Thus the great American continent and islands have, in the different regions of it, many bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness arisen upon them with healing in his wings; and though great Heathen ignorance and Popish superstition still prevail over the far most extended portion of this new world, the enlightened part is much greater, proportionally, than in any of the other quarters of the earth, Europe excepted and such efforts have been made, and such blessings attended them, so far as the Protestant dominion is acknowledged, as to give reviving encouragement for vigorous perseverance, and the good hope, through grace, that His kingdom approaches, which must be an universal kingdom, and His dominion established, which shall never be destroyed.-The Lord hasten it in his time! [The Islands of the Pacific Ocean in the Supplement.] QUESTIONS PROPOSED TO MR. M. ON THE DAY OF HIS ORDINATION, BY THE REV. G. COWIE, LATE OF HUNTLY*, FEBRUARY 17, 1802. To the Editor. Sir, The following QUESTIONS are so excellent in themselves, and so much calculated to be useful to Young Ministers, that I have scarcely a doubt but you will consider them deserving of that extensive circulation which your Magazine alone can give them. W. M. 1. ARE you resolved, through the grace of God, to lead a holy life, in much prayer, self-examination, studying and searching the Bible,-dependence upon the Lord by faith, wrestling, striving, and watching against sin and temptation,knowing that the grand secret of the art of fishing for souls is to be a lively Christian? 2. Are you resolved, through grace, to avoid conformity to the world, the entanglements of company, and unnecessary avocations; the pursuit of pleasure and worldly interest, the gratification of pride and worldly ambition, and to lead a life of self-denial and mortification, of sobriety and temperance, giving yourself wholly to your work, studying communion with God, and to promote his kingdom in the world? -- 3. Will you make godly and experienced Christians your chief companions, willing to learn from persons of inore years and greater experience, and studying to improve their copany and prayers for enlarging your stock of knowledge, exriching your views of experimental religion, and for your direction, aid, and support in the work of the Lord? 4. Are you resolved, in dependence on the power and See our Magazine for April, page 121. grace of almighty God, that in preaching the word, admitting per sons to sealing ordinances, and in the exercise of church dis-" cipline, you will not be swayed by the fear or favour of men, or by any worldly motives? 5. Will you carefully study your public discourses, not offering to the Lord that which has cost you nothing, knowing the command to shew ourselves approved to God, workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, and to meditate on these things, giving ourselves wholly to them, that our profiting may appear unto all? 6. Will you endeavour to adapt your discourses to the case and capacity of your hearers, speaking without affectation either as to learning, style, or pronunciation, so that the meanest may understand, dwelling chiefly on plain truths, which are the most useful and edifying, -proceeding gradually in the course of instruction, giving line upon line, precept upon precept; and giving milk to babes, strong meat only to men; and to every one their portion, as their cases, trials, and exercise may require? And, as we live in a lukewarm and sleepy time, will you endeavour, with precedence and due caution, to be faithful to mens' consciences, in a suitableness to their various circumstances? 7. Will you study to walk humbly, not only as a servant of Christ, but also as the servant of the meanest of his people, denying your own will and huinour in all things, and never interposing your authority in mean and trifling things, or in any case but where conscience and the interest of the body are concerned? 8. Will you be much in prayer to God for the success of your work, wrestling with him before you go out to any place of duty, and after you return from it; frequently calling upon the people of God to pray for you, both in secret and in their families, and on important occasions in fellowship with you, as was done by the Apostle of the Gentiles: thus training up those that are under your charge to the use of special prayer in every time of need? This is the second grand secret of ministerial success, and in the use of this you will see the wonders of God in innumerable instances, if you live any length of time in the world. 9. Will you promote and encourage those institutions called Sabbath Schools, for the instruction of the young and igno * Of the value of these institutions Mr. C. was fully persuaded. He lived to see thirteen of them established by his people, and also to witness their happy effects in turning many to God, who have proved an ornament to the gospel of Jesus. In one place a congregation has been col lected, a church formed, and the ordinances are regularly dispensed by the means of a Sabbath School. Mr. Cowie also highly valued meetings for prayer and Christian conversation, and always attended them. He used to say that these meetings kad been the happy means of preserving the power of vital religion in Scotland for 50 years past rant? And will you encourage fellowship-meetings (i.e. for prayer and Christian conversation) and attend them yourself when circumstances permit? 10. Should you be called to be a member of any association for the purpose of promoting religion and good order, and for spreading the gospel, will you endeavour to act as a father to the Christian people, stedfastly attending to the interests of Christ's kingdom, and giving judgment with freedom and inpartiality, at all hazards, for preserving purity of doctrine, and good order in churches, removing offences, and this without respect of persons or regard to parties, or lording it over the heritage of the Lord? 11. Will you endeavour to depend on the providence and promise of God for your temporal subsistence in the way of duty, not taking any indirect methods, or making any sinful compliances in order to obtain the same; choosing, through the grace of our Lord Jesus, rather to suffer than to sin? And will you, through grace, endeavour to resist all temptations to prostitute your conscience or office, or to make a pretext of religion in order to serve carnal ends, or gain worldly emoluments? In fine, will you shun all temporizing, and making religion a lacquey to the interests of this world, choosing rather to look forward to the gracious reward promised to the faithful in the world to come, than by a contrary conduct to run the risk of becoming a hireling, a character so obnoxious in the eyes of our dear Lord and Master? - 12. Will you endeavour, through grace, to act in all places, and at all times with due circumspection and Christian prudence, both in word and deed, giving no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully, or of grief and offence to the godly; abstaining from all appearance of evil; avoiding every thing in gesture, speech, and behaviour, that is unbecoming the seriousness, gravity, and purity of the ministerial character, or that savours of levity, pride, ostentation, rashness, intemperance, and every thing whatsoever that might gender contempt of your character and office? And all these professions you make as in the presence of the almighty and omniscient God, and with a serious view to that solemn account you have to make at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to judge the world? Amen. ON DOING GOOD. Ax eminent writer observes, good has such unbounded scope, gratified, that it can never decay?' That the pleasure of doing and may be so variously The patrons of doing good are, The Lord Jesus Christ, angels, patriarchs, prophets, evangelists, ministers, missionaries, and all good men, of every country and name. The obligations which lie upon the Christian man to do good, are very great:- These are, his duty to God as his Creator; his gratitude to Christ for his redemption; and the duty he owes to man as his brother. - The motives to do good are many and forcible. - Souls perishing every hour, the shortness and uncertainty of hfe, no soul can be saved in the other world, no good can be done in heaven (for life only affords this opportunity)-and the glory to which those will be advanced in heaven who have been zealous.in this world. The encouragements to do good are great.-No period of the world, yea, not the apostolic age, afforded such opportuni ties as the present. Missionary, Bible, Tract, and Book Soci ties have thrown widely open the gates of usefulness; and all that is wanted is, for you to enter, with holy zeal, into the field. The examples of those who have done good are numerous. -The best men that ever the world saw, were continually doing good; and, no doubt, in the last day, numbers will thea be seen, who retired from time into eternity without leaving their names on the long roll of commentators on the life of him who went about doing good,' but who hid their labours from public view. Their works will follow them. The reward of doing good is immense. Divine pleasure rises in the heart, and peace pervades the conscience. What a reward! to have the prayers of the poor and of the pions, the good wishes of benevolent men, the smiles of angels, and the approbation of God! Some excellent men think, that the world is to be evange lized by Brainerds, Whitefields, and such devoted men who are now labouring among the Heathen. It is true these ar like Captains of the Lord's Hosts; but what good will they do in attacking the fortresses of Satan, unless they are supported by every member of the Catholic church? The most ef fectual method is, to set the Christian world in motion, the whole to be in arms! If we desire prosperity in our churches at home, if we wish to enlighten every corner of our native land, if we desire the revival of true religion, in every kingdom, if we wish the conversion of the whole world, let us inspire every member of the church of Christ, by exbibiting his obligations, and pointing out the means of doing good. Do you say, Where is the field in which I may do good: An angel stands astonished at your question, and in an instant points you to the whole world, saying, "Here is a SundaySchool that needs a teacher; there is a dark village that wants religious tracts; there is a ship that stands in need of Bibles; in that house lives a poor ignorant family that requires instruction; and yonder is an empire that opens a field for a thousand missionaries!" In order that every Christian may consider that it is his duty to live, while he exists, for the glory of God and the benefit of man, I annex a statement of the opportunities we have of doing good, which I earnestly recommend to the serious attention of the members of different Christian churches in England and Scotland. You may do good, 1. By Conversation. Speaking with ignorant persons in your family, with persons in the street, field, highway; or, when opportunity offers, to sailors, soldiers, ploughmen, mechanics, gypsies, &c. 2. By your Prayers. Praying for afflicted families, for the nation, for the propagation of the gospel, &c. 3. By your Visits. Visiting sick persons, visiting dark families and prisoners in gaol, visiting Sunday-Schools and poor houses, &c. 4. By distributing Books. Giving away Bibles and Testa ments to poor persons, distributing cheap pious books, and moral and religious tracts, suitable to different persons. 5. By lending and recommending Books. Lending books to poor and ignorant persons; lending books to respectable persons, and recommending suitable books where you cannot give nor lend, especially recommending good books to young people. 6. By your Instruction. Teaching children, catechizing your own families, teaching grown persons to read. If an old person learns only a verse of the Bible, it may save his soul. 7. By Reading. Reading treatises and sermons in villages, spending a part of the Sabbath in reading to persons who cannot, or are unfit for it. 8. By Writing. In your friendly correspondence, writing to relatives abroad, and judicious letters to criminals under sentence of death. 9. By your Property. Throwing in your mite to societies for Reformation of Vice, to Sunday Schools, Tract, Bible, and Missionary Societies. Also societies for the support of the Sick and Aged. 10. By your Example in doing these, You influence Christians to greater zeal; you display the genius of the gospel to the men of the world; you encourage ministers, and you fill the hearts of missionaries with joy. A Word to Pious Travellers. Your sphere is very extensive, you have opportunities of speaking to waiters, ostlers, and stable-boys at inns, and distributing tracts in abundance. Gosport, 1811. G. T. |