The moral characters of Pelagius and his companion seem to have been irreproachable. Jerome, indeed, describes the latter in no very refined terms, as a fellow bloated with Scotch crowdies; and Pelagius himself has been accused of luxuriousness and sensual indulgence. But the testimony of Augustine may be safely depended upon, who speaks of him as 66 a holy man, far advanced in christian nature, and deserving of much praise." His reverence for the Scriptures is fully evinced in a passage of his letter to Demetrias, wherein he tells that lady, that " from them only she can acquire a knowledge of the will of God," and recommends to her the study of them. Besides this epistle, his extant writings are, a Commentary on St. Paul's Epistles, with the exception of that to the Hebrews, and a Confession of Faith, entitled " Symbolum ad Damasum." They are usually annexed to the works of Augustine. A view of the doctrines of Pelagius will conclude this article in our next number. REFLECTIONS OF LAVATER. THE following are the pious reflections of the well known LAVAter, as suggested by the Lessons and Psalms for one month, and which are presented to our readers as descriptive of the holy bias of his mind. MARCH. May my heart never forget my sacred vows, my tearful prayers, my innumerable sins; but, above all things, the great mercy of God! May I prefer nothing in this world to God and the kingdom of God! No day of my life, O Jesus, are like thy days! March 1.-Morning Lesson, Lev. i. ii.—Evening Lesson, John xviii. Phil. iv. 6.-The meaning of the text is this:-After having considered and taken the necessary measures to trust with tranquillity in God, in all temporal and eternal concerns; and when our fortune and sagacity are too limited to be without anxiety of mind, so to pray, as if we possessed the object of our prayers, and to be heartily thankful for every preceding godly succour. May I hope for the best; be easy even in affliction; for heaven is open to me, as well as the heart of God; I shall obtain from God more than I can wish and desire; what contributes to the happiness of the soul will be conferred upon me. March 2.-Morning Lesson, Lev. iii. iv.-Evening Lesson, John xix. Gal. v. part of ver. 26.-"Let us not be desirous of vain-glory."-Thou, my heart, art thou free from pride, selfishness, and vanity? Is not the secret motive of your actions, praise? Does your beneficence resemble that of an innocent child? Does your happiness consist in the approbation of your God? March 3.-Morning Lesson, Lev. v.-Evening Lesson, John xx.xxi. Ps. xlvi. part of ver. 10.-" Be still, and know that I am God.”—If I think, in every affliction, that God directs every thing for my benefit, I bear every affliction with tranquillity. March 4.-Morning Lesson, Lev. vi.-Evening Lesson, Acts i. Gen. xvii. part of ver. 1.—“I am the Almighty God: walk before me, and be thou perfect." Jesus Christ sees me. Shall I please him? Does he rejoice on my account? Do the angels of God rejoice at my conduct?a March 5.-Morning Lesson, Lev. vii. viii,-Evening Lesson, Aets ii. Matt. v. 7. Am I only merciful to those whose misfortunes do not arise from their own misconduct? How can I expect mercy from God and mankind? God and mankind will be merciful in that way, and to that degree, in which I am merciful. March 6.-Morning Lesson, Lev. ix. x. Evening Lesson, Acts iii. Rom. xii. part of ver. 12.-"Be patient in tribulation.' A pure heart which is devoted to God is not afraid of any misfortune or pain; it is resigned to the will of God: it says, If God were to take away my life, he loves me still; I will be tranquil. March 7.-Morning Lesson, Lev. xi. xii.-Evening Lesson, Acts iv. Rom xii. part of ver. 20.-" If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink."—Feed him; give him to drink. Do not say, I will not wish or do him any harm; the ill that I wish him will fall upon me: I will do him good; but I cannot bear to see him. O what a luxury for a humane heart, to embrace one's enemy; to pour balsam and oil on his wounds! March 8.-Morning Lesson, Lev. xiii. xiv.-Evening Lesson, Acts v. 1 Tim. vi. part of ver. 12.—" Fight the good fight of faith."-Faith— holding fast of eternity, looking towards invisible things, placing futurity before us, the embracing of the eternal power, wisdom, goodness-how powerful thou art in subduing every allurement of passion! O may you be as powerful in me as you were in him who said, "If I live, let me live in the faith of the Son of God." I believe in thy power and goodness. O that my faith were stronger! how cheerful would be my mind! how easy would be the practice of every virtue! how trifling even the greatest suffering! how valueless the greatest joy! therefore, I pray thee, dear Jesus, fill me with faith. March 9.-Morning Lesson, Lev. xv.-Evening Lesson, Acts vi. vii. John xvi. part of ver. 28. John xii. part of ver. 47.- I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: I came not to judge the world, but to save the world."-Thou descended, O God, on earth, in order to raise us up into heaven. Thou givest life to the dead, happiness to the damned; shall not then my heart rejoice on thy account, who art love? Can a man, an angel, equal thy love? March 10.-Morning Lesson, Lev. xvi.-Evening Lesson, Acts viii. John xv. part of ver. 5.-" For without me ye can do nothing."-With deep humility I flee to thee, O Jesus Christ, strengthen me. Weak, dead, and nothing am I, O Jesus, without thee; therefore, I heartily pray thee, O Jesus, strengthen me. March 11.-Morning Lesson, Lev. xvii. xviii.-Evening Lesson, Acts ix. Phil.iv. part of ver. 5.-"The Lord is at hand."-When the soft voice of temptation entices me in a flattering manner to destruction; when my careless heart is deaf to the voice of the love of God, may the thought that thou art here, dart before me as lightning! March 12.-Morning Lesson, Lev. xix.-Evening Lesson, Acts x. xi. Matt. v. 6.-Justice, integrity, love of God and man, is the food, the health, the happiness of the soul. If I do not practise them, my soul is lost; if I do not feel the want of these sentiments, I am hopeless; if I consider them as necessaries, if I hunger and thirst after them, I am happy in my tastes; for this taste will lead me to Him, who can and will abundantly satisfy me. I need only believe in and go to the Son of God, and then I shall possess every virtue, and be happy. March 13.-Morning Lesson, Lev. xx.-Evening Lesson, Acts xii. xiii. John viii. 36.-Jesus, the powerful Deliverer, make me free through truth; give me thy light and fire, that I may become daily more faithful, wise, and holy. March 14.-Morning Lesson, Lev. xxi. xxii.-Evening Lesson, Acts xiv. Luke xv. part of ver. 18.-"Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee."-Father! what an honour that I can call thee so, whose grace, doctrine, and counsel, I have so often rejected: nevertheless, I dare appear and heartily pray before thee, and make known to thee my suffering. March 15.-Morning Lesson, Lev. xxiii.-Evening Lesson, Acts xv. xvi. John xv. 14.-Jesus shall fill my heart; shall be all in all. To thy love and will I devote myself entirely, O Lord; all friends may fail, but Jesus never fails: the Friend of the human soul performs more than he promises. March 16.-Morning Lesson, Lev. xxiv. xxv.-Evening Lesson, Acts xvii. Jas. i. part of ver. 6, 7.-" For let not that man who wavereth think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord."-No! he who wavereth cannot hope that the Lord will hear his supplication; no! his ear is only open to him who honours him with confidence. Take courage, O soul, doubt is hated as much as sin; doubt not that Jesus Christ is love and truth. my March 17.-Morning Lesson, Lev. xxvi.-Evening Lesson, Acts xviii. xix. Gal. v. 24.-Be silent! die, idle lusts! Subdue, O Lord, flesh; make my heart and senses clean and chaste. May I, at every allurement of lust, think of thy bleeding, languishing, and dying on the cross; then every fascination and lust will vanish. March 18.-Morning Lesson, Lev. xxvii.-Evening Lesson, Acts xx. Col. iii. part of ver. 11.-" But Christ is all, and in all."-May Jesus Christ be all in all in me! may all souls soon devote themselves to thee for ever! mayest thou, in joy and grief, be consolation and joy to all and in all! March 19.-Morning Lesson, Numb. i.-Evening Lesson, Acts xxi. xxii. Eph. i. 4.-To walk holy and without blame; to act always as a brother; to endeavour to resemble thee, O God; to give freely; to lend cheerfully to help, counsel, and forgive; to rejoice with the joyful; to grieve no one; to love enemies as much as friends; to be nothing to myself; but all to all. March 20.-Morning Lesson, Numb. ii.-Evening Lesson, Acts xxiii. xxiv. Eph. i. part of ver. 7.-"In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins."-You must feel the load of sin, the horrors of death; then your heart will rejoice at the deliverance of God; the blood of Christ will cool the hottest languishing; what you tread with your feet will be your life. March 21.--Morning Lesson, Numb. iii.-Evening Lesson, Acts xxv. xxvi. Col. ii. 9.--In thee dwelleth all the fulness of God! I pray thee, VOL. XVI. NO. VI. 3 B send a portion of thy Spirit to quicken me. Ought I not to love thee, who canst cure every wound of my faint heart? March 22.-Morning Lesson, Numb. iv.-Evening Lesson, Acts xxvii. xxviii. 1 Tim. vi. part of ver. 12.—" Lay hold on eternal life."--Press forward, by the power of faith, through the shadow of the night of this life ; let Jesus Christ be thy pattern; seize what is invisible; let the sal→ vation of your soul be your principal aim. March 23.-Morning Lesson, Numb. v.-Evening Lesson, Rom. i. ii, vii. 24.—Notwithstanding my corruption, I throw myself at thy feet, O Jesus; thou canst and wilt save me Let me not stir from the spot until thy power hast broken the chains of indolence and the yoke of self-will; they must be broken, even if I were to cry to thee for years. March 24.-Morning Lesson, Numb. vi.—Evening Lesson, Rom. iii, iv. Jer. xxxi. part of ver. 18.—“ Turn thou me, and I shall be turned.”— May I follow, O best of Fathers, thy word and precepts; remove the fetters of sin and Satan from me; enable me, by thy power, to subdue my passions. March 25.-Morning Lesson, Numb. vii.—Evening Lesson, Rom. v. vi. Jas. v. part of ver. 13.—"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray." .”—Be strong; God knows your afflictions; he weighs the heavy yoke of suffering; he strengthens the broken heart; is near when he appears distant. When you cry, Heal me, O Jesus! will he not be your Saviour? Believe, O soul, and hasten to his heart. March 26.-Morning Lesson, Numb. viii.-Evening Lesson, Rom. vii. viii. Jas. v. part of ver. 16.—“ Pray one for another.”—Give, O Father, thy compassion to the rich and poor; the strong and healthy feel thy grace; the weak and sick ought likewise to praise and thank thee; for thou art God and Father of all men. March 27.-Morning Lesson, Numb. ix. x.—Evening Lesson, Rom. ix.x. xi. viii. part of ver. 31.—“ If God be for us, who can be against us?”—I shall have more than I can wish for, if I depend upon God : my enemies must be quiet, and be reconciled, when they see God is on my side; others may seek other friends, but he shall be my trust. If he bless me, who can curse me? if he favour me, what can I desire more? March 28.—Morning Lesson, Numb. xi. xii.—Evening Lesson, Rom. xii. xiii. 1 Cor. x. part of ver. 13.—“ But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able.”— God, thou hast often strengthened me to resist sin; I have remarked, with thanks, that thou hearest my supplication; I often almost laughed at temptation, and said, God strengthens and helps the weak. March 29.-Morning Lesson, Numb. xiii. xiv.—Evening Lesson, Rom. xiv. xv. Heb. xii. part of ver. 2.—“ Looking unto Jesus.”—Jesus, what didst thou feel when thou wast bound naked, and suffered the stripes of savage rage; when thy hot blood dropt down thy forehead and cheeks; when thy feet and hands were stretched on the cross, in the fearful hour of torment? and when I think on thy sufferings, ought Í to be impatient? March 30.-Morning Lesson, Numb. xv.-Evening Lesson, Rom. xvi. 1 John v. part of ver. 12.-" He that hath the Son, hath life."-I only wish, O Jesus, to be thine for ever; I am nothing, and thou art every thing; without thee is no peace of mind. How can my wish strive higher than after thee? thou art truth, life, every thing; what can I wish for more? March 31.-Morning Lesson, Numb. xvi.-Evening Lesson, 1 Cor. i. ii. Acts vii. part of ver. 27.-" The Lord is not far from every one of us."-O how near, and yet how far, am I from thee, my Saviour; thou art farther than the stars, and yet nearer than I am to myself. May I feel thy power, be in awe of thy nearness, be ever chaste and free from sin, and practise every virtue ! The third month-the fourth part of the year-is gone: in what state was my heart at the end of the first and second months? what answers did I make before God to the questions which were asked me? Can I now make better and more satisfactory? does the love of God, the love of mankind, reign in me? has the love of the world and of myself less influence over my soul? "SURELY I COME QUICKLY; AMEN. EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS." THOUGH many an age hath now unheeded past Though in thine own and Father's pomp array'd, Yet surely wilt Thou come-for nought is time And Thou wilt quickly come-the longest span O, happy Christian! who, in this thy day, זי J REMARKS ON "THE GREAT COUNCIL OF THE JEWS IN 1650.** MR. EDITOR, - As there have been doubts respecting the authenticity of the account which Mr. Brett has given of this Council, and some of these doubts have principally hinged upon the uncertainty Vide CHRISTIAN REMEMBRANCER, Vol. XVI. p. 35.1) |