predominance of a desire to glorify God; for this is the best touchstone. This is the principle which most readil solves our difficulties. When the love of God prevails, danger appears of small consequence, on the one hand; while, on the other, life and spiritual prosperity are seen to be valuable, and therefore not to be wantonly exposed to injury. Fear and rashness are thus equally discountenanced, and a rational courage sustained. It was thus that David was not sparing of himself when clearly summoned by the voice of God into peril; but when, in a great measure, left to his own option to be exposed to the lawless passions of another, he considered it necessary to practise an appropriate caution. The appearance of the new moon was celebrated by the Jews with a religious festival from an early period; and when Moses received instructions for the establishment of the ritual, he was commanded to place it among the sacred institutions. Such was the feast to which the two friends referred as a proper occasion for ascertaining Saul's intentions. The monarch being seated, it was customary for those who were most in favour to take their places beside him. Abner, the general of the forces, sat on the one hand, and David, it would appear, was usually to be seen on the other. On this occasion, however, his seat was empty. Saul could not avoid observing this, but, unwilling to betray his feelings, he "spake not any thing that day." He was willing to think that some ceremonial unfitness had detained him, and that he should see him on the morrow. The second day of the feast arrived, and they were seated as before, but still the place was unoccupied. This was more remarkable, and Jonathan would expect an immediate allusion to the circumstance. Soon impatience became depicted on the countenance of the king, and he asked, with ill-concealed dissatisfaction, as the omission of the name intimates, "Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday nor to-day?" Jonathan, not convinced of the enmity of his father, returned frankly the answer previously agreed upon. No sooner had he thus evinced the affection he bore to David, than Saul broke forth into one of those fierce sallies of passion which it had now become his habit to indulge. Forgetting all the natural feelings of a father, he cast upon him the bitterest reproaches, and called, in wrath, for David, that he might put him at once to death. So amiable, so truly filial, were the feelings of Jonathan, that he could not yet believe that his father really entertained the malice which his language denoted. He ventured, therefore, to interpose, and to ask, in respectful terms, "Wherefore shall he be slain? What hath he done?" The pause only served to augment the fury of the storm, and to verify beyond dispute the sad assurances of David; for, in the transport of his rage, he flung a javelin to smite one bound to him by the ties of nature, and by an unrequited and most undeserved esteem. How sad and fearful are the effects of ungoverned passion! How necessary for every believer to be watchful against all temptations to such a crime! It is true that we may be innocent in the exercisc of anger; it is a feeling not essentially depraved, but originally planted within the bosom for important purposes; but, seeing how closely it borders on the criminal, God has given the injunetion, "Be ye angry, and sin not;" be at such a moment peculiarly on your guard, lest anger should pass into revenge, which is an emotion in all its degrees sinful: "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Oh, if this divine assurance were enthroned in our hearts, what patience, what meekness, what forgiveness, would it command! How much would it promote our per and filled with the deepest concern both for the honour and the life of David. It was under such feelings that he passed the night, and in the morning went forth to the appointed way-stone. A little lad accompanied him, bearing his bow and arrows. The poor son of Jesse, not long since the theme of the nation's songs, and the terror of all the armies of Philistia, awaits with breathless trepidation the significant call of Jonathan ; but his habitual reference of all events to the direction of the Most High must enable him to await the issue with com lad to run forward, and bring the arrows that he was about to shoot. The lad runs. The bow is stretched, and an arrow flies over the head of the messenger. When he comes to the spot on which he expected it to alight, Jonathan cries, "Is not the arrow beyond thee?” The word pierced as lightning the car of David! Afflictions were not yet to cease; tears, in great measure, were yet to be his daily bread, and the bands of ungodly men to compass him about! sonal happiness, our social reputation, our usefulness in the kingdom of Jesus Christ! And why should we not leave our injuries to be redressed by One who comprehends all circumstances, and is acquainted with all motives. Justice would assuredly be done, if it is justice that we desire; and peace would be secured effectually, alike to ourselves and others, if it is peace that we wish to establish. "All this is true," I hear you say, dear reader; "but for me, I cannot avoid being passionate. In me it is almost excusable, because unhappily, constitutional." Constitutional? Undoubt-posure. Jonathan is heard to desire the edly it is. And what sin is not? Was it not constitutional in you to forget God, and to close your eyes against the cross of Christ? But are you prepared to assert the innocence of that in which the very essence of guilt lies? Impossible! Take heed, lest the too common sophistry by which irascibility is defended, defeat your sincere attempts to repress it. The grace that overcame your impenitence, and implanted divine love in your heart, is able to control your passions. Surely, an habitual consideration of him who bore the contradiction of sinners against himself; who, "when he was reviled, reviled not again; and when he was persecuted, threatened not ;" who, when infuriated murderers drove harsh iron into his body, calmly lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, forgive them!"-surely, this would have a tendency to soothe the spirit! How touching and how wise the conduct of a great man, who on perceiving irritation steal over his mind while engaged in controversy, retired to a distant part of the room, and was overheard exclaiming, "Lamb of God! Lamb of God! Calm my perturbed spirit." The wrath of his father irritated Jonathan, and he "rose from the table in fierce anger." He felt himself degraded by his connexion with such a parent, No sooner had the ominous words escaped the lips of Jonathan than his heart sank within him, and urged him to seek an interview with his friend. Such an interview they had not anticipated; for if they had, the symbolical words would have been unnecessary; but to part with each other in silence, under such distressing circumstances, would only have aggravated their misfortunes. """Make speed,' said Jonathan to the lad; 'haste! stay not.' And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master (but the lad knew not any thing, only Jonathan and David knew the matter). And Jonathan gave his instruments (Heb.) unto his lad, and said, 'Go, carry them to the city.' As soon as they were all alone, David came out of his concealment, and his eyes again met those of his best earthly friend. Overwhelmed with a sense of the generosity and majesty of the man who could befriend a persecuted individual, in order that he might occupy that throne to which his own birth appeared to have destined him, he "fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times ;" and then, rising, he mingled his tears with those of his benefactor, until his feelings deprived him of self-control, and his tears "exceeded the tears of Jonathan." the grandeur, the divinity of his Saviour, sink him to the earth; but that soon the evident tear of recognition and affection dissolves the chains which enthral him, urges him to give full course to his emotions, and to become bound to his deliverer in indissoluble bonds of love! Jonathan and David were soon to bid farewell, perhaps never again to meet on earth; although anxious to remain together, the direst necessity wrenched them asunder; but when a sinner once embraces by faith the blessed Redeemer no necessity can ever oblige them to part. In light and darkness, in joy and death, Jesus is ever united to those who love him. I can imagine, while contemplating that scene, that I see an outcast, condemned, defenceless sinner, terrified to meet a human eye; and, although charmed by a voice touching the ten-woe, in persecution and honour,in life and derest sympathies of his soul, afraid to take one step out of his concealment. I can see too, that, when encouraged by the prospect of secresy, and impelled by the force of gratitude, to draw nigh to his Benefactor, veneration, reverence, awe, arrest him! Ideas of the majesty, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us." EXPOSITORY PREACHING. From the New York Baptist Advocate. EXPOSITORY preaching is, we fear, too | ter, would enable a pastor to instruct his much neglected. The taste of the pre- people in much divine truth within a sent day leads a man to select a sen- year. We regret that this style of tence, or a clause of a sentence, as the preaching is not more popular, and we foundation of an abstract discourse. think it the duty of our ministry, more Few men are possessed of such capti- especially of that portion of them who vating talents as would enable them al- are most eminent for the attractiveness ways to retain a large audience, if they of their preaching, to endeavour to inuniformly opposed the current of public fuse a taste for a mode of exhibiting opinion in this respect. Yet an occa- divine truth which has so many advansional, or even a periodical variation tages. Among these advantages we from the general custom, would in most reckon not the least, that it gives a new cases be highly acceptable. One dis- zest and stimulus to the private study of course a week, either on the Lord's day scripture. Too few of our people read or in the form of a lecture on a week the word of God in its connexions and day evening, comprehending an expla- relations. A verse, or a chapter, is abnation of the whole or a part of a chap-stracted from all its dependencies, and writer or speaker to those whom he addresses, would prevent or correct this error. Such habit may be inculcated by the mode of preaching which we made to furnish a meaning or to endure Composed for the Sabbath School Juvenile Jubilee Meeting, held at Sharnbrook, Beds., July 27, 1842. HAIL to the Jubilee, that binds A thousand hearts in one! [Air, Lang Syne.] The theme that fills our youthful minds With ecstasy unknown. It is the joy, the joy of hope, The Jubilee has given That they who sowed and they who reap Hail to the men whose faith and toil God on their efforts deigned to smile; Hail to the hope their watchword brings !- It is the joy, the joy of hope, The Jubilee has given That they who sowed and they who reap Shall meet, ere long, in heaven. Rushden. Hail to the missionary band, Who spread the news of peace, It is the joy, the joy of hope, That they who sowed and they who reap Hail to the might of Israel's God! "T was he alone who gave The grace to wield the mystic rod, Immortal souls to save. "Not unto us, O Lord! to thee Be all the glory given!" 'Tis thus the church keeps Jubilee On earth-in highest heaven. Hail to the Jubilee, that binds A thousand hearts in one! The blissful theme fills all our minds With ecstasy unknown. It is the joy, the joy of hope The Jubilee has given That they who sowed and they who reap Shall meet, ere long, in heaven, REVIEW S. The Modern Pulpit viewed in its relation to the State of Society. By ROBERT VAUGHAN, D.D. London: Royal 12mo. pp. 203. Price 5s. We are always prepared to welcome a volume from the pen of Dr. Vaughan. In his pages we expect to find good sense clearly expressed in relation to some subject of practical importance. He has studied the times in which we live, and he keeps in mind their peculiarities. He has studied the history of the past, and he brings its light to bear on the present and the future. He writes for the benefit of the existing generation; and when it happens that his opinions do not commend themselves at once to our judgment, we can yet see that they deserve to be respectfully considered. eminence, who were originally endowed with excellent natural powers, and were anxious to employ them in the Redeemer's service. It is not principally to those who are engaged in the ministry that the deficiencies complained of are attributable. Many indeed have been encouraged to engage in the work who were not adapted for it, but would have been far more useful in other departments of labour; and some, being selfindulgent and slothful, have neglected the gift that was in them, and suffered it to decay. But sufficient attention has not been given to the obstacles which have impeded the efforts of devoted men to rise above mediocrity and go on towards perfection. A few years spent at a college can only initiate men into those studies which the vocation demands. If they are to excel they must improve their powers and enlarge their stores of knowledge by long-continued and laborious application. The people who complain that they find in their denomination so few men of first rate eminence, forget how little they have done towards elevating the ministry, and how impossible it is that any should become first rate men in the circumstances in which their teachers have always been. If the pastors of our churches were to meet, and tell in the presence of their assembled flocks that portion of their history that bears upon the subject, the revelation might have a salutary effect. How many would lament that they had never been able to obtain the books necessary for their personal improvement! Whatever advantages they might have der ved from the perusal of the sermons of Taylor, Barrow, Stillingfleet, Atterbury, Tillotson, nay perhaps of the eminent dis His present subject is one of paramount importance. If the pulpit has not now an influence as commanding as it possessed when public speaking was almost confined to its occupants, and ability to derive knowledge from books was the privilege of a small minority, it is still potent among large and important classes. To thousands it yields all the religious instruction they obtain; and there are few who listen habitually to its communications whose habits of thought are not materially affected by what they hear. That there is a vast deal of ineffective preaching, both among conformists and nonconformists, is how ever certain; and suggestions for rendering the public addresses of religious instructors more attractive to those who need but neglect them, and more successful in improving the hearts and minds of regular attendants, cannot be considered unscasonable. There is a widely spread opinion that better preach-senters of the last and present centuries, ing than we have been accustomed to is needed. Average men are no longer in demand. Superiority is required; and in many circles there is a disposition to decry the existing ministry, and a restless desire for change. It will be well if this state of things should lead to the removal of those evils which, during the last half century, have prevented many preachers from rising to were advantages as far beyond their reach as those which would have accrued from personal intercourse with the antediluvian patriarchs. Even Owen, Charnock, and Howe have never shed their combined lustre upon their shelves. The information they have obtained they were often obliged to draw from second or third rate authors, because the best were not accessible; and invaluable |