official pursuits, or addicted to the pleasures of the world, the learned and worthy prelate thus proceeds: "Let me intreat you as your friend and sincere well-wisher, to bear with me awhile, in thus dealing plainly with you. I intreat you in the name of your Saviour, of your high and sacred office, do not turn away your eyes from the deformity that clothes your character; or persuade yourselves, that by so doing you can blind the eyes of others. They see, and they are forced to see, that you are insufficient; that you pretend to be teachers of others, whilst you yourselves have need to be taught the first principles of sacred learning. How can you bear contempt from the illiterate and the vulgar? And yet how can you escape it? How can you endure to have the lower classes of men say, "There goes a parson that never studies his Bible! there is a preacher that lies on a level with the boy that waits at his table, or wipes his horse's heels! there is an ambassador that cannot read a word of the commission and instructions of his Prince! There is a spiritual doctor, that cannot read a line of his supreme Physician's prescriptions! There is a teacher of the divine laws,that knows nothing, but what other people can tell him, of the original statutes of

heaven?'

"Can you bear all this, and a thousand times more, with an unfeeling heart, and an unblushing face? Do not you in your conscience judge, that such laziness and insufficiency would never be borne in any other of the professions of life? Who would employ a lawyer, if he could not read the original titledeeds of an estate? Who would ever send for an apothecary that could not read a doctor's prescription? What merchant would trust a pilot or steersman at the helm, who did not know so much as the thirty-two points of the compass, or a common sea-chart? What king would ever give instructions to an ambassador who could not read them?

"If men in other professions, in politics, in law, or physic, were un

furnished for their proper business, they would be the contempt of the public. Where people's lives and estates are concerned, they are wiser and more cautious than to trust them in unskilful hands. It is only in matters of the soul and eternity, that mankind tamely bear with ignorant and insufficient guides. And yet we must do the world the justice to say, that they discern the propriety of employing better men; and while they attend with indifference on an unqualified preacher, they are ready to love and honour a minister of the gospel, who has duly prepared himself for the exercise of his sacred office."-Second edition, p. 23-25.

SABBATH MORNING PRAYER
MEETINGS.

A short time since, a gentleman preached at the chapel I usually attend, and after service retired to the house of a friend where I was a welcome guest. The topic of conversation was the gospel we had heard preached. My friend observed, the day throughout had passed particularly comfortable, which he partly attributed to the early devotion before public worship, which I had not attended. I pleaded (I believe a very general excuse) that my business called me up very early all the week, and I was glad of rest on the Sabbath morning. The preacher replied, "If you rise early all the week to serve yourself, you should rise earlier on a Sabbath morning to serve your God." Conviction followed reproof, and having ever since obeyed the admonition, I have often regretted to see, out of large congregations, so few attend those early privileges. Surely, Sir, one day in seven is a small demand, to devote entirely to our God,

Whose mercies visit every house
That pay their night and morning vows;
But makes a more delightful stay,
Where meet his saints to praise and pray.

J. L.

(that inveterate enemy of Christianity, whose blasphemous writings against the Bible have operated like a kind of pestilence in the world,) to the great mortification of the latter; whilst, on the other hand, he paid a visit, at Berne, to the celebrated Baron Haller, who was then confined to his chamber with the disease which terminated in his dissolution, and entertained himself in a very friendly and condescending manner with this eminent philosopher, who has distinguished himself not more by his voluminous and learned works upon science, than by those which he wrote expressly in honour of the Christian religion. When, soon after, one of his relations spoke in terms of exultation of this distinguished honour which had been done him, he replied in these words, which were strongly demonstrative of his hope: "True! yet ' rejoice not at this, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven!""

Like sentiments were expressed by Colonel de Berdeleben, (an old and meritorious officer in the service of the great Frederic, king of Prussia,) when the monarch had shown him some very particular marks of his favour. Although deeply sensible of the honour which he had been conferring upon him, he expressed himself in the following terms: "Should I die this moment, I die in the favour of God and my king. I truly rejoice that my sovereign has assured me of his favour; but of what avail would the king's favour be towards the consolation of my conscience, and what would it help me, in my present situation, did I not also possess the favour of

God?"

Dublin Sunday-School Anecdotes.

ONE of the female teachers, in the course of reading the Scriptures, made some observations on that passage which speaks of the man who built his house upon the sand. Some time after, a little Girl, who had been listening to her remarks, came to her and said, "I have been led to think seriously on what you told us about the man who built

his house upon the sand, and to imagine that I was in the same situation with that person. I then prayed to the Lord to shew me the right foundation, but found my mind was not released from its load, yet I continued earnest in my prayers to God on this subject, and was at length enabled to see that I had built my house upon the rock, even the Lord Jesus Christ; and I feel confident that the Lord put it into the heart of my dear mother to send me to this school.'

"A Boy who had been absent for several Sundays, came on the first Sabbath of the new year; and, on his teacher inquiring the reason of his absence, after some hesitation the boy replied, "I have no apology to make, but confess that it was idleness prevented me from coming as usual to school; but as I have commenced the first Sabbath of this year in a different way, I hope I shall be enabled to continue the same line of conduct.'

"One evening, about two months ago, as one of the Committee was passing the school-house, after the school had been dismissed, he was surprised to hear some of the children singing a hymn within, and applied for admission; but finding the door locked and the singing immediately discontinued, he was led to look through one of the windows, when he perceived about eight of the girls engaged in prayer,"

Negro School.

A negro Boy who attended a Sunday-school, through some quarrel with another boy ran away. On the evening of the third day he came back, and begged to be forgiven. Being asked what brought him back, he replied," Massa, that school fetch me. Suppose me go to school no more--that make me afraid : me know nothing if me go no school." Being told he might seek another school, his reply was, "Massa, me can't leave this school. S'pose, Massa, you whip me?-put me in black hole; that right, Massa-do me good-me run away for nothing-but me can't leave dis school here.

MRS. DAVIES.

She

On Feb. 23, 1823, died Winifred, the daughter of L. Williams, Esq. Pontwyn, in the county of Brecon, and wife of the Rev. Rees Davies, Newport, Monmouthshire, after a tedious affliction of almost twelve months. She often said that she hoped she should die on the Sabbath, and she had her desire to spend an eternal Sabbath with the Lamb. A week before her departure she had a paralytic stroke, which deprived her of the use of her tongue to manifest the heavenly frame she was in to her last moments; but she expressed her feelings by signs and actions. breathed her last on her husband's arm without a groan or sigh. The Lord visited her soul with grace when very young, and she continued an ornament to her profession to the end of her life. As a wife, she was assiduous in all the economy and management of her family; as a Christian, her life was consistent and unblameable; she had an utter aversion to pride, hypocrisy and falsehood; she was a faithful friend, and those who knew her best loved her most. She had very strong mental powers, was fond of reading, was regular in her devotions, and always read a portion of scripture before she left her room, as her husband can testify, for almost sixteen years.

Miss CORBISH BY.

B. D.

66

family would grieve for her. Soon after this she was confined to her bed, and grew rapidly worse, and was depressed in her spirits ; till, on the Sabbath morning before her death, it pleased the Lord to shine upon her soul with the consolations of his Spirit. Her sister perceiving her countenance much enlivened, she assigned as a reason that she was now happy; that she had nothing to fear; and then repeated the words of the prophet, Though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion;" Lam. iii. 32. and added, that she hoped to be with her Lord in a few hours. She repeated her favourite hymn, " Jesus, my all! to heaven is gone;" &c. several times that day, and tried to sing it; but her weakness of body was too great. Though her sufferings were excessive, she lamented she had ever complained: "What are my sufferings (she said) compared with what my dear Saviour suffered?" Calling her youngest sister to her, she said, "My dear girl, do you love Jesus? seek him, my dear, and look to him alone;" regretted much not knowing the Lord before; and much wished that all her dear brothers and sisters might have an interest in that Saviour who had been so precious to her. On the Wednesday evening, her father wishing her a good night, she said, "I love you, dear father, but I am going to leave you, to live with my heavenly Father, whom I love better." She often appeared to be in earnest prayer; and several times repeated verses of hymns, as "Come my dear Jesus from above," &c. The last words that she was heard to say, were "I have no complaint now, I am quite well;" and she fell asleep in Jesus without a sigh or a groan.

Her death was improved by her afflicted father, at her own desire, from Prov. viii. 17. "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me."

J, C.

MR. N. WAKEFORD. On the 6th of April last, died, at Littledean, in the county of Glocester, Mr. Nathaniel WAKEFORD, aged 63. This good man, about twenty-five years ago, was brought to the knowledge of the truth by the blessing of God accompanying the word of his grace, under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Jay, of Bath. Previous to this he was an entire stranger to the power of godliness. The word being rendered effectual by the energy of the Holy Spirit, he became a new man in Christ Jesus. In the year 1799 he joined himself to the Dissenting church at Fairford; afterwards he removed to Pamber, near Basingstoke in Hampshire, where, by his liberality, he fitted up a spacious stable for religious worship on Lord's Day evenings, which was opened Nov. 2, 1814. Here he made himself useful in the cause of God, not only by his liberality, but by reading sermons to the people when no minister could be obtained. For the last few years this pious man took up his abode at Littledean, where he still manifested a most sincere attachment to the Redeemer's cause in that place, and where he was frequently engaged in visiting the poor, and in reading the gospel to his surrounding neighbours. This he continued to do till prevented by illness and death. In a word, he was a sincere lover of the cause of God, possessed the greatest cordiality for all good men, humble in his own eyes, diligent in promoting the temporal and spiritual good of all around him, strictly moral in his deportment, a kind husband and an affectionate father; and, after sustaining a long and painful illness with Christian resignation, he breathed out his soul into the hands of God, much regretted by a bereaved family, and greatly respected by all who knew him.

J. H.

REV. J. STANGER. ON Sabbath morning, April 13, 1823, died the Rev. JOHN STANGER, of Bessel's Green, near Sevenoaks, in Kent, in the 81st year of his age,

and the 57th of his ministry at that place. On the preceding Sabbath he was carried into the meetinghouse in his chair, from which he preached and administered the Lord's Supper, and took leave of his people in a very composed and affecting

manner.

and congregation (except his aged Every member, both of the church widow,) who first attended his ministry, were gone before him, most of whom he had buried in the adjoining ground. He was interred on the following Sabbath in the middle of the chapel, which was originally erected for him. The Rev. Mr. Shirley, of Sevenoaks, preached the funeral sermon, and the Rev. Mr. Henham spake at the interment.

Awful Death.

ON Monday, June 16, a respectable young farmer, about twentyeight years of age, residing in a small village near Parkgate, in the county of Cheshire, had been drinking in company with several others at the Black Horse, Heswell. He left the public-house in a state of intoxication about ten o'clock, and feeling himself indisposed went to bed. At an early hour in the morning his wife was awoke by a rattling noise in his throat, occasioned, it is supposed, by some obstruction. She jogged him with her elbow, but could not make him sensible. The motion was repeated, but without effect. She then became greatly alarmed, and, after striking a light, sent for medical aid; but before it could be obtained the vital spark had fled, and her husband was a corpse at her side. The inn where the deceased had been gratifying his intemperate desires on the night which preceded this awful catastrophe, exhibited, it is said, a spectacle of chilling horror. The parties were all inebriated, and appeared to be vying with each other which could utter the most dreadful oaths and imprecations. Thus are the wicked sometimes" driven away in their wickedness." "Because there is wrath, beware, lest he take thee away with his stroke : then a great ransom cannot deliver thee."