of spirit." Alas! how true is all this. May we not forget it! The apostle Paul, who wrote and spoke through the inspiration of the Spirit of God, assures us, that such was the strength of his attachment to the cause of christianity, that, what things were gain to him, those he counted loss for Christ. "Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things." In his Epistle to the Church at Phillippi, he says, "for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain,"-infinite and eternal gain. This passage at once explains the whole secret, why the good man would not live alway here,-because, "to die is gain;" "to die," is "to depart, and be with Christ," which is far better than to live away from him, a stranger and a pilgrim on the earth. But what shall he gain? First of all,

"Riches of Christ on all bestowed,"

And honor that descends from God,

in the present life; and in that which is to come, a crown that fadeth not away. St. John tells us, in the Apocalypse, that in heaven the saints are clothed in white robes, with golden crowns upon their heads, and that "they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light upon them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and lead them unto living fountains of water, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." "There the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. The small and the great are there, and the servant is free from his master." Who then, I ask, would be willing to "live" upon this terrestrial ball "alway?" Who does not desire to range the fair fields of ineffable bliss, and "pluck the ambrosial fruit" from "the tree of life," and "drink the vivifying stream," as it flows, "clear as crystal," "fast by the eternal throne?" Who does not long to see that "world of spirits,' where the inhabitants are "all robed in spotless white," bearing in their hands palms of victory, and reaping unalloyed pleasures?

"I would not live alway; I ask not to stay
Where storm after storm rises dark o'er the way;
The few lurid mornings that dawn on us here,
Are enough for life's woes, full enough for its cheer.

I would not live alway; no,-welcome the tomb,
Since Jesus hath lain there, I dread not its gloom;

There, sweet be my rest, till he bid me arise,
To hail him in triumph descending the skies.

Who, who would live alway? away from his God,-
Away from yon heaven, the blissful abode,

Where the rivers of pleasures flow o'er the bright plains,
And the noontide of glory eternally reigns.

Where the saints of all ages in harmony meet,
Their Saviour and brethren, transported to greet,
While the anthems of rapture unceasingly roll,
And the smile of the Lord is the feast of the soul."

A SKETCH.

PREPARED FOR THE AMERICAN PULPIT, BY REV. WILLIAM BATES, NORTHBRIDGE, MASS.

FREQUENT PRESENTATION OF THE TRUTH.

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. Isaiah xxviii. 10.

PROPOSITION:-It is necessary for the minister of the gospel to preach often upon the same doctrines, and to inculcate frequently. the same duties. This will appear,

1. From the nature of the human mind.

The memory is often treacherous.

Strong emotions continue but a short time.

The mind is often in a better state to be impressed by the truth at one time than at another.

2. From the depravity of the heart.

The natural heart is averse to many truths of the gospel.

The depravity of the heart has beclouded the intellect.

3. From the nature of christianity.

Its truths are spiritual, relating to an unseen world.
Its truths are related to man's daily life.

Its truths form an harmonious system.

Some particular truths are the foundation of the system.

REMARKS.

We learn from this subject,

1. Why a people ought not to expect much of novelty or originality in the sermons of their minister.

2. That those ministers who are ambitious of preaching new doctrines, are dangerous guides.

3. That God has wisely set apart one day in seven for men to attend to spiritual things.

4. That there is reason to fear that some may fail of salvation, even after having heard many sermons.

A SKETCH.

BY THE EDITOR.

THE CHARACTER AND CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself, etc. Acts xxvi. 1—23.

THE early history of the church abounds with astonishing developements of depravity, and marvellous manifestations of divine grace. Evidence. The malice of the Jews; the great awakening under the ministry of Peter; the persecution of the disciples by Saul of Tarsus, and his amazing and powerful conversion. He was born in Tarsus in Cilicia, one of the free cities of the Roman Empire. Hence his privilege as a Roman citizen. His classical education was obtained at Tarsus, which was renowned for its literature and philosophy-a second Athens-and his theological education he received at the University of Jerusalem, under the most eminent doctor of the age and nation-Gamaliel. Saul was

his Hebrew name, and signifies desired; and Paul is his Roman name—i. e. little. Let us consider his character before his conversion-and his subsequent history.

I. The character of Paul before his conversion.

1. He was a man of uncommon intellectual abilities. He was a well bred scholar-a graduate of the literary schools of Tarsus, and the theological school of Jerusalem.

2. He was a moralist.

"As touching the law, he was blameless." He was also a bigot-awarding goodness and salvation to none but the pharisaic Jew.

3. He was a persecutor even to blood. Witness the early suffering christians, and the martyr Stephen.

II. Consider the character of Paul subsequent to his conversion. 1. He was a christian of most eminent attainments—in faith and all the graces.

He was a successful minister, an illustrious apostle, a practical missionary.

3. He was a triumphant martyr.

REMARKS.

Learn from the history of Paul,

1. The divine authority of our religion.

2. How deep is the depravity of the human heart.

3. How efficacious is the blood of the atonement. It saved Saul the blasphemer and persecutor.

SAUL OF TARSUS.

BY REV. R. TREFFRY JR.

No trumpet was blown as the gate they passed,
Nor banner flung over their fierce array;
But they rode like the wrath of the desert blast,
Fleetly and silently passing away :

Yet many looked on that haughty man,
Whose eye was the star of the fiery van.

With frequent fasts his cheek was paled,
And there sat a frown on his brow of pride;
And scorn on his quivering lip prevailed,

As he thought on the name of the Crucified :
And his heart was as hard as the steel of his spear,
To the whispers of pity, or the murmurs of fear.

On!-on!-the towers of Damascus are nigh,

The accursed Nazarenes are given to our hand:
When lo! an ineffable blaze from on high,

Burst sudden as thought on that hurrying band;
And the glowing flood of that flashing light
Dims the cloudless sun in his noon-day height.

Vain is the speed of the startled horse,

And vain is the force of the glittering spear;
The scorner hath ended his ruthless course;
The Victor of Galilee triumpeth here;
And his words of mystic Spirit appal
The awe-stricken heart of the prostrate Saul.

There is night on his eye, and remorse on his brow,
As he sits in his chamber, helpless-alone;
For the deeds woke up in his memory now,
Can riches, or blood, or sorrow atone?
Yet hope in fair promise the future arrays,

For the Crucified pleads, and the Pharisee prays.

A MINISTRY FOR THE TIMES.

BY THE EDITOR.

NO. V.

THE christian minister must be earnest; that is, he must be warm-hearted, diligent, laborious; evincing in the course of his great master CHRIST, a zeal, which, while it accords with knowledge, kindles into a flame all his emotions, and imparts to his actions an impetuosity and ardor which will, to some-to manyrender him an irresistible advocate of truth. This is not the earnestness of passion, of fanaticism; but of intelligence and principle. It must be obtained in the closet and study. Let the minister retire from the world a portion of every day; let him retire