revelations, of which God's word knows nothing in the contemptible class of false teachers and pitiable enthusiasts.

But secondly-Reason is in perfect harmony with the convincing words of Jesus. As soon as the reasoning faculty is awake-that is—as soon as men begin to reflect quietly and without previous bias, they reject the empty imaginations of ghosts and spectres as old wives' fables, against which St. Paul warns his disciple Timothy. Then they perceive the senselessness and folly of these imaginations, and call them with justice a superstition which profanes the dignity of the Supreme Being.

For what idea should I form to myself of the infinite wisdom of God, if I were to believe that He has given no higher occupation to the soul after death, than now and then at night to frighten perhaps an old fearful person, or a poor ignorant one? How!-has not the immortal soul a more weighty employment beyond the grave, than to be a bugbear and frightful image to silly mortals? Such representations, absurd as they are, are not less unworthy of the Godhead-the all-loving, the all-wisely-ordaining Divinity. No; our heavenly Father does not share our folly with us. He wills that we acknowledge Him in His supreme wisdom. Surely He appoints the souls of the deceased to a more important sphere of action, than to do nightly Hh

mischief, and to haunt the world-as the ignorant, tormenting themselves with their own imaginations, are apt to fancy.

Moreover, all the narratives of apparitions reported as true, are in themselves full of folly. The inventors of these tales saw, according to their imagination, the separate soul not only in a new body, but also in new clothing, after the fashion of the country as the workman makes it.-Nobody has ever yet seen a naked ghost. If, now, the souls of men can become visible, have these souls earthly garments in which to appear? or who makes the clothing for souls after death, according to the form and colour which the deceased was accustomed to wear?

But enough of this foolish nonsense-I may not dwell any longer on the consideration of it. It disturbs the dignity and sanctity of my devotion, which I consecrate only to the most serious and sublime objects.

I should also in the third place--consult Experience, whether it will bear witness to the appearance of souls after death. But can experience ever testify otherwise than as Jesus Himself spoke, and as reason speaks? It is only ignorant and rudeonly nervous or timorous persons-only people with a very active power of imagination who have, time out of mind, been influenced by fables and

tales of apparitions and spirits;-never discriminating, experienced, and intelligent men.

Far be then from me the unchristian belief which conflicts with the declaration of my Saviour-the belief in apparitions of the dead, in ghosts, in goblins, in seducing spirits, infernal spirits-and whatever names may be given to those inventions and bugbears of heated imaginations. Far be from me the unchristian belief, which, like the superstitions of the common people of the Jews, when they were converted to Christianity, passed with them into this Religion.

It is not sufficient that we keep ourselves free from these false imaginations, which too nearly affect the dignity of God: we must endeavour, likewise, to keep our tender children free from such delusions because children, through the weakness of their understanding and the vivacity of their imagination, have a great pleasure in such tales. We should be extremely cautious that they should not be made afraid, by ignorant and often superstitious servants, of apparitions, which never are, nor can be, seen. That timidity which works much evil on their tender nerves, will infallibly be to them a source of many bitter hours.

Thy doctrine will I guard, O Thou Divine Teacher, Jesus-and faith in Thy word. For, as Thou once wast angry with Thy disciples for their

superstitious fear-so it is now the duty of the true Christian to abolish superstition wherever he finds it-that all may become more wise, free, fearless, veracious, and pure, and loosing themselves from the bonds of error, may rise in the spirit to Thee-Thou Eternal Spirit of truth, of light and

life!

Thou desirest only love from us-Thou God of love-and not slavish fear. Thou willest not that we should be alarmed with the spirits of those whom Thou hast commanded us to love in this world. Thou hast, O Eternal, from everlasting, ordained our lot, and our way is determined and prepared when we separate, in death, from our earthly covering. Well-Thou dost beckon, and our souls will hasten thither-but Thou dost not beckon them to perdition.

Thou hast Thyself covered the prospect of eternity with an impenetrable vail. I will not, with rash and fruitless anxiety seek to lift this vail. It is only beneficial to me that I know not-what I should not know. Death will at some future time, benignantly raise the curtain which now hangs before me. I shall see the wonders of eternity-I shall be united to Thee-to all who were dear to me, and holy here below. I shall behold Thee, my God!

XXXIV.

THE SICK MAN.

MATTHEW Xxv. 36.

"I was sick, and ye visited me."

AMONG the manifold misfortunes of human life, the loss of health is one of the most severe. All earthly fortune is trifling in comparison with the sufferings of the sick man. Give him every thing, and take not from him his life: he will have lost the half of the world. Lay him on a silken couch; he will groan under the severity of his pains; whilst the poor beggar, with the blessing of health, slumbers peacefully on the hard earth. Fill his table with the most costly food; he will thrust it back, and envy the indigent who eats his black bread with appetite. Surround him with the pomp of kings; let his seat be a throne, his crutch a sceptre, he will turn away his eyes with indifference and disdain from marble, gold, and purple; and would think himself happy if he could enjoy the health of the meanest of his servants, under the thatched roof of the hardy peasant.