minister, or something that might promote the Gospel." Towards the close of his life, when his strength was reduced, and his labours were necessarily contracted, he often said, that but that she believed the doctrine of a Mediator, to be all a farce"Then," said the Doctor, " I have no consolation for you; not one word of comfort. There is not a single passage in the Bible that warrants me to speak peace to any one who rejects the Mediator pro-vided for lost sinners. You must abide the consequences of your infidelity." So saying, he was on the " If he were younger, he would fix at no one place, but go about the country where he found most need, And there preach the Gospel, catechise the younger sort, distribute good books, rect places for divine worship, and fix ministers at them. His zeal for doing point of leaving the room, when good was so transporting, that he could some one said, "Well, but Doctor, 25 soon cease to live as cease to attempt if you cannot speak consolation to it; a double instance of which was, that there was one place where he was contriving to settle a minister, and another place where he was endeavouring to build a meeting house when he died." A little while before his death he often said, "What is the world! 'Tis not worth a straw! Oh, my God, I would be with thee; Oh, how I long to be with Christ, my dear Redeemer! Oh, my God, bring me to thyself! Oh, I long for heaven! Oh, welcome death!" The best improvement of this sketch of Mr. Brand's admirable character and course is suggested by Dr. Annesley in the funeral sermon which he preached for him-" O my soul, here is an employment worthy of thyself! Here is a minister of Christ indeed! Here is one whose body, and soul, and estate, and interest, were all vigorously laid out for Christ! Is not this example worthy thy imitation! God's giving me notice of such a person is a talent I must account for!" H. F. B. AN EXTRAORDINARY CON- THE Rev. Dr. M was, some time since, requested to visit a lady in dying circumstances, who, together with her husband, openly avowed infidel principles, though they attended on his ministry. On approaching her bedside, he asked her if she felt herself a sinner, and the need of a Saviour? She frankly told him she did not; her, you can pray for her." To this he assented, and kneeling down by the bedside, prayed for her as a guilty sinner just sinking into hell; and then arising from his knees, he left the house. A day or two after, he received a message from the lady herself, earnestly desiring that he would come to see her, and without delay! He immediately obeyed the summons. But what was his amazement, when, on entering the room, she held out her hand to him, and said, with a benignant smile, “It is all true, all that you said on Sunday is true. I have seen myself the wretched sinner you described me to be in prayer. I have seen Christ to be that all-sufficient Saviour you said he was; and God has mercifully snatched me from the abyss of infidelity, in which I was sunk, and placed me on the Rock of Ages. There I am secure -there I shall remain. I know in whom I have believed." All this was like a dream to him; but she proceeded, and displayed as accurate a knowledge of the way of salvation revealed in the Gospel, and as firm a reliance on it, as if she had been a disciple of Christ for many years. Yet there was nothing like boasting or presumption; all was humility, resignation, and confidence. She charged her husband to educate their daughter in the fear of God: and, above all, to keep from her those novels, and books of infidel sensibility, by which she had been brought so near to ruin! On the evening of the same day she expired, in fulness of joy and peace in believing. The account which the Doctor received from her attendants was, that the prayer he offered up by the bedside, fastened upon her mind; and, shortly after he had left her, she became alarmed about the state of her soul. Indeed, at one period, her agony was such, that, (although on Sunday her voice was so feeble she could scarcely be heard) her cries were distinctly heard from the second story to the cellar of the house, and that at length, she found peace in believing. "Effectual, fervent prayer prevails, When every other method fails." SELECT SAYINGS, Adapted to those who exercise the Christian ministry, or are preparing for it. I. "HE that rushes into the Christian ministry without right motives and scriptural qualifications, will sooner or later disgrace that ministry, and dishonour himself."-Anonymous. The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient (or forbearing;) in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.-2 Tim. ii. 24, 25. II. "Study without prayer is Atheism Prayer without study is presumption."-Bp. Sanderson. Meditate upon these things, give thyself wholly to them.-1 Tim. iv. 15. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.-2 Tim. ii. 15. We will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.-Acts vi. 4. III. "That preacher who has not been called to his office by Jesus Christ, and who does not preach his Gospel faithfully, cannot God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ.-2 Cor. v. 19, 20. IV. "Every faithful minister of Jesus Christ should keep in recollection, that every time he preaches, it is likely he may have some persons present who have never before heard the Gospel, and also some who will never hear it again." Rev. David Brown. Son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say to the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die, &c. &c. Ezek. xxxiii. 7, 8 V. "The vinegar of sharp reprehension must be allayed, and tempered with the oil of consolation." - Cudworth. Rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. - Titus i. 13. Shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? 1 Cor. iv. 21. Ye know how we exhorted and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children. 1 Thes. ii. 11. VI. "We must not only use the corrosives of the law, but withal we must apply the cordials of the Gospel." Anonymous. Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked, it shall be ill with him; for the reward of his hands shall be given him."-Isa. iii. 10, 11. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she hath re We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord.-2 Cor. iv. 5. VIII. "Some ministers preach so well in the pulpit, it is a pity they should ever leave it and when out of it live so ill, it would be well if they never entered it again." - Anon. The priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; yo have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. -Mal. ii. 7, 8, 9. IX. "It would be well if they (the clergy) would put Christianity into their sermons, and keep morality for their lives." - George III. The grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and wordly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped; who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy Jesus Christ world. Titus ii. 11, 12. 66 lucre's sake. - Titus i. 9-11. X. minister of should neither be the monkey nor the fiddle of any company; but study propriety and purity, both in conversation and conduct." Anon. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemed; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you." Titus ii. 7, 8. Nor foolish talking, norjesting, which are not convenient. Ephe. v. 4. HINTS TO PREACHERS. To the Editor. REV. SIR, THE following hints, with slight alterations, were lately addressed to a worthy minister, whose exertions in the pulpit appeared to the writer to exceed very far the bounds of moderation and utility Perhaps the remarks may not be wholly inapplicable to some other esteemed labourers in the vineyard. Yours, &c. MEDICUS. REV. SIR, WILL you permit a friend, with the kindest wishes for your personal comfort and continued usefulness, to offer a salutary caution relative to your pulpit labours ? Having heard you, Rev. Sir, on the last Sabbath, I could not but regret that so faithful and instructive an address should have been delivered, apparently, at the expense of so much bodily exhaustion. I felt persuaded that no individual of ordinary strength could support, without the risk of permanent injury, one such service, much less two or three of the same kind, within the short space of ten hours. The high excitement of (may I not say, over) impassioned feelings, with a very considerable degree of vehemence of utterance, and occasional deep and rapid inspirations, almost amounting to convulsive efforts, must, I apprehend, make such serious demands upon your physical and mental energy, as gradually to exhaust the powers of the system, and, in all human probability, materially shorten the period of your usefulness. Without assuming the office of a dictator, may I, Rev. Sir, be allowed to remark, that when the fervour of rises to a painful effort, a hearer of a minister evidently sensibility is in great danger of having his attention diverted from the subject to the preacher; from the concerns of eternity to a sympathetic feeling for the minister, accompanied, perhaps, as in my own case, with the distressing excitement of an accumulated charge of mental electricity, rising higher and higher with the progress of the discourse. Permit me also to state, that, from the limited dimensions of your chapel, I could not resist the conviction that one-half of the exertion employed would have been equally effectual, as well as far more agreeable to the majority of your auditors. When I was occasionally gratified with the natural pitch of your voice, the state most susceptible of easy and gentle, yet of impressive and forcible inflexions, I could not but desire, for my own comfort, and especially for your personal safety, that the excess of pulpit energy should be reserved for future service in the church. With every good wish, I remain, Rev. Sir, &c. &c. September 20, 1820. OBITUARY. MRS. HIGGINS. On Saturday, July 31, 1819, died Mrs. Higgins, wife of Mr. W. Higgins, of Chatham. This amiable woman, the object of pious maternal instructions, was habituated, from her tenderest years, to an attendance on the means of grace; and the blessing promised on such exertions was graciously bestowed. Though no particular period can be assigned, as the commencement of a gracious change, her mind being imperceptibly and gradually enlightened; yet in very early life she exhibited an amiable tenderness of conscience, and was much pleased in a regular attendance on the ordinances of Divine worship. About the year 1806 she became a member of the church of Christ, under the pastoral care of the Rev. J. Slatterie, whose ministry was greatly blessed to her, and for whom she ever held a most affectionate regard. In the year 1807 she was united in marriage to Mr. Higgins, a deacon of the same church. With him she lived in the highest state of connubial felicity, their hearts being united by the bonds of mutual affection and sincere piety. She became successively the mother of seven children, the last of which was born only ten days prior to her removal from the present world. For a considerable time previous to her last confinement, her mind was impressed (as is not unusual) with the consideration that she should not recover; and hence many domestic arrangements were made in contemplation of this issue, with a calmness which indicated the composure with which she anticipated the change of worlds. Shortly after the last painful trial of child-birth, her affectionate partner saying, "God has again been gracious to you," she replied with peculiar devotion, "Oh, he has indeed!" and " I have much cause to be thankful that I am so well. About the eighth day after her confinement, at a period when hope was anticipating a speedy recovery, symptoms appeared, which excited the most serious apprehensions in the minds of her anxious friends, and which baffled all the efforts of medical skill. Under these circumstances it was requisite that she should be kept as tranquil as possible, and little conversation occurred except with her afflicted partner, who, witnessing her sufferings and contemplating them as the effect of the curse, exclaimed, "Oh, what has sin done!" "Yes," she replied, " but I shall be clothed with His righteousness: O what a blessing this is!" He continued, "and be satisfied, awaking up after his likeness,the world can afford no consolation in such an affliction as yours." "Oh, no!" she answered, and then added, "Let earth with all its trifles go, Give me, O Lord, thy love to know, Give me thy precious love." At another time, when her mourning husband asked her how she felt in prospect of an eternal state, she replied, "I want a fuller assurance of my interests in Christ." But you can say you have no other hope, than what is fixed upon Jesus Christ? "Yes," said she, “I have no other, Other refuge have I none," &c. The morning of her decease her anxious and distressed partner approached her bedside, and asking her how she was, she exclaimed, "Oh, my dear babes!" He said to her, "He that is your God will be the God of your children;" her reply was, "Oh, may he be so!" and calling her mother, she said, "Oh, my mother, keep your spirits up, he is your God, Oh that he may be the God of my father;" and then repeated, "My God, permit my tongue These were the last words she uttered, for in a few minutes she suddenly expired in the arms of her beloved parent, and her happy spirit took its flight to the mansion of the blessed. WHEN We see the talents of property, leisure, and activity of mind, consecrated to the glory of the Redeemer by doing good to men, we must rejoice in the rare combination, and ascribe the glory to Him, "whose they are and whom they serve." One of these highly-favoured individuals we contemplate in the late Miss H. Hobson of Sheffield. She was born in 1788. Under the care of a pious parent, she received those instructions, and was led to the enjoyment of those public means, which the Spirit of God rendered effectual for early conversion. She was much impressed under a funeral sermon from Num. xxiii. 10. "Let me die the death of the righteous," c. In the year 1810 she joined in church communion, and sealed her covenant with her Redeemer at his own able. ΧΧΙΧ, She acknowledged the good she had derived from sanctified afflictions, emphatically saying, " I desire to give up myself unreservedly to the Lord; may he graciously accept the poor surrender!" This sacred pledge she was enabled faithfully to redeem in after life; for she was much devoted to do good as a faithful, affectionate, and unostentatious agent in several public charitable Institutions. The Sunday and Lancasterian Schools-the Female Missionary and Bible Associations the Society for bettering the condition of the poor-all had her willing and steady assistance; and in each of these benevolent establishments her removal is deeply felt. May her amiable example induce others, of her own sex and age, to aspire to the same honourable situation in works of faith and labours of love. She was called away, Jan. 21, 1820, at the age of 32, just in the meridian of life and usefulness-at a period in which it appeared to observers, it was most important and desirable that she should still live: but the Lord's ways are not as our ways, neither are his thoughts as our thoughts. From the beginning of her last illness, she expressed entire resignation to the will of God, whether the result should he life or death. She frequently declared, that she would not part with her interest in her Redeemer for ten thousand worlds; and that on him her confidence and hope were fixed for eternal salvation. One of the last transactions of her life was to call her relations and medical attendants to her bedside, and to take a solemn and affectionate farewell of each. The scene was highly impressive, and will, we hope, be long and profitably remembered. She sent her kindest salutations also to each of her absent friends to her ministerthe church with which she was united, and to all the teachers and scholars of the Sunday-school, which had been the scene of her pious and profitable exertions. Thus lived and thus died this truly excellent and exemplary Christian, of whom it might be justly said, She was clothed with humility, and the grace of her Redeemer shone in her temper, profession, and conduct, with a beauty and a lustre which reflected the glory of his endeared and venerable name. J. B. Sheffield. C |