ders, exclaimed, " that will not do for me." The words of the wise are as goads. Ecc. xii. 11.

How many are there, like the above-mentioned gentleman, who mistake on this grand point! but, as Bishop Porteus justly observes (see his sermons, vol. ii, p. 41), "From whence do they learn that repentance alone will obliterate the stains of past guilt; will undo every thing they have done amiss; will reinstate them in the favour of God; will make satisfaction to his insulted justice, and secure respect and obedience to his authority, as the moral governor of the world? Do the scriptures teach them this? No : they plainly tell us, that without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.' But perhaps they collect it from the very nature of the thing itself. Consider, then, what repentance is. It is nothing more than sorrow for what we have done amiss, and a resolution not to do it again. But can this annihilate what is past? Most assuredly it has no such power. Our former transgressions still remain uncancelled: they are recorded in the books of heaven, and it is not our future good deeds can wipe them out. We may as well affirm,' says a learned divine, that our former obedience atones for our present sins, as that our present obedience makes amend for antecedent transgressions.

"The antient Pagans themselves did not entertain such notions as these. When they had offended their gods, they thought of nothing but oblations, expiations, lustrations, and animal sacrifices. This shews that they believed something else as necessary beside their own repentance and

reformation-Nay, some of the greatest and wisest, and best among them, declared in express terms, that there was wanting some universal method of delivering men's souls, which no sect of philosophy had ever yet found out." " [Porphyry.]

MODESTY.

"A JUST and reasonable modesty," says Addison, "sets off every great talent a man may be possessed of. It heightens all the virtues which it accompanies; like the shades in paintings, it raises and rounds every figure, and makes the colours more beautiful, though not so glaring as they would be without it. Modesty is not only an ornament but a guard to virtue. It is a kind of quick and delicate feeling in the soul, which makes her shrink and withdraw herself from every thing that has danger in it.

"I have read somewhere," says he, "in the history of Greece, that the women of the country were seized with an unaccountable melancholy, which disposed several of them to make away with themselves. The senate after having tried many expedients to prevent this self-murder, which was so frequent among them, published an edict, that, if any woman whatever should lay violent hands upon herself, her corpse should be exposed naked in the street, and dragged about the city in the most public manner. This edict

immediately put a stop to the practice which was before so common. We may see in this instance the strength of modesty, which was able to overcome the violence of madness and despair."

Instances of modesty are to be found among the wise and learned, as well as others. The Rev. Mr. Hooker was a man so bashful and modest by natural disposition, that he was not able to outface his own pupils.

Mr. Thomas Gouge, though so great a man, never put any value upon himself, or hunted for applause from man; and this was very observable in him, that the charities which were procured chiefly by his interest and industry, where he had occasion to speak, or to give an account of them, he would rather impute it to any one that had but the least hand and part in the procuring of them, than assume any thing of it to himself. "Another instance of his modesty (says Archbishop Tillotson) was, that when he had quitted his living of St. Sepulchre's, upon some dissatisfaction about the terms of conformity, he willingly forebore preaching, saying, "There was no need of him here in London, where there were so many worthy ministers; and that he thought he might do as much or more good in another way, which could give no offence."

Modesty may be thought by some a barrier to preferment; but it is not always so; for, as one observes, "there is a call upon mankind to value and esteem those who set a moderate price upon their own merit; and self-denial is frequently attended with unexpected blessings, which, in the end, abundantly recompense such losses as the modest seem to suffer in the ordinary occurrences of life." Dr. Sanderson was a man of great modesty, and, yet, purely by the

dint of merit and modesty together, he made his way not only to considerable preferment in the church, but gained the estimation and affection of all parties.

Sir Matthew Hale, though a learned, was a very modest man. Soon after he was constituted Chief Baron of the Exchequer, he was knighted. This is an honour usually conferred upon the chief judges; but Mr. Hale desired to avoid it, and therefore declined, for a considerable time, all opportunity of waiting on the king; which the lord chancellor observing, he sent for him upon business one day, when his majesty was at his house, and told his majesty "There was his modest chief baron:" upon which he was unexpectedly knighted.

MUSIC.

NOTWITHSTANDING music has been prostituted to the worst of purposes, it is not, on that account, to be considered as an evil. Wise and good men have found it a most pleasant relaxation from the anxiety of care, the toil of business, and the labour of study. Pope, Swift, and Johnson, indeed, deemed music so trivial an art, that it degraded human nature, and they treated its votaries as fools: but their ears, as has been observed, were so defective, that a totally blind person was as well qualified to decide critically on painting, as these great writers were with respect to music.

It was Luther's custom to amuse himself with his lute at dinner and supper: "music," said he, "is one of the fairest and most glorious gifts of

God, to which Satan is a bitter enemy; for it removes from the heart the wheight of sorrow and the fascination of evil thoughts. Music is a kind and gentle sort of discipline; it refines the passions, and improves the understanding. How is it," continued he, "that on profane subjects we have so many fine verses and elegant poems; whilst our religious poetry remains so languid and dull? Those who love music are gentle and honest in their tempers. I always loved music," added Luther, "and would not, for a great matter, be without the little skill which I possess in this art."

Socrates, when far advanced in years, learned to play upon musical instruments.

The celebrated Bishop Berkeley was so fond of it, that he always kept one or two exquisite performers to amuse his leisure hours.

It is said of the Rev. George Herbert, tha his chief recreation was music; in which art he was a most excellent master, and composed many divine hymns and anthems, which he set or sung to his lute or viol. It is also observed, that Bishop Potter's recreation was usually vocal music; in which he himself always bore a part.

Dr. Cotton Mather thus writes to his son. "As for music, do as you please. If you fancy it, I do not forbid it; only do not, for the sake of it, alienate your time too much from those that are more important matters. It may be so, that you may serve your God the better for the refreshment of one that can play well upon an instrument. However, to accomplish yourself at regular singing, is a thing that will be of