fing into the vices and follies of the world; and from being tainted with "the corruptions which are therein, through luft?" Would it not be our wifdom, my dear fellow-travellers towards Zion, to endeavour daily to fix our attention, and engage our minds upon thofe things which may more and more draw off our affections from earthly, and fettle them upon heavenly objects; and to be continually feeking a greater proficiency in the language of that country wherein we hope we have an eternal inheritance, purchased for us by the precious blood of Chrift?

It may, however by way of caution be remarked, that, although the converfation of the chriftian fhould, in all companies, be fuch as may adorn the doctrines of God his Saviour; and diftinguish him from the triflers of the world: yet, the more favoury and experimental parts of religion, are not to be promifcuoufly and injudiciously introduced in every place to which the common affairs of life may call him, but should be brought forward in their proper season; chiefly, when a fociety of believers are met together, and having fhut out the world and all its little concerns, are, or ought to be, employed in magnifying their beloved Lord, and relating to each other what he has done for their fouls.

That at fuch times, and in fuch company, unprofitable difcourfe fhould ever be countenanced, is a circumstance that can never be fufficiently lamented; and furely we may without danger of offence, venture to say, that it behoves every believer to be careful, that the chearfulness and joy which fuch interviews are naturally calculated to infpire, be not fuffered to degenerate into levity; this watchfulness, is more peculiarly incumbent upon Ministers of the Gospel. To thefe, as fhepherds fent by Chrift, the fheep of his flock are continually looking up for example, as well as for inftruction and, although we acknowledge that this idea is carried too far, when it leads us to expect the perfection of angels, from thofe who are subject to the infirmities of men; we are yet pefuaded, that, when kept within due bounds, it is certainly reasonable; for furely the teacher ought to be wifer than the fcholar. The fhepherd may be expected to know more than the flock, and as example is known to be more prevalent than precept, is it not unnatural for a believer to regard his Minifter's converfation as a fort of vocabulary by which he may regulate his own? How dif treffing are the reflections of a private character in the church of Chrift; (and here, alas! the writer fpeaks from painful experience :) how much more poignant must be the feelings of a minifter, when, retiring from a party of his

fellow-difciples, and examining what benefit he has receiv ed, or imparted in the interview, he is constrained to acknowledge to his God, and to his own confcience, that he has fuffered the hours to pafs away without introducing or promoting any topic that could tend to the improvement of his own mind, or the edification of his companions! O that the great Head of the Church may condefcend to blefs thefe feeble hints to every reader, that we may all refolve, (in dependance upon divine affiftance,) henceforward to make it our habitual study, and our conftant prayer to cultivate fuch fubjects of difcourfe in our focial interviews, "wherewith one may edify another;" and thus to imitate, as far as his grace fhall enable us, the example of him who "Ipake as never man fpake."

Sandwich.

E. T.

THE DYING DECLARATION OF A POPISH CARDINAL, RESPECTING JUSTIFICATION.

OR,

DEATH SWEEPING AWAY THE COBWEB OF HUMAN

MERIT.

SOME time ago you inferted the remarkable conceffion of Cardinal Bellarmine, who, after taking much useless pains in pleading the caufe of human merit, admits "that it is fafeft to trust to the merits of Chrift." I fend you now a fimilar declaration made by Cardinal Hosius, who, under Pope Pius IV. prefided at that infamous Council of Trent, in which all the abominable errors and fuperftitions of the papal church were confirmed. That great man, when death approached,' feems to have dreaded a dependance on his own righteousness, although he had before pleaded for it. In his laft will are thefe words, "I approach the "throne of thy grace, O Father of mercies, and of all con"folation, to the end that I may obtain mercy, and find grace in thy fight! I am not worthy that thou fhouldeft. "behold me with the eyes of thy majefty; but, as it is "moft worthy, that for the fake of his death and pasion "thou fhouldeft not only look upon me but crown me alfo; it is therefore that I come unto thee, moit dear, Father, and that without any merits, but thofe inefti mable

"ones of thy fon Jefus Chrift, my Lord, and my Redeemer. "I bring thee the merit of that death, wherein alone I "place all my hope and my confidence: that is my righte "oufnefs, my fatisfaction, my redemption and my propitiation. The death of the Lord is my merit." "So true "is it," fays Doctor Alix, "that confcience cannot always "be feduced by the errors of the understanding."

REMARKS ON 1 JOHN, xii. 42.

"And he brought him to Jesus."

F all characters there are none more generous and compaffionate than the people of God; their pity extends not merely to the bodies and external calamities of others, but they poffefs a noble principle of regard to their immortal fouls. Having participated the grace of God themfelves, they are anxious that others alfo may become objects of the fame. They find fuch excellencies in Jefus, fuch glories in his character, fuch a fuitability in his offices, fuch happy liberty in his fervice, that they wish to bring their fellow-mortals to him, that they may alfo admire his perfon, tafte his goodnefs, feel the power of his love, and live to his praife. So it was with Andrew when he brought Peter to Jefus; and fo it will be with every one that knows any thing of the value of his immortal foul; and the love of his Lord and Mafter, Jefus Chrift. But let us make a few remarks on this fubject. And,

1ft. In bringing men to Jefus, it must be remembered, that we are only the instruments; God is the chief caufe. The treasure of the gofpel is put into earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of men. The apostle Paul, nothwithstanding his extenfive knowledge, his thining talents, his useful labours, declares all to be of grace. And, indeed, whatever fuccefs we have in this way, we must not attribute it to the powers of our minds, the ftrength of our arguments, the manner of communicating our thoughts, or the adntired eloquence we may be poffefied of. Thefe are only means which would ever be fruitless, were it not for the blefling of him whofe only

prerogative it is, to open the eyes, and change the hearts of the children of men. "Paul may plant and Apollos water, "but God giveth the increafe." He only who made man can create him anew in Christ Jefus. He only, who fully understands the hardnefs of the human heart, can foften it. Let us, therefore, give him the glory, while we are careful to use the means he hath appointed for that end; which leads me to observe,

2d. That there are various ways in which we should endeavour to bring men to Chrift. Public preaching is a mean much bleffed for this purpofe. Do we fuftain the minifterial character?-Do we call ourfelves the Ambaffadors of God, the preachers of the Gofpel? Let us not trifle-Let us remember the end of our office; not to dif play our own talents, not to obfcure the glory of God, by the gifts of the man, not to waste precious time in gratifying unfanctified fancies, and curious hearers; but to bring finners to Jefus. Minifters, rife and be doing good. It is not a time to fpeculate, to be lax, to be unconcerned: time is going, and finners ftand upon the brink of eternal woe and defpair! Warn them, reprove, exhort them: pluck them as brands from the burning; yea, unite every effort to bring them to Jefus.-Are we in a private capacity; ftill there are ways for us, as inftruments, to bring men to Chrift. Let us pray for them; fhall we behold them in the greatest danger, in the moft miferable fituation, and yet never lift up our hearts to God for them?-Oh, let us pray earnefly, continually, yea, unitedly, for them, who will not pray for themselves; and who can tell how foon God may hear and anfwer our prayers? Religious converfation may also be used as a mean. Shall we fee our friends, our relatione, our acquaintance, in the broad way, and yet never once invite, reason, or expoftulate with them. Shall we contentedly let them go on in.that fatal path? Do we talk of kindness and fenfibility; oh, what feeling have we for them, for their precious fouls; if we never fo much as once ufe a prudent mean to bring them to Jefus? O let us drop a friendly hint now and then for Christ, who hath done fo much for us; and above all, as another mean, let our lives correfpond with our lips. The conduct is a powerful preacher, and will fometimes make a greater and more lafting impreffion than the moft pathetic harangue, the mot eloquent fermon. Let us unite this, therefore, with the reft, in order to obtain the end. But let it be obferved,

3d That it is the duty of all to endeavour to bring men to fesus. Ministers lead your flock to Jefus, Shew the mi

ferable finner that it is He alone can make him happy, and do him good. Bring the backflider to him who hath faid, he will heal his backflidings. Direct the difconfolate to

that gracious friend who hath declared he "will not break "the bruifed reed, nor quench the fmoaking flax."-Pa. rents bring your children to Jefus. What can you do bet. ter for them? Will you indulge their vain defires of worldly glory? Will you fuffer them to go on according to the defires of their own hearts. Will you fuffer them to affociate with the worst of company, and never pray for them, never reason with or exercise your lawful authority over them? O beware, left natural affection fhould ufurp the place of fpiritual. If you wish them to be happy, honourable, holy characters, bring them to Jefus. Mafters, point your fervants to Jefus. You have the charge of their fouls; pray with, and for them, in your families. Can you bear to hear them take the name of Jefus in vain, and not reprove them? Can you quietly fee them injuring their own fouls, and not make one effort to bring them to Jefus? O, ufe the means, and who can tell what fuccefs you may meet with? Children who know the truth, and have ungodly parents, with all confiftent deference, labour to be ufeful to them. Let the love you bear to them excite you to this duty, and what a joyful period that will be if God fhould make you the inftrument of the converfion of your beloved parents! Yea, let every individual keep this in view; your fituation cannot be fo high or fo low, fo confpicuous or fo obfcure, but what you may do fome good in this way; and, for your encouragement, let me obferve,

4th. That it is the moft noble and honourable fervice in which we can be employed, to bring men to Jefus. There is no character in all the world fo dignified as he who is thus ufeful. Judges upon the bench, Generals in their armies, Ambaffadors in their courts, Kings upon their thrones, all fink into nothing, when compared to the matchlefs dignity of fuch noble characters; yea, Angels in glory have not this honour, in the full fenfe, that they have, whom God bleffes in this work. It is true their difficulties are many, their enemies various, their trials fucceffive; but thefe are not worth noticing when compared with their fuccefs, felicity and honour: for, it is faid, "they fhall fhine as the stars "for ever and ever." But, we obferve,

Finally, that the end for which we bring men to Jefus, is the moft glorious and advantageous. Here much, indeed, might be faid; but let it fuffice to remark, that the bieffings fuch are partakers of are unfpeakable, are eternal. They