Where ever flow the tides of the sea,
Are favors abundantly given;

And all mankind, whether bond or free,
Enjoy the rich blessings of heaven.

Where ever blows a wind or a breeze,
Rich mercies are widely extended;
In flowery grass and waving trees,
Both beauty and favor are blended.

Where ever we go, by sea or land,
The mercies of heaven sustain us;
If terrors arise, and threat'ning stand,
The arm that's Almighty defends us.

And ev'ry precious moment of time
Bears witness to goodness unfailing,
Which, as we are taught by hope divine,
Shall remain forever prevailing.

No. II.

Contemplation.

How full is Creation of wonders! Every part displays astonishing wisdom, and the harmony of all is, if possible, the greatest wonder. If I look above me, to the heavens, most glorious wisdom, most consummate skill are manifest in all I see; if around me, power and goodness are displayed; if myself I contemplate, my surprise increases with the increase of the evidence which brings conviction of unerring wisdom, of unbounded power and equal goodness. Such wisdom, such power and such goodness forbid me to feel concerned for my eternal welfare, and imperiously demand of me an entire confidence in the divine protection. If the thousands of my brethren, of the human family, who are sorrowing with fearful apprehensions of endless banishment from God, could open their eyes to an en

lightened view of the goodness of our Creator, as the mists of the morning recede before the increasing beams of the sun, so would their groundless fears before the omnipotent light which divine goodness reflects.

And on that goodness all depends,
Which never knows decay.

FATHER of man, thy child inspire
To know the One Supreme;
And satisfy the vast desire,
Which from thy spirit came.

From error's dreams, of wild affright,
Despairing minds redeem;

And, by thy everlasting light,

May truth divine be seen.

Unveil thy lovely face that we,

Who here despairing mourn,

May catch a glimpse, O God, of thee,
And to thy love return.

Plant in our hearts that holy seed,

And bless the shoot divine,

Whose fruit the hungry soul shall feed,

And yield a gen'rous wine.

Then ev'ry power, by us possess❜d,
Submissive to thy will,

Shall, by thy favor, Lord, be bless'd,
And in thy spirit dwell.

No. III.

Trial of Faith.

IT is undoubtedly true that the abstruse reasoning of learned divines, who have bestowed unwearied labors on different and conflicting theories of divinity, has not only confused their own minds, but led thousands of others into labyrinths of inexplicable mysteries, from the perplexities of which the strength of their minds was not sufficient to lead them. Such are the limits of human capacity and intellect, that it is much safer for man to attempt to arrive at profitable knowledge by

easy and simple means, than to risk his faculties in re-searches beyond the narrow bounds of his comprehension. This conclusion seems to be justified by the important fact, that we may, by the most easy and simple means, arrive at the knowledge of the most useful things; while it is equally true that most if not all, the subjects of metaphysical and learned disquisitions are of such a nature as to hold but a slight connexion with our enjoyments, and can exert but a doubtful influence in forming or in giving any directions to our moral characters. We shall find also that truth in relation to the common concerns of life and the means of securing our temporal happiness, is of the same character.That knowledge which is the most useful, and without which we could not subsist, is the most easily obtained; while that which contributes rather to the conveniencies and luxuries of life is found out by scientific researches and doubtful experiments.

We propose to follow the directions of the theory above suggested, for the purpose of presenting our readers, in this short article, with a plain, simple criterion, by which our faith or belief, concerning divine things, may be sufficiently tested. To asssist us in this attemptwe call to our aid the following passage of holy writ. Rom. xv, 13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.'

The rule, prescribed in this passage, by which we may try the soundness of our religious belief, directs us to the consideration of the question, whether our belief fills us with joy and peace. By the use of this simple rule we can just as easily determine whether what we believe is according to truth, or not, as we can whether our food is wholesome, or injurious to our health, by the effects we experience from it.

That believing the gospel or believing in Christ, is always attended with joyful effects, we may learn from the following scriptures. 1 Peter i, 8: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him

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not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.' This declaration is evidently in support of the hypothesis we mean to maintain, as it clearly shows that the immediate cause of that joy which ist. unspeakable and full of glory, was the belief which christians exercised. Phil. i, 25: And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all, for your furtherance and joy of faith.' By this scripture we learn that St. Paul understood that the furtherance of faith would be attended with an increase of joy. 1 John i, 4: And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.' It appears by this passage that a belief of the things which the apostle wrote, would give the fulness of joy. Rom. v, 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.' By faith the christian is enabled to rejoice in hope. Gal. v, 22, 23: But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.' Here we learn that true faith is found among the fruits which the spirit of the gospel produces, and that joy and peace are connected with it. Many other passages might be quoted in support of the fact that joy and peace are necessarily attendant on true faith.

It may be proper here to ask if there be any intimation, in any passage of divine truth, that true faith in the gospel of Christ causes sorrow and trouble? By looking on both sides of this question we shall at once become fully satisfied that true faith in Christ embraces no subject that is productive of sorrow and trouble; but that contrariwise, every truth, essential to the gospel, is matter of rejoicing to him who believeth.

This subject is capable of an illustration ever so extensive, by an attention to those particular subjects, which the faith of the christian embraces. A few of. these may be mentioned.

I. The foundation of the christian faith is the exis