and the work of vengeance must go forward, and the mighty must be gathered and fall at Gilboa. Failing to obtain any answer from the Lord, Saul proved how void he was of all genuine repentance, by having recourse, in his desperation, to witchcraft and sorcery. We know but little what those arts were, and it does not become us too curiously to inquire; but that there was such a thing as commerce with evil spirits, and that through their assistance things were done, which surpassed mere human power and skill-of this we entertain no doubt, for this seems to us proved by the testimony of Scripture.

At the same time we are assured, that, as in every other proceeding, Satan could do nothing without the permission of God, and that, therefore, the world was no more abandoned than now, to the machinations of evil intelligences. We are also assured, that witchcraft never could be carried so far, as to infringe, in the least degree, on the prerogative of the Creator; that is, to furnish that information, or to communicate that power, which can be proved to lie beyond the reach of the creature. shall make use of this principle, in examining the inspired historian's account of the witch of Endor; for there is much in this account, which we think is not to be explained by mere craft alone, however successful. (To be continued)

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THE TALENTS.

We have, in the twenty-fifth chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, the circumstance placed before us of a man being about to travel into a far country, calling his servants together and placing his goods in their hands, in order that they might, by a faithful use and husbandry of them, restore them to him on his return, with a profit made on them.

When our blessed Lord and Saviour ascended into heaven, he was as this man who travelled into a far country. This is explained, (Eph. iv. 8.) "When he ascended up on high, he gave gifts unto men." When he went, he took care to furnish his church with all things necessary for it until his return to judgment. For, and in consideration of his departure, he committed to his church truths, laws, promises, and powers; these formed the trust, as it is called, (1 Tim. vi. 20.) the good thing that is committed to us; and he sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to enable his servants to teach those truths, to press and observe those laws, to improve and apply those promises, and to exercise and employ those powers, which he had given them. Christ's servants have and receive their all from him; for they are indeed worth nothing, nor have they any thing that they can call their own but sin. Our receiving from Christ is in order to our working for him. Our privileges are intended to find us with business: "the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." (1 Cor. xii. 7.) Whatever we receive to be made use of for Christ, still he is master of it, and we but stewards of his manifold grace. (1 Pet. iv. 10.)

We read here that this man delivered his goods unto his servants: "unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability." It is the goodness of God, to lay no more upon a man than he can manage; our stations in life are regulated by his eternal wisdom. A talent was a sum of money of large value. Christ's gifts are rich and valuable, the purchase of his blood inestimable, and none of them mean. But God has made a difference in men's ability, as to mind, body, estate, yet still the ability itself is from him. Every one had some one talent at least, and that is not a despicable stock for a poor servant to begin with. A soul of our own is the one talent we are every one of us intrusted with.

Two of the servants did well. They were diligent and faithful; they "went and traded," and put the talents to the use for which they were intended. Those that have so much work to do, as every Christian has, have need to set about it quickly, and lose no time. The business of a Christian is a trade of merchandize; things of less value to him are parted with for things of greater value: it is the merchandize of wisdom. (Prov. iii. 13—17.) Thus the merchant-man, when he had found one pearl of great price," sold all that he had and bought it." A tradesman is one that, having made his trade his choice, and taken pains to learn it, makes it his business to follow it; lays out all he has for the advancement of it, makes all other affairs bend to it, and lives upon the gain of it. Thus does a true Christian in the work of religion; he watches over his own soul with care and anxiety, and thus watches over the souls of others. The talents of the mind, reason, wit, learning, education, estate, credit, interest, power, preferment, must be improved for the honour of Christ, who is our Lord and Master. The ordinances of the gospel, and our opportunities of attending them, Bibles, Ministers, Sabbaths, Sacraments, must be improved for the end for which they were instituted, and communion with God kept up by them; and the gifts and graces of the Spirit must be exercised; and this is trading with our talents.

Now since the talents we have are not our own, but given to us of God, what have we to boast of? As to our works, what are they but like to ourselves, a vapour, a breath, a shadow? Can sweet water spring from a bitter fountain? How then can good works, which to be good, should be living, be ours, when we are, by nature, "dead in trespasses and sins." We must be alive in Christ before we can do any good, any living work. God loves that heaven should be looked at with all holy humble desires, not in the proud imaginations of our

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own high thoughts and doings. It was the rule of Bonaventure, "This is the part of pious souls, to ascribe nothing to themselves, all to the grace of God."

The third servant did ill. "He that had received one talent, went and hid his lord's money." Those who have least to do for God, do least of what they have to do. Some excuse their laziness by saying that they have not the opportunities of serving God that others have; and because they have not wherewithal to do what they say they would, they will not do what they can; and so sit down and do nothing.

We read, that "he digged in the earth and hid his lord's money." He did not mispend it, did not embezzle it, or squander it away; but he hid it. Many do worse with their talent than this servant, and yet he was condemned. Money is like marl, good for nothing in the heap, but it must be spread; yet it is an evil we have often seen under the sun, treasure heaped together, which does good to nobody and so it is with spiritual gifts; many have them, and make no proper use of them. Those who do not lay out their estates, their interest and influence in works of piety and charity, and do not with them promote religion, are those slothful servants that seek their own things more than those of Christ. For the talent of wealth is not given-it is only lent to us for a time; and the subject might as well call the crown of his king his own, as call the wealth placed in his hands his own. It is lent until the Lord chooses to call for it; and shall we grudge to restore what we owe? Recollect that food and raiment is the Christian's treasure. He that multiplies riches multiplies cares. Our blessed Lord connects these two together; the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches. (Mark iv. 19.) How happy will he be who loves the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, to portion out his abundance in promoting the cause of God. Is the widow or the orphan, the halt or the blind,

perishing for lack of food?-Are the heathen at home or the heathen abroad perishing for lack of knowledge ?— The Christian has well learnt to scatter with a full hand, and rejoices that God may be thus glorified, and his poor ones relieved and strengthened. It was an aggravation of his servant's slothfulness, that his fellow-servants were busy, and successful in trading; and their zeal should have provoked his. Are others active, and shall we be idle ?

Observe, the day of account comes at last: "the lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them." Stewards must shortly give account of their stewardship: we must all be reckoned with, what good we have got to our own souls, and what good we have done to others, by the advantages we have enjoyed.

Now here is, first, the good account rendered by the faithful servants. Christ's servants acknowledge with thankfulness his gifts: "He that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliverest unto me five talents, behold, I have gained beside them five talents more." This man comes cheerfully to judgment; he has the answer of a good conscience; his faith is known by his works. It is good to keep a particular account of what we receive from God, that we may know what is expected from us, and may render according to the benefit. We must never look upon our improvements but with a sense of the honour which God has put upon us, in trusting us with his goods, and that grace which is the spring and fountain of all the good that is in us; for the truth is, the more we do for God, the more we are indebted to him for making use of us, and fitting us for his service. God's good stewards have something to show for their diligence; he that is a good man, "let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom." (James iii. 13.)

Observe the master's acceptance and approbation of