A Goodly Heritage

 We follow no cunningly devised fable, when we receive the gospel as an authentic record of the character and doctrine of Jesus Christ. It is confirmed by “infallible proofs,” by ample and luminous evidence, which is sufficient to convince every ingenuous mind, every man who examines it with a candid, dispassionate temper. You may be assured, my brethren, that it is not for want of evidence that the gospel is in any instance rejected. Difficulties, indeed, there may be, which are apt to perplex ill-informed and superficial observers; but the chief objection to it, an objection level to the comprehension of every depraved heart, is its holiness. “Men hate the light, because their deeds are evil.” This will appear to be no false charge, if you consider, that there is scarcely any thing that infidels believe, for which they have half the evidence that can be produced in favour of the truth of Christianity. It is not, therefore, to reason that their unbelief should be attributed, but to

And then what a blessing is salvation ! A blessing that includes all the riches of grace, and all the greater riches of glory ; deliverance from sin, death, and hell ; the possession of pardon, peace, holiness, and heaven ; a blessing, in short, immense, infinite, everlasting: which occupied the mind of Deity from eternity, was procured by the Son of God upon the cross, and which will fill eternity with its happiness. Oh, how little, how insignificant, how contemptible, is the highest object of human ambi- tion, to say nothing of the lower matters of men's desires, compared with salvation I Riches, rank, fame, honours, are but as the small dust of the balance, when compared with the " salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." Who that pretends to the least regard to his own happiness would not say, " What shall I do to be saved ?"

There is a peculiar charm about the thing which we have made. Not because of any intrinsic value it may have, but just because we have made it. The new beginner at the art of portrait-painting, who practices his art by copying celebrated originals, will think more of his own copy than of the more excellent original. Flowers which the young lad plucks from his own little garden are much more interesting to him than the bouquet from the florist. The country gentleman prefers vegetables from his own grounds or hothouse, even if less fine, to the produce imported from abroad. He who writes for the press deems his own article, published in some monthly or quarterly, the best of the edition. This holds good in every department of life. Produce raised ourselves interests us greatly. Cattle bred on our own stock farm is preferred to any other. We are more happy in the house which we have built. Of course, this implies some self-complacency, which especially in youth is apt to breed conceit