service, honour, and glory! So far then from my being free from obligation, it is the reverse; for oh! what infinite obligations am I under to the Lord for what he has done for me in the person of his Son, and for what he has done in me, by the teaching of his holy word and blessed Spirit, and this too at a time, when in my old age, and when the lamp of life is about to expire."

Mr. Sharpless now arose from his chair, and taking his hat, said, "Well, well, Mr. Goodman, all I can say is, that your new notions do not suit me, for 1 have still a good heart, and can work out my own salvation as well as any man, without shifting my religion. As it is time for me to go, I will repeat my invitation, that you will come and spend a day with me. Be sure to bring your daughter with you; but I beg you will leave all your religious notions at home. You and I can take a friendly dinner, smoke a pipe, and crack a bottle of old Madeira, as well as any two men in the country; so give me your hand, and I wish you good morning."

"Permit me, Sir," said Mr. Goodman, "to express my grateful feeling for your friendly visit this morning. Although we have not happily united in the chief subject of our conversation, allow me the liberty of saying, that, on due consideration, I hope you will be convinced the present fashionable religion of the day, which you so freely expressed, will not support a man under the pressure of calamity,

much less will you find it adequate to console and refresh your spirits in the last conflict with death; therefore sincerely wishing that the good will of him that dwelt in the bush may perpetually dwell with you, I bid you, Sir, good morning."

THE PRAYERS OF THE ANCIENTS,

An Excitement to the Devotion of aged Christians.

-Jehovah's ear

Is ever open to his children's cry:
No enemy can intercept the flight
Of supplication on its way to God;

For he that gives desire its seraph wings,
Guards it to heav'n, and, rapid as its course,
Brings down an answer to the waiting saint.

Swain.

ONE would be disposed to imagine that a pious Christian of advanced years would need no direction to urge his way to the throne of mercy, or to be informed that the breath of prayer is the effect of that new and spiritual life which the Spirit of Christ communicates to the soul of man on his being born again of God. Still such persons need continually to be reminded, that while prayer is the rational duty of a dependent creature upon an independent Creator, through the Gospel of the grace of God it also becomes the high privilege of every believing soul, is the means of receiving continued blessings from the hand of his God, and constitutes

a material part of his heaven upon earth. Those who have for many years known something of the life of faith, are practically convinced that other duties may be performed with comparative ease, and without much obstruction; but there is that spirituality and holy reverence necessary in order to enjoy communion with God in prayer and supplication, that when he would do this good thing, like Paul, he has to say, evil is present with me. The good man deplores an evil heart within him, prone to depart from his God; and Satan seldom fails by his temptations to fill his mind with fears and wandering thoughts, and more especially so when he would close his devotions with elevated desires and solemn reverence, for then it too often occurs that the heart sinks, and the mind wanders, so that instead of composure he endures confusion. From these imperfections discovered in devotional exercises, it is not unusual for a pious person to imagine that his case is singular, concludes bitter things against himself, and calls in question, whether he ever did possess that grace which has led others to enjoy sensible communion with their God and Saviour. All these complaints will teach the reader how necessary it is to receive every aid that may facilitate his more spiritual devotions, and the great importance of his receiving the Spirit of God to help his infirmities. All those hinderances to the throne of mercy chiefly arise from the want of more active faith in the word and promises of God, and especially a clear knowledge and an abiding impression upon the mind, by which he may re

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alize that new and consecrated way in which alone communion with God can be enjoyed. In no single verse of Scripture is this way more clearly expressed than in the eighteenth verse of the second chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians, For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father, which, for your instruction, I will thus paraphrase. "For such is the efficacy of Christ's atoning, re"conciling death upon the cross, and the sum and "substance of real religion in the soul, through him, "Christ the Redeemer and everliving Intercessor, "we both, believing Jews and Gentiles, have access "to the throne of grace in prayer and supplication by one Spirit, who quickeneth the mind and heart, giveth us faith and boldness to draw near to the Father, with freedom and holy reverence to receive "the blessings we need, and the assurances of his "love." This comprises the whole substance of religion in communion with God, but it is too true that the remains of our carnal nature operate against it; and whatsoever other duties we may perform without communion with God in this his own way, we shall come short of true peace and consolation. Let the reader, therefore, devoutly meditate upon this valuable text of Scripture; it will afford him a fine discovery how each of the divine Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are mutually engaged in admitting him to the throne of grace on earth, to meet him eternally, to stand before the throne of his glory in heaven.

It is certain that in proportion as a Christian