patience the race that is set before us. Let us put away every thing from us, that would hinder us from improving in virtue and goodness; looking to and imitating Jesus, the leader and captain of the faithful, and an example of spotless virtue and perfect obedience. The love of the world is enmity with God, and to place our affections here, is to vilify that better provision which he has made for us. We are but strangers and pilgrims here. The human state is but a passage, not a place of abode. It is a station of exercise and discipline, and was not designed for the place of enjoyment. happy country is before us.

AVOIDINGS.

That

Avoid all indirect arts in the pursuit of a for... tune. All unlawful methods of self-preservation. And every gratification that militates with reason and benevolence.

The Offices of a Christian.

These are heavenly-mindedness, and contempt of the world, and chusing rather to die than commit a moral evil. Such things, however, are not much esteemed by the generality of Christians : Most people laugh at them, and look upon them as indiscretions; therefore there is but little true

Christianity in the world. It has never been my luck to meet with many people that had these three necessary qualifications. And as for the people, exclusive of their going to church to make a character, or to ogle one another, or out of superstition to perform so much opus operatum, a job of lip service, which they idly fancy to be religion, they, I mean the great and the small, might as well be Heathens as Christians, for any real Christian purpose they answer, in a strict adherence to the three offices aforementioned. The name of Christian sounds over Europe, and large parts of Asia, Africa, and America: but if a Christian is what St. Paul defines it, to wit, a man that is heavenlyminded, that contemns the world, and would die rather than commit a moral evil, then is the number of Christians very small indeed.

The meaning of John, ch. vi. v. 44.

"No man can

come to me, except the Father draw him."

That is, no one can be a Christian, unless his regard for the Deity and natural religion inclines him to receive a more improved scheme of religion.

But Dr. Young, in one of his sermons, explains this text in the following manner. No one can live up to the religion of Jesus, and reach Christian perfection, unless the Father enlightens and enables

him, by the operative influence of his holy spirit. We can do nothing, in respect of what ought to be done, to be more than nominal Christians, without the inward principle of sanctification. This I think is mere methodism. The excellent Dr. Lardner expounds the text in the following words: "No man will come to me, and receive my pure, sublime, and spiritual doctrine, unless he have first gained some just apprehensions concerning the general principles of religion. And if a man have some good notions of God, and his perfections, and his will as already revealed, he will come unto me. If any man is well disposed, if he has a love of truth, and a desire to advance in virtue, and religious knowledge; he will readily hearken to me, and believe in me." Sermons, vol. i. p. 303.

Of Baptism, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

What is the meaning of baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost?

It signifies receiving men by baptism to the profession and privileges of that religion, which was taught by the Father, Son, and Spirit, that is, which the Father taught by the Son, in his lifetime, and by the Spirit, after his ascension.

Or, to be baptized, is solemnly to profess our resolution to adhere to that holy doctrine, which is the mind and will of God the Father, published to the world by his Son, whom he sent from heaven for that purpose, and confirmed by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Note, An able writer, St. Hillary de Trinitate, lib. 2. ad calcem on Matt. ch. xxviii. v. 19, says that baptising in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, signifies, In confession of the author of all things, and of the only begotten, and of the gift.

Of Christian Idolatry.

What a surprising incident is idolatry in the church of Christ! that after the religion of Jesus had accomplished its glorious design, and subverted idolatry and superstition throughout the world, it should itself be wounded almost to death, by the enemy it had subdued! This is the case all over the realms of popery. And can they be said to have any true religion among them, where the theology of Athanasius prevails?

Churchism and Creeds.

I have no very good opinion of creeds. Jesus Christ came with a legatarian power from God, the

Supreme Being, to declare his will to mankind; and the great work to be done, so far as I can find in the gospel, is, the perfecting our minds in all that is truly excellent; by labouring to excel in all the virtues of the gospel, by loving the whole race of mankind with an universal charity, and striving to add to the satisfaction and happiness of all about us, and with whom we have any connexion.

Having lost MARIA, I went up to London, and on my way to the metropolis, dined at a pleasant village, not far from Nottingham, where I saw two gentlemen well worth mentioning. They were sitting in a room the waiter shewed me into, and had each of them a porringer of mutton broth. One of them seemed a little consumptive creature, about four feet six inches high, uncommonly thin, or rather exsiccated to a cuticle. His broth and bread however he supped up with some relish. He seemed to be past threescore. His name was RIBBLE.

The other was a young man, once very handsome, tall and strong, but so consumed and weak, that he could hardly speak or stir. His name was RICHMOND. He attempted to get down his broth, but not above a spoonful or two could he swallow. He appeared to me to be a dying man.

While I beheld things with astonishment, the