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his righteous laws,his just expectations from the human. kind, and the future account, which every one must give. Truths so opposite to their principles and practices, could not be welcome to the wicked. As objects of contemplation they could afford them no pleasure; and for this reason, these transgressors not only neglected to call them up, but treated them as intruders, whenever they found their way into their minds, or solicited their attention. This was the great impiety, against which the monarch protests in so many places; and to which he particularly alludes in the passage before us.

God is a being to whom we all stand in the most important relation: he is the former of our bodies, and the father of our spirits: as he originally made, so he upholds us in being: he gives us all the good things which we enjoy; and he preserves us amid the numerous evils with which we are surrounded.Throughout universal nature he is always present: he is intimately acquainted with the state and employment of our minds; and he is a spectator of all the actions of our lives: he is our supreme governer; and as such, has signified his pleasure, and required obedience. Finally, he is our judge; and upon his righteous decision must depend our condition in the approaching state. Such is the great God, such his character, and such the mutual relation of him and his creatures.

How proper then is it that such a being should often employ our serious meditation? Ought we not frequently to survey the perfections of his nature, and gratefully to remember our obligations to his goodness? Ought not the mind to be in such a state, that the visible creation and the events of providence will readily awaken the idea of a God? Though we cannot confine all our contemplations to him, yet is it not reasonable that we should cultivate a spirit of habitual devotion? Surely, it is and consequently the psalmist has justly condemned those, "who have not God in all their thoughts."

And from this view of the subject, we may easily determine against what particular description of men the same charge may be now urged. They who seldom reflect on a power above; they who do not trace the wisdom, power, and goodness of God in the works of nature, and dispensations of providence; they who do not habitually keep in mind that God is a moral governor, and all men his subjects; they, in one word, who do not employ their thoughts upon any of those objects or duties, which more immediately respect the most high, may be ranked among those practical atheists, which David, in the passage before us, meant to expose. They put the thoughts of God far from them; and they desire not the knowledge of his ways.

From the Christian Intelligencer.

SUPERSTITION AND LIBERALITY CONTRASTED.

Returning from Saratoga Springs, a few years since, the writer found it necessary, in order to meet his appointment on the Sabbath, to ride late the evening preceding. Finding no inn, he called for entertainment at a private house, and was informed of a stopping-place, a few miles ahead; again inquiring, they had taken down their sign, but said the people at a house a short distance further, were always prepared for travellers. Arriving there, the men were all in bed, and could not get up, but said, down at the store, at Esq. L.'s the conveniences were good. I told them it was late, the day had been extremely hot, my ride very irksome, and, that a distance of three miles more, would be sensibly felt, even admitting I could be sure of finding entertaininent; which would be extremely

uncertain. But a few frail excuses were blundered out, and Esq. L.'s folks were declared to be pious people, and would not suffer the needy to call, unnoticed and unblest. At length, the weary, dust covered traveller arrived at the declared asylum for the desti

tute, suffering pilgrim, whom irreligion had coldly neglected. Calling to some men standing before the store, inquiry was made, whether the gentleman of the house was at home; the answer was in the negative, but that his lady was present. He was asked, if they were charitable people, and professed the christian religion. He said, they did make that profession, and were very good people, too. Half choaked with the innumerable particles inhaled with the dusty atmosphere, so fatigued, as to be just able to crawl into the house, I saw the mistress of the family, seated by the window, in a large armed chair, rocking herself into apparent sleep. Said I. kind lady, will you have the goodness to entertain a poor unfortunate stranger this evening? She replied, "We cannot, sir." Indeed, good woman, perhaps you have not sufficiently acquainted yourself with the situation of your petitioner. I am exhausted by travelling, have called several times and found no rest for my poor body, but was encouraged to press on to this place, where I should not fail of finding the stranger's friend and the pilgrim's home. Without scarceTy opening her eyes, she said there was a tavern not more than three or four miles ahead, and it would be right for them to entertain me. Sighing for disappointment, the writer observed, that tho he solicited entertainment as a beggar, he was not altogether moneyless, but would return tearful thanks in paying for a pillow, on which to lay his head, for the night. Mrs. L. said it was against her principle to entertain people on Saturday evening. I told her, that, on hearing they professed the religion of him whom I delighted to serve, no doubt existed, but they would entertain the weary strangers, as thereby some had entertained angels unawares.

After riding a short distance, I heard and saw a number of men, with teams, collecting hay, at that late hour. From them a man came riding, of whom I learned, that the laborers were in the employment

of Esq. L. at whose house I had just called, and from principle been denied a resting place. Giving him a short history of the treatment towards me, he very mildly apologized for Mrs. L. by saying, she was a fine pious woman as ever lived; but that the family were Separatists or Puritans, and as the next day was Communion, in their Church, either the husband or the wife must fast and abstain from all worldly concerns, the evening preceding. He added, that Mr. L. had a great quantity of hay out, then ready to go in, and must take the charge of his hands, in securing it that night, and his wife was undergoing the affliction, necessary for them both, before the Communion. Any other time, he said, Mrs. L. would be found a tender-hearted, good woman as lived in the world. He appeared perfectly serious and candid in his statements. Musing, as I rode along, I was led to inquire, what analogy the Separatist principle had to Christianity. It was easy to demonstrate, however, that the woman was a separatist; for her profession had separated her from reason, religion, and the natural benevolence of her own heart.

I concluded there was a good opportunity to try an experiment. Soon discovering two men at a door, I asked them, if they knew of a wicked Universalist in that vicinity! One replied, that he knew of Universalists; but did not know as they were more wicked than other people. A man, he continued, who professed that faith, passed a few minutes before, and had gone home; pointing across a stream to his house. Without making further inquiry, I went to his door and called. "Who's there ?" said the man within. A poor beggar, destitute and neglected, I replied. He soon opened the door, saying, "My house is the home for all such. You will want something to eat, I suppose what will you have " Not any thing, said I, for myself; but my beast will want feeding. Your beast!" he replied; "I thought you were on foot-I hope you are not so wretched as I am

afraid-have you met with any great misfortune that you should have to beg for entertainment ?" I told him I had met with nothing more, than to be denied a bed on which to sleep, because it was Saturday evening.

Having provided a light, he began to gaze and smile, saying, "But it appears to me you don't look much like a beggar-I should have thought you were a minister." His lady calling him to the bed-room, told him with a low voice, she had mistrusted it was the minister, who was to preach there the next day. He returned, and looking me earnestly in the face, without further ceremony, embraced my hand, tho totally unacquainted, and with eyes as full of tears, as his heart was of joy, declared, he never so sensibly felt the force of the passage of the good Book, "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby have some entertained angels unawares."

The Editor has not published this comparatively trifling, but really true account, neither for the sake of amusement, nor unfair crimination of others' conduct. The principal motive is, to admonish my readers, against imbibing these superstitions in profession, which prevent the exercise of the natural, generous feelings of the heart. As much as ministers declaim against the corruptions of our nature, those of tradition and bad habits, are much worse. The most critical examination of the subject will justify the remark. Several things are peculiarly observable in the account just given of profession and practice.

1. Notwithstanding the dear woman was naturally possessed of a kind and generous disposition, and had the esteem and friendship of her neighbors, and would commonly do honor to the christian profession, still, there was one evening in four weeks, in which her conscience forbade her showing mercy to the weary sojourner! Hence it is evident, that her improper conduct was the result of a mistake; no censurable motive being ascribable to that article of the Puritan

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