steal, has said also, Thou shalt not covet; and is broken even by the first involuntary wish. But here, as in a former case, there is a wide distance between the spontaneous yearnings of an earthly heart, or whispered suggestions of the evil One, and the step that succeeds it, be it thought, or look, or deed. When we see how much of human misery is the result of unsatisfied desires, ungratified affections, and wishes unfulfilled, with all their accompaniment of sickening hope and wasting discontent: we cannot but think there is more suffering of this sort than God intended, or providence inflicts upon his creatures. If the first wish had not been cherished, the first impression nursed into desire, the first pleasurable sensation allowed an opportunity to repeat itself, much of what is now unavoidably suffered might have been escaped; as well as much foregone that is guiltily obtained. In a world so full of things fitted to excite our natural feelings and rational desires-" Be content with such things as ye have," would not have been a universal precept if there were no possibility of repressing them. Yet whose is the path of life not troubled and crossed, and clouded, day by day, by want of something that they have not? Covetous desire is seldom a solitary sin. "Whence come envyings and strife among you, come they not of your lusts?" says the Apostle James. Jealousy, envy, fraud, unfairness, dissimulationnay, there is scarcely any sin that may not grow out of one covetous desire indulged, one longing look repeated. We have spoken of first looks-but there are last looks also, to which the above text more properly refers. The man who holds the plough looks always forward; he does not watch the handle by which he guides it, nor observe the furrows as he goes along: but keeps his eye intently fixed upon the head of the plough, to keep it in a right line with the point he makes for: if he looked back, or looked aside, his furrow would immediately be curved. It is common to hear a farmer exclaim, like an artist at a fine picture, in admiration of the straight lines of a ploughed field. Such is our Lord's beautiful and impressive imagery. His labourers who would be worthy of their hire, must never stop to look, nor turn to look behind them-" Make straight paths for your feet," straight fnrrows in your field-you lose way, and lose worth if ever you swerve aside: you will swerve, as surely as your eye is turned. Mark the steersman who ploughs the wave: if you speak to him, he answers without a movement of his eye: if you give him any thing, he takes it from you without looking at it. There is no lingering gaze upon the shore that he is leaving, perhaps for years-perhaps for ever: his home in sight, his wife and children loitering on the beach: he never turns to give them one more look, nobody would trust his steerage if he did. Unfit, it may well be said, are they who having entered or agreed to enter the kingdom of heaven here, send their hearts back upon the world from which they have been separated, or consent to separate and try to bargain with their Master for a little respite: a few more wasted years, a few more accumulated sins, another visit, another look, and then. Hard it is, perhaps, but hard in proportion as it is postponed, to leave an association that we have loved, a world that has loved us-1 -that intreats us-reproaches us-calls after us— Stay at least a little while. Come back sometimes-meet us half 66 way, and we will come out to you. Don't run into extremes." More steersmen have stranded their vessels on a rock, more ploughmen have disgraced with uneven lines their master's field, for fear of extremes, than from any other cause. Whether it be the profession of religion or its practice, the doctrines of the Gospel or its precepts-extremes, they tell us, are to be always avoided, haste always to be deprecated. Moderation, conciliation, prudence, conformity, propriety-Oh! there are a hundred names by which Satan knows how to call the lottering glance, the last backward look. But plausible as his language is, it is illusory altogether. The path of righteousness is an onward course that has but two extremes-the entrance-gate at one end, the gate of heaven at the other. Wrong is behind, and wrong on either side: but there is none before. We may lose it, or refuse it, and so stay without but we cannot go too far, nor yet too fast upon it. God never holds such language to his people. "Come out from among her," but go not too far off. " Separate yourselves," but go not out of sight. "Leave all and follow me,' but do not be in a hurry. Set your faces heavenward, but for fear of danger, for fear of error, look cautiously and wistfully behind you. He knew the heart of man too well to use such language. Hard as the path of decision may be, he knew the path of indecision would be harder the blessed Jesus knew, for he carried in his bosom an all-human heart,-what would come of that desired leave-taking: how very far at the best, his reluctant follower would be left behind: all he would lose of his own most precious words, and presence, and example: and all his Father would lose of service and of glory in him. : "Look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain." They were angel-messengers, who, while he lingered, laid hold upon his hand and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hands of his two daughters. Had they been earthly friends, they would have bidden him not to be in so much haste,-to wait and see,-to wait, at least, till sunrise, for the better settlement of his affairs: and then perhaps he might prevail to take his sons-in-law with him. It is a very common language, and very common thought. We must wait for some-body, we must go back and fetch somebody or something, that by our too much decision, too plain speaking, or straight-forward acting, will certainly be left behind. Are there not parents who, instead of laying hold upon their children's hands by gentle force, to bring them out of danger, think they must give them time and opportunity to see the world, and look upon its vanities, before they call upon them to renounce it? Are there not ministers of God, who, do as those angels did not,—consent to stay themselves within the verge of danger, in hope that more will so be prevailed upon to follow them? Are there not at this time especially, we ask it with a fearful heart, we could answer it with an aching one,-numbers, who having been led out upon the plain, having for Jesus's love, and for his gospel's sake, renounced themselves, their good works and their bad ones— -the world, the devil and the fleshare standing to look behind them: doubting the word of truth they have obeyed, doubting the occasion for the steps that they have taken, doubting the danger and the sinfulness of what they have relinquished? It is a fearful moment; she, who "looked back from behind him”—it was not "going too far" that wrought that mischief—perhaps, had Lot's wife been before him, it had not happened-" became a pillar of salt." "Say not thou, what is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this."-ECCLES. VII. 10. 1844. WHY do these bright delusive rays ? Those moments which have passed away. Press onward, till through saving grace, 3 P RACHEL. INVITATION TO UNITED PRAYER, FOR THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ON WEDNESDAY, 1st OF JANUARY, 1845. DEARLY BELOVED IN THE LORD, It is with feelings of grateful thanksgiving to our heavenly Father, that I now, for the ninth time, renew my annual invitation for A GENERAL CONCERT FOR PRAYER FOR THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, which, by divine permission, will be held on the first DAY OF THE NEW YEAR, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1ST., 1845. Upon entering upon so spiritual a service, it will be well to bear in mind that striking passage in the 59th chapter of the prophet Isaiah "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither is his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." For, whilst this Scripture shews us the Lord's readiness to hear our petitions, and his ability to grant our utmost desires, and thus encourages us to draw nigh to a "Throne of grace," it will lead us to do this with a deeper sense of our manifold infirmities, with a humble confession of our individual shortcomings, and with a personal application to that "precious blood," "which cleanses from all sin." Thus it was that holy Daniel offered up his prayer. First, with humble confession, and then with earnest supplication. And, surely, at this time such a course is peculiarly requisite, to give us that confidence in prayer, without which it cannot be effectual. For, without referring to those open transgressions of the ungodly, for which "the Lord is angry with them every day," consider the present state of the Church of Christ. Who that compares his own personal religion with the standard laid down in the Word of God, but will be ready to smite upon his breast, and say, with the publican, "God be merciful to me a sinner." For reflect upon the description given of the Ministers of Christ, and of the trust reposed in them. They are called "Men of God," "Ambassadors for Christ,' "the glory of the churches; they are "in Christ's stead;" they are set as "examples of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity;" they are "put in trust with the gospel: " they "watch for souls, as they that must give an account; " and such is their love for their Divine Master, that "they count not their lives dear unto themselves, so that they might finish their course with joy, and the ministry which they have received of the Lord Jesus.” Such is their high and holy calling. Who that ministers before the Lord, when he compares himself with this standard, will not feel as the Prophet did when he said, "Wo is me, for I am undone, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips." (Isaiah vi. 5.) Then mark the description given of the Lord's faithful people. They are "the salt of the earth," "the light of the world," " a city set upon a hill ; they "have their conversation in heaven; "they are directed "to hold forth the word of life in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; to be followers of God as dear children; to walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and given himself for us; to be "as servants who wait for their Lord, that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately." وو If it be asked where shall we meet with Christians of this scriptural standard? Will not the most devoted among the Lord's people be ready to say, "My leanness, my leanness. Woe unto me, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously." (Isaiah xxiv. 16.) How necessary, then, is it, when we enter upon this spiritual service, to bear in mind the scripture to which I have referred. For the new year approaches under such interesting circumstances, as may well call forth our most ardent prayers. Thus, through the good providence of God, there is at this moment peace throughout all the world. The Sovereign Ruler of the universe, also, has given to our gracious Queen so large an extent of territory, and such a commanding influence among the nations, that there is scarcely a portion of the habitable globe, into which either our Christian missionaries, or the pure Word of God, may not find an entrance. Such is the present position of the British empire, so peculiarly favourable for the spread of divine truth. Further, whilst in England there are, alas, many things-which, to use the words of the prophet Ezekiel "are for a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation," still the new year will come in, under these encouraging auspices. That there is a general feeling amongst the influential orders of society, that the prosperity, if not the absolute safety of our country depends upon diffusing sound scriptural religion among the working classes; raising their moral condition by encouraging them in habits of industry, temperance, and frugality; and in promoting their general comfort by shortening their hours of labour, improving their dwellings, and assisting them in husbanding the resources which their own good conduct may supply. Various steps have been taken for carrying these benevolent sentiments into effect. May we not expect that these plans, if the Lord be entreated, may prove the germ of far greater blessings. That they may produce kindlier feelings among all clases, a closer union among the members of our Church, and especially a greater readiness to receive the glorious truths of the gospel of Christ. In Scotland also the dawn of Hope appears. For whilst at the close of the last year, we had but to lament a disruption in the Established Church; during this year, we might have seen the General Assembly of those who left her Communion, meeting in a truly Christian spirit, without using any reproachful words against their Brethren, but, in deep abasement of heart, humbling themselves before the God of their Fathers, for their own personal short comings, and for the low |