his name with pleasure and delight, and recommend him as far as you can to others. And if you love Christ, you are desirous of pleasing him, by yielding prompt and universal obedience to all his commands, and you will also be increasingly anxious to imitate Christ in all those virtues and excellencies which adorned his character. If you find, on inquiry, that the love of Jesus is thus shed abroad in your heart, then it is your duty without hesitation, and without delay, to follow him in all the appointed institutions of his word. Let no weak or foolish enemies, nor the persuasions of imprudent friends, who may say that you are too young, prevent your devoting yourself without reserve to Christ and his people.-The younger the better; Joseph was young-Samuel was young-and Timothy was young-and all who have risen to eminence, either as ministers, missionaries, or sabbath-school teachers, are those who consecrated their youth to GOD.

In youth, you are exposed to many dangers, snares, and evils. You stand in slippery places, and many attempts will be made to allure and destroy you. But if you love religion it will keep you from ten thousand evils, and secure for you the noblest and sweetest enjoyments. Go then in the strength of the Lord God, making mention of his righteousness and of his only. Let your prayer be, “Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." Never trust in your own wisdom, nor in the strength of your own resolutions, but let your stay be entirely and exclusively on God. Keep at the greatest possible distance from all evil. Never parley with sin or temptation. Be much in prayer-in secret prayer. All the lukewarmness of which you complain, and all declension in religion begins in the neglect of prayer. Let the closet witness the fervour and importunity of your supplications, then

"Your cheerful song will often be,

Hear what the Lord hath done for me.

Be constant and punctual in your attendance on the public means of grace. The worship and service of God's house will have a tendency to enlarge your knowledge, and invigorate your christian graces. Guard against all thoughtless and wicked companions, for you are in much more danger of being corrupted and contaminated by their evil practices, than they are to be benefited by your example. Always choose for your associates those who surpass you in wisdom, in goodness, and grace; for those who walk with wise men shall be wise. And that you may be rooted and grounded in the love of the gospel, and never bring disgrace on it, is my earnest prayer.

T M.

JOY IN DEATH.

How unspeakably valuable is real religion! Seldom have we met with a more striking instance than that which is afforded by this brief sketch of the closing hours of an aged christian, who was many years a member and a deacon of a baptist church in Leices. tershire.

After two nights of restlessness and pain, feeling his whole frame weakened and sinking, his mind appeared uneasy and somewhat agitated, at the thought of his approaching end. With tears he spoke of his own unworthiness; his doubts and fears exceeding his hopes. On being referred to the Rock of Salvation, he gathered confidence, and said he had applied there many times and had found mercy. It was remarked, "You believe in Christ." He answered, "O yes, that I do." "You love Christ" "Yes, I'm sure I do, but there is something more, there is obedience; here I feel wanting." Some promises were repeated to him, and he found comfort in meditation and prayer. The Wednesday morning following he gave a delightful testimony that Christ was present with him, and formed in his heart the hope of glory. His ecstacy of mind was almost too much for the weakness of his body. His Saviour's love was so revealed to him, that he appeared lost to everything else, and swallowed up in praise. He longed to tell all around him how precious the Saviour was to him, and fervently wished that He were more known and revered by his neighbours. From this time he never expressed fear, though at times he felt the tempter drawing off his mind from the centre of his hopes. Once he exclaimed, "What a cowardly and subtle enemy, to attack one in so weak a state as mine!" He now panted for that rest which remaineth for the people of God. He prayed for patience to bear and submissively acquiesce in the will of God. Early one morning he inquired the time, when being told it was past one, he lay quiet a short time, and then, (as if he knew it was the last sabbath he should be permitted to supplicate the mercy-seat), he began with almost more than natural power, and with much clearness of thought and fervency of spirit, to offer up his last prayer for his dear children, his connexions, neighbours and friends, and espe-cially for his minister, and the church and people of God; for the Divine Spirit and blessing to rest upon that cause, the interest and prosperity of which seemed then to absorb his whole soul; that after his head was laid low the Lord would raise up others to supply his place, who would do much more than he had for the further

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ance of the Redeemer's kingdom and the building up of Zion. Upon being told by a friend that they had often prayed together, but the next employment for him would be praise, how did his countenance brighten while he exclaimed, "What! shall I begin to praise as soon as I get there?" Being again asked if Christ was still precious, he answered, "O yes, all's right there. I have him fast and will not let him go. I know he won't forsake me." At another time he said, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Let not thy chariot wheels delay." Again, when rousing as if from a vision, he cried, "O that spacious room, room, room for all! Glory, glory, glory be to his name, and to the Lamb for ever!" When no longer able to speak, except in short sentences, he whispered, " All's right, all's right, all is well! I am safe, I am safe!" His last prayers were for his children, that they might all meet him in heaven at last, and then he quietly fell asleep in Jesus.

CHRISTIANITY.

BEHOLD yon bent and wasted form-that venerable head, Crown'd with the honourable snows which fourscore years have shed;

Why beam those wrinkled features, and what fires that upturn'd

eye;

Has he forgot the expectant worm?—the grave?—Eternity?

No, no; his trembling footsteps stand on Pisgah's towering height:
And faith descries beyond the grave, smiling in heaven's pure light,
A resting place for weary feet, far from the world's cold frown:-
A house within a Saviour's arms; a mansion, and a crown.

This is the glorious scene that gilds that pilgrim's closing day;
These, the bright flowers that beautify the regions of decay;
These, the immortal hopes that fire faith's fix'd and eager eye :-
All spring from one exhaustless source-pure christianity.

Here, the poor, toil-worn labourer finds that rest the world denies :
A haven, though the mountain waves, like living furies, rise;
Wealth, costlier far than that which fills the miser's pond'rous

chest;

And bliss, like that which animates a seraph's holy breast.

Here, the poor slave, by savage fiends, torn from his forests wild, Learns to forgive the burning wrongs upon his shoulders pil'd; Finds light break through the tempest clouds that fiercely o'er him roll;

Balm for his body's bleeding wounds: salvation for his soul.

Here too, amidst affliction's flames, the sufferer finds repose;
A pillow for his aching head, and medicine for his woes;

A friend when earthly comforts fly, and earthly friends grow few;
And pale disease unnerves the frame, and death appears in view.

This power to lowest depths descends, to loftiest heights doth

rise;

Bears light unto the ignorant, and wisdom to the wise:

With courage arms the timid, with sight makes glad the blind;
Endows the weak with energy, and makes the cruel kind.

It tames the savage into man; awakes his dormant powers; Breaks up his mind's neglected soil, and plants celestial flowers: O'er stormy seas and trackless wastes, it flies, the lost to save; And soon, where idol altars burn'd, salvation's banners wave.

It blesses Greenland's ice-bound shores, and Afric's burning sand; And Baal shrinks before its light, and falls beneath its hand:

It smiles, though scowls, in foaming wrath, hatred's opposing flood;

And thrives, though persecution stains its road with martyr's blood.

In vain have princes join'd their powers, to stem its swelling tide, In vain their gaols, and racks, and flames, have Laud and Bonner tried;

Its waves advance; its light still spreads; and superstitions flee: And soon a world, from satan's chain, its influence shall make free.

Oh, roll, ye living waters, roll, from your celestial spring:
And ye, sweet beams of heaven's bright sun, o'er earth your bless-
ings fling:

Bear peace upon your pinions, its vast circumference round;
And let Him reign-the First-the Last-wherever man is found.
Bromsgrove.

J. H. S.