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THE third train of thoughts upon the Fire Alarm was drawn from the Firemen.

The first thing I shall notice in them is, their promptitude to go at the watchmen's cry of fire! They always hold themselves in readiness to turn out at a moment's warning, be their previous engagements what they may. Let their employment be what it will, every thing is laid aside, and they immediately prepare themselves, by their fire clothes and hats, for any hardships which they may have to encoun

No hesitation, no reasoning as to expediency, and no delay is suffered to retard them for a moment; but with all possible despatch, they seek the place of danger, to render such assistance as the case may require.

An excellent example this, thought I, for the common disciples of Jesus Christ to follow, when called by Zion's Watchmen to encounter the difficulty and danger incident to a faithful exertion to save souls from the fire of hell. If such an example were followed by Christians, we should never hear them saying, "I pray thee have me excused :" nor would the plea be made,-I have so many worldly avocations, and so much business on my hands, that I have no time to visit and warn sinners of their danger, and thus try to pull them out of the fire. Nor should we hear the cry so often made, when any thing more than ordinary is done to promote vital godliness in our congregations, that there is no such pressing danger in the situation of the wicked; that if they only use the means of grace, and quietly wait God's time, there will be no danger in their case! Nor yet again should we hear so much about being prudent; nor be cautioned so much against enthusiasm, when there is some little feeling manifested concerning the state and danger of the wicked. There may, indeed, be the sound of a going in the midst of a town or a city, as in the tops of the mulberry trees in Israel, (2 Sam. v. 24.) and thus the people of God, every one of them, called to bestir themselves, and do valiantly for their Lord and Saviour; and yet they too often say, "The time is not yet come," to build the house of the Lord. (Hag. i. 2.) We must wait God's time, and he will then VOM. IX.

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build up Zion in all her glory. If called to action they say, they do not feel, and they are dependent on God to make them feel, and they shall wait till he is pleased to work this in them! Would such excuses do for the watchmen and firemen of a city? But the doctrine which the Christian pretends to plead as his excuse, is as true in all its extent, in relation to the fireman in his employment, as it is in relation to the Christian in regard to his duty; yet he never pleads it; nor should the Christian: as the fireman would not deserve confidence, should he act on such a principle; so neither does the Christian, when he acts upon it. Let every Christian, then, learn from the fireman, to make every thing in which he is engaged, subservient to the kingdom of God, and the alarms which he gives; and in this way obey Jesus Christ, and rest on his promise--"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you!" (Matt. vi. 23.) Fly then, Christians, and cease not to rescue sinners, while the spirit of grace is poured out upon you!

The second thing I observed in the firemen was their endeavours to excel each other in their exertions to rescue and save from ruin. Every man strives to get first to his engine--every company strives first to get to the fire-and every individual endeavours to excel his companion in their attempts to rescue property from the flames, and to put a stop to the raging of the devouring element; and they cease not until their strength fails them, or the destruction is stayed. And how does this tell upon the character of common Christians, or rather professors of religion? What an awful reproof to those who are, when called upon to do something for the salvation of souls, perpetually excusing themselves, and putting all the labour upon others, as though the increase of Zion's sons was not a common interest to the saints of God. If the above example were followed by all Christians, and they were as emulous of excelling each other in doing their duty, we should never hear the excuse made, when called upon to perform it, "It belongs to some other person, and not to me, to go to this sinner, and to try to bring him to Christ." Nor should we hear it so often pleaded as an excuse-" I am not qualified for it, and it is not my calling!" for if a man be not qualified for the duties of a Christian, he is not a Christian; for "if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that a man hath not." (2 Cor. viii. 12.) Nor yet again, should we hear the plea, "I have done more than many others, and it is not right that I should thus constantly labour, while many others do nothing; and therefore I will rest awhile, and let others do who have done little or nothing in this good work." This objection is often made both in regard to labour and charity; and has, with many, a very controlling influence-but firemen, if they ever think upon it, they do not act upon it-nor should the Christian. Nor, lastly, would the excuse," I am needed somewhere else," ever be adduced by a Christian, if he would follow the example of the firemen. Where are firemen wanted except where the fire is? And where are the Christians, in all the Christian armour, and the Spirit of their Master.

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wanted more, than where sin abounds? Let every Christian then, in the time of God's visitation, be as emulous to excel each other in saving men from hell, as the firemen are to excel each other in deeds of valour to save lives and property from the rage of the devouring fire. O Christian! learn from the fireman how to act for your Lord, and thus take away the reproach from the Christian name, which neglect has thrown upon it, and which has destroyed, rather than saved, the souls of thousands!

The third thing I observed in the firemen, is, the hazard which they will run to be faithful. They are often seen in the most perilous situations: on ladders raised against the sides of burning buildingsrushing into flaming rooms to bring out a sufferer-and maintaining their station amidst falling walls, timber, and showers of fire, when their lives are in the utmost danger!

From this, I thought, Christians might learn an important lesson. Christianity did once lead its friends to be faithful to their Lord, and to the souls of their fellow-men, when it actually exposed them to every insult, torture, and death, and they would not neglect their duty, nor betray the cause, to save even their own bodies from the fire. But now, when, by the laws of the land, every man may profess and love Christ, and yet sit under his own vine and fig-tree, and none dares to jeopardize his person or his property; when, in one word, there is no danger of encountering any thing but the obloquy of the wicked; saints will not do their duty. They cannot bear reproach, and they think and say, that they had better not mention any thing about religion to their wicked companions, than to be reproached for Christ's sake; and to have their names to be taken up in the lips of talkers, and be made the drunkard's song. They must not be rude, in the world's sense of that word; and, consequently, sinners do evil without reproof from them, because every thing is rude with them which disturbs their carnal pleasures, and stupid attachments to the world. It is often, moreover, said, that Christians are not called to sacrifice their reputation, in the eyes of the world, for the sake of religion. Yet it is true, that the love of the world, and the love of God, never go together; and if any thing of this world, or even our own life, be loved and sought more than Christ by any, do they deserve the name, or possess the character, of Christians? (1 John ii. 15.-Luke xiv. 26.) If a sinner be rich, proud, and a despiser of Christ, he must, on the common principle of action among Christians, be left to perish, without warning, because Christ's disciples cannot bear his reproach: and thus also the name of Christ is blasphemed, because his professed friends are so unwilling to take up their cross and follow him wherever he leads, and obey him in whatever he commands. Let the Christian reader look at the firemen in the midst of the thickest danger, and ask himself if this be not a good example for him? And was he made a new man in Christ Jesus, that he should speak of what God has done for his soul, only among his friends; and give warning to none but them, of the misery which he must know is coming upon the wicked? Where should the cross of Christ be more displayed, but where sin most abounds? Of

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danger the Christian is to count nothing. "Who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good?" (1 Pet. iii. 13.) To abuse, the Christian should be deaf-to allurement, blind-and to every temptation to sin, and to depart from his duty, unfeeling as death. Then, indeed, would he save many men, "pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garments spotted by the flesh."

In pursuing this train of thought, I could not but reflect upon the reward and success of the firemen. This reward I find to be but little more than nominal; but their success most triumphant. Whereas the reward of the Christian is all the riches of grace and glory, both in time and in eternity; and their success and conquests but trifling in comparison. Why, Christian, is there this difference in success? It cannot be the reward offered-for in this you have infinitely the advantage. It cannot be in the sovereignty of God-for this is equal in both cases. It cannot be in that you are not equally furnished-for I find that you may and ought constantly to have on the whole armour of God. I find offered to you the girdle of truth -the breastplate of righteousness-the sandals of gospel peace-the shield of faith-the helmet of salvation-the sword of the spirit— and the privilege of praying always, and of always being heard, and thus becoming more than a conqueror. (Eph. vi. 14-18. Rom. viii. 37.) Why then the difference of success? merely the fact, that the firemen believe there is danger, and that what is to be done, must be quickly done-and that you do not believe either, in the case of your call! The firemen act in accordance with their faith; but you do not : instead of it, you act in direct contradiction to every principle of religious truth; and, therefore, you do not conquer because you do not fight-you do not win souls to Christ, because you do not yourselves obey Christ! Go then, dearly beloved, like repenting Peter, and encounter ridicule and shame, if need be, for the honour of your Lord, and the saving of the souls of sinners-and let the men of this world no longer reproach your infidelity!

CITY AFFAIRS.-THE LOCAL SYSTEM.

We cannot resume this subject in the present volume more happily, or, probably, more acceptably to our readers than by presenting the eighth chapter of Dr. Chalmers' essays on the "Christian and civic economy of large towns," entire. The readers of our last two volumes will have become sufficiently well acquainted with these masterly essays to desire a more full developement of the Rev. author's benevolent plans and especially to peruse this chapter, which is on the subject of "Sabbath Schools."

It is well, that in the various religious establishments of Europe, provision should have been made for the learning as well as for the subsistence of a regular clergy. It is well, when a teacher of the Gospel, in addition to the strict literature of his own profession, is further accomplished in the general literature of the times. We do not hold it indispensable that all should be so accomplished. But that is a good course of education for the church, which will not only

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secure the possibility that every minister may be learned in theology, but also a chance, bordering upon certainty, that some of them shall attain an eminence of authority and respect, in the other sciences. Christianity should be provided with friends and defenders, in every quarter of human society; and there should be among them such a distribution of weapons, as may be adapted to all the varieties of that extended combat, which is ever going on between the Church and the world. And there is a special reason why the prejudices of philosophy against the Gospel should, if possible, be met and mastered by men capable of standing on the very same arena, and plying the very same tactics, with the most powerful of its votaries; and that, not so much because of the individual benefits which may thereby be rendered to these philosophers, as because of their ascendant influence over the general mind of society; and because of the mischief that would ensue to myriads beside themselves, could an exhibition so degrading be held forth to the world, as that of Christianity, which laid claim to the light of revelation, retiring abashed from the light of cultivated nature, and not daring the encounter, when men, rich in academic lore, or lofty in general authorship, came forth in hostility against her.

It is mainly to the learning of the priesthood that Christianity has kept her ground on the higher platform of cultured and well-educated humanity, and that she enters so largely, as a bright and much esteemed ingredient, into the body of our national literature. It is true that, in this way, she may compel homage from many whom she cannot subdue unto the obedience of the faith; and save herself from contempt, in a thousand instances, where she has utterly failed in her attempts at conversion. But it is well, whenever this degree of respect and acknowledgment can be obtained for her, among the upper classes of life; and more especially in every free and enlightened nation, like our own, where the reigning authority is so much under the guidance of the higher reason of the country, it is of unspeakable benefit that Christianity has been so nobly upheld by the talent and erudition of her advocates. The fostering hand of the legislature would soon have been withheld from all our Christian institutions, had the Christian system not been palpably recommended by those numerous pleadings wherewith a schooled and accomplished clergy have so enriched the theological literature of our island. Nor do we believe that, in the face of public opinion, any political deference could have long been rendered to Christianity, had she been overborne, in her numerous conflicts with the pride and sophistry of able unbelievers. It is thus that we stand indebted to the learning of Christian ministers for the security of that great national apparatus of religious instruction, the utility of which we have already endeavoured to demonstrate and hence, though learning does not, of itself, convert and Christianize a human soul, it may be instrumental' in spreading and strengthening that canopy of protection, which is thrown, by our establishment, over those humbler but more effective labourers, by whose parish ministrations it is, that the general mass of our population becomes leavened with the doctrines of the Gospel,

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