honour. I know too well what is in them to fall into this error: I am aware that the heart of man answereth to man,' but I cannot withhold my tribute of love and esteem for a being, from whom, under divine influence, I have frequently derived benefit and consolation; but while doing this I would by no means be supposed to magnify any thing short of the Saviour. I remember to have heard a very excellent young man in the church relate the first useful lesson he received on this subject. He told me that during the time he was at college, and while his mind was deeply impressed with the blessedness of being wholly devoted to his Master, he was one day walking with an experienced friend through the streets of Cambridge: A gentleman past by them: my young friend looked after him, and turning to his companion, exclaimed 'Ah, there goes a faithful servant of God, that is a man I should like to resemble a holy, devoted, self-denying pattern of all that is best in a Christian.' companion abruptly interrupted him. That man, Sir, is a very great sinner!' My friend at once understood and felt the strength of the observation; and he has, I believe, since that moment known how to set a just value on human attainment. We must all sooner or later learn

His

to separate between the creature's natural capability, and the transforming power. We may, and ought to admire the beautiful and wondrous works of God, and where shall we find them shining so conspicuously as in the renewed nature of man; what is so lovely as the constraining grace which softens down the asperities of the natural heart, and warms and excites it. to all the generous and kindly feelings. But while we love and admire what is so excellent, we must remember with our friend, that every man is a very great sinner,' and liable to fall into the foulest sins, except he be sustained and preserved by the almighty power of God. We love every believer with an especial love, because he is a child of the same ransomed family, and a member of the same glorious body: we love with a still stronger affection those who appear by their walk and conversation to be living in intimate communion with the Father of mercies we love them for the lustre they seem to derive from their high privileges; we honour them as ambassadors bearing important intelligence from another kingdom; we delight in them, in other words, because the Saviour has stamped his image on their hearts. It is in fact, Christ in them which excites our wonder and admiration; we lose sight of the creature

in adoring the Creator; and gratitude to him for transforming grace, imparted to ourselves and others, kindles in our bosoms the deepest sense of thankfulness, and awakens that constraining affection which causes us to love each other with a pure heart fervently.' My dear Miss Conroy," continued the old man, addressing Mary, "this is a spirit we should all desire to cultivate. I doubt not that your brother inculcates the same doctrine, but I am an older man, and from my years, privileged to say any thing, and I would urge upon you to bear it much in mind: a spirit of kindness, affection, and charity, is of great value in society, and commends itself to every one; it is a lovely evidence of that blessed faith which is the gift of God. St. Paul knew so well the excellence of it, that in summing up the three abiding principles, he adds, but the greatest of these is charity.' Faith is the immediate gift of God; a principle which the nature of man is utterly incapable of attaining. Charity is a virtue imperfectly possessed, or rather imitated, by the merely moral man, but it can never be rendered pure without the agency of the Spirit, acting by faith; it appears to me to be that affectionate, and kind, and tender habit of feeling which springs from a heart

6

overflowing with its own happiness; with a deep sense of obligation. It is the fulfilling of the law to our fellow men. Through faith is the knowledge of the remission of sins (the most joyful knowledge that guilty man ever receives). By faith we know that our souls shall be kept in safety, and that we shall never be cast off; and are not these assurances, these blessed communications, manifested to us by faith, enough to touch every harmonious chord in the heart of man? Must not the very nature of them tend to nourish all the best, and happiest, and purest sympathies? We love the Lord because he first loved us.' We love each other because the love of Christ constrains us.' We cannot help it, we are so happy, so blessed, so surrounded on all sides by promises of mercy, that the heart seeks objects on which to pour its grateful feelings. The stronger the faith, and the nearer we are drawn to our gracious Master, the purer and deeper is our love to man. 'Peter,' said our Lord, lovest thou me?'-'Feed my sheep.' It was no difficult task for the disciple who loved his Lord indeed, to deal his bread to the hungry.' Faith is truly a gracious gift-a godlike boon to man; and charity the equally gracious manifestation of it to those around us. Cultivate it, my dear

young lady, with all solicitude, it will bring glory to your heavenly Father, and peace to your own bosom."

Mary was much pleased with the simplicity and kindness of the old Rector's manner; still more so with the nature of his conversation. His appearance was equally striking :-he was tall, very upright for a man advanced in life, and of a very courteous and gentle manner; his hair was almost white, and his countenance placid, with an occasional shade of melancholy; but his temper was cheerful and lively, and might at times almost be termed gay. outline of his face was very fine, the features regular and good. Mary thought she had never seen a more striking or interesting character, and she felt half inclined to envy the people who could constantly hear such a minister.

The

Among other topics introduced, and while he was inquiring with much interest of her brother about his parish, they spoke of popularity in preaching, a subject on which the latter was desirous of obtaining his opinion. The old gentleman smiled-"I am aware," he added, "that on first entering the ministry, and indeed frequently long after, popularity seems to us, though a dangerous attainment, yet, in many respects a very desirable advantage. We think