influence and increasing usefulness! Fewer still strive for them for the sake of making others happy. In this way the multitude never know the secret of enjoying wealth. One of Bishop Burnet's parishioners applied to him for assistance. The bishop inquired how much. would afford him relief, and on being told, he ordered his servant to give him the amount. servant, "it is all we have in the house."

66

Sir," said the

'Well," re

sponded the bishop, "give it to this poor man ; you do not know the pleasure of making a man glad." Mark Anthony exclaimed, when he lost his fortune: "I have lost all except what I have given away." The satisfaction of having assisted the needy could not be taken. from him with his vanishing wealth. The late Peter C. Brooks, before he died, said to his son: "Of all the ways of disposing of money, giving it away is the most satisfactory." Many other rich men have said with Lawrence, speaking from their own experience: "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Or as another writer remarks: "The good there is in riches lieth altogether in their use, like the woman's box of ointment; if it be not broken and the contents poured out for the refreshment of Jesus Christ, in His distressed members, they lose their worth; the covetous man may therefore truly write upon his rusting heaps: These are good for nothing.' He is not rich who lays up much, but he who lays out much; for it is all one not to have, as not to use. I will therefore be the richer by charitably laying out, while the worldling will be poorer by his covetous hoarding up." This sentiment accords with the old proverb: rity gives itself riches; covetousness hoards itself poor."

"Cha

He says of this extract: "Here is the embodiment of a volume, and whoever wrote it deserves the thanks of good men. I would fain be rich, according as he defines riches; but possession, possession, is the devil I would try to cast out."

The following reflections were written in his " 'property-book," at the commencement of the year 1845:

"The business of the past year has been eminently successful, and the increased value of many of the investments large. In view of these trusts, how shall we appear when the Master calls? I would earnestly strive to keep constantly in mind the fact that He will call, and that speedily, upon each and all of us; and that, when He calls, the question will be: How have you used these? not, How much have you hoarded?"

We might quote much more of a similar tone from his Diary and Correspondence; but this will suffice for our object. These quotations shew what was the general spirit of the man toward the poor and suffering. Two or three additional items, however, deserve to be noticed.

Mr Lawrence had two rooms in his dwelling-house consecrated to benevolent objects. Here were stored various kinds of useful articles, such as indigent individuals and families need. These rooms contained many things destined to go into the hands of acquaintances in easy circumstances, as tokens of love and friendship. Even the children were remembered in this department; and hundreds of little hearts were made glad by presents from these novel store-rooms. Mr Lawrence compared these parcels to "small hay-cocks," and very happily, too, for hay-cocks are made in sum

mer; and it is always summer, socially and morally, where such large benevolence abounds. "Make hay while the sun shines," is the proverb; and Mr Lawrence appears to have caught the figurative part of it: "Make hearts glad when you can." The character of these parcels may be learned from the following item. At one time he notified a professor in college, that he had forwarded " a barrel and a bundle of books, with broadcloth and pantaloon stuffs, with odds and ends for poor students when they go out to keep school in the winter." This will answer for a specimen of his "hay-cocks."

In this respect he resembled his brother, the late Hon. Abbott Lawrence, of whom the following touching incident is related. His pastor says, "As I was standing here just beneath the pulpit (it was at the close of his funeral), a gentleman, who I saw at once was a clergyman, came, and addressing me by name, asked if he might speak to me a moment. My reply was : 'Can you not choose some other time? I cannot attend to any business amid this scene, and with that body lying there.' His answer was rapid as he could speak, as if his heart was bursting for utterance, and with tears streaming down his cheeks: 'I must leave the city at two o'clock, and must speak now. It is of him who has left that body I would speak. Eighteen years ago I was a poor boy in this city, without means, and without friends. I was a member of the Mechanics' Apprentices' Association. Mr Lawrence came to one of our meetings. He heard me deliver an essay I had written. He spoke to me afterward-inquired into my circumstances and character. I made known to him my wants and wishes. He furnished me with means to ac

quire an education; when prepared, told me Harvard was best, but to go to what college I liked. I went to the Wesleyan University. He supported me at it. I am now a minister of the Gospel in the State of New York. I saw his death in the paper, and a notice of his funeral to-day. I came on to attend it. He was my greatest benefactor. I owe it to him that I am a minister of the Gospel of Christ. I am not the only one he has helped thus. God will accept him. I felt that I must say this to some one; to whom can I better say it than to his clergyman?' And with this he hurried away, leaving me only time to learn his name, and receive from him a kind promise to write to me."

Rarely have two brothers been so highly distinguished for benevolence.

In the earlier part of Mr Lawrence's business life, he used a pocket-book upon which was inscribed the text: "WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE SHOULD GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?" It shews, again, what were his views about the use of money. It was, also, a good remembrancer of duty to the needy, and of the worth of the soul. It would be well if this inscription were found upon all the pocketbooks in the marts of trade. It might serve to moderate the desires of the avaricious, and open purses that have hitherto been closed to the pleadings of suffering humanity.

Here, then, is a model character, in respect to benevolence; and we hold it up for imitation by the young. He was rich in this world's goods; but far richer in the highest virtues. In comparison with him, a large majority of millionaires dwindle into insignificance and

meanness. Their imposing extravagance for personal gratification only serves to magnify the selfishness of their hearts. It was recently statea that a wealthy merchant in Philadelphia gave a party, a few weeks ago, at an expense of several hundred pounds. On the same day, his partner attended the evening service of his church, and deposited three hundred pounds in the plate to aid the cause of missions. The contrast serves to exhibit the act of the latter in its true light of beauty and honour.

How common it is for young men to be prodigal of their money in seeking pleasure, never stopping to reflect upon the cost of personal gratification provided they have sufficient means to pay for it; at the same time declining to bestow a farthing upon objects of charity! Not long since, the author sought subscriptions in behalf of an indigent student, well known to all whose aid was solicited. He called upon two young men, and stated the object, and their response was an expression of much respect for the student, with a polite refusal to assist him on account of their pecuniary inability. Yet these two young men attended a ball, about two weeks before, at an expense of three pounds each! We turned away from them with fifty per cent. less respect for their characters than we had before. Is it not grossly selfish to spend with lavish hand upen self, and turn a cold shoulder upon the indigent? If they had adopted the principle of Lawrence, and refused to attend the ball, that they might command the means to assist others, how much more honourable and worthy would they have appeared. Every body would have admired such self-denying charity. Even their own