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more than eight years. They heard of his character and recommendations; and requested him to supply their vacant pulpit. About two months after his arrival, which took place in October 1802, he received a unanimous call to 'labour over them in the Lord;' he immediately accepted the invitation; and there his faithful services were enjoyed, till it pleased the great Head of the church to terminate his course and complete his reward. The settlement at Chester was publicly recog nized on the 19th of May 1803; and the Rev. Messrs. John son, Wilson, and Roby, conducted the services of that solemnity.

In this scene of pastoral duty he was uniformly assiduous,and, as far as the measure of bodily vigour permitted (and too often beyond.it) he was actively devoted to the studies and pursuits of the Christian ininistry. Notwithstanding the frequent depression which arose from constitutional infirmity and a melancholy temperament of mind, he generally preached thrice every Lord's Day, and once on an evening in the week. His sermons were always distinguished by their neat arrangement and perspicuous method; and he was peculiarly happy in the selection of appropriate portions of Scripture for the proof and illustration of the topics he discussed. The habit of accurate classification was remarkably predominant in all his literary and theological inquiries; and great ingenuity ap peared in what may be called the mechanism of his discourses. Hence a logical minuteness of detail appeared in his sermons, which at times interfered with the more important properties of amplitude and strength; but he was always the faithful, consistent, intelligent, and useful preacher. While the leading features of evangelical truth were prominently exhibited, he shunned not 'to declare the whole counsel of God,'-neither discarding any peculiarities of the system, he considered most agreeable to the sacred word, nor afraid of enforcing the prac tical tendency of Christian principles. He was, what every minister of the gospel should be, a good textuary, and therefore, according to the well-known adage of Luther, a good divine. His knowledge of the Scriptures was extensive, - and at the same time, minute. He had not only formed distinct conceptions of the great outlines of revealed truth, but all the subordinate parts of revelation were clearly within his comprehension. He studied the entire architecture of the sacred temple, and viewed its appendages and ornaments, as well as its general design and principal proportions, with interest and admiration. Thus qualified for the service of the church, and continually enlarging his stores of knowledge by inces sant application, he brought forth things new and old.' His discourses were particularly adapted to promote 'the edifying of the body of Christ; and in this department of labour he enjoyed most success. [To be continued.]

Sir,

HINTS.

To the Editor.

A Word to the Wise is sufficient;' and sometimes short Hints, properly given, have more weight, and produce greater effect than long and laboured discourses. I have frequently seen, in your useful work, Hints to-Professors: and, indeed, they stand in need of so many Hints, that I think this might very well form a separate department in the Evangelical Magazine; or if you only adopt the word HINTS, it would open a larger field still, and might include Hints to Ministers and their Congregations, to Saints and to Sinners, to Rich and to Poor Professors, &c. for they all stand in need of many Hints. Should you think it proper to adopt this mode of attempting to do good, I could, perhaps, supply you with a Hint once in a while; and I doubt not but they would pour in so fast from all parts of the country, that you would soon have more Hints than you could communicate to the Public. By inserting the following, you will much oblige

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Your humble Servant, JOHN THOUGHTFUL.

1. A Hint to Deacons.-Many Ministers have large families, and very small incomes; indeed, there are but few Ministers whose salaries are at all adequate to the expences of the present times. They can barely procure the necessaries of life; how then are their children to be educated? Would it not be an easy matter in most congregations to raise, in addition to the Minister's Salary, a sun sufficient to place a Son or a Daughter of their Minister, for two or three years, at some Boarding School, where terms are moderately low? and then perhaps another, or even a third?-This Hint is given to Deacons, because they are the properest persons to bring such matters forward before the congregation. If they should think it worthy of their notice, I must request them not to satisfy themselves by saying 'It would be a very good thing,' but to set immediately about it; and if only one poor Minister of Christ should fare the better for it, I shall rejoice.

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b. A Hint to Christian Farmers. It is customary in many parts of the country, for Farmers to let their Labourers have sufficient Wheat for their families at five or six shillings per bushel. Ought they not to, manifest the same benevolent disposition towards their Ministers? Surely, nothing can be more reasonable, and nothing can be more easy, where there are eight or ten Farmers in a Congregation, and all are willing to unite in such a good work. This plan has long been adopted in some places; and I myself, who am a Minister, have found the good effects of it. Farmers, We are your Labourers. We labour for the good of your immortal souls; and, if we sow unto you spiritual things, shall we not reap your carnal things?

3. A Hint to the Readers of the Evangelical Magazine. — Thousands are ready to attest that the Evangelical Magazine is a valuable work; and the experimental parts of it are often consoling to those poor Christians into whose hands they oc casionally fall. It is presumed that most of the purchasers of this work are at the expence of having it bound up; but this is not generally the case. I have lately been well informed, that a certain Reader of this Work is in the habit of selling the numbers for waste paper; and the numbers thus sold are bought by a gentleman of infidel principles, out of curiosity. I wish they may do him good. But I would recommend such persons as do not bind their Magazines, to give or lend them amongst the Poor in the Churches and Congregations to which they belong. I know some who have adopted this plan; by which religious knowledge and comfort are more widely ditfused.

DIFFERENCES

BETWEEN MORAL AND SAVING GRACE.

[By a Scottish Minister, who died in the Eighteenth Century.]

1. WHEN I was a mere moral man, I sought something from Christ, and rested on this; had no fellowship with Christ himself; but since the Lord visited me with the love of his chosen, I seck the Lord himself; I am never satisfied without him, and find fellowship with himself.-The virgins love thee.

2. When I was a moral man, I drew my comforts from my duties; but now I draw my duties from my comforts. My work was first; and because I did such a thing, or expected to get such a reward for working, I therefore went about duties; but now I first close with the promise, and, because alive, I yield ny members as weapons of righteousness. While a moral man, I did, and then believed; but now I first believe, and then do. My obedience is ingrafted upon the promises freely given, Work out your own salvation, for it is God that worketh in you to will and to do.' But before, I could never see a promise till I saw my works; the promises were ingrafied upon my works and duties, my duties did lie on my privileges, but now my privileges lie on my duties.

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3. Whatever I did formerly was for myself; when, indeed, converted, I acted for the Lord, and to please him. When moral, I hated sin, as prejudicial to me; but now as separating from, and grievous to Christ.

4. What I did was from myself, and in my own strength, not secing my need of a divine power to lean upon; but when under special grace I live a life of faith, I see my own strength in another, and wait upon him. I can do all things through Christ strengthening ine; and when I am weak, then am I strong.'

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REFLECTIONS ON MATTHEW XXVI. 75.
And he went out and wept bitterly.

THE falls of great and good men are highly instructive when rightly considered. Infidels may mock, the sons of Levity may ridicule, and the fastidious may affect to reason; but after all, there are certain lessons of instruction to be gathered from these falls, that can hardly be gathered from any other part of the sacred writ.

Herein we see the impartiality of the Scriptures; they do not flatter any one; they do not conceal the failings of the best; they tell us the particular and aggravated faults of David, Solomon, Peter, and others. Now, when we consider the general character and holy conduct of these excellent men, how disingenuous and degenerate must be the heart of that man, who will venture to make a handle of those errors in life, against the persons of such worthy men, or the noble cause they maintained! But prejudice is a jaundiced medium; it discolours every object, and blackens even the best intentions." Peter was too self-confident. He had declared, in the ardour of his affection,- 'I will in nowise deny thee.' This must be brought to the test. Christ was apprehended, the heavens were suddenly overcast, and troubles came on. Now Peter cooled, and began to follow afar off." Into the palace he entered, but trembled and became pale; - and when charged with being an associate with JESUS, his courage failed him, the fear of man prevailed, he took refuge in falsehood, -he ventured to be prophane! Here we see a falling star, and hear a loud admonition to watch and pray! But Peter was recovered, was again elevated, and shone with peculiar lustre in the church of God. With God nothing shall be impossible.' The cock crew: how penetrating the sound! Jesus looked on Peter; the look wounded his heart. He could not support this!he went out.' Hypocrisy affects the sun, sincerity the shade. He went out and wept bitterly. Mark the language of those tears! I have sinned against light and love! Who (of all my Master's servants) has ever been so vile? I have sinned against honours conferred; how odious is my ingratitude! I have sinned against the church of God: what a bad example have I set to others! I have aided the vile cause of infidelity! wicked men will make a handle of my conduct! He wept bitterly! Let us learn never to boast of our present feelings, or confide in the ardour of the moment, but trust in the Lord alone. Let us mark the inefficacy of warnings unheeded, the propriety of watching unto prayer, the utility and benefit of mutual and kind forbearance, our daily need of the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet Priest, and King. He is all and in all' To him be glory and "dominion for ever. Amen.

T.H.

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