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Saturday.-Yesterday the Rev. Paul Pious dined with me, also Mr. and Mrs. Serious, and Mr. and Mrs. Hopeful to keep him company. Had some pleasant chat about consistency in religion. Felt a little comical though. Thought of Dr. Devout's text, Be not conformed to this world.' Mr. Serious talked about hypocrisy. I think, however, I was sincere at the time. Frisk called, could not ask him to join us. Rather blushed-hope he did not see it. Had a blessing asked at dinner, and called up servants to prayer. That stupid fellow, Tom, bungled sadly, when he was ordered to bring the Bible. Fear Mr. Serious saw he was not used to it.

Sunday. Last night was obliged to have Gay, Gallant, and Grinwell, and a few other friends, to spend the evening. Sung Molly put the Kettle on,' Jolly Dick the Lamplighter,' and 'Be gone Dull Care.' But dull care soon came again. Was quite weary this morning-could not go to church. Went to night to hear Dr. Devout. Can't forget the text For all these things God will bring thee into judgment.' Rather awkward to serve two masters. Wish I could be more decided. Have no comfort either with religion, or without it.

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Monday.-Went to hear Mr. Newcome, a fine dissenting preacher. All the world go after him. The preachers seem to hit at me. Quere-Do they know me? His text, How long halt ye between two opinions?' Some one must have told him of my week's work. Well, I will be more consistent. Spent the rest of the evening with my friend Honesty. Sung several of Handel's pieces with Miss Honesty-she improves much in singing-sung like an angel. Sung a solo 'I send the joys of earth away.'

Tuesday.-Met Tear'em to day-promised to

go to Epsom races with him to-morrow. Taxed me with being a methodist-swore I was not. Shouldn't swear-hope in future to avoid it.

Wednesday.-Could not go to races. Caught a bad cold. Very unwell. Read my Bible all day. Thursday.-Better. Amused myself with Tom Jones. Fielding was a wag-knew human na

ture.

Friday. Dr. Devout called. Had some talk with him about regeneration. Think he does not quite understand it. Recommended him to

read Charnock.

Saturday-Dined to day with the King Street Religious Society. N.B.-Must not forget that I must dine with the club of Odd Fellows next Tuesday.

Sunday-Read The News this morning. Just returned from hearing Mr. Serious preach an excellent sermon. He is an admirable preacher. I wish Mr. Sober were so, as he lives nearer-but cannot hear him with pleasure. He does not understand the gospel. Must not forget the text to night tho' If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

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SPECIMENS OF FRENCH PREACHERS. Translated expressly for this Work.

No. XIV.

DANIEL DE SUPERVILLE, Protestant Minister at the Walloon Church, Amsterdam; Died 1728, Aged 71.

THE FLIGHT OF TIME, AND THE VANITY OF

CREATURES.

There is no sight more imposing than that of a wide river rolling its tide tumultuously along. It

is an object that produces the most agreeable sensations; especially on a calm summer's day when the water is clear and pure, and is covered with men and vessels. Here we see the fish swimming sportively; there, a fisherman who tenders to them his deceitful bait, or envelops them in his net; yonder, a swimmer dividing the waves, or encountering the tide; and here and there boats and vessels, of which some ascend the current with difficulty, while others rapidly descend it, carried away by the stream, to whose impetus the sailors add the strength of their arms.

to

It is almost impossible, when we are on its banks, not to turn our attention to all these objects, or at least to follow with our eyes the waves as they roll headlong, while we admire the rapidity of their course. But, while we look, they are gone; the ever flowing river passes away from us while we gaze on it, and changes its place with every successive moment, hastening pour its tribute into the sea, which is to swallow it up; the objects which its surface presented are changed or become distant, and the vessel pursues its course. The banks, and the calm spectator who stands upon it, alone remain in their former position. The tide flows at his feet, the waves roll on; and, without embarking on the stream, he suffers them to pass him; and, when they have engaged his sight, and absorbed his thoughts, he finds himself still in the same place, by the river side, unchanged and undisturbed by the scene of tumult_around him. This appears to me, brethren, to afford a faithful picture of the world and of the true Christian. The world that passeth away,' the creatures with their ephemeral existence carried along by time, are this wide and rapid river which pre

sents a subject for our observation at once agreeable and wonderfully diversified. We there see an almost innumerable multitude of creatures, who severally thrust themselves upon our notice, and who possess various degrees of beauty and utility?-men rolling in luxury, and sporting in pleasures; and others who, like the fisherman, spread their nets, and are incessantly employing the bait and the hook to inveigle their prey ;some swimming against the current, obstinately striving after some favourite object: and each one intently occupied in steering his own little bark. It is impossible not to be attracted by such a spectacle; but at the same time the fashion of all these things passeth away; all these beings are carried away as it were in a moment, and even while we are yet looking at them, they disappear with their passions and projects, like waves hurrying to the sea. It is the true be liever alone who rightly improves these events. He alone is not carried away by the torrent of time like others, because he is made for eternity. He alone stands calmly on the shore. He looks at the stream, but is unmoved, because he does not put his trust in the vanity of the creatures, but aspires after heaven. He does not embark upon its waters; but keeps himself aloof from the present world, of which he knows the inconstancy. He suffers its creatures to pass by him, and, while he does not presume to arrest their flight, he avoids their course; for, taught by their departure, how vain and transitory they are, he cleaves only to God, and his hope and his faith have already placed him on firm ground, and his feet are established upon a rock. Hence it is, that, while the world passes away, he abides for

ever.

This is the lesson which St. John teaches us,

when he says,

"The world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever."

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CRITICAL REMARKS ON SCRIPTURE,

ORIGINAL AND SELECT,

From the Interleaved Bible of a Deceased Clergyman.

GENESIS, CHAP. I.

1. In the beginning.-Some fathers, who affected the mystical way of interpretation, explained this of the Son of God, who in revelation is called ǹ άρx Tñs xlíσεws Toũ ☺EOũ.—Grabe's Spicil. Vol. 1. p. 328.

1. Created.-The LXX have translated the verb bara by mainos, which signifies made, or formed, which seems to insinuate that the world was not created out of nothing; for which reason, some Greek writers, as St. Basil, have supposed another invisible world before this. And though Lombroso, and some other Jews say the Hebrew word signifies to create, or make out of nothing, yet the most learned Rabbins maintain the contrary. See Simon's Crit. Hist. of the Old Testament. B. 2. c. 5. p. 37.

2. Without form and void.-The LXX have it ἀκατασκεύαστος, which seems to confirm the ancients' opinion of the chaos, as if the visible world had been made of an invisible matter, and that it had no particular form-Vid. eund.

ibid.

2. The face of the deep.-Hence it is evident, that the waters which covered the earth immediately after the creation, covered it to a consider

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