as lovers of truth and righteousness, to teach them to imitate his example in want, and disgrace, and danger, that they might be exalted in heaven, by his lowliness. on earth. And with peculiar force, he instructed his apostles, who were to go forth with human passions and infirmities, to establish the kingdom whose foundations he was laying, that they should never employ their miraculous powers to promote the interests of their pride, ambition, and self love.

III. The last temptation mentioned in this narrative, is recorded as follows. The devil taketh him into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and saith unto him, all these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me.' The meaning of this representation is the most obvious of the whole. However pure and unearthly he was, still as a man the idea of acquiring temporal dominion by his spiritual power, must have been forced upon his mind. There was every thing to awaken a love of power in his bosom ; it lay within his reach, and his countrymen urged him to put forth his hand and grasp it. How natural it was that a poor, despised, and persecuted individual should be tempted to make himself a king, if it were only for the sake of triumphing over his foes, and rewarding his humble friends. These he loved; and he saw them patiently waiting, and looking with mistaken expectation for the time, when he should give them the temporal recompense of their fidelity.

He had only then to take advantage of the prevailing hope of Israel, and proclaim himself the Messiah, come to sit on the throne of David, his great ancestor, and

his countrymen would have hailed him with one voice of acclamation. They would have followed him with unconquerable enthusiasm, as the temporal 'Redeemer of Israel.' How earnestly did they press him to assume the royal name, and raise the banner of independence against the Romans, his country's proud oppressors! With the zeal and hope of the nation, kinḍled up by their ancient prophets, and their spirit sustained by his own miraculous character, how easily might he have availed himself of their ardor, and directed it to victory and triumph! He might have come off conqueror in the storm of revolution, and have reestablished the throne of David in more than its former grandeur. He might have divided the empire of the Cæsars, and made himself the arbiter of thrones, and the master of tributary kings. In short, had he been willing to become the slave of ambition, he might have done what the Arabian impostor a few centuries after accomplished.

But he resisted the temptation. He disappointed the wishes, and incurred the rage and scorn of his countrymen. He chose to remain in the low condition in which God had placed him, and prove to all coming ages that his kingdom was not of this world; that his battles were against spiritual foes; that his conquests were over the power of sin; and that his dominion was not to be established in outward pomp; but should be the reign of righteousness and peace in the depths of the human heart.

Such as I have imperfectly described, were the human feelings, which we may suppose to have found a transient place in the bosom of the pure and holy Sa

vior. In this metaphorical description of what passed in his mind, all the inward emotions or outward circumstances, which might invite him to turn aside from the great objects of his mission, are personified under the figure of the Devil, or the Tempter.

ment.

But he stood firm against all the enticements of self love. He would not worship at the shrine of unholy ambition. He would not swerve from his high duties, for the sake of promoting his own comfort or advanceThe application is plain and easy. The Savior's example is a support and encouragement to his disciples of every age. He, 'who was tempted in all points as we are,' invites us to press onward in the bright path which he trod before us, with his own self denial, moral energy and spotless holiness. Let no temptation divert us from strict and sacred duty; let no sin present charms too strong for our virtue; let no earthly joy detain us a moment from following the blessed Jesus in his Heavenward way. C. S.

MEMOIRS OF REV EDWARD PAYSON D. D.

Portland, 1830

The subject of this memoir has been extensively known in this part of our country as a preacher, and within the circle of his own religious connexion his name is in great repute. By those, therefore, of his religious friends, who can sympathize in his peculiar views and feelings, this Memoir will undonbtedly be

welcomed with much pleasure. They will probably esteem it as a faithful and just record of the various experience, the joys and sorrows, the anguish and the peace, the struggles and the conquests of a true servant of God. By those of us, who cannot thus sympathize; who are compelled by what we have deliberately adopted as truth, and by what all may observe of the common principles of our nature, to see here, not only the effects of religion, but of what is often mistaken for it, the workings of a physical temperament, and of a most excitable frame, this little volume will still be read with the interest, which the history, and especially the religious history, of all fellow christians and fellow-creatures must inspire. We deem it profitable and wise to mark the various affections and course of conduct, which religion in its diversified forms exhibits in the human character; to trace the influence of local circumstances, of early associations, of insensible prejudices and especially of a predominant passion on the whole life; and at the same time, to perceive, as we may distinctly do, how all that is truly valuable, all that is vital in religion, or constituting religion itself, may spring up and flourish, notwithstanding this diversity, and from principles, too, not of doubtful and and limited, but of general acknowledgement.

Neither our limits nor disposition will lead us into the details of this book. By a large portion of the religious community who would probably read either the Memoir itself, or any notices, that it might call forth, the character of Dr Payson is well known. He has been very generally regarded as an eminent and successful preacher; distinguished by an ardent eloquence,

by a bold and fertile fancy, by an exquisite sensibility to whatever concerned his ministerial usefulness, and by an unwearied devotion to his work. That he was deeply and habitually impressed also, by every thing, that was included in his view of religion; that he had a sincere 'love of souls,' and a most earnest desire, as he must have been conscious also of peculiar gifts, to persuade and save them; no one, we presume, who knew or often heard him, would deny. But that these excellencies and gifts, greatly to be esteemed, and when wisely directed and controlled, desirable for every Christian minister, were mingled with much extravagance, and serious mistakes, both of system and conduct,-these Memoirs equally show.

We write with a sincere reluctance upon this subject; because we are aware, how much easier it is to magnify the errors of a good man, than to be certain, that the same, or far greater, are not our own; and especially in adverting to those, which seem fairly to be ascribed to the infelicity of temperament to hereditary or constitutional infirmities, we would not be deficient in a tenderness, which misfortune, and not sin, may always claim. But when extravagance of feeling, or conduct, proceeding from such sources, is mistaken for religion, and held up for admiration as an evidence of Christian virtue, while, in truth, it is a proper subject for our charity, as an infirmity or a fault, it is well, nay, it becomes a duty, to distinguish between them. How, for example, shall we otherwise explain such passages as this.

'O, the temptations, which have harrassed me for the last three months! I have met with nothing like them in books. I dare not