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If the mere delay of hope-hope deferred, makes the heart sick, what will the death of hope-its final and total disappointment—despair, do to it?

The brightest blaze of intelligence is of incalculably less value than the smallest spark of charity. The sublimest thoughts are conceived by the intellect when it is excited by pious emotion.

There are many shining lights, which are not also burning lights.

Those may hope to be saved at the eleventh hour, who, when called at that hour can plead, that it is their call; who can say, when asked why they stand idle, "Because no man hath hired us."

Some never begin to pray till God has ceased to hear.

The Christian's feeling himself weak, makes him strong.

Genuine benevolence is not stationary, but peripatetic. It goeth about doing good.

Preparation for meeting God ought to be made first, not only because it is most important, but because it may be needed first. We may want nothing so much as religion. It is the only thing that is necessary, certainly, exceedingly, indispensably and immediately.

Some things, which could not otherwise be read in the book of nature, are legible enough in it when the lamp of revelation is held up to it.

It is easier to do a great deal of mischief than to accomplish a little good.

No man will ever fully find out what he is by a mere survey of himself. He must explore, if he would know himself.

When a man wants nothing, he asks for every

thing.

19. The late Mr. Wirt.

The distinguished man whose name introduces this article, and who for so long a time filled so large a place in the public eye and mind, has passed away from the admiring view of mortals. We shall never again behold on earth his noble figure, but his memory shall long, long be cherished in the choicest place of the heart. His history in part belongs to the nation. Let others, more competent to the task, write that, while I make a brief record of that portion of his earthly story which connects him with the church. Few names have ever been written on earth in larger and more brilliant letters; but his name was written also in heaven-he had a record on high. Mr. Wirt was a Christian. He aspires to that "highest style" of humanity, and by divin grace he reached it.

The writer of this was for many years familini with the religious history of Mr. Wirt. From the

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first of his acquaintance with him, he always found him disposed to listen and learn on the subject of religion, even from those who were very far inferior to him in intellect and general information. I never knew a man more open, candid, docile, than he; and yet, for every thing which he admitted, he required a reason. His faith was implicit towards God, when he had ascertained that it was to God he was listening; but his understanding refused to bow to man. There was a time, when, it is believed, he had doubts in regard to the truth of the Christian religion; but, inquiring and examining, his doubts departed, and his mind rested in the confident belief, for which he was ever ready to render a reason, that God had made a revelation to man, and that the Bible contains that revelation. Perhaps this work of conviction was not fully wrought in him until some years ago, when, with the greatest satisfaction and profit, as he has often said to the writer, he read " Horne's Introduction to the Critical Study of the Holy Scriptures," a work which many have read at his recommendation, and with like results.

But Mr. Wirt was not satisfied while the faith of Christianity had possession of his intellect alone. He was aware that it equally deserved a place in his affections; and having long yielded to Christ the homage of his understanding, he at length opened to him that other department of the man, and received him into his heart.

It was in the summer of 1831, that, on a profes sion of faith and repentance, he became connected with the First Presbyterian Church of Baltimore, of which he remained a consistent and exemplary member until his death.

Shortly after his union to the church, the writer of this received from him a letter, from which he thinks it will be gratifying to the Christian public that he should make the following extracts. They show, among other things, what views this great man had been taught by the Spirit of God to entertain of the human character and heart. He writes from the Sweet Springs of Virginia.

"My mind has been too much occupied by the petty every-day cares of a residence at a public watering-place, or traveling and tossing over rough roads, for that continuous and systematic meditation and cultivation of religious feelings which I know to be my duty, and which I think I should find a delightful duty; but perhaps I deceive myself in this, for I have no faith in the fair dealing of this heart of mine with myself. I feel the want of that supreme love of my God and Savior for which I pray. I feel the want of that warming, purifying, elevating love, that sanctifying and cheering spirit which supports the Christian in his warfare with the world, the flesh, and the great enemy of our souls. Yet let me not be ungrateful. I have some sweet moments. My affections do some

times take wing among these great works of God that surround me, and rise to their Creator, and I think with gratitude on that transcendently greater work of his, the salvation of a guilty and fallen world by the death and mediation of his only Son. But indeed I am an exceedingly poor and weak Christian; and I often fear, too often for my peace, that there is at least nothing of the vitality of religion about me, and that I may have mistaken the burning of some of those vapors that fume from an ardent imagination, for that strong, steady and ever-during fire which animates the Christian, and bears him triumphant on his course. God only knows how this matter is. I think I am endeavoring to be sincere. But I may be mistaken, and it may turn out at last to be only one of those stratagems which the arch-enemy plays off upon us to our ruin. But even this apprehension again may be one of his stratagems to make me despond, and thus defeat the operation of the Spirit.

Alas! with how many enemies are we beset― treachery within and without. Nothing remains for us but to watch and to pray, lest we enter into temptation. God forbid that the public profession which I have made of religion should redound to the dishonor of his cause. It is the fear of this which has so long held me back, and not the fear of man. I am grieved to learn that my having gone to the Lord's table has got into the papers. It is no fit

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