band, which forbids her praying in his presence in the family. But the devotions of the Christian husband are aided by the religious wife. He may be "cast down,” and feel-deeply feel the need of spiritual help. How seasonable! how pleasant are the prayers of the wife on such occasions at the family altar! Again, he may be confined to his chamber on a bed of affliction. O, who can come around his pillow-who can offer supplication so sincere, so moving, and so availing, as the wife whose holy life has been to him a "crown of rejoicing" in his healthful days? 26.-FRAMES AND FEELINGS. J. S. LAW. How often are Christians heard complaining of coldness-want of joy and feeling; but how seldom are they heard lamenting their want of increased and increasing knowledge of Christ, and confidence in him as a Saviour, which is the true fountain of spiritual joy. They seem to take it for granted, they know Christ and have faith in him, and all they want is feeling, joy; forgetting that it is the peculiar property of faith, to impart consolation" believing in Christ, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory"— and also forgetting that that very comfortable feeling after which they are seeking, is absent, because faith which works by love, and purifies the heart, and overcomes the world, is not in exercise. Did the apostle Paul ever take it for granted, that he knew Christ and his salvation so well, that nothing remained to him but to spend his days in seeking, so far as personal religion was concerned, after comfortable frames of mind? Hear him in his own impassioned and soul-thrilling language-"I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith that I might know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." That knowledge of Christ which is eternal life, was the grand absorbing object of the apostle's soul. To this he bent all the energies of his great mind, and to this he consecrated all the affections of a heart in love with Jesus. They who will follow him in this, will never want for joy in the Holy Ghost; will never mourn the absence of a Saviour's love. But why do Christians desire feeling so much more than knowledge? I know not, unless it is because they are disposed to regard a personal interest in Christ, as one of the objects of saving faith, and feeling, as one of the best evidences of such a state, and therefore good evidence of their possessing saving faith; consequently, they desire the peace and joy of justification without keeping the faith in exercise that justifies. They want peace without believing; they want life, spiritual life, without acquiring that knowledge of Jesus Christ that imparts life; they would enjoy peace with God, but will not acquaint themselves with him. Let me reprove such, by again referring them to the example of the Apostle Paul. In continuation of my last quotation from him, he says, "Not as though I had already attained or were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things that are before, I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." He tells his brethren not to understand him, from what he had said, to mean that he had reached the goal as victorno, he did not so account himself; but this he did, unheedful of all his past attainments and services in the gospel, he pressed, in allusion to the racer, he stretched his head and hands towards the goalthus exhibiting his earnestness and deep anxiety to reach it. Oh! what bright visions of coming glory were spread out before the apostle's mind! He stopped not to inquire after the imperfect joys of his present state, but abounding in hope through the Holy Spirit, his present joy and consolation consisted in his holy, fervent desires and self-sacrificing labors to gain the prize, eternal life. Having obtained like precious faith with him, let all our joy and comfort from religion arise from like holy diligence and perseverance to obtain the same blessed reward. Let faith gaze into the depths of the riches of God's grace-let it be firmly fixed upon the glory and dignity of Jesus Christ; and let hope lay hold upon all that faith sees, and the soul shall be filled with unspeakable joy in anticipation of an exceeding weight of glory. 27.-INFLUENCE OF BENEFICENCE. J. B. JETER. BENEFICENCE is ennobling. Selfishness is mean and despicable. Who ever venerated a miser? He possesses no sympathy with the world in which he lives. He is a blank-a blot in creation. He lives without usefulness, and dying, goes down to the vile dust, "unwept, unhonored, and unsung." But goodness exalts its possessor. The patriot, who perils his life, fortune and sacred honor, to procure the liberty or |