HOPE. "The holy instinct of the heart." r AMONG the multitude of evidences of the benevolence of our Heavenly Father, there is none to my mind more satisfying and fruitful in imparting rich and sweet thoughts, than that which is given in the fact that he has constituted man a creature of Hope. How easily could God have demonstrated ill will by reversing the character of the impelling principle, and instead of interweaving in the human constitution a tendency to hope, had inclined man to despair. What a reversion would this have been! Every mark that hman was created for progress would be erased, and from him would be torn the loftiest aspiraitions of his nature. Man is a creature of Hope. --From it has sprung the glory of humanity. It is hope's power to encourage and uphold, that has brought forth the apostles of the Right and Good in times when the might of darkness reigned. The divine within them never slumbered, but was always stirring and active, impelling them on to the glorious work of human elevation. And however much man may school his heart to be satisfied with a less sublime prospect than the final deliverance of all into holy liberty, divine Hope will rise at times and breathe out the prayer for universal liberation, and then the soul knows the 1 most affectionate fervor that ever visits, it-even as the bird of light and liberty has more exultation when it is nearing and nearing the sun, than when its flight is limited to a range by man prescribed. Put trust in this tendency of the soul-this "instinct of the heart." Therein are proofs enough that God is Love. Research should there be directed, and in himself man will find a thousand teachers of a better and holier life. Let him mark the deep truth of what an Apostle of Christ hath said, when he declared that though man was made subject to vanity-to be affected by the vain, deceitful and perishing things of timethis subjection is in hope of a deliverance that shall bring the spirit into the glorious liberty of angels-freedom from darkling doubt, from fear, from sensualism, and every earthly cleaving of the man. Man can never understand in the least the wisdom and goodness of his Maker in subjecting him to be affected by earth's vanities, till he feels and obeys divine hope within. The mere human languishes and desponds. Hope is the divinity to strengthen and encourage to send out the stars when the sun disappears. ,, What an important element, then, in our being is this tendency to place the mind in the futureto draw light from thence to illumine the present, and stretch the vision to catch the tokens of the bursting through of the sunbeams to dispel the clouds and turn the rain drops into forms of light and beauty. In the strength of this what toils are cheerfully endured, what sufferings are patiently borne, what deprivations are unmurmuringly felt, and amid the griefs of a lonely and gloomy chamber what beautiful images are called up, and what thick thronging fancies to delight come at the mind's bidding! So strong is this power that seldom does the heart despair; and even when called to mentally follow the deeply sinful to the throne of God, it cannot but look up in hope to meet a merciful and encouraging token that shall say all is not lost! God whispers in all this. He speaks of his love. He tells of the merciful provision in our nature by which we have inward strength to resist the otherwise overwhelming power of outward evil-adversity, pain, bereavement, and doctrines of error. Christian hope spiritualizes the imagination, so that on wings of light it soars beyond every croaking bird and darkling cloud, and above the chambers of the sun, to where its light is not needed. This hope harmonizes with the perfections of God-his infinite goodness, wisdom and power. It satisfies the mind and heart, for the loftiest intellect cannot conceive of a sublimer prospect than it presents, and the most expanded affection cannot ask for a more extended good. God that constituted the human mind and heart has ordained that the one, and the other, should not be satisfied with a hope that limits any perfection of his nature. And as there is no bird that hath pinions to fly beyond the height of space, so the human heart cannot extend its desires or hope beyond the good which God hath provided for mankind. Rest in this truth, and hope shall comfort thee, like angel whisperings. AIDS TO STABILITY OF FAITH. "A faith all made of love and light, STABILITY of faith is essential to a just appreciation of the comforts of christianity, and all through the records of our religion, this truth is recognised and enforced. An Apostle of Christ ! I speaks of it as "a good thing to have the heart established with grace," or thoroughly convinced of the truths of the Gospel and assured of their efficacy and power. And to whom is it, not a good thing? Who has not so felt the mysteries of our present being and the need of a higher and purer life, as not to acknowledge the supreme worth of stability of faith-a faith "all love and light," and the very spirit of inward energy and peace? I have no doubt but that some will look into this book who feel that could they but be established in the fervent belief of the universalian interpretations of christianity, they should be comforted indeed. I would fain aid such. I would speak to them here as I would were I at their side and favored with the privileges of a friend. I know that I have sympathy for their case, for I have seen the melancholy traces of wandering thought, as it has made the heart the home of many sorrows, clouding the light of the present with dark forebodings concerning the fu ture. How, then, shall unstable and vacillating minds become established in the just principles of christian truth? 1. They should understand that no doctrine which wars against benevolence can be true. All God's works are harmonious, and he is Love. All that He designs, pursues, and executes, must be marked with this characteristic, whether perceived by us or not. This is the first letter of the Gospel alphabet-the first principle of christian truth. Here, first of all, the mind must be fixed and the heart thoroughly established. We cannot find rest elsewhere; for of God it is said "He will rest in his love," and the mind of man, kindred to God, cannot rest in any other element. Love is the soul's element of life, joy, and activity. We, therefore, must not receive any doctrine which wars against benevolence, if we would find peace; for as there are implanted within us benevolent feelings-as upon the proper exercise of these depends in a great degree the happiness of our life, and as the great command is to cultivate them, it cannot be supposed that we can be settled and at rest while our minds lean to unmerciful doctrines; they come into the heart like envy, malice, and revenge, and stir up rebellion amid the affections and passions, and there is war within. Hence, we often hear of aged professors in partial doctrines having their "hope shaken;" hence also we have been told that some good and godly christians have embraced universalism because of the great benevolence of their dispositions, and unwittingly has thus a rich compliment been given to our |