INSINCERITY is a plant of luxuriant growth in the depraved and corrupt soil of man's heart. It taints every motive and contaminates every action of the man under the power and dominion of sin. It is a principle which is generally unperceived by the unsuspecting victim whom it seeks to entrap and deceive. Hence it is difficult of discovery, and its baneful effects are not known until its deadly poison is felt operating in its consequences. It is a wide-spreading evil, prevailing in every situation, and infecting more or less all descriptions from the child to the man whose head is silvered over with age. It is astonishing with what a fair face and smooth tongue it deceives the unwary, and how much it assumes the manner and appearance of its opposing grace. To account for the prevalence of insincerity would be no easy task, were we destitute of the light of divine Revelation. We could scarcely reconcile the idea of man's taking advantage of his fellow's ignorance or simplicity, did we not perceive it almost at every step, and reflecting in its existence the broad fact made in the Scriptures of truth, "that the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." With this lamp in our hand we not only discover its root, and in connexion with all the evils that exist in the world, trace out its cause, but blessed be God, we find its antidote, its means of cure.

Insincerity too, is not found only in persons making no profession of godliness. Would that it were! But is it not a notorious fact, that it is prevalent among the circles of the professedly pious? To secure its object, and to accomplish its purposes, is it not ofttimes concealed under the cloak of sanctity? To attain its end does it not often profess to be the subject of certain feelings, and as devoted to certain

pursuits? Is not the still small voice of an uneasy conscience silenced and resisted in order to the attainment of certain advantages which are at the disposal of those, to whose principles we profess ourselves devoted, and on whose side we give them to understand we have long since enlisted? Do we not often meet with characters, who, in the society of the godly seem to be really and truly the friends and disciples of the blessed Jesus; whereas, if we follow them into their families and observe the discord, the irregularity, the unchristian

tempers which reign there or into the world, and mark their conversation, and note their intercourse with their fellow men, how little do we see of the same mind that dwelt in their adorable Saviour when he tabernacled in flesh? how little of that spirit which characterized him, who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners ? How very difficult then is it to resist the conclusion, that such are yet far, very far from the kingdom of God! How often is the humble believer constrained to hold down his head, and to mourn in secret over the gross inconsistencies of many professors! How does it grieve his righteous soul to witness their unholy dispositions, their worldliness, and the mean and dishonourable (not to say dishonest) conduct which they manifest in their intercourse with society in general ! Nor does he grieve less on account of the stumbling block which it proves to the mind just opening to the perception of the importance of real religion; the injury it does the cause of Christ in the world; and the melancholy state of such characters themselves. You will indeed, not unfrequently hear some talk of the pleasure and delight they experience in hearing of the

triumph of divine truth, in the ingathering of souls into the Redeemer's kingdom, and see their names blazoned abroad as public benefactors in the lists of our various institutions: yet, if we look for self-denial, for a devotedness of heart and life to the service of God; if we look for personal exertion in advancing the interests of Zion, and expect them to unite in those meetings for social prayer, which are extending themselves, blessed be God, among the members of our church; we look in vain, and mournfully lament that "all are not Israel who are of Israel." How often also do we meet with those in the religious world of whom it cannot be said, Deceit and guile go not out of their lips." How few, comparatively, are sincere in their profession; or, in other words, how seldom do their actions correspond with their high-sounding claims to the discipleship of the Son of God. Such characters, truly, are neither sincere in their love to God, in attachment to his cause, or in their love to men. They have a semblance indeed of life, they profess to live, but, alas! they are deadtwice dead: they would fain have you believe that they are "the children of light and of the day;" but they are "in darkness even until now." Their religion is a false religion: it will not bear investigation it falls before the religion of the Bible, like Dagon before the ark, How awful the delusion of such persons! how unhappy their situation, both as regards their present state, and in the prospect of eternity! O that such would be induced to retire into their closets, and to look into their hearts-to consider their ways, and look well to their goings, ere they enter that land, described as "a land of darkness-of thick darkness,' the blackness of darkness for ever." By their fruits ye shall know them :' for where sincerity is wanting that sincerity

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which enables its possessor to appeal unto Him who searcheth and trieth the heart, as to its existence, that soul is destitute of the least spark of divine fire, and is in danger of perishing for ever.

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But there are others who have been taught and permitted to feel the evil that lurks within. Striving to serve God in sincerity and in truth, they yet often doubt their possession of this grace of the Spirit. They know their motives to contain frequently such an admixture of sin, and their conversation and conduct to be so often under the selfish feelings of their own hearts, that they jealously question the correctness of their principles and the stability of their attachment to the Lord Jesus. Hence they groan, being burdened," Insincerity is ever at hand to mingle itself in all their duties and performances, and would fain lie at the bottom of every action, and stand uppermost in all things. But they desire, Oh, how ardently, how intensely! to be sincere. They' aim at sincerity; they see daily more and more of the hideous nature of insincerity, and know how liable they are "through the weakness of their mortal nature to fall into it. Knowing too that sincerity is what God requires in all that approach unto him and engage in his service, they are tempted frequently to imagine, because they see so little of it in themselves, that their profession is hypocrisy, their hopes delusive, and their prospects melancholy. Such characters recognize the importance and perceive the suitable nature of the Apostle's prayer for the Philippian converts, "that they might be sincere." This they long after, and pray for; and notwithstanding their doubts and apprehensions, they yet through grace can say,

Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest my desire to be sincere in my profession of thy name, in my attachment to thy cause, and

beats upon his shattered bark, threatening to engulph it in the mighty deep! He reflects with bitter anguish on the wreck of all his lately cherished hopes, while nature recoils and shrinks from a watery grave: in the attitude of prayer, and with eyes uplifted to heaven, he commends his soul to God, ere the ruthless weeds enwrap his lifeless body. The tempest continues! but the Almighty had appointed that the poor sufferer should survive its horrors; which having exhausted its fury, gradually subsides into calmness and tranquillity. He listens with breathless anxiety, and as the sound of each reverberating billow becomes more and more faint, until it en.. tirely dies away; hope once more takes possession of his mind. He gazes through the casement of his little cabin on the retiring tempest, and the calm face of nature rendered more peaceful, from the preceding contrast. Not a sigh disturbs the now unruffled waters, the sky is beautifully serene and cloudless, and the sun slowly sinking in the west, mellows and adds loveliness to the scene; but oh! who can conceive the joy which animates his bosom, when his tremulous eye (dim and shadowed by recent sorrow) recognizes for the first time, the white cliffs of his native land? now ere long he shall tread the strand, and in the embraces of his family, and begirt with those in whose sympathies and affections he so largely anticipates; he will scarcely remember that storms and billows conducted him thither.

The Christian's life resembles the mariner's: like David he cries unto God from out of the deep waters of affliction; the billows of corruption also as they are permitted to break forth, seem sometimes destined to overwhelm his soul. But Jesus the heavenly Pilot is at the helm, appointing and regulating every minutia of the storm; at his command the infuriated elements

become calm, and the foaming billows tend but more swiftly to waft the ransomed spirit into the haven of eternal rest in the bosom of her God. And here we must leave her, for language would utterly fail to describe the sensations which the raptured soul must experience, on first entering paradise; when the great white throne is then discovered to the astonished view, and the believer permitted to engage in ascribing everlasting hosannas to God.

It may be asked is it necessary that the Christian should meet with so many storms in his road to. heaven? Doubtless these painful dispensations are needful in order to promote his real prosperity. How salutary and abiding are the lessons which the soul receives in the school of sanctified affliction; she retires within, the world is shut out, or rather so embittered, that it ceases to charm, she intreats with Job that the Almighty would show wherefore he is contending with her; by faith she views the Saviour interceding on the right hand of the eternal Father on her behalf, the spirit becomes sweetly chastened to acknowledge the justice and goodness of God in appointing her severest trials; and she meekly drains the bitter draught presented by infinite love. Thus the design is answered, and hence flow the blessed fruits of joy, peace, and love in the Holy Ghost.

What is it that so frequently causes the soul of the much-afflicted believer, to wing her flight in holy longings and desires to an eternal world? The soft hand of Jesus has tenderly loosened one link after another, which chained the affections to the world, to make way for the enjoyment of his love; he has gradually weaned the mind from earthly objects, by removing or imbittering all it held dear below. The Christian has not been permitted to find one place short of heaven, on which to rest his foot;

and driven from the world and the creature, finds peace in communion with God, and, like the mariner, anticipates that rest, where his sun shall no more set behind a cloud, but shall be increasing in brightness and splendour in the immediate presence of the Lamb, "to go no more down for ever."

In reference to joy, how unwise in any, but especially the Christian, to be too much elated by the perishing things of this world. Were our desires always granted, how often would that on which, like Rachel, we had dwelt with so much anxiety, and from which we had anticipated a garden of delights; prove, as in her case, the tomb of our happiness. And even when our hopes are realized, how short-lived and transitory do they prove, they seem almost to wither in possession, and like the flower of the field, which they fitly resemble, to perish in our eager grasp. It is not possible for joy to flourish in a soil so uncongenial to its maturity; for the worm of disappointment is ever striking at the root of earthly comfort, and vicissitude and sorrow mar all below. Oh! it is an unspeakable mercy to have the mind so stayed upon the eternal rock, that neither the season of prosperity, nor the tempest of adversity, shall be able to move the soul's firm hold on

him! Would we estimate the world at its true value, we should endeavour to realize to our minds that solemn period, when we shall be called to undress for eternity. How will every thing merely sublunary, then appear as a feverish dream, unworthy a moment's reflection! and Jesus, and the salvation of our never dying souls, entirely eclipse all other objects.

When the sickly taper is rapidly wasting, and the sainted spirit is just hovering on the confines of eternity, waiting only the final summons to admit her to the presence of God, Oh! how sweet and soothing, to be enabled by faith to lean the languid head on the bosom of Jesus! and as she breathes out her last sigh, to feel that the everlasting arms of love are underneath, and round about her. None but Jesus can soften the dying believer's pillow, and his smiles alone can light up and illumine the dark valley, "O may his rod and staff" guide and protect us safely home! and then it will be of small account, whether in our sojourn below we travel through many storms, or are permitted to recline beneath an unclouded sky; for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

ELIZA.