Your pride has almost reached the top of steeple,
And 'twixt two P's have stifled me in people.
But spite of all your tricks I'll make you stop,
And ever was before you in the top:

You boast of princes, power, and opinion,
With many more, and yet you've no dominion;
With pope or priest whatever's your pretence,
You've nought to do with learning, taste, or sense."

The feud grew bigh, the youthful god*
Commanded silence by a nod;
For he had heard their plea at large,
And thus drew up his special charge—
"When great Minerva gave you birth,
And lent you to the sons of earth,
Ye then were made of equal fame,
And both alike partook my name :
In property you've both been friends,
In poetry, and prose joined hands.
From each to other you're in debt,
And so all through the alphabet.
Dispute no more, but quickly go
And cool your heats in river PO."

* Apollo.

Higgins, Printer, Dunstable.

Addressed to Professing Christians.

It is remarked by the Rev. Job Orton, in a letter addressed to the Rev. T. Stedman, a clergyman of the Church of England, "I lay very little stress upon what some divines call conversions; I have seen so many instances of their coming to nothing; or, that their converts have only been converted from the sins of men to the sins of devils, from drunkenness and debauchery to spiritual pride, bitterness, and uncharitableness; and this I cannot call a saving change. I see little alteration for the better in the conduct of many, who have been said to be converted. I am cautious of calling anything by that name,

M

where there is not a consistent conduct following it. Hasty impressions, which some ministers are very ready to observe and admire, are often lost in a little time, and those who have been under them become worse than they were before. I have no idea of conversion, as passing a certain line, and then getting into a saving state. Conversion is a work of time, and I see no right we have to say any are converted or become good, till one hath a longer season of trial, to observe, whether they continue steadfast in the practice of righteousness, and act in every circumstance and relation, in the main, consistent with the demands of the gospel. I wish you may have the pleasure to see many such converts."

These sentiments are too much in accordance with our constant observation, to allow of our doubting their correctness. High-sounding professors, "who trust in themselves that they are righteous while they despise others," and who appear to have no doubt whatever of their claim on eternal blessedness exhibit a temper and conduct at variance with their principles. Among other violations of the christian spirit we may notice the MALICE such persons often display, which is described by the divine above quoted as "bitterness and uncharitableness."

Malice is a disposition to injure others in revenge for some real or supposed offence. Overlooking the

universal infirmities of human nature which should make us lenient in our rebuke and dispose us to forgiveness, and forgetful of the express command of the gospel to pardon faults, however much they may have injured us;-malicious persons pursue their victim with unrelenting severity. Like the wild barbarians of whom we read almost with incredulity, they are neither soothed by concession, nor cooled by the lapse of time. The object of their hatred has lost, in their view, the attributes of humanity, and it is no longer to be looked upon with benevolent affections; so intense indeed is the animosity sometimes displayed, that we feel convinced that if the restraints of law and selfishness were withdrawn, blood alone would satiate the appetite of malice.

Can this be a correct description of those who bear the christian name? It is, for we have seen them and known them. We have known individuals, members perhaps of the same religious society, who have for years retained an enmity, which a very moderate share of kindness would have crushed in the bud. We have left the scene of their quarrels, and returned when a long period has rolled away, to find the combatants still exchanging angry glances. All around them is changed, but they are unaltered. Their families and connections have gone to the tomb; -they have known themselves the vicissitudes of

misfortune; and their rapid approach to the grave is indicated by the pale and furrowed cheek:—but passion is unquenched, and malice in gloomy sullenness still dominates. Sad spectacle! Near the temple of God the shrine of revenge is set up, and the professed worshipper of Jehovah comes from that temple to offer incense to the demon!

This is the malice of persons who mutually seek each other's ill, and of the extinction of which there is the least probability, since no submission and gentleness on the part of one endeavours to calm the rage of the other. The most inexcusable malice is that which persecutes a quiet and unconscious victim,

-unconscious of having deserved the ill-will of another, and anxious to propitiate the favour of an enemy. When on the one side there is forgiveness and patience, how fierce and cruel must be the malice which can continue its rigour! Yet persons calling themselves christians have indulged this aggravated form of malignity and revenge. The offender has tried in vain to remove the bad feeling existing towards him, by overtures of conciliation and peace. The religion of his own breast whispers, "he must be satisfied now; now that I have pleaded for an oblivion of all former wrongs; but he is disappointed, for there are depths of black and remorseless malice in