his blood to take away sin; warmly exhorting her to put her trust alone in him. Making a pause in his discourse, the catholic woman, who, by her countenance, had expressed much astonishment, immediately exclaimed, “O, sir! This is the first time I ever thought that a protestant minister believed in Christ!"

The opposition of protestant ministers to the superstitious use of the sign of the cross, may have given occa. sion to the priests to represent them as enemies to the doctrine of the cross. But may not the silence of some preachers, as to the grand peculiarities of the gospel, in their preaching, confirm the unhappy prejudice? May no protestant preachers, by their omission of Christ in their sermons, render it questionable to their hearers, whether or not they believe in Christ!

THE CHARACTER OF SOME MODERN RELIGIONISTS.

"I SAY amen with all my heart, to your observations on religious characters. Men, who profess themselves adepts in mathematical knowledge, in astronomy, or jurispru dence, are generally as well qualified as they would appear. The reason may be, that they are always liable to detection, should they attempt to impose upon mankind, and therefore take care to be what they pretend. In religion alone, a profession is often slightly taken up, and slovenly carried on, because, forsooth, candor and charity require us to hope the best, and to judge favorably of our neighbor; and because it is easy to deceive the ignorant, who are a great majority, upon this subject. Let a man attach himself to a particular party, contend furiously for what are properly called evangelical doctrines, and inlist himself under the

banner of some popular preacher, and the business is done. Behold a Christian, a saint, a phoenix! In the mean time, perhaps, his heart, and his temper, and even his conduct, are unsanctified; possibly less exemplary than those of some avowed infidels. No matter; he can talk; he has the Shibboleth of the true church; the Bible in his pocket, and a head well stored with notions. But the quiet, humble, modest, and peaceable person, who is, in his practice, what the other is only in profession; who hates a noise, and therefore makes none; who, knowing the snares that are in the world, keeps himself as much out of it as he can, and never enters it but when duty calls, and even then with fear and trembling; is the Christian that will always stand highest in the estimation of those who bring all characters to the test of truc wisdom, and judge of the tree by its fruit."

INNOCENT PITH.

A MINISTER, lately about to preach at a country village, to a considerable number of people, was naming his text, viz. "The 1st Epistle to the Corinthians, the 15th chapter," and the 24th verse, cried a man aloud, as he stood at the preacher's elbow. Mr. F. the preacher, with admirable presence of mind, instantly replied, "You are nearly right, my friend; but not quite exact; it is the 34th verse; and the words are these, Some men have not the knowledge of God;" and looking at him, tapping him at the same time on the shoulder, "I speak this to your shame." The people smiled; became attentive; the man was delighted with Mr. F.'s friendly VOL. I.

25

66

manner, calls him his parson; and says, whenever he preaches he will come and hear him again.

HINT TO PERSONS WHO COME LATE TO WORSHIP. A WOMAN, who always used to attend public worship with great punctuality, and took care to be in time, was asked, how it was she could always come so early? She answered, very wisely, that it was a part of her religion not to disturb the religion of others.

THE GOSPEL HID FROM THE WISE AND PRUDENT. AN intimate friend of the infidel Hume, asked him what he thought of Mr. Whitefield's preaching; for he had listened to the latter part of one of his sermons at Edinburgh. "He is, sir," said Mr. Hume, "the most ingenious preacher I ever heard. It is worth while to go twenty miles to hear him." He then repeated a passage towards the close of the discourse which he heard.

"After a solemn pause, he thus addressed his numerous audience; The attendant angel is just about to leave the threshold, and ascend to heaven. And shall he ascend and not bear with him the news of one sinner, among all this multitude, reclaimed from the error of his ways?'

"To give the greater effect to this exclamation, he stamped with his foot, lifted up his hands and eyes to heaven, and with gushing tears, cried aloud, Stop, Gabriel! Stop, Gabriel! Stop ere you enter the sacred por. tals, and yet carry with you the news of one sinner converted to God.' He then, in the most simple, but energetic language, described what he called a Savior's dying

love to sinful man; so that almost the whole assembly melted into tears. This address was accompanied with such animated, yet natural action, that it surpassed any thing I ever saw or heard in any other preacher."

Happy had it been for poor Hume, had he received what he then heard, (6 as the word of God, and not as the word of man!"

THE BIBLE THE SOUL'S TREASURE.

PERHAPS no age of the world has so abounded with religious publications as the present; this wears a favorable appearance. The hearty reception and cager reading of these writings is still more pleasing; and the happy effects which they produce, under the influences of the Spirit of God, afford great cause of thankfulness. These means of information, however, are but as so many rivulets or channels from the fountain of truth, which is the Bible. Here all the heirs of glory, however widely situated, variously circumstanced, and differently employed, may find suitable instruction, ample supplies of information, divine support, and solid comfort in every case! Here the seeking soul, the babe in Christ, little children in divine knowledge, young men in grace, and fathers in evangelical experience apply, and apply successfully, for the relief which their separate cases require.

The parent and offspring, the husband and wife, the master and servant, are all furnished here with directions suited to their relative situations; and with ability to perform their respective duties; so also the excursive missionary, the stated pastor, and Christians of every order, all find support, furniture, armor, and provisions, with

every necessary qualification for their several spheres of action from this fountain of eternal Truth! O, my soul, make this the man of thy counsel! Here is saving wisdom, spiritual life, sacred joy, and heavenly delight! Am I in a state of darkness? The entrance of this word giveth light; and becomes a light to my path, and a lamp to my feet! Am I doubting the kindness and faithfulness of God towards me?

"His kindest thoughts are here exprest,

Able to make me wise and blest."

Am I in want? Here are treasures of blessings; yea, durable riches and eternal honors! Am I lamenting my barrenness? Here is the word of life which quickens the powers of the soul, and calls forth the graces of the Spirit into lively exercise! Am I in affliction? Here is suitable and scasonable relief, and comfort, promised and applied! Am I in a desert land, or on a trackless ocean, and at a loss to know the way of duty and safety? Here is a sacred directory, a compass, a chart; yea, a voice behind me saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it." And whatever distress or suffering I may endure, "This word 1 can bring a sweet relief for every pain I feel!"

"What is said is true;

Perhaps some reader will say, but we want the blessings expressed and promised in the word applied, so that they may be sensibly felt, and savingly enjoyed." Very right. "But all the promises are yea and amen in Christ;" and may be taken in the hand of faith, and presented at the throne of grace, where Christ is always in the office, ready to receive the request; and to prove the faithfulness of God to his word, by communicating out of his fulness such blessings, that