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ON THE DUTIES OF A CHRISTIAN MINISTER. YOUR correspondent aλnons has my sincere thanks for calling the attention of your readers to a subject of paramount importance,the want of ministerial success. order to ministerial success, there are three general points which particularly claim our serious attention; and in proportion as these are attended to, our ministerial success (generally speaking) may, on the grounds of reason and Scripture, be fairly expected.

but ours is the case of the pilot who is denied the privilege of perishing alone. Not so the faithful pastor; he makes the road more narrow for himself than for his flock. He not only preserves a character void of offence, but also shining in all graces and virtues.

The first general point is, that the Gospel be preached clearly, faithfully, earnestly, and affectionately. The true doctrine of our church is, that every man's person must be accepted in Christ, before he can do any thing pleasing and acceptable to God-that is, he must be considered as a friend, and not as an enemy; as one reconciled to God through the death of his Son, and not as far off and alienated from him. In fine, that no one can glorify God by his works until he be restored to the favour of God, through that faith which justifies his person. This must be constantly held forth as the only ground of a sinner's hope, without which all our works are nothing worth, not proceeding from a proper source.

The second point which merits our particular attention is, that our preaching be followed by a correspondent example. It was a proverb amongst the ancients,

"Si vis me flere, dolendum est primum

ipsi tibi:"

"If you wish me to weep, you must first weep yourself." And however clearly, faithfully, earnestly, and affectionately we may preach, if we do not evince a coincidence of example, we are said to resemble the foolish builder, who is described as pulling down with one hand what he erects with the other. The cases, however, are not parallel, as he by his folly can merely injure himself

"He tries each art, reproves each dull delay,

Allures to brighter worlds, and leads the way."

The third general point is, that . the seed sown be daily watered by fervent and agonizing prayer. That the Supreme Being knoweth our wants, and willeth our happiness, are principles too evident to admit of a doubt. Notwithstanding this, he hath appointed prayer as a medium through which he may bestow his blessings. To expect them, therefore, without this medium, is presumption, similar to that of expecting his protection should we voluntarily run into danger. Various are the records in Scripture of the amazing efficacy of prayer, particularly in the characters of Abraham, of Moses, and of David. There we see evils averted which appeared almost inevitable, and blessings conferred which it seemed almost presumption to expect. But in order to pray aright we must also pray in faith, and even consider our Heavenly Father a debtor by promise. " Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

My Christian brethren, let us never for a moment forget that we shall one day be examined, what we have done with the Gospel which was given us to preach; what is become of the souls committed to our care. And if sinners will continue obstinate and impenitent, after all our pious cares, labours, and prayers, their blood will not be at our door: our work is left with the Lord, and our judgment with our God.

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THE POOR-HOUSE PENITENT.PART I.

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The impression which this scene made on the mind of the chief magistrate was not obliterated on the removal of the unhappy object from his presence: there was something in a scene so affecting that interested the best feelings of his heart; and while he felt much for her body, ere long to become food for worms, he was far more concerned for the deathless principle within-her soul.

Under the influence of these feelings, he called on an elderly female Christian friend, to whom he related the above particulars, and requested her to visit the object of his care and solicitude. On its being suggested to him that some comforts were necessary for her, which the limited means of the poor-house might not allow, he immediately, with his characteristic benevolence, left with her a sum of money, to be disposed of as the case required.

As the humane and benevolent led out in the same manner in which Mr. sat on the bench of she entered, and conducted to the judicature in a large and populous poor-house. town in the county of- fulfiling the arduous duties of a chief magistrate, a young woman of an interesting appearance, bearing the symptoms of a person in an advanced stage of consumption, was one morning led into the town-hall, supported by two females, the wives of two sailors who had fought in defence of their country. There was that in her manners and appearance which immediately produced a favourable impression, united with Christian commiseration, on the mind of the worthy magistrate. It was not difficult to perceive that she had been accustomed to associate with those unfortunate and unhappy creatures who parade our streets after the dusk of the evening, ensnaring and entrapping the youthful and inexperienced into the paths of sin and ruin. The purport of her visit was, to entreat the clemency of the magistrates to allow her an asylum in the parish poor-house, there to await the issue of her complaint. Her parish she stated to be upwards of three hun*dred miles distant, which it was impossible she could have reached in her then state. If she sufficiently recovered, she should wish to be passed on; but the conviction of her mind was, that the days of her sojourning here were fast drawing to a close, and that soon she should be numbered with the dead. After some conversation between the gentlemen on the bench, it was determined that her request should be granted, as it could too easily be perceived that disease had made rapid inroads on her frame-that she was fast sinking into the grave. On making known their determination to the poor applicant, she expressed in strong terms her gratitude to them for their kindness, and was then

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Such are the circumstances which led to the first interview between Mary and the pious Mrs. H. who instantly perceived the hand of God in the event, and thankfully embraced the opportunity, in seeking the eternal welfare of her interesting charge. No time was lost; but the same afternoon, accompanied by a female friend, she proceeded to the poor-house, where, on inquiry, they were directed up a flight of stairs to the sick room; on entering which they perceived, at the upper end, a young woman of a pallid countenance sitting at a table reading a Bible.. Supposing her to be the object of their search, they went forward and addressed her. On inquiry, however, she informed them she was not the person, but pointed to a bed, at the foot of which sat poor Mary who was visibly surprised and agi

tated on finding herself accosted by strangers. She made an effort to rise; but such was the extreme debility of her frame, that she sank down, a hectic flush overspreading her face. Unlike the generality of those unfortunate females, her dress, which was remarkably clean and neat-her manners, which were distinguished for simplicity and modesty and her countenance, which was peculiarly interesting, exhibiting the marks of heartfelt concern and sorrow,-all tended to draw the hearts of the visitors most powerfully towards her, and awaken feelings of an indescribable nature. Yes! to perceive a young creature, not more than twenty-four years of age, a prey to disease, without the most distant prospect of recovery, rapidly sinking beneath its baneful influence, and hastening to her eternal state, must awaken feelings of no ordinary kind; but to view her, in such a condition, a stranger to the scriptural character of God, ignorant of her own state, and resting upon some confused religious notions of the mercy of Jehovah, must have affected the mind of a child of God in a manner impossible to express. -But to proceed: I shall first subjoin a short account of Mary's former life, as related by her to the visitors, and then communicate some particulars as connected with her illness and death.

Mary -> the eldest of three children, was born in the north of England. Scarcely had she attained her seventh year, when it pleased God to remove her mother hence. Her father soon after leaving his home, her brother and sister were removed to the workhouse, while Mary was received into the family of a maternal aunt, by whom she was brought up, without any care being taken of her morals-no attempt made to teach her to read, or

to implant right principles in her mind.

Here she continued until she was fifteen; at which early period, having become acquainted with a young man for whom she formed a strong attachment, she was induced to leave her aunt's house, and came with him to this town, where she had not been long ere he deserted her.

Drawn aside from the paths of virtue, in a large sea-port town, surrounded by temptation, and without any friends to warn or assist her, no wonder that, thus circumstanced, she sank deeper and deeper into sin, and, becoming an inmate in a house of ill fame, settled into a regular course of iniquitous living. Thus she continued, walking in the "broad road that leadeth to destruction" both of soul and body in hell, for nine years, when the tender Shepherd of Israel, in rich mercy and compassion, was pleased to arrest her in her career of sin and wickedness, by the infliction of a painful and trying disorder, which should prove the means of rescuing her as a brand from the eternal burnings. She continued in this state for two years, gradually sinking; often determining to throw herself on the mercy of the magistrates, to obtain admittance into the poor-house, but was as often dissuaded by those about her, who told her that all application would be in vain. Her weakness of body, however, rapidly increasing, and her conscience becoming alarmed from the prospect of approaching dissolution, she resolved to escape from the haunts of iniquity, which she was at length enabled, through the assistance of the women before mentioned, to accomplish. success which attended her effort has been already related.

(To be continued.)

ALPHA.

The

THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE RIGHTEOUS.

Blessed are the people that know the joy-
ful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in
the light of thy countenance.
PSALM lxxxix. 15.

This world has justly been compared to a wilderness. Each individual in it is but a passing traveller, fast hastening to an eternity of happiness or woe. The journey of life with each will soon be over. But in all respects the children of God have the advantage here, as well as hereafter. They have, indeed, to travel the howling waste through many a thorny path: their spirits often tire and faint by the way; but they lean upon an Almighty Arm,

which is able to sustain their totter

ing steps and by the eye of faith they can discern (though afar off) the heavenly Canaan to which they are bound; and when safely landed there, they will know assuredly, that, however rugged the road may have been, they were led by a right way to that city of habitation, where neither sin nor sorrow can reach them.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! How munificently is their table spread in the wilderness! how frequently does their cup overflow! The heavenly manna is scattered with an unsparing hand around the dwellings of the righteous; waters break out on the right hand and on the left they see the glory of the Lord and the excellency of their God. In the Gospel an ample provision is made for fallen man: it reveals glad tidings of a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord: it speaks of Him who has visited and redeemed his people by shedding his most precious blood; who made his soul an offering for sin, and became sin for them, that He might present them faultless before the presence of his Father with exceeding joy. He it is who has borne their griefs and carried their sorrows. He was smitten of God and afflicted; and by his JUNE 1825.

stripes they are healed. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness! For us men and for our salvation, the Lord of life and glory forsook the bosom of his Father, came down from heaven, and took upon him our nature, that he might redeem us from death and the grave, and from everlasting perdition. By the death and merits of a crucified Saviour, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice has been made for sin. In him alone the remedy is found; and to him alone must we look for pardon and remission of our sins. In the contemplation of this glorious subject have we not abundant cause of rejoicing? Who would be unmindful of that gracious invitation to the Gospel feast; "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money come ye, buy and eat; yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." The Spirit and the bride say, Come; and let him that heareth say, Come; and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely."

Amidst the sorrows and perplexities of this life by which we are surrounded (and the children of God have commonly no ordinary share), the soul is often refreshed with the cheering sound of the Gospel. The word of life is dispensed from Sabbath to Sabbath; and in the sanctuary we think of the loving-kindness of the Lord. Every returning season of worship is as the touch of the angel to Elijah, saying, "Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for thee." Without the means of grace, the journey of life would indeed be too great for those who are burdened with its cares and surrows; but in the strength of these means, with the Lord's blessing, they are enabled to travel forward as Elijah did to Mount Horeb : "They go from strength to strength: every one of them in Zion appeareth before God."

2 F

ANNA.

REVIEW OF BOOKS.

The Origin, Progress, and existing Circumstances of the London Society for promoting Christianity amongst the Jews. An Historical Inquiry. By the Rev. H. H. Norris, M.A., Perpetual Curate of Hackney, &c. Pp. 572 and clxxx. Mawman: 1825.

WE are sometimes called to the unwelcome drudgery of toiling through works which ought never to have been written, and to the painful task of recording opinions which may, to some persons at least, appear harsh and severe. Our consolation, however, is, that in passing an honest judgment we may occasionally relieve our readers from an irksome task; and may sometimes, perhaps, though we fear but seldom, induce an author to reconsider his opinions before he publishes them to the world.

Such have been our feelings while wading through the volume before us; and thus unfavourable must be the decision pronounced upon its contents. It professes to be "an historical inquiry." We are therefore authorized to conclude, from the title-page, that somewhat like a true account, and a fair statement, of the origin, progress, and existing circumstances of the London Society should be made ;that, if mistakes and disappointments, if unwise measures and disastrous results, are recorded, at least the honest and well-meant attempts, the patient exertions, and the enlarged liberality, which have distinguished the Society's career, should meet with some favourable notice. But, on the contrary, the "Historical Inquiry" is all on one side. It is a record of faults, and mistakes, and errors, and wrong motives, and unhappy results: as though the writer's only object was to censure and calumniate all who engaged in what every impar tial observer must pronounce a benevolent undertaking, however he

might consider it as hopeless in its object or erroneous in its management.

Mr. Norris indeed begins his work by declaring

The utmost that we can do towards the

conversion of the Jews to Christianity, is unquestionably amongst the most obvious of those duties which we owe to aliens from our own household of faith: and so many and so affecting are the incentives to it, which the inspired writers of both Testaments have put forth, that there is no Christian enterprise so capable of being made at once both diffusely and deeply interesting. It would have been an oversight, therefore, without a parallel in the annals of proselytism, if, at a "time" when" Britain "is panegyrized as the "distinguished seat of spiritual activity," these most prominent and attractive objects of religious zeal, had not excited strong emotions at their affecting state; nay, had not induced the organization of some plan for their restoration.-P. 1.

After such a declaration, which might have led a stranger to Mr. Norris to expect a very different volume, he then proceeds to assign the reason and the projected plan of his inquiries in the following paragraphs.

But the glaring facts that no less a sum than 135,000l. has been disbursed by this Society within the sixteen years of its existence, and that it has progressively forced on its resources and expenditure till they have amounted to near 12,500l. per annum, whilst at the same time there are vital importance to us, pining for assistance, spiritual necessities amongst ourselves of which they supplicate in vain-these facts, I say, staring us in the face, irresistibly provoke inquiry into the validity of its pretensions, with a special reference to its claim upon Churchmen to the support which it derives from them. For, whilst within our own communion the means of public worship and of religious instruction are so deplorably defective, what Churchmen contribute to it is the children's BREAD, and therefore, to warrant the alienation, not only must the emergency be great, but the parties to be benefited urgent for relief, and disposed to hearty cooperation; as also must the dispensers be very circumspect in the means and instruments which they employ; in the husbandry of its resources; and in certifying bears due proportion to those privations themselves that the amelioration produced which, had priority of claim regulated the

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