when she reflected on the intensity of her feeling, and the fluency of her utterance; and though she could discover no traces of a divine influence enlightening her mind, yet she was not discouraged, as she had been previously taught to believe that, like the morning light, a supernatural illumination is so imperceptible in its dawnings, that it cannot be perceived except by the effects which follow. Under these impressions she went to the parish church, which was situated about a quarter of a mile from her own dwelling. The thick, dense mist that had been lingering for some hours over the face of nature, had cleared off; and the animating sun was scattering his beams over hill and dale-presenting an inimitable scene of splendour and loveliness. When walking beside the gently flowing river that meandered towards the hallowed edifice, the plaintive language of the captives of Babylon recurred to her recollection, awakening her gratitude to Him who had cast her lot in a more pleasant heritage. "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof." No sound was to be heard but that of the church-going bell, calling the people of the village and the distant hamlets to the worship of their Maker, who were passing in greater numbers than she had ever held to present the morning sacrifice of prayer and of praise. She passed through the crowd that stood in groups in the church-yard, where their forefathers were resting in undisturbed quietude, and seated herself in her pew, where she remained for several moments, unconscious of any presence but that of the only living and true God. At length the curate entered the desk, and commenced the service, which roused her from her solemn musings. The prayers and the lessons which he read, were all familiar to her; but they appeared invested with an unusual degree of sacredness. When confess ing her sins, and when imploring forgiveness, her heart responded to the language of her lips-the tear and the sigh alternately indicating that her soul was deeply affected. Till that morning, much of the language employed in the public ritual of the church, was as incomprehensible as the language of the New Testament, but the light of a lucid explanation, being imperceptibly thrown over it, she discerned its meaning, because she felt its power, -awakening sensations, which were as novel as they were delightful,-leaving her no less astonished at her former insensibility, than surprised by the impressions which she had received. During the interval between the reading of the prayers and the delivery of the sermon, she was too deeply absorbed in meditation to notice the entrance of the clergyman into the pulpit, and it was not till she heard his voice, that she knew a stranger was going to preach. This circumstance at first she regretted, as it diverted her attention from that train of thought which she had been pursuing; but the fervour and seriousness of his manner, when in prayer, the adaptation of several petitions which uttered to the state of her mind, the energy and pathos of his elocution, soon subdued the feeling, and she was borne along in the current of holy excitement without being conscious of the supernatural influence by which she was impelled. After having implored the divine blessing to rest on the sermon which he was about to deliver, he looked round on his audience with a smile of almost super human benignity, and then announced the following text. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."-Heb. vii. 25. The first sentence, delivered in a tone and with an emphasis which corresponded with its overwhelming importance, produced an effect on the whole audience which we very rarely witness. "What must I do to be saved?' is, my brethren, the most important question which we can propose; and in comparison with which, every other dwindles into insignificance. To treat this question with contempt, or to allow it to engross only a subordinate degree of attention, is an act of criminal folly which admits of no extenuation or excuse, unless you can prove that man has never sinned, or that the whole duration of his existence is restricted to this short and uncertain life. And has man never sinned? Then why is he plunged in misery? And shall we cease to exist when our pulse ceases to beat ? and perish when we die, along with the beasts of the valley? Then why has the hope of immortality been given to man? To this important question the Scriptures give us a satisfactory answer, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' "God is invisible, dwelling in light which no man can approach unto,-whom no man hath seen, nor can see; yet if we draw nigh unto him, he will draw nigh unto us, ' But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.' When engaged in the holy exercise of prayer, we may -- solicit every good and perfect gift which he can bestow; but our most fervent importunity ought to relate to those which we deem essential to our present and final happiness. And what are they? Health ?-Health is certainly an invaluable blessing; but I have known many happy, when pining away in sickness and disease. Wealth? Wealth is certainly an enviable possession; but I have known many happy, who have lived and died in a state of poverty. Honour? The honours of this world, are the verdant laurels of civic dignity and renown; but I have known many happy, whose brows they have never adorned. Health, and wealth, and honour, the great prizes for which, as citizens of earth, we contend, possess a relative degree of value; but there are blessings within our reach of more importance. What? The pardon of our sins, the renovation and purification of our nature,—our restoration to the enjoyment of the divine favour, and the hope of eternal life. "And if you examine the text, which accords with the uniform language of the New Testament, you will perceive that you are to come unto God through the mediation of Jesus Christ,' For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.' This medium of access presupposes the absolute and entire renunciation of every other. Indeed, on what can you rely for these inestimable blessings, if you do not rely on the death and intercession of the Saviour? Can you rely on the rectitude of your conduct? Impossible! because you have sinned, and incurred his displeasure; and though you may not have equalled others in the degree of your criminality, yet, as the Apostle says, he that offends in one point, incurs guilt, as certainly, as though he had violated every precept. Indeed, if your perceptions of your own moral character and moral danger are just, you will embrace the mediation of Jesus Christ, as the only safe, because the only scriptural, medium of your access to God; and instead of feeling any disposition to rely on your partial or comparative goodness, you will adopt the language of the Apostle, and with some portion of that intense feeling which glowed in his breast, Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.' "I know that many will acknowledge their guilt who never deplore it, that many will say, • God be merciful to us sinners,' who never weep over a remembrance of their sins, and that many will confess that they hope to he saved by Christ, who have no clear, no piercing perceptions of the scheme of human redemption. In their estimation, religion is a mere form of words and ceremonies, which may be learnt by human art, and practised by human skill, rather than the illumination and moral renovation of the mind by the power of the Holy Spirit ;-a theory of intellectual speculation, rather than a mighty principle of moral operation; a thing of custom, of convenience, or of necessity, rather than a source of pure and animated bliss-that which is essential to the well-being of the social community, rather than that which is essential to the salvation of the soul. Hence as we may very naturally expect, the great mass of pro |