THOUGHTS SUGGESTED BY RECEIVING AS A MOTTO, FOR THE YEAR 1837-" ALIVE UNTO GOD."

Let us consider what is implied and included in these important words, "alive unto God." Being alive, means in existence; and being alive, also implies growth. We should also understand it to include vigour and fruitfulness; and should look for these qualities in what is alive. Now, when we turn and apply these terms to our own state, how do they correspond?-the terms, and the state. Existence-growth-vigour-fruitfulness. Is there a real, honest consciousness that our life is hid with Christ in God? that we are new creatures in Christ Jesus? that we are born again, not of water only, but of the Spirit? therefore, have not a dead name, but a name to live?

Do we grow in grace? Does the house of Saul grow weaker and weaker; and the house of David stronger and stronger? Is grace so increased in us as to have the upper hand; so as to reign through righteousness? Rom. v.

Again, with regard to vigour are we stronger in the Lord, and in the power of his might; so as most decidedly to reject the evil and choose the good? Is it our firm and animated determination ? "As for me," I will serve the Lord; I will take Him for my God; my hands shall not hang down, nor my feet fail, in following on in His way. I will not be ashamed of confessing Him, and trusting Him before the sons of men. I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded He is able to keep that I have committed unto Him; and that He will perfect, stablish, strengthen me. 1 Pet. v. Strengthen me with all might, according to his glorious power. Col. i.

Lastly: Do we bring forth fruit; and does our fruit remain? Not an accidental sprouting forth; but a regular production : "fruit in its due season:" all manner of fruits, yielded every month. Not ceasing from yielding fruit; either in the glare of prosperity, or the shade of adversity, (Jer. xvii.,) but working for the glory of God, and from good will to man. The fruit of the Spirit is in

all goodness, and righteousness, and truth. Eph. v. 9; and see also Gal. v.

The excellent Mr. Walker, of Truro, said, "The Christian should not be like a tree which produces fruit upon a branch or two. However low his growth, yet every where he is fruitful." Now, when we look back again upon all that is included in being alive unto God; when we compare what should be with what is, have we not reason to be confounded, and never open our mouths any more, because of our shame in having so come short-in so perpetually coming short-in our failing, our living failure, so to speak? Ashamed we may well all be for our unfaithfulness, our unfruitfulness; and quickened we all ought to be to earnest prayer, that the Lord's work in us, if begun, may be carried on-may be revivedmay be quickened. If it is not begun; if the work of life has never even begun in our souls, then are we indeed dead. Oh! awful words! considering all involved in them dead in trespasses and sins! But if, faint and small as it may be, in proportion to what it ought to be→ if we are happily conscious that there is a spark of life divine within us-then let our gratitude be deep and devoted, remembering that it is God who hath quickened us, who by nature were dead; that it is God who worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure; and that it is God who will complete and accomplish his own work in us. If we are alive, it is through God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Oh! may we then be increasingly alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

C.

RAP AT THE RIGHT DOOR.

"He has insulted me beyond all endurance, and I will rap him for it."

Now, my friend, just consider. I suppose you would not kill him outright; which you might do if you were to give him a rap of violence. And it is plain, from your present state of mind, that you would not give him a good-humoured blow; for that, like patting a dog

would make him good natured, perhaps. Now, on your own showing, the man has some canine qualities. His abuse of you is your testimony of this. You are of fended and injured, you say, by the display already made of these qualities. But you will bring more of them to view by the course you propose. Rap that surly dog. You will get an angry growl, perhaps more, for your pains. You may get something of the kind if you rap that man.

"But I wish to call his attention to bis abuse of me.” And so you think a wound in his flesh is the best mode of appealing to his moral sensibilities. I think, if you rap him, he will think more of his skin than he will of his sin. You will draw his attention to his fleshly susceptibilities, and away from his guilt. And you will interest him in some way of repaying in kind your invasion of his flesh. Just think, too, you have seen already that that man has a very bad heart. It is a very furnace of evil principles. You have been burnt already by a spark. In pity to yourself, then, I pray you, let the volcano sleep, if it will. Your revenge will only awaken it to fresh fury. A burnt out vine-dresser, on the side of Etna, is poorly employed in opening a new avenue to the fire.

“But I have no design of striking him. What I mean by giving him a rap is just to tell him what a mean and contemptible character he possesses."

Well, this is better than to smite him; as it may be said, it is better a man should be bitten by an adder than stung by a scorpion. But I think still you rap at the wrong door. The right one is conscience. I will tell you how to knock at that door, and then how much you will accomplish by it.

1. Take no notice of the man's abuse. Show him a placid countenance; a serene, quiet, peaceful, uncomplaining spirit. You will smite him by so doing. He will feel it. The peacefulness of your spirit, as seen in contrast with the tumultuous passions of his own bosom, will pierce him. There is keen and cutting rebuke to the injurious in the quiet patience of the injured. 2. But you can knock still louder. Let benevolent pity for your reviler prompt you to do every act of kind

ness in your power. Do him good, even at the expense

of self-denial.

Show him an exact contrast of his treatment of you. Compel him to see there is a palpable difference of character, and in whose favour the, difference is. He cannot long stand this. I do not believe there is a heart this side of perdition which can long abide such an appeal unmoved.

Now see what may be accomplished by such a course. 1. You will have knocked at the right door. An angry blow, or a fierce and bitter rebuke, would have left his conscience without any assault. You would have roused him by your reproaches, and so you would a tiger by pulling his beard, and to much the same purpose. You would have awakened no self accusation. You would only have set malignant passions in a flame, without the slightest amendment of character.

2. You will follow at once the very best example and the very best advice. Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps: who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not. Now for the advice. "If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." Now, if you are hot for vengeance, just think of these “burning coals!" And if you can be satisfied only with a plentiful recompense, you can heap them; and if you must reach a vital part, you can heap them on his head.

KEEPING THE HEART.

To keep the heart habitually with God is the highest task of a Christian. Good motions are not frequent, but the constancy of good dispositions is rare and hard. This work must be continued, or else speedeth not; like as the body from a settled and habitual distemper must be recovered by long continued care; and so much the rather, that we cannot intermit here without relapses. the field be not tilled every day, it will run into thistles. The evening is fittest for this work, when, retired into ourselves, we must cheerfully and constantly both look up to God and into our own hearts, as we have to do with both to God in thanksgiving first, then in request.

If

It

will be expedient for the soul duly to account to itself all the specialities of God's favours. A confused thank savours of carelessness, and neither doth affect us, nor win acceptance above. Bethink yourself, then, of all these external, inferior, earthly graces-that your being, breathing, life, motion, reason, is from him; that he hath given you a more noble nature than the rest of the creatures -excellent faculties of the mind, perfection of senses, soundness of body, competency of estate, preser vation from changes, rescue out of sorrows, kindness of friends, carefulness of education, liberty of recreation, quietness of life, opportunity of well-doing, protection of angels. Then rise higher to his spiritual favours, though here on earth, and strive to raise your affections with your thoughts. Bless God that you were born in the light of the Gospel, for your profession of truth, for the honour of your vocation, for your incorporating into the church, for the privilege of the sacraments, the free use of the Scriptures, the communion of saints, the benefit of their prayers, the aid of their counsels, the pleasure of their conversation, for the beginnings of regeneration— any footsteps of faith, hope, love, zeal, patience, peace, joy, conscientiousness, for any desire of more. your soul mount highest of all into her heaven, and ac knowledge those celestial graces of her election to glory, redemption from shame and death, of the intercession of her Saviour, of the preparation of her place; and there let her stay awhile upon the meditation of her future joys. This done, the way is made for your requests; sue now to your God, as for grace, to answer these mercies, so to see wherein you have not answered them. From him, therefore, cast your eyes down upon yourself; and as some careful justice doth a suspected felon, so do you strictly examine yourself of what you have done that day -of what you should have done. Inquire whether your thoughts have been sequestered to God-strangers from the world-fixed on heaven-whether charitable, lowly, pure, Christian-whether your senses have been holily guided; neither to let in temptations, nor to let out sins; whether your speech has not been offensive, vain, rash, indiscreet, unedifying; whether your actions have been expedient, comely, profitable. Thence see if you have

Then let