drous things out of thy law.” "Thy hands nave made me, and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments." Psalm 99: 18, 19, 73. This method of reading the Bible must be continued through life, especially whilst the capital truths of the Bible are before our eyes. By this means we have an absolute security from abusing any part of the word of God. And those who dare despise persevering prayer to be taught by the Spirit of God what is contained in his holy word, as if they knew enough, fall into pernicious errors; wrest some passages of Scripture to contradict others; or grow violently zealous for doctrines, but very cold respecting that heavenly mind those doctrines are revealed to produce. Our profiting will then only appear, when, after the example of David and St. Paul, we pray from deep conviction that we cannot be properly affected with what we believe unless we are divinely taught; and that if any man think

eth that, "without divine teaching, he
knoweth any thing as he ought to know,
that man knoweth nothing." 1 Cor. 8: 2.

RETIREMENT.

Keeping much retired, and by ourselves, is most profitable for us all. Indeed, when our worldly business is attended to as it ought to be, and secret duties are punctually observed, there cannot remain a in any stagreat deal of time for persons, tion, to spend in company: and they who imagine that praying at certain seasons, hearing the Gospel, and then entering into a sort of general conversation, about religion and religious people, will be sufficient, Unless we love are grievously mistaken. (and contrive, as we are able) to be much alone, how can we often and solemnly call to remembrance the evil of our past life, so as to loathe ourselves? how feel contrition for the follies of our innate depravity? how,

with the blessed Mary, ponder in our hearts the sayings of our Lord? how enter deeply into his agony and death, the price of our peace and eternal life? how weigh the value of our spiritual privileges, and the weight of the crown of glory laid up for the faithful? how feel the strength and multitude of our obligations to live in exemplary obedience, constrained by love passing knowledge? Though the pastors of Christ's church speak on these subjects, and they make part of every conversation, we must ruminate in private upon them, or they will never duly impress and fill our mind.

Hence the most distinguished saints, be fore they entered on any arduous work for the glory of God, or the good of men, did not think their purity of intention, or the promise of God's Spirit sufficient, without preparing by much retirement. Moses, Elijah, Daniel, the Baptist, and our Lord himself, teach us by their practice, the

benefit and necessity of being often and much alone. Great and many evils grow in the church, from its pastors and people neglecting to copy these infallible ex amples.

THE END.