lieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," Acts xvi. 31; "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out," John vi. 37; "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely," Rev. xxii. 17. No; to all these he contrived to attach some restrictive meaning that completely nullified all their freeness. At another time, he would speak of the full confidence and persuasion he had of his safety, in such a way as, to Christians of more sober views, or more humble attainments, seemed at best very questionable. At one stage of his religious experience, he measured his growth in grace by the rapidity of his movements from one place of worship to another, and the quantity of sermons he could contrive to cram into a given portion of time; at another, he regarded preaching as a carnal ordinance, and the separation of men to the work of the ministry as an infringement on the teaching of the Holy Spirit, of which all believers partake. He was the ready disciple of every new and visionary teacher. He listened with eagerness to explanations of unrevealed mysteries, and detailed expositions of unfulfilled prophecy. He was certain that this and that would take place exactly as Mr. Somebody had described it; and, not content with his own full assurance on the subject, he was ready to denounce all who did not receive his views, or go all his lengths. At one time, he was the zealous advocate of uniformity, in order to Christian communion; at another, he maintained such a universal liberality of sentiment and practice as would speedily amalgamate the church and the world.

But it is needless to extend the sketch, especially as I wish to add a few sayings of my uncle, called forth at different times by the opposite

errors and absurdities of antiquity and novelty. I will only add, that when in declining health, Mr. Kennedy was the subject of gloom, distress, and uncertainty. It was extremely hard for him to shake off his vain speculations, and come with humble and unprejudiced mind to the pure fountain of truth and consolation. It was there, however, that he was at last brought, through many painful and perplexing exercises of mind, and there alone he found rest and satisfaction. With no common emphasis, his feeble lips pressed on those around him the apostolic exhortations, "Be ye henceforth no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine," Eph. iv. 14; "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace," Heb. xiii. 9; "Be ye stedfast, unmoveable," 1 Cor. xv. 58; "Hold fast the form of sound words," 2 Tim. i. 13; 1 Tim. vi. 20; "Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing," Phil. iii. 16. I close with my uncle's remarks.

"It indicates a weak mind to estimate things merely as they are new or old. The proper question is, Are they true and good?"

"Those who attach great importance to the date of things, are taken up with trifling circumstances, and overlook matters of real importance connected even with the things they admire. They pride themselves on possessing a rare piece of antiquity, or in outstripping others in adopting the newest inventions; but are strangers to the solid satisfaction which belongs to the possession of what is truly valuable, and the adoption of something

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really useful. 'I have a sampler of my greatgrandmother's,' says one; 'it is ugly and motheaten, but I value it for its antiquity; it must have been in the family more than a hundred years.' 'I have some letters of my great-grandmother's,' says a sister of the first-mentioned young lady, which indicate that she was an excellent woman. She evidently possessed sound judgment, high-toned principle, generous magnanimity, and genuine piety. I often read her letters with deep interest, I sympathize in her trials, and derive instruction from her example for my own guidance and support.'

"The idolaters either of antiquity or novelty continually expose themselves to petty vexations. One possesses some trifle of which he boasts as being the most antique in existence, and altogether unique; another values himself on an article of dress or furniture, because it is the very first of the kind; nobody else has one like it: but the former finds out that one antiquarian has a gem exactly like his own, and another has one some years older; the latter finds himself outstripped in the chase of fashion by some one, perhaps, whom he considers his inferior, and immediately the things in question have lost all their value.

What wise man would place any portion of his happiness on such trifles?"

"The slave of antiquity bars the door against improvement. The hunter after novelty opens it to ruin."

"He who spends all his attention and energies on securing and admiring what he has, is not likely to gain more or better. He who devotes himself to grasping after something that he does not possess, is very likely to lose what he has."

"Truth is immutable. It is neither old nor new. It cannot change with the little changing circumstances by which we are surrounded. If, therefore, we take our stand by truth and excellence, we join all the wise and good among the ancients; and we shall be joined by all the wise and good of the present and future generations."

"The Bible is a blessed book. It teaches us to set a due value upon every thing, to judge of things by their real importance, to choose or reject them as they are suitable or otherwise to our character, circumstances, and duties; and, amidst all the changing opinions and customs of men, it gives us something to direct our steps, to satisfy our souls, and to sustain our expectations, that can neither be worn out by antiquity, nor superseded by novelty."

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really useful. I have a sampler of my greatgrandmother's,' says one; it is ugly and motheaten, but I value it for its antiquity; it must have been in the family more than a hundred years.' 'I have some letters of my great-grandmother's,' says a sister of the first-mentioned young lady, which indicate that she was an excellent woman. She evidently possessed sound judgment, high-toned principle, generous magnanimity, and genuine piety. I often read her letters with deep interest, I sympathize in her trials, and derive instruction from her example for my own guidance and support.""

"The idolaters either of antiquity or novelty continually expose themselves to petty vexations. One possesses some trifle of which he boasts as being the most antique in existence, and altogether unique; another values himself on an article of dress or furniture, because it is the very first of the kind; nobody else has one like it: but the former finds out that one antiquarian has a gem exactly like his own, and another has one some years older; the latter finds himself outstripped in the chase of fashion by some one, perhaps, whom he considers his inferior, and immediately the things. in question have lost all their value. What wise man would place any portion of his happiness on such trifles?"

"The slave of antiquity bars the door against improvement. The hunter after novelty opens it to ruin.'

"He who spends all his attention and energies on securing and admiring what he has, is not likely to gain more or better. He who devotes himself to grasping after something that he does not possess, is very likely to lose what he has."