not be. Oh may it please God to make me willing to submit to this! Dear J. will be with you, and do for you all that a kind sister could; but do not forget that you have another sister, whose heart is with you; and do not forget to pray for me. Oh I have need that all who love me should do so! Pray for Wallace too, that he may live nearer to Christ every day, and win many souls by his ministry; and pray for our dear babes, that they may be among the children whom Jesus blesses. Henry Robert was devoted to Him in baptism yesterday; may the mantle of both his dear grandfathers rest on him! The weeks you are now to spend in Scotland will be very precious,—remembered by those who go, and those who stay. May they pro-active, as far as her strength permitted. Her leisure note the growth of grace in each! And may 1, too, grow, though not with you! I was hoping to have had a few quiet weeks with you, before the General Assembly. Alas! when may we have a quiet week together again!"

Duncan in a short excursion to the Highlands, which | tinues still to bestow upon us, and He accomrecruited her general health, though it still left her panies the bestowal of them with the solemn subject to headaches. charge, "Occupy till I come." That is, use them in the manner which I have appointed, apply them to the holy purposes which I have prescribed ;for a day of reckoning will come; the Mediator will "return" to call his servants to account; and while those who have improved their talents shall be liberally rewarded, yet those who have hidden them in the earth shall be cast into outer darkness, and consigned to irremediable woe.

At this time, the revival of religion in Kilsyth, and other places, gave a refreshing and invigorating impulse to many portions of the country. Both ministers and people were aroused to a greater ardour in the good work of the Lord: and of this happy impulse the pastor and parish of Cleish were privileged to partake. Mrs Duncan felt a lively interest in the glad tidings which came from time to time of another, and another, and still another parish, experiencing refreshing showers of the Spirit's influences. Her whole heart became engrossed with the subject, and she longed and prayed that the people of Cleish might also be favoured with the loving-kindness of the Lord. Ah! little did she know, while she was thus imploring the droppings of divine grace upon others, that she herself was so soon to drink of that exhaustless river which flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The circumstances of her death, and the glory with which her sun went down, shedding a softened radiance all around, have already been described in our pages," by the pen of one whose elegant and accomplished mind, refined taste, and devoted piety, so singularly qualified him for appreciating and doing justice to a character so pure, so lovely, so elevated, as that of Mrs Duncan's obviously

was.

We lay aside the volume+ from which the materials of our Sketch are taken with the deepest reluctance, strongly recommending it to the notice of the public, as one which every Christian reader will highly prize.

ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR TALENTS:

A DISCOURSE.

At

I. I remark, in the first place, that God has given to all of us valuable talents.

1. The gift of reason, the power of thought, the faculty of conscience, the affections of the heart, all that distinguishes man, as a rational and moral being, from the beasts that perish, all that elevates him in the scale of creation,-all this is the gift of God, who holds us responsible to Him for the use that we make of His gifts. "Who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" No doubt, there are "diversities of gifts" possessed by different men,-diversities of natural talent and intellectual power; and some are capable of making higher attainments in knowledge than others. But all of us possess a mind capable of being enlightened by divine truth, and a heart capable of being purified by divine grace. And what a valuable talent is this! Instead of dooming us to grovel in the dust of the earth, God has endowed us with the capacity of soaring above sublunary things, to contemplate "those things which are above; He has rendered us capable of knowing, and loving, and enjoying him for ever. And how great is the responsibility connected with the possession of this talent! Surely it is not becoming, that minds, endowed with immortality, and formed originally after the image of God, and capable of endless and lofty advancement in divine knowledge, should be wholly occupied" and engrossed either with the pleasures or the business of this transitory world. Ought we not rather to cultivate and improve our minds, by the knowledge of God, by the contemplation of his works, by the study of his ways, by the investigation of his plans of mercy toward the human race? What subjects can be more worthy, than these, of our notice and inquiry, or more fitted to elevate and enlarge our minds? What can be more becoming than that all our intellectual talents should be hallowed on

BY THE REV. JOHN THOMSON, Minister of Yester, East-Lothian. "Occupy till I come."-LUKE xix. 13. THE parable of the talents teaches us, most impressively, the heavy responsibility which attaches to the professing servants of God, the deep obligations under which they are laid to improve their privileges, and the solemn account which they must render at the second coming of Christ. the beginning of the parable, we are told that "a certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return." The person here meant is obviously our Saviour himself, who, when he arose from the dead," went into a far country," even into heaven itself, to rekingdom ceive that mediatorial “ " which was procured and established by his sufferings and death. In conducting the government of that kingdom, our Mediator bestows, upon his pro-him whom the seraphim adore? As all these fessing servants, certain gifts or "talents," which it is their duty to improve diligently; for, when he ascended up on high, leading captivity captive, he gave gifts unto men. These gifts He con

❤ "A Brief Notice of the late Mrs Duncan of Cleish. By the Rev. Henry Grey, A.M."- Scottish Christian Herald, No. 61, Second Series.

+ Memoir of Mrs W. W. Duncan, being Recollections of a Daughter. By her Mother. Edinburgh: William Oliphant and Son.

1841

the altar of religion, and touched with the live coal of piety, and consecrated to the service of

talents have been received from God, so they should be devoted to God, to the advancement of his glory, and the showing forth of his praise. However great these talents may be, though we were endowed with the highest genius, though we possessed the lofty intellect of an angel, though we understood all mysteries and all knowledge, still we would have no reason to be proud, or

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THE SCOTTISH CHRISTIAN HERALD.

Every good and puffed up in our own conceit. perfect gift cometh down from the Father of lights; and it is the inspiration of the Almighty Ought we not, that giveth us understanding. therefore, to be "clothed with humility?" especially when we consider that great talents involve great responsibility, and that to whom much is given, of them much shall be required.

2. Again, God has given to some of us wealth
and worldly possessions. This also is a valuable
talent, which it is our duty to "occupy" and im-
But how seldom do
prove till the Saviour come.
those who are placed in circumstances of pros-
perity or affluence consider, that they are not pro-
prietors, but merely stewards, of God's bounty;
and that their wealth is not given to them, merely
for their own use or their own selfish enjoyment,
but as a sacred trust, to be employed for God's
There are few who
glory and for man's good.
would utter the language of the rich fool, "Soul,
Most
thou hast much goods laid up for many years;
take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry."
men would blush to avow their resolution to em-
ploy their wealth in so discreditable a manner :-
and yet there are many who are not ashamed, in
practice, to do it. They have no feeling of re-
sponsibility to God for the use they make of their
wealth, no sense of their obligation to use it in
the manner, and for the purposes which God has
prescribed, no dread of that solemn account which
they must render for misapplying and wasting
their Master's goods. If their cold hearts were
melted and constrained by the love of Christ, and
if they would regard their wealth as a "talent"
entrusted to them by God, then would they know
the truth of the Saviour's words, "It is more
blessed to give than to receive ;" and they would
account it both a duty and a privilege to offer
their gifts on the altar of God, in order that they
might advance his glory in the world, and promote
the welfare of their fellow-men.

3. Another talent which God has entrusted to
us is religious privileges ;-a translated Bible, a
preached Gospel,-all the various means of grace,
and the ordinances of religious worship. This
talent, though frequently underrated and despised,
is one of inestimable value. When we look merely
to the temporal benefits which Christianity has
conferred on the human race, we cannot but see
abundant reason to bless the God of salvation for
establishing, in our favoured land, the ordinances
of his grace. Nothing but our possession of this
talent has rendered Britain a land of light and
liberty, a land of science and civilization, a land of
intellectual greatness and high attainment. Look
to those countries where this talent is not enjoyed,
where the Gospel has never been preached; and
you see there the grossest superstition, the thick-
est darkness, the deepest debasement, the most
shameless profligacy. Look again to the islands
in the South Sea, where Christianity has been
embraced by those who, not long ago, were sitting
in heathen darkness; and there you behold the
blessings of civilization, the beauties of holiness,

the fruits of virtue, springing up, in rich luxuri-
ance, from the seeds of Gospel truth, planted hy
the hand of the missionary, and watered by the
dew of heaven. He must be an ignorant man
who knows not that all our civil privileges have
been secured, and are preserved, by our religious
sent to us, in this distant island of the sea, we
privileges; and that if the Gospel had never been
must still have been, like our forefathers, prowling
"The moment a slave sets his foot on the
barbarians, debased by superstition and plunged in
And when a
vice.
British shores, that moment his chains are broken,
and he breathes the air of freedom."
nation embraces Christianity, the fetters of super-
stition and vice are broken; the mind is emanci
pated from those chains which cramped its ener-
gies and debased its powers; the truth makes it
free, and it becomes free indeed,-free to explore
the wonders of science and to unlock the mysteries
of art, but free especially to ascend the heights of
the true God and of Jesus Christ, whom to know
heavenly wisdom, and to acquire the knowledge of
When we look then even to the
temporal benefits which Christianity has conferred
is eternal life.
upon our country, in dispelling the shades of bea-
then and Popish darkness, in enlightening and
enlarging the national mind, in raising the stan
dard and tone of public morals, and in supplying
the most powerful motives to the practice of virtue
and the exercise of justice and kindness between
man and man;-and especially when we look to
the spiritual benefits which Christianity has con-
ferred, its saving instructions, its numberless con-
versions, sinners turned to God, and saints built
up in holiness, we cannot but see that the pos-
And no right-hearted man
session of Christian privileges is a "talent" of
inestimable value.
could contemplate the withdrawing of this preci-
ous talent from us, as any other than the most
was possible to inflict. "A famine of bread" is
signal calamity, the heaviest judgment which it
a calamity to be deeply deplored; but there is a
famine that would be more deplorable still, and far
more fearful in its consequences, even "a famine
of the Word of God." Esteem this talent, there-
fore, highly, and improve it diligently, as those
for if you undervalue them, you
nances of grace,
who must give an account. Value all the ordi-
may soon be deprived of them. God may remove
your candlestick out of its place, or he may shat
your eyes to the light, by judicial blindness; and
then the light which was in you will become dark-
ness, and from you will be taken even that which
you once had.

4. There is another talent which God has en-
grants
trusted to some of you, namely, the gift of his
saving grace. This talent is possessed by all the
true followers of Christ. To such, God
the forgiveness of their sins, "through the re-
"a new heart, and a right spirit ;" he renews them
demption that is in Christ Jesus;" he gives them
after his own image, "in righteousness and true
holiness;" he strengthens them to "depart from
all iniquity;" and he inspires them with the hope

of truth to testify of Christ; you hear the invitations of God, beseeching you to be reconciled to him, and offering to cleanse you from all sin, by the Saviour's atoning blood; "occupy" this talent, therefore,-improve your privileges,-beware of turning a deaf ear to the "still small voice" of mercy, but "seek the Lord while he may be found," and come by faith to the blood of sprinkling, that you may be "washed, and sanctified, and justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

of an eternal inheritance in heaven. These are | from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." the privileges which you enjoy, if you be the true You have minds capable of understanding and followers of Christ. But remember, that privilege appreciating the danger to which, as sinners, you is inseparably connected with duty: God's great are exposed; and you have hearts capable of being goodness to you, lays you under deep obligations, impressed by the warnings and entreaties of God. and invests you with a solemn responsibility. His See, then, that ye "occupy" this talent aright; saving grace is a talent which must be occu- apply your minds to understand the truth as it is pied" and improved; it must not be hid in a nap- in Jesus, and lay open your hearts to its saving kin, and buried in the earth,-it must be employed and sanctifying influence. You enjoy also the for his glory, and for working out your own sal-privileges of the Gospel; you have the Scriptures vation. If God has called you out of darkness, then "walk as the children of the light;" if he has forgiven you much, then love him much; if he has "bought you with a price," then "glorify him in your bodies and in your spirits, which are his." II. Let us now consider, in the second place, the use that we ought to make of our talents.The Saviour commands us to "occupy' "them. The original word, which is translated "occupy," literally means, to be employed in any business to engage in trade or traffic. The purpose for which a man engages in trade, is, to increase his capital, to improve his condition in life,-to secure a larger portion of this world's comforts and enjoyments. And what anxiety does the merchant show, to lay out his talents of gold and silver to the best advantage! What eagerness does he manifest to avail himself of every favourable opening in trade, and to secure the most ample returns for his outlay! How diligent is he in his business, and how devoted to his object! Ought not we, then, to be as diligent in "occupying" the precious talents which God has given to us, in order that we may trade, not for time, but for eternity, and secure "the pearl of great price?" The merchant may fail to secure the object of his pursuit, his labour and anxiety may be fruitless a sudden reverse of fortune may blast his hopes, and reduce him to abject poverty; but those who diligently improve the talents which God has given them, shall in no wise lose their reward; they are laying up treasures in heaven, treasures which no rust can corrupt, and no thief can steal. But I observe,

1. That we should "occupy" our talents in diligently attending to the salvation of our souls. Perhaps there may be some of us who have not hitherto attended as we ought to this most important matter, and who have been living "without God, and without hope in the world." If so, I would solemnly ask them,-Do you not know or believe that your sins expose you to great and imminent danger, and that it will not profit you, though you should gain the whole world, if you lose your souls? If you believe this, then surely it becomes you to apply your minds instantly and earnestly to the work of your salvation. Think of the wrath of God, which abideth on the impenitent and unbelieving; think of the joys of heaven, from which your unbelief will exclude you; think of the miseries of hell, to which your sins, if unforgiven, will eternally consign you. Remember that the soul, if once lost, is lost for ever. "Awake, therefore, thou that sleepest, and arise

But even those who have obtained peace with God, through the death of his Son, are also required to "work out their own salvation with fear and trembling" not their salvation from the guilt of sin,-for that is wrought exclusively by the atoning sacrifice of Christ, but their salvation from the power of sin, and their transformation into the holy image of God. This part of salvation is accomplished through the diligent use of the means of grace, and by the accompanying power of the Holy Spirit. To the Christian, therefore, we say," Occupy" the talents which God has given you, improve diligently all the means of grace, seek to be wholly sanctified through the Word of Truth, stir up the gift of God which is in you, and pray unceasingly for divine teaching and saving grace; "for it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to do of his own good pleasure." Seeing that "there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed," many sinful passions to be subdued, many temptations and spiritual enemies to be overcome, many Christian graces to be acquired, and many attainments in knowledge and holiness to be made; study to go on to perfection, and, "forgetting the things toat are behind, press towards the mark, for the prize of your high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

2. We should " occupy" our talents in promoting the welfare of our brethren. No man, and especially no Christian, should live for himself alone. It was a murderer who said, " Am I my brother's keeper ?" Has God bestowed upon us the gift of reason, or the gift of superior intelligence? Then let us "occupy" this talent in instructing the ignorant-in devising and conducting plans of benevolence in teaching the young to fear the Lord their Maker in guiding the minds of all over whom we have influence to the knowledge, and love, and obedience of the truth. How melancholy to see the gift of reason prostituted to the service of infidelity and impiety, and employed in perverting and corrupting the minds of men. But how pleasant to behold a

man of superior understanding devoting all the energies of his gifted mind to the instruction and improvement of his brethren, and seeking, by argument and by entreaty, to win them to the practice of virtue and to the service of God. "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."

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"He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry ;" and then the mask of a false profession shall be torn off, and the hope of the hypocrite shall utterly perish; and the infidel, who now scornfully asks, Where is the promise of his coming? shall call upon the rocks and the mountains to fall upon him, and to cover him from the terrible wrath of the Lamb. Prepare, thereAgain, has God given to any of us the talent fore, to meet thy God, who now says to thee, of wealth? Then let such "occupy" that talent Occupy till I come." Be warned by the doom in promoting the temporal and spiritual welfare of the slothful servant, who hid his talent in the of their fellow-men. Let them be ready to dis-earth, and was cast into outer darkness. Be ye tribute, willing to communicate, of their abundance diligent, and stedfast, and immoveable, always to the wants of their poorer brethren. Let their abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as charity be without ostentation and without par- ye know that your labour in the Lord shall not tiality; let it be given, not for effect, but from be in vain. Those who are faithful to Christ principle; let them do it unto the Lord, and not upon earth shall be abundantly and graciously unto men; and He who seeth in secret will re- rewarded in heaven; for the Judge shall say to ward them openly. But let us be especially dili- them, "Well done, good and faithful servants; gent in "occupying" this talent to provide for the enter ye into the joy of your Lord." spiritual necessities of our fellow-men. There are multitudes, in our own land and in heathen lands, who are living without God and without the Gospel of his Son, and hastening onward to an unknown and uncared-for eternity. How, then, shall they call on Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear, without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? and how shall they be sent, except they be supported and maintained? Bibles must be provided, and the ambassadors of Christ must be sent forth to preach the everlasting Gospel, otherwise multitudes must perish for lack of knowledge; and the blood of their souls will be required at our hands, if we, possessing the talent of wealth, refuse to "occupy" it in providing for them the means of grace. But the man who has earnestly sought the salvation of his own soul will always care for the souls of his brethren. The Christian desires not that the peace and joy of the Gospel may be confined to his own breast, but that they may be communicated to all his brethren of mankind: and he prays, "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us, that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations."

3. We should "occupy" our talents in promoting the glory of God." Whether ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." This should be the great aim and object of our existence-to glorify God by doing his will, by departing from all iniquity, and bringing forth the fruits of holiness. "Herein is my Father glorified, when ye bear much fruit."

COMFORT FOR MOURNERS.
CHILD of sorrow, lorn, forsaken,
Whom the world hath long oppressed,
Though by misery's storm o ertaken,
Calm the tumult of thy breast.

Why this anguish ?

Hither come, and sweetly rest!
Child of sorrow, bush thy wailing!
One there is who knows thy grief,
One whose mercy, never failing,
Waits to give thy soul relief;

He, thy Saviour,

Faithful still,-of friends the chief!

Child of sorrow, do they leave thee,—
Those on whom thy hopes have stayed?
Jesus calls, and will receive thee,
With a love can never fade;

Hark, he bids thee

Seek the home for sinners made!

Child of sorrow, tempests lowering
Hang around the clouds of care,
But thy Father's smile, o'erpowering,
Breaks the gloom, and gilds despair;
See thy Father

On the cloud his bow prepare!
Child of sorrow, why dejected?
Own, approve my righteous will!
I afflict,-'twas I protected;
Chastened son, be still, be still!
Grace and mercy
Ever thus my word fulfil!

HENRI ARNAUD,

HUTTON.

AND THE RETURN OF THE WALDENSES.
PART II.

III. We should now consider, in the last place, the motive which is here presented to induce us to be diligent and faithful in occupying our talents, IN consequence of the success of the Waldenses at namely, the coming of Christ to call his servants Bobbio, they were enabled, on the sixteenth day of to give an account of their stewardship. This their expedition (Sunday, September 1), to celebrate solemn truth is much forgotten, and its influence divine worship, when a sermon was delivered by M. is but slightly felt, by many who call themselves Montoux, the only associate of Arnaud, who addressed the servants of Christ. Beware, therefore, lest his audience from a door, which was laid flat upon two that great and terrible day of the Lord should rocks. An oath of mutual fidelity was also taken, beovertake you, as a thief, and find you unprepared.tween the officers and soldiers, in which they swore to