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He invited them immediately to assemble at Padua ; where he also solicited the presence of Cæsar Brancadari, Secretary to the Roman Propaganda. His object was to maintain and support the former establishment of missions, which the circumstances of the times seemed to threaten with approaching ruin. This new congregation, animated with greater zeal and spirit than the former, eagerly seconded the intentions of the Cardinal. He conducted every thing with such wonderful activity, that in less than a month, thirteen new apostles of the faith were seat into different countries; and large sums of money transmitted to Asia and Africa. By his care, and through his advice, they also created new apostolic vicars, and endeavoured to reanimate the courage of the former Missionaries.'

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As our English Congregations abound with what has been denominated
Gazing Hearers, perhaps the following Extract, if inserted in your va-
luable Miscellany, might be of some use to persons of this description.
Leeds.
Yours, &c.

....

W. C.

PERE PASCAL having invited me to high mass, and to hear a Spanish sermon, preached by one of their best orators, we attended; and though I did not understand the language sufficiently to know all I heard, I understood enough to be entertained, if not edified. There sat just before us a number of lay-brothers, bare-headed, with their eyes fixed the whole time upon the ground; and though they knew we were strangers, and, probably, as singular in their eyes as they could be in ours, I never perceived one of them, either at, or after the service was over, to look, or even glance an eye at us. Thicknesse`s Journey, vol. i. p. 219.

SLOTH OF NOMINAL CHRISTIANS.

HEATHENS, Jews, and Mahometans astonish us with their patience and perseverance, while the sloth and indifference of Christians most miserably undervalue their profession in the judgment of unbelievers. How common is it for them to think it unnecessary to seek the means of life and immortality by attending the public worship of God, if the most trifling worldly business can be pleaded against it, or if the weather is but indifferent, or the church at some distance! while the Turk will undertake a journey of more than 2000 miles, over burning sands and uninhabitable deserts, to visit the decayed reinaias of a false prophet. W. Jones's Works.

ILLUSTRATION OF ECCLES. XI. 1.

Cst thy bread on the waters, and thou shalt find it after many days.
Tuis passage has occasioned a great variety of interpretatious, none

of which appears to me so satisfactory as the following:

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The Hebrew word [n] translated bread, significs also the grain of which bread is made; and the word [D] which is rendered waters, is often used for ground which is watered, or moist, by its situation near a river. If then we read the words Cast thy grain into moist or watered ground, and, after many days for in due time) thou shalt find it again,' fae whole is plain and easy and then the sense of the passage is, Make a wise and prudent use of substance, time, aud talents; and this will ultinately produce an abundant return of comfort and advantage.'

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44is well known that, in the east, land is often artificially watered. Dr. Sháy, describing this practice in Egypt, says, 'When their pulse, melons, &c. require to be refreshed, they strike out a plug that is fixed in the bot Tom of one of the cisterns, and the water is conducted from one rill to the other by the gardener, who is aleays ready to stop and divert the stream by his foot; and, at the same time, with his mattock, to open a new trench to reecive it.' This method of watering land but rarely refreshed by rain, is

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often alluded to in Scripture. The land,' says Moses, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot; but it drisketh water of the ran of Heaven. Deut. xi. 10, 11.

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It is evident that the words first mentioned, Cast thy bread on the waters,' &c. cannot be taken literally; for bread so disposed of, is not likely to be found again, much less to increase; but bread-corn, properly disposed of, in a favourable situation, is likely to maltiply, and reward the cost and labour of the farmer; and thus we may hope, through the blessing of God, that, by prudence and diligence in our affairs, we shall be favoured with such a degree of prosperity as He sees good to afford us; and thus the exhortation is not to acts of charity, but to a proper use of the gifts of Providence.

FAITH ACCOMMODATED TO ITS OBJECT.

Ir is justly observed, in the Trial of a saving Interest in Christ,' that Faith and its object are so suited to each other, that in whatever way the one is represented, the other has a name suitable to the representation: If Christ is the Brazen Serpent, Faith is the eye to behold him; f Christ speaks, Faith is the ear to hear him; if he is the Bread of Life, Faith feeds upon him; if he is the City of Refuge, Faith Bees to him, if he is a Gift, Faith is the hand to receive him; if a Garment, Faith puts him on; if Way, Faith walks in him; if the Truth, Faith is the knowledge of him; if the Life, Faith lives upon him; if he he a Prophet, Faith sits at his feet and harns; if a Priest, Faith relies on his sacrifice; if a King, Faith sub, mits b bis authority. In a word, it improves the whole and every part of Christ in his natures, offices, relations, and names. Wherever Christ is, there tould Faith be: it follows him as the needle does the loadstone. GUTHRIE

The Juvenile Department.

APIOUS Minister being called, a few years ago, to preach a sermon før the benefit of a Sunday School in Northamptonshire, was led in his discourse to insist much on the necessity of being clothed with the Redeemer's Robe o Righteousness, as the only means by which men could be delivered from allthat misery which awaited them as sinful creatures. While he was thu speaking, a violent storm of thunder and lightning came on, accompared with rain and hail. The lightning struck a tree in the churchyard, aivered it in pieces, and drove a part of it through one of the churchwindows. Alarmed at this circumstance, the congregation began to fly in directions, seeking for refuge where it was the least likely to be found. The minister, from this awful scene, towk occasion to entreat them remain in the house of God; reminding them, that if they were proteted from their sins by the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, let storm, thunder, lightning, tempest, or even death itself come, they were perfecly safe.

In pursuing the discourse, his attention was attracted to one of the Sume day-chool girls, who was standing near the pulpit; and who was so peculiarly affected, that an impression came upon his mind, that he had been the nstrument of communicating some substantial good to the child. Thuimpressed, he made it a point to call at the parents' house the next day and after the customary salutations, he was told by her mother, that the hild had been that day disappointed, as she had expected to go to the fair, but that a circumstance had occurred which would prevent her. Wat! my dear,' said the minister, are you foud of going to fairs?' Thechild immediately replied," Oh no, Sir; I don't want to go to the fair':

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I now only want to be clothed in that Robe of Righteousness which you were speaking of yesterday; and that I may see Jesus Christ."

Struck with this delightful observation, the good man entered into conversation with the dear child; and found her mind so sensibly wrought upon, that he had every reason to hope and believe a divine work had been begun upon her heart. He left her, intending to repeat his visit the next day; but he had scarcely reached his home, before a messenger arrived to inform him, that this dear child of God had been found by her parents dead in the garden! So quickly did the Lord call her to his glory! Oh, that all the young persons who read this, may seek for salvation through the Redeemer's righteousness! This alone will enable them, at the last day, to appear before the throne of Immanuel with joy; and, with ́ this dear child, to sing eternal praises to Him who hath loved them and washed them from their sins in his own precious blood!

JOHN DIXON

Was admitted into St. John's Chapel Sunday-School, Plymouth Dock, soon after it was established, by his own particular desire. He no sooner heard of this School than he expressed this desire to his mother, who sent him to the Chapel; where the Managers gladly received him. From that time to his sickness, he regularly attended; and was remarkable for his good behaviour and attention in the house of God.

Before his admission into the school, he used to be running about the streets with wicked boys; and spent his evenings out, like too many of his age; but now he gave up the company of wicked children, and passed his evenings in reading the word of God and learning Hymns.

When he was taken ill, it was a grief to him that he was debarrd from the instructions of the school. This he often expressed; and begged his mother to send to the minister and managers of the school to come and see him. When they waited on him, he appeared rejoiced to see them. He listened with the greatest attention to what they said to him, oten with tears; and when they were about to leave him, begged they would call again. He confessed he was a sinner; but was not afraid to die,- having some views by faith of that adorable Saviour, God-Man, who died for him, and rose again for the simmer's justification.

During his long and painful sickness, which he bore with the greatest meekness and patience, he was much employed in reading the Sriptures, and in singing Psalms and Hymns. Frequently, after he was i bed, he would desire his mother to give out a Hymn, which he would sing with apparent delight. One evening, his father being from work, and gone to bed much fatigued, his mother told him he had betternot sing any more he answered, I cannot but sing, for my heart is glad mother, I could sing all night!' A few days before his death, he told the minister he had no fears of death. Being asked on what ground,—he answered, Because his sins were pardoned.

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He could speak but little for a day or two before his death. Almost the last words he uttered intelligibly were to his mother. Looking upto her, he said, Mother, if I could get an hour's sleep I should be better but sweetly added, I shall soon rest in glory!' He died October 2, 1801, aged 12 years; and was attended to the grave by the children beonging to the charity-schools, who sung a Hymn on the occasion.

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SMART REPLY OF A CHILD.

A LITTLE girl being expostulated with by a clergyman, for atterling a Sunday-School belonging to a different place from his own; and being asked by him why she went there, very acutely answered, in the wods of Dr. Watts,

I have been there, and still will go:

'Tis like a little Heaven below!'

Obituary:

Extraordinary Conversion. Dear Sir, To the Editor.

THE following event has so much occupied my mind, almost ever since it occurred; and appears to me such a display of the exceeding riches of divine grace, that I wish it may be known beyond the circle of my immediate connexions. Should it strike you in a manner at all similar to that in which it has in pressed my Rev. Brethren, and others in this city, it is much at your service, as an article for the Magazine.

On or about the 11th of February, John Warner, aged 31, being great ly afflicted with an asthma, which had brought on a consumption, came from Wales to Bristol, hoping to receive some benefit from a change of air.

Seven or eight years ago he was employed for a short time as a warehouseman, by a gentleman who is a member of my church; but I have no recollection of him at that time; and ever since then, he has lived with another gentleman, in Monmouthshire, in the capacity of a butler. On his arrival in Bristol, he took lodgings; in which he remained but a few days; for being dissatisfied, he earnestly requested to be accommodated in the house of a newly married couple, who are also in communion with us, and who had formerly been his fellow

servants.

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was to me peculiarly inconvenient. The note, however, was urgent; and I directly complied with the request. On being introduced to the afflicted man, he appeared to have no more knowledge of me than I had of him. After a few general remarks, respecting affliction, the solemnities of death, and the importance of exchanging worlds. I endeavoured to draw him into a more particular conversation. Re once or twice said, that he thought he wanted something, which he had not; but that he searcely knew what it was. Excepting what may be supposed to be suggested by this declaration his mind appeared dark, bewildered, and comparatively unimpressed. With great self-complacency, he told me he had never been guilty of any particular sins : and was not, therefore, uneasy on that score. To every thing I said, he gave that unlimited assent, which, when coming from an unenlightened pe son, has always appeared to me peculiarly embarrassing. To every truth I stated, his monotonous reply was, 'Yes, Sir, To be sure, Sir,' -Certainly, Sir;' and the like. I now felt (as I have often done under similar circumstances) discour aged, perplexed, and grieved; and could not but deeply lament the mental darkness in which the poor man appeared to be enveloped.

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After a short pause, I fraukly confessed that I knew not what to say to him, observing that he appeared to have no wants; that the blessings of the gospel were for the poor, the wretched, and the lost;that if he were lamenting his sins,. crying for mercy, and enquiring the way of salvation, I thought I should know how to address bin; but that with his present views, the gospel must necessarily appear to him of very little value.

The stale of my own mind was remarkably serious, tranquil, and tender; and I began to speak of the universal sinfulness of our race; and assured him of his own personal

sin, whatever sentiments he might entertain on the subject.

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the connexion which infinite wisdom had ordained between faith and the enjoyment of the blessings of pardon and eternal life! To his grand ques

I represented sin as being infinite ly displeasing to the blessed God; and, with mingled fidelity and ten-tion, I assured him, the gospel gave derness, testified that if he died unpardoned, he would be found in circumstances unspeakably awful. then asked him, if he had been accustomed to hear preaching of any kind; to which he replied, "Not during the last six or seven years my service would not allow of it.' On my remarking that it was a pity he should have accepted of such a service, and that he bed better have been in another situation where he might have enjoyed religious instruction, even though he had had but half bread, with peculiar earnestuess he replied, 'O! I wish I had, I wish I had.'

A scene now succeeded which astonished me, and which will never be effaced from ny remembrance.

This man, whose language so recently betrayed the benighted state of his mind, and whose words were so ill chosen as very imperfectly to convey his ideas, instantaneously becane energetic, impressive, and indeed eloquent.

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but one answer, the same which was given to the Philippian jailer, when, in a similar agony of inind, he made the same enquiry; unto whom the inspired apostle replied, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. I proceeded to explain the nature of faith; and repeated a variety of passages, in which we are commanded to believe in Christ, and to commit our souls into his hands, as the only Mediator between God and man. deveral times did I repeat those wellknown Scriptures, Benold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.'- Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' Whosoever cometh unto me, I will in nowise cast out.' Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.'

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After another pause, my astonishment was greatly increased by the impressive manner in which he ́ex, claimed, What is this! Is it an angel's voicel hear? An augel sent to visit me, and to instruct me in the great concerns of my poor soul! And is it indeed true? Did the Son of God enme from Heaven to suffer and die for sinners? And must I believe in him? O, I will believe ou him! — I will come unto him!

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You will not, my good Sir, think that I express myself too strongly, when I put you in possession of some of the sentences which he uttered, and which still seem to vibrate on my ear. After a solemn pause, as nearly as I can recollect, he thus exclaimed, What, and is it too late! Is all lost? Is my poor soul I will trust in him! I will comabandoned? — Have I lived in the mit my soul into his hands !'-I was neglect of all these things, and is it then encouraged to say, and I said come to this? — O, what, what shall it with peculiar solemnity of spirit, I do?-0, my sins!-0, my poor "And thou shalt be saved." At soul!-0, my God! my God! this moment there was an evident shall I be cast off for ever? What struggle between the power of Faith must I do to be saved? Is there no and the remains of Unbelief; for way open for me? O what, what with every mark of anxious solioimust I do to be saved? These, and tude, he cried, 'But is it not too words nearly to the same effect, were late?' I assured him that it was repeated again and again, until his not; and reminded him of the strength was exhausted, and he be- salvation of the penitent thief; addcame silent. My heart was deeplying, "The blessed Jesus, by whom affected; and when I found myself in possession of my speaking powers, I preached unto him. Jesus and his Salvation; represented his love in yisiting our world, and in dying for Sinners; and endeavoured to explain

that poor sinner was pardoned, and through whom he now enjoys the happiness of the eternal world, is still the same; and if you believe on him, and commit your soul into his hands, you will most assur

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