Finally: Consider SCRIPTURAL TESTIMONY ON THIS SUBJECT. Does not the Bible, every where represent our lives as entirely in the hands of God? "In him we live, and move, and have our being. Unto God the Lord, belong the issues from death-in whose hand our breath is, and whose are all our ways." But we forbear to light more tapers, to prove that the sun shines.

And now, reader, let us be GRATEFUL. Distinguish. ing goodness has spared us.-Let us be HUMBLE We know not what shall be on the morrow. Our life is but a vapour.-Let us be ACTIVE. Whatever our hands find to do, of duty, let us NOW DO IT, WITH OUR

MIGHT.

ANALOGIES BETWEEN THE KINGDOMS OF NATURE AND OF GRACE.

ESSAY No. I.

"Who hath despised the day of small things."-Zechariah.

And

HE, who spake, as never man spake,-from whose lips wisdom was poured without measure, was accustomed to call in the aid of surrounding scenery, to explain, to illustrate, and to enforce religous truths. His example, in this respect, is worthy of imitation. when we follow where revelation leads, in our conclusions as well as our premises, we may, without being fanciful, and without danger, exhibit truth in the most pleasing and vivid colours.

With these introductory remarks, it will not be unsuitable to remind the young, that there is a day of small things observable in the kingdoms of Nature and of Grace.

Inanimate matter exhibits its day of small things. The hand-breadth cloud, is not unfrequently, the precursor of a darkened horizon and an abundant rain. The bubbling spring, and the rippling rivulet, are both small things compared with the full creek; changed to the

mighty river, majestically, rolling its tributary waters to the ocean.

The

Vegetable life has its day of small things. It rises first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear.The diminutive mustard seed, becomes a tall and wide spread plant. Observe the tender sprout from the acorn. The unseasonable frost, or the unwary foot, may terminate its existence. But with care and the smiles of heaven,-presently it becomes a majestic tree. feathered tribes nest and sing among the branches. weary herds repose beneath its shade. It resists the frosts of winter, and withstands the fury of tempests. It exists undecayed for generations; a monument fitted for the inscription, that the day of small things should not be despised.

The

In the animal kingdom, there is a day of small things, with the progeny of the whale and the lion. But pres ently, the one swims and spouts, the sovereign of the finny tribes; the other roams and roars, the monarch of the woods.

In the physical and intellectual circumstances of man, there is a day of small things, not to be despised.-First he is the helpless infant, weeping in the arms of the nurse-Then the inexperienced child with an increasing stature and an expanding intellect. With attention, and the blessing of God, presently, he becomes a man. As the accomplished statesman or the mighty hero, perhaps, nations are guided by his counsels. or tremble at his frowns.

In the political circumstances of states and empires, there is a day of small things, not to be despised. Assyria, Persia, Greece and Rome, all had their infancy as well as manhood. It was a day of small things with onr ancestors, when they first settled on this western continent. Now their favored posterity are become an independent great nation.

But in the ECONOMY OF GRACE, there is most occasion for the caution, not to despise the day of small things A THREEFOLD application of it, may not be uninteresting to the young, nor unseasonable for any.

FIRST; Despise not the day of small things, in the circumstances of Christ's Church generally,-nor in the circumstances of particular branches of it.

The day of great things, in the general circumstances of Christ's Church on earth, will in due time arrive. "The Lord loveth the gates of Zion. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and ALL nations shall flow unto it. For, from the rising of sun, even unto the going down of the same; my name shall be great among the Gen-tiles; and in every place incense shall be offered and a pure offering, for my name shall be great among the heathen saith the Lord of hosts." Notwithstanding many are now running to and fro, to carry the Gospel to the destitute, the present is a day of small things, compared with that day when all shall know the Lord from the least to the greatest. Though efforts, hitherto unexampled, are now making to translate and dissemipate the Holy Scriptures, in many languages and manycountries, yet, it is a day of small things, compared with that period, when the symbolical herald 'shall have published the Gospel in every language, and among every nation, aud kindred, and tongue, under the whole heaven. Though incense daily rises from many closets, family altars, and sanctuaries, and a cloud of it ascends from the monthly concert, this is still but a day of small things, compared with that period, when the pure incense of penitence and praise, shall be offered in EVERY PLACE now heathen, or nominally Christianized. Notwithstanding showers of divine grace, have recently refreshed many parts of the moral vineyard, this is but a day of small things, compared with that period, when a copions rain of righteousness, shall water the whole habitable earth. But let none despise this day of small things. Let the young feel that their circumstances are peculiarly responsible in this respect. By them, it is to be decided, whether the good, which their pious parents devised and commenced, shall be prosecuted with vigour, or not. We entreat them; to give the energies of the head, the heart, and the hands, to the good work of extending the king dom of Christ, and bringing forward the millennial days glory. Though obstacles, to the universal diffusion, and reception of the Gospel, may at times appear numerous and appalling, let us not be discouraged or inactive. 3d Edit.

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Christianity when planted was the mustard seed; but it has become a tree. The King of Zion has perpetuated, invigorated, and extended, the influence of his own blessed cause. And the prophetic promise, that Christ shall yet have the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession, rèsts on as firm a basis, as any other truth of the Bible. In view of the wonders which, within these twenty years, have been accomplished by Bible and Missionary Societies, let those friendly to the advancement of Christ's kingdom, rejoice. Let its enemies tremble. God is beginning to appear in his glory to build up Zion. As this great work of evangelizing the world advances, a work on which the heart of Jehovah is fixed; every opposer to it will either be bowed to the sceptre of grace, or be paralyzed and crashed by the rod of justice. It is therefore infinitely hazardous, for any to despise the day of small things in the increasing prosperity of Christ's Church generally.

Nor may we despise the day of small things, in the eircumstances of particular branches of the Church. In these years of the right hand of the Most High, we know that it is a day of great things in many Churches and congregations. Christians, in them, are animated with a holy zeal aad activity in religion; many have a new song put into their mouths even praise to our God and multitudes are anxiously enquiring what they shall do to be saved. There the Lord appears in his glory, and such branches of his Church put on their beautiful garments and triumph. Now there are other branches of the Church, with their respective congregations, in which though their circumstances are different from the last named, still there are some interesting and hopeful things with them. Contemplate a Church, which discovers much reason to lament lukewarmness and supineness within itself, and much stupidity in souls generally around it. Suppose, that from time to time, a few have been added to its numbers who appear to live like Christians. And suppose there was reason to hope, that the Holy Spirit was beginning to revive the languishing graces of professors, that he was inclining some to give themselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant; and a few were recently rejoicing with trembling, while a large number seemed thoughtful, or perhaps anxious, and

meetings were more numerously and solemnly attended; such a day of small things in that branch of the Church, ought not to be despised. It appears like Elijah's little cloud. It indicates a movement among the tops of the mulbery trees. It should be felt, that if but one soul has been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the light and liberty of the children of God, all heaven rejoices and earth should rejoice. Then, there is particular occasion, for Christans, to be deeply humbled before God on account of their unworthiness of small tokens of his gracious presence. Then they should unitedly, individually, and sincerely, beseech God to prepare them as a Church, for the richest blessings, this side of heaven, a copious effusion of his Holy Spirit. With devout gratitude for small accessions to the Church, they should importune HIM, who has the hearts of all in his hands. to incline multitudes with prepared hearts to Back to the ordinances of the Gospel as doves to fly to their windows. With holy joy for drops of merey falling on thirsty souls, they should beseech him with whom is the residue of the Spirit, to grant a gentle, but copious rain of righteousness. In their closets, as well as in public, Christians should pray fervently; pray that the awakened may neither relapse in stupidity nor fix their hopes for eternity on a foundation of sand ;-that none may mistake a flow of passions for gracious affections; but that only good hopes through grace may be cherished. Let them pray and strive that the Holy Scriptures, accompanied by the' illuminating and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spir it, may be the guide of all ages in doctrine, in experience and in practice. By such a course, they would as a Church, manifest that they did not despise the day of small things, and would have reason to hope that richer blessings were in store for them.

SECONDLY. We may not despise the day of small things, in the sanctifying influences of the divine Spirit on the individual heart. There are diversities in the operations of the same Spirit. Where the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit are felt, though they produce the same religous affections, they do not produce them by the same means, nor always in the same order. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.