of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. "It was in one of the Prussian campaigns," says Harte, in his life of Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, "that the irrational practice of duelling rose to such a height in the Swedish army, not only among persons of rank and fashion, but even between the common soldiers, that Gustavus published a severe edict, denouncing death against every delinquent. Soon after there arose a quarrel between two officers very high in command, and as they knew the king's firmness in preserving his word inviolable, they agreed to request an audience, and besought his permission to decide the affair like men of honor. His majesty repressed his passion, and under the appearance of pitying brave men who thought their reputation injured, he told them, that though he blamed much their mistaken notions of fame and glory, yet as this unreasonable determination appeared to be the result of deliberate reflection, he would allow them to decide the affair at a time and place specified: And gentlemen," said he, "I myself will be a witness of your extraordinary valor.' At the hour appointed, Gustavus arrived, accompanied with a small body of infantry, whom he drew up around the combatants. Having done this he desired them to fight on till one of them should be killed, and calling the executioner of the army to him, he ordered him the moment one should fall, to be ready instantly to behead the survivor. Astonished at such inflexible firmness, the two generals, after pausing a moment, fell upon their knees, and asked the king's forgiveness, who made them embrace each other, and give their promise to continue faithful friends to their last moments; as they both did, with sincerity and thankfulness." 163 Chap. xiv, ver. 7, 8.-For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord's. The following lines which Dr. Doddridge wrote on the motto of his family arms, have been much admired, as expressing, in a lively and pointed manner, the genuine spirit of a faithful servant of God. Dr. Johnson, when speaking of this epigram, praised it as one of "Whilst we the finest in the English language. live, let us live;" was the motto of the family arms, on which the Doctor wrote; "Live whilst you live," the Epicure would say, I live in pleasure whilst I live to thee. Chap. xiv, ver 10.-But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Mr. Baxter spent his last hours in preparing others and himself to appear before God. He said to a friend who visited him, " You come hither to learn to die. I am not the only person that must go this way: I can assure you that your life, be it ever so long, is little enough to prepare for death. Have a care of this vain, deceitful world, and the lusts of the flesh. Be sure you choose God for your portion, heaven for your home, God's glory for your end, his word for your rule, and then you need never fear but we shall meet with comfort." Chap. xv, ver 20, 21.-Yea, so have I strived to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see; and they that have not heard shall understand. "The last time I was with Mr. Grimshaw," says Mr. Newton," as we were standing together upon a hill near Haworth, and surveying the romantic prospect around us, he expressed himself to the following purport, and I believe I nearly retain his very words, for they made a deep impression upon me while he spoke.-- When I first came into this country, if I had gone half a day's journey on horseback towards the east, west, north, and south, I could not meet with or hear of one truly serious person,-but now, through the blessing of God upon the poor services of the most unworthy of his ministers, besides a considerable number whom I have seen or known to have departed this life, like Simeon, rejoicing in the Lord's salvation; and besides five dissenting churches or congregations, of which the ministers, and nearly every one of the members, were first awakened under my ministry; I have still at my sacrament, if the weather is favorable, from three to five hundred communicants, of the far greater part of whom, so far as man who cannot see the heart, and can therefore only determine by appearances, profession, and conduct, may judge, I can give almost as particular an account, as I can of myself. I know the state of their progress in religion. By my frequent visits and converse with them, I am acquainted with their several temptations, trials, and exercises, both personal and domestic, both spiritual and temporal, almost as intimately as if I had lived in their families." " Chap. xvi, ver. 5.-Greet the church that is in their house. A family in which the worship of God is observed, morning and evening, may, in a subordinate sense, be called, "A church in the house." The following is an instance of the advantages of family worship.An old servant of a respectable family, having been constrained to give herself to the public profession of the Gospel, by commemorating with a christian church the dying love of Christ, said that she was first excited to give religion a serious attention, by the habitual observance of family worship. Here her mind was prepared to receive those impressions which laid the foundation of permanent religious character, and “a good hope through grace." Chap. xvi, ver. 26. But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. In Iceland, a custom prevails among the people, of spending their long evenings in a manner which must powerfully tend to promote their religious improvement. The whole family assembles at dusk around the lamp, every one except the reader having some kind of work to perform. The reader is frequently interrupted, either by the head, or some of the most intelligent members of the family, who make remarks on various parts of the story, and propose questions with a view to exercise the ingenuity of the children and servants. In this kind of exercise, the Bible is preferred to every other book. Before sepa rating, a prayer is offered up and the evening closed with singing a psalm. I. CORINTHIANS. Chap. i, ver. 12, 13.-Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? Luther would by no means allow, that any sect should be called after his name. 66 "For," said he, "the doctrine which I teach is none of mine; neither did I die for any man; neither would Paul endure such a thing. Besides, we are all Christians, and profess the doctrine of Christ and because the Papists used to do so, calling themselves pontificians, we ought not to imitate them." : Chap. i, ver. 20.-Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? Mr. Carter being invited to dine, together with several other ministers, at the house of a respectable magistrate at Ipswich, a very vain person who sat at table, boasted that he would dispute with any gentleman present, upon any question that should be proposed, either in divinity or philosophy. A profound silence ensued, till Mr. Carter addressed him in these words:-" I will go no farther than my trencher to puzzle you. Here is a sole; now tell me the reason why this fish, which hath always lived in salt water, should come out fresh?" As the bold challenger did not so much as attempt any answer, the scorn and laughter of the company were presently turned on him. Chap. ii, ver 4.—And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. It is related of Dr. Manton, that having to preach before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London, he chose a subject in which he had an opportunity of displaying his learning and judgment. He was heard with admiration and applause by the intelligent part |