by the most serious obstacles to the reception, much more to the diffusion, of truth. Depending for subsistence on the church of Rome, early filled with her dogmas, prejudiced in favour of her institutions, destitute of all human assistance, LUTHER burst upon the world as the sworn foe of Papacy. His voice sounded clear and unwavering, rising higher and yet higher above all the leers of friends and thunders of the Vatican, filling the earth with the note of alarm. His name struck terror in the souls of the enraged ecclesiastics, who saw the name of Luther written in all the crimes of the convents. The great trembled, and slunk from under his masculine eloquence. His call woke Liberty from her long sleep, and invited the nations to behold her beauties. Even now, the name of Luther binds us with a spell, and we stand in mute admiration of his mighty intellect, towering like the oak of a thousand storms; there may be a shade beneath, but we stand and behold its majesty from afar. Lutherthat has been the watchword of the hosts of truth, and inspired many a soul with the love of liberty. It fires our zeal and provokes our labours.

Should this be all its effect? No. While contemplating the cloistered monk, with no system of divinity but the Bible, no teacher but the Spirit of God, no commentary but his own heart and the fearful corruptions around; standing alone, with no crutch, on the rock of eternal truth,-while we see him maintaining a contest with all those whom the world called great and wise, we should remember that all this energy was the result of his own firmness of purpose, prompted and supported in no miraculous manner by the Spirit of God. He kept before him constantly, as the object of his life, THE DESTRUCTION OF PAPACY. He deter

mined to rase the Vatican to the ground-to stun for ever, with one mighty blow, the Man of Sin. This object formed his mind. He strengthened the sinews of his soul, that his arm might be that of a giant. His eye scanned the whole stature of Romanism, that he might find the widest rent in its coat of mail. Sleeping and waking, Rome's destruction was uppermost in his soul. Never was Goth more inveterate, more uncompromising. He weighed the city's ransom in iron, not in gold, and had not many scruples. It is in your power to set before you an object for which to live, and in the pursuit of which to die. And if you would live to any purpose, the object must be at once selected. Why is it that men live on idly, accomplishing nothing for God or for society, leaving their own minds chained to sensuality? Just because they have never thought of setting before them an object worthy of their powers, or because they wanted resolution to pursue it. Mark out, then, a line of conduct for yourself, and care not though it be a short path to Jordan which must be the end of all our ways. Let the sentiment of Paul be yours: "This ONE thing I do." Here is the secret of his success. Oh! let it not be written on your tombstone, “Here lies a man who never did an hour's work for God in all his life."*

* Gurnall.

CHAPTER V.

APPROPRIATE INFLUENCE.

GOD is the centre of all truth. Acquaintance with

the material universe should lead us to Him who created all its wonders, and who is now its mighty Preserver. Acquaintance with the history of mankind must produce admiration of the plans of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will; who has developed on earth those designs that had been hidden in His bosom from all eternity. The science of mind naturally leads us to the study of the infinite, eternal, and holy Mind, whose perfections we adore, though we cannot comprehend. Truth, of whatever kind, if legitimately received, must conduct, and thus assimilate, the soul to God.

There are other instruments by which a man may form his mind, not expressly alluded to in the foregoing chapters; but I think all may be classed under some one of these divisions :-Communion with God; Intercourse with Man; Accumulation of Truth; all worked systematically and vigorously by steady-nay, enthusiastic-decision.

Some are placed in circumstances affording peculiar advantages for intellectual or moral improvement: such should measure their faithfulness by their privileges.

Where God sows much seed, he will expect a more abundant harvest. Where ten talents are given, the faithful employment of five, or even of nine, will not suffice. God will justly expect, and strictly require, the good effects on your mind from every means of grace you may now enjoy-every valuable book you may now read -every faithful friend you may now secure-every truth you may now possess. "It is a fearful thing to

fall into the hands of the living God":

"Though history, on her faded scrolls,

Fragments.of facts and wrecks of names enrolls,
Time's indefatigable fingers write
Men's meanest actions on their soul,
In lines which not himself can blot.
These the last day to light shall bring,
Though through long centuries forgot,

When hearts and sepulchres are brought to light.”

MONTGOMERY.

CHAPTER VI.

PERSONAL INFLUENCE.

"Look Nature through, 'tis revolution all;

All change, no death; day follows night, and night
The dying day; stars rise and set, and set and rise;
Earth takes the example. See the Summer gay,
With her green chaplet of ambrosial flowers,
Droops into pallid Autumn; Winter grey
Blows Autumn and his golden fruits away;

Then melts into the Spring-soft Spring, with breath
Favonian, from warm chambers of the south,
Recalls the first. All, to reflourish, fades;

As, in a wheel, all sinks to re-ascend :
Emblems of man, who passes, not expires."

GOD is immortal.

YOUNG.

And as he creates in the image

of himself, all that he creates is immortal too. His Word is

"A page

Which not the whole creation could produce;
Which not the conflagration shall destroy:

In nature's ruins not one letter lost."

He has pronounced his works to be good; and since He is the only standard of goodness, the productions of His hand receive His image; nor can we suppose that aught thus allied to Divinity can ever go out of