is one of those modest and retired graces, which best suits a state of dependance and obligation.

Chap. v, ver. 7.—Casting all your cares upon him; for he careth for you.

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Mr. Thomas Perkins, a sufferer for conscience sake, was often in great straits. At one time a niece of his, whom he had brought up, going, after her marriage, to visit him, in the course of free conversation with her, he said to her, “Child, how much do you think I have to keep my family? But poor threepence.' At which she appearing affected, be with a great deal of cheerfulness cried out, Fear not, God will provide;" and in a little time, a gentleman's servant knocked at the door, who brought him a haunch of venison as a present, together with some wheat and malt. Upon which he took his niece by the hand, saying, "Do you see, child, here is venison, which is the noblest flesh; and the finest of the wheat for bread; and good malt for drink. Did not I tell you God would provide for us?" Thus they who trust in Providence shall not be forsaken.

II. PETER.

Chap. i, ver. 16.-For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of his majesty.

Athenagoras, a famous Athenian philosopher in the second century, not only doubted the truth of the Christian religion, but was determined to write against it. However, upon an intimate inquiry into the facts on which it was supported, in the course of his collecting materials for his intended publication, he was convinced by the blaze of its evidence, and turned bis designed invective into an elaborate apology, which is still in existence.

Chap. ii, ver. 21.-For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

He

A society of infidels were in the practice of meeting together on Sabbath mornings, to ridicule religion, and to encourage each other in all manner of wickedness. At length they proceeded so far, as to meet, by previous agreement, to burn their Bibles! They had lately initiated a young man into their awful mysteries, who had been brought up under great religious advantages, and seemed to promise well; but on that occasion, he proceeded the length of his companions, threw his Bible into the flames, and promised with them, never to go into a place of religious worship again. He was soon afterwards taken ill. He was visited by a serious man, who found him in the agonies of a distressed mind. spoke to him of his past ways. The poor creature said," It all did well enough while in health, and while I could keep off the thoughts of death;" but when the Redeemer was mentioned to him, he hastily exclaimed,—“ What's the use of talking to me about mercy?" When urged to look to Christ, he said,"I tell you it's of no use now; 'tis too late, 'tis too late. Once I could pray, but now I can't." He frequently repeated," I cannot pray; I will not pray." He shortly afterwards expired, uttering the most dreadful imprecations against some of his companions in iniquity who came to see him, and now and then saying," My Bible! oh the Bible!"

Chap. iii, ver. 11.-Seeing, then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness!

Mr. Rogers, a puritan divine, was styled the Enoch of his day. Bishop Kennet said of him, That England hardly ever brought forth a man who walked

more closely with God. He was always remarkable for gravity and seriousness in company. Being once addressed by a gentleman of rank," Mr. Rogers, I like you and your company well enough, but you are too precise!" "Oh, sir," replied Mr. R. "I serve a precise God!"

I. JOHN.

Chap. i, ver. 3.-That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

The Rev. D. Taylor used frequently to repeat with approbation, the saying of a countryman, who hearing a preacher often introduce the phrase, “I think," called out in the midst of one of his sermons,-" What signifies it what you think? Tell us what God says.”

Chap. ii, ver. 6.-He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Scipio Africanus had a son, who had nothing of the father but the name ;-a coward,- -a dissolute, sorry sake, the son of one of the greatest generals in the world! This son wore a ring upon his finger, wherein was his father's picture. His life and character were so opposite to those of his father, and so unworthy, that, by an act of the senate, he was commanded to forbear wearing that ring. They judged it unfit that he should have the honor to wear the picture of his father, who would not himself bear the resemblance of his father's excellency. The divine command is," Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

Chap. iii, ver. 1.-Behold what manner of

love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.

When the Danish missionaries in India appointed some of their Indian converts to translate a catechism, in which it was mentioned as the privilege of Christians to become the sons of God, one of the translators started at so bold a saying, as he thought it, said, "It is too much; let me rather render it, They shall be permitted to kiss his feet."

Chap. iii, ver. 18.-My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed, and in truth.

I

A fire having broken out in a village in Denmark, a poor man, who was one of the inhabitants, was very active in giving all the assistance he could, in the parts where it seemed most necessary. But every endeavor to extinguish the flames was in vain; the fire continued to increase. At length the poor man was told that his own house was in great danger; and that he had not a moment to loose, if he wished to save his furniture. "There is something more precious," said he immediately, "that I must first save. My poor sick neighbor is not able to help himself. He will be lost if I do not assist him. am sure he relies upon me. Thus saying, he flew to his neighbor's house; and before he paid any attention to his own house, or to his furniture, which was all the wealth he had, he rushed, at the hazard of his life, through the flames, that were already coming very near the sick man's bed, took him in his arms, and carried him to a place of safety. The Economical Society at Copenhagen were much pleased when they heard of his noble conduct; and, to show their approbation of it, sent him a present of a silver cup, filled with Danish crowns. On the cup was engraven, in a few words, an account of his generous behavior to his poor helpless neighbor.

Chap. iv, ver. 10.-Herein is love, not that

we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

The following lines, composed by a lunatic, were found written on the wall in his cell after his death :"Could we with ink the ocean fill,

And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;

To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry;

Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
If stretch'd from sky to sky."

Chap. iv, ver. 21.-And this commandment we have from him, That he who loveth God, love his brother also.

"I was conversing with a Brahmin one day," says the Rev. H. Townly, "respecting the relative morals of Hindoos and Christians; and he said, ' Our religion is superior to yours. See what excellent fruits our religion produces; see what saints we have amongst us Hindoos. Such a man was actuated by the principles of Hindooism; he left wife, and children, and family, and extensive property; he left every thing, and spent his life in a wood, Can you produce such a saint as that?" I replied, That we should call him a very great sinner.' Upon what principle?' said he. I answered, God has given us two commandments, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength, and thy neighbor as thyself; and your Hindoo saint, who went to live in a wood, as long as he lived there, was violating the second great commandment; for, forsaking his neighbors, and kindred, and friends, he could not render them any assistance; he had no longer the opportunity of administering food to the hungry, and relieving the miserable; and can a man, who is living a life of continued disobedience to one of God's commandments, be deemed a saint ?"