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Art thou serious in this serious cause? Is the state of thy soul the object of thy greatest care? Art thou watching against whatsoever may pollute and defile it? Art thou seeking strength from on high to enable thee to resist, and overcome the enemies of thy salvation? Dost thou perseveringly implore God to arm thee with might by his Spirit in the inner man? Is this thy frame of soul? Are these the exercises in which thou engagest? Then thou shalt be preserved in the good and the right way. Thy heart, being kept with diligence, thou shalt have strong consolation in the trials to which thou mayest be exposed, and, humbling thyself, thou shalt surely be exalted.

From the history of Rehoboam we may further learn these important truths. First, Sin will bring down divine judgments. But what, it may be asked, is sin? The generality of men seem to consider nothing to be sin, but the gross violation of some moral duty. What saith the Scripture? "Sin is the transgression of the law," declareth St. John; that is, whatsoever, in any degree, comes short of or deviates from the law, and, in thought, word, or deed, is not conformable to it, is sin. True, indeed, there are degrees of sin; some violations of the law are more heinous than others, more offensive to God, betray a deeper corruption, and expose to a heavier condemnation; still, whatever may be the comparative circumstances and degrees of transgression, the truth, from Scripture, is, [and it is a truth on which, Reader, thou art entreated to reflect,] that every deviation from the law of God is sin. That sin will bring down divine judgments is a truth that, we have said, may be derived from the history of Rehoboam. Had this prince ruled in righteousness and mercy, his throne would have been established; but "he forsook the law of the Lord, and did evil in the sight of the Lord." Then came the prophet to him, and to the princes of Judah,

1 John ii 4.

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denouncing the righteous judgment of God on them, because they forsook the law of God. So true is it, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness shall reap the same "His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself." The tokens of God's wrath are not, indeed, always immediately to be seen. The sinner may, for a time, be prosperous, as the world accounts prosperity. Sentence against an evil work may not be executed speedily. Does God then not see, or not abhor, the ways of the wicked, or will he not visit for these things? Yes. The wicked are reserved to the day of destruction." Indignation and wrath upon every soul of man that doeth evil+!" Reader, reflect on this truth, sin will bring down divine judg

ments!

Another important lesson to be learned from the history of Rehoboam is, that sin, in order to be forgiven, must be repented of. When the Lord, it is said, saw that they (Rehoboam and the princes of Judah) humbled themselves, "the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves, therefore I will not destroy them."

In what does true repentance consist? In deep humility, godly sorrow, and holy resolution! The true penitent is deeply humbled; he is, as it were, indignant within himself for his sinful, weak, ungrateful conduct. God be merciful to me a sinner, is his language!-He grieves, too, on account of his sins. Peter wept bitterly when he thought upon his base and cowardly denial of Jesus; and St. Paul rejoices over the Corinthians, that they were "made sorry after a godly sort."-And have we not cause to grieve for having offended God? But humility and sorrow for sin are not sufficient to procure pardon: a watchful and earnest striving in the way of duty must be added; these both belong to the true penitent. His pardon is indeed procured by the atonement of Christ; +2 Chron. xii. 7.

* Job iv. 8.

+ Rom. ii. 8.

and his power to lead a holy life is the gift of God's Spirit.

Enquire now, reader, art thou a penitent? That thou art a sinner thou wilt not deny; and know, assuredly, that, if thou art not a repentant sinner, thou art deluding thyself, if thou cherishest hopes of acceptance with God.

The last important conclusion which we draw from the history of Rehoboham, is, that sin truly repented of will be forgiven. "They have humbled themselves, said the Lord, therefore will I not destroy them." Did God see the sin of Rehoboam and his people? He saw too their humiliation and sorrow, and he exercised mercy and the whole tenor of his word tends to establish the truth of the conclusion, that the true penitent shall not be cast away. Reader, rejoice in this consolatory truth; but delay not thy repentance. Depend upon it, that he who now devotes himself to the service of sin, in preference to the service of God, has no sincere intention of ever becoming a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. But, were it otherwise, is life in thy power? Art thou secure of its continuance for a day? No. Then how is repentance in thy power? There is only one wise, one safe, one Christian course to pursue. It is this: "to-day, whilst it is called to-day, harden not thy heart." Dream not of more convenient seasons; Behold, now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." Turn then to-day from thy transgressions, to the service of God in Jesus Christ, that "iniquity may not be thy ruin."

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G. B.

SABBATH.

(From a little book called " A Present from my Teacher.")

SABBATH days were ne'er intended

To be spent in idle play;
For the Lord must be offended

When we throw such time away.

Hallow'd day! by God appointed,
Let not men the day disown;
Sacred to the Lord's Anointed,
All its hours are his alone.

LOOK AT HOME.

To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor.
SIR,

your

I was much pleased with the story having the above. title, in your last Number, translated from the French by your young correspondent. Perhaps some of readers might like to see an imitation of the same story in verse, which was written some years ago, I believe by Mrs. Hannah More.

A WORTHY Squire, of sober life,
Had a conceited boasting wife;
She lov'd to load mankind with blame
And on their errors build her fame.
Her favourite subject of dispute
Was Eve, and the forbidden fruit.
"Had I been Eve, (she often cried,)
Man had not fallen, nor woman died:
I still had kept the orders given,
Nor for an apple lost my heaven."
The squire replied, "I fear 'tis true,
The same ill spirit lives in you:
Tempted alike, I dare believe

You would have disobeyed, like Eve."
The lady stormed, and still deny'd
Both curiosity and pride.

The squire, some future day, at dinner,
Resolv'd to try this boastful sinner.
He grieved such vanity possest her,
And thus in serious terms address'd her :-
"Madam, the usual splendid feast,
With which our wedding day is grac'd,
With you I must not share to-day,
For business summons me away.
Of all the dainties I've prepared,
I beg not any may be spared.
Indulge in every costly dish,
Enjoy, 'tis what I really wish.
Only observe one prohibition,
Nor think it a severe condition;

Look at Home.

On one small dish which cover'd stands,
You must not dare to lay your hands.
Go; disobey not, on your life,

Or henceforth you're no more my wife."
The treat was serv'd, the squire was gone,
The murmuring lady din'd alone.
She saw whate'er could grace a feast,
Or charm the eye, or please the taste;
But while she rang'd from this to that,
From venison haunch to turtle fat,
On one small dish she chanc'd to light,
By a deep cover hid from sight.
Oh! here it is, yet not for me,
I must not taste, nay, dare not see;
Why place it there? or why forbid
That I so much as lift the lid ?
Prohibited of this to eat,

I care not for the sumptuous treat;
I wonder if 'tis fowl or fish,

To know what's there I merely wish.
I'll look, the harm can ne'er be much,
For though I look, I will not touch.
Why I'm forbid to lift this cover,
One glance will tell, and then 'tis over.
Trembling, she yielded to her wish,
And rais'd the cover from the dish;
She starts-for lo! an open pye,
From which six living sparrows fly.
She calls, she screams with wild surprise,
"Haste John and catch these birds," she cries;
John hears not, but to crown her shame,
See at her call her husband came.
Sternly he frowned, as thus he spoke :
Thus is your vow'd allegiance broke,
Self-ignorance led you to believe,
You did not share the sin of Eve.
Like hers, how blest was your condition,
How small my gentle prohibition.
Yet you, tho' fed with every dainty,
Sat pining in the midst of plenty.
This dish, thus singled from the rest,
Of your obedience was the test:
Your mind unbroke by self-denial,
Could not sustain this slender trial,
Humility from hence be taught.
Learn candour to another's fault.
Go, know like Eve, from this sad dinner,
You're both a vain and curious sinner."

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