repose in us the confidence of love, seat of God, that they may be and to obtain from us a confidence “hearkened unto and heard, and and affection equal to that of the that a book of remembrance may most tender friendship, and calcu- be written before Him, for those lated to awaken in us feelings of who fear Him and speak of His the most lively and most anxious name.” And, finally, when the hour interest. “The servant knoweth not cometh, in which the “dust shall what his lord doeth : but I have return to the earth as it was, and made known unto you all things the Spirit shall return to God who which I have received from my gave it,” while the fainting and Father.” It is in this relation languishing spirit is now beyond the that the Redeemer hears our reach of human aid or the benefits complaints, listens to our every of earthly friendship, how doth He grief and sorrow; sooths, como come Himself to strengthen and forts, and supports us, by the in- confirm his hope, opening the door fluence of His Holy Spirit, through of heaven, convert faith into sight, His word. He is “ afflicted with and prove Himself the anchor us in our affliction.” He restrains of the soul, both sure and steadfast. us in the evil hour, and when the “Jesus having once loved His own, evil one would come, like. Judas He loves them to the end;" for of old, by night to seize on our the gifts and calling of God are souls, He interposes Himself, and without repentance; while they says, “ I am He-let these go their pass through the valley of Achor, way." He watches over His own, “ He makes it a door of hope” lest any hurt them; and when gra. into the land of the heavenly Ca. titude, fear, hope, or sorrow, love, naan; and will in his own good time joy, or peace, would inspire their come in the clouds of heaven to bearts to address Him in prayer, receive His people to himself, and He receiveth those petitions of His cause them to sit down with Him on friends as the evening sacrifice, and His Father's throne. “Because I presents them before the mercy- live, ye shall live also.”

ON MINISTERS' VISITING.

SIR, -As a constant reader of your valuable Magazine, I should feel obliged by your inserting the following inquiry, relating to a subject with which the best interests of our Church are involved namely, the conduct of ministers.

How far is it ExPEDIENT for clergymen to visit the TABLES of those of their parishioners, and of whom no reasonable hope exists that they have any regard for true religion?

I am fully aware that much may be said both for, and against, the practice. The probable good aris ing from it may be urged as a motive for it: but is there not a VERY POSSIBLE EVIL arising both to

the individual himself and to weak Christians ?

The language of St. Paul 1 Cor. X. 27. is often quoted as authorizing believers to associate at these times with unbelievers; but do we not forget that the former are to come out and be separate from an ungodly world ? that they are not to partake of its customs, or adopt its maxims, but to be a peculiar people ? I trust that some of your pious correspondents may be induced to answer my query, the right decision of which is of great importance to the minds of many young ministers.

Yours,

. A YOUNG CLERGYMAN.

.AN ACCOUNT OF THE LATE MRS. SLATER.

“And he led them by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation."

PSALM cvii. 7. Tøe following brief sketch will ledge, having thus received a hea. again serve to illustrate the truth venly bias, led her diligently to of the above Scripture, as well as seek every opportunity of obtaining that from the Prophecy of Isaiah- religious instruction, and likewise " And I will bring the blind by a the conversation of such as she way that they knew not; I will lead believed were the real disciples them in paths that they have not of Christ. Although nothing beknown : I will make darkness light yond a visit to her sister was at before them, and crooked things first intended, yet a similarity in straight. These things will I do their desires and pursuits now unto them, and not forsake them.” determined Miss Cayley to give Isa. xlii. 16.

up all thoughts of returning into · Philadelphia, the beloved wife Yorkshire. Often has she been of Richard Barry Slater, Esq. M.D. heard to say, how unsatisfying, of High Wycombe, and second disappointing, and vexatious were daughter of the late Sir Thomas all the pleasures (so called) of Cayley, Bart. of Brompton Hall, fashionable life, at their very best. in the County of York, was early That their resemblance to the distinguished by a superior under “crackling of thorns” was most standing, and much personal beauty; apt and just; and that to a rational born and educated in fashionable being merely, there was, notwithlife, she soon became, and for many standing all their boasted value, years continued to be, the object nothing in them but vanity and of particular admiration in most melancholy degradation. It will of the gay circles of York and its then at once be expected, that now, neighbourhood. At the same time, when divine light was shining into although of a high and quick spirit, her heart, she no longer sought, yet this was so chastened by the or could endure such muddy pleanative sweetness and benevolence sures and gratifications. And so of her disposition, as to render her it was, on the contrary, if ever equally the object of love among betrayed into any measure of con, the poor, in the village and vicinity formity thereto, the painful reflecof Brompton, to whose wants, both tion of inconsistency, at least, was in sickness and in health, she greatly sure to follow. The truth is, she delighted to administer. And it now was rescued from this ensnarfairly may be questioned, whether ing and dangerous world. Miss viewed among the rich or poor, a Cayley had resided but a short more facinating earthly object could time in and near Wycombe, when readily be seen. But God, who is the sorrowful writer of these lines rich in mercy, had better things in became acquainted with her high store for her, on whom he had excellences, and was soon richly thus liberally bestowed bis natural blessed in marriage with her. This gifts. In his providence she was took place in the month of October led to visit her sister. Mrs. Blackden, 1800. In consequence of this at High Wycombe, and here it was union, she became the valued and that the sound of the ever blessed intimate friend of the late Rev. gospel was first directed to the Thomas Scott, the Rev. Nathaniel outward ear, and subsequently sent Gilbert, and many of the pious home with divine and saving power of that day, both among the clergy to her heart. Her thirst for know and others. She continued to grow

in heavenly wisdom, and the effects travelled on, one year succeeding were beautifully scriptural and to another, producing nothing of adorning. The integrity of her display or of a noisy ostentamind was most striking, and the tious religion ; but, under many revered commentator before alluded painful vicissitudes, Christ was her too bas often gratified and delighted support, the Holy Ghost was her her fond husband, by saying, that guide and comforter, and heaven, sueh honesty of character he had with all its glories, often stood open rarely found. In the year 1805, to her view, as her peaceful and she gave birth to a son, but was happy home. The last year of her quickly called to resign that com- earthly existence was marked by fort to Him who bestowed it more than common evidence of the And here the extent and worth power, compassion, love, and conof her religion began to shine solation of our great High Priest. forth. The blow was heavy-but In the beginning of 1828, it pleased not a murmur on the occasion, nor God to visit her with severe parascarcely a word beyond that of lysis, which for a time precluded all meek submission was ever heard hope of any measure of recovery; from her lips. Her recovery from but the free exercise of her mental this confinement was marked by powers, and likewise of spirit, were real growth in grace. A firm mercifully restored, and these were adherence to the great truths of now indeed consecrated to the glory the gospel, and clear discrimination of her God and Saviour. Divine in all essential points of doctrine, wisdom, submission, patience, faith, deep humility, love to the Saviour, love, meekness, were all seen in his cause, his people, his ordinances; their most attractive and edifying pity and compassion for the miser- extent and beauty. Her mind was able and destitute, anxiety for the stayed in the Lord Jesus Christ, salvation of her neighbours, and and He kept her in perfect peace. the whole world, the most tender The simplicity of her faith was love for relations and friends, with most remarkable, and was seldom, frequent prayers that they might if ever, much interrupted. It has be “ bound up in the bundle of been observed that naturally she of life,” were the prominent marks was of a high spirit, and of quick of grace in this delightful creature's sensibilities, but now not only was daily walk. The retired path in her temper unruffled, during all the which she was destined to move, days and nights of peculiar weak. afforded no room for any thing ness, languor, or suffering : but, that could dazzle or astonish; but with perfect truth it may be said, like “ the path of the just, it was that not an unhallowed wave was as the shining light, that shineth even once perceived to disturb hier more and more unto the perfect peaceful breast, from the comday.” Prov. iv. 18. The duties mencement of her distressing illness of every relative situation were to the hour of her dismissal from faithfully discharged, but when this vale of tears. Thanksgiving viewed in the character of a wife, and praise to the Rock of her Salshe surpassed, all admiration and vation, mingled with touching pity praise; and while busy memory and compassion for the afflicted would attempt to retrace the love and distressed, were the themes on liness and the countless endearments which her spirit delighted to dwell. of her tender and warm affection, a Towards all her friends and attend. bleeding heart is nearly over- ants nothing but gentleness and whelmed, and can never cease gratitude breatbed forth; and now, deeply to deplore the loss of such when the tendency of that disease transcendent worth. Thus she with which it pleased iņfinite goodness to visit her is remembered, Saviour ; her flesh rests in hope; how commonly it is accom- and, at the great rising day, awakpanied with much irritability and ing in the likeness of her Redeemer, impatience, the power of divine those transporting words, “Enter grace most exquisitely beamed thou into the joy of thy Lord,” forth in the constant composure and shall perfect the bliss of her enserenity of her mind.

raptured soul. Then shall she Convulsions closed this bright receive that crown of righteousness and edifying example of the Chris- which God the righteous Judge tian character, on the 4th of Feb- shall give to all his ransomed ruary. “ Patience had accomplished church, in that day when he maketh her perfect work;" all her sufferings up his jewels. Glory be to God on and sorrow are left below; she is bigh. securely lodged in the bosom of her

R. B. S.

SCHOOL FOR CLERGYMEN'S DAUGHTERS.

ON ORATORIOS AND MUSICAL FESTIVALS.

MR. Editor,—The attention of engross the sinner's every thought the public having been much and every emotion; these are made excited by the late awful fire in subservient to gain his admiration York Minster it does not seem of the powers and science of the an unseasonable moment to offer performer! And, as if this were a few reflections on those Musical not sufficiently revolting to a mind Festivals, which have been the impressed with awful reverence for means of attaching a peculiar the word of God and record of the interest to that noble pile in every Saviour, there is alas a distinct part of the kingdom. It appears consciousness in the hearer, that to me not a little extraordinary, some of the performers do not that, whilst in the present age every believe one word of what they sing, thing that can tend to dishonour and that others, while they profess God, and bring into contempt his to believe it, exhibit little proof in Holy Word, is denounced from the their lives of the sincerity of such pulpit and Christian press, scarcely profession. If this representation a pen has been employed in can be undeniable, as it clearly is, bow vassing the merits of a species of Oratorios can be tolerated by the amusement, which by no means Christian, who has weighed and seems entitled to such general considered the subject, I am at a immunity The fact is, there is 'loss to conceive. It would, how, something very imposing in Ora- ever, be presumptuous, as well as torios, countenanced as they are by uncharitable, to suppose that so such a number of persons of long many pious persons should attend established piety and credit in the these meetings without reasons, Christian world. Still, this ought which they deem satisfactory. As not to prevent us from examining far as I have had opportunity of into their pretensions to the support conversing with such persons, I which they receive. Now let us have always been met with one or consider what takes place at these both of the following replies: The meetings : A number of professional musical festivals are held with a persons are hired at an enormous charitable object, to increase the expense to gratify the assembly by funds of the Infirmary. But the display of their astonishing surely this plea is quite untenable vocal powers. The various modu- by any man, who will not go so far lations of the voice are assisted by as to assert, that the end will being embodied in words and always sanctify the means; in other syllables, which are, therefore, felt words, that we may “ do evil that to be of secondary importance, good may come," a mode of while the ear is ravished by the reasoning as available to the advomelody of sound. In an Oratorio, cate of a fancy ball, given for a the words chosen for this purpose benevolent purpose, as of an Oraare inspired words—even po less torio. I come therefore to the than the very language in which more substantial justification, which God has condescended to speak to is this, that the mind is solemnized, man ; the words of salvation; the and the feelings elevated by the message of mercy; the charter of additional impression produced by the hope of immortality! And the great truths of religion, when passages of the most solemn and accompanied by music, and remysterious import are selected; commended by the charms of the truths, “ into which angels desire human voice. But it is a most to look;” tidings, which should important question, to what are