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do despite to the Spirit of grace; wretch that I am, I am more beastly than any man. Come, come, poor desponding soul, sink not into despair; thy base proceedings cannot make the Lord cease to regard his own glory, that is as dear to him as ever; and this should encourage thee to plead with the Lord. "Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you, be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel;" so that God puts within his peopie a new heart, and a right spirit, and cleanseth them from their idols and filthiness."

Oh! that there were a greater singleness of mind with regard to Jehovah's glory, and a clearer discrimination of character on the part of all who minister in holy things!

Fragments from a Minister's Study, No 1. By Joseph Sedgwick. Palmer, 1826.

The character of the pieces of which this neat publication is composed, will be best given in the writer's own language. In the address to the reader, Mr. S. observes

"The substance of these "Fragments" has been written at different times, under a feeling impression of the importance of divine subjects. Conscious, in some measure, of the solemn importance of the christian ministry, oppressed, afflicted, and sometimes distracted at my own inability for such an engagement. The mind exhausted, and the spirit languid, I have looked towards the heaven of heavens, and a ray of light has sometimes been imparted,—a small still voice has been heard, matter has been furnished for the pulpit, and the spirit has rejoiced in the sovereignty of God. Under the influence of these feelings, I penned down the following papers; which, as they afforded some consolation to my own mind whilst writing, I have been induced to publish them, under the hope that they may, in the hands of the Holy Spirit, be rendered subservient to the glory of God, and to the establishing his people in their most holy faith. As we shall have the opportunity of meeting the author again, in his succeeding numbers, we transcribe one "Fragment," and postpone further remarks.

"I have been wrecked, exclaimed a poor sinner; the words bursting from a heaving bosom-my compass lost, and my rudder broken: remembering himself, he smiled, and said,—it was a merciful wreck for me; my loss has proved my gain, or where had I been?—I sailed carelessly, securely, and, at times, serenely; amidst dangers inevitable-and wrecks innumerable: sinking around me into everlasting misery-Mercy raised the storm-Mercy shattered the vessel-and Mercy caused me to be cast upon the shore of sovereign love-And was it not so, with Saul of Tarsus? His vessel was built strong-his sails always set, for the wind was fair, and the sun seemed to shine uninterruptedly. What privileges-one of the tribe of Benjamin-a hebrew of the hebrews-as touching the law a pharisee-his sails swell proudly; concerning zeal, persecuting the church. How pleasant the voyage-alive without the law. But what now-the heavens are darkened-the lightning pierces-the tacklings are loosed, they cannot strengthen the mast-the rich cargo is overboard-the vessel sinks, and Saul of Tarsus, naked, wounded, helpless, and miserable, is borne upon the bosom of a wave, to the shore of salvation. "Behold he prayeth!"-O Christ, be merciful to me a blind, guilty, abominable, persecutor! I have sinned-I have sinned!-O Lord God Almighty, be merciful to me!-The petition reaches the Physician of value, who never despised a mariner wrecked on the sea of deception-cast on the shore of redemption!"

POETRY.

THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST.

"My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass.-Deut. xxxii. 2.

As the summer's shower descends,

And o'erflows the thirsty ground, So my Saviour's doctrine sends Comfort with its cheering sound. Gently does the dew distil,

And revive the drooping flowers; So his gracious promise still, Sweetly cheers my darkest hours. Christ, the everlasting Rock,

His great work has perfected; Justice passes by the flock,

Since for it the Shepherd bled. Jesus is a God of truth,

Just and righteous are his ways; Calvary's mount of this is proof, Oh! my soul, behold and praise.

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THE LAMB IN THE MIDST OF THE THRONE.

Margate.

As children of Zion, O let us proclaim,

The wonders our Jesus has done;

No theme upon earth is so sweet as his name—

The Lamb in the midst of the throne!

The likeness of angels our Jesus pass'd by,

To our nature uniting his own;

While angels and men lift his glories on high-
The Lamb in the midst of the throne!

To save from the pit of perdition he came,
And for our offences atone;

While all the redeemed exult in his fame-
The Lamb in the midst of the throne!

The law he fulfilled, and of sin made an end,
And trod in the wine-press alone;

From death he arose as our glorious friend-
The Lamb in the midst of the throne!
His sov'reign dominion o'er all things prevail,
In judgment or mercy he's known;
While glorified millions unitedly hail,
The Lamb in the midst of the throne!

Upon the Redeemer O may we all gaze!
In faith, hope, and righteousness one;
While seraphs and saints shall eternally praise,
The Lamb in the midst of the throne!

A SON OF JESSE.

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