our Lord Jesus," and "to please God;" to please him who hath commanded that every one that nameth the name of Christ, should depart from iniquity. We are not as the Gentiles which know not God; we have been taught by his word and by his ministers, how we ought to walk. Such of us as are arrived at mature years, have taken upon ourselves the solemn vow which was made in our name at our baptism-a vow by which we engaged to renounce the works of the devil, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh. We daily pray in the words taught us by Christ himself, that God's will may be done on earth as it is in heaven. And what is his will? "Even our sanctification." He is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, neither shall any evil dwell in his sight: "This ye know," saith St. Paul to the Ephesians, "that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of God *." "The love of Covetousness leads to dishonesty. money is the root of all evil." The heart then must be watched, and the first temptation to desire that which is another man's must be stifled in the birth. Observe here, that the apostle does not only warn us against open and actual robbery, but commands "that no man go beyond," that is, over-reach, "or defraud his brother in any matter." "All unrighteousness is sin," in the eyes of him who "requireth truth in the inward parts." How solemn is the warning; "He that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God." Evil and unjust men may say in their hearts, when about to commit some act of secret wickedness, "No eye shall see, we shall be safe from punishment:"-" Tush, say they, how should God regard it, is there knowledge with the Most High?" But in vain do they hope to be hidden from His all-piercing eye, to whom the darkness and * Eph. v. 5. Examples of Honesty. 15 light are both alike; who is about our path, and about our bed, and spieth out all our ways." But some will plead the strength of temptation, the weakness of their nature leading them to commit many transgressions against these divine laws. Let such remember the concluding words of the passage before us. "God hath also given us his Holy Spirit." He has not left us exposed to the assaults of those vices to which our nature is inclined, without providing a way for us to escape from their power, and finally to subdue them. He has given us his Holy Spirit to be our sanctifier, and if we seek his aid in earnest and believing prayer, we shall be able to withstand all the enemies and hindrances of our salvation. When St. James teaches that "if we resist the devil he will flee from us," he adds immediately, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you *"" Weak and sinful as we are, we can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth us, and through the blessed Spirit that helpeth our infirmities. O let us then, when humbly acknowledging that "we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves," rely on him whose strength is made perfect in our weakness, who is able to succour us being tempted, and who hath graciously declared that "blessed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him +." L. S. R. EXAMPLES OF HONESTY. WE are often told of the crimes of the poor; and it is, in truth, distressing to hear of the many instances in which the poor are acting against the positive commands of God, and against their own best interest * James iv. 7, 8. † James i. 12. too. But we should remember that all are not alike; and we should learn to make a difference. There is, I do believe, a great deal of real religion, and strong moral principle, among many of the poor people in England. It is with them, just as it is with the rich; there are many who are bad; but there are others, who are influenced by an anxious desire to do good, and to be good; and on these the safety of the nation mainly depends. And, though it should please Providence to afflict our nation for our good, those who are the real servants of God will be supported in the midst of every trial, and comforted under every affliction. I believe that there is a vast body of the English people, of all ranks, who know the blessing of living in such a country as this, notwithstanding they are called upon, at times, to endure those troubles to which they would be liable in any country, and which, in truth, are often sent to try us, and to prove whether our profession of religion is a reality, or a mere pretence. When crimes are committed and detected, we read of them in every newspaper, and hear of them in every company, and this is natural enough; whilst they who abstain from crimes are but little known to public observation. But these have a happiness in their own minds, which is beyond all earthly praise, and all earthly reward. We have great pleasure in being able to give the following examples of good conduct of both the English and Irish poor, which have come to our knowledge through the public papers. Derbyshire Honesty.-A gentleman residing near Chesterfield, accidentally dropped his watch in the market-place of that town, without being aware of it: as it was market-day, and the affair happened in a crowded part, it would have been an easy matter for the finder to have secreted the watch,-but honesty prevailed; a poor countrywoman picked it up, and followed the gentleman from whom she perceived it fall, to restore it to him; he offered a present, which she respectfully refused, saying that she never yet received a reward On the Return of the Sabbath. for acting honestly, and it was now too late to begin.Derbyshire Courier. 17 The mail coach from Dublin to Limerick was interrupted in its progress, between four and five o'clock on Friday morning, near Busherstown, by two large trees which the storm had torn up, and thrown across the road. The coach agent at Drumherron, being apprised of the circumstance, hastened to the cabins near the spot, the tenants of which, with the promptitude and zeal which always had marked their conduct on such occasions, turned out under a torrent of rain, and with saws and hatchets cut the trees, and enabled the coach to proceed upon its journey; and their conduct was rendered still more praiseworthy, by their refusal to receive from the passengers any recompense for their trouble.-Evening Post. A military officer, who had joined Lord Middleton's hounds, on the turnpike-road, near Bingham, had the misfortune to drop his purse, containing in notes and cash nearly 307.; he had ridden about two miles before he was aware of his loss, but on discovering it he immediately rode back, and, meeting a lad, he asked him if he had found a purse? The boy answered "No;" but pointed out another boy at a distance, whom, he said, he saw pick something up. The same question was put to him as to the former, whether he had found a purse? and the lad very frankly and honestly said he had, and immediately returned it and its contents to the owner.-Stamford Mercury. ON THE RETURN OF THE SABBATH. The day returns, the hallowed day, In memory of thy triumph given, When the grave felt thy powerful sway, And thou didst wide unfold the gates of Heaven. Thy bounteous will our being gave, On contrite man did endless bliss bestow. With gratitude and love o'ercome, For such transcendent favour shewn, And with the note of praise address thy throne. But ever let the grateful strain, Be not unmixt with holy fear : Lest guilt should make our service vain, Laicus. A DIALOGUE BETWEEN A CLERGYMAN AND HIS PARISHIONER RESPECTING SOME COMMON MISTAKES IN RELIGION. Clergyman. Good morning, James, have you seen your neighbour, Grasby, this day? Parishioner. Poor man! he died last night, after suffering great agony; but now he is at rest. C. I hope it may be so; but you know, James, he led a very careless life, was very seldom at church, and brought up his family in the same sad neglect of God and religion. P. It is too true, Sir, but he was very penitent at the last, and I hope he has had his sufferings in this life. C. I do not mean to pass any judgment on his final state; God alone knows what took place in his mind; but will you allow me to correct some mistaken notions which, from your mode of speaking, you seem to me to hold? P. Pray do, Sir, I shall feel much obliged to you. C. Well, then, you said, in the first place, you |