THE apostle tells us that the love of money is "the root of all evil;" a great truth, very easy to be understood when we consider the numerous sins and miseries to which it leads. Look at all the sins it tempts men to commit to get it, and when got, the sins it brings in its train; review the labour it costs to gather it together, the sorrows and disappointments before the desired amount is gained, and the anxiety of preserving it when attained; and there will be found scarcely any evil unconnected with mammon. To love a thing so productive of evil that it is called by such a name as this by the Scriptures of truth, "the mammon of unrighteousness,' is surely a most dangerous thing! It is approaching very near to the love of sin itself; or otherwise, it is a great sign of blindness if we love it because we do not see its perils. Yet there never was perhaps an age of the world when this feeling was so common and so general as it is now. Men never 66 ran to and fro" with such eagerness to obtain it. It never was more worshipped than now; perhaps never so much. The cir

VOL. XXVI.

D

cumstances of the times are sad temptations, and lead powerfully in that direction. The difficulties of living, the increased wants of mankind, the luxury which creeps. into all ranks, even to the lowest, all tend to make money the great thing desired. The uncertainty of a livelihood to those who have no fixed property, and the certainty of it, so to speak, to those who have, act very strongly on the fears and desires of almost all the world.

In less peaceful times riches were more uncertain, and there was less temptation to trust them: but riches and its attendant lusts are the great temptations of a state of peace, and of secure government such as ours. The Christian ought to beware of prevailing temptations. We should think of those which more especially surround us, and prepare against them, as a warrior adapts his armour of defence to the nature of the weapons he expects his enemy will use. Whatever other means Satan may employ against us, we have reason to be nearly sure that he will tempt us all with this-the love of money. How many Christian characters has he stained and spoiled by this temptation! St. Paul said it was so even in his times; "which, while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Tim. vi. 10.) It is likely to be more the case in these days than in those, for the reason above alluded to. How powerful and awakening is the holy apostle's exhortation that follows: "But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called." These are the blessings which may be coveted without bringing into the heart any of those piercing sorrows before described. There is no sorrow in the search and pursuit of them, and none after the attainment. "The fruit of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." We must have something to aim at and desire beyond what we now possess. This is a necessity of our being; and we cannot rest without some object

before us greater or better than we have. Let that object be such as the apostle recommends; not that which our worldly hearts incline to. We shall have enough to do to attain to those six possessions enumerated above. Life would be too short for creating such a fortune as they amount to; but we may put these talents, given at first by God, to the exchangers, and we shall receive them with increase. He has promised to give to him that hath, that he may have abundance; and these possessions, when attained, are our own, which riches are not. Speaking of them both in comparison, our Lord said, "If ye be not faithful in that which is another man's, who will give you that which is your own?" Our riches, when given, are another's; they belong to God, and we are but the stewards. The graces of holiness, when given, are our own; they belong to the soul, and go with it into eternity, rendering it for ever happy and for ever rich. Whoever is in earnest, seeking these, will be delivered soon from the love of money. He cannot serve both. The Holy Spirit, who puts it in our hearts to follow after righteousness sincerely, will finish his sanctifying work by uprooting the contrary principles, and enable us, "having food and raiment, therewith to be content."

LORD ELDON'S MOTTO.

Ir is related in the Life of the great Lord Eldon, who was for many years Lord Chancellor of England, that his character and habits, to the end of his life, were affected by the notice he took of a Latin sentence which was painted on the door of the coach that conveyed him. from school. It is well known that all his life afterwards was marked by very great diligence to do everything he did well, without always so much regarding whether it was done with as much speed as was desired. As a judge, when he presided over the highest and most important court in the kingdom-that called the Court of Chancery-Lord Eldon acquired a name which has perhaps never been equalled by any other. But it was for these particular excellences above all others,-his

great correctness and accuracy, his perfect knowledge of the law, and the transparent justice of his decisions. These are, of course, some of the highest possible qualities in a good judge. But he was often complained of by those who went to law before him, because he kept them so long before he came to a decision. It was allowed by all that this never arose from idleness, but only from the anxiety he felt to be perfectly right before he settled any important question. Now the little circumstance which he says did more than anything to form this habit and character of mind, was his travelling to London, when a youth, in a coach which had painted on the door this sentence or motto, which we will put into English for the benefit of our readers: "Sufficiently quickly, if sufficiently well." These are his Lordship's own words, describing the circumstance in his anecdote book: "I have seen it remarked, that something which in early youth captivates attention, influences future life in all stages. When I left school in 1766 to go to Oxford, I came up from Newcastle to London in a coach, then called, on account of its quick travelling, as travelling was then estimated, a fly; being, as well as I remember, nevertheless, three or four days and nights on the road: there was no such speed as to endanger overturning or other mischief. On the pannels of the carriage were painted the words, 'Sat cito, si sat benè,' (sufficiently soon, if sufficiently well,)-words which made a most lasting impression on my mind, and have had their influence on my conduct in all after-life. In short, in all that I have had to do, I have always felt the effect of this early admonition. It was the impression of this which made me that deliberative judge-as some have said too deliberative;--and reflection upon what is past will not let me deny, that whilst I have been thinking 'soon enough, if well enough,' I may not have sufficiently recollected whether well enough, if soon enough,' has had its due influence."

It is highly interesting to hear from the lips of so great a man the circumstance which thus stamped his character from so early a date. All his success afterwards certainly arose from his endeavouring to do every

thing "well enough," and not minding how much labour and time it took him. His study of the law was so laborious, and his knowledge of it so correct, that he was considered its best living interpreter, and his opinion was sought as an oracle. He rose from what people call nothing to be the highest of the king's ministers, and the favourite minister of one of the best of kings-George the Third.

He had no interest to assist him, no friend at court, and very little money. If his elder brother had not been most affectionate and generous to him, he could not have lived through the years during which he was pursuing his studies. But when once he was tried, on almost the first occasion of his appearance in public, his determination to do everything well, carried him to the highest success. His name rose immediately. He was soon in full employment, and gathering great wealth; the highest honours were quickly added, and the general favour of his country. Everything afterwards prospered with him, and every year made him a more important man. He still carried with him through life the habit which he tells us was formed by his reflections on the motto of the stage-coach. "Slow but sure" is an old proverb, expressing much the same maxim. It would surely be a good thing if we all took care to choose some good motto, of which there are plenty in the Bible,—to direct us through life, and to refer to whenever we are in doubt, and whenever we are reflecting upon what we shall do next. It would at least make us steady and consistent in our conduct, which is one long step towards true greatness of character. We are generally too changeable and wayward, following numerous fancies instead of principles. This is, as if a man was to go to sea in a small boat without a compass, and without understanding the stars. He would be " driven with the wind and tossed." But if we chose a good principle for our guidance, and took care to consult it every morning, and every hour it was wanted afterwards, we should be much less at the mercy of the caprices of our own hearts, and the idle fancies of our own minds.

I have heard of a very excellent and diligent useful