be rendered as interesting and profit-||partments of Theological Science, able to the people, as if they were examine into the evidences of their

performed by a minister: and if they should feel desirous of procuring the regular services of a pastor, they will then be in a condition to afford him a reasonable support; and whether they have a minister, or not, the worship of the church will be duly frequented, and all the people feel an interest in its preservation.

faith, and render themselves familiar with the distinguishing principles of their church. Thus the minds of the congregation may be enlightened and their hearts established in the faith which they have professed.The people will be perserved from the influence of false doctrines, and confirmed in their belief of the truth.

Congregational Libraries.-Clergy- This subject has already engaged men should use all proper means to the attention of some of our ministers promote knowledge and piety in and people; and wherever libraries their congregations. With this view, have been established in our congrethey should not merely preach the gations, they have been productive Gospel faithfully, and endeavor to of many advantages and blessings to persuade their people diligently to the church. We would therefore hear and obey it; but should use recommend them to the attention of their influence also, to excite among all our Ministers and Congregations. them, a taste for profitable reading: With proper exertions, they may be And there is nothing better calculat-established in every Congregation, ed to excite such a taste than the es- however small in number and limittablishment of Congregational Libra-ed in resources. Let the Minister

ries. We consider it one of the best of each Congregation call the attenmeans, which a clergyman can use, tion of his people to the subject-let to enlighten the minds of his Con-him lay the foundation of a library, gregation. By a judicious selection by causing a small sum to be raised of books, on various subjects, adap- for the purchase of a few interesting ted to the wants, and suited to the and profitable books, to be circulated capacities of different members of a in the congregation. In this way he Congregation, an inexhaustible source will soon succeed in interesting the of useful instruction may be opened minds of the people in the object; to all. and when he has so far succeeded, For a trifling expense, all may have he will find no difficulty in accoman opportunity of acquiring informa- plishing the work. All who feel an tion on any subject, in which they interest in the welfare of the church, may feel an interest. Those who and are desirous of improving in are desirous of becoming acquainted knowledge and piety, will cheerfully with the history, doctrines and disci- contribute their support to the underpline of the church, may be furnish-taking; and by these means a Libraed with books in which these sub-ry may soon be established in the jects are satisfactorily explained. Congregation, which, if properly They can enter into the various de-managed and carefully preserved,

How to break an unruly boy.-Be Active.

may become a source of lasting ben-||vain." efits to future generations.

HOW TO BREAK AN UNRULY BOY. [Translated from the Berlin Evan. Journal.]

"that

my

255

Flattich now tried his remedy upon the boy, and it succeeded so well, that "as the writer of this communication knows," from a desperate youth he has become an excellent, efficient man.

BE ACTIVE!

A gentleman once brought his son to Mr. Flattich, an aged Clergyman From the Evangelical Luth. Intelligencer. in Wurtemberg, who was famous as a skilful instructor of youth, with the request that he would take him unMr. Editor-It must cheer every der his discipline and instruction.-pious heart in our connexion that a "I must give you to understand," spirit of Christian benevolence is besaid the gentleman, when he was a- ginning to be exhibited amongst us, lone with the Minister, and that our various institutions of son is a desperate lad, upon whom charity and learning are supported hitherto all instruction, all correction with some degree of liberality. This have been lost. I have admonished state of things may properly enough him, I have whipped him, I have be called an "innovation," for it is shamed him before company, but he new, but it is the same kind of instill remains a desperate boy; praise novation in our church, as the Reand blame are equally unavailing." formation of Luther was in the misThe minister asked him, whether he erably corrupted church of his day, had, in this case, sought for no other an innovation that is hailed with remedies. "Yes," said the father, transports of joy by every friend of "I confined the boy to bread and the Redeemer, and which none but water once for three days together." the veriest enemy of the cross could The minister still asked, whether he ever oppose. God Almighty speed had tried nothing else. << Yes," " he the work, until every congregation replied, "I have exposed him to the and minister feels its influence, and cold!" Upon being further ques- the man who stands aloof shall feel tioned, he mentioned other measures himself alone and ashamed! Who which he had resorted to without ever heard that religious benevolence any effect. He had in vain sought was "burthensome to the people ?" mild methods to bring him to reason; Who is now the poorer for contribhe had, for example, let him go into uting largely to benevolent instituthe company of well behaved chil-tions? The man who dares avow dren, but the boy would escape as this is unacquainted with or has no soon as possible into the society of faith in the promises of God. He the boys in the street, or else would that watereth, shall be watered again. exhibit rude behaviour before the It is better to give than to receive. orderly children. Upon this the old He that giveth to the poor lendeth clergyman said that all these means to the Lord. Blessed is the man were not the right remedy; he knew that considereth the poor. Are the for his part a better cure for such people of the United States this day desperate cases, and that was PRAYER. poorer because during the last year He asked him, whether he had dil- they contributed $500,000 in supigently and earnestly prayed with his port of the great religious enterprizes son and for him? The gentleman of the day? During that time some said, he must confess he had not done millions of dollars have been saved it. "Then," said the clergyman, to the country by staying the awful "it need not seem strange that all desolation of intemperance-100,000 your pains applied have been in persons have adopted the principle

of entire abstinence-families have person can become a member of a been delivered from the fell destroyer branch society by paying a penny a the wilderness has re-echoed with week to its funds. This sum, howthe sounds of the gospel-thousands ever, is regularly collected, and not and tens of thousands of tracts have allowed to run in arrear, and to be been circulated to preach salvation paid once a year, or once a quarter. through a crucified Redeemer. The collector calls regularly once a Good order has been preserved-week, and receives the contribution, souls have been converted-the sanc- for these institutions in England are tity of the Lord's day promoted-a principally supported by the poor. few hundred thousand bibles distri- Now let this system be tried by those buted an almost countless number of our brethren who have complained of children bro't into Sunday schools, that they cannot collect dollars—there and the blessing of God received in is not an individual in the church who a variety of ways. What an incal-would refuse one cent a week, tho'

there are some alas! who refuse half a dollar! Let their names be taken down; let the Sunday school teachers or other well disposed persons regularly call on them for their contribution, and at the end of the year, they will be astonished at the sum they have collected. I know many a little village within the bounds of the Synod of Maryland, in which at present $25 or $30 are collected, where $100 might be annually rais

culable moral influence will not all these combined operations exert ?We ask again, are the people of this union poorer for contributing that amount of money? Have they found it "burdensome?" Must we believe that the introduction of associations into a certain portion of our church, would be "burdensome," where the Lord has most liberally dealt out his temporal favors? Oh! tell it not in Gath. Though, blessed be God, this "in-ed with all possible ease, and that novation" has been introduced among by the system above recommended. us, yet we often hear brethren com- Let it but be tried, and then we plain that they cannot collect more might educate every indigent young for our institutions, and especially man who applies, and assist every for the Education Society. It has poor church that would call upon us always appeared to us that the for help. Let the innovation be inwant of proper system was one great troduced, and the mighty experiment cause of their failure. The Breth-be made whether it would be " opren for the most part, ask for dollars pressive to our people" for them to when they ought to be satisfied with contribute out of their overflowing pennies they aim at the choicest of substance one single cent a week! the table, and let the fragments lie. The people of Great Britain who are not more numerous, or more pious, or more wealthy than we in this country, give nearly $3,000,000 annually to the great religious institutions of the day, and how do they accomplish this? They "gather up the fragments that nothing be lost." They collect pennies and by the end of the year it swells to an immense sum. The principal part of the funds of these societies issues from penny-a-week contributions." A

CLERICUS.

From the American Pastor's Journal. "LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE." Mr. Rwas a native of Sa town in Connecticut: how much of his life was spent there, I have not the means of knowing. At the age of forty, he became an inhabitant of the town of M, in the state of New-York; then a poor man, with a small, and actually owing more than he was worth; but he loved the cause of Christ.

Let your light shine.

a member, was very small, and Mr. Rfelt it his duty to afford all the assistance possible in sustaining the preached Gospel. Unlike too many professed Christians, who do little or nothing for God while they are in debt to their fellow men, Mr. R― ventured to give while he was thus encumbered. He often said, here his prosperity began.

£37

The church of which he was now them. At his suggestion the minister visited, and thoroughly explored that part of the town described, and found it in great need of help.On relating the particulars of his visit to Mr. R, he said, with much meaning, "Something must be done for them-they must have a missionary, and we must help them; they are our neighbors, and we ought to care for them." After imploring His location being favorable to the the divine direction, Mr. R said, mechanical business which he pur-" My family will give forty dollars." sued, he was soon able to discharge Encouraged by such an example, all his debts, and provide himself efforts were made, and $200 were with all the necessities of life. I soon raised, a missionary was obthe mean time he opened his hand tained, $200 more were raised by liberally to all the benevolent objeets the people on the ground where he of the day, and his influence soon labored, and the result is, that two became very salutary and extensive. meeting houses have been erected, At a certain time, the church and two churches resuscitated and reorsociety of M, after struggling ganized, a goodly number of souls with much difficulty for two or three have been born again, and they are years to support preaching half the now able to support the gospel withtime, held a meeting to see what out foreign aid. should be done, and were about to About this time, Mr. Rheard relinquish the object, and do without that a small church in a neighboring the gospel, because too poor to sup-town were without a place of worport it, when Mr. R- arose and ship, and that they had not the means, said, "Brethren, I cannot endure or courage enough to attempt to prothought of living without preaching; vide one. Unsolicited he sent them I do not feel as though I could afford $40, to be appropriated for a meetto be without the gospel; I am un- ing house in that place. This dowilling to give up the object with- nation has been the means, under out another trial;" and stepping up God, of securing to that people a to the table he took his pen, doubled house of worship. Many other facts his subscription, which was already might be mentioned to show the beknown to be very liberal. His ex-nevolent spirit of this good man, ample was followed, and on the spot which must be omitted, least the enough was raised to secure the de-reader should be wearied with the sired object.

From that moment the society continued to prosper, and in the year 1825, they were able to settle a minister with a salary of $600. Soon

length of this article. Suffice it to say, he lived TO DO GOOD. His life, for several years, was one constantly to advance the interests of piety, and to spread the triumphs of after this Mr. R- called on his the cross. To lay up for his chilpastor, and mentioned, that in a cer-dren was not his calculation; they tain portion of the township, (it be- well understood that their father ing very large) there were many cared much more for the welfare of souls without religious instruction; Zion than he did for their wordly and multitudes of children without prosperity. In this they seem well the benefit of Sabbath Schools, and satisfied; and their respect and afthat something must be done for fection for their parent corresponds

with this degree of interest which || let us fall down and thank the Lord that we have had such a father."

he felt for the welfare of the church of Christ. In this is illustrated the

important truth, that the most certain way to secure filial respect, is to set before the household an example of consistent piety.

While the closing scene of this good man's life showed the high refor their father, their subsequent spect and affection of his children conduct exhibits no less clearly the happy effect of his example upon Mr. R- died of the consump- them. It is enough to say, they tion, February, 1828, after a confine-walk in his footsteps, and a systemment of several months, during which atic course of benevolent action time his faith increased, until hope proves, that the ruling principle in was swallowed up in fruition." most of them, is the love of doing It was affecting to see his family good. hang around his dying bed; they loved their father, and they saw in him an earnest of immortal joys; the brightening hopes of heaven glowed in his countenance as he descended to the tomb. On the day of his death, the writer of this was with him several hours, but not when he expired. I said to him, "Brother R, is all peace?" He opened his eyes, and with an expression on his countenance which I can never forget, for it told of heaven, replied, "O yes, I can say, I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he will keep that which I have committed to him until that day."His family were all present, watch- missions, Mr. Ring with deep interest the lingering ly one dollar per month. moments of their beloved parent; this was known, others more able several other friends were also there.began to say, "If brother R

I cannot close this interesting account, without going back, and noticing more particularly the influence of this good man upon the church of which he was a member. His charities were judicious and systematic; to him it was a pleasure to do good. It will be remembered that he was comparatively a poor man. His example had an effect, not so much from the amount which he actually contributed, as from the spirit with which it was done, and its proportion to his income.

At a time when less than thirty dollars a year was contributed at the Monthly Concert, in aid of foreign - put in regular

When

can

I left him, though with great reluc-give one dollar per month, I can;" tance. All along he had told his and these collections soon increased children their father had no fear of to $150 a year. Moreover the saldeath because the Saviour lives.-ary of their own minister was now They saw it true when he sunk into more punctually paid than it had the arms of death. All was now ever been, while for the various béstill. The eldest soon looked calmly nevolent objects of the day, nearly on, holding the arm of his dying fa- one thousand dollars a year have been ther, to ascertain the exact moment raised by this church, which but six when the soul should leave its earth-years ago, was scarcely able to raise ly tenement for the abodes of immor-seventy-five. All this, too, while the tality. His end was perfect peace; real strength of the society, has, if and when the silent palm had told any thing, decreased, by deaths and the solemn truth that he was gone, removals.

the pious son laid the lifeless arm In producing this happy result, upon the breast, closed the uncon-nothing, probably, has had greater scious eyes, then turning to his bro-influence than the example of this hers and sister, with a smile, "Now||benevolent man; and as I cast my