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its approach. The nations of the earth observe its movements with wonder. Grown stronger by rest, and more ravenous by confinement, who can foresee the extent, and end of its devastations? They are known only to that omniscient God, who maketh peace, and createth war, and by whom alone the remainder of wrath can be restrained. Melancholy, in the course of this tumultuous period, has been the fate of many happy and interesting people. The great and splendid nation with whom these confusions originated, relinquished her hold on all her ancient establishments in an infatuated pursuit, through the blood of the best, and the worst of her sons; after what the unprincipled and aspiring had persuaded her was liberty. she mistook a cloud for the goddess; and, for her rashness, has been doomed, as yet, to turn unceasingly in a mazy wheel. Nor is her loss of freedom to be chiefly deplored. Unfortunate Belgium; illfated Poland; unhappy Swiss; deluded Genoese, we mourn more for you. The genius of your countries is fled, we know not whither! Your fortunes will be remembered by nations, in far distant ages, as solemn cautions to trust no friend who has discarded all principle, and rely upon no earthly power which promises to give what it must first destroy.

But

"While we thus advert to the dealings of Providence towards the nations of the earth, the contemplation of their calamities should increase our gratitude, for the peace and civil privileges which we are permitted to enjoy. If we have in our country, any hard earned wealth, which might be plundered; if there be in it any virtue, which might be oppressed; or infancy and age, which might unresistingly bleed if there be any chastity, which might be ruined, or domestick joys, which might be torn from us: if we had any altars, which might be demolished, or temples, which might be defiled; then have we reason to bless and adore the sovereign Ruler of the universe, that our nation has not been involved in the horrours and miseries of the war, which has desolated, and still threatens to desolate, the most populous parts of the globe. The skirts of its clouds have, once and again, been curling towards our shores, but his gracious breath hath turned them away. How long this shall be the case, we are unable to say. But this we know, that his good Providence can restrain the provocations and injuries of misguided or designing powers; and that the way to deserve a continuance of our peace and freedom, is, to be grateful to God, that we have hitherto enjoyed them, and to use them soberly, in advancing his glory, and the virtue and happiness of our species. Dehon's Sermons on the Publick Means of Grace, &c.

i1. 293-295.

FROM THE CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE.

"I have been young, and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Psalm xxxvii. 25.

THE sacred penman, under the guidance and inspiration of the Spirit of God, recorded this passage not only for the consolation of the

righteous, but for the encouragement of all who should seek to be

come so.

If we look into the history of his life, we shall find that, like human life in general, it was a mixture of good and evil. Like other men, he had his seasons of joy and sorrow; of hope and fear; of prosperity and adversity; of confidence and doubt. He had, indeed, while yet a "stripling," been elevated from the sheep-fold of Jesse, to the court of Saul; and thence exalted to the throne of Israel. But in the mean time, the jealousy of his master had marked him for destruction; and the rage of an envious monarch pursued him from the palace to the wilderness, where he was compelled to seek shelter in dens and caverns, to hide himself from his enemy: he had been hunted " as a partridge in the mountains," and often, like his illus. trious descendant, had "not where to lay his head" in safety. Yet, amidst all these distresses, his trust in God remained unshaken. Behold, how triumphantly he exclaims, "The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" He not only records his confidence in God, but the success which attended, and ever will attend, prayers offered in penitence and faith. "O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast heard me. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

With like confidence may every Christian of the present day, rest his hopes on the protection of his Maker: and if, with like earnestness and sincerity, he perseveres in prayer and well doing, sooner or later, he will most assuredly receive an answer of peace. The God whom he serves, is not a capricious Being, but "the same yesterday, to-day and for ever. "His arm is not shortened that it cannot save, nor his ear heavy that it cannot hear." If he permits affliction or adversity to overthrow us, it is to try, and prove our faith if he delays the blessing which his hand is ever open to bestow, and hides his face from us for a moment; it is, that we may be taught patiently to wait the time when he shall proclaim to the anxious soul, “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee."

I have lived as long as most men, and for many years, been a careful observer of the dealings of divine Providence towards myself and others. Although this world is a place of trial, and not of final retribution, I have yet been made satisfied, that even here, God leaves not himself without witness, strong and consoling, to the humble but confiding Christian. Believing in revelation, and making the bible his daily study, he looks back with gratitude on past mercies, and forward with faith to promises which can never deceive. On these, his hopes are rested, not only for himself, but for his family; which, perhaps, be is soon to leave, young and helpless, to the buffetings of the world, and the protection of Heaven.

How comforting to such a man, must be the record left by an eminent servant of God, on the page of the book of life! "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

I cannot better illustrate this subject, than by giving a sketch of the life of a venerable clergyman, whom I knew in my youth, but whose mortal part has long since mouldered back into the dust of which it was made. His history is short, and the incidents of his life few, but instructive. The Rev. Mr. succeeded to the rectorship of the church in B, not many years before the revolution. As there was then no bishop in America, he had received his ordination in England, and was allowed a small stipend, by the "venerable Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts." The parish was but recently formed; and could not be said to have been fully organized, when the declaration of independence severed for ever the colonies from the mother country.

Faithful to his vows, our rector could neither omit the prescribed forms of prayer in the English liturgy with a good conscience, nor use them with safety. Seven years the doors of his church were closed; and, ere they were again opened, war had claimed its victims, and popular frenzy dispersed what the ravages of death had spared there was no congregation remaining. Week after week, and mouth after month, he performed the services of the desk to the response of a single family, and of the pulpit to but a scattered and listless few. The publick had imbibed deep rooted prejudices against the Church service. It has been said there is a fashion in religion, as well as in politicks; and it was the order of the day to associate toryism with Churchmen, and to give little tolerance to either. It was by very slow degrees, that these prejudices abated; nor could it be otherwise expected they were carefully fostered by the dominant sect, and that sect has never been remarkable for its attachment to Episcopacy.

Under all these discouragements, our rector continued to perform his sacred functions; and though there was a gradual accession to his church, yet, during ten years, death and'emigration kept the scales so even, that there could hardly be said to have been a preponderance in his favour. His allowance from the society in England ceased, when the independence of the United States was acknowledged, and the pittance he received for his services was hardly sufficient to furnish him with decent apparel. But, he was without a family; and slender as his means had been, he contrived, by little savings, to lay by a sufficiency to purchase a small farm, to which he soon after added the valuable acquisition of a wife, industrious and economical, and of a sound and cultivated mind. There was perfect order in all the household affairs, and years rolled smoothly away. A family was seen rising up, over which the pious care of the father, and the increasing vigilance of the mother, constantly presided. The children, as they grew up, were all neatly habited, and the school teachers found them better instructed, and more orderly in their behaviour, than any in the district. In a word, they seemed to fulfil all the wishes of the father, and to satisfy all the pride of the mother. For, what mother is there, who feels not a joyful, and we may add, a lau

dable pride, when beholding her "sons grow up as plants in their youth," and her " daughters as corner stones polished after the similitude of a palace," and all "like olive plants round her table!"

Yet, however bright our worldly prospects may be, the consideration that they are uncertain in their accomplishment, and must be fleeting in their duration, will always cast a cloud over their sunshine.

It is often incident to late marriages, that the father lives not to see his children settled in life; and the good rector, being now far advanced in the vale of years, was admonished that the time was at hand when he must leave his family and give up an account of his stewardship. As his health declined, he became more earnest and fervent in the performance of his clerical duties; and whenever there was any dissatisfaction among the members of his little flock, he was unceasing in his endeavours to restore harmony and concord.

Near the parsonage lived a parishioner, who also had a young family growing up into life; and there was a daily intercourse between their children. Though the rector and his good wife were kind and affectionate to each member of this family, there was one daughter, whom they selected as their peculiar favourite. Her early piety and spotless life marked her as one among the many, whom, in the great day of final retribution, he hoped to lead to the throne of mercy, and say, "Behold, O Lord, thy servant, and the children thou hast graciously given me!" It was, when old age and wasting disease were making their ravages on his sinking frame, that this young lady was to be united in wedlock, with a man of science and worth; and it seemed to form one of his strongest desires of longer life, that he might survive to join their hands, and bestow on them his blessing.

The time fixed for the celebration of the marriage, was the early part of May; and the church, in which he had so long ministered, and at whose altar he had often, with holy joy, dealt the bread of life to his young friend, was the appointed place.

The rector, that he might have time to rest and recover his strength, was early at his post. The weather, which had been some days warm and pleasant, was changed to one of those chilling northeastern blasts, which usually precede a storm at that season; and he had not prepared himself, by sufficient covering, to resist the cold. His whole frame shook, and his voice trembled while he expressed his fears, that the thread of life would be cut, before his appointed duty could be performed. "I fear," said he, "I shall not have strength to go through the service; and I feel that this is the last time I shall enter the church, till I am brought hither for interment."

In the mean time, the parties had presented themselves at the altar. The priest arose with dignity, and began the marriage service. As he proceeded in it, his strength seemed to return; but, before he arrived at the conclusion, his breath was almost spent, and it was with difficulty he could articulate, in a faltering voice, "I pronounce you man and wife; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

The benediction, which it had been the desire of his heart to be

stow, was next to follow, and conclude the scene. He paused a few moments, and looking alternately on the husband and wife, his pale cheek became flushed, and his eye brightened in the fulness of faith, that the blessing he was about to invoke would be ratified in heaven: then, placing his right hand on the head of the bride, and his left on that of the bridegroom, like Jacob blessing the sons of Joseph, be raised his eyes to the mercy seat, and proceeded, in a steady tone of voice, "God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you: The Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace; that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting."

The marriage service of the Church, when properly performed, is always solemn and most impressive; but it was rendered peculiarly so, on this occasion, by the circumstance of him who officiated, whose spirit seemed fluttering between earth and heaven, and whose prophetick prediction was verified: for this was the last official act of his ministry, and ere his mortal part again entered the walls of the church, his spirit had ascended to God who gave it.

His remains were interred in the rear of the altar; and over them the hand of friendship had raised a monument, which commemorates his piety, his Christian charity, and personal worth.

To a friend, who frequently visited him in the last stages of his decline, and witnessed his submission under pain and suffering, he remarked, that he was soon to leave his flock and his family. It was his fervent prayer, that the former might be preserved in unity and concord, and remain "steadfast in the faith once delivered to the saints."

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My family," said he, "I commend to the protection of God, in whose mercy and goodness I trust." "If it is their misfortune to be left poor, I feel a consolation in leaving them without embarrassment, for I am not a dollar in debt. When I look back, and see the smallness of the means on which I have lived, and by which I have supported not a very small family, I can ascribe it only to the merciful goodness of God, that the barrel of meal has not wasted, nor the cruise of oil failed; that my wife and children have been blessed with health, and continue a blessing to me. I shall soon leave them to make their way into a crooked and perverse world, but I trust they are not wholly unprovided with the Christian's armour. Faith bids me hope, that when their earthly father is no more, they will be guided and directed by Him, who is the Father of the fatherless, and the widow's God." If it will strengthen the trust of a single Christian, borne down with worldly calamity; if it will serve to quiet the fears of any anxious parent, just sinking into the grave, and leaving a helpless offspring unprovided for; or, if it will stimulate the careless to greater watchfulness over the pliant minds of their children, and lead them to enforce virtuous precepts by Christian example, it may be useful further to remark, that the hopes of the good rector have been fully realized. The means of support for his family, have been measured, by a bountiful