V

when the good man informed him of the circumstances which
I have now related.

Some time after, as Mr. Stennet was standing by an inn, in
the town, a gentleman rode up to the door, whom the landlord
accosted by the name of Jones. He was immediately struck
with the idea, that this was the person who had been the in-
strument of supplying the wants of the poor man; and, upon
enquiry, found his conjecture verified. He retired with the
gentleman into the inn; and was there informed of the peen-
респ
liar circumstances which led to the above transaction. Mr.
Jones told him that he had been meditating on the goodness of
God towards himself, till he felt his gratitude rise to a higher
pitch than usual, and immediately resolved to do what he could
to promote the end of his creation, the glory of God. He re-
tired to bed, fell asleep, and dreamed that the poor man, whom
I have just mentioned, was in distressed circumstances, and
his children in want of bread. At the same time a voice seem-
ed to say,
Help the poor collier." He therefore determined
to send him assistance on the morrow. He went to sleep again;
and agam the dream, as well as the admonition, was repeated;
and he again formed the same resolution. The same circum-
stances were reiterated a third time: upon which he arose from
his bed, took a sack, filled it with whatever eatables he could
find, and dispatched a servant on horseback with them to the
poor man's house. Thus did God answer the prayer of the
destitute, and appeared a present help in time of need. From
the knowledge I have of the relater of the above circumstance,
I have no reason to doubt the authenticity of the tale; and hope
it may be the means of encouraging the afflicted amongst the
Lord's people to trust in him at all times, and pour out their
hearts before him. I am, Dear Sir,

68

Yours in the bonds of the gospel,
JOSEPH DEAR

Bristol.

WHILE the fascinating charms of pleasure allure you, and the amusements and gaieties of the present world engross the principal part of your time and attention, actuated with the most tender concern for your eternal happiness, I would entreat you, my dear young friends, to consider, with all the seriousness which the subject demands, your situation as sinners,

1

involved in the guilt of your first parents, and under the condemnation of the law of God; I would conjure you to reflect on the uncertainty of all terrestrial objects, to" remember your Creator in the days of your youth," and listen to the voice of the heavenly charmer, whose invitations and offers of mercy and pardon are conveyed in the most endearing and affectionate language, admirably calculated to engage your affections, and raise your ideas from this grovelling world, to those pure joys which flow "fast by the throne of God."

When we consider the conduct of the majority of our youth, it would seem that they glory in being the sous of riot and dissipation witness their midnight revels, their debaucheries and excesses, their profanation of God's sacred day, and other parts of their conduct, which reflect the highest dishonour to their characters, and ultimately tend to their ruin. We are the more concerned, when we reflect that this is not conspicuous only in the male sex, but our fair (who ought to be enamoured with the principles of religion, and become patterns of modesty and virtue) are contaminated by the most detestable sentiments, and exhibit such proofs of a degenerate mind as would excite our astonishment, were we not, in some degree, acquainted with the depravity of the human heart.

Happiness is the great desideratum of all; the grand object of our wishes and pursuits. Unfortunately, the means of possessing the inestimable treasure is mistaken; hence the deluded subjects of sensuality and dissipation seek it in the gratification of their appetites; the miser in amassing stores of gold; and others, prompted by a thirst for glory or love of fame, pursue with ardour the alluring phantom, which, like the meteor that attracts the weary traveller's eye, serves only to deceive their fondest hopes and expectations; but

"Beware what earth calls happiness; - beware
"All joys but those which never can expire."

The very path in which happiness can be obtained, is neglected religion is the only medium by which it may be possessed: it is by attending to the invitations of the Son of God, and, under the influence of his Spirit, renouncing the world, and embracing him as our only hope of pardon and felicity. The joys of life can never yield us real satisfaction; they may for a moment amuse us, but they are short-lived in their duration; they leave behind them an aching void, a chasm, which only the more substantial realities of religion can supply. The plea sures derived from a knowledge of the Son of God are unlike those of the world: they afford us that peace and tranquillity, of mind to which the votaries of this life are strangers; they make us happy in time, and enable us to look forward to futu rity, in hope of enjoying all the felicity of the saints in the kingdom of God our Covenant Father, where we shall bask in the

beans of the Sun of Righteousness, and partake of that bliss of which it hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive."

To the possession of this eternal weight of glory I would excite your attention. I would urge the immediate necessity of your seeking an interest in the great salvation wrought out by the Saviour: but as I am convinced of your own inability to turn to God, I would entreat you to supplicate with earnestness the throne of his grace, that you may receive pardon for your transgressions, and find acceptance in his Son; then will you be completely happy; your lives will evidence your relation to him, and the powerful influences of his love will operate to make his glory your principal aim in every action of your lives. But, perhaps, you may reply, "It is yet time enough to attend to serious things: religion tends to enervate the mind, and dispose it to melancholy ideas." Whoever suggested this, be assured, is an enemy to your eternal happiness. Remember, Death is certain as to his visit, though of the exact period we are ignorant; his message admits of no delay; his summons is peremptory; and how awful will be your situation if, at his approach, you should be unprepared! None ever repented of too early a knowledge of the Saviour: all who have tasted the sweet influences of his love can testify, that in his ways they have experienced those supreme delights, which have raised their expectations to God as the summit of their hopes, and made them long for that period which would introduce them to all the joys of immortality.

Listen then to the Saviour's invitations, nor longer hesitate to devote yourselves to his service; reflect on the magnitude of his love, evinced in his condescending to leave his throne of bliss, and die on the accursed tree; view his agonies in Gethsemane's garden; consider his fatigues while wandering in this inhospitable world as an outcast from society, and destitute of a place to repose his head! above all, view his anguish at the cross, and say, Can you turn a deaf ear to his gracious words, or refuse to listen to the charming accents of his voice? - No: having felt your need of him, you will, assisted by his Spirit, fly to his arins, and seek refuge in his bleeding wounds from the impending storm which will hurry the sinner into the dire abodes of woe, where Hope, that cheerer of our spirits, " never comes that comes to all."

Should this address prove instrumental in directing your attention to the serious consideration of religious subjects, my object will be attained. I know that God can work by feeble means; and, impressed with this reflection, I commend the attempt to him, praying he may make it abundantly useful. To him be ascribed eternal praises! Amen.

IGDALIA.

REMARKABLE CONVERSION OF A FAMILY.

ONE of the midland counties of England, the capital of which is celebrated in the annals of literature, has long been regarded, by men of eminent piety, with benevolent regret, on account of the spiritual darkness which involves the far greater part of its numerous inhabitants. Within limits not greatly extended, nearly six score thousand souls hold a transitory residence in their passage to eternity. To guide so great a multitude in the way of peace, the number of ministers (including those of every denomination) who" watch over souls as they that must give an account," is believed to be exceedingly small, and the progress of their labours to be much impeded, by a deep-rooted aversion to evangelical truth and serious godliness. That eminent servant of Christ, G. Whitfield, after repeated attempts to disseminate the gospel in this county, said of it, "I have not laboured anywhere with so little success." Were he still living, it is probable he would utter a similar complaint, since the most violent persecutions he ever suffered have been more than equalled in --shire, within the last ten years. "Knowledge" unsanctified," puffeth up." Too seldom have Literature and Science been willing to take their seat at the foot of the cross, and acquire true glory, by displaying "not themselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord." It is indeed said, and we believe with truth, that instances are happily increasing, in which a liberal education becomes subservient to sound doctrine, serious piety, and extensive usefulness in the ministry; but the county of, probably thro' peculiarity of situation, reaps but a small share of the benefit arising from the pleasing change. The design of these remarks is not to discourage, but to animate; to point out a field of usefulness, and stimulate the labourers to enter it. Unpromising as the soil may be, here and there a spot of considerable extent has yielded to the power of cultivation, from hands which, if they do not guide the plough with perfect accuracy, are skilled to deepen the furrow, and diligent to cast in the precious seed; from labours which would often have been withheld, were it not that souls. appeared to "perish for lack of knowledge;" from men induced by compassion, not by ambition, to supply in the best manner they are able, the means of spiritual instruction; and who find their only and their sufficient reward in the condescending approbation with which Heaven siniles on their humble exertions.

"Are your labours advisable where oppositions are innumerable" is a question often addressed to those who propose, by renewed and extended exertions, to spread the savour of the knowledge of Christ in the county of --. To remove the discouragement, we reply," With God all things are possible."

In the accomplishment of his gracious designs, we are justified in expecting suitable (we have often seen remarkable) interpositions of that Power which combines the operations of providence and of grace. Perused with these views, the following authentic narrative will, we hope, afford both pleasure and profit:

About the year 1712, a worthy and industrious family, of the name of ———, was settled at Č. a village nearly in the center ofshire. In the parents, a moral character without reproach, was blended with a strict, and perhaps superstitious, regard to the forms of devotion; but they were totally strangers to the religion of the heart. Their confessions were destitute. of penitential sorrow, for they knew not the evil of sin; their petitions were mingled with no ardent desires, for they knew not the need nor the value of divine mercy; their praises were not enlivened by grateful love, for they had never learned to "account all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ." To be honest and sober, and to keep to their church, was all the religion they knew; and they were resolutely determined that they and their house would know no other; but God, who is rich in mercy, had determined otherwise.

In a few years the family became numerous; and, though several died in infancy, the parents, by the fruits of their industry, trained up six sons and four daughters. It became necessary to provide situations for the sons; and the second of them, about the year 1730, received a proposal to reside at C, a market-town in the same county, with a person of considerable respectability, a member and a deacon of a Dissenting church. The religion of the proposed master forined the only objection to his service; this was over-ruled by other advantages, and the offer was accepted.. At the youth's departure to his new situation, his father said to him, "Son, you must now faithfully promise me never to enter the meetinghouse at --: on this condition, you go to your place." The son, without hesitation, accepted the condition, and made the required engagement. Fixed in his new residence, he soon reaped, in the confidence of his master, the just reward of his own diligence. The attachment was mutual; and the youth' was surprized to find in a man, whose religion he had been taught to reprobate, virtues which commanded his esteem. In the family too, domestic peace and good order were sustained, and crowned by daily devotion; at which the youth was expected to be present. He was not, however, once asked to attend at meeting; but regularly took his place in the parishchurch. At this time he was wholly destitute of any concern respecting his eternal safety: he had no idea at all of his native depravity; such was his spiritual blindness, that he could repeat the ten commandments every Sabbath, without once sus➡