ON GLAD TIDINGS.

WERE the philosopher to have some new principle communicated to him, which rendered clear the mysteries of science, how prompt would he be to apply it, how absorbed would his mind be in his newly acquired knowledge!

Were the merchant to be told of a new and profitable market for his merchandise, with what ardour would he freight his vessels, that the winds of heaven might waft them across the mighty deep! Were the tradesman to have imparted to him a new mode of manufacturing his goods at half the cost, and with double his accustomed dispatch, how industriously would he pursue his calling! Were the poor man to be informed how he might become rich; the sick how he might be healed; and the dying how he might prolong his life, how gladly would they avail themselves of such unexpected good news!

And yet the information thus given to the philosopher, the merchant, the tradesman, the poor man, the sick, and the dying, would be valueless, when compared with the good news, the glad

tidings of great joy contained in the gospel of Jesus Christ. "God so loved the world, that he

gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," John iii. 16. What are all other glad tidings when compared with these: when we are mercifully enabled to apply then to ourselves, then can we indeed " rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

ON EVERY ONE

MINDING HIS OWN BUSINESS.

"MIND your own business," is an expression very often in use, and not unfrequently it would be as properly applied to the speaker as to the person to whom it is addressed.

Sometimes it is spoken very opportunely, and sometimes it had much better be withheld; for those who neglect their own business are not exactly the proper persons to correct others for disregarding theirs. Yet still, without reflecting whether we are faulty in this respect or not, we are all too ready to cry out to those who intrude upon, or among us, "Mind your own business ;" for true it is that we see a small hole in our neighbour's coat plainer than we do a large one in

our own.

We are, indeed, most of us a great deal disposed to neglect our own business, as well as to intermeddle in the business of others.

Whenever we spread an evil report, the truth of

which is doubtful, but which must by its publicity do some one an injury, we are travelling out of our way to do mischief.

"Believe not each aspersing tongue

As some weak people do,

But ever hope that story wrong

Which ought not to be true."

It would be a better deed to hide a fault than to publish it. It would be better to correct failings of our own than to make known those of our neighbours; therefore, by spreading an evil report, we are not minding our own business.

Whenever we engage in quarrels, undertake to settle differences without being asked, or waste our time in pursuing idle and visionary projects; in each and all these cases, we are not minding our own business.

Every one has business of some kind or other, which he ought to attend to; and whether it be a family, a town, a county, or a kingdom, it is sure to be under better management when every member of it minds his own business.

When is it that we are dissatisfied with ourselves? that our affairs get into confusion? that we are behind-hand in what we have undertaken to do? Why, when we have been idle, thoughtless, or foolish; when, in short, we have not minded our own business.

Look at the world around you; there are, doubtless, many instances wherein sickness, accident, and misfortune, have brought down the richest, the wisest, and the most industrious members of the community to poverty: but if all those who are in circumstances of comfort were to be placed on one side, and all those who have been reduced to rags, want, and misery, on the other, the greater part of the distresses of the latter, were they inquired into, would be found owing to this —that they have not minded their own business.

Depend upon it, it is an excellent thing to mind your own business; by doing this you may be more respected, more useful, more benevolent, and ten times more happy. Do this, and things will go on right; neglect it, and every thing will go wrong. If you have any love to your neighbour, or any respect for yourself, mind your own busi

ness.

Drunkards, and gamesters, and libertines, are sure, one day or other, to be overtaken by the dreadful effects of their folly, intemperance, and wickedness; but is this to be wondered at? No: it is the natural consequence of not minding their own business.

How is it likely that if we do not mind our own business, any one will mind it for us? If neither we nor other people attend to our affairs, disorder

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