and reconciliation and peace with God. Our iniquities are many, and aggravated. Who indeed can understand his errors? They have separated between God and our souls; they have brought on us the condemnation of his good and perfect law; and, unless we obtain forgiveness through grace, they will sink us into everlasting darkness and misery. How shall we escape? How shall we appear before God? How shall we obtain forgiveness, reconciliation and peace? These are inquiries of the greatest moment; and what can earthly treasures do here? They are already the Lord's more than ours; for the earth is his and the fulness thereof. Were it otherwise, they Gould do nothing in making com pensation for our sins, in procuring forgiveness, or in making God propitious. By reason of our depravity, the possession of them only the more endangers pur souls. But the Scriptures inform us of a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who appeared on earth in the form of a servant,died on the cross, the just for the unjust, and rose again from the dead. They inform us, that he ever liveth to make intercession for us; and that he is able to save to the uttermost, all who come unto God by him. In his name repentance and remission of sins are preached; and all who believe, being justified by faith,have reconciliation and peace with God through him. Secondly; The Scriptures are more to be desired than much fine gold, because they instruct us in the way to obtain the renovation of our hearts, to subdue our sins, to overcome temptations, to lead a holy life, and to become meet for the world of light and glory above. They are the instrument, which the Spirit of God uses in our sanctification. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. Our first parent after the fall begat children in his own likeness, after his image. Consequently we came into the world without holiness, and with propensities to evil. Except those, who are renewed by grace, the world lies in wickedness, and mankind are dead in freshasses and sins. Sin and misery are inseparably connected under the holy gov erpment of God. While persons are the servants of sin, they cannot possess true peace and gen uine felicity. They are in darkness, in the gall of bitterness,and in the bond of iniquity; their pleasures are unsatisfactory mixed with wormwood and poison, and followed by innumerable evils. All will continue the servants of sin, until they are born again of water and of the Spirit;-noi of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, by the word of God;-created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Then they will love and serve God with a true heart, abhor and shun iniquity of every kind, rejoice in the privileges and hopes of the Gospel, and delight in the people, in the institutions, and in the commandments of God. This happy change is effected by the instrumentality of the Scriptures, believed, studied and obeyed. But do treasures of gold ever make men holy? Can they procure any thing worthy to be compared with holinesss without which no man shall see the Lord,and which is the health, beauty and felicity of the soul, and its preparation for Heaven? Thirdly: The Scriptures are more to be desired thạn much fine gold because all, who obey them, will by their means be brought to the possession of immense and everlasting riches, an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in the heavens. But what, if viewed aright, are the best earthly treasures? They are unsatisfactory. The eye is not satisfied with riches. He that loveth silver; shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase. They are corruptible and per. ishing. They are uncertain riches; often making themselves wings and flying away. As they are generally regarded and used, they are vanity and vexation of spirit; and when we die, (and how short and precarious is our life,) we can carry none of them with us. Such are the most valuable treasures of the wicked, even of those, who are most prosperous and opulent. But most of the ungodly can obtain only a small proportion of these treasures. True religion would undoubtedly improve their temporal condition, Indeed every one, who obeys the word of God, is a gainer in this world; and death will put a period to all his afflictions, and bring him to the full fruition of what he most loves. some others. But it also generally occasions many afflictions, cares and anxieties. In war and public commotions, riches often endanger their possessors; and poverty is often a security. On the whole, it is doubtful whether the rich have much advantage over the poor,in regard to worldly troubles. But how many are the pains of body, the troubles of mind, the disappointments and bereavements, the dangers and gloomy prospects, in which the Scriptures can afford support,consolation, and direction, and profit the soul, when riches can de nothing? Fifthly: The Scriptures are more to be desired than gold, because they teach us, how to use earthly treasures, or to be contented and happy without them. Wealth is a talent, which the possessor should employ in promoting the glory of God, and the good of men. The ungodly,however, always idolize,,or mispend, their treasures. To them they are generally the occasion of pride, of groundless confidence, or of profligacy. No person uses affluence in a right manner,from right motives before God, who does not obey the Scriptures. Do your riches increase? The Scriptures will teach you, not to set your heart on wealth, to honor God with your substance, to be ready to distribute, willing to communicate, and to abound in good works. Obey them, and they will secure you from the snares and dangers of prosperity, and teach you safely to enjoy, and wisely to use, the bounties of Providence, in the best methods of doing good. But are you poor, and do you find it difficult to obtain a com¬ for the possession of the Scriptures. How rich a treasure we should esteem them, and how diligently and faithfully we should use them, for our edification in faith, hope, and love. Perhaps you have heard how far some have travelled to obtain the Scriptures, and with what heartfelt joy and rapture many have received them, who know what it is to be destitute of our religious advantages. Let such instances make us ashamed not to value and use our Bibles more. fortable subsistence? In the How thankful we should be Scriptures still you find, what will be infinitely more valuable than gold to you. Obey them, and they will deliver you from envy and repining, from the bondage of every sin; they will make you contented with the allotments of Providence; they will ease your anxiety, sweeten your labors, and lighten and rejoice your heart. In fine, they will enable you to derive good from all things, and make you rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which God has promised to them that love him. Be thankful, then, for the Scriptures; think yourselves happy in possessing them; and avail yourselves of the blessings, which they were designed to convey. To this inexhaustible mine of wisdom and consolation you may have daily access. Many reflections arise in the mind from the view, which has been taken of the Holy Scrip tures. How guilty and how unwise are they, who neglect, or pervert them. How deeply it should be Jamented, that any do this. But alas! the conversation and conduct of multitudes show too plainly, in what low estimation they hold the word of God. Let every one ask himself, whether he desires the Scriptures more than much fine gold; whether they are his delight, his guide, and his consolation? Here we have a test of our Christian character. Let us not deceive ourselves. To be eager after worldly gain or pleasure, and to neglect the words of eternal life, is a decisive proof, that we are yet in our sins, and know not the way of peace and salvation. the What gratitude must every pious and benevolent heart feel to the Author of all good, for the institution of Bible Societies, and their well directed exertions to communicate the word of life to the indigent and to the Heathen. Missionary Societies, also, and indeed all societies, and institutions for the support and extension of true religion, concur with Bible Societies in the same grand object;-to make Scriptures known and understood for the conversion, instruction, comfort, and salvation of sinful men. Let all, whose hearts rejoice in the light and admonitions, in the consolations and hopes of the word of God, bless his name, and cheerfully contribute, as God shall enable them, to all proper methods of extend. ing the same blessings to others far and near. To make men better, to deliver them from destructive vices, and to promote their eternal welfare is the most extensive and noble charity. All should give something towards accomplishing these im portant purposes. A small sum may be the means of saving a soul. You, who have nothing else to give, should always remember to offer your daily prayers. R. W. AN ADDRESS TO CHRISTIANS. How great, my fellow Chris tians, are your obligations to your adorable Redeemer. How strong and endearing are the ties, which bind your souls to Him, and urge you to ardent zeal, in his glorious cause. His grace has rescued your souls from exposure to endless flames, and will conduct them safely to the hill of Zion, there to mingle in all the sacred felicities and unfading glories of the saints in light. When the thunders of the divine law filled your hearts with anguish, and there appear. ed but a step between you and all the miseries of the bottom. less abyss, then the hand of mercy from on high conducted you to the foot of the cross, where, leaving your burdens and reposing your souls, you commenced with cheerful step your journey to a better country. Happy indeed was the hour of your espousals to Christ. Liberated from the bondage of Satan, and standing secure on the immoveable Rock, your souls triumphed in the contemplation of pardoning mercy, and your lips sung hosannas to your great Deliverer. You were then made acquainted with feelings and principles never to be extinguished, to which you were before utter strangers. Warmed with the ardors of holy gratitude, did you not ask with the devout Psalmist: What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits? This question you have doubt For its ad less frequently repeated. Say, my friends, have you not a su preme regard to the glory of God, a predominating desire to honor your Redeemer, and extend the victories of his grace? You are engaged in a cause precious to angels. vancement all holy beings unite their voluntary and cheerful exertions, and unholy beings promote it, though they mean not 80, neither do their hearts think so. It is a cause for which your Redeemer bied: and He has pledged his word, that it shalt prevail. Every event, however minute or apparently inauspic ious, will be ultimately subservient to its prosperity; and vain are the combined efforts of men and devils to exterminate it from the earth. Amidst all the commotions and calamities, which lay kingdoms and empires waste, covering our globe with carnage, devastation, and woe, rejoice, Christians, that this cause is safe. Exult in those predictions of its universal triumph, which we de rive from holy men of old, who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. How sublime the prospect of the millennial glory! How divinely transporting to penetrate the cheerless night which now wraps the earth, and discover the bright effulgence of that morning which shall ere. long burst upon the world from on high; a morning without clouds, enlightened by the beams of the Sun of righteousness, and vocal with songs of salvation from millions of redeemed sinners. When a few more years of gloom have run their rounds, this period shall arrive with all its amazing realities. Then shall this dying world arise. to immortal life; and, filled with ardent devotion and admiring joy, shall unite in one immense concert of rapturous praise. Then shall the peace, which descends from the regions of purity and love, scatter its enduring blessings in every land, and indissolubly unite all nations in the bonds of Christian affection. The hearts of men shall beat in happy unison, influenced by the benevolent spirit of the Gospel, while their lips, touched like Isaiah's with hallowed fire, dwell on Immanuel's name with holy transport. If angels and departed saints rejoice over one repenting sinner, what must be their emotions when nations are born in a day; when unnumbered millions of our apostate race reflect the image of Jesus, and are forming for eternal improvement in the excellencies and glories of the heavenly state? What celestial ardor will swell their bosoms, and how divinely will they at tune their harps to louder notes of praise? And shall we, my friends, in view of these glorious displays of almighty grace, be indifferent? Have our hearts felt the glow of pious affection, and shall they not now burn with a livelier flame? Shall we not exclaim, Even so; come, Lord Jesus; come quickly? if this period, so full of glory to God and happiness to man, is nigh, even at the door; and if it is to be introduced by the instrumentality of Christians; how alluring, how powerful, the inducements to new, combined, and vigorous exertions, in the cause of Christ! Is it possible for a friend of Jesus to slumber in criminal su pineness crisis? at this momentous My friends, the time is short. With every passing moment, with every heaving breath, you curtail the transient term of life, and draw nearer to the grave, where there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, Your days are flying away with great rapidity, and with them all your opportunities of communicating and receiving good; but the manner in which you spend them will appear from the archives of eternity, and will have a vast influence on your future condition. Eternity! let the word deeply affect our hearts, and extend its salutary power to every action. The consequences of this state of probation will reach through scene of "futurity forever future," through ages on ages in endless succession. Our weeks, our months, our years are rapidly measuring their flight. The last particle of our allotted time will soon arrive, and leave our mortal frames in the embraces of death, while our souls will survey with awful interest the regions beyond the grave. And when in the unclouded tight of eternity, we shall view divine truths, how infinitely important will they appear! What shall we then think of earth, of souls, of heaven, of hell, of the work of redemption, of the means of grace, and of engagedness in the service of God? Did we live under just apprehensions of eternity, we should do with our might, whatsoever our hands find to do, performing every duty with a promptitude, fidelity, and zeal, of which we |