vocate.

I make no unchristian reflections on the death of Mr. Child, the Arminian adFar be it from me, to suggest any thing invidious, much less to triumph. It is enough to say, his sun set in thick and awful darkness. May God preserve us from such a sad night. But, O, those almost last words of his, "I cannot stoop to the SOVEREIGNTY of God, I would be above him." This declaration, is a clue to the rise of, and it is a volume of argument in the controversy. "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

What a distressing mixture of weakness and arbitrary passion is seen, not only in this story of former years, but among recent controversialists, from whom we expected more honey and less gall. What rash censoriousness, instead of the charity which hopeth all things! What bitter resentments, instead of the charity, which is not easily provoked! and, what acrimonious, personal reflections, instead of the charity which thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity! Such writers and such. preachers, suffer loss in their own character. They injure the cause, which they espouse; and, if good men, deeply wrong their own souls for nothing is so destructive to the peace of the soul, as these angry disputes about religion.

From the narrative before us, and recent scenes, it really appears, as though a great part of the profession of some men consisted in condemning others: and all under the vile pretence of defending a religion, of which love to God, is the center; and its eircumference, is good will toward men. For wolves to worry Sheep, is natural; but, what more unnatural, than for sheep to worry each other! All this unreasonable stiffness, about forms, indifferent; and doctrines, non-essential—all this eagerness to seize and magnify every little advantage into a triumph; and all this bitterness of reproach against our adversaries, are not from ABOVE, but from beneath. They are the very excrescence of our christian profession; and the overflowing bile of our apostate nature. Well, if after all, nothing will do but this sparring, let it be in gloves; and if our dexterity must be shown, let it be, not with the rapier, but with the foil. O my differing brethren, permit me to say, in the words of Voltaire, "We have only a day to live upon earth, let us spend it agreeably, without quarreling about dif ficulties, that will be cleared up in the life of immortality, which will begin to-mor

row.

GOOD NEWS FOR THE POOR.

Poor Joseph, was a half witted man, whose employment was to go on errands, and carry parcels; passing through London streets one day, heard psalm-singing in a large place of worship; he went into it, having a large parcel of yarn hanging over his shoulders: it was Dr. Calamy's meeting-house, St. Mary's Aldermanbury. A very well-dressed audience, surrounded the Doctor. He read the text in 1 Tim. i. 15. "This is a faithful saying, and wor-thy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." From this he preached, in the clearest and simplest manner, the ancient and apostolic gospel, the contents of this faithful saying, viz. that there is eternal salvation for the vilest sinners, solely through the worthiness of Jesus Christ, the God who made all things. Not many rich, not many noble, are called by this doctrine, (saith the apostle) but God hath chosen the weak things of this world, to confound the things that are mighty." While the elegant assembly listlessly heard this doctrine, and, if they were struck with any thing at all, it was only some brilliant expression, or well turned period that dropped from the Doctor: Joseph, in

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rags, gazing with astonishment, never took his eyes from the preacher; but drank in with eagerness, all he said, and trudg ing homeward, he was heard thus muttering to himself;" Joseph never heard this before; Jesus Christ, the God, who made all things, came into the world to save sinners, like Joseph; and this is true; and it is a faithful saying." Not long after this, Joseph was seized with a fever, and was dangerously ill. As he tossed upon his bed, his constant language was, Joseph is the chief of sinners; but Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, and Joseph loves him for this." His neighbours, who came to see him, wondered, on hearing him always dwell on this, and only this. Some of the self-righteous sort addressed him in the following manner. "But what say you of your own heart, Joseph? Is there no token for good about it! No saving change there? Have you closed with Christ, by acting faith upon him ?" "Ah, no, (says he) Joseph can act nothing, Joseph has nothing to say for himself, but just as he is, the chief of sinners, yet seeing that is a faithful saying, that Jesus, he who made all things, came into the world to save sinners, why may not Joseph, after all, be saved?" One man, finding out where he heard this doctrine, on which he dwelt so uniformly, and with such delight, went and asked Dr.

Calamy to come and visit him. He came; but Joseph was now very weak, and had not spoken for some time, and though told of the Doctor's arrival, he took no notice of him; but, when the Doctor began to speak to him, as soon as he heard the sound of his voice, he instantly sprang upon his elbows, and seizing him by the hands, exclaimed, as loud as he could, with his now feeble, and trembling voice, “O, Sir, you are the friend of the Lord Jesus, whom I heard speak so well of him, and whom I love for what you said of him. Joseph is the chief of sinners: but it is a faithful saying, that Jesus Christ, the God who made all things, came into the world to save sinners, and, why not Joseph? O, pray to that Jesus for me, pray that he may save me : tell him, that Joseph thinks that he loves him for coming into the world to save such sinners as Joseph." The Doctor prayed when he concluded, Joseph thanked him most kindly; he then put his hand under his pillow, and took out an old rag, in which were tied up five guineas, and putting it into the Doctor's hand, (which he had kept all this while closed in his) he thus addressed him: "Joseph in his folly, had laid up this to keep him in his old age, take it, and divide it amongst the poor friends of the Lord Jesus; and tell them, that Joseph gave it them for his sake, who came into the world to save sin