servants who are uneasy on this point, if there are any such, read 2 Kings v. 18, 19, “In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing: and he said unto him, Go in peace." Here is a converted servant, no matter how high his station, attending his master even into the very temple of idolatry, and the prophet reproacheth not. The believing servant will not willingly remain in the path of temptation, or of destitution of the means of grace; but may it not be gathered from this narrative, that the Lord will regard the silent petitions of his isolated servant, even when offered to him from amongst the prostrate worshippers of an idol god.

It will be scarcely necessary, I presume, to adduce any scripture proofs that the Bible saints were habituated to fixed times of prayer. This by no means excludes that ejac ulatory devotion which constant collision with the world renders constantly needful: but they who know anything of their own depravity, know that without some stated seasons of approach to God, the carnality of their hearts would strive by procrastinating arguments to abate the practice.

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Seven times a day do I praise thee," said David; and in another place, "Evening and morning and at noon will I pray." Daniel kneeled upon his knees three times a day. Anna the prophetess prayed night and day. But I would mention what has had special weight on my own mind, and which, if carried out with the many other scriptures illustrative of the type, would I believe produce an unanswerable argument for stated family prayer: I allude to the morning and evening sacrifice. Let the reader turn to Exod. xxix. and read from the 38th verse to the end of the chapter; it is there said, that one lamb shall

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be offered in the morning, and the other lamb be offered at even. is daily approach to God, morning and evening; and sweet and delightful are the promises attendant upon this sacrifice. That Israel was typical of God's children to the end of time none will deny. That God's spiritual Israel approach not now with the blood of creatures slain is a glorious truth; the Lamb of God, the one sacrifice which all these prefigured, is now their all-availing plea. The type is gospelized, but the way of entrance is not barred up. At the same time that the prophecy is still upon record, that God will pour out his fury upon the families that call not upon his name; the blessed promise is equally positive, that this shall be for a continual burnt-offering, and that here he will meet with the children of Israel, and will dwell among them, and will be their God. Every believer is now a priest unto God, to offer up spiritual sacrifices; and as Israel of old approached morning by morning with the slain lamb, so he draws near pleading the Lamb that was slain, confiding his poor petitions to his Great High Priest, and relying upon him to obtain for them a favorable audience and a favorable reply.

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Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there will I be in the midst of them, and that to bless them."

I have engrossed too much space already, or I would refer your readers to Gen. xviii. 19, where God is represented as giving this reason to his angels for a particular favor to be bestowed on Abraham, because “he knew he would command his children and household to keep the way of the Lord, that he might obtain the blessing promised." Does not this scripture declare the Lord's approbation of the care he took to support religion in his family? and can it be supported in a total neglect of prayer?

In conclusion, I would suggest, does not the query of Gad remind

the reader of the objections made in the days of Job, What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have if we pray unto him." But let the humble believer not be lured away from his privileges by those who soar to the tops of the mountains. The hills round about Jerusalem are glorious safeguards to the city of God; but Christ is among the myrtle trees in the bottom of the valley there the sheep love to feed, while the goats browse upon the summits. He who busies himself only in climbing precipices may get a fall; and there is more verdure in the pasture than on the mountain-top. "Secret things belong unto God, but those which he hath revealed belong to us and to our children.'

JOSHUA.

LETTER TO THE EDITORS ON FAMILY

PRAYER.

Messrs. Editors,

I HAVE just read in your February number another communication from Gad on Family Prayer: I had hoped the remarks of Joshua would have set the matter at rest, but as that is not the case, and as I despair myself of convincing Gad what unprofitable, if not erroneous views on family prayer he is advocating, I shall merely make a very few remarks for the disentanglement of some of your readers who I fear will get into a labyrinth from Gad's communications. I cannot however help saying to him, with all deference to his (probably) more matured understanding, that the passage he refers to in Jeremiah (iii. 14), does not prove that " a family means a tribe;" but to me it sets forth the sovereign, discriminating love of God towards his elect, that there may be but one in a whole city, and there may be two in one family! Not to enter into any controversy with Gad, it is a sufficient warrant for me or any other person to assem

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ble our families together, when we have the positive promise of the Most High God, "that wheresoever two or three are gathered together in his name there he is :" and fully satisfied am I, that if Gad had ever felt what I have in bowing the knee at the sacred footstool, with my tender offspring, he would never in the most remote manner have discouraged the practice; on the contrary he would rather have said with Jonathan, after tasting of the honey, " Behold, how mine eyes are enlightened, come ye and partake likewise." Many times have I gone surfeited with the things of the world, and found as much relief as a fainting person does from fresh air; and many times when in secret I could not make known my wants to my heavenly Father, he hath enabled me to plead for my partner and children, and imperceptibly I have felt that his ear hath been opened to my cry, and I have realized such holy familiarity, that I could tell him my every want, and could adopt the language of the apostle when he says, "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, and that are called according to his purpose."

I have gone with my family to a throne of grace with guilt on my conscience, and have sensibly felt that guilt removed: as if I had owed a debt, not knowing how to pay it, and a friend unexpectedly dropped in and gave me the money to do so. I have gone to a throne of grace with my family feeling enmity in my heart against an individual who was perhaps present, and found my hatred turned into love.

These and many other blessed effects have I felt from family prayer. I trust therefore, Sirs, that this will be sufficient apology for intruding these observations; and I think therefore you may in some measure enter into my feelings on reading Gad's remarks, which, to put the most charitable construction upon them, I think

most unprofitable. As to what he says respecting a poor man, I believe that no man will ever have occasion to regret a few minutes spent every night and morning in the service of God let him remember God looketh not at a form of words, but he seeth the heart; he looketh not at the length of a prayer, but the sincerity of it: a striking instance we have of this in the character of the Publican, all he uttered was, "God be merciful to me a sinner."

I have had a family some years; part of that time I assembled them not around the altar; so that I know both practices, and can sincerely say, though I am often tempted to give it up, and truly ashamed of my weakness, yet, if, at this present moment the largest estate in the country were offered me to discontinue calling my family together, I believe it would be no temptation. Brighton.

JONATHAN.

MEMORANDA CONNECTED WITH THE LATE REV WILLIAM NUNN'S LAST ILLNESS.

On Wednesday, March 4, Mr. Nunn was as well as usual, and was cheerfully employed about his ordinary ministerial duties, preaching from the words, "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us," Heb. x. 15. The next morning (Thursday) he went down into the town on business, and while there was taken violently ill, and immediately returned home in a car, in excruciating pain. Medical aid was immediately procured, but without producing the relief that was hoped he was carried up to bed by two of his children in the evening of the same day, from which he was never moved again. As they carried him up he said to them, Oh, what a mass of corruption you are carrying." In the evening a consultation of three medical men was held, and after a night of extreme torture, endured with great patience, it was

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found needful to resort to surgical operation, as the only hope of removing the evil that threatened his life, which was an internal rupture. The fortitude bestowed during this trying period, a space of about half an hour, was equal to the extreme need; and after that he had comparative ease.

When the operation had been performed, his medical attendant, perceiving tears rolling down his cheeks, said, "You should not weep :" to which he replied, "They are tears of gratitude.' He also observed that he was thankful they had had daylight, and that the dear children were not in bed his thoughts were always of others rather than of himself. He sank more and more under exhaustion, as the operation and subsequent means employed entirely failed of producing the desired effect. His mind was much supported during the few remaining days, and though he spoke but little, it was evident his mind was staid upon his God. During the whole of Friday night and Saturday night, he suffered so much from constant and severe medicines, that but little escaped his lips beyond expressions of pain; but not once was he heard to murmur. Once the words "need of patience"-at another time "I need perseverance"-at another,"I need faith and patience at this time," marked the character of his feelings. Whenever any thing temporal was brought before him, he waived the subject, and seemed to hope he should recover; but on the Sunday morning, when asked if he had any thing particular to say, he replied, "There are things I wished to speak about were it not the Sabbath." He was then

asked whether he would like to be read to from the scriptures: he replied, "I have plenty of passages of scripture applied to my mind." But from being able to converse so little ; they were only short replies that he gave.

On Sunday morning the first great change took place, and to those with

him it appeared that the hand of death had struck him; but during the day he seemed to rally, and had much less pain than before. His voice failed, and he never again spoke above a whisper, but cheerful and content; and on its being said to him, There is but a step between you and death:" he at first replied, "Oh, I shall recover yet," but afterwards added, "but whichever way it turns I am resigned either for life or death." On Sunday night he was asked whether he wished to see any one in particular: his reply was," From the first my only feeling has been to be ruled; I would have no wishes but the will of God in all things: I can trace his hand in his dealing." During the whole of Sunday night he was gradually sinking he slept constantly for about a quarter of an hour at a time, then being awakened by bodily discomfort, he took what medicine and liquid was to be administered, and each time said, "There, now leave me, I shall sleep ;" and in a moment he was gone again. This was repeated all night, and frequently on awaking he said pleasantly," Now for the usual process-give me my sumptuous supper:"meaning a spoonful of barley water, Once he said, If this medicine relieves me all will be right, if not I may yet go;" and on its being replied "All will be right either way," he said, "Oh, yes, all is right."

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About 7 o'clock on Monday morning he changed so rapidly, that it was feared he had but a short time to live; but he again rallied a little, and his mind seemed much in sweet communion and staid on God, but when he spoke it was broken and scarcely audible. Once he said, "Sweet mercy, sweetest mercy," with peculiar emphasis; and on its being said, "You mean the mercy of God," he replied, "I know of no other mercy." Once he was asked if he felt the presence and preciousness of Christ now he was approaching the

dark valley: his reply was indistinct, and rather implied a feeling of darkness, but he immediately added,

How can he be any thing but precious." Seeming very restless and wanting change, he was asked if he would like prayer or a few verses: he replied, "I'll tell you by and by," and then added, " But I do not need consolation." And when it was said, "Your consolations much more abound:" he looked full of comfort, and said, Oh, yes." He was then asked if he felt happy, (for he seemed uneasy,) he replied, "Delightfully." "Is your soul at ease?" Gloriously." Then you need nothing we can do or say?" "No, nothing but to leave me to myself."

About 10 o'clock the medical men called, and confirmed the feeling of those who watched around him, that every ray of hope must be relinquished; and on being told that a few moments might exchange time for eternity, he seemed to give himself up into the hands of God without a wish. He seemed desirous to attend to some little matter connected with his church, shewing how near his heart it lay; but nature sunk in the attempt, and from that moment he was in the very article of death. One who was bathing his forehead said, Is it pleasant to you?" and he said, in a firm connected sentence, "I do not like the application of scripture language to it, but, if I may be allowed the expression, I should say, I am already in a glorified body, it is so sweet, so delightful!" He never spoke again, except a tranquil assent to one or two remarks on the approaching change, and was lost to every earthly faculty; but the fullest embodyment of his soul's enjoyment was reserved for the closing moment, and it expressed more than any words could have done. While his sorrowing family were hanging in agonizing suspense, waiting for his last breath, sometime after his eyes had been so completely

glazed in death, that one unable to bear it had attempted to close them, all consciousness being gone; they were opened with the suddenness and brilliancy of a flash of lightningclear, full, blue, and more than earthly; they seemed to penetrate beyond the clouds and darkness that are round about him to the very throne of God, and thus they remained fixed in the most inexpressible communion with the unseen world for about a quarter of an hour, shewing that the soul was even before its final transit realizing, "joy unspeakable and full of glory," at God's right-hand where there are pleasures for evermore. Thus it winged its way from the way-worn tenement; not a pang, not a struggle interrupted its flight; body, soul, and spirit testified that death had lost his sting. The bereaved widow repeated a stanza expressive of adoring participation in the glorious scene. The weeping children exclaimed, “Oh! who can grieve, look how happy he is:" and radiance was reflected from every heart and face. Never can it be forgotten or described.

At a quarter past eleven, after a slight movement and smile, that seemed to say to those seen by him, whose vision had evidently received a power denied to those still to toil on their earthly way, "I'm coming," the happy spirit was released for ever. eyes were never closed in death, but seemed gradually to recede from the visions of glory they had beheld.

› Astley Parsonage.

The

ALFRED HEWLETT.

FRAGMENT BY REV. J. CARTWRIGHT,

OF DEVONPORT.

Moses brought water out of the rock, and water only; but faith does more than this, it draws forth grace from the Rock of Eternal Ages, yea, it does more than this, it draws out life from Christ, and this is nourish ment for eternity: we feel it as such,

and while thus feasting, our souls melt before the collected beams of everlasting love, as they shine forth in the person of Jehovah Jesus.

THE PORTRAIT OF A TRUE GOSPEL MINISTER, AS DRAWN BY THE LATE REV. WILLIAM HUNTINGTON. AN able minister of the New Testament, is one that has received the Spirit of promise; one that has felt and enjoyed the truths, blessings, and promises of the gospel in his own heart, and so tells to others what God has done for his soul; he has the Spirit, and is a minister of the Spirit; he is a partaker of grace, and a good steward of it; he is pardoned, and preaches forgiveness; he is justified, and preaches righteousness; he believes, and therefore speaks: he is quickened, and holds forth the word of life; he is free, and preaches liberty to others; he has made his own calling and election sure, and therefore shuns not to declare the whole counsel of God; Christ is revealed in him, and he bears him or preaches him amongst the Gentiles; he has felt the savour of his name as an ointment poured forth, and therefore is instrumental in making manifest the savour of his name in every place; he has salt in himself, and his words are seasoned with salt to season others; he is illuminated, and lets his light shine before men; he is a candle on a stick, and gives light to all that are in the house. Such an one, in the hand of Christ, is an able minister of the New Testament.

Fragment from Luther.-To God's blessing upon the bold and faithful assertion of such noble truths as election, justification, sanctification, and perseverance, we owe our reformation from Popery; so nothing will finally preserve us from being carried captive into the popish Egypt again, but the revival and preaching of those same noble truths.