more recent conversation on the same subject, Dr. Beecher gave his opinion by relating this story.

In my early ministry, says Dr. Beecher, I was called to attend a neighbour at East Hampton, Long Island. He was skeptical and intemperate. "Pray for me!" he exclaimed, "pray for me!-pray for me!" "You must pray for yourself," I replied. "Pray-I cannot pray! I am going straight to perdition!" He lived three days, almost without food, and then died-so far as we know-without any disease. It was the power of conscience.

REV. DR. C.

A YOUNG gentleman fresh from college, who had more knowledge of books than of men, was wending his way to the residence of the Rev. Dr. C.-The Doctor was extensively known and respected for his energy of character, his learning, piety, and moral worth. But, like the great apostle, he did not disdain to "labour with his own hands."

With a letter of introduction to the aged divine, whom he had known only by reputation, our genteel young friend was seeking the privilege of an acquaintance with him.

"Old daddy," said he to an aged labourer in the field by the way-side, whose flapped hat and coarse-looking over-coat -it was a lowering day—and dark complexion and features, contrasted strongly with his own broadcloth and kid gloves and fair person :-"Old daddy, tell me where the Rev. Dr. C

lives."

replied.

"In the house you see yonder," the old man modestly

Without condescending to thank him for the information, the young man rode on, and soon found himself seated in the parlour of Dr. C.'s hospitable residence, at the invitation of the lady of the house, awaiting the expected arrival of the Doctor.

In due time the host appeared, having returned from the field, laid aside his wet garments, and adjusted his person. But, to the surprise and confusion of the young guest, whom should he meet in the Reverend Dr., but the same old daddy he had so unceremoniously accosted on his way!

"It was very respectful in you," said the venerable divine, with an arch look, and in a pleasant tone-for the aged man was not wanting in wit and humor-" it was very respectful in you to call me old daddy; I always love to see young men show respect to old age."

The confusion and mortification of the young man were indescribable. He could have sunk through the floor, and buried himself in the darkness of the cellar beneath him. With a countenance crimsoned with blushes, he began to stammer out an apology for his incivility.

"No apology," said the doctor, very pleasantly, "no apology, I always love to see respect shown to old age." But the kindness and assiduity of the family could not relieve the unpleasantness of his situation; a sense of the mortifying blunder which he had committed, marred all his anticipated pleasure from the interview, and he was glad to take his leave as soon as he could do it with decency.

REV. MR. COLEY

SEVERAL years ago, a man, decently clothed, of good appearance and address, with some degree of intelligence, called

on the Rev. Mr. Coley, of Albany, whose benevolent feelings readily sympathized with the distressed, exhibiting testimonials of being a good Christian, and professing, in rather an Irish accent, to be a Scotch Baptist, but possessing no formal letter from a Baptist church. Mr. C. told him that to receive him as a good Baptist brother, a letter was indispensable. Still, he protested solemnly, loudly, and with tears, that he was a Baptist.

In about two months afterwards, he returned, with a letter, but an exceedingly doubtful one, and professing that all he wanted was, to raise money enough to get back to Halifax. Mr. C. having been often imposed upon, and suspicions running high on this occasion, invited him to dinner, determining to try, by a very proper test, whether he was really a Baptist or not. Sitting around the dinner-table, he asked him to pray for God's blessing upon the food of which they were about to partake.

“O, yes, sir, yes, sir.”—A few minutes' silence.

“Pray out loud, brother,” said Mr. C.—A mutter.—“ I can have no such sacrifice as that at my table," said Mr. C.; “pray out loud, brother.”

“O,” said the man, “I can't pray before a minister.”

Mr. C. then excused him. Dinner being over, Mr. Coley observed, if he were a good Baptist brother, he loved prayer; as for himself, like Daniel, he had prayers three times a day, and now he wanted the privilege of hearing him pray. The family being called in, they knelt down.-Silence.-"I want you to pray, brother,” said Mr. C.—A mutter.—“ 1 want you to pray out loud, brother," said Mr. C. "O," said the man, who by this time was wrought up to a dreadful state of perturbation, "I could not pray before a minister." "If you are a Baptist brother," said Mr. C., "you can pray." Upon this, the man muttered over some parts of the Lord's prayer. “Now," said the minister, "I have all the evidence I need that

you are an impostor. You are not a Baptist, sir." "I have called on ministers all over the United States," said the man, "and you are the sharpest man I ever met with."-With this, he made towards the door, which Mr. C. locked, and, in the tones of a second Stentor, said, "You shall not go, sir. James, fetch a police officer." By this time the man trembled like an aspen leaf, and cried, "Don't send for a police officer." "Contess, then, who and what you are," said Mr. C. He then confessed that he was not a Baptist, and lived by getting money in such a manner, and added that his honour was the sharpest man he ever met with. After some conversation and much entreaty, Mr. Coley allowed him to go, satisfied that he had found out a tolerably sure method of detecting impostors.

Were every minister to adopt some such expedient, such characters would become exceedingly scarce, and their acts of benevolence centre on needy and deserving objects. When ministers help such persons, they are a party to an extensive robbery among the most benevolent members of the church, though unconscious of it.

A CLERGYMAN IN NEW YORK.

A CLERGYMAN of New York related from the pulpit the following facts:-A clergyman in a neighbouring town, some time since, as he was riding, passed some young females, near a school-house, and dropped from his carriage two tracts, which he had previously marked. Some time after, he was conversing with a young woman with reference to her spiritual state, and found her rejoicing in the hope of pardoned sin. He inquired the history of her religious feelings, and she traced them to a tract dropped by a traveller, which was manifestly

one of the two above referred to. He was afterwards called to visit another young woman on a sick-bed, whose mind was calm and composed in view of death, which the event proved was near at hand. She traced her first serious impressions to the circumstance of two tracts being dropped by a traveller; one of which, she said, was taken up by her cousin, and the other by herself; "and now," said she, we are both hoping in Christ." She had retained the tract as a precious treasure, and putting her hand under her pillow, showed it to the clergyman, who immediately recognised the marks he had written on it.

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REV. E. BYNE.

THE late Rev. Edmund Byne, though somewhat eccentric in his manners, was an eminently faithful and fearless servant of the Lord Jesus. When a young man, soon after he had joined the church, he was invited, with his wife, by some of his old companions in sin, to attend a dancing-party, which he agreed to do on the express condition that he should entirely direct the whole proceedings of the evening. When the company had collected, a young lady stepped forward and invited. the preacher to dance. He so far accepted her invitation as to walk out on the floor with her, when the violin struck up a lively air. Mr. Byne claimed his right to give direction to the exercises of the evening, and immediately sang a hymn, in which he was joined by several of the party, and then knelt down and offered up a fervent prayer. By the time he had completed his second hymn many were in tears. The dance was converted into a prayer-meeting, and no other frolic was ever attempted in that house.