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sent,' ," said she, "I can say but one thing, in answer to your most unexpected disclosure--it is, that I feel bound to be governed invariably, and ever, by the wise and reasonable limits prescribed in the gospel, 'Let them marry whom they will, only in the Lord."" To meet so just, and yet so decided a barrier as her text imposed, was a tremendous shock. After struggling with the diffidence which her years increased, (she was then twenty-nine) he could only say, "Pray for me," as he retired with greater reverence for her piety and principles, so consistently carried out, and a sense of his own deficiency when "weighed in the balance." Suffice it to say, the course she took was blessed to him, and subsequently she had the joy of embracing him as a brother in Christ, prominent in the church, a husband worthy and loved to her latest hour. Blessing from heaven be upon the head of every young woman, who, like her, gives her heart to God, and with unwavering purpose, surrenders all her interests and life to the guidance of his word.

The orphan girl is a mother in Israel. Her house is resorted to for prayer, by those who mourn in Zion, and like that of "Obededom," is especially blessed of the Lord. Her oldest son avers, as a witness to her importunity, that, in her daily devotions with him for years, one petition always was, "O Lord, begin a revival at this house." At and after the settlement of Elder Robinson, he came home from school, only on Saturdays. It was her first business to take his hand, (he was then sixteen) and kindly lead him to her closet-altar. Once he said, as going reluctantly, "Mother, I wish you would not trouble yourself so much-your prayers follow me every where I shall never be anything but gloomy while you do so." She replied, "Don't call it trouble, my son; I shall go to my grave praying." "This," says he, "broke my heart." Knowing her to be his kindest, best friend, he considered that to resist the last effort of maternal love, would be base ingratitude to her, and violence to the Spirit of God, now striving with him.

He and his brother, two years younger, had attended the same public school together, for a year. Both anticipated a college course. This was early in autumn, when they both

were in the same week permitted to cherish hope in Christ. The youngest one day first. This day seemed to the older, an age of despair. But God had mercy, heard prayer, and sent salvation. They rejoiced together, with joy unspeakable. Both on the following Lord's day were baptized by Elder Robinson, as the first fruits of the revival. For seventeent years the water had not been troubled here for baptism! This solemn transaction, following the public relation of experience, with entire calmness, by those so young, in presence of a vast concourse, pressing to hear and see what to very many was new, was made, not to a few, by the power of the Spirit, instrumental of genuine awakening. For, in three weeks from that day, thirty-five occupied the banks of the stream for the same purpose ! Elder Robinson continued his labors with the church many years, by which their numbers, intelligence, and strength, were much increased. He was dismissed with the affection of his flock, and died at the advanced age of ninety-two, respected by all who knew him. Elder Abisha Samson was installed in his place. Of the two youths, the younger pursued his studies, and was graduated at Providence College. Warmly attached to his brethren and the cause of religion, he looked at the ministry-with diffidence and trembling-made up his mind that he was not called to preach, and turned to a preparation for, and was admitted as counsellor at law to the Worcester bar. He subsequently practised in Marblehead. There being no Baptist church there, he offered to be at half the expense of procuring and supporting a minister, from Providence, one year at least. This generous offer was seconded, and a subscription paper circulated, which met with favor, and brother Ferdinand Ellis was obtained, and preached there till a church was gathered and a permanent standard reared. By invitation of the Baptists in Boston, he removed and established himself; opening an office in Boston, and another in Charlestown, and continued his highly appreciated labors, till, by excessive pleading, he burst a blood-vessel, which occasioned his death at the age of thirty-four, after languishing and travelling west. His letters expressed a strong confidence and great joy in God, and a wish, too late, that he had given himself to the ministry, which

he had resolved to do, if, as he hoped, by a journey south, he might recover strength to do so.

We have seen the arrangements of Divine Providence, in bringing out the "lively stones" for "God's building," in Harvard and Marblehead, from which, as a "city set on a hill," the light has extensively radiated. It would be interesting to trace the path, marked by the same hand, for the orphan brother, before named; but we can now only say, that the dispensations were such as to prepare him for eminent spirituality and extensive blessings, and to give him every where, souls as his hire. In the place of his residence, and of his pastorate, a very large church of his own spiritual children arose, from which originated the whole of the Dublin Association. The secret of his success was, he asked the grace of meekness of Jesus Christ, of whom he learned it; and he asked wisdom, and he made him wise to win souls. This is grace for Thrice blessed man, honoring and honored of God.

grace.

OPINION OF THE BIBLE.

SIR WILLIAM JONES' opinion of the bible was written on the last leaf of one belonging to him, in these strong words:

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I have regularly and attentively read these Holy Scriptures, and am of opinion that this volume, independently of its divine origin, contains more sublimity and beauty, more pure morality, more important history, and finer strains of poetry and eloquence, than can be found in all other books, in whatever age or language they may have been written."

Within this awful volume lies
The mystery of mysteries,

Oh! happiest they of human race,
To whom our God has given grace
To hear, to read, to fear, to pray,
To lift the latch and force the way;

But better had they ne'er been born

Who read to doubt, or read to scorn.-BYRON.

OUTLET OF LAKE MEMPHREMAGOG.

See Engraving.

THIS is a beautiful and romantic lake, situated in the northern part of Vermont and southern part of Canada. It is difficult to describe the charming scenery around this lovely sheet of water as it appears to the traveller. The artist, Mr. Osborne, in the view here presented, has succeeded remarkably, in placing the landscape, with its points of permanent interest, before the spectator. The beautiful expanse of water, the verdant islands, the hoary mountains in the distance, the blooming forests and luxuriant fields on the indented' shores of the lake, the rustic bridge thrown across the outlet, and the neat hamlets, present an exceedingly attractive picture, which must deeply interest every lover of nature.

The lake is thirty-five miles long and three miles wide, communicating with the St. Lawrence by the river St. Francis, forming the outlet presented in the engraving.

A remarkable eruption of a small lake about fifteen miles from Memphremagog took place in 1810. Long Lake-a beautiful sheet of water, a mile and a half in length and threefourths of a mile in width, in the north part of the State was connected by a small stream with Lake Champlain About 200 rods from Long Lake, was a smaller lake on a much lower level, the outlet of which was Barton River, flowing in an opposite direction into Lake Memphremagog. The land between the two small lakes and Memphremagog was a steep declivity.

A

The water being low on Barton River, and not sufficient to carry the mills, it was thought best to let out a portion of the waters of Long Lake into the smaller lake below, by means of a trench. On the 6th of June, many people assembled with their implements, and commenced making the excavation; and suddenly the whole mass of water in the lake seemned to give way, and a column three quarters of a mile wide and 80 feet deep, rushed with immense velocity down the steep descent, tearing up in its course, rocks, hills, and forests; sweeping away houses, mills, and cattle; roaring like thunder, and shaking the earth like a mighty earthquake. The inhabitants hearing the terrible sound, looked up towards the lake, and saw the torrent coming down upon them, bearing a whole forest on its bosom ! The cattle, for many miles around, ran bellowing to their homes. The people were in the greatest consternation; and it was only by using their feet very nimbly, that many were not swept away in the tremendous current.

MISCELLANEOUS.

ASSURANCE.

I AM not unaware, that where this doctrine meets with its proper object, it affords a most blessed and consolatory satisfaction. But I am fearful that undue pretensions are not unfrequently made to it; and that souls, weak and timid, perhaps, but in which the fear of God unquestionably dwells, are sometimes in danger of being driven to despair; because they have not attained that degree of assurance which they have read of in others, and which has been held up by some as an almost exclusive evidence of a justified state. And will you, sir, suffer my apprehensions to offer a hint to those who insert accounts of the death-beds of their pious friends in your or any other miscellany, viz: that they will not over-color their descriptions, nor give an undue prominence to the brighter part of the subject; while the doubts, the fears, the alarms, the awful views of an impending eternity, and all the darker part is suppressed, and no just counterbalance preserved. I much fear that this is to exalt the dead at the expense of the living. To place this subject of assurance, therefore, in its proper point of view, and to elevate despair to hope, I recommend the following passage for your insertion; the venerable name of Ezekiel Hopkins will give it a respectable authority.

"Many formerly, and those of the highest remark and eminency, have placed true faith in no lower a degree than assurance, or the secure persuasion of the pardon of their sins, the acceptation of their persons, and their future salvation. But this, as it is very sad and uncomfortable for thousands of doubting and deserted souls, concluding all those to fall short of grace who fall short of certainty; so hath it given the Papists too great advantage to insult over the doctrine of our first reformers, as containing most absurd contradictions. Nor, indeed, can their argument be possibly avoided or answered; for if pardon and justification be obtained only by faith, and

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