as the perfecting feature of the Christian character,1 as concentrating the different practical exercises of Christian faith in assured belief;o habitual devotedness; watchful preparation; patient hope; 5 joyful anticipation. And though this spirit of expectancy does not necessarily imply the approach of the event, (since the Divine author of these exhortations marked its accomplishment through the long vista of some thousand years); yet it contains within it the essential principles of sanctification and happiness, by presenting a likeness to our heavenly Saviour, (the immediate consequence of his vision 7) as the object of future anticipation, in its perfection, and, in its measure, of present pursuit and attainment.

A speculative study of prophecy has very materially injured the important influence of the prospects of the church upon her present duties and privileges. The minute descriptive details that have been sometimes connected with the coming of Christ in his kingdom, (not to speak of their doubtful scriptural authority, and their closer alliance to earth than to heaven,) have a strong tendency to repress a spiritual contemplation of the great event.

Even the details given in the pro

1 See 1 Cor. i. 7. Luke. xii. 35-38.

5 James v. 7, 8.

2 2 Pet. iii. 1-4. 3 Rev, xvi. 15; xxii. 9. Matt. xxv. 13. 1 Thess. v. 1-6.

1 Pet. i. 13; iv. 9.

6 Isa. xxv. 8, 9. Rom xiii. 11. Titus ii. 13. 7 1 John iii. 2, 3.

phetic books are much under the veil. Interpreters expound them according to the principles of their different systems; and after all their diligence and labour, much is left unexplained, or resting upon conjectural support. In these things the Writer is content to "walk by faith, not by sight." All that is necessary is revealed. We shall be as happy as God can make us. As to any precise knowledge "it doth not yet appear what we shall be."2 And such knowledge we want not. It exhibits a far more enlarged expectancy to be assured, that it will be something that we neither know nor can know-interminable bliss without sin, with Christ, near him, and like him for ever. Our happiness centres in the certainty and glory, not in the circumstantials of the event. And surely the "shaking of earth and heaven," "3 which seems to be at hand, will quicken the Christian's cry for his expected Lord- Come quickly. Take to thyself the kingdom, and reign with all thy saints.' Faith overcomes the tremendous thought of wrath and judgment, as the harbingers of his coming; and still the cry is re-echoed to the solemn declaration, Surely I come quickly; Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."5

4

42 Cor. v. 7. 3 Heb. xii. 26, 27.

21 John iii. 2.

4 2 Thess. i. 8. Rev. i. 7.

5 Rev. xxii. 20.

III.- -ON CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE AND PRACTICAL

RELIGION.

MISS GRAHAM's correspondence, flowing in an easy and natural strain, will be generally interesting. Even where no striking features are visible, an affectionate earnestness, tender sympathy, and a direct application of the first principles of the gospel to the several cases of her friends cannot fail of being observed.

The following letter appears to have been written to a friend, newly awakened to concern for her eternal interests.

Nov. 1826.

'I fancy that you have for some time past felt a conviction, that religion is something more than you used to think it, more than the world in general seem to think it. But yet, perhaps, you do not see very clearly what more it is, that religion requires of you. You see, that there is nothing in this vain world capable of satisfying the desires of your immortal spirit; but you do not clearly comprehend what there is in religion to satisfy all our desires. You seek the Lord; but you do not yet feel as if you had found Him. You probably spend much time in reading the scriptures; but sometimes they seem obscure and unintelligible, sometimes dry and uninteresting. You often pray;

but do not always find either comfort or sweetness in prayer. Sometimes you feel as if you could give up every earthly enjoyment for one glimpse of that "love of Christ which passeth knowledge;" and at other times it seems to you very foolish and unreasonable to pretend to more religion than other people. This is what many feel, who are beginning to be very anxious about religion. I cannot help indulging a strong hope, that you will soon find in the love of Jesus all that you want to make you happy; Only let me beg of you to seek Him simply, under the conviction that we can neither do nor think any thing good without Him; that "every thought is evil, only evil, and that continually;" and that, while we continue in this state, we cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God, because they will appear "foolishness to us.' The change which every person must undergo, before they can truly receive Christ as their Saviour, is described in terms no less striking-" Ye must be born again." 3 "If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold! all things are become new! "4 In other parts it is described as a change from death unto life, "from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God." But I will not multiply instances. Surely such a change as this cannot be the cold, worldly, heartless religion, with

3 John iii. 7.

5 Acts xxvi. 18.

O be

which the generality of people sit down satisfied! Surely it is a change we have no power to make in ourselves. When God "breathed into man's nostrils the breath of life," it was a wonderful act of his creating power. But when he breathed spiritual life into the soul of one "dead in trespasses and sins," this seems more wonderful; and yet this is what we vainly think we can do ourselves. But if we can once be convinced, that we are so utterly worthless and sinful, that none but Christ can save us, then we shall go to Him for every thing. If we want repentance, wisdom, holiness, salvation, all these are His to give; He promises to give them to every one that asks Him. much in prayer to this precious Saviour! He has declared, that none shall seek Him in vain. Those who leave off trusting in themselves, and cling with a single and undivided heart to the cross of Christ, and "count every thing else but loss, so they may win Christ and be found in Him"what words can describe their blessedness! How true it is, that those who seek happiness in any thing except Christ Jesus, are " hewing out to themselves broken cisterns that can hold no water!" Come then, my most dearly loved friend, come with me to "the fountain of living waters"-come to Him who has said"If any

man thirst, let him come to me, and drink” 2—as

1 Gen. ii. 7.

2 John vii. 37.