WE sometimes complain of the conditions of our being, as unfavourable to the discernment and the love of God; we speak of Him as veiled from us by our senses; and of the world as the outer region of exile from which He is peculiarly hid. In imagining what is holy and divine, we take flight to other worlds, and conceive that there the film must fall away, and all adorable realities burst upon the sight. Alas! what reason have we to think any other station more sanctifying than our own? There is none, so far as we can tell, under the more immediate touch of God; none, whence sublimer deeps are open to adoration; none, murmuring with the whisper of more thrilling affections, or ennobled as the theatre of more glorious duties. The dimness we deplore, no travelling would cure; the most perfect of observatories will not serve the blind; we carry our darkness with us; and, instead of wandering to fresh scenes, and blaming our planetary atmosphere, and flying over creation for purer air, it behoves us, in simple faith, to sit by our own way-side and say, 'Lord, that we may receive our sight!'-Martineau.

THERE is ever some dead fly' in our box, which marreth our ointment;' some adherent inconvenience, which soureth the gust of our enjoyments; there is always some good thing absent which we do want or long for; some ill thing present or in prospect which we abhor, would avoid, do fear may come. If therefore

we would find content, we must not seek it here; we must want it, or have it from another world: it must come hither from heaven, and thence only piety can fetch it down. This, instead of these unsatisfying, uncertain, and unstable things, supplieth us with goods adequate to our most outstretched wishes, infallibly sure, incessantly durable; an indefectible treasure, an incorruptible inheritance, an unshakable kingdom;' a perfect and endless joy, capable to replenish the vastest heart; which he that hath a good title to or a confident hope of; how can he be otherwise than extremely pleased, than fully content? It assureth the favor and friendship of God, of Him that is absolute Lord and disposer of all things; the which he that hath and confideth in, what can he want or wish for more? what can he fear? what can annoy or dismay him? what can hap to him worthy to be deemed evil or sad? What is poverty to him for whom God is concerned to provide? What is disgrace to him that hath the regard and approbation of God? What is danger to him whom God continually protecteth? What can any distress work on him whom God doth comfort and will relieve? What is any thing to him who is sensible that all things are purposely disposed to him by that Wisdom which perfectly knoweth what is best; by that Goodness which entirely loveth him? In fine, he that is conscious to himself of being well-affected in mind and acting the best way, who is satisfied in the state of his soul, secure from God's displeasure and hopeful of His favour, what can make any grievous impression on him? What other affections than such as are most

grateful and pleasant can lodge in his soul? Joy and peace have natural seeds in such a mind, and necessarily must spring up there; in proportion, I mean, and according to the degrees of piety resident therein.-Barrow.

If thy vessel be but small in the ocean of this world, if meanness of possessions be thy allotment upon earth, forget not those virtues which the Great Disposer of all bids thee to entertain from thy quality and condition: that is, submission, humility, content of mind, and industry. Content may dwell in all stations. To be low, but above contempt, may be high enough to be happy. But many of low degree may be high enough to be computed, and some cubits above the common commensuration; for in all states virtue gives qualifications and allowances, which make out defects. Rough diamonds are sometimes mistaken for pebbles. If our merits be above our stations, if our intrinsic value be greater than what we go for, or our value than our valuation, and if we stand higher in God's than in the censor's books, it may make some equitable balance in the inequalities of this world, and there may be no such vast chasm or gulf between disparities, as common measures determine. The divine eye looks upon high and low differently from that of man. They who seem to stand upon Olympus, and high mounted unto our eyes, may be but in the valleys and low ground unto his; for he looks upon those highest who nearest approach his Divinity, and upon those as lowest who are farthest from it.-Sir Thomas Browne.

O LORD God, how subject is this wretched heart of mine to repining and discontentment! If it may not have what it would, how ready it is (like a froward child) to throw away what it hath! I know and feel this to be out of that natural pride which is so deep-rooted in me; for could I be sensible enough of my own unworthiness, I should think every thing too good, every thing too much for me: my very being, O Lord, is more than I am ever able to answer thee, and how could I deserve it when I was not? but that I have any helps of my well-being here, or hopes and means of my being glorious hereafter, how far is it beyond the reach of my soul! Lord, let me find my own nothingness; so shall I be thankful for a little, and in my very want, bless Thee.—Bishop Hall.

15

CHARITABLE JUDGMENT.

What's done we partly may compute,
But know not what's resisted.-BURNS.

Think of thy brother no ill, but throw a veil over
his failings.-LONGFELLOW.

How would you be

If He which is the top of judgment, should
But judge you, as you are? Oh! think on that;

And mercy then will breathe within your lips
Like man new made.-SHAKSPERE.

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Whether it be to friend or for, talk not of other men's lives.
Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity,
I am become as a sounding brass or a tinkling rymbal.

AN honest and charitable mind disposes us, when we see any man endued with good qualities and pursuing a tenour of good practice, to esteem such a person, to commend him, to interpret what he doeth to the best, not to suspect any ill of him, or to seek any exception against him; it inclineth us, when we see any action materially good, to yield it with simple due approbation and praise, without searching for, or surmising any defect in the cause or principle whence it cometh, in the design or end to which it tendeth, in the way or manner of per