tion of the probable distresses of his sister filled his eyes with tears, and his sympathizing heart with unfeigned grief. He spread her wants before that God, whose presence he knew was equally with her as with himself, and prayed that he would pity her desolate condition. He afterwards walked out into the town of M

to witness the solemn interment of eight poor seamen, who had been washed upon the shore from a recent wreck. "As I walked down the main street," said the old man, "a genteel looking stranger on the opposite side, stopped, and for a second or two looked earnestly at me: then, quickly crossing the road, he thus accosted me: "Your name is P-. I know you and your family, and this morning it occurred to me that your poor sister was probably much pinched by this hard winter, and I longed for an opportunity of sending her relief. I am therefore rejoiced to meet you, and beg that you will send her this the first opportunity that presents itself." Then putting a guinea into my hand, before I could sufficiently recover my surprise to express my thanks and to inquire his name, the gentleman turned a corner of the street, and I lost sight of him. I proceeded to the church-yard, and while waiting the arrival of the funerals, I stood unobserved behind one of the massy buttresses that upheld the aged walls

c 3

of the venerable church, and breathed forth the grateful feelings of my soul."

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" Here in the same corner of the earth he displayed his compassionate and special regard to the sorrows and necessities of one family, and heard the unobtrusive and humble prayer of a brother on behalf of a sister; while he summoned away by a sudden death eight other individuals; clothed eight families in mourning; and gave a warning shock to the minds of a populous community assembled round their premature graves. The temporal dispensations of divine Providence throw a strong light upon, and closely accord with the great scheme and operations of his moral government, as made known to us by Christianity. Not only does the whole visible creation, from the lights of heaven down to the lowest depths of earth, exhibit the union of retributive justice and indulgent mercy, and corroborate the curse which darkens, and the hope which illumines, the condition of man; but the course of human events, carried on by the agency of man himself, or of the elements around him, confirms the fundamental doctrines of the gospel, and evinces the guilt of our nature, and the forbearance of God. An

enlightened recorder of this world's history, could
not select a more appropriate motto than, "I will
sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord,
will I sing." These considerations 66
seem forcibly
to recommend a settled habit of contemplating the
works of God with a devout and Christian eye; a
habit of surveying them, not merely as objects of
superficial curiosity, or of scientific research; not
merely as teeming with proofs of power, and of be-
nignity, and of exquisite design: but, as declaring
the holiness, the justice, and the mercy of God; as
corresponding, by a train of manifest and accurately
adjusted relations, with the condition of fallen beings
stationed under a dispensation combining penal and
moral discipline with purposes and means of grace;
as preparing mankind for the cordial reception of the
plan of redemption through Christ, and as attesting
the truth of the Gospel."

The wint'ry storms that fiercely sweep,
And seem to rock the world:

The foaming, toss'd, and wreck-strewn deep
In wild confusion hurl'd;

Aloud declare An angry God,

And man deserves his vengeful rod.

But list! A still small voice succeeds!
The Zephyr gently breathes :

It softly whispers-Mercy pleads,

And wrath his

weapon sheathes.

While raging billows lash the shores,
The stream its liquid music pours.

Of love and wrath th' alternate sounds
Salute the ear from far:

From lowest earth's unfathom❜d bounds
To heaven's remotest star.

God's works and word alike proclaim
The grace and justice of his name.

I need not remind my reader how admirably this subject is handled by BUTLER, in his "Analogy of natural and revealed Religion," and by the Rev. T. GISBORNE, in his recent volume, "On the Testimony of Natural Theology to Christianity."

seem

All the recollections which I have of P. to combine their rays to illustrate the ways of God to man, and to elevate the mind above the contemplation of second causes to the great first cause of all events in the universe. While it is an eminent privilege of the Christian believer to walk by faith and not by sight; yet, in another sense, it is an imperfection attached to his earthly condition, which will be entirely obviated when he shall no longer see through a glass darkly, but face to face; and know even as he is known. Now it soothes his anxieties, calms his fears, and exhilarates his hopes, to believe that God is at work on his right hand and on his left, though he cannot perceive him: hereafter it will be an unfailing source of joyful admiration, to be

hold without an interposing veil the whole machinery of eternal Providence, and the hand which formed its wheels within wheels, and directed all their movements. P―― was accustomed to take long journies on foot. On one of these he found himself at the close of day within sight of the town where he designed to rest for the night. Wearied by the length of his day's walk, he sought refreshment, as he was wont, in striving to beguile his fatigue and the remainder of his road by meditations on the comforts and mercies of the present moment. This was his habitual practice, and its advantages should recommend it to every stranger and pilgrim upon earth. Were we as sedulous to discover and render prominent the blessings with which we are favoured at any given point of time, even were it the darkest and most calamitous hour, as we are to dwell upon its immediately oppressing or its anticipated griefs, our burdened and sinking minds would acquire renewed strength to meet the present or the impending trial. This remark, trite as it may be, admits of an important application to the journey of life at the various stages of which our progress is apt to be heavy, and impeded by an indulged and repining sense of existing evils, or by the expectation of others which may await us. "I am a stranger in this part of the country," thought our pious traveller as he