Fnther proportioned our pleasures to our capacities of enjoyment, as well as our pains to our powers of endurance.

As I walked up a narrow lane, the fence on one side was entwined with ivy-on inspection I found, what at first sight looked like a hedge of ivy, was a wall of stone concealed by this little evergreen the effect was pleasing, and the deception striking. It reminded me of some whose manners are amiable, and their affability highly attractive, but who are, notwithstanding, strangers to regenerating grace. In such no flaw is seen in common life, but as the ivy was only an outside covering to conceal stones, so amiable manners, and winning affability often conceal for a time a stony heart-an unrenewed mind -but when the winter comes, when the frost dries up the sap, the verdure fades, the leaves fall one by one, then the wall appears in view. So when the blasts of temptation, the frosts of poverty, a time of trial comes, then the hidden evils of the mind break out, the dormant passions burst from their concealment and repose, and then the whited sepulchre discloses its sad contents. So deceitful is the heart of man! Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

These reflections led me on till looking round, and recollecting where I was, I found 'twas time to bend my steps homeward pleased with the incidents of my evening's ramble, I hastened to my old retreat, and there poured out the aspirations of my soul in

praise to Him who formed Hea ven and Earth, "who sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills-they give drink to every beast of the field, there the wild asses quench their thirst: by them also the fowls of heaven hare their habitation, which sing among the branches. He watereth the hills from his chambers; the Earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works: he causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man; that he may bring forth food out of the earth: and wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. O Lord! how manifold are thy works in wisdom thou hast made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. "These are thy glorious works, Parent

of Good!

Almighty! thine this Universal Frame! Thus wondrous fair: thyself how wondrous then!"

B. H. B.

ON PRAYER MEETINGS. Though assemblies for united prayer are generally approved by the professors of experimental religion, yet, it is to be feared, that many good men are not fully sensible of their importance. Having never thought much on the subject, they are in the habit of slighting the opportunities which they have to attend them: they consequently lose the benefits which they might receive; their brethren are deprived of their assistance, and their God of that homage which otherwise they would render. To such persons it may not be useless, if a few ob servations are made respecting the advantages of social prayer.

In what may be advanced on

this subject, the writer begs leave to observe, it is by no means his intention to represent attendance at prayer meetings as a proper substitute for private devotion. He is aware that Jesus has enjoined his followers to enter into their closets-to shut the doors and there to pray to their Father who is in secret: and he acknowledges with regret, that he has repeatedly found, that a neglect so to do, however punctual attendance may be to social duties, is incompatible with the prosperity of the soul. But he is also persuaded that meetings for prayer have some advantages which private supplications have not; and that, therefore, as attendance on these, dispenses not with the necessity of secret devotion; so regularity in that, supersedes not the propriety of assembling ourselves with our fellow christians, unitedly to address the Father of mer

cles.

In the first place, the various gifts of believers are calculated for mutual edification. If the heart of a christian be cold at the commencement of the service, the fervent cries of others may be the means of warming it. Different minds have different trains of thought, and different modes of expression these may serve to excite a vigorous attention to subjects, which viewed merely in an accustomed light, would appear comparatively uninteresting. What one suppliant would forget, a variety of suppliants remember; and the heart of a good man is frequently surprised into petitions most congenial to his disposition, yet habitually omitted in his private addresses to the Almighty. Nor is this an advantage only

received by those of small talents for prayer, from those who possess large abilities: the simple breathings of an illiterate person of very confined intellect, may edify those much farther advanced than himself in divine knowledge, and much better able to express their ideas.

Prayer meetings have likewise a good effect on those who attend them, in promoting mutual love. They see each other as fellowchristians, and as possessed of fellow-feeling. There is among them a communion of complaints, and a communion of desires; and they expect, when their petitions are granted, a communion of favours. If a believer, for instance, is habitually praying for the extension of the kingdom of Christ, it excites his love to his brother, when he finds from his requests, that the same thing lies near his heart, and that he is an ally in the design of giving to Jehovah no rest,' till he make Jerusalem a praise in all the earth. We see in the hearts of our brethren as displayed in their prayers, the image of the Redeemer, the workmanship of the Spirit—the influence of grace, and the sight of these draws forth our esteem.

Nor is the beneficial tendency of prayer meetings confined to those who are present, or who are possessed of vital godliness. they are sermons which some hear who never enter a place of worship. The conscience of many a hardened sinner often doubtless smites him, when he sees neighbour going to the house of God for this purpose. While his heart heaves with enmity against religion altogether, and while his lips ridicule the christian band,

his

:

for thus spending their time, his judgment tells him that they are right, and that he is wrong. He feels that if they meet to pray so frequently, he ought at least to pray sometimes and if he is a ware of the fact, that they meet to pray for him, and his ungodly associates, it has a tendency to disarm his prejudices, and to lead him to inquire why he should be so unconcerned about himself, while those whom he treats with disdain, are so anxious for him.

But if all that has been said were accounted of no weight, the propriety of assembling to call upon the Almighty would be sufficiently plain from the consider ation of the great success with which we are warranted to expect that God will honour the united supplications of his saints. "If two of you sball agree on earth," says Jesus, "as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven; for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." The petition present ed to the majesty of heaven, is not the petition of an individual, it is signed with as many names as there are christians present, whose hearts join with the speaker, all names of the monarch's friends, whom he loves-of his children with whom he sympathizes. What may we not hope for when the divine spirit puts it into the hearts of many, thus to exert themselves in the most effectual way in pull ing down the empire of the prince of darkness! What may we not hope for when that name which the Father ever delights to hear, is pleaded by many, for blessings, which the affections of his heart

make him ready, through its merits, to grant, to a single individual!

The very evident marks of approbation which the Most High has been pleased to give prayer meetings, must be construed as speaking most forcibly in their favour. They are the weapons with which the church has subdued its most formidable foes, and defended its friends in the most critical emergencies. What could be done by a few poor despised Nazarenes to draw their champion Peter out of the hands of Herod? Could they break open the gates of the pri son and rescue him by force of arms? Could they purchase his liberty with gold? Could they work upon the passions of the tyrant and induce him to set him free? No, these would have been fruitless attempts. But could nothing be done? They could hold a prayer meeting-the plan was suggested and approved

prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him"-and then, not all his chains could hold him, not all his keepers could guard him, not all the depraved inhabitants of earth and hell could cause his destruction!

In proportion to the prevalence of vital godliness in a community of Christians, has generally been their readiness to attend assemblies for social prayer. And in proportion to the prevalence of these, and the degree of fervency experienced, has frequently been the spread of religion in the neighbourhood. Jehovah, it is true, is not confined to one method of acting; but his usual way is when he intends to bestow a favor on a congregation, first to give to his people a spirit of prayer, and then

to bestow the blessing in answer to their entreaties. He does not always attend even to the united requests of his people as soon as they expect; nor in every instance give them the precise thing they mentioned; but uses towards them collectively, the same sovereignty which he uses towards them individually, in sometimes giving to them a blessing, better than that which they asked, but of a different nature. Yet sooner or later, in some form or other, he will shew that "he is the rewarder of all them that diligently seek him."

Let the reader, then, who has been accustomed to neglect meet ings for prayer, weigh the foregoing ideas. Let him consider the advantageous tendency which frequenting such assemblies would have, towards himself, towards his fellow-worshippers, and towards the men of the world. Let him remember the reasons there are to expect success when unitedly calling upon the Almighty; and then let him judge of the propriety of being constantly found in the house of God, when it is in the strictest sense of the expression" a house of prayer." P. Risboro.

QUIDAM.

1. It has been said, that a church, in the supposed case, is called to humiliation and mourning, and not to feasting and rejoicing. But admitting that the holy supper is a feast of joy, at which the disciples of Christ are called to-rejoice, and give thanks; yet there is nothing to forbid Christians, either as a church, or as individuals, while, on some accounts, they are called to mourn, on others to rejoice; for they are commanded to " rejoice in the Lord always," yea, to rejoice evermore, in the midst of their trials and afflictions. On the contrary principle, individual members, exercised with personal or relative afflictions, would be justifiable, in absenting themselves from the Lord's table; and the church, in times of persecution, should discontinue the celebration of the holy Supper. But so far from its being the duty of a church to deprive themselves, when under affliction, of the advantages of such appointed seasons of spiritual refreshment, they must, in such case, the more stand in need of them.

2. Another reason that has been 2 C

assigned for such privation, is, that the administration of the Lord's Supper is a pastoral act, which none can consistently exercise, but in the church over which he is pastor.

That the pastor of one church cannot exercise any rule in another, must be admitted; but as the administration of the Lord's Supper implies nothing of this kind, but requires only ministerial gifts, to direct the minds of the communicants rightly "to discern the Lord's body;" or to instruct them in making a suitable improvement of the ordinance, what reason can be assigned, why a person who possesses approved qualifications for such a service in one church, may notexercise them with equal propriety in another?

A church, in chusing a pastor virtually engage to obey him exclusively, as their "ruling elder," ruling elder," and a minister, in accepting their - invitation, virtually engages to exercise pastoral rule over them exclusively, but neither on one side nor the other does the engagement bind, with reference to preaching, or the administering ordinances.

I do not conceive therefore that a church violates any engagement to a pastor, who, in case of his absence, or incapacity, invite the pastor of another church to preach, or administer ordinances to them; nor that the pastor violates any engagement to a church, who performs such services, when invited, to another church.

There are very cogent reasons why the celebration of the Lord's Supper should not be omitted. In the cases mentioned, of the long indisposition of a pastor, or of his removal by death, or in

case of his removal, by accepting an invitation to another church, for a church to remain a considerable length of time deprived of the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, has been found highly detrimental to its peace and prosperity. Nor is this to be wondered at, as one, if not the principal means to unity and love in a church is neglected. The omission of the ordinance is also generally found to be detrimental to the increase of the church, as a principal motive for persons wishing to join themselves to the church, is thereby cut off. P.

m.

T. T:

To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. Sir,

In your last No. it is enquired "Whether a person in the business of a pawnbroker, be a proper candidate for the office of a deacon in a Baptist church, or whether it be consistent with the word of God for him to fill the station of an assistant preacher, since many passages in holy writ condemn those who take any thing on USURY.”

If the business of a pawnbroker can be proved to be taking on Usury, it cannot be made a question, whether a person engaged in it be eligible for a deacon or a preacher, as he cannot be a member of a Church. But the objections from scripture regard only, as it has been generally thought, immoderate interest, or usury, properly so called; or oppression, by taking advantage of the indigent circumstances of our neighbour, contrary to the rules of charity, and the claims of humanity. The Hebrew word for