such a known traitor, but rather pause, and meditate upon the divine revelation, comparing it with our own experience. Evidences will then arise before our convicted consciences, which will tend to silence the spirit of self-approbation, and we shall, through the humiliation of an enlightened mind, be better prepared patiently to follow the healing guide, who by powerful operations in the soul, leads out the redeemed to liberty.

If we admit the fact that the Lord alone has a sovereign right to the possession of our heart, its apostacy and falsehood will be undeniable. From infancy we have preferred every childish vanity before the Lord, giving individual confirmation to the divine word which declares that "folly is bound up in the heart of a child," Prov. xxii. 15. Our maturer years have been attended with more matured expression of this native departure from the most High. As it is unquestionably true "where our treasure is, there will be our heart also," so is it undoubted that our treasures have been amidst creatures, earthly pleasures, objects of sense, and that these have had our heart. We, therefore, come under condemnation; as soon as we were born, we went astray; and have wandered every one into his own way. Matt. vi. 21. Ps. lviii. 3. Is. liii. 6. That our own heart has proved itself to be hard and insensible is speedily discoverable. Surely we must be sensible that life has been one of wicked indifference to every consideration which ought to affect an

our

the censure of man. They desire to obtain a degree of respectability in life, and would have a certain measure of approbation from the religious. Hence there are in the world, and in the professing church, thousands who are deceived and deceiving the heart of man being altogether

thus evil and treacherous.

We cannot be surprised, that a region thus corrupt should produce evil correspondent to the strongest terms adopted in the Scriptures. We cease to wonder that man is described as" desperately wicked," that is, desperately lawless, breaking the yoke which divine precept proposes, and rushing into manifest revolt from God. Nor can we withhold our assent to the propriety with which the apostate is stigmatized as such by the Lord, since it is evident that idols occupy the seat where God should reign, and that these require and receive from man incessant homage; he gives it with alacrity as a willing votary, and his heart is fully set in him to do evil. Ecc. ix. 3.

This is that interior region of man so little known by himself, yet so awfully exposed to the scrutiny of God. This is that evil thing, the heart, of which the blinded sinner is so prone to boast as good, in which he so confidently trusts as true, and which, even when he is forced by passing fears to search, he examines so superficially, so deceitfully, and allows to be healed so falsely. O let us not be of those who confide in

such a known traitor, but rather pause, and meditate upon the divine revelation, comparing it with our own experience. Evidences will then arise before our convicted consciences, which will tend to silence the spirit of self-approbation, and we shall, through the humiliation of an enlightened mind, be better prepared patiently to follow the healing guide, who by powerful operations in the soul, leads out the redeemed to liberty.

If we admit the fact that the Lord alone has a sovereign right to the possession of our heart, its apostacy and falsehood will be undeniable. From infancy we have preferred every childish vanity before the Lord, giving individual confirmation to the divine word which declares that " folly is bound up in the heart of a child," Prov. xxii. 15. Our maturer years have been attended with more matured expression of this native departure from the most High. As it is unquestionably true "where our treasure is, there will be our heart also," so is it undoubted that our treasures have been amidst creatures, earthly pleasures, objects of sense, and that these have had our heart. We, therefore, come under condemnation; as soon as we were born, we went astray; and have wandered every one into his own way. Matt. vi. 21. Ps. lviii. 3. Is. liii. 6. That our own heart has proved itself to be hard and insensible is speedily discoverable. Surely we must be sensible that our life has been one of wicked indifference to every consideration which ought to affect an

immortal and rational creature.

The terrible law of God, with all its destroying denunciations, has been but as an empty unmeaning sound in our ears; not all the thunders of Sinai have roused us from our lethargy; not all the examples of judgment which the Almighty Judge has brought before our eyes, have excited one personal alarm; awaiting scenes have had no terror to us; we have lived at ease amidst gathering storms and a lowering sky. The gentle gospel, with all its sublimity, and glory, and grace, has been equally disregarded. We have evinced our native obduracy by a practical contempt of the blessed revelation; we have neglected the ordinances where its messages are delivered to sinful men; or, when in the ordinances, have retained the insensibility of a cold and obdurate heart. These are unquestionable demonstrations of our participation in the general apostacy of man. Neither can we be permitted to plead that we differ from others, though on some occasion the word has been attended with convicting power. Many may, by the force of the blow which it inflicts, be made transiently to tremble; many may, by the melting strains of the gospel, be touched, by a passing sympathy, with which it addresses itself to human feeling, who nevertheless are not removed from transgression, nor won to Christ. But the Lord has various methods by which to draw near to the heart: these he has no doubt in measure used towards us: dispensations of a

correcting kind, such as sickness, grief, suffering, have been sent upon us. Mercies also of abundant kinds have been dispensed. We have been raised from sickness, we have been delivered from grief, we have been restored to peace. Yet, in all these instances, we have received the visitation only to renew our tokens of insensibility and ingratitude; we have not heard a voice in these things, we have not enquired whether there were a cause for the chastisement; nor have we, for the mercy, returned to give glory to God! Alas, we have remained impenitent, prayerless, unthankful! It is probable in the experience of relief from sadness, some tributes of gratitude and affection have been distributed amongst those whom the Lord raised up to be our helpers; but the author of these mercies has been forgotten or unknown. We have also had occasions wherein we might observe the divine providence as acting towards others. Sinners have been cut off in their crimes, and hurried to God's dreadful tribunal without a moment's space for repentance and faith. Saints have been called from a course of obedience and devotion, ripe for their inheritance, and manifestly triumphing over death and hell. Yet, these events have not had in them interest sufficient to awaken any corresponding affection within us; we have been satisfied with some unmeaning exclamation of wonder or admiration, and have dismissed the consideration as no longer of any moment to us. Are not these conclusive marks