they should feel for the salvation of those under whose roof they are destined to serve. And what more shall I say of the women of the New Dispensation? Might I not remind you of her who is styled, "most blessed among women," because "the mother of Jesus," whose brief history is one of the brightest monuments of faith and piety which even the Bible records? (Luke i. and ii.) Might I not ask you to pause on the exquisite story of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, whose salutation to the virgin mother of Jesus is one of the richest and sweetest samples of inspired poetry, breathing the fervour of love, the depth of devotion, and the very ecstasy of faith? (Luke i.) Might I not tell you of Mary, "who sat at Jesus' feet," and of Martha, "whom He also loved?" Of the women, at large, who ranked in the company of our Lord's disciples, the last to retire from his cross, and the first to visit the sepulchre? Of the mother and grandmother of young Timothy, who trained his infant mind in the knowledge of those Scriptures by which he became wise unto salvation? Of the many holy women who had been a comfort unto Paul, in his career of benevolent service, and of which he makes honourable mention? Of Lydia, who seems to have been, from the time that the Lord opened her heart, a succourer of the servants and of the cause of Christ? Of Dorcas, who spent her life in ministering to the comfort of the poor of Christ's flock; and who, amidst the weeping widows she had clothed, was brought back to life again by the power of miracle? On the characters and graces of all these holy women of the olden time, I might expatiate, and might find in each some feature of excellence worthy of your sedulous imitation. But, dear young women, I shall have accomplished what I aimed at, in this train of thought, if I have thoroughly impressed you with the vast importance of setting before you the best models of female grace and virtue, and seeking to follow them as they followed Christ. Ah! dear friends, He is the great standard of all; and, compared with Him, the brightest constellations of sanctified humanity are but as the stars of night withdrawing their glimmering light at the approach of the rising sun. Christ must be "all in all." III. IF THE PRAYER OF DAVID IS TO BE ANSWered for our Daughters, theY MUST CULTIVATE THE HABITUAL FEELING OF RESPONSIBILITY And danger. A young woman, without a deep and solemn sense of responsibility to her God, and to her sex, is as "a reed shaken with the wind." In such a state of thoughtless indifference to her real position, it is impossible to predict what may befall her. An ever-felt responsibility to God is the rock of her strength, and the shield of her defence. "Thou, God, seest me," should be the motto of her daily life. She should think, and feel, and act, and endure, and enjoy, "as seeing him who is invisible." In this state of mind, all personal and relative duties will be regarded with conscientious devotion, and increasing joy and delight. The power of evil will thereby be diminished; and the power for useful and happy action will be augmented day by day. Absolute responsibility to God-relative responsibility to all with whom we are connected in life superiors, equals, and inferiors-is our actual condition; and the more we are sensible of it, the more surely shall we demean ourselves as the loving children and obedient servants of God. Nor is a sense of danger less needful to those young women who would prove themselves the strength and ornaments of their families, of the Christian church, and of the land which gave them birth. Oh! if you would be as "corner-stones," in the great social building, “polished after the similitude of a palace," you must never be unmindful of the dangers, great and many, which beset your path. To be aware of them, and to watch assiduously against their influence, will be strength and vigour to every good, and holy, and amiable principle. There is, be assured, danger lurking in the trust and her guide. May she not hear path of every young woman, in every! grade of society, from the humblest to the most exalted;-danger, from pride, vanity, selfishness, wilfulness, individual temperament, and external temptation; -danger, from the society in which you mingle, from the friendships you may form, and from the new relationships into which you may enter: Oh! think of this with trembling heart. But remember that God will be the keeper, and defender, and comforter, of that young woman who makes Him her Him saying to her,-"Daughter, be of good comfort, thou hast sought my good Spirit to guide thee, thou hast given thy young heart to my service, the voice of thy daily prayer ascends to me for help, and I will never leave thee nor forsake thee,-no, never'; like Mary of old, thou hast chosen the good part, and it shall never be taken from thee: go in peace, and the angel of my presence shall attend thy steps, and bless thee in life and in death." Brompton. J. M. MURMURINGS AND DISPUTINGS. EXPOSITORY REMARKS. "Do all things without murmurings and disputings.”—PHIL. ii. 11. THIS passage instructs us as to the spirit which Christian brethren are to cherish and exhibit toward each other. Whatever objects the church may propose to accomplish, whatever business it may have to transact, no jar nor strife must be permitted to disfigure or disturb its proceedings. From this sacred ground the spirit of the world must be studiously excluded. All selfish passions, all mean jealousies and suspicions, should be sternly resisted and positively forbidden to approach. Whatever the Great Master has enjoined should be, fulfilled by all his faithful servants with all affectionate readiness. Let the followers of the Lamb cultivate his spirit, and towards "all that call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours," cherish and display brotherly tenderness and generous consideration. Even toward the weak let a noble-minded charity be evinced, combating their very prejudices with patient meekness,-anxious for the edification of the entire body, for the individual comfort and growth in grace of all that compose it. Principle, truth, conscience, must not be sacrificed; but let us take care not to elevate to this high ground, or dignify with these noble titles, what, after all, is only a selfish object and aim, a mere caprice, a foolish conceit, a private end. In things essential let there be firmness, by all means, grounded on the reason and propriety of things, and, above all, as ordained by him who is "Head over all things to the church;" but let that firmness be maintained with candour and in all kindness. In things not essential, however desirable they may seem to be, let there be a preparedness for mutual concession, and an endeavour to "keep the unity of the spirit" paramount to all other feelings whatsoever. ! In this way, a Christian church will shut out the fell demon of strife and division, "murmurings and disputings.” When once the members of a church allow themselves to indulge complaints against their brethren, to harbour ill thoughts one of another, to betray a feeling of mutual distrust, "murmurings" are on the road, which will engender strifes, and open a breach, through which who shall say what foul and unclean spirits may not enter? "The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water, therefore, leave off contention before it be meddled thus to prove an occasion of rending with." Christ's body, yea, of wounding his heart, grieving his people, and causing the enemy to blaspheme! Had there been, in reality, anything objectionable, how easily might its removal or correction have been effected by a very few calm words in "the meekness of wisdom." Ah! but unhappily, such a peaceful, noiseless, innocent way of dealing with the differences of opinion, and whatever traversings besides may exist among Christian people, does not suit the taste or the purpose of those parties to whom "murmurings and disputings", are so agreeable. The gentle, smooth passage of the church through the various stages of its benign and hallowed duties, under the conduct of its own chosen officers, is death to the pride and self-importance of these complainers. But for the noise which they make, there would be nothing to distinguish them; it is their discordance that makes them marked men. No very enviable reputation this, every wise man will feel, to rise into notice only by means of a croaking dissonance that offends all pure, harmonious natures! "Murmurings" quickly grow into "disputings." While the evil temper lay pent up in thine own breast, whatever injury it may have caused thyself, it did not blast and scathe others; but, now that thou hast taken out the ventpeg of thy displeasure, there is no telling its issues. Thou hast given a tongue to thy suspicions, to thy jealousies; thou hast uttered thy complaints, be they never so groundless, and they have fallen upon other ears, and poisoned other minds; and, perhaps, only this was wanted, only this first breath of discontent, to blow up a smouldering fire,-only this spark of foolish anger, to produce a conflagration which may rage for years, destroying what was once so beautiful and promising,-the work of long, tedious, trying days and nights of pains and patience, desolating the fairest scenes of Christian labour, and leaving ever after a dark, scorched spot, where no flower blossoms and no fruit can grow! All this thou hast done, with this reflection as thy solace, that thy discontented, querulous nature hath been revenged! "What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee ?" "Murmurings" stay not at home, but creep into other houses and work mischief there. Alas! for our fallen humanity, there will be always found more than plenty, whether in the body politic, or even among the professed adherents of Christ's holy gospel, ready enough to entertain these complaints, be they true or false, and to form a party. Or, should this fail, it is not likely that such "murmurings" should awaken no feeling of resentment on the part of those against whom they are levelled; the ill-humour on one side provokes retaliation on the other. The collision has begun,—war is proclaimed, and the combatants are closing upon each other! 46 Murmurings and disputings!" Oh! better were it to endure any amount of dissatisfaction, or even wrong, than You shall find these "murmurings," moreover, proceed from excessively little minds,-small, but very troublesome, as is so often the case in the animal world. If some whim of theirs-all the great world to them, in its turnis not complied with, if some mark of attention due to their own estimated importance and worth should happen to be neglected; if a sentiment should be expressed not in unison with their shibboleth; if a course be adopted, solemnly and after due deliberation adopted, of which they do not approve, what, for at least the heated moment, are all the ties of Christian brotherhood, all the claims of Christian liberty and Christian charity, even all the interests of religion and the honour of the Saviour himself, in comparison with their rights overlooked, their dignity offended? Oh, brethren! is this what we might look for from the disciples of Jesus? from souls redeemed by his blood, forgiven and freed from faults | innumerable, and "sealed" with the Holy Spirit of love? Who can discern any beauty, any power, any reality, in a religion which leaves its avowed subject to be swayed by passions so low? How sad it is to observe those who rank with "the excellent of the earth," forsake the house of God, forsake the table of the Lord, forsake the fellowship of the church, renounce the most solemnly binding obligations which they have vowed to keep towards Christ and his people, and all for trifles light as air, if not magnified by inordinate vanity! Perish our names,-let us say,—perish our ambition, and selfwill, and self-aggrandizement, rather than that His name, who suffered for our transgressions, should be dishonoured, and his glory tarnished through our pride and foolishness! Another thing very observable about these "murmurings" which generate "disputings" is, that those who indulge them do nothing for the cure of the evils, whether real or imaginary, of which they so loudly complain. Their only business in life, one might think, is to find fault, to detect imperfections in others. Very useful qualities, no doubt, if properly directed, but very unlovely ones where there is nothing else. It were, however, the greater charity, we ween, to keep back your criticisms, sharp, caustic, envenomed as they are, unless you show also the more excellent way, ay, and in such a spirit and manner, as to commend it to the adoption of people around you. It is extremely discouraging to receive no help from you in reforming what is wrong, restoring what is turned aside, strengthening what is weak, and perfecting what is lacking. You complain that this is not done, that that is neglected, that the other is out of place, and, very possibly, that keen eye of yours has discovered something real; things may be too much as you say; but how much have you done or attempted with a view to their improvement? What assistance have you rendered to those who, de ploring not less sincerely and deeply than yourselves that all is not in perfect order, are nevertheless making some effort toward amelioration? You complain that, in the church, all is so cold; that the people keep at such a distance from each other; that they evince no sympathy nor brotherly-kindness. I am indeed afraid that these charges are too true. But now, my friend, let me ask, in the name of candour and consistency, what have you done to dissolve this frigid atmosphere, and to induce a more balmy, genial state? Is the position you have taken up, in your isolation and self-satisfaction, (for, singularly enough, amidst all these complaints, not one modest syllable drops from your lips that would betray the least consciousness of imperfection in yourselves,) is this likely to infuse life and warmth, where, you say, there is at present so much chilling apathy and lukewarmness? How different might have been the condition of the community, and how much better that of your own heart, had you only with earnest good-will helped on the work of correction, instead of pampering a malicious joy by brooding over defects or errors, which, at the worst, a morbid fancy has not failed to exaggerate! Oh! anything, anything is better than that everlasting, statue-like, motionless eye and pointed hand, always resting on the fault, but advancing not a step to minister healing or relief. The truth must be told: these "murmurers and disputants," like their prototypes of old, that "laid heavy burdens on men's shoulders, but touched them not with one of their own fingers," are the most useless class of the community, whose sudden annihilation would be no loss; but whose "transformation by the renewing of the spirit of their mind" would, indeed, be an unspeakable blessing both to themselves and to mankind also. Who can calculate the injury that has resulted to the interests of religion from this contentious and bitter spirit, of which, in one of its phases, our text | Scripture-to the nourishment and display of sanctified dispositions and Christ-like tempers! "What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness!" "The God of peace sanctify you wholly." "The sons of God, without rebuke!" "God is love." "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." He is good—always good-good to all. Let us "honour all men." Let us " do good unto all men." Let us love all, as God loves all, in pity, if not in complacency. Let us "love the brethren," even as his is a special love. "If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. Every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him." has led us to speak-what minds it has alienated, what obstacles it has cast up, as the history of Christianity could mournfully testify! What can be more affecting and forcible than the exhortations with which the New Testament abounds to the contrary! "Let all your things be done with charity." "Be kindly affectioned one toward another with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another." "Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than himself.” "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you." "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another: by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." "Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children, and walk in love." "Do all things without murmurings and disputings, that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom shine ye as lights in the world." In fact, what arguments crowd upon us, from the entire plan and genius of the gospel-from the character and dealings of God-from the work of Christ-from our own necessities, failures, weaknesses, and imperfectionsfrom the constitution and relations of the church-from the interests of a dark, distracted, perishing world from the revealed designs of Infinite Goodness from the prospects of a renovated creation—from the visions of future glory-from all the precepts, examples, invitations, and promises of VOL. XXXIII. It is ours "that we What a responsibility, then, doth rest upon the church of the living God, that by it may be known his blessed nature and his wonderful works toward the children of men! to illustrate his most adorable name, and to publish to remotest regions what he is, and what he has done :—what he has done by the Son of his love, and what he has done for us as the subjects of his regenerating grace, might receive the adoption of sons." But how shall we declare this, except as we are His children in very deed, walking daily in his fellowship, growing in his likeness, made obedient from love to all his commandments, and "conformed to the image of his Son." Let the resemblance appear. Let His own spirit be cherished. Let Jesus Christ rule in our hearts. Let self be immolated upon that altar whereon the Saviour offered himself a sacrifice. Let us live only unto him. Let our whole life give out a clear-toned testimony for our Master. Thus shall we, in our individual spheres, in our several homes, in the church and in the world, hasten on that blissful consummation, when all shall be "one;" when the spirit of unity and concord, of peace and love, shall once more visit our world; when the fruits of the Redeemer's agony and toil L |