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long as the conviction of danger is lively, and stimulates to prayer. I should imagine we may reasonably hope the Lord means to protect us, or at least will spare our lives, and restore our comforts, tho' we were to suffer materially from an enraged enemy. Such a spirit is prevailing, and will prevail amongst us; but if we add thereto self-examination, and are anxiously careful to put away every thing likely to offend our God, and to cleave in affection and love to him, the sincerity of our dependence on him will be less questionable.

I subjoin these particulars, because I know what it is to undergo the sad process of a French invasion; and have found that a supposed confidence in God in the season of apparent security, may not produce all the effects expected, in the hour of diffi culty and distress. It is indeed arguing according to the promise, when we try to persuade ourselves that, " As our day is, so shall our strength be:" but unless we take into the account an habitual concern to please him and to walk with him, such a persuasion will prove presumptuous, rather than the fruit of a lively active faith, and will leave us in want of the consolation and support we expected. The solemn charge of Christ to his disciples is, in a high degree, seasonable and pertinent. May the Lord enable us to keep it in our minds, and exemplify it in our walk! "Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things, and to stand before the Son of man." I remain yours, &c. Knaresborough.

H.

* Ifaiah iii. 10.

RECENT CONVERSATION IN A STAGE-COACH.

A. Is it your opinion, Sir, that all men will be damned who do not believe the Bible?

B. That all will be damned who hear and yet do not believe the Bible, I have no doubt, because the Bible expressly asserts it: and I believe the Bible to be a revelation from the God of Heaven.

A. Do you believe Mahometans and Heathens will be damned?

B. The Bible asserts, that there is no other name given under Heaven among men, by which we can be saved, than Jesus. These once had the knowledge of God, as we are informed*,

* Rom. i. 28.

but they did not like to retain it, and corrupted it; for which reason, God gave them up to a reprobate mind; and they increased in wickedness. But depend on it, Sir, the punishment of Heathens in eternity, will be little in comparison of yours and mine, if we perish. Hell shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, than for the inhabitants of Capernaum (said Jesus the Judge of all) who had seen his miracles and heard his instructions, yet believed not his divinity and mission.

A. If you had lived in Turkey, would not you have believed Mahomet?

B. Very probably I should; but I adore the sovereign goodness of God for appointing my lot in this land.

A. I think there is just as good evidence for the mission of Mahomet as for Christ's!

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B. Did you ever read his Alcoran?

A. No.

B. Read it then: this is all you have to do to be fully satisfied, that the whole is a base human fabrication. It contains internal evidence of its falsehood,

4. Do you believe the doctrine of election, Sir?

B. I do.

A. Why?

B. Because I find it in the Bible.

4. Do you approve of it?

B. Not to approve what infinite Wisdom has thought fit to do, would be palpable pride and presumption in a mortal worm like me. I dare not bring the mighty God to the bar of my little. mind.

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4. Then, Sir, a man may continue in all wickedness, fold his arms and say, If I am elected, I shall be saved; if not, I shall be damned?

B. If you, Sir, adopt this plan, and continue in it, it will indeed prove you never were chosen of God; but the experiment is dangerous in the extreme: and your having done so, will never satisfy your mind in Hell: you will then see that God was righteous, and you were wicked. You had better take alarm now, and obey God's command to believe in his Son, and you shall not perish, but have eternal life. Be assured, God shall vindicate his conduct towards men before an assembled universe; and every wicked mouth shall be stopped by the force of evidence.

A. But many of the teachers of religion are as bad as other "people!

B. You are called, Sir, to found your faith, not on the testimony of man, but on the word of the living God,-which you have in English.

HEMAN,

HINTS

RELATIVE TO THE SALARIES OF GOSPEL MINISTERS.

To suppose that the excellent papers which have formerly appeared in this work, on the subject of Ministers' Salaries, have had no good effect, would be extremely uncharitable; but, that they have had all the effect which was desired, we can by no means imagine, especially as we have since received several sensible letters on the same subject, recommending the further consideration of it, and suggesting various hints, whereby the more comfortable support of ministers and their families may be promoted. To have inserted all these papers at length, would perhaps have given offence to some readers, and have occupied too great a part of the work; but a brief representation of the methods which have occurred to our worthy friends, for the relief of the poor servants of our Saviour, can never hurt the feelings of a benevolent man, but rather excite a tender sympathy, and a genuine resolution to lend a helping hand to this good work.

It will be most cheerfully admitted by all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, that his faithful ministers ought to be comfortably supported; nor will any but an iron-hearted wretch, unworthy of the name of a Christian, plead for the propriety of keeping. them poor and miserable, that they may preach the better.

It will also be readily allowed, that their salaries are not, in general, sufficient for their comfortable and creditable support; nor by any means increased of late years in proportion to the increased expences of maintaining a family.

It is also undeniable, that many congregations are able, with ease to themselves, to raise much larger salaries for their ministers than they have yet done; that they are chargeable with shameful meanness, criminal supineness, yea, idolatrous covetousness, in refusing to part with a due proportion of their substance for the support of the gospel, and the maintenance of their pastors.

But, lest this should wound the minds of poor but generous believers, it must be candidly acknowledged, that many small societies, composed of labouring people, have to the utmost of their power, yea, and beyond their power, exerted themselves in behalf of their teachers; and that if further help be wanted, it must be derived from a foreign source.

These things being premised, we may proceed to state a few hints, suggested by our correspondents, which we sincerely hope, may, in the kind providence of the Lord, contribute to the comfort of ministers," and the furtherance of the gospel. A Correspondent, who styles himself Memento, proposes, that a society should be formed in London, entitled, "The Evans

gelical Ministers' Fund or Friend;" and wishes that the fol lowing, or similar rules, may become its basis:

1. That every minister shall deposit a certain sum, for which he shall receive an annuity for life.

2. That every congregation depositing a certain sum, shall receive an annuity for the life of their minister, or for a given number of years; say, twenty or thirty.

3. That under the direction of such a society, a number of ministers be requested to visit all the congregations which may be willing to receive them; preaching sermons, making collections, and obtaining subscriptions for the aid of the fund.

4. That after the first and second resolutions have had their full effect, the overplus, raised by collections, subscriptions, &c. be applied for the relief of indigent ministers.

5. That every minister applying for relief, give a full account of his religious sentiments, his income, his family, &c. accom-panied by a testimonial from two neighbouring ministers.

Two other correspondents suggest, that a very acceptable service would be rendered to poor ministers, if their people would raise a sum to place their children apprentices, &c.

"It is well known," says one of them, "That the expences of a child increase with his years; the salary which is sufficient to provide for a child of two years old, is inadequate to his support at ten or twelve. When the family is increased, the parent can scarcely procure food and raiment, much less put him to business. The question is often put, What do you intend to do with your son, or daughter? It is high time to put him or herto some trade. The good man knows this well enough; but he has no counter of his own, behind which he may place his son. He reads on the cover of the Magazine, "Wanted an Apprentice;" but, alas! he reads also, "A premium will be, expected." The master wants both an apprentice and a premium; the child wants a place, -but where is the premium?

Now, how easy would it be for most congregations to raise a sufficient sum by subscriptions of guineas, half guineas, or less; and thus ease an aching heart, lessen the family expence, and put a boy in the way of obtaining support for life! Or, if a society like that just mentioned were forined, how laudable an bject would it be, to employ a few pounds for this purpose! AMICUS AND W. P.

STEPHANUS, referring to former papers on this topic, conceives, that the writers, though professing the best intentions, bave mistaken the subject, especially as it relates to poor congregations, who, with all their exertions, cannot raise a salary of more than 50 or 60l. a year; and whose ministers, he ob serves, would be in a worse condition than they are, were it not for The Independent Fund Board, of which he speaks very honourably. He makes the following proposal:

"Let rich, numerous, benevolent congregations, who can

advance with ease and cheerfulness for their minister, from one to three hundred pounds annually, raise as many shillings extra for poor ministers. Such congregations could with less difficulty produce 20, 30, or 401. than some poor small congregations as many shillings. Thus the strong would help to bear the burden of the weak, and primitive Christianity would be revived."

"Let respectable individuals in large towns and rich societies, occasionally visit the leading people of the poorer neighbouring congregations. On such excursions (which would be conducive to their health) let them make friendly inquiries into the state of the churches:-How does religion prosper among you? Does the church increase? Is your minister comfortably provided for? What salary do you raise him? How much do you, or Mr., subscribe? In many cases, nothing more than a friendly hint is needful to excite greater liberality."

J. R. intreats the affectionate regard of good people to the case of aged and infirm ministers. "Soldiers and sailors, he says, who have exposed their lives for the good of their country, are provided for in old age; but who cares for poor old worn-out ministers, who have devoted all their days to the cause of God, and have perhaps destroyed their constitutions by incessant labour!"

He recommends a small annual contribution for this purpose; and thinks that, if one general effort were made, especially by richer ministers, among their opulent congregations, a fund might be raised for this benevolent purpose.

These hints are respectfully submitted to the generous people of God, in town and country: it will afford unspeakable satisfaction to the conductors of this work, if they should produce any advantage to the ministers of Christ, who labour among the poor; if they should stimulate the exertions of the Deacons, and other leading members of religious societies; and above all, if they should conduce to the formation of any Benevolent Institution, upon a large scale and liberal plan, for the effectual assistance of Evangelical Ministers and their families.

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AN Infidel has repeatedly challenged me to reconcile the two accounts of St. Matthew and St. Luke, relative to our Saviour's pedigree. I hope some of your learned Correspondents will throw such light on the subject as to silence Infidelity, which, I am afraid, is making rapid strides in this part of the country; and it will be esteemed a peculiar favour by yours, in the best bonds,

Darkhouse.

J. M. J.

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