all the talents that any man can possess. It is but too common amongst us to assign to youth of great promise those services whereby their temporal interests may be advanced, and to reserve for those of inferior capacity the service of God's sanctuary. But this is very dishonourable to God, and very injurious to the souls of men. Let the conduct of Moses shame us : and let us all, whatever our talents or influence may be, devote them all to the service of our God, and to the promotion of our Redeemer's kingdom. It is not indeed necessary that we relinquish the line of life in which divine Providence has called us: on the contrary, we are told to " abide in the calling wherein God has called us," yea, " therein to abide with God :" but, whatever our peculiar talents be, and in whatever department of the state they are exercised, let us consider the service of God, and of his people, as having the first claim upon us ; and let no personal interest be considered as worthy of a thought, in comparison of God's honour, and the eternal welfare of mankind.]
Acts vii. 59, 60. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried tvith a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
OF all histories, that of the Christian Church is the most interesting, and particularly that part of it which is recorded by the inspired writers. There we behold every thing portrayed with perfect fidelity; nothing is concealed, nothing exaggerated. The writers appear unconcerned about any thing but the truth itself; from which they leave all persons to draw their own conclusions. Large sums of money arising from the sale of different estates were lodged in the hands of the Apostles for the use of the Church; and in a very little time they began to be suspected of partiality to the natives of Judea, in preference to the Jews of foreign extraction. This they relate with perfect indifference, together with the method adopted by them to prevent the distraction arising from too great a multiplicity of concerns. Then having told us who were chosen by the Church to superintend