Anecdotes

OF THE LATE REV. JOHN NEWTON.

. (From Cecil's Memoirs.)

MR. NEWTON used to improve every occurrence which he could with propriety bring into the pulpit. One night he found a bill put up at St. Mary Woolnoth's, upon which he largely commented when he came to preach. The bill was to this effect:-" A young man having come to the possession of a very considerable fortune, desires the prayers of the congregation, that he may be preserved from the snares to which it exposes him."" Now if the man," said Mr. N. "had lost a fortune, the world would not have wondered to have seen him put up a bill; but this man has been better taught."

Coming out of his church on a Wednesday, a lady stopped him on the steps, and said, "The ticket, of which I held a quarter, is drawn a prize of ten thousand pounds. I know you will congratulate me upon the occasion."-" Madam," said he, "as for a friend under temptation, I will endeavour to pray for you."

I could not help observing one day, how much Mr. N. was grieved with the mistake of a minister, who appeared to pay too much attention to politics. "For my part," said he, "I have no temptation to turn politician, and much less to inflame a party, in these times. When a ship is leaky, and a mutinous spirit divides the company on board, a wise man would say, My good friends, while we are debating, the water is gaining on us. We had better leave the debate, and go to the pumps.' -I endeavour," continued he, "to turn my people's eyes from instruments to God. I am continually attempting to show them, how far they are from knowing either the matter of fact or the matter of right. I ineulcate our great privileges in this country, and advise a discontented man to take a lodging for a little while in Russia or Prussia."

I remember to have heard him say, when speaking of his continual interruptions, "I see in this world two heaps of human happiness and misery; now if I can

take but the smallest bit from one heap and add to the other, I carry a point.-If, as I go home, a child has dropped a halfpenny, and if by giving it another I can wipe away its tears, I feel I have done something. I should be glad, indeed, to do greater things; but I will not neglect this. When I hear a knock at my study door, I hear a message from God. It lesson of instruction; perhaps a lesson of patience; but, since it is his message, it must be interesting."

may

be a

Motives to Contentment.

(From Jay's Family Sermons.)

Guard against habitual discontent. To possess, is not to enjoy. Many possess much, and enjoy nothing. We cannot judge of a man by outward appearances. His grounds may bring forth plentifully. He may fare sumptuously every day; he may have servants to anticipate all his wants; he may have more than heart can wish, and yet if we could look within, we should see his soul a prey to dissatisfaction. An ability to relish our mercies is considered by Solomon as the gift of God: Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. But this gift of God comes to us like other gifts, in the You should, use of means, and is increased by them.

therefore, sanctify reason, and exercise thought. You should compare your circumstances with the state, not of those above you, but below. As soon as you are placed in a condition, you should shut your eyes and ears against all its disadvantages, and dwell only on the good and improvable. You should often ask, what it is that keeps you from taking comfort in your portion, and be ashamed to think, that one trial should make you insensible to a thousand favours; that one trifling event not according to your mind, but upon which real welfare has no dependence, your should deprive every thing else of all power to interest you. Did you never think Haman a fool? He called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife; and Haman told

them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared, but myself; and to-morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. It is to no purpose to exempt some, even from real evils-they will be sure to conjure up imaginary ones. It matters not what is done for them-they are incapable of being pleased. It matters not where they are placed-it is impossible to make them happy. How must it shock an angel, to see a man, notwithstanding his unworthiness, surrounded with every wish, every comfort, and yet nothing but fretfulness and complaint, a torment to others, and a burden to himself. Why, he is far worse than his brethren in the field: Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

The Blessings of Education.
(From the same.)

Whatever the advocates for mental darkness suppose, who plead that, because a man is born to poverty, he is born to ignorance, and will fill his place the better, the less he knows;-no property can be better expended, than that which is laid out in the instruction of the young. A little education gives a poor child the use of his understanding. It opens to him a thousand sources of pleasure, to alleviate his condition. It prepares him to support himself, and to be useful to others. While it is friendly to religion, by teaching him the nature and grounds of his duty, and enabling him to read the word of truth.

Lines from an Album.

I know not what these lines will be,
I know not who these lines may see:
But since a word in season sent,
As from a bow at hazard bent,
May reach a roving eye, or dart
Conviction through a careless heart,
O! that an arrow I might find
In the small quiver of my mind,
Which with unerring aim should strike
Each who encounter it alike!

Reader, attention! I will spring

A wondrous thought;-'tis on the wing;
Guard well your heart;-you guard in vain,
The wound is made, yet gives no pain;
Surprize may cause your cheek to glow,
Yet, courage; none but shall know;
The thought awakened by my spell
Is more than I myself can tell.

you

How? search the secrets of your breast,
And think of-that which you love best!
Then ask within-“ What will this be,
"A thousand ages hence to me?"
And if it will not pass the fire

In which all nature shall expire,

Think, ere these rhymes aside are cast, (As though the thought might be your last) "Where shall I find below, above,

"An object worthy of my love?"

Now hearken! and forget it never

Love that which you may love for ever.

JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS.

CHAP. XIX. Under the type of breaking a potter's vessel is shewn the desolation of the Jews for their sins. The prophets often taught by significant actions as well as by words.

Chap. xx. A fearful doom is pronounced against Pashur, the persecutor of God's prophet. It is a dreadful thing to persecute the servants of the Most High God-it is compared to "touching the apple of His eye;" and He hath ordained his arrows against the persecutors. Ps. cv. 15. Zech. ii. 8. Ps. vii. 13.

Chap. xxi. should be transposed, as one of those issued in the reign of Zedekiah.

Chap. xxii. (and perhaps the last four verses of xxi.) still calls to repentance, mingling invitations with threats. How long-suffering is God, thus to treat with sinners before he strikes: not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance! The death of Shallum (the late king) in captivity is foretold. The miserable and unlamented end of Jehoiakim also, expressly foretold, 13-19, also xxxvi. 30, which was exactly fulfilled.

The like calamity is threatened to his successor, Jeconiah, sometimes also called Jehoiachin; and sometimes (contemptuously) Coniah; and his seed declared to be for ever excluded from the throne.

Chap. xxiii. Judgments are still threatened, but