Not to mention the truft which is put in uncertain poffeffions, in things which are inferior to him that trufts in them; how ftrong are the motives contained in the facred page against trufting in an arm of fleth? A curfe is denounced againft all fuch confidence. "Curfed is man that trufteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm.”

In the above paffage we have a remarkable reprefentation of the frailty of man, as it refpects his prefent duration, which feems to convey a cogent argument against human confidence, even in things of a terreftrial nature.

And not only in this, but in many other parts of holy writ, the precariousness and mutability of human existence is fet forth in the strongest language. The days of man are compared to grafs, and his glory to the flower of the field, which is fwept away with every breeze. His life is confidered as a vapour, which, ere it is fcarcely observed to afcend, vanifheth away! And, as the weaver's huttle palfeth from hand to hand, as it were, in the twinkling of an eye, fo man paffeth through time into eternity. And, perhaps there cannot be found a more ftriking defcription of the vanity of man, than in the above fhort fentence felected from the Prophet Ifaiah---" whofe breath is in his noftrils."

And yet, fo myfterious are the ways of Providence, what a train of affecting circumstances are often seen to follow the departure of the breath of a fingle individual! The whole ftate of a flourishing kingdom is fometimes overturned at the death of its fovereign, and thrown into anarchy and confufion: churches, are often difunited, if not diffolved, by the lofs of their paftor: Families, are difarranged and scattered at the departure of their head and individuals are precipitated at once from comparative affluence into the abyfs of human mifery, by the decease of a tender relative.

So fleeting are furrounding things, that fome of the moft important concerns relative to the prefent life, feem pendant by Providence, upon a fingle link, in a long chain of circumstances; and, if once that link gives way, the whole chain falls to the ground.

This, then, is not the Chriftian's reft; it is polluted; it hath no foundations; it is always fluctuating; ever changing: Happy they who are heirs to an immortal inheritance! Thrice happy they

Man, then being in his beft eftate, altogether vanity and

duft,

duft, how cogent the argument to ceafe from confidence in a Being fo vain and uncertain! And, if to the uncertainty of his prefent existence, we add, the mutability of his difpofition, that he is captivated one moment by an object, which the next moment he abhors, how little is he to be depended upon! He, and he only, is worthy our implicit confidence who knoweth no change; in whom is everlasting ftrength, and whofe mercy endureth for ever. In him, we are encouraged to trust with all the powers of our fouls; and they who truft in him fhall never be confounded. But those who live and die without Faith in him, shall find all inferior confidences flip from beneath their feet, until they are overwhelmed in everlasting ruin!

CHRISTOPHILUS.

IN

LATE CONVERSION.

N the year 1789, one Daniel Thornton, of Crowle, in Lincolnshire, departed out of this world into the world of fpirits, aged 85. He had through life maintained the character of an honest, industrious man, and he dwelt much on his old ftock of civility in doing juftly; but knew nothing in reality of loving mercy, and walking humbly with his God, until a few days before his death. He had been fo deaf for fome years, that it was quite troublesome to speak to him, and his wife was quite blind, and 87 years of age; fo they were literally and spiritually deaf and blind; and what was more diftreffing, they were ignorant of their own ftate For he had been spoke to often concerning his felf-righteous and legal dependance; but could not be moved from fuch a dead hope. It pleased the Lord in his Providence to fend an itinerant preacher to be his tenant and next neighbour, who being moved with compaffion towards this aged couple, felt a defire to be made ufeful, to their fouls, efpecially the old man's: of course he took the liberty as opportunity offered to converfe with him about fpiritual things. About ten days before his death, he was laid on a fick bed, and as they were carrying him into the houfe for the laft time) out of the garden, his friend (the preacher) was returning from his round in preaching, and followed him into the houfe. When they had laid him on the bed, and he was a little recovered from his fatigue, and able to fpeak, he looked earnestly on his attendant and faid, "Sir, this is hard work." His friend faid little to him then, but went again the next morning, and fpoke

fpoke freely concerning the love of Chrift to poor finners; and, as he was able, fet him forth in his crucifixion as the only name by whom finners could be faved; obferving how bleffed the perfon was who could fay with Paul "He hath loved me, and given himfelf for me." On this the old man faid "Stop, fir," and, after a paufe, "will you please to repeat those words again?" On their being repeated he cried, "O bleffed words!" When asked if he thought Jefus died for him? he replied "Yes I believe, I hope, he did." "Then," faid his friend," you fee yourself a loft finner and incapable of faving yourself." He answered "I am a guilty creature, not able to do any thing of myself to fave my foul." From this fight evangelical forrow flowed, and he was heard often to pray fervently to the Lord to have mercy on his poor foul; and at times, giving praise that he was vifited in mercy and not confumed.

After this, whenever his friend went to vifit him, he used to be careful to have his wife brought in to hear him read and pray. He faid that (many years ago) he had often read the 53d Chapter of Ifaiah but never knew the meaning until his laft illucfs.-The last night he lived, the old man being asked how he found himself, he faid "I am greatly oppreffed," for he drew his breath very hard. His friend faid, "The Lord is able to let the oppreffed go free;" to which he replied, "I know he is."-"Then with fuch a hope you are not afraid to die?"-He faid "No, I look for the Lord's coming every day and every night," and with both his hands fqueezed thofe of the preacher, faying "may God bless you everlaftingly !"-The writer of this narrative muft obferve three circumftances in providence attending this fubject: ift. "That he was obliged to remove from Haxey to Crowle, because it did not fuit him to remain where his predeceffors had always refided. 2d. That finding an unusual inclination to return home instead of going to another village to preach on that night, he by fo doing had an opportunity, at the juncture of time, to fee the old man, and follow him into the house. 3d. For the laft week of his life he could hear as well as in younger years; fo that his natural, as well as spiritual cars were unitopped.

Reader, whoever thou art, reflect on the mystery of divine providence in bringing the hidden ones of God, and theep of Chrift, to the knowledge of falvation; and remember that He who fhed his blood on the Cross, laid in the grave, rofe again and afcended into glory, is as able to

fave now as he was a dying thief and a perfecuting Saul in their days; and without an intereft in him thou must be miferable both in this world and that which is to come.

On the other hand, thefe inftances fhould encourage none to prefume on a late repentance, fince we have no promife either of the opportunity, or of the grace in a dying hour. Befide he that defers repentance till to-morow, has a day more to repent of, and a day lefs to repent in.

E. D.

"No

REFLECTIONS ON 2 SAM. iii. 1.

W there was a long war between the house of "Saul and the houfe of David: but David waxed "itronger and ftronger, and the houfe of Saul waxed "weaker and weaker."

Scripture hiftory is highly interefting and inftructive ; and, when accommodated with judgment to the circumftances and characters of believers may be productive of the happieft effects. We are informed by Ifaiah that "The youths fhall faint and be weary, and that the young "men fhall utterly fail, but they who wait upon the Lord "thall renew their flrength, &c.-"The righteous fhall hold "on his way, and he that hath clear hands fhall be stronger "and ftronger."-The above hiftoric paffage may afford the following ferious reflections, inafmuch as Scripture hiftory will always ferve, more or lefs, to illuftrate Scripture experience.

Nature

1. Grace and nature are as diftinct and as oppofite as was the houfe of David and the houfe of Saul. is proud, paffionate, felf-willed, and revengeful. is meek, patient, refigned, and devout.

Grace

2. The contention between thefe two principles is painful and powerful. Paul found it fo. See Rom. vii.

3. Where there is no grace, there will be no ftrugglej

no victory, and confequently, no crown.

4. The fide we take here, will determine our character hereafter David or Saul: Chrift or the world.

5. When a man is convinced that he is on the wrong fide, it is right to change, and muft and will be beft in the end. O may my foul be found on the Lord's fide!

6. When a poor finner revolts from Satan and flies to the Redeemer's ftandard, angels in Heaven rejoice. "There is joy in Heaven over one finner that repenteth.'

7. Wicked men must weaken and come to ruin at last,

25

as did Saul, Pharaoh, Balaam, and others. See Pfal. xxxvii. 35. 36.

8. The ftrength of grace confifts in an holy confidence in God, attended with an unabating zeal for his service and glory. This propofition might be fully confirmed and beautifully illuftrated by a ftatement of the characters and conduct of David, and of Paul. But as brevity is my object, I forbear to enlarge.

9. The ftrength of fome men's profeffion lies altogether in their connections-worldly intereft-or (what is ftill worfe) in fpiritual pride.

10. It is a matter highly promifing, when we find fin weakening, and grace gaining daily strength.

11. The military have a method of farving an enemy to fubmiffion thus we muft ftarve our lufts, and it will be no cruelty to do fo. Our lufts will be our ruin if they are not ruined.

Reader, if the house of David, if divine grace, grows ftronger and stronger in you it will be abundantly evident in the fpirit of your prayers-the holinefs of your converfation-and the uprightnefs of your conduct.

OLIGOS.

T

SOUTH SEA MISSION.

HE following fentiments of Capt. Cook, extracted from his life written by Dr. Kippis, point out to the public the benefit the natives of the South Sea Islands may hope to receive from the Miffionaries.

It is an obfervation of great importance, that the future felicity of the inhabitants of Otaheite, and the Society Iflands, will not a little depend on their continuing to be vifited from Europe. Our Commander could not avoid expreffing it as his real opinion, that it would have been far better for these poor people, never to have known our fuperiority in the accommodation and arts which render life comfortable, than, after once knowing it, to be again left and abandoned to their original incapacity of improvement. If the intercourfe between them and us fhould wholly be discontinued, they cannot be restored to that happy mediocrity in which they lived before they were firft difcovered. It seemed to Capt. Cook that it was become, in a manner, incumbent upon the Europeans to visit these islands once in three or four years, in order to fupply the natives with those conveniences which we have