ON ADULATION AND FLATTERY. Tae painful circumstances which have recently occurred with reference to some of our most valuable Societies, suggested to a meeting of Ministers the importance of inquiring whether Adulation or Calumny are most injurious to the Christian. The individual by whom the question was proposed being prevented from attending at the discussion, transmitted the following important observations. “ Which is most injurious to the Christian--Adulation or Calumny?'' Were I present with you, I should say something to the following effect. The Terms are so well under stood, that it is hardly necessary to define them. By Adulation 1 understand flattery or high panegyric and compliment; ascribing to the party addressed good qualities which he does not possess, or exaggerating the degree in which he actually shares them. By Calumny, false accusation or slander; attributing to the defamed evils of which he is not guilty, or aggravating those with which he is chargeable, to a high degree of criminality. The inquiry intimates, that both of these may be injurious to the Christian. Adulation may be so in five respects. 1. As it fosters the natural pride of the heart. 2. As it conduces to self-decep. tion, and to the conclusion that we possess eminence in those virtues and graces, of which we may be almost destitute, or in which we are very defective. 3. As it throws us off our guard, and thus facilitates the success of temptation. 4. As it has a tendency to abate our diligence in the correction of our faults, and the advancement of our graces; and, 5. As it incites us to imitate the example of the flatterer, as a pass. port to the good opinion of others. Calumny may prove hurtful. 1. By robbing us of mental peace. 2. By irritating our unholy passions. 3. By conducing to a misanthropic, an abject and desponding state of mind. 4. By urging us to a vituperative retaliation. 5. By absorbing our thoughts when alone, and distracting us from useful and benevolent engagements. 6. By partially injuring our fair reputation; and, ✓ By bringing guilt on our consciences, owing to our own resentful feelings or procedures, and thus grieving that Holy Spirit by whom we are sealed to the day of redemption. In contrasting the two it appears to me, that Adulation is more injurious than Calumny. Calumny forces us to inquire whether there is any just ground for the accusation or not, and often induces a salutary suspicion of ourselves. It frequently makes us cautious, watchful, prudent, circumspect, and puts us on our guard, that we fall not into those evils for wbich we are defamed. It awakens distrust in the creature, and thus in a measure arms us against the temptations which he may throw in our way. It incommodes and vexes us, but thus convinces us that this world is not our place of rest, and like the thorns and briars of the wilderness, makes us hasten our progress to a world, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. In a word, if the allegations be unjust in toto, we become conformed to the example of him who was despised and rejected of men ; an opportunity is given us of showing a forgiving spirit, and we are urged to repose on his all-suffi. becomes indifferent, drops bis mancient grace, who can enable us to tle, and thus looses his covering say, I can suffer all things through and protection. Cbrist who strengtheneth me. I should then have specially On the contrary, Adulation, fal- applied these observations to Miling in with the corrupt bias of our nisters of the Gospel, and closed nature, nurses our depravity; puts with some remarks to guard us us off our guard, lulls our suspicions against the injurious evils of these and doubts, which might be bene- two, and pointed out some means ficial in promotirg self-examina. by which the curse might be turned tion; hoodwinks us, that we discern into a blessing. not our imperfections; enfeebles Pardon, my good Sir, these hasty us, that we do not labour to cut off observations; and if you think them the right hand or pluck out the worth a perusal, communicate them right eye. In short, it places us to your circle. The little spark may on enchanted ground, where we are just serve to kindle the great fire, liable to lie down and fall asleep, I send them, to prove that my and thus become a more easy prey heart is with you in the full flow to our spiritual enemies. To illus. of its Catholic love; that I am not trate my meaning by a well known unmindful of your engagements; fable, Calumny, like Æolus, blows that I prize your meetings as means on the Traveller, but the stormy of improvement, and that you all wind makes him draw his cloak share in my best wishes for your closer, and speed his way: Adula progressive sanctity, peace, and tion, like Sol, shines out upon him, usefulness. till relaxed by the warm beams, be J. C. J. A RAMBLE AMONG THE MOUNTAINS OF SCOTLAND. The Christian traveller as he pro- among whom I was going; having ceeds on the journey of life, while been in Scotland only a few weeks, he feels conscious that he is under and that period was spent in the the care of an overruling Provi- town of Scottish Principality.' dence, may nevertheless at times It was one of those fine, clear, be permitted to expose himself to starry, freezing mornings, such as danger, that the power of God may Scotland is frequently blessed with be the more evidently displayed in at that season of the year, the his preservation and deliverance. ground being dry and hard rendered The following extract from the it peculiarly well adapted for a long letter of a Friend is a striking walk. Mine, as you may suppose, illustration of the above remark. was sufficiently solitary, and as I With the intention of being at left the suburbs of that romantic Berwick-on-Tweed on Christmas city, I could not help turning back day, I left Edinburgh Dec. 23. I to take what the nature of my determined to proceed on foot, first situation and the rashness of my because I am partial to the exercise; enterprise were calculated to awakand secondly, that mode of travel en a fear) might prove a last fareling afforded me an opportunity of well. My mind reverted to Him seeing many parts of the country under whose care I felt myself to which any other way would have be. Yet this unnecessary exposure entirely prevented. I set off at six of myself to danger made me more o'clock in the morning, alike igno. than once tremble, lest that care rant of my road, as of the people should be accompanied with a severe punishment, for I remem- the descent of the opposite ideas bered the admonition, " Thou shalt which completely shut from my not tempt the Lord thy God.” view the distant, yet cheering pros The open expanse of country pect of the town I had left. I now lay before me; and resolving to take beheld myself a lonely, solitary my course a few miles round by wanderer, through a country, quite, the sea shore, for the purpose of unknown to me; and could not seeing a spot famous in history, help feeling somewhat of the power and peculiarly interesting to the of that text, which, since the morn-, Christian, I mean Preston Pans, ing, had continually pressed itself where the memorable Colonel Gar upon my mind -“ Thou shalt not diner fell, at the head of his troops, tempt the Lord thy God.” Howin defence of the liberty of his ever, I was conscious that this was country; I quickly lost, in reflec- not the time to gain any thing by tions upon things past and future, yielding to fear or apprehension, the recollection of my immediately and therefore commenced my as-. present situation. I reached Pres- cent of the second hill, in the dis-, ton Pans about half-past eight tance of which, from the former, o'clock, and after making myself I had been much deceived by its acquainted with all its interesting apparent nearness over the valley. localities, proceeded to Haddington, I had spent much time in this about seven miles further, (making ascent, and when I reached the in all 17) which place I reached top, found that the moon had arisen about eleven o'clock, took some to light me on my way. The stars refreshment, and remained nearly likewise began to shine, the cold two hours ; after which I again set blast of a wintry night cominenced, off for the conclusion of that day's and the effects of the frost appeared journey towards a place, called sparkling on the surface of the Lorgformacus, about thirteen miles heath, as it received the rays of a distant, which I hoped to reach bright and full moon. On arriving before the evening was far advanced. at the summit of the second hill, Ignorant of the nature of the road I turned round to see if there was upon which I was about to enter even a distant view to be obtained I set off, without any provision to of the place to which I was hastenallay my hunger and support my ing, but all was desolate, whether. strength, or even the additional I looked before or behind : as yet clothing of a great coat to shield I had not met with a single creature me from the'cold. of any kind, not even a hare, or a After leaving Haddington, I en fox, or a bird ; and now upon the tered upon that long chain of waste top of such a high mountain, on and lonely mountains which divide looking around and seeing nothing nearly the whole of the southern but barren heath, I felt my heart part of Scotland, and form a com. almost sink within me, and more plete section of Roxburghshire, than ever perceived that I was a I mean the Lammemuir Hills. lonely pilgrim, upon the face of Having been directed to pursue this earth; and how vain would be a straight forward course, I fol- all human grandeur, power, wislowed the only trackway visible dom, or might, at the present through the heath, with which moment, had God, in just anger, these mountains were covered, and left me to the consequences of my this apparently trodden by so few own presumption. I descended as to be traced with difficulty. I with a heavy heart, in the feeble soon lost sight of all human habi. hopes of finding, at the remote tations, and having reached the side of the opposite hill, the much summit of the first eminence, began desired place for rest. It now began to grow very late, the damp certainty of being frozen to death of the night dew soon penetrated made me hesitate to trust myself my shoes, and the cold bleak blast to sleep in such a situation. I gave of the mountain air nearly froze one last despairing look around, me as I walked; I was also much when a light flashed upon my eye fatigued and faint with hunger, for from the side of the opposite hill. I had eaten nothing since twelve I watched it, as you may suppose, o'clock, and the meal I had taken in with great anxiety, half fearing to the middle of the day was the only discover only a “ Will o' the refreshment I had received since Wisp;” but perceiving that it rethe evening before. Many and mained fixed and immovable when various were the thoughts which I moved, I determined, at all risks, now presented themselves to my to face every danger, and seek for mind, but all were lost in the one shelter. I accordingly descended impatient desire to reach Longfor- into the valley, leaped over a small macus. I descended into, and ravine which ran through it, and crossed the valley and began to made all the speed towards what ascend the third mountain. When my delighted senses every moment I had reached about its middle made more certain was a solitary height, judge what was my horror house. I had no hesitation at and dismay, to find the road divid. knocking at the door, when waiting ing into the form of a fork, so as for some reply, no answer was to leave me perfectly at a loss as to given! I knocked again, and at which I should choose. There was last a fine tall comely looking no passing stranger to direct me Scotch woman opened the door, right, no direction post, no stone, and inquired what I wanted, I no house where I could inquire asked her how far it was from the which was my direct road. Had place I left: “ Five miles," she I been on horseback, I might have replied. And how far from Longleft the animal to his own instinct to formacus ?” “ Four miles and guide me, but was now entirely at three-quarters.” “ Is there any a loss what to do? I looked atten. house between this and that?” tively at both ways, and took the “No! this is the only house beone which I supposed was the most tween them twa!” “What kind straight forward in the line in of miles are they?” I asked. “ They which I was going. This led me are the auld Scotch miles !” “ Can for some distance under shelter of you give me a lodging for the the brow of the hill, until suddenly night?” “ Na’! na'! the gude turning round its verge, the wind, man is na' at hame, and I can na' which had arisen since I had got let ye in !” “ But I shall die if into the valley, now came with you do not !” “I can na' let ye such a piercing blast, that it quite in.” “ But you must, for I cannot drove me back exhausted, and nearly die in the cold, and you must let spent with cold, fatigue and hunger. me in?” She looked at me for a I looked round to see if there was minute or two, and then said, any “covert from the storm,” or “ Weel, a weel, come ye in, come “ hiding place from the tempest;" ye in, we maun see what we can but it only reminded me of the do for ye;" and so saying, she unwise man's conclusion, when he closed the door, and introduced me saw the world in a similar light— to one of the most agreeable sights " Vanity of vanities, all is vanity !” I ever witnessed, a fine large fire, At length I perceived what appeared a clean, comfortable room, for the to me to be a tomb-stone, I went house had but one room, and four over to it, and was half determined or five little bairns playing, or readto lay down under it, when the ing, or writing about the floor. I on did not long wait for ceremony, and desired me to eat ; a command but sat down before the fire, and I most readily obeyed without furtaking off my shoes, made myself ther delay. As soon as I had as comfortable as I could, and then finished my supper, I lay back in began my observations upon sur my chair, and it was not long berounding objects. The room was fore I lost all recollection of either exceeding neat and clean, not larger fear or of gratitude in a profound than necessary, but still large and sweet sleep, out of which I was enough to accommodate the family, roused by feeling myself soundly and, at any rate, large enough to shaken by the shoulder, and hearaccommodate me for the night, ing the voice of the woman calling which was the chief point of inter- out to me in her own style, “ Ye est to me! There were two beds are muckle fashed wi' travelling in the room, placed lengthways far, gang sleep wi’ the bairnsacross the gable end, one for the gang sleep wi' the bairns.” I did shepherd and his wife, (for it was as she desired me without hesitaa shepherd's but) and the other tion, for throwing off my outer for his little family; the tables clothing, I tumbled into the bed were good and clean, but small, among four or five of these young which I was sorry for, because I children so unceremoniously, that had some idea of sleeping on one it was a wonder some of them of them, had it been large enough. were not smothered, for fatigue But to return. When I entered So overpowered every other senand sat down so silently and sud- sation that I could only mentally denly, as you may conceive, I lift up my heart, and commit mybecame an object of general atten. self into His hands whose kindness tion; the bairns laid by their tasks towards me had been so strikingly or their sports to look at me, and to displayed. I fell into a sound and see and hear all about me, and the uninterrupted sleep, until about gude-wife sat down opposite me, no seven o'clock on the following doubt, not perfectly easy in her morning, when I was awakened by mind as to her visitor at that hour. a curious kind of feeling as if someWe remained silent for some time, thing was crawling over my face, till at length she inquired how far head, and upper half of my bodyI had come that day. I told her the kind of sensation can only be from Edinburgh, and where I was understood by the relation of the going, and all about my journey, fact. I instinctively put forth my which seemed to calm her appre hand to catch hold of one of these bensions. She left the room, and moving creatures (for there ap. soon returned with some meal, with peared to be several) as it was which she began to make some presumptuously approaching my porridge, and I was in some hopes face, and to my surprise found in that her kindness was about to my grasp the hand of one of the extend itself further than merely little bairns, who having been fast admitting me into the house. asleep when I went to bed, could However, when it was made, she but ill conceive in the morning began to feed the children, and what sort of a creature had come finally dismissed them to their bed among them; and as it was perat the end of the room. She again fectly dark, they trusted to the went out and returned with some powers of tangibility to discover its more meal, and a bowl, of (what nature. The child on being thus appeared to me, at that time) the seized, cried out so stoutly, that I finest milk I had ever seen. Having very quickly let go my hold. As accomplished her second task, she it was now quite time for the placed porridge and milk lefore me, commencement of my second day's |