these people feem to forget, that the attributes of the Deity must not be conftrued fo as to contradict each other. The mercy of God, it is true, is infinite; but his juftice is infinite alfo ; they both univerfally extend to all people,

There is ftill one more cover for fin, which fome people plead; and indeed the only one. they can plead humble confeffion, and fincere repentance; with truft in the mercy of God through the merits of Christ.

IX.

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him fing pfalms. - James, v. 13.

THE text seems intended rather to regulate our gloomy, and cheerful hours, than as a piece of literal advice. The life of man is a chequered fhade: light and darkness are continually reciprocating. The former often twinkles on the very spot, which had immediately before been occupied by the latter.-Man, therefore, thus fubject to such oppofite paroxyfms, fhould poffefs fomething to fecure him from the pernicious effects of both.

Now, a fenfe of religion is the only fecurity he can have; and this may have its full effect in all circumstances, if the mind be fully and ferioufly impreffed with it. If the inftrument therefore is well-tuned, the music may be good, whether it play a dirge or a fonnet. Something like it is the apostle's advice: If you are afflicted, pray; if you are merry, fing pfalms. Not that,

when

when you are afflicted, it is supposed you are always to pray. But as prayer is the grand fupport of affliction, you should always live, efpecially when the hand of God is upon you, in the spirit of prayer-in that truft in God, and in the merits of a Redeemer, which every one must feel who prays with fincerity. Again,

when you are enlivened with a ray of prosperity, and the spirits are buoyant, though it is not expected you should always fing pfalms, yet you fhould always live under fuch a sense of that gratitude, and religious thankfulness to the Dif pofer of all events, as will prevent your joy from running riot; and will change it from an earthly into a heavenly feeling.

X.

As new-born babes, defire the fincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.. I Pet. ii. 2.

THE fcriptures are continually exhorting us to put off the old man to be renewed in the fpirit, and to be born again. In conformity to these gofpel-ideas, the apoftle Peter introduces the beautiful allufion in the text, in which he recommends to his converts, as new-born babes, the fincere milk of the word. —The beauty and aptnefs of this allufion is very striking.

It confifts, first, in the fimplicity of the food. Moft of the food we use undergoes various kinds of mixtures, and different modes of dreffing: but milk is fo fimple a kind of food, that it requires neither mixture nor cookery; and is therefore properly an emblem of the fincere word of truth.

Then again, its nourishing quality makes it still more an emblem of that gospel, which nourishes to everlasting life.

Its fweet, balfamic nature, makes it efficacious in the cure of many bodily disorders, as the gofpel is a remedy for thofe of the foul.

Even its fpotlefs white, without any tincture of colour, brings it ftill nearer the idea of gofpel purity.

Then again, the manner in which the child takes this nourishment, carries on the allusion very happily. He takes it with that eagerness which fhews his love for it: he loaths all other food in comparifon: though he is fed with it every day, the repetition never cloys him; and his growth fhews how well it agrees with his conftitution. This mode of the child's receiving its food, is a juft exhibition of the true, religious mode of accepting the gofpel. -It is not often

that a fingle allufion illustrates a subject in fo

many different points of view.