of bearing one to her long home ought to have restrained the angry passions of the followers. But their angry discussions were stopped by Dr. W- the clergyman, requesting the corpse might be brought into the church, while he himself approaching the group, and inquiring amongst them about the death of the poor woman, found her son was present at her decease, and giving him the requisite information, he sent him for the desired paper, as he declined taking upon. himself the alternative of informing the registrar of the funeral. The other persons present finding it would be an hour or more before the certificate could be received, were sulkily dispersing around the church-yard. Did the minister let them thus waste their precious time, which would probably have been spent in making angry remarks? No! a devoted servant of his Master, ever labouring in that Master's vineyard, he felt that he had precious time to redeem. Mildly addressing the murmuring persons, he told them he thought they might spend the time more profitably in the church. He was interrupted by the uncivil tone and ironical exclamation of a robust, hearty looking man-"You had better preach us a sermon." "And that I shall be most happy to do," meekly returned the reverend man of God. How beautiful is the

religion of Jesus! "When he was reviled he reviled not again," and he hath left us an example that we should follow his steps. Though nothing can be more contrary to man than to receive contempt and injury, yet the Christian when assailed by the enemy on this point, can go to the strong-hold of the promises and he shall ever find the grace of his Lord sufficient for him.

To return to my narrative. The doctor entered the church and all followed him, and joyfully did I take my seat in a large family pew, not only as a curious spectator, but praising my God for having raised up, in these evil days, servants taught by his Spirit to redeem the time. The minister devoutly read that portion of the burial service which is used before going to the grave; then all joined in singing the touching hymn of Newton, "Oft as the bell with solemn toll." When this was concluded, the doctor returned to the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians; and taking advantage of the occasion of their detention, he preached from it Christ the resurrection and the life. As he advanced in his discourse a hallowed solemnity seemed to steal around; the most restless were calmed, and I was particularly struck with the change that took place in the very man who had tauntingly requested the sermon. He stood up and seemed riveted to the spot. The minister told them that though he knew not the deceased, her life, or her previous character, yet of one thing he was certain, that she was now in glory or in eternal woe. He showed that the sin of

Adam caused all the trials and miseries of the world; that we were all sinners, and subject to the same death. But how cheering it was to know, that "now is Christ risen from the dead;" that we must be pardoned by the atoning blood of Christ, renewed by the Holy Spirit, or we could never enter into the joys of heaven. He solemnly pressed it to our consciences to ask ourselves, if laying in our coffin as our sister did before us, whether we should enter the presence of God in heaven or be banished from that presence for ever. That now, the present time, we must seek the mercy of God through the Lord Jesus Christ, for at the resurrection day it would be too late, the righteous would be severed then from the ungodly. But it is impossible to give even a faint outline of the earnest simplicity with which he urged them to flee to Christ for the salvation of their souls. Solemnly praying that God would bless his discourse to their souls, he concluded, and it being quite dark, I left them singing another hymn. I left them edified in my own soul, rejoicing in spirit, and giving glory to my God.

We cannot tell whether the circumstances of this funeral may not prove the resurrection from a death unto sin unto newness of life to any of the dead souls who were actors in it. But this we know, that "God shall make even the wrath of man to praise him." Strengthened by the grace of his Lord the servant was found labouring in season and out of season in the vineyard, and "Blessed is that servant whom when his Lord cometh he shall find so doing." And, reader, we have likewise our work appointed us to do; we have to redeem our time, and if the blessing is sure to the faithful servant, so surely shall that which is written be fulfilled: "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

I have since been told that after the funeral was over, an interesting scene took place between the doctor and the very man who asked tauntingly for the sermon, and there is good reason to hope that the discourse was blessed to one who was wandering from the fold of the Great Shepherd.

ON GOING FORWARD IN THE CHRISTIAN COURSE.

Suitable for the New Year.

WE are told respecting one of the most famous generals in ancient history, that he never thought he had effected any thing, till there was nothing left for him to do. By this maxim Cæsar opened a wide field of labour and anxiety for himself; but he aimed at being what the world calls a hero,

and he certainly deserved the title if it were ever rightly bestowed on any one, a mere heathen and a conqueror. However, all his heroism was in reality no better than robbery and murder; hurtful and destructive to his fellow-creatures, and fatal to himself. But there is one sort of warfare in which it is most desirable to be a hero-the Christian's warfare with his spiritual enemies; and in order to succeed in this conflict, we must adopt Cæsar's maxim, and never look upon any part of our work as done, while any thing remains for us to do. This plan was followed by one of the most eminent Christians that ever lived-St. Paul; who, after making progress in religion during many successive years, described himself as still fighting, still striving, still fearing lest through indolence or neglect he should forfeit the prize he hoped to gain.

This Christian hero is now become a conqueror; his struggles are ended; but living believers are required to maintain the same conflict, and the promise, “to him that overcometh," speaks to us likewise. Happy shall we be, if, like St. Paul, we receive the crown of righteousness which is promised to all believers. Let us then remember that there is no part of the Christian's course where he may allow himself to stop and rest; he must ever be going forward. There are many reasons which urge upon us the necessity of continually pressing forward in religion; among them the following may be noticed.

1. The example of St. Paul, whose unceasing progress has been already mentioned. He was a superior character through his whole life. When a pharisee he manifested honest and sincere though ill-directed zeal for God. When a new convert, his decision of character was conspicuous. He tells us that as soon as the Saviour was revealed to him, "immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood,” Gal. i. 16. He did not remain a mere scholar, but he speedily became a teacher and an apostle in the school of Christ; and as such, strikingly manifested all the qualities becoming a minister of the gospel. Diligence: for he says, "Labouring night and day we preached unto you." Tenderness: "We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.' Prudence: "I am made all things unto all men, that I might by all means save some." Love: "I will very gladly spend and be spent for you." "I could wish that myself were accursed for my brethren." Firmness: He "withstood" St. Peter when "he was to be blamed." "He reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come," before Felix and Drusilla. Indifference to the world: "Not as pleasing men; but God which trieth the hearts." Zeal: His spirit was stirred within him when he saw the city of Athens wholly given to idolatry. Right views of his office: "We are ambas

sadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us." In all things St. Paul made the Lord Jesus Christ his model. "Be ye," says he, "followers of me, as I am of Christ." Men are often recommended to imitate their fellow-creatures; to seek to resemble one in prudence, another in_learning, another in activity, others in other respects. St. Paul chose for himself a perfect pattern, the Lord Jesus Christ. His character will appear still more eminent, when we consider him as a martyr, and remember, that a profession of Christianity, which is now honourable, was then despicable.

All this shows us that St. Paul's character has not been surpassed either in ancient or modern times. What Christian could have more ground for self-satisfaction, for resting content with his present attainments? Yet St. Paul, “forgetting those things which were behind, reached forth unto those which were before." And shall a bruised reed, that has but just taken root in the church of Christ, a smoking flax, that contains scarcely a spark of love to God, be satisfied with the progress it has already made? and think that no further efforts are necessary?

2. The design of the gospel. The Bible tells us repeatedly that the great end of the gospel plan of salvation is to render us holy; to transform us; to restore to us the image of God in which man was first created; to make us "meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;" in short, to make us "partakers of the Divine nature." The object of Christianity is, then, to lead us to strive to be perfect; for Christians are commanded to "be perfect as their Father in heaven is perfect." We are not to rest satisfied till this is accomplished; and this will never take place while we are in this world. It is therefore a poor excuse for indifference in religion to say, "We are not perfect; no one on earth can be perfect." Because we are not perfect yet, we ought to be the more diligent in labouring after perfection.

3. In religion, not to go forward, is to go backward. In general, when any work has been begun, if the artist lays it aside before its completion, though his work does not proceed, it remains as he left it. But in religion it is very different. If we relax our efforts, we lose whatever advantages we have gained, and therefore, even if we could be perfect, we might soon return to sin, by becoming negligent or careless. Sin is natural to us; holiness is the reverse; and as soon as we neglect to watch over our natural propensities, they will gain ground upon us. We have within us an evil nature, ever at work, which is every day busied in promoting our ruin; every day seeking to harden us in sin; to bind our souls to earth, and if we are not equally busy in opposing this corrupion, it will prevail against us. When a sermon, or any other

means of grace has made some impression on our hearts, how soon do we lose the feelings thus excited, when we return to our usual pursuits! This is the work of the enemy within.

4. In proportion as we go forward in religion, we shall feel our deficiencies. In human knowledge, those most advanced are humble, and always ready to confess their ignorance; while those who know little, imagine that they understand every thing, and are ready to give their opinion on every occasion. Both classes are sincere; the one understands the extent of the subject, the other confines it to the little knowledge already acquired. Thus in heavenly wisdom, he whose love to God is weak and faint, whose views of holiness are imperfect, easily flatters himself with the idea that he is fulfilling all his duties. But the man who has, as it were, left the coast, and entered the ocean, sees a wide space open before him; that is, the true Christian finds his graces so few in number, so imperfect in their degree, so interrupted and so defiled, that he considers what has already been accomplished is nothing to what yet remains to be done. As he meditates more and more on the sins he has committed, he finds them so hateful, so dreadful, so numerous, and so great, that he wonders his eyes do not become fountains of tears. When he reflects on the nature of this world, it appears so vain, so empty, so treacherous, so fleeting, that he cannot imagine why its pursuits should have such hold upon his mind. But when he looks forward to the pure and solid happiness of the heavenly world, he wonders he is not always longing to leave this world of sight and sense, and wing his flight to heaven. Thus, the more we know of the way of salvation, the more we feel our ignorance; and the most eminent saints have ever been the most distinguished for humility. Abraham hardly ventured to speak, knowing himself to be but dust and ashes: David knew he could not stand, if the Lord were to mark iniquities: Paul said he had not already attained: and even the blessed spirits in heaven, that were never clad in mortal flesh, the cherubim who stand around the throne of God, while they have wings to fly at their Creator's bidding, have also wings to cover themselves, as if to denote that they have need to be ashamed of their best services, as falling far short of what they owe to their Creator.

5. The situation in which God places us as inhabitants of earth. What is this world, compared with our immortal souls? What was the design of God in giving us this abode? We cannot conceive how the Divine wisdom and goodness should have created us only for this world. There is an answer to this inquiry. Earth is the place for labour; life is a time of trial given us to prepare for eternal happiness or misery. Therefore, till we leave the world, our labours