good motives to be brought to act with power;-we mean the mind of a natural disposition cold, heavy, still, insensible. Motives work best, so to speak, in fire, that is, in the warmth and animation of the passions. Where these are faint, so will be the actuating principles. Therefore, an important admonition to persons partaking of such a natural state of mind is this,-where there is so little fire of the soul, let it not be wasted on trifling things; but applied and consecrated, as much as possible, to give efficacy to the best principles. When there are barely combustibles enough for offering a sacrifice, it were sacrilege to take them away for baubles and amusements.

But do we talk of sacred fire? There is fire enough in heaven for all our noblest uses! And it can be had thence! There are means of drawing it down. We want it as much as Elijah, when his altar and offering were all drenched in water. God has put into our hands that which will bring it down. And we must not close this subject without emphatically insisting, again, on the necessity of our using the greatest and mightiest of all means,—supplication to the Almighty. Our doing so or not, is the very test of our sincerity in the whole concern. It can be no "godly sorrow" that we are professing, if it does not direct and impel us to God for help. We believe that the Almighty looks mercifully on the serious emotions of the soul;-that he can impart to them any degree of power, compatible with the state of mortality. And he has promised the Divine energy of his Holy Spirit to those that ask him. Then what have we to say to him? "Oh! infuse into these convictions, these motives-thine own Omnipotence! Here is a solemn consideration that glimmers in my mind-make it lighten! Here are the motives which thou hast sent; they come near me,-come round me,-but seem not to touch me ;-there is surely something between ;-oh! · make

them break in upon me, though it were as a storm!

Here

is a languid, unavailing strife, of the better principles against an overpowering force. Oh! arm those principles with all that there is in heaven that belongs to them, and then my deadly oppressors will be driven away! Here is a wretched, corrupted nature, averse to thee and all that is good. Oh! lay thy hand upon it, thy new-creating handand it will be for ever thine! Here are means, which I am endeavouring to use-oh let me not labour in self-dependance-nor labour in vain!"

We conclude by but repeating, how evident it is, at every step, that there must be, for this concern, a habit of serious thought, or all is in vain. It might have been made, as it were, a distinct lesson on each particular that has been suggested" This can be of no use, unless you will exercise consideration upon it." It is it is a hard task to think gravely, and for a considerable continuance, and a frequent repetition; especially on subjects involving pain. But any degree of thought may suffice to show that such thinking is indispensable, in the concern we have been representing.

LECTURE LXVII.

DOUBLE-MINDEDNESS.

JAMES i. 8.

"A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways."

THE short contribution of the apostle James to the collec tion of sacred Scriptures is exceedingly remarkable for the bold and prominent exposure of the principles of human nature, as brought out in its practical modes and aspects of exhibition. He gives us the impression of his intimately inspecting real men, by classes and individuals;—of his having, somewhat like Socrates, met them, arrested them, examined them, near and close, and shaped his descriptions, lessons, lectures, and reproofs, on what was palpably before his sight. And as this was done under the fresh and penetrating light of Christianity, and with a severe application of its principles, the judgments incomparably exceed, in rectitude, in radical exposure, and in authority, all heathen wisdom.

He is remarkable for the grave force of single strokes of description and censure. Our text exhibits and condemns a character in a very few words, with a directness and clearness which leave no doubt that he had been actually looking at such a man. And we may observe that, at that time, in the commencing contest of Christianity with the whole world of evil, such an equivocal, undecided, half-andhalf man, if he made any pretensions to be for the cause of Christ, must have appeared a sadly ill-constructed creature. Of all things on earth, he would not do for a Christian

For that character and service a very different man indeed was wanted. But not now, neither, will this double-minded man be of any value to himself, to men, or to God.

Let us see whether the character thus briefly described in the text, may not admit of some useful illustration. And we would attempt it in the following order. First; (though it may be questioned whether this should be the first in order,) two or three general observations to show what a disadvantageous, what an unhappy, state of mind it is. Secondly; a few particular exemplifications of it. Thirdly; a brief suggestion of the means of remedy.

First, we have to observe on the miserable disadvantage, inefficiency, and, we may say, worthlessness, of such a state of mind for anything great and good. "Double-minded," "unstable in all" things. The words instantly convey the idea of a man disabled in the exercise of his powers,—whose principles are undecided,-who has no steady aim,—whose purposes are confused,-whose efforts have not the consistency and perseverance to be availing. "Unstable as water, he shall not excel.” A man, "between two opinions," must "halt."

Now, connect this with the consideration of the feebleness of the human powers at the best. Let those powers be in their best order, and exerted in the most steady, constant, and consistent manner possible,—and even then,— how slow and toilsome is the progress to any good,-what a labour to overcome difficulties,-what unsuccessfulness and repetition of efforts,-how little, comparatively, accomplished, in acquiring any personal improvement,-in effecting any social good. The most vigorous agents have mourned and been mortified, to see how little they had done; the most determined servants of God have confessed that they were unprofitable servants." Think of this, and then look at the man who expends his strength in frustrating his own

exertions, whose purposes and efforts do little more than counteract one another.

Again, connect the idea of this character with that of the shortness of life; short, in the most protracted instances,shorter still, in the far greater number. And how much of this inevitably consumed in little cares and occupations! and, in many instances, in grievances, pains, and languor! So that it is quite alarming to think how little space there is for the best exertions for the most important objects. But then, what do we think of a state of the mind wholly unfit for any such exertions and purposes at all? A man deliberating, devising, designing, and perplexing and confounding his designs,—and life is still hastening on ;-prosecuting a purpose a little while,—and then, hesitating, stopping,-life still going on! abandoning his design,-returning on his steps,—life still going forward; -attempting a different thing,—defeated again,-life still going;-trying to combine several things which cannot coalesce,—the result a failure, yet life going on; for a while spiritless for everything,-life all the while passing away. Oh! if he could but see time hastening away!

Think, again, what a dishonour and ignominy it is, for a man to be thus, as it were, his own opponent and frustrator. There is enough to oppose him,-to cross him, to obstruct him from without, were he ever so vigorously prepared for the great operations of duty. But he has within him the causes of defeat. He cannot put in order the active principles and powers within the citadel of his soul, to sally out in force against the external difficulties and opposition. He has there opinion dissenting from opinion,-motive disagreeing with motive,-passion conflicting with passion,purpose thwarting purpose. A consciousness that he is powerless, and that if he attempt to act, he will accomplish nothing. It is justly that he has a sense of shame and self