much to expect that a person of rank should become familiar with or make companions of those whom providence had placed far beneath him in station. It is indeed the duty of the highest, on proper occasions, to condescend to men of low degree, and to show the spirit of kindness and Christian liberality, to esteem them and love them for the truth's sake; but they should not be accused of pride, when they do not permit that familiarity, which pride on the part of their accusers may induce them to expect.

The charge, however, which is sometimes brought against Christians, of not showing proper attention to the young or to the inquiring, is in some cases too true. It is a grievous imperfection-it is a great evil, when Christians are indifferent about the religious instruction and salvation of those around them. The spirit and conduct of their Divine Master should be more manifested in going about doing good, in watching the first dawnings of religious interest and attention; in assisting young Christians in their inquiries, in warning them against error, and in guiding them into the way of truth. The inquirer, anxious for instruction, has reason to complain when aged or experienced Christians altogether overlook his case; or while exerting themselves in the more public religious institutions of the day, seem lukewarm about the more humble, but equally important duty of encouraging and assisting those who are "asking the way to Zion with their faces thitherward." There are indeed many who act this Christian and this friendly part; and

4

if all true Christians were to consider the intimate connection between this duty and the real prosperity of the church of Christ, fewer complaints of this kind could justly be brought against them.

At the same time it should be acknowledged, that the inquirer may have been expecting too much from Christians around him. They cannot read his thoughts, they may not know his desires, they are unable to sympathize with the fears and anxieties of the awakened mind, when the state of that mind is unknown to them. They should in some way or other be informed of his desire for Christian advice, and it should be made apparent to them that such would be welcome. Let these means be employed before the Christian is blamed for inattention to the moral wants of the awakened spirit.

Having thus presented to the inquirer some of the defects of Christians, and advised him to examine carefully the sweeping charges brought against them, to discriminate and to decide justly respecting religion, it now seems necessary to point out to Christians themselves the duty of guarding against those evils which are apt to prove a stumbling block, to the weak.

Christians are, indeed, called upon, by every consideration connected with the honour of religion, and with their own true happiness, to aim at perfection. Sensible of their numerous shortcomings, they are to be humbled before God; and convinced of their own insufficiency, they are to seek divine aid in doing the will of their Father in heaven. They are to remember their high calling,

their infinite obligations, and, consequently, their immense responsibility. If those who possess abundance of this world's goods will have a large account to give at last, how much more the individual who possesses the true riches; who has obtained the highest knowledge, in a spiritual perception of the law and character of God. The claims of Jehovah on all his intelligent creatures are numerous, but especially is this the case with those who are new creatures in Christ Jesus. The path of obedience is not only known, but their hearts have been inclined by a divine power to walk in it. The deliverance they have obtained, is not only a deliverance from punishment, but also from the love of sin. The hopes they have been taught to cherish, not only refer to the pure enjoyments of the eternal world, but are intended to be influential in producing purity in the present state of existence.

Hence we can easily see the force and propriety of the numerous admonitions of Scripture, addressed to Christians to seek after purity of heart, to cherish the spirit of love," to watch unto prayer," "to "to rejoice always," to be just and of good report, and to restrain the passions, and to crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts. The names and

intimate what They are call

epithets given to Christians, plainly they are expected to be, and to do. ed, "the lights of the world," "the salt of the earth," trees of righteousness, the excellent of the earth, “the servants and children of God," and " the heirs of glory."

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Oh! how important is it that the Christian should

live up to his privileges, obligations, and prospects; that he give no occasion to the enemy to blaspheme; nor act in such a way as to be a cause of stumbling to the serious inquirer. His own peace and comfort, the well being of his fellow-creaturés, and the divine glory are all connected with a due discharge of his many and weighty duties. The Christian will, indeed, be conscious of many imperfections in the sight of men, but especially in the sight of God. While this ought to humble him in the dust, it should at the same time convince him more and more of the infinite value of the Saviour's blood. Against every sin, it is the Christian's duty and privilege to struggle; and it will at last be his happiness to come off more than conqueror, through Him that loved him.

In closing this chapter, a word is necessary to the inquirer. From the remarks already made, he may have seen that the object is not so much to deny the charges of imperfection brought against true Christians, as to caution him against receiving too hastily the judgment of the world. But when, upon investigation, he finds some of them true, he is to ascertain as far as he can, the reason of such inconsistencies. Not indeed for the purpose of excusing them, or of thinking lightly of them, but that religion may not be blamed unjustly. A wish has also been expressed, that the inquirer should not be discouraged by all the imperfections of professing Christians; that he should view such as the remains of that sin, which has so awfully corrupted the soul, and thrown around the fairest and the loveliest

scenes the mantle of gloom and woe. It is, that he might be convinced, that if the remains of sin can still produce so much evil, in those who have been delivered from its habitual love and power; nay, who hate it as their greatest enemy; the effects must be fearful indeed, in the cases of those who live and die under its influence.

He should, in short, seek to learn the most valuable lessons, from what may be at first a stumbling block. The imperfections of others should serve as beacons to him, especially when he knows that they are the result of sin. Let him also be reminded of the propriety and justice of looking at the excellencies of Christians, as well as at their defects. Let him mark with the eye of kindness their zeal, their self denial, and their habitual regard for the divine authority. A desire to imitate these will indicate a state of mind, which every inquirer should seek to possess, and without which no progress can be made in divine knowledge.

We feel anxious in bringing the subject to à close, to urge upon the inquirer the necessity of being personally interested in the salvation of Christ. Let him beware of the madness of stopping short in his pursuit after knowledge, in consequence of hearing of, or even meeting with instances of hypocrisy, and of inconsistency among professing Christians. He has his own salvation to secure, so that if all around him were not only imperfect, but altogether wicked, there would exist a still greater necessity for his immediate flight to the city of refuge. There alone can he be secure from the effects of an evil example,