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ances which human laws make for the unsuccessful in secular Occupations.

It should also be remembered, that the Bankrupt Laws were instituted for the relief of the truly unfortunate; and were not intended to acquit persons of the real and intrinsic claims of right. Coincident with which idea is the opinion of Dr. Paley, who, speaking of a debtor, says," But when he refuses to pay a debt, of the reality of which he is conscious, he cannot plead the intention of the statute, and the supreme autho,rity of the law, unless he could shew that the law intended -to interpose its supreme authority to acquit men of debts, of the existence and justice of which they were themselves sensible," And, doubtless, it is the occasion of deep regret to those who hold fast their integrity," that what was originally designed as the asylum of the distressed, proves, too often, the refuge of the indolent, extravagant, and unprincipled. ...The subsequent part of the Query," May he retire from bu.siness without making up his dividend, when he finds himself possessed of sufficient property, and consider himself an honourable Christian, eligible for any public station in the church?" derives its answer from the solution of the first.

If he possess a sufficiency to support himself and family, besides what will discharge his debts, he is warranted in retiring if not, he cannot relinquish his occupation without being in danger of falling under that censure," If any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." How far that Christian can be honourable who neglects obedience to a clear command, even in circumstances which favour its observance, may be safely left with Common Sense to decide; and how far such a person can be eligible to office in the church, who" returns not to the owner his right," when in' his power to do it, those cutting questions may perhaps determine: "Thou, therefore, that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?". HONESTUS.

ANECDOTES.

THE REV. MR. HOWE, A. M.

THIS truly great and good man, whose writings, for depth of thought and ingenuity of reasoning, cannot be sufficiently admired, though the style of them is oftentimes unhappily obscure, had a native dignity in his manner, which procured him the esteem of every one who knew him. When a change of affairs obliged him to quit the public charge of his beloved congregation, at Torrington, in Devonshire, still impressed with the sense of his duty, ire took every opportunity 4 II

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of preaching the word of life. He and Mr. Flavel used free. quently to conduct their secret ministrations at midnight in different houses in the north of Devonshire. One of the cipal of these was Hudscott, an ancient mansion belonging to the family of Rolle, between Torrington and Southmolton.Yet, even here, the observant eye of malevolence was upon them. Mr. Howe had been officiating there, in a dark and tempestuous wintery night, when an alarm was given that information had been made, and warrants granted to apprehend him. It was judged prudent for him to quit the house; but in riding over a large common, he and his servant missed their way. After several fruitless efforts to recover it, the attendant went forward to seek for a habitation, where they might either find directions or a lodging. He soon discovered a mansion, with a cheerful invitation to rest there the night. But how great was Mr. Howe's surprize to find, on his arrival, that the house belonged to his most inveterate enemy, a country magistrate, who had often breathed the most implacable venge ance against him; and, as he had reason to believe, was well acquainted with the occasion of his travelling at such an hour. However, he put the best face he could upon it, and even mentioned his name and residence to the gentleman, trusting to Providence for the result. His entertainer ordered supper. to be provided, and entered into a considerable conversation with his guest; and was so delighted with his company, that it was a very late hour before he could permit him to retire to his chamber. In the morning Mr. Howe expected to be accosted with a commitment, and sent to Exeter; but, on the contrary, was received by the family at breakfast, with a very hospitable welcome. After mutual civilities, he departed to his own abode, greatly wondering in himself at the kindness of a man, from whom he had before dreaded so much.

Not long after, the gentleman sent for Mr. Howe, who found him confined to his bed by sickness; and still more deeply wounded with the sense of sin. He acknowledged, that when Mr. Howe came first to his door, he inwardly rejoiced that he had an opportunity of exercising his malice upon him, but that his conversation and his manner insensibly awed him into respect. He had long ruminated on the observations which had fallen from the man of God, and was become a penitent, earnestly anxious for the " things of eternal life." From that sickness he recovered, became an eminent Christian, a friend to the conscientious, and a close intimate with the man whom he had threatened with his vengeance.

W.

EXTRACT FROM COWPER'S LETTERS, VOL. III. OUR mentioning Dr. Newton's Treatise on the Prophecies, brings to my mind an anecdote of Dr. Young, who, you know,.

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died lately at Welwyn. Dr. Cotton, who was intimate with him, paid him a visit about a fortnight before he was seized with his last illness. The old man was then in perfect health: the antiquity of his person, the gravity of his utterance, and the earnestness with which he discoursed about religion, gave him, in the Doctor's eye, the appearance of a prophet. They had been delivering their sentiments upon this book of Newton, when Young closed the conference thus: " My friend, there are two considerations upon which my faith in Christ is built, as upon a rock: 1. The fall of man, the redemption of man, and the resurrection of man. The three cardinal articles of our religion are such as human ingenuity could never have invented; therefore they must be divine." 2. The other argument is this: "If the prophecies have been fulfilled (of which there is abundant demonstration) the Scripture must be the word of God; and, if the Scripture is the word of God, Christianity must be true."

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM

THE LATE REV. MR. TOWGOOD, OF EXETER, TO THE REV. MR. V.

Mr. Editor,

IT is in the private correspondence of intimate friends that we read the genuine character and disposition of men. - Tho' few of your readers will subscribe to the general sentiments of the Author of the following Letter, yet they cannot but unite in his views, respecting what should be the practice of a Minister of Christ.

Dear Sir,

Exon. Sept. 29, 1779.

I CANNOT but say it gave me pleasure very lately to hear that you intended soon to take up your residence at Dand to preach occasionally at M, where there was formerly a congregation of Dissenters. I hope Providence is opening to you in those parts a scene of usefulness, greater, perhaps, than at present you may seem to expect. If you fix your residence there, a large sphere of usefulness will, I hope, be opened to you, where, by an easy, familiar, gentle, unaffected manner of behaviour, and as plain and unadorned a style as possible in preaching, you will be successful in awakening mens' minds to a serious concern about the things of religion; and make ready a people prepared for that great event which is approaching, the coming of the Lord. Let, therefore, your language, my dear Brother, in your sermons, be as plain, simple, and unado ned as possible-luminous, and not obscured by the affectation of sublimity, or of florid and fin thoughts, and pretty turns of expression. The truths and ob

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jects of religion have such infinite weight in themselves, that they need nothing but to be represented in their native simplicity, to make thein, with the blessing of God, produce great influence upon the mind.

Let your conversation be humble and unassuming, strictly temperate and sober be not delicate, nor over-curious in apparel, or food remembering we are the disciples of a poot and despised Jesus; and the more we resemble him in a mortis fication to all the appetites of sensual life, the greater will be our anticipation of that exalted happiness which he will bestow hereafter. I hope you will excuse the freedom with which I address you, and I pray that the Divine Presence and blessing may attend your person and labours.

I am, very affectionately,

Your Brother and Servant,

Miç. TowGOOD.

REMARKABLE CONVERSION.

AMONG the many remarkable instances of Conversion which have taken place in various parts of America, during the late revival of Religion, the following deserves notice; and forcibly recommends to us the prac. tice of dropping a word for God and Religion, whenever we have suit. able opportunity.

AT Lebanon, in the State of New York, a certain man dwelt, who was about fifty years of age, who had not only lived a very careless life, but was openly opposed to the gospel-plan of Salvation, and to the work of God in the late revival; but he was brought under deep convictions, in the following manner:-There came into his house a traveller, with a burden of his back; the family being about to sit down to dinner, the stranger was invited to partake with them: he accepted the ininz vitation. When the repast was finished, and the members of the family were withdrawing from their seats, the stranger said, "Don't let us forget to give thanks to God." He accordingly gave thanks and departed. The man of the house felt reproved and confounded. The words of the stranger were fastened on his mind by the power of God. He was led to reflect on his wickedness in being unmindful of God, in neglecting prayer and thanksgiving. He was also led to reflect on his manifold sins, until they appeared to him a burden infinitely greater than that which the traveller bore. He found no relief until, as he hopes, his heart was effectually changed by the operation of the Spirit of God. His wife also, about the same time, was convinced of her sins, and, it is hoped, converted,

Obituary.

EPHRAIM BURFORD.

DIED, Aug. 20, 1804, at his house in Stratford, near Bow, Mr. Ephraim Burford, aged sixty-one. He has left a very numerous but united family to lament the loss of him. Being converted to Christ in his youth, he brought forth, during a long period, the fruits of righteonsness. For his judgment in things pertaining to the gospel, which was very solid and correct, he was much indebted to the ministry of Mr. Booth, in Goodman's Fields; of whose church he was a member for many years; and was dismissed to the church under the care of Mr. Newman, in Oldford, Dec. 2, 1798. his daily walk was serious, regu lar and uniform. Abhorring the levity of carnal professors, he was in health as well as in sickness, emphatically a serious Christian: he endured a very lingering affliction, which extended thro' eigh. teen months, with profound patience and serene submission to the will of God. Deeply impressed with the solemn prospect of death and eternity, he abounded in "great searchings of heart." The extreme caution which was natural to him as a inan, and habitual to him as a tradesman, he carried into his closet, and used upon his bed, when communing with his own heart; and it appeared to those who often visited him, that the frame of his mind was, in general, evangelical to a high degree; equally distant from Pharisaic pride and Antinomian presumption. If he was not elevated to raptures of joy, he was nevertheless an ardent lover of Christ; and would sometimes speak with great warmth and energy of the exceeding riches of divine grace. While he was not ashamed of being called a Calvinist of the Baptist denomination, he exhibited true liberality, without bigotry, and without indifference. Notwithstanding some shades of imperfec

tion in his character (and who is free from imperfection?) his me mory will be extensively cherish ed; and the impression made by his life and death, in favour of pure and undefiled religion, will appear, it is hoped, to be strong and permanent. He was interred; according to his own desire, in the burial- ground, in St. Thomas's Square, Hackney, near to his de ceased brother, Mr. John Burford. Mr. Newman addressed the mourn ing family at the grave; and afterwards improved the solemn event (Lord's Day, September 4) to the church and congregation at Oldford. W. N.

MRS. SWAIN.

ON the 30th of June, 1804, died, in the parish of Lattern, Essex, Mrs. Swain, wife of Mr. Wm Swain, in the seventy-first year of her age. She was born of very pious parents, at Staple Grove, in the neighbourhood of Taunton, Somersetshire. Her mother, a Christian indeed, died suddenly upon her teturn from hearing a preparation sermon on a Friday, by Mr. Pearsall, with whom she dined that day. It had long been her desire, that, if it was the Divine Will, she would prefer being taken away suddenly. Her daughter, the subject of this, was (as she told me) brought to the knowledge of herself as a fallen guilty sinner, and to an acquaintance with Jesus Christ as an able and willing Saviour, in the twentyfirst year of her age; she soon after became a member of the church im Taunton, under the pastoral care of Mr. Pearsall; afterwards she removed to London, where she united with God's people at the Tabernacle, in commemorating the sufferings and death of the Saviour; afterwards, she joined in communion with the church in Jewry Street, under the pastoral care of

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