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but is a legacy, which all bequeath to succeeding generations: and it will exist, and act, and enlarge its sphere of operation, for ages and ages to come!

We feel the effects of what was done by Abraham, Moses, David, Alexander, and Cæsar-men, who lived and acted in a distant country, and twenty, thirty, forty centuries ago!—and generations a bundred ages hence, and in a hundred different lands, may feel the effects of our actions! yes, that influence, which is now comparatively feeble and limited, may, in some distant age, have attained to a greatness and territorial extent, of which we have now no conception.

For an illustration of this, consider the case of CLAUDIUS BUCHANAN, the author of the Christian Researches in Asia," and a great promoter of benevolent enterprises. When Buchanan was a child. his influence was like that of other children, It was limited. When be embarked- for India, it was still limited. But on his return from India thence, it acted on a large portion of the British empire At his death, the sphere of its operation was still wider. Multitudes, in this western world, then felt its awakening energy. It has survived

his dissolution; and has been spreading ever since. It has identified itself with that of most of the charitable institutions of the day. And it will continue to enlarge its sphere, till, in some remote period, it may act on the vast population of the globe.

The same may be said of Scott, the commentator on the bible; and of Luther. and Augustine, and St. Paul. They are dead, and their bodies have crumbled into dust; but their influence lives, and is daily extending.

And, though our influence may be less powerful, than was theirs when alive; and though it may enlarge the sphere of its operation less rapidly; yet it may last as long. and act as really, and come at length to the same universality. Nor will it alter the case materiality, if our names are known but a little way from our homes, and are soon forgotten by all the world.

-After having illustrated my subject, I cannot forbear making one or two reflections, which naturally rise from the illustration.

1. Of how great importance is this power of exerting an influence upon others. It is a talent of prodigious value. Even were it to last only during this short life, yet, with such facility, and constancy, and energy is it exerted, that it would, even then, be of vast moment. But we have seen, that it will survive us and our generation; that it is a bequest, which whether rich or poor, we must all make to future ages.

Upon the rulers of the people, and the ministers of the gospel, a thousand eyes are fixed; to them a thousand ears are listening. They act directly, and with great force, upon a multitude of families at once; and their influence, whether good or bad, will be transmitted through many channels, and into numberless places, and through countless ages.

But no private station can render this talent unimportant. No retirement can destroy it. The prisoner in the dungeon, cut off from intercourse with all but his keeper, exerts an influence on him, and he on others, and they on a thousand more. The mothers of Samuel and Timothy, of Doddridge and Newton, in the secrecy of domestick retirement, unobserved by the world, taught their little ones the great truths of the bible. They could have had no suspicion how important were their labours. But the event has shown, that they were kindling a flame, the benign radiance of which was to extend to other ages, and over a great part of the world. "Great effects often result from little causes." The "widow's mite" may touch some secret spring, on which depends, in the providence of God, a series of events, destined ultimately to pour light from heaven upon a thousand or a million souls. It may be the first in a series (perhaps a long series) of causes, that shall result in the conversion of a sinner, the salvation of a soul from death, and the raising up of some great promoter of true piety, whose praise, like that of Latimer or Leighton, shall be in all the churches, for a great while to come.

O had they, who contribute of their property or labour for the propagation of the gospel, an eye like God to see the end from the beginning; and a mind like his, to comprehend the relations and tendencies, and the remote and ever-growing consequences, of benevolent deeds; there would be a motive to perseverance, which would act upon them constantly, delightfully, and irresistibly.

2. How solemn is a residence in this world. Whatever we do or say in the sight or hearing of others, we are always liable to be producing changes in somebody, which will take hold on the judgment of the great day, and be felt for ever! And such an influence is even now abroad; and is acting, beyond our control, upon relatives, and friends, and acquaintances, and upon multitudes whom we never And it has taken such a strong hold upon the world, that the stroke, which lays us silent in the tomb, will not materially affect it. It will exist in youthful vigour; and fly from man to man, and from kingdom to kingdom, and from generation to generation; and, from far distant ages, may lift up its voice, like a spirit of darkness, or an angel of glory!

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we do? Obey the Divine Employ your money, and Then will you leave be

If such be our situation here, what shall law. Let that be the rule of your life. labours, and prayers, with a view to it. hind you a fountain of good, the streams of which will be perennial; the source of joy, and perhaps of salvation, to thousands in succeeding ages.

And who is there, that would not desire, if ever admitted to the world of glory, there to welcome, from age to age, immortal souls, who will ascribe their salvation to the blessing of God on his influence? Who is there, that would enter heaven, and, through the vast regions of bliss, and through countless ages, never find one happy soul, who

was saved through his instrumentality? If there be any such distinction, in that blissful world, as that of riches and poverty, such a one must be accounted poor indeed. He has it is true, escaped the dangers of this tempestuous ocean; but, like some ship-wrecked mariner, he has escaped with nothing but his life.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE.

In a review of Bishop Dehon's Sermons in the British Critick for September last, which is copied into the Christian Journal for December, there are some observations on the support of the American Episcopate, to which I wish to call the attention of your readers. After mentioning the consecration of Bishop Seabury, in 1784, and that of Bishops Provost and White, in 1787, the reviewer proceeds as follows. "From these small beginnings the American Church has, in less than 40 years, attained to its present extent and regular form; and promises to increase daily in numbers, as well as in learning, piety, and virtue. It is supported, of course, as our own Church (the English) originally must have been, by the voluntary liberality of its members; and that liberality is assuming a shape which will in process of time, put the hierarchy in possession of a suitable and permanent endowment." To this paragraph is annexed the following note. "It is not generally known, that before the American war, a large sum (we have heard 20,000l.) was left by a Mr Paul Fisher, of Bristol, towards establishing Episcopacy in America, which has never been claimed.” The concluding expression seems to imply that when properly claimed it will be paid. If so, it certainly deserves to be looked after; and I cannot but hope that the approaching general convention, in May, will take the necessary measures to institute an inquiry. I have had the curiosity to calculate the increase of this sum at 5 per cent in the ratio of compound interest from 1775 to 1823, 48 years, and if I am correct in the calculation, it will amount at the end of this year to 218,4411. 7s. 3d. or $970,850 $; nearly a million of dollars!

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If the executors of the will have taken the proper care of the bequest, it will be seen that the Fisher fund for the support of the American Episcopate, would not only place all our bishops in a state of comfortable independence, free from all parochial cares, and able to devote themselves wholly to the duties of their high office, but might also be made sufficient, by proper management, to meet all the future exigences of our country, as the formation of new dioceses may become necessary. Supposing a million of dollars were held by trustees, under the provision that one half should be suffered to accumulate in the ratio of compound interest, the annual interest of the remaining half would be sufficient to allow $2500 per annum to 12 bishops, which, with the sums raised by their respective dioceses, would be amply sufficient for our present purposes. Do not smile, Mr.

Editor, and think me a visionary. I have not persuaded myself to believe fully that the bequest will be obtained, much less am I inclined to consider as certain that it has been as well managed as my fi gures have indicated it might. My object is merely to excite the attention of the pious and affluent friends of our Church to this subject. Every Episcopalian considers the existence of the order of bishops as essential to render a church apostolick. Here, then, we have an example of a benevolent individual in England providing for the support of bishops in America, at a period when there was not, and it was very uncertain if there would be, a single bishop through the vast extent of what is now the United States. Ought not this instance of disinterested affection for our Church to make a deep impression upon the members of it, and excite them to do likewise? How many are there whose connexions are well provided for, or who have none to whom they consider it proper to leave their whole fortunes, who, by imitating this example, might make glad the city of our God. I do not speak of the imperishable name they would leave in the annals of the Church, because that is not the high motive which ought to ope rate upon the Christian's mind; but I speak of the good, the incalculable good, which must be the result of this pious benefaction. We have frequent instances of the endowment by will of professorships in our university; and I rejoice to see the interests of learning so well provided for. But is not our religion more valuable? Who that witnesses the apostolick labours of our venerable bishop, and considers how much more might be accomplished if a competent support should release him from poverty, and from parochial cares and duties, will not say that 20,000 dollars would do much more good if left for the support of the Episcopate, than if made the basis of an endowment for a new professorship in academical learning?

The amazing increase of small sums, when the interest is suffered to accumulate, should excite persons of moderate fortunes to make the Church an object of their charity. A single dollar, if put at six per cent interest when the Plymouth colony first landed, would in the year 1824 amuut to a sum exceeding 130,000 dollars; and the annual interest of it would be sufficient to support from ten to fifteen parish ministers. If one hundred dollars had been placed at interest, as a foundation for the support of a bishop, in 1784, when Dr. Seabury, the first American bishop, received consecration, it would have amounted, in 1824, to more than a thousand. Or, if to combine the two objects o giving present support, and providing for future increase, one half only of the annual interest should be added to the principal, the sum would be more than doubled in 24 years. Five hundred dollars given this year to the trustees of donations to the Protestant Episcopal Church, would enable them to give the bishop, at the expiration of the first year, 15 dollars; at the end of ten years. 20 dollars; and at the end of twenty-four years, 30 dollars; while in 1847, the principal would be more than doubled, and would accumulate with a rapidity which must surprise even those who make the calculation. F.

PRAYER MEETINGS.

[IT was with reluctance that the conductors of the Gospel Advocate consented to insert in their March number the communication signed an Episcopal layman, on the subject of prayer meetings; not surely because they are indifferent or undecided with respect to it, or that they wish to conceal their sentiments; but because they consider the present period as peculiarly unsuited to temperate discussion. Having inserted it, however, they consider themselves bound to treat the supporter of opposite sentiments with equal impartiality. They have therefore consented to the admission of the following communication from their correspondent P., in the hope that nothing more on either side will be offered for insertion. There are some expressions in it which betray too much levity, and which, therefore, they have admitted with pain. On a subject of so much importance, they think that the utmost seriousness and circumspection should characterize the language which may be employed. As they have given their own sentiments very fully on the subject, in the remarks on the communication by the Episcopal layman, and have seen no reason to alter them, the conductors think it unnecessary to add any further remarks.]

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TO THE EDITOR OF THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE.

I HAVE read, in your number for March, the remarks of a layman, and your editorial reply, on the subject of " prayer meetings;" and entirely coincide with you, in your opinion respecting them I also am a layman; and, in the remarks which I am to offer, cannot be suspected of any secret influence, on the score of prerogative. As, on the one hand, I have no clerical rights, privileges, or immunities, to defend, so, on the other, permit me to avow the absence of all ambition to signalize myself by the display of "my prayer gifts," in any 'prayer meeting" or "class meeting" of Episcopalians, Moravians, or Methodists. I do not "feel," that I have any gift," which is more valuable, in my own eyes, than the gifts, contained in the Book of Common Prayer. And I am not prepared to believe, that, even among gifted" and expert of our lay brothers and sisters, one can be found, who will presume, in any moment, not of inspiration, to compare his or her extempore effusions, with the brief, comprehensive, and eminently beautiful supplication of St. Chrysostom with which the morning and evening service of the Church concludes.

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In my objection to prayer meetings, permit me to be more explicit. I object surely to no prayer meeting, prescribed by the regular convention; and to none sanctioned by bishops, priests, or deacons, they, or one of them, being present, presiding, and ordering all things, and offering suitable prayers from the liturgy. In our American liturgy, we are furnished with a form of family prayer, to be used by the heads of families or others; on such occasions friends or neighbours may be present; if this be a prayer meeting, I have no ob20 GOSPEL ADVOCATE, VOL. III.

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