what he is, but, also, what he ought to be.

An earthly mirror gives but the reflection of the outer man, but this the image of the soul.

Doubtless, it is necessary that a proper use be made of this divine instrument. There are many who fail to see themselves therein, because they do not place themselves directly before it. They stand a little to one side, and from this position they see, as in an ordinary glass, not themselves, but such of their neighbors as may have placed themselves in a corresponding angle on the further side. And this it is which many mistake for self-examination; so that instead of beholding themselves stedfastly, and scrutinizing their own deficiencies, they see only those of their neighbors, and proceed to contrast these with the superior attributes of that character which they themselves possess in their own esteem. This is to misuse the sacred talisman of heaven; to prostitute its powers to the base purposes of vanity, and willingly to deceive the heart by the flimsiest artifice of falsehood.

But he who comes directly to the divine mirror, and continues to gaze upon the image which it presents, will have no difficulty in determining his true position. He will be exhibited there in no false guise, but his true character in the sight of God will be revealed to him, as well as the glorious standard to which he is invited to aspire. He will behold himself there, by nature ignorant and depraved, but enlightened and sanctified by truth. He will there discover himself lost and ruined, in a universal apostacy, but, through the divine grace, saved, justified, and redeemed. He will be revealed to himself there in all the relations he sustains to the universe, and in all the attributes of his own individual nature. As before a mirror each one sees his own, and not another's image, su, before the divine word, each one beholds himself. It is there that he stands before God, and perceives himself to be, as it were, alone with that Eternal One who is to judge him, and with that word by which he is to be judged. He there realizes that it is in proportion as he is conformed to that word, and changed into that divinely glorious image which it exhibits, that he will be accepted of God here, and enjoy, hereafter, the blessedness of heaven. By the obedience by which love is perfected, his fears are dissipated, his heart is assured, and, relying on the divine faithfulness and truth, he anticipates, in confidence, the eventful day in which God shall judge the secrets of the world.

R. R.

AN INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE, CAUSE, AND CURE, OF SPIRITUAL DYSPEPSY-No. IV.

THE history of the case of James Conformitas, as far as we have traced it, observes Dr. Evangelicus, illustrates the following points, which should be kept in view, in order to the proper treatment of this spiritual malady:

1st. Its contagious character.

2d. The influence of temperament, in rendering the application of the proper remedy often difficult, if not impossible.

3d. Confidence in the remedy, and decision of character on the part of the patient, as indispensable to a cure.

As to the contagious nature of this disease, the Doctor remarks, that, though in this feature of its character, its resemblance to phys ical dyspepsy may not be traced, it is nevertheless, in the opinion of the most eminent writers upon spiritual maladies, considered one of a highly contagious character. Indeed all history, which is but the recorded experience of all ages, so far as it speaks of such diseases, goes to show that spiritual diseases have ever spread themselves by their contagiousness. And especially do we see it verified in those great thoroughfares and haunts of the children of men, in towns and cities, where their pestilential and pestiferous character is beheld in all their awful malignancy. The moral atmosphere of those haunts of society, like the circumambient air of our earth, is often surcharged with, and carries in it, the malarious seeds of disease and death. Hence the aggravated forms which all moral or spiritual maladies assume in our crowded towns and cities. Who can contemplate that moral pestilence which swept over the cities of the Plains, where every man became, as it were, a walking pestilence, poisoning his neighbor by the fumes of that moral turpitude proceeding from his inward parts, without feelings of horror, at the awful malignancy of the epidemic?

Experience has taught, as indeed reason would also conclude, that men thus circumstanced are, when thus diseased, with greater diffi culty restored to spiritual health; and when restored, they are more subject to relapses.

He, therefore, who would attempt to heal this ailment, without respect to this prominent feature of its character, reckons without his host, must be foiled in the attempt, and, in the end, mortified and disappointed. Hence the practical wisdom of the maxims that in

culcate the eschewing of evil: "Avoid the appearance of evil;" "Keep thy heart with all diligence."

We have now reached the goal, from which, as at the proper angle of vision, we desire to view the disease of James Conformitas, as to the manner of its invasion. Unfortunately for the patient, he had, but a short time before leaving home, taken a spiritual opiate, the effect of which was to lull, for a time, the conscience, and to close the inward eye, so that by the time he reached the mansion of 'Squire Superbus, his spiritual discernment was observed to be very dull. It was at this unhappy stage of spiritual apathy, while the outward eye was dazzled with the glitter of that splendid mansion, and the natural appetite was feasting upon the delicious and costly viands which had been furnished for the entertainment—it was, I say, at this crisis of things, that he felt a feeling of strong desire come over him, which was soon followed by a resolve, that he would henceforth endeavor to conform, as far as he could, to the style of life with which his natural eye was now delighted. His ear, also, was charmed with the conversation upon titled nobility and worldly grandeur. He returned home to his once happy and peaceful mansion. But his happy and peaceful emotions of spiritual health returned not. It was no longer the abode of piety and contentment. In an unguarded hour, he had looked and listened with desire, and had resolved to barter life and health for animal enjoy. ments and earthly glory. He had thus caught the contagion, and the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, had continued to prey upon the vitals of his spirituality.

The case of James Conformitas has thus been dwelt upon, remarks the Doctor, to show not only the contagiousness of his disease, buť also the readiness with which, under favorable circumstances, it may be propagated. A mere look, or a listening, with desire, is to catch the contagion, when the object of sight, or the thing heard, is forbidden, or in its nature injurious.

James Conformitas transgressed a law of spiritual health, in neglecting to " Avoid the appearance of evil," and to "Keep the heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life and

health."

The non-observance of these laws of health spiritual, has ever been a most fertile source of spiritual disease. It brought disease upon the great progenitor of our race, and in consequence of which a feeble spiritual constitution has been entailed upon all his offspring. In his preternatural state, man inherits a variety of temperaments; of both a moral and physical kind, each of which predisposes the

́individual to a particular class of diseases. In a moral point of view, according to the temperament, some are predisposed or in. clined to covetousness-a spiritual ailment, which is manifested by inordinate self-love or selfishness; some, to vanity-a disease which shows itself in self-admiration; some, to envy and detraction-a distemper of a malignant character, that indicates a moral cancer of the heart; others, to hypocrisy and lying, which inclines the patient to dissemble and disown, according as it may suit his selfish ends; others, to a proud and haughty spirit, which induces the patient to imagine himself superior to every other person, and is denoted by ingratitude, and a want of sympathy for the ills of others; some, to the indulgence of the animal appetites, as the lusts of the flesh; others, to acts of cruelty and inhumanity; others, to selfaggrandizement, and to the indulgence of a towering ambition for dominion over their fellow-men. The various temperaments, as they indicate the kind and degree of spiritual ailments to which the individual is most disposed, may be useful as a guide to direct us in the proper application of the remedy, as well as in some measure to enable us to predict the probable success of the remedy applied. As, however, there is but one remedy to meet every possible case of spiritual disease, the only variety of which the treatment is susceptible must be in the form or manner of applying it. And in this, the success of the remedy often depends.

That, observes Dr. Evangelicus, I have always found to be the best manner of using the remedy which inspires the patient with confidence of cure. When I have gained this point, I feel as though the patient was half cured. Indeed, when I have gained the full confidence of the patient in the remedy, I am bold enough to insure the cure, provided he uses it as I shall direct.

Since I have occupied the Chair in this University, I have always expressed my entire confidence in the remedy, when skilfully used. I have always argued from the fact, that when properly used, it has never failed to cure: It is, therefore, I contend, an infallible remedy. I argue, also, from an admitted truth, that as the Author of this remedy is also the Author of cur life, he has adapted it in his infinite wisdom, to the spiritual nature or economy of the inner man. I therefore proclaim it, not only from my professional chair, but every where, and to every spiritual invalid I meet with, to be an infallible remedy for the whole class of spiritual diseases, numerous and aggravated as they may be. And all the condition that I impose is, that after I have described the disease and the remedy, that the patient shall have entire confidence in it. All, then, who sin

cerely desire to be satisfied as to the power of the remedy, I invite to test it. And surely, candor and honesty alike require, that the authority which has instituted it, should not be disclaimed by the patient before he has complied with the condition of using it. I sometimes present the remedy in this form; the experiment which its Author has proposed is this: Yield to the remedy, and observe the result. Now, he who despises this remedy before he has ful filled the conditions, which alone can qualify him to judge of its power, acts most inconsistently in condemning it. Has any such tried this remedy, and experienced its salutary power in the love, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, fidelity, meekness and temperance, which it bestows? There is assuredly no spiritual disease where these feelings exist. Whoever will try this remedy, shall know whether it proceeds from the Author of life and blessedness or not, for no one can use it according to his directions, without enjoying spiritual life, health, and happiness; and he can no more doubt the divinity of the remedy, than he can the reality of his own life and happiness. A. W. C.

RE-BAPTISM-ONCE MORE.

Brother Pendleton: The November Harbinger contains some views from me, and your reply, on the subject of re-baptism. You manifest a strong repugnance to taking up the subject, seeming to apprehend bad effects from its "agitation." Under the influence of this hint, I beg leave to throw before you a few reasons for asking a farther hearing, before your door be closed. 1. It is a subject, to many minds, merged in deep obscurity. 2. Owing to this perplexed aspect, our churches (some of them, at least) would receive and acknowledge Pedobaptist immersion, without inquiring; thus placing light and darkness-truth and error-right and wrong, on the same footing. 3. Many among us seem not yet to perceive, on this subject, the difference between opinion and faith; or perceiving, would place both on the same level. 4. Many are taught to think that this question cannot be scripturally settled, no matter how important it may be to harmony or Christianity. These four reasons I urge in apology for prosecuting what I deem a most important inquiry, and humbly trust, as I but seldom trouble you, that your general courtesy will be extended to a fair hearing. I will endeavor to be brief. 06 Pedobaptist Immersion-Is it Christian Baptism?” This is the inquiry on which I started in the Intelligencer, and to which I wish now more fully to call the serious consideration of the reader, as well as yourself. I will review your remarks in your own order of paragraphs.