SELECT PASSAGE.

Regenerating grace keeps hold of Christ. It makes even lawful enjoyments, like Joseph's mantle, to hang loose about a man, that he may quit them, when he is in hazard to be ensnared by holding them.- -Boston.

THE CHRISTIAN.

When I reflect how long I trod
The crowded paths that lead from God,
That God who gave me breath:
I stand amazed that love divine
Should rescue this poor soul of mine
From everlasting death.

And not content to sin alone,
I hurried my companions on,
Along the downward road:
Oft did the Holy Spirit cry,
'Turn, sinner, turn, Why will you die?
Seek happiness in God.'

But I refused to hear his voice,

And made this transient world my choice
With all its empty toys;

I sought delight in pleasure's round,
But solid bliss I never found-

I could not grasp the prize.

Often amidst the busy throng,

Has conscience whispered, You are wrong→→→
You are not fit to lie!'

I started, and resolved I would,
At some convenient time, be good,
And from these follies fly.

But soon, alas! my vows I broke,
And still wore Satan's galling yoke,
A wretched captive led;

Deceived, my precious time I spent,
And vainly thought I could repent
Upon a dying bed.

At length a ray of heavenly light
Shone on my soul with lustre bright-

I saw myself undone;

I wept, and read, and tried to pray,
But terror filled me all the day,
I knew not where to run!

Confused, and ignorant, and blind,
Whilst horrid thoughts possest my mind,
Suggested by the foe;

I wandered up and down for rest
Forlorn, tormented, and distrest,
And full of guilt and woe.

Sometimes a beam of hope would dart
Into my fearful, trembling heart,
Which kept me from despair;
And God was pleased to give me grace,
To seek with earnestness his face,
By humble, fervent prayer.

For though the Almighty dwells on high,
In light unpierced by mortal eye,
He loves the contrite soul;
He kindly bade my fears depart,
Spoke peace and pardon to my heart,
And made the wounded whole.

Then did my heart rejoice, and say,
The Lord hath turned his wrath away,
And set the prisoner free!

My father owned his wandering child,
I felt my God was reconciled,
And Jesus died for me.

O! may my life shew forth his praise,
Who died a shameful death, to raise
A rebel to a throne!

May every act, and thought, and word,
Be to the glory of my Lord-

I'd live to God alone.

By faith I view that glorious place,
Where I with all the ransomed race,
Shall praise redeeming love.

Even here below, when Christians meet
To sing the praise of God, 'tis sweet,
But sweeter still above:

Where undisturbed, and free from sin,
We see, without a veil between,
The unclouded Deity;
Adoring bow before his face,

And tell the wonders of his grace,

To all Eternity.

Printed and sold by A. FOSTER, Kirkby Lonsdale. Price 7s. per hundred.

PRINTED AND SOLD BY A. FOSTER, KIRKBY LONSDALE;

And sold by L. B. Seeley, 169 Fleet Street London; by R. M. Timms, 85 Grafton Street, Dublin; and by the Edinburgh Religious Tract Society, at their Depository in East Register Street, Edinburgh:

Of whom may be had, in neat, stiff, printed covers, Vols. 1, 2, and 3; price one shilling and fourpence each: also the two first volumes bound together in sheep; price three shillings and fourpence.

(Etracted from a curious and scarce sermon, preached at his funeral, the 16th September, 1623)

This brave baron was not more bold abroad among his enemies, than he was religious at home among his neighbours. His memory was Christ's library, his heart was a warehouse of God's grace. His house was a very church of God; in which God was duły served twice a day, in reading of the word, and in praying, the whole family together, unto God. And besides his own daily morning and evening sacrifice of private prayers by himself, which he did most devoutly and duly offer, he did, of late especially, retire himself every day to his private prayers in his inner-chamber, as some of his servants can testify; where he offered his tears not to men, but to God. He was a very

diligent reader of the Bible; and this, a Bible of

his, noteat nroughout with his own hand, doth well witness besides that, he did usually mark certain places which he did not fully understand, and would ask (when he had the first oportunity) the meaning of them.

He was careful to resort to the church of God, with all his house every Sunday, both at morning and evening prayers; which he never missed upon any occasion, if he were at home, and able to come: and for his reverent attention in hearing the word, his zeal in praying, his cheerfulness in singing with the church, and all his other actions of devotion; I verily think that as he was second to none, so may he justly be a pattern to all his peers and inferiors in the kingdom. Besides, he would usually talk at his table of what had been taught in the church; and help his memory with repetition: and did also by conference engrave it in the minds and memories of his servants.

It is well known what care he had to have honest servants and such as feared God; who only do their masters faithful service, because they do it in faith and with a good conscience: and how provident he was to purge his house of any that would swear, swagger, be drunk, and such like.

His liberality to the poor, their backs and bellies that did often bless him, can well witness. He was the hand of Christ to the poor, who received his daily alms, and his weekly allowance. Nei ther did he only look upon their misery and need, but also look into it. And to the end to know it the better, he would enter into the poor men's houses, and learn of them what they got by their weekly labour, what number of children they had; "and inquire how so small means could maintain so many: he would see the bread that they did eat in the time of dearth; and thus finding out the great