could not find rest or comfort; and there was nothing to relieve them from perplexity, or shame, or misery. But since they now have felt and understood the force of their baptismal promise; since they have turned to, and believed on, Jesus Christ with all their hearts; "behold, all things have become new!" They have found out that the world, with all its profits and pleasures, is vanity, if blindly trusted in; but to those who do in earnest look for better things, there most assuredly "remaineth a rest, appointed for the people of God."

With

respect to themselves, they have discovered a Redeemer, who has paid their ransom, and wrought their reconciliation with a Father in heaven. Him they have received, acknowledged, and obeyed accordingly; and they have found his gracious words made good: he has given rest unto their souls. Thenceforward they have grown in grace, in knowledge, and in holiness. Many signs are presently at hand to show it: they have now learnt to love the will of God, and wait upon his ordinances. Prayer has become to them a source of comfort and delight; no idle form, or task unwillingly performed, but verily their daily armour of defence against temptation, and in the seasons of distress: exceeding help, and health, and pleasure, have they found in it. God's worship, and his holy day and house, have grown habitually dear to them; they have learnt, too, to seek the Lord at his own holy table. In short, they have in all things learnt to "love righteousness, and to hate iniquity; and therefore God, even their God, hath anointed them with the oil of gladness above their fellows."-(Ps. xlv. 7, 8.) "The bones which were before broken, now rejoice."―(Ps. li. 8.) They have been willing

to perform God's will; and they have learnt, according to Christ's saying, "of the doctrine, that it is of God."-(John vii. 17.)

Christian brethren, as you love the hope of your Christian calling-as you would cultivate, in pureness of heart, social and spiritual excellence-as you would enjoy in due season the happiness of heaven,-forget not, neglect not, to pray heartily for the assistance of that Divine Spirit which shall enable you to understand the things of God; and by understanding, to love them; and by loving, to pursue them.

As you are weary of the evil passions and cross humours of this life; as you feel, painfully feel, its burthens, and groan under its distresses; pray for that heavenly light which shall enable you to perceive clearly, and to be persuaded firmly, that there are better things elsewhere than this life affords: that there is a land, where the wicked shall for ever cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest; not merely in the silence of the grave, and in a rest where all things are forgotten; but in a place where love, and peace, and holiness, are the prevailing dispositions and the ordinary enjoyments; where every thing shall work together for the perfecting of happiness to them who shall, by faith and prayer, have laid sure hold upon the entrance thereinto-even on the Saviour Jesus Christ, who is "the way, the truth, and the life."

TRACTS IN MONTHLY SUCCESSION.

The Spiritual Mind. REV. J. H. NEwman, M.A.

The Souls of the Blessed. BISHOP Mant.

The Voice of the Church.

AUTHOR OF "DOCTOR

HOOKWELL."

The Zeal of Religion. BISHOP SELWYN.

Earnest Prayer. REV. CHARLES A. HEURTLEY, M.A.

J. Rider, Printer, 14, Bartholomew Close, London.

Schism and Unity.

2 THESS. iii. 16.

"Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. ""

Of the enemies that beset the Christian Church, schism is one of the most cunning, and most dangerous. Once throw off the sacred authority by which the truths of religion have been handed down, and what possible safeguard have we that those truths shall not suffer by addition, subtraction, or perversion? It is because of the melancholy results of separation, of the perversion of doctrine publicly, and the estrangement of kind and lovely feelings individually, that we must guard against the very entrance of schisms and divisions, and beseech all by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-a name never pleaded in vain-to speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions. (1 Cor. i. 10.) Schism is an evil not to be tampered with; not to be mollified, and excused, and argued away. We must look at the monster in its very face, and this with an apostolic eye. Its tendency is to overturn the kingdom of Christ, and thus the wicked world has an interest in the labours of every schismatic. See what our Lord said, as recorded in Matt. xii. 25. Schism is a work of the flesh: see 1 Cor. iii. 3; Gal. v. 19, 20; 2 Tim. iv. 3; 2 Pet. ii. 10; Jude 8, 11-18; James iii. 13. Schism shuts out from the kingdom of heaven: see Gal. v. 20, 21; John xv. 4; Hebrews x. 25; 2 Thess. iii. 6; Rom. xvi. 17; 2 Tim. iii. 10; Matt. xviii. 17. Nothing is so injurious to personal religion as a schismatical spirit: indeed, it