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"If," said he, "the ambassador appointed by his sovereign to conduct some important negotiation, concentrates upon it all his attention, all his faculties, and all his powers; if he feels a deep sense of the extent of his duties; and if to succeed in his undertaking he takes every precaution, embraces every resource, prepares the means, and studies to bend the inclinations and to get access to the hearts of those with whom he has to do; if the interests, if the glory of Him by whom he is sent, are the principal and constant objects of his anxious and devoted attention-what should my feelings be? I, who am the ambassador of Christ, the messenger of the Saviour to the souls, the immortal souls of men! It is not a child of man whom I serve; it is not a creature like myself who has said to me, Go, and speak in my name!' It is the Lord, it is Jehovah, whose Minister I declare myself to be! It is the King of kings, the Prince of eternity himself, who commands me to go forth to his creatures, and to invite them to acknowledge him as their God! It is not in regard of interests which, though perhaps valuable and important in this world, must soon be ended, and called 'vanities,' that I am to act; the things concerning which I am employed are eternal. I come to treat and to determine upon that which shall subsist when heaven and earth, and all that I now behold, shall have passed away. It is not to the mere inhabitants of these houses, and the cultivators of these lands, to the beings whom I perceive in the midst of the fields, occupied in different cares and labours, that I am going to address myself; but it is to that which is within them-it is to that source of understanding, and feeling, and life-to that soul from which their ability to act proceeds. As to the men whom I see, they must soon fall like the leaf, which is just

dropping from yonder tree; yet a little while, and that now active dust must return to dust. But there is in them a soul; O thou infinite Jehovah! a soul which thou hast created, and which thou wilt never destroy! a soul, for thou hast thyself declared it, in comparison of which the whole world is worthless! a soul fitted for infinite and eternal happiness, or for misery without end. It is to your souls, O my fellow-creatures, that I am sent! It is to them that I am commanded to carry the word of life, that word of God which alone bringeth salvation-which bringeth salvation!" repeated the pastor, leaning his head upon his hands. "How great a mystery, O my God, and yet how great a truth! Yes; all these men who are before me, as well as all who inhabit this earth, if they are not ransomed by thyself, are lost-lost for ever! The life which animates them and impels them to the various actions of their present existence, is but the semblance of life, and may be united with spiritual death, even the death of their souls. In the midst of so great agitation, and of so many conflicting interests, there may exist the profound and fearful sleep of the soul; and under the scorching rays of that burning sun, they may be plunged in the thick, the terrible darkness of error. And in the midst of their feasts, when their joyous songs are resounding, they may be upon the very brink of the most dreadful ruin, and on the point of being cast into that place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

"And thus, Lord, it is, because thou art holy and hatest sin; because thou hast made man, that thou mightest be known and mightest be beloved by him; because thou didst put into his heart and into his soul the image of thy glory: and yet he estranges himself from thee. He refuses thee his heart

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he loves himself-he seeks his own; and thou his Creator, thou who givest him breath and causest the blood to circulate in his veins-he forgets-he contemns! O my God, he hates thee*! O horrible effect of sin, thus to alienate the child from affection to his heavenly Parent, and to excite rebellion in the creature against Him who brought him out of nothing into existence! O the wickedness, the hardness of the heart of man, which resists all the attractions of these splendid works of the Most High, which proclaim around with so divine an eloquence, his power, his wisdom, and his infinite love! O fatal error of the soul, so often stifling the voice of conscience-which is so often calling it to heaven-which quenches, as it were, with frantic violence that small remain of light which still shines in the darkness!"

As he uttered these words, the pastor melted into tears. His heart was deeply affected. The thought, alas! the certainty that amongst those men whose guide he had become, many still continued in this awful state, and might perhaps perish in it, oppressed his soul. His ministry appeared to him to be a

*To some, these remarks of the new

pastor will doubtless appear hard sayings: to prove that they are scriptural, we need only, I think, refer to Rom. i. 30; James, iv. 4; and Rom. viii. 7. But, after all, to

the natural man, the things of the Spirit must be foolishness. Should any one feel disposed to dive a little deeper into this subject, he may consult with advantage that admirable little work, "The Answer of Joseph Milner (the Church historian) to Gibbon's Account of Christianity," particularly the fourth Section of the first

Part. There he will find a man eminently liberal (at least in profession), polite, and accomplished, charging Almighty God to his face! a God-hater without a veil! And well it would be, if some, who are far from running such lengths of blasphemous impiety, but whose hearts are not yet right with God, could be persuaded seriously to revolve in their minds the arguments contained in the tract to which I have alluded.

painful and inefficient struggle against the sinfulness, the depravity of the heart of man; and he repeated," My God, my God, wilt thou leave them to perish?" Then the salvation which is in Christ presented itself to his mind in all its powert. His soul contemplated, in delightful tranquillity, that economy of grace in which God, touched with mercy, condescends himself to become like unto sinful flesh; that is, becomes man, and in love undertakes his salvation. The plan of the redemption of mankind unfolded itself to his mind. He saw the creature, through sin fallen and afar off from his Creator, brought nigh again, and through the Saviour reconciled, reunited to his God; the Father in his mercy delivering up his Son, and the Son in his infinite love taking the place of man; becoming united unto him by his almighty power; taking upon himself his miseries, and bearing the chastisement due unto them. He saw the Holy Spirit taking up his abode in the heart of man, to soften it and bring it back to its Creator. He saw the soul, thus awakened from its sleep, receiving and embracing the light of heaven, and thrusting away with disdain the world, and resolving to walk by faith towards that city of which the founder and maker is God.

"I will go, then," cried he, "to tell them, to repeat to them without ceasing: I will go to yes, yon immortal souls;-My sheep, my dear parishioners, I will bring you the glad tidings! I will preach Christ the Saviour! I will tell from him, that if sin which reigns in you alienates you from your God, and deprives you of rest; if your own self-love, and seeking after your own righteousness, leaves

you

your soul destitute of

+ Beautiful illustration of the Apostle's remark, "When I am weak then am I strong." 2 Cor. xii. 10.

peace; if your continual infirmities trouble your consciences, and make you tremble at the prospect of dissolution, which every moment draws more near; yet is there for you a firm tranquillity-a solid peace-a new, an inexhaustible serenity and joy-a life worthy of being possessed in the love of your Saviour. I will repeat to you a thousand times, O my fellow men! that it is for you that this salvation is proclaimed! that it is to you that the Lord has sent to offer it at my hands! I who am your friend and your fellow-traveller to an eternal world, will proclaim that it is free, absolutely free: that to obtain possession of it, possession for ever, you have only to receive it; and not, O mistaken beings, to thrust from you the paternal arms stretched out towards you by the Almighty!

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the prayers of my friends, and go before me unto those to whom thou dost send me! It is thou, O Jehovah, thou alone, O Jesus, who hast the key of David! It is thou who shuttest and no man openeth ; but it is thou also who openest and no man shutteth. What am I in thy sight, O Lord, but a voice sent forth by thy love to call on the souls of men? Who shall excite in them attention and humility, who shall subdue their wills, who shall awaken their consciences, if it be not thou who hast awakened myself?"

Then the pastor prostrated himself before Him who liveth for ever and ever, and offered up his adoration. He humbled himself under a deep sense of his wretchedness, and gave glory unto Him.

Then rising up, he continued his walk, and descended towards the village where he was going to be the priest of the living God. [To be continued.]

SIXTH ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE PARISHIONERS OF ST. MARY'S, KILKENNY.

MY DEAR FRIENDS,

SINCE my last annual address to you, several events of a public and local nature have occurred, which demand from us either sober reflection, or unfeigned thankfulness, or deep humiliation, or fervent prayer. We have received fresh proof that earthly honours have no durability, and that death, the last enemy, is a relentless one. Napoleon, who carried his conquests to the extremities of Europe—who, for a time, created or crushed princes at his will-who made the greatest men and the mightiest armies bow beneath his iron rod of tyrannic power-is gone. Man can no longer be deceived by his subtlety, nor nations be disturbed by his wicked agents. He now knows, that "those

"is

that walk in pride" God able to abase "that his "works are truth and his ways judgment"

and that "none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" Another great personage has also been called in an awful manner, and in an unexpected moment, into eternity; leaving a melancholy proof behind her, that neither title nor family can confer real dignity, and that a person possessing these may, notwithstanding, be miserable and unhappy. Blasphemy and disaffection have made violent efforts and great ravages in England; but it has only been amongst those who were uninfluenced by the truths which are revealed in the Holy Scriptures. Those truths directly oppose the antichristian principles

of all who "deny the Father and the Son"-who are unwilling to "render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's" and who seem to feel a satanic pleasure in deluding the unwary-in disturbing the peaceable-in terrifying the timid -and in opposing all constituted authorities. It is, therefore, no wonder that the book which is most neglected or most vilified by those who neither love God nor their neighbour, should be the Bible. It is worthy of remark, that no charge either of disaffection or blasphemy has been made against any individual who has attentively and humbly perused the Scriptures, or has been actively engaged in their dissemination. They contain a "doctrine which is according to godliness;" they "make wise the simple;" they rejoice the heart; they teach the fear of the Lord, and submission to "the powers that be." Scenes are exhibited in our own country of the most awful description; and acts have been committed, at which many savage tribes would revolt. Our national pride ought to be humbled, if it never was so before; and all ranks should begin to see the necessity of using the means pointed out by the Almighty, for making a people "wise and understanding." Human principles will never subdue human passions, nor keep in check human corruption. The axe must be laid to the root of the tree; the heart must be renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the belief of the glorious truth, that "the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil;" that he fulfilled all righteousness as the sinner's surety; and that, having finished the work which his Father gave him to do," he ascended up on high, leading captivity captive, and receiving gifts for men; yea, even for the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell among them."

The King's visit to Ireland was kind and gracious. It was well calculated to bring to the recollection of all classes the blessings which have been long enjoyed under the benign sway of his illustrious house; and to unite them in cordial attachment to His Majesty's person and throne. A free government is a blessing of no common magnitude; and it is a gratifying reflection, as also a pleasing fact, that those who are most under the influence of the word of God are most anxious that its administration should proceed steadily and uninterruptedly; while, on the contrary, those who are unacquainted with, or neglect or oppose that word, are dissatisfied, turbulent, and rebellious. I need not, when addressing you, dwell upon this subject; for your loyalty to the King, and your attachment to the Constitution in Church and State, are not only firm and uniform, but unimpeached. Beware of all publications which would teach doctrines and inculcate principles of an opposite tendency. Prevent the entrance into your families of all works which either openly or covertly recommend infidelity, scepticism, or disaffection. Specious names are often given to plans and practices of the most wicked and dangerous tendency. It is necessary to guard the inexperienced and warm imagination of youth against them. "Fear thou the Lord and the King," is the salutary advice of the wisest man, speaking under the direction of the Spirit of truth. Be it your duty to attend to the precept yourselves, and press it upon the consideration of all who are connected with you; remembering, at the same time, that " you have no power of yourselves"-that your sufficiency must be of God; and that it is he, and he only, who can work in you. "to will and to do of his good pleasure."

Most sincerely do I congratulate

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you upon the completion of the Lee's Lane Poor-house; our poor have now a capacious, comfortable, and permanent asylum, free from rent and taxes; contiguous to the church, and quite convenient to those worthy individuals who feel delight in ministering to the temporal and spiritual wants of their fellow-creatures, and are daily engaged in labours of love; thus showing their faith by their works." The disinterested generosity of friends in England and Scotland, whose contributions in aid of the poor-house amounted to nearly five hundred pounds, claims our especial thanks. May their kindness be repaid a thousand fold into their own bosoms! A grateful tribute of thanks is also due to those benevolent individuals in Kilkenny, and various parts of Ireland, who so cheerfully and liberally contributed to the same useful object. The judgments of the Lord are in the earth; a restless spirit agitates the minds of the people in many countries; the Scourge under which they so long smarted is in a great measure forgotten; and it appears as if war, with all its attendant miseries, was not very far from its commencement. The times and seasons of future events are in wisdom and mercy kept from our view; but we are assured in the prophetic word, that righteousness will yet cover the earth," and that "the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ." Believing this, let us be found walking circumspectly, redeeming the time, using our in

the Gospel, training up our children in the way in which they should go, and engaged in prayer for the divine blessing upon ourselves, our families, our King, our country, and our enemies. He who is declared to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of his people Israel, is the only propitiation for sin-the only foundation of hope for perishing man; and it is only through him, as the new and living way, that we can have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Let us then be instant in prayer, that the enlightening, sanctifying, and comforting influences of the Holy Spirit may be shed down upon us, and that, having a right judgment in all things, we may evermore rejoice in his holy comfort, through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour. "One hour spent with God, one day's communion with the Redeemer of Israel, is better than a thousandis better than ages dissipated in the most pleasing gratifications of a dying world. None can know the blessedness of living to God, and living with God, but the true believer. His soul is weaned from the world; it appears to him vain and perishing; its cares low and nugatory; its hopes light and unhappy; its end quick and certain. Jesus Christ is the fountain of his life; and from him he wishes to derive every stream of comfort, of holiness, and of glory.". "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all." Amen.

Your affectionate pastor,
And faithful friend,
PETER ROE.

fluence to spread the knowledge of Kilkenny, Jan. 1, 1822.

HINT ON DISTRIBUTING TRACTS.

To the Editor of the Christian

SIR,

Guardian.

HAVING been advised by a friend some time ago to distribute tracts in travelling, by throwing APRIL 1822.

them out of the carriage windows whenever I met any of the lower orders, or leaving them at the turnpike gates; I have pursued this practice, and have generall y found that the persons to whom I

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