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of God, requesting them to consider whether they had broken any or all of them, and declaring from the scripture that if they had offended in one point, or had broken only one of the commandments, they would be proceeded against in the same way as if they had broken all of them. This may be explained by things with which you are acquainted; for example, said I, the man who is guilty of murder, or robbery, or forgery, or treason, &c. by the law of England, forfeits his life; he suffers death, if but guilty of one of these crimes, the same as if he had committed them all. In like manner, breaking the law of God, in one point, exposes a man to the loss of eternal life, and to the enduring of everlasting punishment, equally with his having broken all the commandments in the law. Without faith in the blood of Jesus, we can no more obtain the forgiveness of one sin, than we can of a thousand indeed, the blood of Jesus, if trusted in, will obtain pardon of all our sins, though more in number than the hairs upon our heads, or the particles of sand upon the sea shore. If you acknowledge your iniquities to God, and ask their forgiveness for his Son's sake, he will frankly forgive you all your trespasses, for he is rich in mercy for his great name's sake. Is not this a salvation adapted to your condition?-you cannot repair the damages you have done to society by your crimes; you are unable to do any thing that can atone to God for your forgetfulness of him, your disregard to his admonition, your rebellions against his holy laws; but he has graciously provided an atonement for your sins, with which you are encouraged to come to him, and to plead it. O, the riches of divine grace, goodness, and mercy! it surpasses all conception. May these darkened understandings of yours be opened, to know the things that belong to your peace, before

they are for ever hid from your eyes; and may these tongues of yours be loosed to praise and publish the wonderful acts of the Lord.

I thought the truth I had declared made some impression on their hearts, for tears appeared in several eyes. The dinner was now brought forward, consequently, after leaving a couple of bibles, I departed, promising to return soon.

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Conversation at Breakfast-The Smith's Shop-A Funeral--Sheep going to the Slaughter-housePeace proclaimed.

WHILE at breakfast, we were talking of many things which we supposed might have happened during the preceding night. It was asked of all round the table what they supposed to have happened. One said, perhaps there are thonsands who have not slept five minutes since sunset, in consequence of pain of body or uneasiness of mind. Another remarked that probably some who went to bed in perfect health, were at midnight hastily called to appear before their Judge. While they slept, literally the cry was, Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Others were greatly alarmed by robbers rushing into their houses, and plundering them

of their property. Some called from a sound sleep to witness the solemn departure of a dear friend. Another, perhaps, had all his property consumed by fire, and hardly escaped with life. Others were shipwrecked on an inhospitable shore-others were in a vessel that foundered in the middle of the mighty ocean, and were all swallowed up in a watery grave-others having escaped destruction, by means of their vessel weathering the storm, considered themselves in jeopardy during the whole night, and are now congratulating each other on their preservation. These, and many other remarks, tended to solemnize all our minds, and to render us grateful to the wise disposer of all things, who had protected us from these or similar calamities.

At a little distance from home, I came to a SMITH'S SHOP, where the men were all busy in beating iron into various shapes, to answer various purposes. On stepping in, I remarked that iron was a hard metal. We know that by experieace, said the workmen, though the fire helps us, hy softening it considerably. I replied that I knew nothing harder than a hardened sinner, yet the furnace of affliction sometimes so melts him down, as disposes him to listen to the instructions of God-this was often made manifest, said I, in the history of the Israelites in the wilderness, for they were a stiff-necked and rebellious race, but when God visited their iniquities with his judgments, then they attended to his commandments.

I asked what some articles were which I saw hanging in a corner. These are hand-cuffs, said one of the men; they are intended to prevent prisoners from making their escape, or doing mischief. If all, said I, who commit crimes against God were hand-cuffed, how many in London would be without them? Indeed, said

one, I fear few in that case would be free from themwe should see most of our ladies and gentlemen, as well as our poor, wearing them. Must not God then be very merciful, that he does not affix some mark of ignominy upon all who offend him? For instance, that he does not deprive the swearer of the faculty of speech; the drunkard of his reason; the lustful of his eyes; and the quarrelsome of his hands; in order to deter others from committing the same crimes.

As I walked along, I met a FUNERAL proceeding with solemn step. I said to a man who stood gazing at it— Friend, if you go to heaven you will never see such a sight there; and can you tell me why? Because, said he, I suppose people do not die there. We do not bury living people in this world, but only such as are dead. True, said I, but why do they not die in heaven as well as on earth? He could not tell. I told him it was because there is no sin there, that the inhabitants of heaven shall no more say even that they are sick, the people there being delivered from all their iniquity. If you heard of a country where none died, though at the uttermost end of the earth, would you not be very anxious to go there? If you could not pay your passage thither, would you not be willing that the captain should sell you for a slave on reaching that happy land, in order to pay himself for taking you? That I would, said the man, with a determined tone of voice. Well, friend, is it not astonishing that so few ask, What shall I do to inherit eternal life? Is it not because they disbelieve all that God says respecting the world to come? If a single letter is received from America by a person in England, stating that it will be greatly to his advantage to settle there; the statement will be believed if it comes from a man of wisdom and integrity, and a thousand to one

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