trust in him, and who have been sent forth by his Spirit to preach his dying love and quickening power to poor ignorant sinners.

The diocese of Alêt or Alais is situated near the foot of the Pyrenees. Whoever may have seen the dreadful passes in these mountains, will be convinced that grace, and not nature, could alone have induced an aged man, when above seventy, to tempt them every month. Some of the places had no road, but a path scooped out of the rock; in others, the footing was washed away by torrents, and only a few loose stones remained. Over these tremendous passes, the litter of M. d' Alêt was constantly seen to traverse. Frequently the road was too narrow for its width, and it was seen overhanging precipices a quarter of a mile in perpendicular depth; in which one false step of either mule must have infallibly precipitated him. On such occasions, it was delightful to see the people's love for their aged pastor; the young shepherds fell on their knees in prayer for his preservation, whilst the hoaryheaded ones, whose faith was stronger, seemed to chide their doubts, exclaiming, "God is with him! his footsteps shall not slide." There are several hamlets belonging to the village of Alêt, which are both remote and difficult of access. A poor woman who was exceedingly ill, desired her husband to go to the curate and request him to come, and to administer the sacrament immediately. It was very late in the evening and quite dark. As the roads were besides covered with snow and exceedingly dangerous, the curate did not like to go at such an hour. "My good friend," said he, "perhaps your wife may not be so ill as you imagine. You see the weather; besides, at this late hour, consider the imminent danger of falling over the precipices. I will wait on your wife early to-morrow,

but it is out of the question to night."-The poor man, almost in despair, ran to the Episcopal Palace, and stated his case. M. d' Alet was gone to bed. He, however, immediately rose. On look+ ing out of the window, and seeing that the weather was really bad, he ordered the torches to be lighted, and prepared to go himself. The grand vicar, astonished, asked if he had not better order the curate to go, and do what was in fact his duty. "No," said the Bishop, "not for this once; a Bishop, a Christian overseer at the head of his flock, like Cæsar at the head of his legions, should, if he mean to succeed, oftener say venite (come) than ite (go)."

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The Bishop possessed a very happy way of explaining himself in a few words. A person, who had long practised many austerities, without finding any comfort or change of heart, was once complaining to the Bishop, Alas," said he, "self-will and self-righteousness follow me every where; only tell me where you think I shall learn to leave self. Will it be in discipline, in study, in prayer, or in good works?" " I think," replied the prelate, " the place where you will lose self, will be that where you find your Saviour." Another person pleading in behalf of uniting worldly acquaintance with religious professions, said, "Believers are called to be the salt of the earth." "Yes," said M. d' Alêt, " and yet if salt be cast into the ocean from which it was originally drawn, it will melt away and vanish entirely." A person once excusing his non-attendance on public worship, by pleading the disagreeable appearance and manner of the minister, "Let us look more at our Saviour, and less at the instruments," said M. d'Alèt; "Elijah was as well nourished, when the bread from heaven was brought by a raven, as Ishmael, when the spring of water

Esau, you will find their voices and their hearts are still belonging to Jacob.”

All M. d' Alêt's household appeared to partake in different degrees of the same spirit. The ministers who resided with him were all men of genuine piety; some of them also possessed deep learning. Those chiefly assisted the Bishop in drawing up instructions for his diocese. Even the very servants breathed the same spirit. Their recollection, silence, humility, obedience, and exactness, was truly edifying; and they performed their business with wonderful attention and seemed to live in a constant spirit of prayer and praise.

Such was the house of the Bishop of Alêt; such is a brief view of the character of that excellent man, that apostolic pastor of a Christian Church, and that humble saint rejoicing in persecution for Christ's sake: whom the great of this world treated as the very offscouring of the earth, and that because he refused to sign an iniquitous formulary of persecution-a formulary which denounced banishment, imprisonment, and death against the true servants of our Lord Jesus Christ-a formulary, which, whilst it was the means of bestowing the crown of martyrdom on some, has been a stumbling-block to thousands.

The court never forgave him for refusing his assent to the persecutions of the Jansenists; and he died in disgrace in the year 1677, having attained to the venerable age of eighty.

CHRISTIANA..

a master, servant, husband, wife, parent, child, &c.-Eph. v. 22 to vi. 9; Col. iii. 18. to iv. 2.

Do I dread sin and its consequences as the greatest of all evils, as opposed to my present and future happiness, and as tending to involve me in everlasting destruction?-Rom. iii. 23.; vi. 23.

Am I, indeed, sorry for my past sins, and are they as a heavy • burden too heavy for me? And do I believe that they would sink me into despair and ruin, if they were not forgiven by God? - Psalm xxxviii. 4, 18.

Do I live in the habitual neglect of any one duty, or in the wilful commission of any one act of impiety? -- Psa. cxix. 101, 104.; James, ii. 10.

Is there no worldly care, interest, or indulgence; no evil passion or vicious inclination, that hinders my spiritual progress, and overcomes me more easily than other sins?-Heb. xii. 1.

Am I careful to abstain from all appearance of evil, and to act uprightly, both in public and in private?-1 Thess. v. 22.

Do I set the Lord always before me? Have I never forgotten the Lord my Maker?-Psalm xvi. 8.; Isa. li. 13.

Is there not iniquity in my heart? Does my heart rejoice in the Lord? -Psalm lxvi. 18.; Hos. iv. 8.; Zech. x. 7.; Phil. iii. 1.

Is not my mind polluted with impure and unchaste desires, which, although concealed from men, are abominable in the sight of God?Prov. xxiv. 9.; Hab. i. 13.

Do I offend God and man, by pride, anger, malice, hatred, revenge, or lust?-Proverbs, xvi.18.; Eph. iv. 31.; 1 Peter, ii. 1.; Lev. xix. 18.; Rom. xii. 19.; James, i. 15.

Am I tender of my neighbour's reputation? Do I not needlessly expose his faults?-Titus, iii. 2.; James, iv. 11.

Do I ever converse with my
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Christian brethren upon religious topics? - Deut. vi. 6.

Does not filthy, obscene, or corrupt communication, proceed out of my mouth? -Col. iii. 8.; Eph. iv. 29.

Am I diligent in business, and temperate in all things? - Prov. xxii. 29.; 1 Cor. ix. 25.

Do I speak the truth on all occasions? Am I honest, upright, and sincere in my dealings with other men?-Psalm xv. 2.; Rom. xii. 17.; 1 Thess. iv. 6.

Do I act upon this important Christian precept: All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them?Matt. vii. 12.

Does my character resemble that of the proud and self-righ teous Pharisee, or that of the humble and penitent Publican?Luke, xviii. 9-14.

Are my hopes of eternal glory built on Jesus Christ, as the only foundation? Do I trust in Him, as the only anchor of my soul; the only Rock of my salvation; my only Redeemer, Mediator, Advocate, and Intercessor with God? Do I confide in him, as the only propitiation for sins? And do I believe in him, as the Lord our Righteousness, Emmanuel, God with us?-1 Cor. i. 30. iii. 11. x. 4.; Heb. vi. 19. vii. 25.; Psalm xcv. 1.; Jer. xxiii. 6. 1. 34.; 1 Tim. ii. 5.; I John, ii. 1, 2.; Matt. i. 23.

Have I reason to hope and to be persuaded, that I am actuated by the quickening Spirit of God, and that that Spirit beareth witness with my spirit that I am a child of God? Do I not resist and grieve that Spirit?-John, vi. 63. Rom. viii. 16.; Acts, vii. 51; Eph. iv. 30.

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There is but a step between me and death: Has the closing day brought me nearer to heaven or to hell? What is the state of my soul towards God?-1 Sam. xx. 3.

God may require my soul of me this night: Am I prepared to obey

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so awful a command without extreme fear and trembling? Do I enjoy the blessed hope of an entrance being ministered to me into that house which is eternal in the heavens?-Luke, xii. 20.; 2 Cor.

v. 1.

Am I in a fit condition to die? Is my lamp burning? Have I improved the talent committed to my care? Am I filled with joy and peace in believing? Have I not cause to dread God's everlasting

displeasure; -Matt. xxv. 1, 15.; Rom. xv. 13.; Heb. x. 27.

Know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord of Hosts.Jer. ii. 19.

O wretched man that I am! Who

shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. vii. 24, 25.

MORNING.

"Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee; and will look up."-Psalm v. 1-3.

"As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning, and at noon will I pray, and cry aloud; and he shall hear my voice." - Psalm lv. 16, 17.

"When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber towards Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."-Dan. vi. 10.

" And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."-Mark, i. 35.

"I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me."-Jer.

xxxi. 26.

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." -James, i. 12.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." - Psalm cxxxix. 23, 24.

If any man begins and ends the day, without feeling a strong impulse of devotion, and a warm and affectionate sense of gratitude to God, he has reason to suspect the inclinations of his heart, and to fear that he is unacquainted with the true spirit of piety. If, although permitted again to behold the light of the sun, and although awakened from sleep, and in the enjoyment of health and safety, he neglects to dedicate the first moments of the day to prayer, praise, and other devout exercises; and if, when darkness is spread around, he consigns himself to his usual repose, without previously beseeching God, for the sake of Jesus Christ, to pardon his sins, and to vouchsafe, at all times, the gracious and necessary influences of the Holy Spirit; if any man lives thus without serious meditation and earnest prayer; if he does not, on all proper occasions, make known his wants to his heavenly Father; if he does not avail himself of the condescension, mercy, and love of his Creator, Preserver, and Redeemer, he has

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