apprehend the grounds on which the conviction rests; but where it is otherwise, it is of the utmost moment to know the worst, since that knowledge, followed up, may result in salvation.

err.

Men are divisible-as in the great day of decision they will actually be divided into two classes, the righteous and the wicked. These severally, in divers respects, admit of subdivision into classes, but all such are essentially one in character, state, and destination. It is, therefore, a thing of inconceivable importance that every man should faithfully examine into his prospects at the judgment-seat of Christ. In going about this matter, we should look to the Holy Scriptures for our exclusive guidance. God's own book alone can be implicitly trusted as the expression of his will; and walking in its light we cannot Now that book solemnly assures us that without holiness no man can see the Lord; that because of sin every man is under sentence of death; and that all by nature are enemies to God and utterly depraved. It teaches us at the same time how this guilt may be fully removed, and how the soul itself may be thoroughly cleansed. These are the two great questions which man is unspeakably concerned to have answered, and on these the Scriptures are explicit. They enjoin on all men two things in order to salvation: repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; and these are represented as inseparable. The former is set forth in a variety of expression, as "repentance from dead works," "repentance unto life," "repentance which needeth not to be repented of;" all signifying the same thing. Faith is similarly spoken of, and shown to mean the same thing as belief; it is spoken of as "belief of the truth," and as "believing the record which God gave of his Son." Faith is always represented as having an object; whereever there is belief, there is something believed, and that thing here is the Gospel-the facts and doctrines revealed in Scripture concerning the person, character, and work of Christ. It is the belief of all that the Sacred Book says of him, more especially of the fact that he died for the sins of men, and rose again for their justification. Thus faith in, or belief of, the Gospel is always accompanied with the pardon of sin and the imputation of his righteousness. The righteousness of Christ becomes that of the believer; for the sake of Christ he is accounted righteous, and treated as if he had not sinned; by this faith he

is justified from all things from which he could not be justified by the law, and becomes clothed with the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus.

This change of state is always accompanied with a change of character: "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature; old things have passed away, and all things are become new." He is "born again;" he has become "an heir of God and a jointheir with Christ."

This is the religion of the Holy Scriptures-a thing experienced in the heart and visible in the life. All profession which comes short of this, and is opposed to it, is to be rejected as not in harmony with the Divine standard. Salvation comprises both justification and sanctification. Justification is a change of

state, sanctification a change of character; the former imparts a title and the latter a meetness for heaven. These are the great constituent elements of the Gospel salvation; and both are realized by means of faith in the Divine testimony-that faith which is wrought by the Divine Spirit. The faith which justifies is the faith which sanctifies; the latter is the sole proof of the former. In the absence of holiness there is no proof of pardon.

The practical bearing of all this is, then, obvious; it behoves each of us to examine ourselves whether we have been the

subjects of this repentance and this faith. The Scriptures nowhere represent this as a matter of difficulty; on the contrary, men are exhorted to it as alike easy and indispensable. If a man has realized his position as a transgressor of the Divine law, apprehended wrath, and sued for mercy, he knows it. If he hates and abhors sin, and follows after holiness with his whole heart, he knows it. If he has believed in the Lord Jesus, and relies on the Father's mercy through the blood of the Son, he knows it. If faith in that blood has brought peace to his conscience, and worked purity in his heart, he knows it. If the enmity of his mind against God has been slain, and the love of the Father been shed abroad in his heart, he knows it. The Apostle says, "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." If we love the people of God as such, this is proof positive that we are the children of God, and that to us there is no condemnation.

Such, then, is the religion of Jesus Christ, as set forth in his own word, and our concern is to inquire whether it be ours. Happy, thrice happy, all who possess it. They are ready for

both worlds, for earth or heaven. To them, personally, it is of no moment when their course shall finish; for while to live will be Christ, to die will be gain. Absent from the body, they will be present with the Lord. They will rest from their labours, and their works will follow them. Let such continue to abound in the work of the Lord, as if this year were to be their last.

But, ah! there is another class, the impenitent and the unbelieving: "The wrath of God abideth on them." They are "in the gall of bitterness, and the bond of iniquity." Woe, woe is unto them! They trample under foot the Son of God, and treat the Blood of the Covenant as a common thing! Reader, is this your case? Are you entering the year condemned? Are you to go through it condemned? Should you be cut down in the course of it, are you to descend quick into hell? Are you to spend eternity amid everlasting burnings? No, you answer, No! Flee then to the cross of Christ! "Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation."

REASONS FOR ATTENDING THE HOUSE OF GOD.

I do so unless prevented by illness and lead him to suppose that his or circumstances: visits and sermons are useless.

1. Because God has blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it, making no exceptions for rainy Sabbaths.

2. Because I expect my minister to be there, and should be surprised if he were to stay at home for the weather.

3. Because, although he has been faithfully present through many storms, I see that his health is as good as mine, who have so frequently been absent.

4. Because my absence for slight reasons will lead him to think that there is some personal objection to him, when, perhaps, he is devoting all his energy to the salvation of his charge.

5. Because my non-attendance is calculated to paralyze his exertions,

5. Because, if his hands fall through weakness, I shall have great reason to blame myself unless I sustain him by my prayers and presence, as I should do.

7. Because God has blessed me with the means of obtaining such precautions against the weather that I am in no real danger.

8. Because, by staying away, I may lose the sermon that would have done me great good, and shall lose the prayers which invariably bring God's blessing on the true heart.

9. Because, whatever station I hold in the church, my example must influence others; for if I stay away, why not they?

10. Because, on any important business, bad weather does not keep

me in the house; and the attendance on the ordinances of worship is, in God's sight, very important. (See Heb. x. 25.)

11. Because, among the crowd of pleasure-seekers, I see that no bad weather keeps the delicate female from the ball, the party, or the con

cert.

12. Because, among other pleasures, such weather will show me upon what foundation my faith is built. It will prove how much I love Christ; for true love rarely fails to keep an appointment.

known by self-denying good works, and not by the rise and fall of the thermometer.

20. Because I know not how many more Sabbaths God may still vouchsafe me; and it would be a poor preparation for my first Sabbath in heaven to have slighted my last Sabbath on earth.

GOOD RESOLUTIONS.

Who will strive to keep them during the year 1858, by the assistance of Divine grace?

1. I will strive constantly to keep in mind that I am not my own: "Ye are not your own: for ye are

13. Because fear that my clothes might suffer, shows that I think more of them than of that beauty of holiness which God so approves. 14. Because I am Christ's sol-bought with a price; therefore glodier, signed with his cross; and he rify God in your body, and in your is a poor soldier who retreats to his spirit, which are God's," 1 Cor. vi. house because of a cloud. 19, 20.

15. Because, though my excuses satisfy myself, they still must undergo God's scrutiny; and I must be well grounded to bear that. (See Luke xiv. 16)

16. Because there is a special promise, where only two or three meet together in God's name, he is in the midst of them.

17. Because absence from the house of God, for reasons which would not keep me from going to buy a pencil on week days, must be discouraging to all true friends, of the church, particularly its mi

nister.

18. Because an avoidable absence from worship is an infallible evidence of spiritual decay. Disciples first follow Christ at a distance, and then, like Peter, do not know him.

2. I will pray not less than twice or thrice every day this year: "Thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet; and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret," Matt. vi. 6; "Evening, morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud; and he shall hear my voice," Psa. lv. 17.

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3. I will read every day a portion of God's word, for purposes of devotion and self-application: new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby," 1 Pet. ii. 2; "The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," Eph. vi. 17; "Search the Scriptures," John v. 39.

4. I will endeavour constantly to watch over my thoughts, words, and actions: "Watch and pray, that ye

16. Because my faith is to be enter not into temptation," Matt.