conversion was the beginning of a revival of religion in that place, during which twenty other young men, and some of the professors, became converted to Christ.

REV. S. NIGHTINGALE.

In the beginning of 1845, at a union prayer-meeting in Philadelphia, the Rev. S. Nightingale, a Baptist minister from Montgomery county, was present by invitation, and at the close of an exhortation related the following anecdote:

“About twenty years ago, there was a wild and daring lad in the city, who feared neither God nor man. One day he was thrown accidentally into the company of a clergyman, who had some serious conversation with him on religion. Among other things, he told him that it was his opinion, that in after life he would either join the army or become a minister of the Gospel. A few years after this conversation, that boy made a profession of religion and entered the ministry. I,” added he, "am that individual; and," pointing to Dr. Ely, who sat on the platform beside him, "this is the minister who held the conversation with me when a boy."

The congregation appeared electrified; and Dr. Ely, who had forgotten the boy in the person of the speaker, now recollecting the circumstance, started from his chair, and embraced him.

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REV. S. STODDARD.

THE Rev. Solomon Stoddard, of Northampton, the pred cessor of the far-famed President Edwards, was engaged i his people on an emergency. They soon found themselves di appointed, for he gave no indications of a renewed and seriou mind. In this difficulty their resource was prayer. The agreed to set apart a day for special fasting and prayer, i reference to their pastor. Many of the persons meeting fo this purpose, had necessarily to pass the door of the minister Mr. S. hailed a plain man whom he knew, and addressed him "What is all this! What is doing to-day?" The reply was, "The people, sir, are meeting to pray for your conversion." It sunk into his heart. He exclaimed to himself, "Then it is time I prayed for myself!" He was not seen that day. He was seeking in solitude what they were asking in company; and "while they were yet speaking," they were heard and answered. The pastor gave unquestionable evidence of the change; he laboured amongst a beloved and devoted people for nearly half a century; and was, for that period, deservedly ranked among the most able and useful of Christian ministers.

REV. DR. M.CARTEE.

THE Rev. Dr. M'Cartee, of New York, in delivering an address at a tract meeting in Philadelphia, related the following anecdote :

The mention of two of the publications of the American

fract Society, in your report, sir, has excited emotions in my wn mind which I cannot repress. I well remember when two young lawyers, both far from God, and engaged in the pursuit of the honours and wealth of this world, met in the city of New York, when, as one took some legal documents from his pocket, the other, to his surprise, discovered among them DODDRIDGE'S RISE and PROGRESS OF RELIGION.' Nor was the surprise of the first at all less, when he discovered lying on the table, at the hand of his fellow, BAXTER'S SAINTS' REST.' Each appeared at first confused and ashamed at the discovery, for they had not yet learned to glory in the cross. But a few moments, however, had elapsed, when they mutually found that the attention of each had been powerfully arrested by those volumes, and that each was deeply anxious for the salvation of his soul. Together they sought the Lord; and, agonizing to enter into the kingdom, they both, about the same time, were enabled to hope in the mercy of Jesus Christ for eternal life. One of them, having fought the good fight, and kept the faith, has long since gone upward, I doubt not, to rest in the bosom of the Saviour he loved and served. The other, called, as he believes, of God, became a preacher of the Gospel of Christ, and still lives to proclaim to dying sinners, in his native city, salvation through the blood and righteousness of the blessed Redeemer; and now, when he finds your society engaged in sending forth, among your other valuable publications, these two precious volumes, he (referring to himself) presents himself before you to add, this evening, his feeble, but heartfelt testimony to the excellence of the Tract Society.

A PIOUS BISHOP.

A WORTHY and excellent bishop of the Episcopal church, was in early life an immoral and dissipated man. Dining one evening with a party of gentlemen, they sat late over their wine, and with a view to promote merriment, this young man sent for one of his slaves, who was in the habit of preaching to his companions in slavery, and ordered him to preach a sermon to the company. The good man hesitated for a time, but at length began to address them. Instead of the mirth, however, which they anticipated from the ignorance and simplicity of the poor man, the piety and fervour of his discourse produced a contrary effect. The solemn truths he delivered sank deeply into the hearts of some of the company, and, through the Divine blessing, carried conviction to the heart of his master, who now seriously inquired after the way of salvation; which having learned, he began from a sense of duty to publish the grace of Christ, and became an ornament to the Christian ministry.

A ZEALOUS MINISTER.

THE Rev. J. Perkins, a missionary to Persia, has recorded the following remarkable anecdote in his journal :—A physician, who had been personally acquainted with the infidel Paine, had embraced his sentiments, and was very profane and dissipated. After striving for more than a year against the convictions of the spirit of God, which were so powerful,

and his stubbornness so great, like a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke, as to bring him to a bed of long confinement, and the most awful depression of mind, he became an humble, zealous, exemplary Christian. And as soon as his health was recovered, he qualified himself, by preparatory studies, to go forth to the world, and preach that Jesus, whom he for many years considered as an impostor, whose name he had habitually blasphemed, and whose religion he had counted foolishness, and a base imposition on the world.

REV. W. COOPER.

THE late Rev. W. Cooper, of Boston, very early in life set his heart upon being a minister of Jesus Christ; and this object of his choice he never abandoned. At seven years old, while hearing a sermon from the Rev. Mr. Colman, with whom he afterwards was colleague, he was so attracted by the eloquence of his manner, that he went home with a determination to read like him: a circumstance which drew from that venerable man, who survived him, and preached on the occasion of his death, the following humble but affectionate remark: "I ought to thank God, if I have served, in any way, to form him for his since eminent pulpit services; and, in particular, his method of preaching Christ and Scripture. So a torch may be lighted at a farthing candle."

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