ing devotion, which is so kindly fostered by the institutions of our church, it has led many a martyr to the stake, and dragged before the Inquisition, many an innocent sufferer.

At the present day, it is usually directed to the defence of some favourite doctrine, some darling scheme of theology, which, compared with every other, is supposed to be more refined, more rational, more in unison with the religion of nature, or more in harmony with the scriptures of truth. On this occasion, it must be superfluous to enumerate the various tenets, which are thus earnestly defended, or to notice the means of defence, to which the advocate of a system has been known to resort.

Perhaps he chooses for his theme, the resurrection of the body; and attempts to prove from passages of holy writ, that bone will return to its fellow-bone; and that every atom of our organic frame will be reinstated at the resurrection. He heeds not an observation, which it may be well to make, that if the same elements enter into the constitution of successive generations, it will be impossible for them at once to regain their respective places. He heeds not an observation of the blessed saint, who declares that we must be transformed, and bear the image of the Great Spirit who gave us life and existence. Perhaps he discourses with peculiar delight upon the decrees of his Maker,-those decrees which are "sealed to the day of our redemption;" and though he fearlessly attempts to break the seal, the secrets of the eternal mind are beyond the reach of the most presumptuous adventurer.

The election of a chosen few, is often a favourite theme of discussion, advocated by men of piety, who regard it as the basis of their religion, dangerous to forget, and fatal to deny. Persons of this class seem to dwell with peculiar satisfaction upon those passages of Scripture, which vindi

cate the absolute sovereignty of their God.

They are met on the other hand by a class of disputants, who seem determined, at all events, to maintain the free agency of man; and urge in defence of their doctrine, that in a future world, he is to be rewarded or punished, according to the deeds done in the body. One tells us, to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling;" but the other interposes, "It is God that worketh in us both to will and to do." It is thus, the inspired words of the apostle are set at variance with each other, and religious truth is sacrificed to a fondness for system-making.

The doctrinal parts of the Bible, it has been truly said, require no other commentary, than a careful comparison of that which is obscure, with that which has been more clearly revealed. But the course adopted by many christian teachers, is to select a few passages of scripture, which are made the basis of their theology; and then, to make it serve, like the bed of Procrustes, as a standard, to which the others must be reduced.

By adopting the same course, the miser finds an apology for his penury, and the voluptuary for his pleasures;-the one "provides for his household," the other emptics his glass in compliance with king Solomon's advice. The votary of fame, whose whole soul is bent to the attainment of some temporal object, "gives not sleep to his eyes, nor slumber to his eye-lids;" while the idler clings devoutly to his pillow, and repeats his morning orison, "Wo unto them that rise up early."

When the unfortunate Galileo was challenged to appeal before a tribu nal of the Romish church, the ecclesiastic who was appointed to promul gate the devout astronomer's heresy, manifested the saine temper, and pursued a similar course. "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up inte

heaven?" was the theme of that has rangue, which preceded the condemnation of Galileo. G.

From the Religious and Literary Repository. A Father's Account of his youngest Son.

THE youngest of my departed sons (as he assured us when in the immediate view of death) had many religious impressions upon his mind during his childhood; but no solid change of heart seemed to have taken place, till about the fourteenth year of his age. When a little boy, he was artful and selfish. His capacity was quick, but he wanted the openness and friendliness of his brother.

The greater part of his life was passed in a state of affliction. When he was about six years old, he had the misfortune to receive a violent blow upon his head, which separated a part of the scalp from the bone. In consequence of this, and the diseases which followed, it was judged proper that he should spend a considerable part of the summer season either at the sea, or an inland watering place. The latter seemed peculiarly useful to him, and was chiefly the place of his abode. There he promoted the establishment of Sunday schools, and he there contracted a great friendship for two or three poor pious men, who were employed

as masters.

Besides this affliction, he was subject to violent head-aches, especially upon any close mental application, This disorder proved a great impediment to his learning, yet he obtained two classical prizes in his own college, and was placed on an equality with the first of his year for mathematical knowledge. Before he left the univerity, a general debility supervened, and he was obliged to forego his disputation in the schools. After quitting the university, he was unable to attend to any discourse that was long. An attempt to exercise

his mental powers in this way brought on immediately a head-ache, and an increase of his general debility.

When he was at school with the Rev. Mr. R. he was exercised in the excellent custom of writing down the sermon after his return from the church, and keeping a journal of his private thoughts and common transactions. He continued this custom as long as he was able to write; but during his last illness, he destroyed all that he had written previously to his going to the university.

In his nineteenth year, while he was yet at school, he made a solemn dedication of himself to God. This solemn instrument was kept secret from his most intimate friends, but was found amongst his private papers, after his death.

The change wrought in him by divine grace, truly exemplified the description of a real christian, given by the apostle. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Instead of the low cunning and selfishness, which prevailed in him when a boy, he became open, generous and affectionate; and while his attentions to those who were about him, partook of an easy politeness, he manifested on all occasions a considerable degree of heavenly mindedness. His views of his own spiritual state were not always alike. His disorder often created a depression of spirits, which cast a gloom upon his spiritual comforts, though it did not always destroy his cheerfulness.

Soon after his arrival at the university, he made the following observations in his journal: "Since I came hither, I sat apart an evening to look over my act of self-dedication, with a design to direct my views aright. I rejoice that I made that act; O that I had kept it with more sincerity, zeal and love. Lord, by thy grace, I resolve to be thy servant, and to seek the salvation of my soul through my Redeemer. O grant me sincerity, and lead me in the right

way; and teach me in all my ways to acknowledge thee; so shalt thou direct my paths."

After he had been about three months at the university, he took a review of his conduct, his studies, and the temper of his mind. In this part of his journal is the following declaration: "I think, as far as I can discover of my heart, I would love my Saviour, and consent more and more to his dominion over me.There is a strong body of sin yet in me. My Saviour, I come to thee, without money, and without price, hoping for thy merciful aid to enlighten my eyes, that I may know thee. As the all-wise Providence of God has placed me here, let me consider the duties more particularly incumbent on me." These duties he enumerates; and then adds,-"O Lord, teach me this, that laying aside every besetting sin, I may run with patience the race set before me. The more I grow in grace, and in the knowledge of my Lord and Saviour, the more pure and blameless will my conduct be."

When he had completed his twenty-second year, he entered the follow ing reflections in his journal: "I hope God has enabled me to feel a small degree of gratitude for adding another year to my life. Perhaps my life is near a close; and then, O my soul, thy everlasting doom will be sealed. O solemn thought! How can my heart be so besotted by present duties and enjoyments, as to make me forget, that my time of probation must soon forever end, and I must enter, willing or unwilling, prepared or unprepared, into the world of spirits. Thy grace alone, O Lord, can incline my thoughtless heart to watchfulness and prayer, that my loins may be girt about, and my lamp burning, so that when the cry of thy coming shall be heard, I may be found ready to enter with thee to the marriage." Speaking of his brother's afflictions, in another place, he

says, "he is patient under the hand of God, though it is so severe; and God enables him to place a stedfast trust in his Redeemer. May this lead me trust in God, who will give strength according to our day, and will certainly, with the temptation, give an ability to bear it." In this confident expectation he was not disappointed; but experienced the same support and consolation in his last trial, as had been vouchsafed to his brother.

His weakness increased about this time. Upon this circumstance he makes the following reflections :— "This day I have been worse; and though it was Sunday, I could not attend any place of worship. I was however mercifully much comforted by reading some of our church prayers, &c. They seemed peculiarly sweet to me. May Christ be my hope, my comfort, and all my trust. He is the source of consolation to the poor sinner. May I cordially commit all my concerns to his direction; for he that spared not his own Son, but freely delivered him up for us all, (for me also,) how shall he not with him freely give us all things!

About ten months before his death, the following remarks were written : "It is God's good pleasure that I should be still afflicted with much weakness. What shall I say of my submission? What of the improvement I have made under these afflictions? I find myself to have been more deficient than I thought I was. I think this is the greatest benefit. I have received a little greater knowledge of my own corruption, and of the deceitfulness and desperate wickedness of my heart, before the great and eternal God. O Lord, let me not deceive myself in this, through vanity and ignorance. Yet before thee I must confess, that the calls thou hast made to me, and the opportunities offered to me, of weaning my heart from the world, and fixing it on thee, who oughtest alone to be

the desire and hope of my soul, have been disregarded and slighted to my shame. Where I might have improved, I have neglected it, and when thou hast granted me a peaceful acquiescence, I have spoiled it by my pride, and have grieved the Holy Spirit to leave me again to my own natural darkness, and to the wicked suggestions of my own heart. O Lord, still forbear with me. Thou didst not withhold thine only Son from us: Oh! that with Him, thou wouldest grant me, through the Holy Spirit, a thorough change of heart."

The conclusion of his journal was was written about a month before his death, and manifests his state of mind in the view of his speedy dissolution. "It has pleased God to afflict me, with a disease unto death, which was a great surprise as well as shock to me. Have I not had a long warning? But, cease there-Into what a new and awful situation am I now brought! In a few weeks, I shall be in eternity. O what a word, and coming upon a great sinner! I thank God for his unspeakable gift. Through Him I have hope; and though the waters often go over my head, my God shows me the hope of the gospel. I will trust in the Lord Jehovah to the end, for he is my salvation. I have received the greatest affection and care from my friends. I would and do pray for them, that they and I may, through the same grace, arrive in the same glory; and now, O Lord, what remains for me during the short remnant of my life! I know not-thou knowest. I must necessarily suffer now; but be it unto me according to thy word; only grant me thy gracious presence, and the sense of thy love in Christ, and I ask no more. I now commend my soul and body unto thee, for thou hast redeemed them, O Lord God of truth. Amen.

When his disease had confined him to the house, he thought it his duty to abstain from every thing that might

aggravate his disorder, and therefore sat much in silence. He was very desirous of examining carefully into the state of his soul, and lamented to me that he found himself incapable of pursuing a course of self-examination, as he wished, thoroughly to try the foundation of his hopes. He said, he was the more desirous of doing this, as he felt much the corruption of his own heart, and saw with grief the defects of his obedience to God. As I was convinced of his utter inability of pursuing any close train of thinking, and was satisfied of the sincerity of his faith and obedience, I ventured to give him the following advice-After reminding him that he was now called to passive rather than to active obedience, I requested him, instead of labouring to draw comfort from a close examination of his own heart, to cast himself, as a lost sinner, at the feet of Christ, trusting only to his precious death, his merits and intercession. Some time after, he told me he had found great help and comfort from pursuing this advice.

He did not, however, lose sight of the command, " Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves," but took an opportunity, as his enfeebled powers would permit, of doing that by degress, which he could not do at

once.

He often wished us to relate to him, any anecdotes of the dying conduct of his two brothers and sisters, who had gone before, and took great delight in hearing of the patience and pious behaviour of a young man, his cousin, who had died in triumph, after a series of complicated sufferings.

When his brother came home to see him, he addressed himself to him thus: "Dont let your thoughts of me interrupt your studies. I trust, that, by the unmerited mercy of God, and through the atonement of Christ, it shall be well for me. Indeed I have been a great sinner, more than you know of, but Christ died for sinners.

Of what consequence is it whether you ever see me again. I hope we are both doing the will of God, and I trust both you and I, and the remainder of our family, shall join with those who are gone before, and be forever with the Lord. Oh! S that will be happiness worth striving for, and worth dying for."

At another time, after affectionately kissing his eldest sister who sat by him, "How I love you, and that girl, (looking at his youngest sister,) I feel the separation. I love you better and better, but I have not loved you as I ought. Though I feel the mortification of parting, I shall have better company; you will allow that." Some conversation then passed concerning his brothers and sisters, whom he hoped shortly to meet in glory, which he concluded by saying, "But I think of that the least, (meaning the sight of his friends in Heaven,) I shall see God, (he then dwelt awhile on his attributes,) and Jesus Christ the mediator of the new covenant; I shall see them in all their beauty. I shall be swallowed up in that. I want nothing else."

Throughout the whole of his illness, the grand source of his consolation was the word of God. His debility rendered him incapable of reading or hearing with attention, any considerable portion of scripture at any one time, but he frequently read or heard select portions, on which his mind seemed to feed with delight. Passages exciting to a strong faith in God, through Christ, and to a deep humiliation of soul, were peculiarly pleasing to him.

His desire of being present at our morning family exercises was great, that he requested to be bro't down stairs, in the arms of two servants, till within a few days of his death. The day before his death the family met to have prayers in his room, which he seemed to enjoy.During this day, be underwent much bodily pain, and when apparently

much distressed, was heard to say, "God's will be done; patience is best." At another time," the conflict of death will soon be past." His sister hearing him utter this last expression, said to him, "Christ has gone before, and will support you." He replied with great earnestness, "I believe He will."

In the evening he received the sacrament at his own request, as he had twice before since his confinement to the house; and notwithstanding his extreme weakness, repeated some of the prayers along with the minister. He seemed to bear a remembrance of the most solemn dedication he had made to God, of himself, when a school-boy, and at a very late period of his life was heard to repeat that affecting sentence, God, look down with pity on thy languishing, dying child

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A short time before he expired, his youngest sister, seeing him suffer much, said to him," you will soon be released: To which he replied,“ yes, I trust I shall, by the mercy of God," Not long after this, it pleased God to grant him his dismission from the burden of the flesh, when I trust he entered into the joy of his Lord.

From the Christian Observer.

THE following Menoir will (it is presumed) appear peculiarly interesting to most of our readers at this moment, when the present excellent Emperor of Russia has but recently left our shores.

"Mekepher* Alphery was born in Russia, of the imperial line. When that country was torn in pieces by intestine quarrels in the end of the sixteenth century, and the royal house, particularly, was severely persecuted by impostors, this gentleman and his two brothers were sent over to England, and recommended to the care of Mr. Joseph Bidell, a Russian merchant. Mr. Bidell, when they were

So pronounced, though properly spelt Nikephor (Nicephorus)