which at the first bound them to each other; from whence those fleshly lusts which warred against the soul, and those fierce carnal appetites which brought with them a sense of shame so overwhelming as to need some immediate remedy? And then they could not fail to trace up these new and evil phenomena to the fatal act of disobedience which they had so recently committed, and to connect the monstrous moral deformities which now disgraced and tormented them, with the fact that the spiritual tie which united them to the Holy God, was certainly dissolved, when they cast away the cords of the obedience which was due to Him, and brake asunder the bonds of His law. But, as before observed, repentance towards God would not necessarily ensue upon the conviction of sin. There might be deep remorse of conscience, there might be overwhelming shame in the consciousness of the incurred disgrace, but meanwhile no genuine contrition, no godly sorrow, no repentance which would not again need to be repented of; and it is but too apparent from the context that such was the lamentable condition of our first parents, when under the deep sense of their newly-discovered moral degradation, they sought for means whereby they might conceal their shame. True it is, that the fact of the consciousness of personal dishonour, spoke in some respects favourably in regard to their state of mind, and we perceive from the text, (VERSE 21,) that the gracious God Himself approved of their attempt to veil their nakedness, for He afterwards Himself clothed them; but still we cannot perceive that any candid acknowledgment of error was united with that keen sense of disgrace, but rather, seeing

that the proposed remedy was altogether of a superficial kind, we must infer, that the consciousness of the sin of the heart, and the breach of the divine law, had no share in producing the sense of shame, which ought properly to have been connected, in the first place, with their violation of the law of God.

* *

THE SECOND ADVENT.

"WHAT I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch." It is a command so clearly expressed, and so exactly limited by the context, that it cannot be interpreted figuratively, nor wrested to apply to any thing but the coming of the Lord in glory. For in the Gospels it is preceded by an account of the judgment and in the Epistles, connected with the resurrection of the dead, or the conflagration of the world. What then is the state of a man who deliberately disobeys such a command as this? If obedience be at all times necessary is it not in such a case indispensable?"-Rev. Dr. M'Caul.

ON PSALM XXXI. 7.

"Thou hast known my soul in adversity."

FATHER of mercies, 'tis not in the hour

When earthly joys shine brightest here below; Not midst the halls of mirth, or pride of power, Thy covenanted love our spirits know.

Not when our path is smoothest,-when the smile
Of our beloved ones beams fondly bright,
And kindly voices every care beguile,

And life's horizon knows no gloom of night.

"God of all consolation "-thou hast known
Our souls in darker, sadder hours than these;
For, oh! when oft the breaking heart is lone,
Tossed on the billows of life's raging seas ;-

Then-as of old upon the stormy deep,

The tempest of our souls obeys thy will; And oft when waves of bitter anguish sweep,

The fearful storm is hushed with "Peace be still!"

'Tis in the hour when gilded joys are fled,
And, reft of those we loved, the spirit grieves;
When cherished hopes lie numbered with the dead,
Or flit beside our path like autumn leaves:

In hours like these we feel thy presence near,

Thine" everlasting arms”—our shield—our might; Thy word of love our fainting souls can cheer, 'Till life's dark day shall set in cloudless light.

AURICULAR CONFESSION.

"THERE are special occasions, when it is absolutely necessary to evince our integrity, that we should confess our sins to man as well as to God. "Confess your sins one to another." James v. 16. That is, the sins you have committed against each other. This is the command of God. This, however, is far different from the Romish doctrine of Auricular Confession. British Fathers! British Brothers! British Sons! is it right that your female relatives should deposit the secrets of their hearts in the bosom of a Roman Priest? I would rouse every feeling that inhabits your breasts against it. The very idea of Auricular Confession, and the forced celibacy of the Clergy, impresses "POPERY" with the broad seal of Hell."-Rev. W. Howels.

SERVANTS.

MADAM,

ness

I have felt for some time considerable uneasiat observing the total ignorance, and I may add, the total carelesness, which prevails amongst the female servants of my family, concerning those things which belong to their salvation. I have three respectable, and well-conducted young women, in my household. They do their duty to me, nor can I find fault with their outward demeanour, in any way; but I am well aware, that they are utterly careless and ignorant respecting the salvation of their souls; and though they have been accustomed, like many persons in their station in life, to attend the parochial schools and the weekly service of our Church, yet on questioning them, I perceive them to be as ignorant of their Saviour as any heathen could be. They have indeed heard his name, but little more.

I am fully convinced that I ought to endeavour to bestow on them, with our Lord's assistance and blessing, some portion of that light with which I have myself been blessed by His exceeding mercy. But I feel at a loss in what manner I may best set about this duty, so as to profit them. It is easy to declare the mercy of our Saviour to those who are anxiously enquiring, "What shall I do to be saved?"