WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE?

I NEVER like, unnecessarily, to alter a word, a letter, or a single stop in the word of God. I like to take the Holy Scripture just as I find it; and many aclear-headed, shrewd-spirited, hair-splitting disputant, for this very reason, would think me a very great simpleton. No matter. The weakest and the wisest of us have our whims, and we ought, in a kindly manner, to bear with each other's infirmities.

But, though I like not to alter the words of Holy Writ, yet am I frequently compelled to do so to make them fit in with the occasion. It is not every text of Holy Scripture which says, "Thou art the man," and I am continually wanting texts to say this, not only to my fellow-sinners, but to my own soul.

Now, there is a text, you will find it, if you take the trouble to look for it, in the 32nd chapter of Exodus, 26th verse, which says, "Who is on the Lord's side?"

This question is a heart-searcher.

Were our

friends to answer it for us, we might get off pretty well, but that will not do, we must reply to it ourselves. Taking all things together, then, my faculties and my infirmities, my helps and my hinderances, can I, with godly sincerity, say, looking on the world as divided into two parts, the one those who are for God, and the other those who are against him, can I say, with uprightness and integrity, I am on the Lord's side? Let this question be put to your hearts, yea, to your very souls.

If God has showed such love for the world as to give his own Son to die for sinners, in what way have you as a sinner manifested your love to God? This is a fit question for you and for me to put, not only every day of the year, but also every hour of the day; "Am I on the Lord's side ?"

ON

THE ABUSE OF RICHES.

"He died wickedly rich," said a good man, in speaking of one who had left the world with great reputation; and though the words were neither spoken to you nor to me, we may perhaps both find something in them that may suit us. I know not how it may be with you, but my money bags are not so many as to stand in my way, nor to occupy much of my reflection. If you are differently circumstanced, look about you, for the words, " He died wickedly rich," are well worthy your attention. I think it was John Wesley who said, that if he died worth more than ten or twenty pounds, I forget which, he would give the world leave to call him a thief, or something like it; but I am afraid that, whether we are churchmen or dissenters, the benevolence, the self-denial, the zeal, the perseverance and devotedness of heart to God, of that servant of Christ, are beyond what we even hope to attain: happy for us if we attain them in a degree. But though the John Wesley standard of self-denial be too exalted for men of

meaner graces to attain to; though we may not be quite willing to go so far as he did, in giving up all we possess, except ten or twenty pounds, (nor may it be quite right for us so to do,) yet may it be worth a thought how far we are at all acting on his principle; how far we shall be quite clear of the charge when the green sod is springing up over us, of having "died wickedly rich.”

Old Humphrey is no meddler; he has no wish to pry into your affairs; and whether you are worth twenty thousand pounds, or have only twenty groats in the world, he will neither think the better nor the worse of you on this account. The question is not, What are you worth? but How are you using that which you possess? One man may die worth thousands, clear from reproach; and another "die wickedly rich," by leaving ten pounds behind him.

It is the case sometimes, and Old Humphrey fears too often, that people of property persuade themselves, that in leaving money to poor relatives and charitable institutions when they die, they do all that can be reasonably required of them, and that indeed they deserve the reputation of being considerate, kind, and charitable.

But what kindness and charity can there be in leaving that behind them which they cannot take with them? It would do them no good to have

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it crammed into their coffins. Whoever has riches, and neglects to do works of mercy during his lifetime, "dies wickedly rich," even if he leaves every farthing he has in the world to charitable purposes. I do not know the chapter and verse in the Holy Scriptures that particularly directs us to leave our property to do good after our death, but I know plenty of texts that direct us to do deeds of kindness while we are alive. "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father," is not to leave money to the widow and the fatherless when we can no longer keep it ourselves, but, while we are alive, to "visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep ourselves unspotted from the world," James i. 27.

Now, do not mistake Old Humphrey. He honours the memory of that man, who closes his life of kindness and Christian charity by a benevolent bequest of his property, giving to Christian institutions liberally; neither neglecting those who have a reasonable claim on his remembrance, nor passing by his poorer relations, friends, and servants. "These things we ought to do, if we possess the means, and "not to leave the other undone," Matt. xxiii. 23. "Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of thine increase," Prov. iii. 9; and “Thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut up thy hand