New Testament, as if it were an uninspired volume, (just as they would on the works of Sophocles or Demosthenes,) they give it, to a great extent, the ORTHODOX

INTERPRETATION.

In the evening Dr. Chalmers read a few verses to us from Rom. v. in the beginning of which chapter double mention is made of the Christian's hope.

CHAL. "The hopes of the Christian are founded on the promises of God. God has made us two great promises, and therefore the Christian enjoys two leading hopes. The first promise (with its corresponding hope) relates to the present life. It is the promise of grace. The second promise (with its corresponding hope) relates to the life to come. It is the promise of glory. Let us suppose that some person were to promise to bestow two benefits upon us, the one at the end of the week, and the other at the end of the year. If we had any reason to trust him, a double hope would immediately be raised in our minds. But if at the end of the week we found his first promise fulfilled, our remaining hope would rest on a confirmed basis, and we should then look forward to its accomplishment with a peaceful and unclouded expectation. So it is with the Christian. If he experience in himself the fulfilment of the first divine promise, the promise of grace- if his first hope be realized in the enjoyment of the Spirit-he will rest assured that bis second hope will never make him ashamed.' Then will he 'REJOICE in the hope of the GLORY of God.''

After the doctor had finished his short discourse and prayer, I begged for a boon, which was easily granted-a few moments' silence; and I ventured shortly to address the interesting company on the infinite value of Christianity, on the happiness of that fellowship in the gospel which knows no sectarian distinctions,—and on the importance of unreserved dedication to a crucified and risen Lord. The party separated apparently under the delightful influence of Christian LOVE.

Dr. Chalmers' conversations with us have been much more frequently about things than persons; and indeed he has too much intelligence and power of mind to descend to a species of conversation commonly called gossip-which is the frequent refuge of many whose understandings are meagerly stored with information. Persons, however, who, from the combination of talent and oddity, have made a noise in the world, must lay their account for being the subject of conversation in all sorts of companies. Such a man is Edward Irving, who once acted as an assistant preacher to Dr. Chalmers, in the Tron Church at Glasgow.

CHAL. "When Irving was associated with me at Glasgow he did not attract a large congregation, but he completely attached to himself, and to his ministry, a limited number of persons, with whose minds his own was in affinity. I have often observed this effect produced by men whose habits of thinking and feeling are

peculiar or eccentric. They possess a magnetic attraction for minds assimilated to their own."

"Nevertheless," I observed, "eccentricity, especially in people of serious religion, is extremely undesirable. I much prefer those broad intelligible qualities which attract the mass of mankind."

CHAL. "Yes, truly-after all, gravitation is much better than magnetism."

Chalmers himself is an admirable example of the attraction of gravitation. His clear reasoning, good sense, and honest simplicity, united with extraordinary warmth and vigor of mind, have rendered him steadily influential over a whole population. With regard to Irving, it is a subject of deep regret to Dr. C. and his other friends in Scotland, that his eccentricity has so far got the better of "the spirit of a sound mind" in him, that he has not only indulged himself in large flights in the region of unfulfilled prophecy, but has fallen into grievous error in relation to the moral nature of Christ-so much so, as even to assert (as I understand) the corruption of the human nature, and therefore the peccability of the Holy One of Israel. Dr. Chalmers has so much confidence in the sincere piety of his friend, that he fully expects his return in due season, to the genuine and sober religion of the New Testament. Nevertheless, such devious courses are very hurtful. They give occasion of triumph to the enemies of religion, and it may be, to religion's chief enemy; and we cannot doubt that they arise not merely

from the obliquity, but more especially from the pride of the heart of man.

One morning my sofa was surrounded by a choice company of morning visitors-David Erskine, a son of the late venerable Earl of Mar, who, with his sister, Lady Jane Erskine, was born blind. He has nevertheless cultivated his mind to an unusual extent; and I have no doubt, that in intellectual pursuits his superior faculty of attention has abundantly made up for the absence of sight. Both he and his sister, with other members of their family, especially the laborious Lady Charlotte, are decidedly serious. Erskine was accompanied by our friend, Edward Craig, an Episcopal clergyman, who has been our frequent visitor, and is a person of piety, information, and ready talent. Dr. Chalmers was also of the party, with his wife and sister-in-law, and was unusually cheerful and humorous. I inquired of Craig in what manner he was accustomed to prepare his sermons.

CRAIG. "I was once in the habit of writing my sermons-but I found there was a temptation in it to essay making, instead of preaching the simple gospel: I detected myself in cultivating the understanding, in lieu of impressing the hearts of my hearers. I now read and meditate, but write only a brief skeleton, from which I preach ; and I find that I am more successful as a preacher than I used to be."

CHAL. "I am not in favor of any category in these

matters. There is just a variety of gifts and every preacher has his own experience. I cannot trust myself to extemporaneous preaching, lest I should throw out my mind too widely into some one branch of my subject, and then I must either tire out the patience of my hearers by maintaining the due proportions, or else destroy the unity of my discourse."

I observed, that the force of ministry was greatly aided by concentration-and expressed my regret at the plan pursued by some of the clergy, when expounding the Scripture, of overwhelming its native force by an almost interminable commentary of their own.

CHAL. "I undertook to open Irving's new chapel in London. The congregation, in their eagerness to obtain seats, had already been assembled about three hours. Irving said, he would assist me by reading a chapter for me in the first instance. He chose the very longest chapter in the Bible, and went on with his exposition for an hour and a-half. When my turn came, of what use could I be in an exhausted receiver? On another similar occasion he kindly proffered me the same aid, adding, 'I can be short.' I said, 'How long will it take you?' He answered, 'ONLY ONE HOUR AND FORTY MINUTES.' 'Then,' replied I, 'I must decline the favor."

CRAIG. "My friend, Mr. P., invited a party to supper. Some of his guests had three miles to walk home after the meal. But before its commencement, Mr. P., requested Irving, who was one of the party, to read the