awful the condition of that man who does not possess it!

From the period to which I have referred, I have learnt, from indisputable authority, that John has continued to "adorn the gospel of God our Saviour in all things." He seeks to honour the friend of poor sinners by telling of the riches of his grace, and his readiness to save the rebellious children of men. Knowing that he is not his own, but bought with a price, he aims to glorify God in his body and his spirit, which are his.

May such be the character and the conduct of each of his readers, is the sincere wish, and the ardent prayer, of the writer.

19

THE AGED PILGRIMS.

Laden with fruits of age, they shew

The Lord is holy, just, and true.

WATTS.

SOME time ago, I called to indulge myself in five minutes' conversation with a venerable saint, bending under the accumulated infirmities of more than ninety years. It has been his lot to experience various changes in Divine Providence; and he has, indeed, found that human life is chequered with trials and enjoyments. After being blessed with a competency of this world's goods, and with a pretty numerous family, he has had to deplore the loss of the whole of his property by storms on the mighty ocean, and to follow to the grave almost all his children; two of whom, young men in the prime of their days, and the height of their strength, found a watery grave. The good old man has descended into the vale of poverty;

but even in ruins he exhibits a dignity which religion alone can impart, and experiences enjoyments which God only can bestow. His "mind is stayed upon God,"-" he lives in perfect peace," and is "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, even our Saviour, Jesus Christ." His conversation is truly spiritual, and his whole deportment evinces that his "citizenship is in heaven," where he will, before long, enter upon his eternal rest and reward. How enviable the condition of that man, who, having long walked in the ways of God, can say, as he enters the grave, "I have finished my course, I have kept the faith," and disappears from our view to take possession of that crown of glory which "the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give unto him!" To such persons death is desirable: " to die is gain."

I walked from the house of this venerable Christian with feelings of the most sublime pleasure, arising from the interview I had held with its inhabitant, to survey the works of the God of nature. The evening was calm and

beautiful, and the scenery grand and imposing. As I walked through the flowery fields, I paused to look around me. On the one hand was the Christian sanctuary, erected by men who have long since mouldered into dust, for the service of Him who " inhabiteth eternity," and whom holy angels, and "the spirits of just men made perfect," constantly praise; and on the other, hills covered with food for man and beast, or adorned with trees, whose leaves, beginning to fall, reminded me of the universal decay of nature here were the lofty, romantic cliffs, that bade defiance to our insulting foes, and there rolled "the great and wide sea," obeying the commands of Him who fixed its boundaries, and said, "Hitherto shalt thou come and no farther :" while here and there I could see vessels destined for different ports, conveying the necessaries or the luxuries of life. Who could see all this without lifting up heart in grateful adoration to the God of his mercies!

his

Continuing my walk, I reflected that soon all this scenery, beautiful and enchanting as it

appeared, would be burnt up, and not a vestige remain to tell us where this world stood. "And where," asked I, " will all the inhabitants that have occupied,or may occupy, this earth, be then found?"-My reflections were serious, and I hope profitable, but the detail of them would be too long to lay at present before my reader.

My conversation with the excellent man I had just left, again presented itself to my mind; and I turned from the scenery of creation, to think on the advantages of genuine piety; and though I had dwelt on this topic a thousand times, it still appeared fresh and new. Impressed as I was with the loveliness around me, I dwelt with yet greater pleasure on the superior beauties of the new creation. "A flower," said I, "is beautiful in its season, but it is soon cut off, and dies away; while yonder oak has survived many a winter, and resisted, nay, has even been strengthened by, the storms which have torn up its weaker neighbours, and blown down the proud and stately buildings of man. So, in the fair creation of grace.