from his friends? or how is it that he does not give them an address, thereby enabling them to hold direct communication with him without useless expense and trouble? Is he hiding himself? or wandering without a settled home? or afraid to trust them with his place of abode? Charity that hopeth all things, should lead us to put the kindest construction on the conduct of others.

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