found cultivating the common vineyard to the neglect of their own. They have no time to be calm-no time to put themselves at a distance from the world-no time to cherish the aid of devoted meditation. Hence it is that, with so much profession, we have so little living piety; and where we have real piety that we have so little eminence of Christian character. Mark this evil as a prevailing one, and set yourself to resist it.

VI. MAKE WITHOUT DELAY A PUBLIC AND COMPLETE PROFESSION OF THE NAME

OF CHRIST. This is only done when you submit to all his institutions. Especially at this time it is your duty to unite yourself with his people, and to commemorate his love and his death in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Having first given yourself to the Lord, you are not to withhold yourself from his people. As you believe with the heart, so you are to confess with the mouth. Christ has redeemed the body, and the body in its order must show forth his praise. Let no excuses, arising from unworthiness or difficulty, induce you to delay. If you are really converted, it is your present duty; and to postpone duty is not to make it more easy, but more difficult. Those who have delayed at first, have, for the most part, renewed their excuses, and have lived and died without coming into a state of Christian fellowship. This is dangerous, inconsistent, and sinful. It discovers an inadequate sense of the love of Christ; it is a known violation of his command; it is remaining without the fold, when to be within is our privilege, and the means of our safety; it is to do what you can to annihilate the church of Christ, for if all were to act in the same manner there would be no visible church on earth!

VII. THROUGH YOUR WHOLE COURSE HAVE RESPECT UNTO THE END. Cherish habitually the temper of a stranger and a pilgrim on the earth, and let it regulate your mind, and moderate your pursuits. Let the cares of life affect you but lightly; let its pleasures be watched with jealousy; let its comforts be received with thankfulness, as meant to assist you on your journey. Forget the things behind; shake off the incumbrances present to you; still

and ever press forward within the mark for the prize of your high calling! As nothing can induce the worldling to look to the end of life, so nothing should induce you to lose sight of it. He has nothing but what he has here; if he look at death, at heaven, at eternity, it is without hope with tremendous fear! But you have no reason to be alarmed at the future. However appalling it once was, it is now clothed with attractions. Heaven is your home; immortality your inheritance. Your treasure is there; your heart should be there. Let the troubles of the way be forgotten, and the end of the way kept steadily in view. becoming of you to cleave to the world, to idolize the creature, to recoil from death, called as you are to "glory, honour, and immortality!"

It is not

VIII. FINALLY. BE STRONG IN THE GRACE THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. In entering on a new course of life and of duty, it is important to know your own weakness. He who has brought you into the way of peace, must keep you there; he who gave you the first victory over sin and temptation, must still teach you to fight and to conquer; the same hand which began the good work must perfect it till the day of his appearing. Entertain, then, no confidence in the flesh -in yourself. Explore the riches of the Saviour's grace; the resources of his love, his power, his wisdom. Make these all your own, by the application of continual prayer and faith. So shall you be strong. The stone that rests on the foundation has all the strength of the foundation by which it is supported; and you, by perfectly depending on the Saviour, shall be perfectly filled with his might-growing up into him in all things. O aspire to this! Praise him for what you are; but desire earnestly to be what you are not! Look to him; thirst for him; honour him. Rest not on any thing you know; any thing you have done; any thing you have. Seek by his grace to give an eminent example of Christian life, and eminently to enjoy that life, which, though hidden, shall soon be revealed, and which flows into immortality.

A SINCERE FRIEND.

I WAS once favoured with the sight of a letter written by an American lady to her husband, a little before she died. This lady was an eminent christian, remarkable for her confidence in God, and for atten. tion to the spiritual welfare of her numerous offspring. In speaking to her husband respecting their beloved children she used this memorable sentence, "I rejoice in hope that we shall meet, an unbroken family, before the throne of God,"—or, according to the phrase at the head of this paper, "a whole family in heaven."

From our earliest years we are accustomed to hear of a place of unutterable glory-that place is heaven. As our minds expand we are told that heaven is the dwelling place of God. Then if any of our friends die we are taught to hope they are gone to heaven, to be for ever with God and that it is our duty to prepare to follow them. In some cases the minds of young people are deeply affected by these representations, and it is their unspeakable happiness to begin to prepare for heaven almost as soon as they can think at all. But it is not so generally. Alas! it too often happens that men run on for many years in a course of forgetfulness of God, and of rebellion against God, before they are brought to repentance; and some never repent at all, but remain in their rebellion for ever. They proceed from one step to another, from bad to worse, until they perish in their sins! Oh, what a fearful sight is a grey headed sinner! "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may they learn to do well who have been accustomed to do evil." It would be well if these thoughts had an abiding place in our hearts, but many things concur to remove them. Ah! this busy world, this ensnaring world, this sinful world!

Yet

amidst all its snares, and vanities, and sins, we sometimes find a person whose affections are set on things above; yea, we now and then are privileged to behold a whole family setting out in good earnest, and determined by the help of God to appear "a whole family in heaven."

In musing on this subject I thought of the following particulars, which I send out into the world with many prayers, in hope that those who read them may be benefited; and that a few, at least, may thereby be helped on their way to glory.

First. What a glorious sight it will be

to behold all Christ's redeemed family in heaven! Now they are separated. Part of them are in heaven, and the other part are yet on earth; but there is a day coming when they will be gathered out of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, and make a great multitude which no man can number. O blissful morning, when my eyes shall gaze on this redeemed family! My heart has often thrilled with joy to see a penitent-to see an heir of glory-to see a saint made meet for heaven; but then I shall see them all, and partake of their felicity:

"Ten thousand thousand are their tongues, But all their joys are one."

Then, the unspeakable blessings imparted through the operations of Bible Societies will be brought to light. Then, all the multitudes who have been converted by the instrumentality of Missionaries, will be seen clothed in white robes and with palms in their hands. Then, ten thousand times ten thousand voices will be lifted up in praise to God for the circulation of religious Tracts. Then, amidst the celestial harmony, there will be children crying, Hosannah! on account of the favours they received in Sunday Schools. Then, parents who trained up their offspring in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, will be seen with rapture beaming in their eyes, while they exclaim,

Here, Lord, am I, and the children thou hast given me." And near the throne, close by the feet of the Redeemer, will be seen prostrate the grateful, affectionate, and devoted preacher of the gospel, giving up his account with joy, and receiving the gracious approbation of his Master, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Secondly. How happy will you be to see yourselves in heaven, and every member of your family with you-not one wanting! Father and mother, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, servants and apprentices-all there. All who surrounded the family table. All who kneeled together around the family altar. However separated by distance or time, yet meeting in heaven at last. I say, what a happy meeting this will be! Reader! is there any prospect that this will be the 'case with you? Have you ever any doubts respecting it? Oh, see to have these doubts removed! Have you any hopes respecting it? Oh, see that your hopes are well founded! Are you unconcerned about it? Ah!

that is dreadful. Heaven is not to be trifled with. Hell is not to be trifled with. Souls are not to be trifled with. Remember the day is coming, it is nigh at hand when you will see and feel that these things deserved your chief attention.

Thirdly. What a cheering circumstance it is when one in a family has chosen heaven for his portion! Look at that man. Mark him well. Set it down as a certainty that he will not go to heaven alone. He cannot be satisfied to walk solitarily in the way to Zion. He must have companions, and through God's blessing he will make them. We anticipate great things from such a character, and well we may, for God says to every new convert, "I will bless thee, and thou shalt be a blessing." From the day of his conversion he begins to pray, and the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. He. also begins to shine, and he giveth light unto all that are in the house. Perhaps it would be difficult to find a family containing one pious and consistent disciple, without finding also that he is beginning to make a favourable impression on the minds of his relatives, by softening down their prejudices, drawing away their attention from the world, and leading them to think more than formerly on things divine. All is not done that his heart could wish, but there is a change-a beginning. Go forward then, ye heavenly-minded. Be thankful for every indication of a change. God does not despise the day of small things, neither must you. Think of the prophet, when his servant said, I see a little cloud rising up out of the sea, about the size of a man's hand,"-that was enough. The prophet took it for granted. that his Lord was come. Do you the same. Look out for marks of God's blessing. He is faithful. He is strong. Trust him, and be not afraid. Salvation is already come to your house. All the people in it are in some measure given to you. Oh, watch for their souls! Look up to God for divine guidance, that you may act wisely in your station. Never be discouraged. God waited long for you, therefore be patient with others. Let the hope of bringing a whole family to heaven animate, quicken you. In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength; and when you are leaning simply on him, he will make you almost forget your own weakness, by the assurance that his arm is almighty.

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Fourthly. When a part of a family is already in heaven, what a powerful influence should that have on survivors! Oh,

it is a solemn and instructive event when one member of a family is taken to glory! Brethren! what effect ought it to have upon us who remain here a little longer? Think-some of us have half of our families already in heaven. Others have a father, or mother, or wife, or husband, or son, or daughter there-and shall not this produce an effect? O, it ought! Yes, it ought. It ought to loosen our hearts from earth, and to raise our souls to heaven.

"There our best friends, our kindred dwell,
There God our Saviour reigns."

Reader! shall we join this happy company? Soon, soon you will leave this earthly state, and whither will you go? Will you join your family in heaven? Have you any preparation for it? Except a man be born again, he cannot enter that kingdom. You must be born again. Are you born again? What is there about you which indicates your heavenly birth? Recollect that the removal of one member of a family to a better world, has sometimes been overruled by Divine Providence for leading all the other members to consider their ways, to repent of their sins, to seek mercy through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and to walk humbly with God, until a voice from above said unto them, "Come up hither." This was a happy effect, was it not? and why may it not be the same with you? Oh, it will be the same if you earnestly seek it!

To others, the removal of a part of their family to glory has been greatly sanctified. Though they were pious before, yet they never thought so much of heaven, nor wished so earnestly to be there, as they have since their much loved relatives were taken thither. This loosened the cords which too strongly bound them to earth. This brought them with more relish to those parts of the Bible which treat of heaven. This made them look unto Jesus with more gratitude than ever, and this seemed to give them eagles' wings, by which they might soar upward to the family in heaven.

Happy, unspeakably happy is it, when the death of friends is attended with such a quickening influence. O Rachel! weeping for her children because they are not, let thy tears flow on; but let it be in a stream of mingled grateful submission and adoring love.

Fifthly. How alarming it is when only one in a family gives evidence that he is not preparing for heaven! What a blank it will cause to see a whole family in hea ven but one! perhaps the youngest-the

darling not there. Or it may be the first born-the child who first diffused joy through a parent's heart not there! Oh, how can we bear to think of a whole family in heaven but one! Who should we select to be that miserable absentee? Whose child should we pitch upon? Whose brother should we mark as the victim? Do we not feel our flesh begin to creep upon our bones? Does not our blood run cold? Do not our hearts shudder at the thought? Are we not all ready to exclaim, "let not this misery fall on one of mine ?" See the fond father, looking around, his soul rejoicing over one, two, three-but where is Absalom? What is he not here? O Absalom, my son, my son! Art thou not here? No! Parents, I feel for you. I also have a parent's heart. I know your feelings on this subject. Oh, if the eye could weep in heaven it would shed a flood of tears over an absent son! But now parents now is the time. Is there one in your family not preparing for heaven, what ought to be done in his case? Shall you let him alone? Oh, no! How did the man act who had a hundred sheep, and one of them went astray? He left the ninety and nine, and went after the wanderer; nor did he give up his search until he found him; and when he had found him all shattered, and hungry, and faint, he took him on his shoulders, and returned with him rejoicing. Here then is a pattern for you. Let your tears flow. Let your prayers ascend. Let your hearts melt. Let your language pierce his soul. Oh, follow him! Determine never to give him up until you have reclaimed the prodigal-until you have snatched the firebrand from the flame; then you may go on your way rejoicing, in hope that all your family will meet in heaven.

Sixthly. How ought the members of this heavenly family to live together while they are here upon earth! They are redeemed by the same blood-justified by the same grace-sanctified by the same Spirit-brethren of the same familyheirs of the same inheritance. They tell us that they expect to meet in glory, and to join in the same song of praise," Unto Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, to Him be glory for ever. Amen." This is delightful. Pray how ought they to live together here? Like brethren certainly. Like the children of God. Like the heirs of heaven.

And

do they act thus? How do you act? On what terms are you living with your brethren? Do not think I am coming too

close with my questions, for if you cannot bear to be so strictly interrogated, then be sure there is something wrong. How are the members of your church acting towards each other? I hope that in general there is much love, much good feeling, much Christian affection; and if it is not so in all cases, then let each examine himself. Remember you are not fit for heaven if you cannot, if you do not love your brother. You would find yourself quite out of your element in the heavenly world, if you do not love one another with a pure heart fervently. Oh, if ever you expect to have the divine blessing resting upon your souls-if ever you expect to see many turning to the Lord from among your neighbours, you must first see to it that you love one another; and whenever there is any thing amiss, and it may often be expected in this wicked world, those who are most like the Saviour, will be the first to seek a reconciliation. Therefore, I call upon you, I urge you in the name of that Saviour whom you profess to love, that ye walk together as the redeemed familythen will you live a heaven upon earth.

Lastly. How dreadful will it be to see a whole family in hell! And is there not reason to fear that many whole families are already there? Awful thought! See them shut up in endless despair. Oh, see them in the everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. But what is more necessary for our present consideration is this Are there not many whole families at this moment on their way thither; to whom not one word of solemn, friendly, godly counsel has been given; who have never once been warned to flee from the wrath to come?

Oh, brethren! ye that love the Lord indeed, is there nothing for you to do, among the multitudes which are ready to perish? Surely, if you had compassion like unto the Son of God, here is work enough for it all. And where ought you to begin? Oh, begin at home! Search your own heart; examine how matters stand with you there. Then search your own habitations; examine how matters are there. Next, call on your neighbours. Perhaps you will succeed better than you could have expested. Exercise a holy solicitude for one another. Use much Christian fidelity, much plain dealing; and when you come to die, you will not regret that you laboured hard to bring a whole family to heaven-that you laboured hard to save a whole family from hell.

St. Petersburgh.

A MOTHER AT HER CHILD'S TOMB.
Thou dear young tenant of the tomb,
I mourn for thee in vain ;
For from thy grave thou wilt never come,
To allay my bosom's pain!

Thy playful look!-I see it now-
As you smiled upon my knee;
Thy eyes, as bright as the morning dew,
That fondly beamed on me!

Oh, my dear babe! I have lost thee now!
Thou wert dearer than all my kin-
And the grief I feel, no living can know,
Nor the weight my heart within.

I loved to watch o'er thy cradle bed,

And hush thee to sweet repose;

But the hand of thy Maker was on thee laid,
To snatch thee from earthly woes.

And now thou art gone far, far away,
On eternity's darksome sea;
This body lies here in the cold, cold clay,
And thy parent weeps over thee!

But still thou art dear to thy mother's heart-
She thinks of thee morning and even;
And from this earth she would fain depart,
To meet thy sweet smiles in heaven!

For thou wert her only hope and joy→→→
She had no one to love but thee;
She had hop'd to deck thee in bride's array,
And thy bridal bed to see.

But my darling's bed is the winding-sheet,
And her bridal room the tomb;
And the worm is the bridegroom, most unmeet,
To my rose of the lovely bloom.

But God has decreed we should part, my dear-
Our Maker decreed we should part;
And our loved Saviour will pardon the tear,
That wells from a broken heart.

But never shall earthly joy renew
My soul which thrills with pain;
Till in a land beyond our view,

I shall meet with my child again. E. B.

THE MAY MEETINGS ANTICIPATED.

LORD, send thy SPIRIT from above,
Closely to bind each heart in love;
Now may we feel the powerful call,
And JESUS CHRIST be all in all.

The Lord's my banner! Forth I go,
And dread no danger, fear no foe:
Though death, though hell beset my path,
I scorn their pow'r, and brave their wrath:
Where'er I turn, whate'er betide,
My Lord shall combat by my side!

The Lord's my banner! Grief may low'r,
Or joy may gild the passing hour:
Alike in sunshine, or in rain,
My Captain shall his succour deign:
Alike I'll serve and trust my Lord,

His grace my shield, his word my sword!

The Lord's my banner! Forward still

I

press, obedient to his will:

The toils, the sufferings, of my lot, In Christ's dear presence all forgot: My only wish to find him nigh, With him to live, in him to die!