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It requires little observation to tion, so that the most retired and rediscern the inefficacy of every mode fined sensuality stands exposed in all of restraint on these tyrants of man, its atrocity, as intimately connected excepting that which arises from the with the grossest violations of order influence of evangelical principles; and purity. "Out of the heart of but effectual as is their authority, man,' says the great Teacher sent there is reason to lament that the from God, proceed evil thoughts, contest between remaining imperfec- adulteries, fornications, murders, tion and the spiritual nature, renders thefts, covetousness, lasciviousness, every monition, ensample, and motive an evil eye: all these evil things come necessary, which can arouse our fear, from within, and defile the man." "Know ye stimulate our diligence, or promote (Mark vii. 21-23.)

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our circumspection. If the apostle not," exclaims the apostle Paul with found it requisite to exhort even holy indignation, "that the unrightTimothy, of whose eminent piety he eous shall not inherit the kingdom had witnessed such decisive proofs, of God? Be not deceived: neither to "flee youthful lusts," with how fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulmuch greater force should every word terers, nor effeminate, nor abusers in this solemn admonition be imprinted of themselves with mankind, nor on your hearts! thieves, nor extortioners, nor drunkIn order to render the impression ards, shall inherit the kingdom of more vivid, let us consider to what God. Know ye not that your bodies evil desires the young are peculiarly are the members of Christ? Shall I exposed; what are the unhallowed then take the members of Christ, and passions that require their utmost make them members of a harlot ? vigilance and opposition. God forbid ! Flee fornication; he

I would first exhort you, my young that committeth fornication sinneth friends, to guard against the seduc- against his own body." (1 Cor. vi. tions of sensuality; against what are 9-20.) Addressing the Ephesians, emphatically termed "fleshly lusts." he says with equal decision," ForOn no subject are the sacred writers nication, and all uncleanness, let it more frequent, or more alarming in not be once named among you, as their denunciations than on this. becometh saints; neither filthiness, Aware of the wide-spreading nature nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which of the contagion, they continually are not convenient: for no whoreremind us of its evil, and direct us monger, nor unclean person hath any to the means of counteracting and inheritance in the kingdom of God." expelling it. As if it were an enemy (Eph. v. 3-6.) Again, with singular of gigantic magnitude, and in pos- minuteness of detail, clearly demonsession of innumerable points of strating the apostle's impression attack, we are enjoined to be per- of the evil of sensuality in all its petually on the alert against its ma- possible modes of pollution, he thus chinations, in order to resist its power, exhorts the Colossians,-" Mortify or retreat from the field in which our your members, which are upon the victory might be doubtful. The earth; fornication, uncleanness, inorScriptures employ in their warnings and prohibitions, on this topic, a redundancy of epithets, or rather a preciseness of description, which tends to prevent the possibility of self-decep

dinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience." (Col. iii. 5, 6.)

"At

Such are a few of the awful de- to induce a moment's suspense? No, nunciations contained in the sacred my friends; he knows that flight, volume against the "lusts of the immediate flight, is the only way to flesh." Nor do they exist merely in conquest. All the high considerthe form of prohibitions; the danger ations of honour and duty rush to of neglecting, and the advantages of his recollection. Above all, he reregarding them, are frequently ex-members that the eye of Omniscience emplified in the narrations of Scrip- is upon him; that its all-penetrating ture. There we see embodied in vision can enter the darkest recesses faithful details the beauty of holiness, of depravity, and disclose before an and the deformity of vice. Beholding assembled world the "chambers of the rocks on which thousands have imagery," and the solitude of sin. been wrecked, you are taught to steer" How can I do this great wickedyour course aright amidst surround-ness, and sin against God!" This ing dangers. O that the warning remonstrance and appeal gained him voice of this infallible monitor may the victory; and the chastity of be ever sounded in your ears, when Joseph is held in everlasting rememthe blandishments of sin would tempt brance. you from the paths of virtue! the window of my house," (Prov.viii.,) says one who drew the picture from life, (and would to God, the dismal scene were never realized now!) "I looked through my casement, and beheld among the simple ones; I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, passing through the street, near her corner; and he went the way to her house; in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night. And, behold, there met him a woman, with the attire of a harlot, and subtil of heart: with much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks!"

But contemplate another and a brighter scene. Look at the slave of Potiphar, the captain of the royal guard, in the land of Egypt. Behold the fascinations of beauty, aided by the superiority of rank, and invested with all that wealth, persuasion, and secrecy could give them, to allure and destroy. Does the favourite son of Jacob stand to deliberate ? Are any dangerous calculations permitted

EXHORTATION.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these (needful) things shall be added unto you."-JESUS.

CHRISTIAN, who art wandering

Along the path of life,
And oft too fondly pondering

On this world's care and strife,

In both these instances, the guilt of seduction is attributed to females. In all ages, the power of meretricious attraction has been, no doubt, awfully successful and extensive; but if it were necessary to attempt an estimate of the comparative degrees of virtue in the sexes, no hesitation could be felt, in awarding its decisive preponderance to females. Their fatal influence, when ill-directed, may be accounted for, on the well-known maxim, that "the best things

when corrupted become the worst." The
infamy attached to their unchastity, naturally
associates them together; and thus their
number and their vices become notorious.
those who are not known to be vicious, are
Hence arises a strong presumption that all
in reality virtuous. But can such a pre-
sumption be made in favour of men?
they excluded from decent society by their
vices? It must however be acknowledged,
that this very state of things increases on
one side, and lessens on the other, the force
of temptation.

Are

Oh! let not the concerns of earth
Lay too fast hold upon thy soul;
But think upon thy heavenly birth
When troubles o'er thee roll.

Seek thy blissful heritage,
Jehovah's kingdom fair;
In faith his nobler battles wage

Whose name thou lovest to bear.
Who feeds the ravens when they cry,
And verdure o'er the vallies flings;
Knows all thy wants, and will supply
All necessary things.

CHRISTIAN ACTIVITY.

T. R.

of the most sublime import, and are fitted to occupy fully every chamber of the soul; it holds out to the awakened spirit the untiring wing and piercing ken of faith, the rosy chaplet and shining garments of hope, the kindling warmth and untold raptures of charity; and it promises an influence, breathed from the Divine Spirit himself, to animate all the mental powers with an energy which they knew not before. But all this strength is given to the mind, all this vast accession of knowledge is poured MAN is a being of a complex cha- into the understanding, not that the racter. He is not all spirit; for he spirit might brood in silence over its carries about with him a sensible and glorious attainments, not that it tangible frame. Neither is he all might repose in indolence, gazing on body; for he is acted upon by im- the image of its own beauty, mirpulses from within, and he is influ- rored in the still depths of thought; enced by perceptions from without, but that the possessor of these enand he is urged on by anticipations dowments might bring into immediate reaching beyond the sphere of mor- exercise his invigorated powers, that tality, all which having no kindred he might use them as instruments in with the sensual part of his nature, the warfare he is called upon to wage give proof that their origin is derived with the world of evil around and from something more ethereal than within him. the earthly tenement in which they The necessary consequence of real are enshrined. Hence, though fitted spiritual knowledge, is practical holifor contemplation, man is also born ness and usefulness. for action. He is gifted with reason, ration of the soul will produce the but it is bestowed to be the guide of regeneration of the life. The disciple his conduct; he is endowed with of true wisdom will follow the preimagination, but the pictures which it cepts of his teacher. And from the frames draw their colouring and their practice as well as the precepts of grouping from the occurrences of his Redeemer will the Christian learn actual life. He may spread the that the proof of his discipleship is to wings of an aspiring fancy, and rise, be exhibited, not in his own private in lofty meditation to the stars, but he condition, but in its open and visible finds that his appointed resting-place operations. He feels that the light is below; and though, like the lark, of truth was not kindled within him he may delight to sing praises "at to be shrouded in obscurity, but to heaven's gate," his nest is on the be set forth openly, that it might bosom of this lowly earth, and give light to those who surround thither must he return to suffer and to toil.

To this twofold nature of man the gospel scheme is exactly adapted. It addresses itself to his spiritual capacities, telling him of themes which are

The regene

him. The grace of God is an operative principle; it is like the dew which arises unseen, and distils unheard, yet whose influence is broad as the landscape, and is felt throughout all vegetation.

Nor will the true Christian dare to God. Then, doubtless, they were allege the magnitude or extent of his not slothful in the service of their

spiritual attainments as any excuse master: if votaries of pleasure, they for indolence. We are, indeed, lifted did not refuse her dictates; if disby religion to an eminence far above ciples of infidelity, they did not hesithis " sphere of earthliness," but it tate to avow, to inculcate, and to is not that we might now make that practise its tenets. And now, when elevated spot our permanent home; they profess, by the operations of but having gathered strength from Divine love, to have been convinced communion with heaven, we are sent of the folly of their past career, when back again to earth to tell of what we they feel that they have at length have seen, and to practise what we begun to love the true and the good, have learned. To many, perhaps, it shall they deem it sufficient to give a is a pleasant thing to muse in solitude calm assent to the mysterious, though on the mysteries of Revelation, to cheering doctrines, they have emrevel amid the gorgeous visions of braced; and will they practically deprophecy, and to weep over the melt- clare that they consider conversion ing pathos of the scriptural narrative; little more than an improvement of yes, and to trace out the "regular con- the understanding? Let them bring fusion" of Providence, or the mer- to the cause of Christianity something ciful arrangements of the world's re- of the energy which they were wont deption, who forget the imperative so freely to expend in the service of duties which the gospel binds upon sin; let that genius which was once its professors. For, after having so actively employed in painting corbeen wrapped in these pleasing con- ruption with fair colours, be now extemplations, they put forth no hand ercised in setting forth the majesty of assistance to the needy, they of virtue, and the all-sufficiency of evince no desire to recover the grace. profligate from his sin, they are not at all concerned, that so many should be pining for instruction, they are not occupied in publishing the glad tidings of a free salvation; but so that they themselves are encircled by a little oasis of spiritual verdure, they seem as though it were no cause of grief to them that a desolate and howling wilderness of iniquity should lie spreading around them.

If

We would exhort our readers, especially the young, who have but just assumed an open profession of religion, to ask themselves, often and seriously, what are the claims which Christianity has upon them. freely they have received, let them freely give. A short time ago, probably, their sentiments and actions were of the earth, earthly; they were lovers of pleasure more than lovers of

Once they were not ashamed of their vices: O, let them not now be ashamed of their piety! Let the flowers of youth, which they were once content to scatter at the feet of folly, be now wreathed by them into a garland of holiness, and hung up in the temple of the Lord.

TALES ILLUSTRATIVE OF

M. N.

SCRIPTURE

HISTORY. No. III.-COL-ONI.*

"Nimrod began to be a mighty one in the earth," &c.-Gen. x. 8.

"And the Lord scattered them abroad," &c.-Gen. xi. 8.

"SOFT breeze of evening," said Eluna, "how welcome art thou to

*Col-Oni is literally "mount of God." The Etymologicon Magnum states, that it was customary for the dispersed from Baby

my breast; loaded with the sweets primogeniture, while he aspired still of a thousand fragrant shrubs, that higher; and selfish in her loves and waft their perfume hitherward, like enjoyments, would rather that he incense from the river! But more who lived for the world and immorwelcome is the hunter of the forests tality, had lived for her alone. to my heart, when he leaps from his The heart of Nebrod was formed bounding steed. For sweeter is thy in a different mould. Enraptured by smile, O Nebrod, than the odorous the beauties of Eluna, and charmed hour of evening; and dearer is thy by a fond tenderness, the sincerity of voice to the soul of Eluna, than the which he could not doubt, he unbent notes of joyous birds."

himself, along with his bow, in the softer hours of dalliance; threw off the lion, and assumed the lamb. But the daring spirit of the chief was not formed for love alone. His bold eye gazed far into heaven; and over earth he resolved to stretch the strong arm of his power. He delighted in

The Queen wandered on along the banks of the river, and gazed upon the increasing splendour of the city that was rising rapidly around. The setting sun shone full upon its pinnacles and towers; and glistening in his evening beams, they shone like the gold of Ophir. The waves of adulation, yet despised his flatterers. the river leaped joyous as she He loved to see the people prostrate passed, and playing on its verdant before him, yet in the playful conshores, sought to kiss the feet of the tempt of his soul could have kicked Queen of nations: and ever and anon, them from the foot of his throne. between the pauses of the woodland But what is that sound which runs choristers, rung on her ears the clang through the busy city, like a shout of masonry, which told that the city of triumph? Eluna turns her head, of magnificence was rising in its for she knows the accustomed glory. thunder-clap, which tells the passing

Yet these were not the pleasures of his lightning steed. He comes! of Eluna, though they mingled with the God-man comes! the ruler of the joys of her heart. She had seen nations, the monarch of the world! Thousands of thousands pay him homage as he passes, and shout to him, "live for ever!"

the cares as well as the splendours of royalty upon the brow of Nebrod. The times had been, when that high forehead was fevered by its busy Heedless of their gratulations, he thoughts, and she had bathed it with rode on; leaving his followers to her tears and kisses, till she softened distribute the spoils of the chase. his soul again to calmness. Hap- He hastened to where Eluna wanpiness to her was more than glory; dered in her gardens, on the banks ambition was not seated in her heart. of the Euphrates; then leaping She trembled at the height of power from his horse, embraced his happy already attained by the younger son bride. She wiped the perspiration of Cush, in contempt of the law of from his brow, and pressed her lips

to his. "Oh!" she exclaimed, "would that I could have thee always with me; thou knowest not how my poor heart flutters in thine absence. I picture thee at times torn to pieces

lonia, wherever they settled, first to erect a Col-oni, in imitation of the tower or temple of Babel, or perhaps of its archetype, the "mount of God" in Paradise; and thence wherever a settlement was made they were called Col-Onis, or in modern language, by the mighty lion, at others falling from some unknown precipice, and

Colonies.

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