lay past time under contribution to the improvement of their understanding. Especially should that promise be pleaded in prayer-"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

But it is time to notice that beautiful quality which crowns the other, and was seen shining with it in equal lustre in the life of Henry-"the meekness of wisdom." It is the opposite of pride. Knowledge puffeth up, and so does unsanctified talent or genius; but the wisdom which cometh from above is humble, and clothes the soul in the veil of modesty. It is the opposite of contention; it loves, seeks, and promotes the truth. It is intolerant of error, and tramples down falsehood; but it separates between persons and principles, between men and systems; and to those "who have ears to hear," it speaks the truth in love. Accordingly, Matthew Henry's spirit did not sweep along like a sirocco, or burst forth like a volcano, or fall like an avalanche, but it dropped like spring rain, and shone like the summer light. He was never violent, boisterous, and harsh in advocating his sentiments. He felt himself to be right; but he was tolerant, candid, and gentle toward all who were of another mind. "Delight," he said, "in the noble generosity of speaking well of those who differ from you." In his Life, we read much of his Christian love, his catholic temper, his hatred of censoriousness, his candour, moderation, benevolence, and patience. Plainly is that wisdom which was in him, identified as the wisdom which cometh from above; "for it was first pure," and "then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits." And a blessed thing will it

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be when a like spirit shall come over all the advocates of Christian truth; when, however bold, and earnest, and zealous, they will still be peaceful and loving; when the belligerent temper and the warlike mien shall be laid aside, as inconsistent with the Christian controversialist and teacher; when, in this sense, the sword shall be beaten into the ploughshare, and the spear into a pruning hook, and the Christian's toil shall be after the manner of the husbandmen,-to sow the seeds of truth and to mow down the weeds of error.

It is not intended now to accompany Matthew Henry through his sabbath services, or to join him in family worship, as he "lights the lamps and burns the incense;" or to notice his domestic government (a copy of what he had so lovingly obeyed in his own boyhood); or to follow him in his pastoral visits, full of counsel and comfort; or to see him among his friends, the cheerful and confiding companion; or with his fellow-citizens, the bland, courteous, and polite gentleman. All this would tend to confirm our impression of the amiableness of his disposition, the peacefulness of his habits, the affection of his heart, and the meekness of his wisdom. He was just the man to call forth the exclamation attributed to Mr. Reynolds, after reading his Memoirs :-"Farewell, dear saint! Thy memory is fragrant upon earth; thy works will perpetuate thy fame; thy spirit is retired to those who are perfect. I follow, though sinning, tired, and sighing. One motive more I have to quicken me in my way, that I may meet the loving, beloved, holy, happy Henry there!" Yes, he is there; and all who have lived wisely are also there. And while to think of him, and such as he, as the inhabitants of the better country,

gives a personal interest to heaven, and, with all its mysterious magnificence and dazzling splendour, makes it look so home-like;-his exaltation thither, his present peace and blessedness, and his hope of something still more perfect at the last day, tend to illustrate the nature and effects of that wisdom embodied in his history. That must indeed be wisdom which leads a man to heaven. And in what blessed contrast does it appear to the folly of those who make themselves “to be lighted to utter darkness by the light of the gospel; to go laden with sermons, and sabbaths, and sacraments, to hell;" who are exclusively busy about things temporal, while eternity is just going to swallow them up, like a man "who should paint his cabin while the ship is sinking"! It has been computed that not less than one vessel every hour suffers serious loss or shipwreck. What an awful numbering of the hours! But worse is it to think, that many more souls hourly perish. Much of what happens at sea is mere casualty: no wisdom can prevent it. But the case is different on the moral ocean: there are no accidents there. Nothing but folly wrecks the vessel. The wise never perish. They shun the rocks, shoals, and whirlpools; and He who holds the winds in his fist and the waters in the hollow of his hand, will not suffer the tempest to overpower them. They shall reach the haven in peace, with all the precious freightage of knowledge, holiness, and love, which grace taught them to collect and carry. 'Wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness." "Oh that men were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end." "The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."

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CHAPTER IX.

GEORGE WHITFIELD;

OR, SERAPH-LIKE ZEAL.

"It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing.” GALATIANS iv. 18.

ZEAL is attributed, in the Bible, to God himself. Describing that unseen and infinite One, after the manner of men, Isaiah speaks of him as wearing “righteousness for a breastplate," "salvation" for "a helmet," and "garments of vengeance for clothing." The description is completed by the prophet's saying, “He was clad with zeal for a cloak." Twice, by the same Hebrew seer, is it named as a pledge for the accomplishment of a revealed purpose, "The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this."

In Him who was "the brightness of the Father's glory," there was a manifestation of the same attribute. It flashed from his eyes as he scourged and scattered the changers of money, and those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, saying, "Make not my Father's house a house of merchandise." "And the disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." How conspicuous was the same quality in our Lord's illustrious forerunner, John the Baptist, who came in the power and spirit of Elias;

how he kindled in his hearers a feeling like his own! "From the days of John the Baptist until now," said the Saviour," the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."

Paul was the very personification of this grace. "An angel flying in the midst of heaven," with the force and fleetness of the wind or the lightning, "having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them. that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and tongue, and people," is a picture of the apostolic life of him who said, "The love of Christ constraineth us." And his seraphic zeal has been caught by a long train of holy men, who have been counted faithful and put into the ministry. Tongues as of fire sat on each of them. Church history furnishes a gallery of pictures thus distinguished. Chrysostom at Antioch and Constantinople is a well-known example. His ministry seems to have been modelled on the sentiment he once expressed in preaching: "The man inspired with holy zeal sufficeth to amend a whole people." What he says of the prophet Jeremiah might be applied to himself "The power of the Spirit rushed as fire upon his soul, kindled a flame in his inmost parts, consumed and ate up his bones, so that he could not endure the burning." In the answer he gave to those who reproved him for his unwearied rebuking of the corruption of the age, we have the temper of the man and the type of his ministry-"It is the firm resolve of my soul, as long as I breathe, and as long as it pleaseth God to continue me in this present life, to perform this service, and, whether I am listened to or not, to do that which the Lord hath commanded me."