this glorious assembly do, each in his measure, preserve and extend the influence of truth and holiness. Some, however, are pre-eminent, and shine with a lustre that enlightens not only their own, but every succeeding generation. Thus Enoch, in the midst of a multitude of the ungodly, walked with God, and had the testimony that he pleased him. Thus Noah, when all flesh was corrupt, retained his integrity, and was a preacher of righteousness. Thus Abraham, though surrounded by idolaters, worshipped the true God, and was upright; thus Elijah, when nearly all Israel had apostatised, was jealous for the glory of the God of Israel; thus John the Baptist was a burning and a shining light; thus the apostles and the primitive martyrs testified to the truth, and adorned it by the holiness of their lives; and thus, too, do thousands at the present day, love and honour the gospel of Jesus. They have felt its sanctifying influence on their hearts; they rest on it their hopes for eternity, and they exhibit its excellence in the purity of their conduct; while as the head and the Redeemer of all, we behold the Lord Jesus, the sun of righteousness, from whom they all derive their light, and who is the only source of true wisdom, holiness, peace, and consolation to men.

Innumerable are the benefits which the world derives from the church, for it is the great instrument of preserving religious knowledge and purity among men. It is in the church of God that we find those institutions which are the honour and blessing of our age-Bible and Missionary Societies, Sabbath schools, and those various other institutions, which are so many ramparts against ignorance and vice, and which, like fertilising streams, are diffusing health and blessings wherever they flow. Show me any institution purely benevolent and pious, any institution which has no

connexion with worldly politics, and I confidently aver, that among its leading and most active promoters are the members of the church of God. Infidels ridicule them, and despots hate them, and no wonder; for in proportion as they prosper, ignorance, and vice, and oppression must cease-they are instruments in the hand of God-parts of that great moral machinery, which, under his direction, will effect the renovation of the world.

God also blesses the world for the sake of the church. Ten pious men would have saved Sodom-the prayers of Elijah prevailed to remove the drought that had afflicted Israel; and our Lord Jesus declares that for the elect's sake, the days of those awful calamities which visited Judea were shortened. Let us learn to view the dispensations of Divine Providence as they refer to the church and not merely as to their political influence and effects: and, while we pray for the arrival of the time when the borders of the church shall be enlarged even to the ends of the earth, let us aid in the efforts which are made to produce this desirable event.

When God called Abraham, he not only promised to bless him, but also that "he should be a blessing"

a blessing while he lived, and a blessing to the latest posterity. This promise was abundantly fulfilledfor,

3. Another design of God in the vocation of Abraham was, to preserve the knowledge and expectation of the Redeemer, and to prepare the way for his coming. "In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." To Abraham and his descendants promises were given that the Messiah, the deliverer from evil, should be raised up among them. Holy prophets were inspired to foretel his coming, and to describe the glory of his person and work; the priesthood was established, and the ordinances of worship were appointed to prefigure

him; and in the fulness of time, when all the pious in Israel were expecting his arrival, he appeared among men, meek and lowly, full of grace and truth, proclaiming the salvation of God, and the day of release from spiritual bondage.

Such were the important purposes for which God called out Abraham from his kindred and home. "We are to consider it," says a distinguished writer, "not as a partial favour to that family alone, but as the opening of that scene which was to bring a blessing upon all nations of the earth." "The Lord promised Abraham," says Dr. Scott, "that he should be a blessing. To the latest ages important blessings would, for his sake, be vouchsafed to his posterity; he should be an instrument of great good, while he lived, to his relations, domesticks, and neighbours; and his example would be eminently useful till the end of time." "All the true blessedness the world is now, or ever shall be possessed of, is owing to Abraham and his posterity; through them we have a Bible, and a Saviour, and a Gospel. They are the stock on which the church is grafted. Their very dispersions have proved the riches of the world."+

But while much doctrinal instruction is conveyed by this interesting portion of the word of God, it also affords

II. An admirable pattern for our imitation. Abraham, in complying with the call of God, exhibited a lovely example of faith and obedience. By faith," says the apostle Paul, "Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out, not knowing whither he went." The command to leave his country and kindred was difficult and trying; it tore him away from the

• Sherlock on Prophecy. † Fuller.

scene of his early attachments; probably crossed his inclinations, and was opposed by his friends; and it certainly exposed him to much toil, fatigue, privation, and danger. But the Lord had spoken, and that was sufficient. The principle of his obedience was faith in God. He had such firm assurance that God would do what he had promised, that "he went forth not knowing whither he went," a stranger in a strange land, far from his kindred, and surrounded with dangers; and he gave up all to God, trusting to him to guide, protect, preserve, and bless him.

To ascertain and pursue the path of duty, should always be our chief concern, under a fixed assurance, that if we truly fear and love God, he will direct our footsteps in peace and safety. Are any convinced of the reality and infinite importance of religion, and afraid openly to profess and embrace it, lest they should meet with the opposition and ridicule of ungodly companions? Let such contemplate the conduct of Abraham, that they may learn their folly and guilt. No danger or suffering could deter him when God called. And are you afraid to obey and trust God? or can you hesitate for a moment between which to choose-his approbation, or the approbation of man? Which is most dreadful, his wrath, or the scoff of the wicked? With the blessing and the guidance of God, you need fear no evil. Obey, then, like Abraham; devote yourselves to God's service; go forth in the path of holy obedience, trusting in him to protect and preserve you, and thus you will find true peace under the divine blessing.

After Abraham had left his country and his father's house, he "sojourned by faith in the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles, and looking for a city that hath foundations whose builder and maker is God." By faith he habitually contemplated

heaven as his home. Like him, each of us is a sojourner here, hastening away from present pursuits and enjoyments to the slumbers of the tomb, and the stupendous realities of eternity. Let us, then, detach our affections from the world, and seek our rest and permanent abode in heaven.

In the history of Abraham we have a striking illustration of the truth, that "godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." When the Lord called him, he promised to make his name great. Though he was neither a statesman, nor a philosopher, nor a warrior, yet his name is handed down to us with distinguished reputation. Not only the Jews, but many nations in the east, claim him as their patriarch and founder, while the whole church on earth reveres him as the Father of the faithful. So true is it, that real and exalted piety is the source of real ho

nour.

What, however, is infinitely more important than the greatest earthly distinctions, Abraham now occupies a high place in heaven. To intimate the exalted bliss and glory to which Lazarus was raised, our Lord tells us that "the angels carried him to Abraham's bosom." The days of his pilgrimage have long since ended; he no longer, as a stranger, wanders from place to place, but is a settled inhabitant of the heavenly city, and dwells in the immediate presence of his God. Happy are they who, in imitation of his obedience and faith, are travelling to the same " city of habitation."

From the Literary Souvenir.

A REMONSTRANCE,

Addressed to a Friend who complained of being alone in the World.

BY ALARIC A. WATTS.

I.

Oh say not thou art all alone,

Upon this wide, cold-hearted earth;

FOR THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.

NOTES OF A TRAVELLER.

(Continued from p. 22.)

Tuesday, June 24th.-As an American and a Pennsylvanian, I could not leave London without going to "West's gallery of Paintings." Three large rooms contain them. One room, however, is filled merely with sketches. Most of the subjects are from the scriptures, particularly from the New Testament. The picture I most admired was Christ rejected, as it is called. It is an exceedingly large painting-the fellow to it, Death on the pale horse, is preferred by many. The death of Lord Nelson I thought excellent. I never imagined that grief could have been made to assume so many different aspects, as it does on all the countenances of the sailors and officers in this picture. There is a delicacy about most of the works of West, which is strongly contrasted with the half naked figures of most ancient and modern painters. The rest of this day I passed with Mr. R. and some American friends, who came over with me in the Algonquin. It is delightful to meet in this distant land the companions of our youth, and our native country.

Wednesday, June 25th. This morning I walked through Regent street as far as the Crescent, and then went to the Diorama, a kind of painting which I first saw at Liverpool, and which presents the most complete optical delusion I

Since the above was written, the Pic. ture Gallery of our illustrious countryman, West, was sold by auction. During the life of Mr. West, £10,000 was refused for the piece called Christ Rejected; it was struck off at the sale, I think, for less than half that sum, and the picture is now about to be exhibited in Philadelphia,

ever witnessed. There are two pictures at this place; one, however, is only seen at a time. When the first is examined a bell rings, and the whole room in which the spectators are seated moves round on a pivot, till you are opposite the second: one picture represents a country town in a mountainous country, and the other the interior of a chapel in ruins. This last is by no means so fine as the one at Liverpool; but the other must be the most perfect thing of its kind: the motion of the clouds, and the sun and shade, are true to nature. It is impossible to bring the mind to believe that these pictures are on a plain piece of canvass. I saw also, two Panoramas in Leicester square, but they did not strike me as any thing very remarkable. Today I received a letter from M., which is the first intelligence I have had from home since I left you, and you may believe that I devoured it. As it was all good news, I feel I hope grateful.

Thursday, June 26th.-I heard, to-day, of the arrival from Paris of my old friends N. C., Esq., and the Rev. C. H., and I anticipate much pleasure at our meeting. I went with Mr. S. to Longman's celebrated bookstore-there are a number of small rooms in which the business is transacted; but, altogether, the establishment is far inferior to what I expected. Some other noted book shops I also visited, but they were all like Longman's. I also made a second visit to St. Paul's Cathedral, and was pleased, but not overwhelmed, with the magnitude of the building, and the costliness of the monuments.

Friday, June 27th.-I paid a long visit to Dr. Prout, the distinguished analyst of animal substances. He was exceedingly affable and communicative; he showed me his

little laboratory, and presented me with a copy of his last work on animal chemistry. After this, I went to our consul, Mr. Lawrence, to get his name to my passport, as I now began to think of going to France. Mr. Lawrence I found an old friend, and I chatted with him about old times. He directed me to take the passport to the French ambassador, to obtain his signature. I found the Frenchman who attended at the office a coarse vulgar fellow: with him I had to leave my papers, and was told to call for them the next day, between 1 and 3 o'clock, which is the usual course. Having a card from Sir E. Home to see the grand Museum of the great John Hunter, I passed two or three hours in viewing that celebrated collection. It consists principally of specimens in comparative and morbid anatomy. It is in a fine hall in the Royal College of Surgeons, and is the most extensive and various in its specimens of any museum in the world. In the evening I went to Drury Lane theatre, to see Matthews perform Jonathan in London. It is a most ridiculous and contemptible caricature. I left the place early, and resolved not to go to another theatre in London..

It slipped my memory at the time, but I may here mention, that I heard Madam Sontag and Madam Pasta sing, the other evening, at the King's Theatre, or Italian Öpera House. The Opera is the most fashionable place of amusement in the metropolis. The most exquisite musick and the most graceful dancing are here to be witnessed; they were both, however, far too exquisite for my taste. The crowd in the house was immense; and I was wedged in an almost immovable position in it, for about five hours, and thus, in spite of myself, became completely surfeited with "the concord of sweet sounds." The voice of Sontag is certainly most powerful and melodious. It VOL. VIII.-Ch. Adv.

is said that some of her notes, in softness and pathos, excel those of Catalani herself. The interior of the Opera house is superbly decorated: there are five tiers of boxes, and each box is enclosed by curtains, and furnished with six chairs. The whole building will accommodate about 2,500 persons.

Saturday, June 28th.-After taking breakfast with my London friends, Mr. and Mrs. M., I called on Mr. C. and the Rev. Mr. H. and enjoyed for an hour the pleasures of old friendship. As I was last, by nearly two years, from the land of our fathers, I had a great deal to tell them: we parted, expecting all to meet to-morrow at our friends in Camberwell. Upon calling at the French ambassador's, I got my passport without any trouble, except that of waiting half an hour for my turn. The vulgar fellow I noticed yesterday, was severely reprimanded for his insolence by some gentleman, who was waiting like myself for his turn. I dined at Islington, a pleasant little place about three miles from London.

You will smile when I tell you the circumstance which took me to Islington. to Islington. Every one has read Cowper's diverting history of John Gilpin, "showing how he went farther than he intended, and came home safe again." At school I used to spout these lines, and now being here on the spot, I determined to take a tour from Cheapside to Edmonton, and examine the ground in propria persona, which I had often traversed before in imagination. I therefore took my place in a hackney coach to dine at the Bell, where good Mrs. Gilpin and children, "her sister and her sister's child," had regaled themselves on her wedding day—

Smack went the whip-round went the wheels,

Were never folk so glad,
The stones did rattle underneath,
As if Cheapside were mad.

I