these people seem to forget, that the attributes of the Deity must not be construed so as to contradict each other. The mercy of God, it is true, is infinite; but his justice is infinite also: they both universally extend to all people.

There is still one more cover for sin, which some people plead; and indeed the only one they can plead - humble confession, and sincere repentance; with trust in the mercy of God through the merits of Christ.

IX.

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 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 shade: 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 subject to such opposite paroxysms, should possess something to secure him from the pernicious effects of both.

Now, a sense of religion is the only security he can have; and this may have its full effect in all circumstances, if the mind be fully and seriously impressed with it. If the instrument therefore is well-tuned, the music may be good, whether it play a dirge or a sonnet. - Something like it is the apostle's advice: If you are afflicted, pray; if you are merry, sing psalms. Not that,

when

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

Again, when you are enlivened with a ray of prosperity, and the spirits are buoyant, though it is not expected you should always sing psalms, yet you should always live under such a sense of that gratitude, and religious thankfulness to the Disposer 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, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. —1 Pet. ii. 2.

THE Scriptures are continually exhorting us to put off the old man-to be renewed in the spirit, and to be born again. In conformity to these gospel-ideas, the apostle Peter introduces the beautiful allusion in the text, in which he recommends to his converts, as new-born babes, the sincere milk of the word.-The beauty and aptness of this allusion is very striking.

It consists, first, in the simplicity of the food. Most of the food we use undergoes various kinds of mixtures, and different modes of dressing: but milk is so simple a kind of food, that it requires neither mixture nor cookery; and is therefore properly an emblem of the sincere word of truth.

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

Its sweet, balsamic nature, makes it efficacious in the cure of many bodily disorders, as the Gospel is a remedy for those of the soul.

Even its spotless white, without any tincture of colour, brings it still nearer the idea of Gospel 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 shews his love for it: he loaths all other food in comparison: though he is fed with it every day, the repetition never cloys him; and his growth shews how well it agrees with his constitution. This mode of the child's receiving its food, is a just exhibition of the true, religious mode of accepting the Gospel.It is not often that a single allusion illustrates a subject in so many different points of view.