if timid; and to produce in him at once, that freedom and application of mind, so essential to improvement, and so incompatible with agitation and confusion of spirit. For something besides talent-and may we not say something beyond talent?-is required in a teacher. In proportion to the greatness of his knowledge, and the quickness and facility of his apprehension, a master will be tried, by the imperfections of his scholars: and the scholars will be the more liable to be abashed, and depressed. Conscious of their ignorance, and inability, and slowness, they will be reluctant, and afraid to give up themselves to such a superior tutor-unless he has other qualities and such a tutor will not be very likely to waste, as he would suppose, his time and talents, upon such unpromising subjects. But we sit at the feet of One, whose condescension equals his greatness. He will stoop to teach me, even where I must begin. He will accommodate himself to my wants, and weakness. He will repeat his lessons. He will give me line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little-and upbraid not. Thus he taught his immediate disciples, as they were able to bear it, and loved them to the end, notwithstanding their mistakes and infirmities. And thus he said to his hearers, Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart. Does he not refer to himself in these attributes as a motive, as well as an example? As much as to say, "You need not be afraid to place yourselves under my care-I will deal tenderly with you." There is also the efficiency of his tuition. None teaches like him. Other masters teach, but they cannot make their pupils learn. They can improve, but they cannot impart ability: and without some aptitude for an art or science, little progress will be made under the best efforts. What could Handel or Haydn have done with a clown, without any taste or ear for music? But Jesus gives

the capacity and the disposition he requires. He furnishes, not only the medium, but the faculty of vision. He makes the blind to see, and the deaf to hear. He gives us a new heart, and puts a new spirit within us, and causes us to walk in his statutes. And though, like the morning, we set off with a few rays only, our path is like that of the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

But oh! what are the instructions he gives! What is all other knowledge compared with this? Ask Paul: he was a man of genius and learning: he did not despise science-yet he exclaims, "Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." Of other knowledge we may be destitute, and yet safe. But this is life eternal. Other knowledge leaves us as it finds us; yea, it often injures the possessor; and talent caters for depravity. But a man at his feet feels his words to be spirit and life. He is taught to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world. In other cases, "In much wisdom, there is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow :" but, "Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound." The burden of guilt is removed, and they enter into rest. They cast all their care on Him, who careth for them. Their minds are kept in perfect peace. They can not only bear, but enjoy solitude. Even in the midst of trouble they are revived; and rejoice in hope of the glory of God -How sweet are his words unto their taste! yea, sweeter than honey to their mouth!

No wonder, therefore, the disciple prizes his privilege; and cannot be seduced from his Master's feet. He has been taught the truth as it is in Jesus. He knows the truth; and the truth has made him free. And, therefore, upon the question, when others

are offended, "Will ye also go away?" he answers, with Peter-Where can we do so well? Lord, to whom shall we go? To sin? That has ruined us. To the world? That has deceived us. To the Heathen philosophers? Their foolish hearts are darkened. To the chief priests and Pharisees? They are the blind leading the blind. To the Law? That roars, and flames despair. To Moses? He wrote of thee. To thee gave all the prophets witness. Lord, to whom should we go, but unto thee? Thou hast the words of eternal life.

APRIL 27." Members one of another."

1 Cor. xi. 20.

ALL mankind are joined together by a connexion which only death can dissolve. The remoteness of the situation in which we are placed does not hinder this connexion, but rather strengthens it--as we see in the traffic of different nations, and their mutual exchange of commodities. The inhabitants of one region cultivate the productions of the ground, and produce articles of manufacture for the use of those of another and those of another do the same in return for them; and we sometimes find the four quarters of the globe in the furniture of one house, or the provisions of one table. The sea, which seemed likely to separate the dwellers upon earth, has, in the progress of science and arts, rendered them accessible to each other; and navigation has become the principal medium of trade.

There are various distinctions in life; and the Scripture does not discountenance them-neither are we to view them as selfish, or terminating only in the advantage of the superior ranks. The lowest are useful, as well as the highest. The rich benefit the 2Q

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poor; and the poor labour for the rich. The king is the protector of his subjects; and every subject contributes to the support of the king-The king is served by the labour of the field. There is no such thing as independence; and were it not for ignorance and pride, we should never think of it. The under ranks are even the basis of the community: the lowest parts of the wall sustain the higher. The more we rise, and possess, the less claim have we to independence; as a larger building requires more support than a smaller. A nobleman employs a thousand hands; a peasant wants but two-and these are his own.

-If this reasoning be true as to men, it is more so as to Christians. And it is in this light Paul so frequently and largely speaks of it-"I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." To show how important it is to display a mutual dependence, he remarks-"The eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor again, the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary." They have all their respective places and uses. Each is necessary; necessary to each, and necessary to the whole; necessary to the beauty, the strength, the happiness, the perfection of the whole-Why, then, should we set at nought a brother?

Yet the harmony is often broken, and a schism found in the body. The Christian Church would never have been reduced to its present disjointed state, if the members had not been beguiled from the simplicity that is in Christ. The first wrong step took them to a distance from the Spirit; and as though Christ had been divided, and had imparted himself and his Gospel to some, exclusively of

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others; the names of creatures became noted as the sources from which particular doctrines were derived, and by whom particular modes of discipline were established. The words the Holy Ghost used, were less regarded than the words which man's wisdom teacheth. The worthy Name by which Christians were originally called, was no longer sufficient. They ranged themselves under different leaders, and called "Rabbi ;" forgetting who had forbidden this; and that one was their Master, even Christ, while all they were only brethren. Hence feuds and animosities followed; and the professors of meekness itself learned to bite and devour one another. The consequences of such measures are known and felt even at the present day: and though much of the violence of religious parties has subsided, distinctions unscriptural, and unnecessary, (in the degree, if not in the existence) are supported; and though all hold the same head, the members of one communion often look for no more honour and assistance from those of another, than if they were not of the body.

But "if the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?" "But now are they many members, yet but one body;" "that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it." "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

Christians are not only so many members in a natural body, but as so many members in a civil, or domestic state. However different and distant they were by nature from each other, an effectual