experienced; and thus the cottager is unspeakably blessed, because the "Lord of creation" dwells in his humble habitation, and imparts to it a dignity and a glory, which it could not, under other circumstances, have possessed; so that mercies are delightfully sweetened, the most inspiring feelings are induced, the atmosphere of Heaven is breathed, even in a cottage, the dignity of God's people is realized, even in a cottage; and the ineffable happiness of "the spirits of just men made perfect," is in some degree experienced in

"A little, narrow, lowly roof,

Which we term the cotter's seat."

mind; but the most durable impression was made by a remark in the Evangelical Magazine, perhaps two or more years ago. I cannot remember the words exactly, but it was to this effect: That if persons who have been religiously educated, do not, in their youth devote themselves to God, we generally find that they sink into a state of lukewarmness, or careless indifference, and so continue all their

What

our cottagers, generally speaking, were godly persons, distinguished for their decision of character, energy of holy principle, and devotedness of every power to the God of all grace! an interesting object, under these circumstances, would a cottage present! How delightful to a philanthropic beholder, to one whose views and feelings are consonant with the principles of the Word of life! Well, the anticipation is animating and inspiring; let us. fondly cherish it ;and that it may be speedily realized, let us be deyout and persevering in our supplications, that the auspicious day may shortly dawn, when every cottage shall resemble a Bethel,' and shall actually be "the house of God, and the very gate of Heaven."-Lond. Ev. Mag.

TO THE CHILDREN OF PIOUS MINISTERS, AND OTHER YOUNG PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP IN THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD.

The following is a part of an interesting statement which was lately given by a young person, on seeking admission into a Christian church; and it is most respectfully and affectionately submitted to the serious attention of your young read- | ers, who are placed under the solemn responsibility of a religious education. Yours, with respect.-P.

"I am a stranger to any particular emotions and sensation, of which some speak, when they first felt the change; if I have experienced one, it has been very gradual. I think I may say, I have, from my infancy, often been the subject of strong convictions and religious feelings; but, alas! like the morning dew, they have vanished away. Many circumstances have had a tendency to impress my

conversion to God late in life.' The idea struck me forcibly; I could find instances of the truth of it; indeed, I thought, without going any farther, I am verifying it; the days of my youth are swiftly passing away, and shall I, is it possible, after all my instruction, my privileges, my mental knowledge-after all the prayers that have been offered in my behalf-shall I sink into such an awful state? I was deeply affected, and earnestly besought the Lord to interpose, and prevent. Though I never repeated the remark to any one, it has never, since I read it, been many days out of my mind."-Lond. Ev. Mag.

THE MISERY OF THE WICKED. "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but owrath; tribulation and anguish, upon bey unrighteousness, indignation and every soul of man that doeth evil.”Rom. ii. 8, 9.

The following paraphrase of this portion of scripture, is mostly in the words of the judicious and evangelical Dr. Guyse. But as to those who quarrel with God in his dispensations of grace, and with any of the important doctrines of Christ, or with his servants who preach them, instead of cordially submitting to his authority, and receiving the gospel by faithand yield themselves willing servants to unbelief, and the practice of sin, God in his utmost vengeance, will inflict upon them the tremendous effect of his vindictive justice, bringing with

it, insupportable anguish and agonizing torments of soul, as the just reward of their impenitence, and iniquity.

The subject thus open before us, is one of fearful importance. It embraces all that the wicked will be made to suffer, when their final sentence has been pronounced by the righteous JUDGE of the earth. We shall endeavour, in the following observations, to unfold something of its nature.

It may be remarked, that there is a gradation in the language of the apostle. From a less, he proceeds to a greater, and from an inferior, to a superior degree of aggravated torment. Let us observe this.

1. The "indignation" of Jehovah is to be the portion of the wicked.the original term, in its primary Θύμος signification, means "that faculty of the mind which approves good, and turns away from evil;" but in a more particular sense, it often denotes "great vehemence of anger." The idea is properly expressed in the common translation by the term "indignation," which signifies an aversion of the countenance; because such an action expresses this state of mind.

With this explanation in view, let us extend our thoughts a little farther, and present to our minds the Almighty waxing hot in his wrath against the sinner, and indignantly turning away from him his gracious countenance. What an awful gloom must immediately gather over the soul! What is it which fills Heaven with so much joy, and causes a thrilling emotion of delight, to run from rank to rank, of that glorious army of the saints, who stand around the throne of God? It is the expression of approbation which they receive from God. What is it which affords to the saint on earth his inward joy and satisfaction? The persuasion that God is reconciled in Christ. What is it which affords the sinner, even the little amount of peace enjoyed by him here? The be

| lief, which, some how or other, he contrives to fix in his mind, that although God be not now, yet, that he will, notwithstanding, hereafter, in some way, become reconciled, and his soul escape eternal death. Here, we are every day more and more persuaded, is the secret of that inward composure, with which the wicked pass down the stream of time.

True! The hopes which they build upon this foundation are always a delusion, and their consequence, the ruin of the immortal spirit. Yet they build upon it; and as long as they remain undisturbed, believe themselves secure, and are at peace. Let, then, this "refuge of lies" be removed, as it will in the day of judgment; and the reality of their state made fully to appear. Let them see that God is anwith them. gry Let them behold the

expression of his "indignation;" and what will be the effect of all this upon the soul? A removing of every vain confidence-a taking away of every stay and support, and the forcing upon the mind, of an actual and realizing conception, that even the possibility of receiving mercy is gone-clean gone forever? Cold and tormenting despair will thus take the place of all these fond anticipations, and delightful—but most delusive hopes, which they were wont to cherish-and darkness, thick and impenetrable darkness, like the waves of a mighty ocean, will overwhelm the soul. Then, indeed, may the wretched victim of delusion exclaim, "All thy waves and thy billows have gone over me: I sink in deep waters, and there is none to help!"

Farther, -Not only "indignation" but "wrath" also shall fall upon the impenitent. Like the former, this term (ogy) also has a distinctive meaning. It signifies primarily, "a desire to avenge an injury suffered ;" and expresses thus, a higher degree of the same passion. Ouos is rendered by Schleusner "animi excandescentia et

vehementia ;" but opyn cupiditas ulciscendi, iraque inveterata." With these

ideas, connect the absolute, and uncontrollable supremacy of God; and what is there to save the wicked from the most awful visitation of overwhelming punishment? Even here, an earnest is frequently given, of that greater portion to be inflicted hereafter. War, pestilence, famine, disease, and death, all come as the messengers of the Almighty's "wrath," already seeking vengeance for the iniquity of man. Aye! And as often as the grim messenger enters the family circle, and smites the very object, on which perhaps, the fondest affections of the whole group centered, God manifests his wrath against sin. As often too as the guilty wretch stands shuddering on the brink of eternity, and imprecates divine vengeance (in the following language of a dying infidel,) God gives an earnest of future punishment. "Whence this war in my breast? What argument is there now to assist me against matter of fact? Do I assert that there is no Hell, while I feel one in my own bosom! Am I certain there is no retribution, when I feel a present judgment? Do I affirm my soul to be as mortal as my body, when this languishes, and that is as vigorous as ever? Oh! that any one could restore me to my ancient guard of piety and innocence! Wretch that I am! whither shall I fly from this breast! What will become of me!-My damnation is sealed! I have an earnest of it now. I mean this awakened conscience, bringing to my remembrance the enor

mous

catologue of sins, for which I must presently give an account. Oh! apostate wretch! from what hopes art thou fallen! Oh! that I had never known what religion was, then had I not denied my saviour, nor been so black an heir of perdition! Oh the unsufferable pangs of Hell and damna

tion!"

But what are these, to that full retribution, with which, hereafter, he will visit the guilty wretch, whom mercy has forsaken! The birds of Vol. II.-27.

heaven hasten away, and seek a shelter deep in the recesses of the forest, when the storm begins to thicken and descend; but where will the impenitent flee, when the thunders of Almighty wrath, peal on peal, shall fall upon their guilty heads! Where shall they fly? Every corner of this vast creation, is under his eye; and in the farthest and remotest corner of concealment, his hand will be extended, to pluck the victim thence, and plunge him deep in Hell! Oh! it is indeed, a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God! Lord God, help me to flee from the ways of the wicked, lest my last end should be like theirs.

Again,-"Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish." es in its primitive meaning, denotes pressure; and thus it carries with it, the idea of weight or force. It means also in the same connection, "penury" or "poverty"—" or the want of every thing which is pleasing, or necessary to happiness."

If we apply to this term, either of these significations, the object of the Apostle, in the present connection, would seem to be answered; because either of them would present an aggravation of the misery, signified by the former phrase "indignation and wrath." Let us, for a moment, suppose the Almighty to be moved by a strong desire to vindicate the honour of his law, and the purity of his character; and beginning to visit the sinner with punishment. Not only must there, of necessity, be a want of all that is good and pleasant on the part of the sufferer; but even in the act of enduring, the fierce wrath of Jehovah will press upon him as an insupportable weight. Who are the parties at issue? On the one hand -a creature of yesterday, whose strength is mere impotence: and on the other-the ALMIGHTY. What is the punishment to be endured? Infi nite wrath falling upon perfect weakness. Aye and in that very weak

ness there will be an accumulation of circumstances, conspiring to make it more sensibly realized. Such as extreme sensibility heightened by pain. An entire absence of any hope of relief. Nothing to divest the mind, even for a moment, from dwelling on its misery with fixed attention-an enlargement of the capacities of suffering. And to all these we may add the fact, that all the passions will be let loose, and suffered to rage in the utmost confusion, like the waves of the ocean, when lashed by a mighty tempest. Try to conceive all thisand you will realize something of the "weight" of that "tribulation," which will fall upon the head of him, whom the Almighty visits with his strong arm of justice! Oh! must a creature endure all this! Will he be exposed naked and defenceless to the fury of such an overwhelming tempest!Then truly "the wicked shall not stand up in judgment, nor sinners appear in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord will break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces as a potters vessel."-Psalms i. 5. & ii. 9.

Lastly,-Not only will the wicked Lastly,-Not only will the wicked endure such "tribulation," _"" anguish" also shall corrode in their bosoms, as the worm that dies not, and the fire that is not quenched. Στενοχωρια is defined "spatium angustum," and by a metephor signifies the "most grevious pressure of punishment, connected with the greatest agony of mind."

In order to complete the picture of the sufferings of the wicked, suffer me to add one or two other expressions, the object of which will be, to exhibit the nature of this "anguish." We have already seen the impenitent in total despair, sinking down under the "wrath" and "indignation" of God, while every attending circumstance increased the weight of his sufferings, placing ourselves in his situation, let us look around for a moment, and contemplate this condition of horror.

Some of the following facts will present themselves to every mind.

The punishment in its degree will be overwhelming--and while he struggles beneath its weight, his anguish will be increased, from the fact, that he is every moment sinking deeper and deeper;--deeper and deeper, in the pit of despair. Then, from the

midst of this utter darkness and over

whelming misery, he may see the glory of the saints in Heaven; and, perhaps, hear their rapturous songs of delight. The rich man when in the same condition, saw Lazarus afar off in the bosom of Abraham. Besides this, there will be present, the distres sing conviction, that all this " an guish," is the result of wilful contujection of Divine Grace, and amamacy--thoughtless, and obstinate rezing condescension! And to all, we may add, the assurance--the distracting assurance--that its duration will be extended through ETERNITY-EVEN FOREVER AND EVER--without the least diminution. O ETERNITY! oh! how that dreadful word--ETERNITYFOREVER AND EVER--will re-echo

through the ears of the "damned!" prolonging its accents, and by the lingering of its sound seem to express the infinite duration of the anguish they are suffering!

The Infidel may sneer at the idea of physical fire, and torment, falling upon a Spirit in Hell. But let him beware of staking his soul in testing the dangerous experiment of the truth of this. And let him beware lest "An anguish" more tormenting than that of any material fire should seize upon his soul. The moralist may amuse himself with expectations of the mercy of God. But, let him tremble, and fly to the ark of safety, lest goodness, and mercy aggravate his sufferings, because he has rejected them. In one word, let every impe nitent and ungodly sinner, awake to a sense of his situation, lest he be unexpectedly visited with "indigna