come upon thee, and thou faintest, it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.' The consequences, on the other hand, are no less beneficial and profitable to the church, when ministers are enabled, through grace, to exemplify, in the day of affliction, that resignation to the divine will which they inculcate on others; and to glorify God under those trials, which are most This humble, painful and overwhelming to flesh and blood. this submissive and edifying conversation under affliction, will afford to their hearers a visible and palpable evidence of the reality of those things which are preached to them, will contribute, in no small degree, to reconcile them to suffering, that Patiand will excite them to fervent and earnest prayer, ence may have her perfect work in their souls also, that they may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

J. H. K.

AN ORIGINAL LETTER FROM MR. HERVEY
TO A SCOTS CORRESPONDENT.
(NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED.)

Dear Sir,-YOUR letter I esteem as a singular favour;, which is so much the more welcome, as it is on several subjects very particular, and, on the whole, of a considerable length. For this circumstance no apology from you, Sir, but thanks are due; and sincere thanks are returned by me.

The favourable reception which the productions of this pen have met with in Scotland, is a remarkable and pleasing proof that bigotry is on the decline, and a spirit of candour flourishing beyond the Tweed. I am sure I think myself peculiarly obliged to my Scots brethren, for not suffering my connection with the Episcopal church to prejudice them against my endeavours to glorify the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls. I know the force of early prejudice; but, blessed be God, I feel it wear away and drop off, as I am become more acquainted with Christ, and drink deeper into his Spirit. I can truly say, and will freely confess, that there are things in our establishment which I wish to see reformed; but for me to spend my little strength in making any such attempt, would be like busying myself in rectifying the palisadoes, while the roof is in flames, and the foundations are failing.

I intend, if the Lord enables me, to write a treatise upon Gospel - Holiness; to recommend therein Mr. Boston's excellent book on the Covenants, and the Marrow of Modern DiviThose notes are, in my opinity, with his admirable notes. nion, some of the most judicious and valuable that ever were penned. I am often inclined to regret that they did not fall

cernment.

into my hands before Theron and Aspasio made their appearance in the world. There are, I am sorry to confess it, some considerable additions in the last volume. I hope my candid reader will remember the imbecility of human nature, and forgive what can hardly be avoided in a state of imperfect disI found it necessary to make these additions, in order to maintain two very important points, which are opposed by many, even of my pious friends: I mean the assurance, or special application and appropriating persuasion, included in the faith of the operation of God; and that sinners, as sinners, without the preparative or condition of any good qualifications, are allowed, are warranted thus to apply Christ to themselves, by virtue of the free offer and grant made in the gospel. These two doctrines seem to me the very quintessence of grace and the rites of the gospel. They are, I am very certain, the sovereign, consolation of my own soul; at least, they are the channel and conveyance of all comfort to my heart. Your obliged and humble servant,

JAMES HERVEY.

I hope you will continue to remember me, and my intended work in your prayers, and will strengthen my hands by another letter-May you, dear Sir, have all joy and peace in believing; and abound in love, through the power of the Holy Ghost!

A HINT TO RICH PROFESSORS.

THAT season of the year is now arrived, when it has become fashionable, and is almost esteemed indispensable. for the wealthier part of the community to flock from the crowded city and unhealthy street to the watering-places on the coast. Not only the gay courtier and the city beau, but many a thrifty tradesman, many an opulent professor, is about to resume his accustomed parade on the sands of Brighton or of Weymouth, of Margate or of Worthing. Far from passing a sentence of indiscriminate condemnation on a resort so salutary and inviting, I would, however, recal the attention of the religious public to a hint which has before been given, and has been partially regarded. It may be well for those whose object is the tranquil enjoyment of natural . beauty, rather than the company of the dashing and the dissipated, to consider Whether they may not both enjoy and difjuse more real good by repairing to those small and comparatively obscure towns and villages on the coast, where the cause of religion solicits encouragement, than by joining the

gay throng at the larger watering-places? By their attendance, their influence, their pecuniary help, they might, in mány such instances, greatly assist newly-established interests,

encou

promote the introduction and diffusion of truth, rage the efforts of an undervalued ministry, and unite the utile with the dulce, the grand object of a Christian's desire with the innocent indulgence of his pleasures! There is another way in which truly good and zealous persons, possessing the means, may be very useful. In almost every county in

England, there are several large villages, and even towns, destitute of the gospel: places where, either no attempts have yet been made to introduce it, or else it has been unable to effect a footing against the violence of Opposition, the stupidity of Indifference, or the power of Property. Supposing a rich professor were inclined to remove, or even to vary his habitation, he might very properly turn his attention to one or another of those unhappy districts; set up a respectable establishment sufficient to command the notice of the rich and the veneration of the poor; open his hall or his barn for the declaration of the word of life; patronize and protect an evangelical preacher; lay the foundation of a Christian society; and, if he thought fit, adjourn to some other scene of similar benefaction. It is easy, painfully easy, to point out such dark places,' even in this land of light; and in many places, where churches are formed and ministers are settled, the cause of religion is still in so low a state, as to claim most powerfully the personal and pecuniary patronage of those who glory in being designated the Disciples of Jesus. Ah how. obvious, in such cases, is the duty, how diversified the means, how rich the recompence of doing good! Ringwood.

-

A. B.

ANECDOTES.

A POPULAR minister was recently preaching a sermon for the benefit of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and, in the close of his very excellent discourse, related the following account: A certain sailor, after long absence from his native country, returned home, flushed with money. As he had never been in London before, he resolved to treat himself with the sight of whatever was celebrated as great, gay, or curious. Among other places, he paid a visit to St. Paul's. This happened at the time of service. When carelessly passing, he chanced to hear the words, Pray without ceasing, uttered by the officiating minister; but he passed on without any impres sion from the words. Having gratified his curiosity, he returned to his marine pursuits; and continued at sea seven

years without the occurrence of any thing remarkable in his history.

One fine evening, when the air was soft, the breeze gentle, the heavens serene, and the ocean smiled, he walked the deck with his feelings soothed by the pleasing aspect of Nature, when, all on a sudden, darted into his mind the words' Pray without ceasing.' "Pray without ceasing! what words can these be!" exclaimed he. "I think I have heard them before; where could it be?" After a pause: "Oh! it was at St. Paul's, in London: the minister read them from the Bible! What! and do the Scriptures say Pray without ceasing?" O what a wretch must I be, to have lived so long without praying at all!" God, who at first deposited this Scripture in his ear, now caused it to spring up in a way, at a time, and with a power peculiarly his own. The poor fellow now found the lightning of conviction flash in his conscience, the thunders

i

of the law shaking his heart, and the great deep of destruction threatening to swallow him up. Now he begins, for the first time, to pray; but praying was not all. O said he, 'that I had a Bible, or some good book! He rummages his chest; when, lo! at one corner he espies a Bible, which his anxious mother had, 20 years before, placed in the chest; but which till now had never been opened. He snatches it up, puts it to his breast, then reads, weeps, prays, believes, and becomes a new man. O thou blessed Bible!

THE LATE REV. MR. HERVEY.

THIS excellent person did not confine his preaching to his church alone, but took every opportunity to preach Christ. One of his constant hearers relates the following Anecdote on this head, which fell under his own observation: Mr.Hervey had preached from Gen. xxviii. 12, And behold a ladder set up on the earth,' &c. This he considered as a type of Christ, as the way to the Father. After he had done his duty in the church, ́ as he was coming down the lane leading from it to his house, his hearers, wishing to shew their regard to him, had generally used to stand on each side of the lane to pay their respects, by bowing and courtesying to him as he passed. As soon as he came to the top of the lane, Mr.Hervey lifted up his hands, and gave a short lecture as he passed, saying, 'O my friends, I beg of God you may not forget this glorious ladder that Almighty God hath provided for poor sinners! a ladder that will conduct us from this grovelling earth! a ladder that will raise us above oar corruptions, unto the glorious liberty of the sons of God! O my dear friends and hearers, I beg you will never forget this glorious ladder; but hope you will daily meditate upon it, till you reach the third heaven!'

Evangelicana.

SAYINGS OF MR. JOHN HOOK,

ONE OF THE EJECTED MINISTERS.

(These Sayings are selected from a number of papers, put into the hands of Mr. J. Jefferson, of Basingstoke, by a descendant of Mr. Hook.)

A NEW heart consists of an enlightened mind, a renewed will, a tender conscience, and sanctified affections.

An hypocrite is in the worst condition of any man upon earth; for he is hated of the world, because of his profession; and hated of God, because he has no more than a profession.

As an encouragement to Christians to fight the good fight of faith, he would often say,The conflict may be sharp, but the victory is sure; the reward is great, and the crown is eternal.'

Live by the Spirit of Christ, and aim at the glory of Christ.

"Tis grace to be in him, and glory to be with him.

Some are condemned to an estate, others are exalted to poverty.James i. 9, 10.

When the root is bitterness, the blossom will fly up as dust.'

It will go hard with men, if they be found in the guilt of the least sin, or (only) in the worth of the best duty.

We should learn to do natural things in a spiritual way, and spiritual things in a natural way.

By faith we enjoy God, by love we enjoy our neighbours, and by patience we enjoy ourselves.

ANECDOTE OF MR. JOHN HOWE.

On a blank leaf in the Bible of that eminent man, JOHN HOWE, were found two remarkable passages, written with his own hand, in Latin; of which the following is a translation.

Dublin.

ADOLESCENS.

DEC. 26, 1689. After that I had long, seriously, and repeatedly thought within myself, that, besides a full and undoubted assent to the objects of faith, a vivifying savoury taste and relish of them was also necessary, that, with stronger force and more powerful energy, they might penetrate into the most inward centre of my heart, and there, being most deeply fixed and rooted, govern my life; and that there could be no other sure ground whereon to conclude and pass a sound judgment on my good estate God-ward; and after I had, in my course of preaching, been largely insisting on 2 Cor. i. 12, this very morning I awoke out of a most ravishing and delightful dream, that a wonderful and copious stream of celestial rays, from the lofty throne of the Divine Majesty, seemed to dart into my expanded breast. I have often since, with great complacency, reflected on that very signal pledge of special divine favour, vouchsafed to me on that noted memorable day, and have, with repeated fresh pleasure, tasted the delights thereof.

But what (on Oct. 22, 1704) of the same kind I sensibly felt, through the admirable bounty of my God, and the most pleasant comforting influence of the Holy Spirit, far surpassed the most expressive words my thoughts can suggest. I then experienced an inexpressibly pleasant melt