as heretofore to inspect a ship; but by some accident the ship blew up just before he reached it; and it appears, that if he had left the shore a few minutes sooner, he must have perished with the rest on board.

Inscription on a tomb-stone in Jamaica.

Here lies the body of Lewis Galdy, Esq. who departed this life at Port-Royal, the 22d of December, 1736, aged eighty. He was born at Montpelier, in France; but left that country for his religion, and came to settle in this island, when he was swallowed up in the great earthquake, in the year 1692, and, by the providence of God, was, by another shock, thrown into the sea, and miraculously saved by swimming, until a boat took him up. He lived many years after, in great reputation, beloved by all who knew him, and much lamented at his death." God is a God of providence, as well as a God of grace. "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not, therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.'

Queen Mary having dealt severely with the protestants in England, about the latter end of her reign, signed a commission to take the same course with them in Ireland. and, to execute the same with greater force, she nominated Dr. Cole one of the commissioners. The doctor coming with the commission to Chester, on his journey, the Mayor of that city, hearing that her majesty was sending a messenger into Ireland, waited on the Dr., who, in discourse with the mayor, took out of

a cloak-bag a leather box, saying, "Here is a commission that shall lash the heretics of Ireland," calling the protestants by that title. The good woman of the house, being well-affected to the protestant religion; and also having a brother named John Edmonds, of the same religious profession them a citizen of Dublin. was much troubled at the doctor's words; but watching her convenient time, while the mayor took his leave and the doctor complimented him down stairs, she opened the box, took the commission out, and placed in lieu of it a sheet of paper with a pack of cards wrapt up in it the knave of clubs being faced uppermost. The doctor coming up to his chamber and suspecting nothing of what had been done, put up the box as formerly. The next day going to the water side, wind and weather serving him, he sailed towards Ireland, and landed on the 7th of October, 1558, at Dublin. When he arrived at the castle. the Lord Fitz-Walter, being Lord Deputy, sent for him to come before him and the privy council. He came accordingly, and after he had made a speech, relating on what account he had come over, he presented the box to the Lord Deputy, who, causing it be opened, that the secretary might read the commission there was nothing save a pack of cards with the knave of clubs uppermost; which not only startled the Lord Deputy and council, but the doctor, who assured them he had a commission but knew not how it

was gone. The Lord Deputy made answer,

"Let us have another commission and we will shuffle the cards in the meanwhile." The doctor being troubled in his mind, went away, and re

turned to England, and, coming into the court, obtained another commission; but staying for the wind on the water side, news came to him that the Queen was dead; and thus God preserved the protestants of Ireland. Queen Elizabeth was so delighted with this story, which was related to her by Lord Fitz-Walter, on his return to England, that she sent for Elizabeth Edmonds, and gave her a pension of £40 a-year, during her life.

Q. 12. What special act of providence did God exercise towards man in the state wherein he was created?

A. When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; and forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death.

In the reign of King Charles I. the goldsmiths of London had a custom of weighing several sorts of their precious metal before the privy council. On this occasion, they made use of scales, poised with such exquisite nicety, that the beam would turn, the master of the company affirmed, at the two-hundredth part of a grain. Noy, the famous attorney-general standing by, and hearing this, replied. "I should be loath then to have all my actions weighed in these scales." With whom I heartily concur, says the pious Hervey, in relation to myself. And since the balances of the sanctuary, the balances in God's hand, are infinitely exact, O what need have we of the merit and righteousness of Christ, to make us acceptable in his sight, and passable in his esteem.

A servant who had made that improvement which might be expected, from hearing the irreligious and blasphemous conversation continually passing at the table where he waited, took an

And

opportunity to rob his master. Being apprehended, and urged by his master to give a reason for this infamous behaviour, "Sir," said he 'I have heard you and your friends, so often talk of the impossibility of a future state and that after death there was no reward for virtue, nor punishment for vice, that I was tempted to commit the robbery." "Well" replied the master, but had you no fear of that death which the laws of your country inflict upon the crime?" Sir rejoined the servant looking sternly at his master, what is that to you if! had a mind to venture that? you and your wicked companions had removed my greatest terror; why should I fear the less?" Q. 13. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?

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A. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God.

Many have puzzled themselves " says Mr. Newton, “about the origin of evil : I observe there is evil and that there is a way to escape it, and with this I begin and end."

When the physicians told Theotimus that except he abstained from drunkenness and uncleanness, &c. he would lose his eyes; his heart was so wedded to his sins, that he answered Then farewell sweet light. He had rather lose his eyes than leave his sins. So a man bewitched with sin had rather lose God, Christ, heaven, and his own soul than part with it.

Colonel Gardner having received a challenge to fight a duel, made the following truly noble and christian reply: "I fear sinning, though you know, Sir, I do not fear fighting."

Q. 14. What is sin?

A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.

The last words that Archbishop Usher was heard to express were.

Lord forgive my sins,

especially my sins of omission."

6.

A-minister explaining the distinction between sins of omission and commission, made use of the following simile by way of illustration, Behold yonder fire which lately burnt with so much brightness; it is now dull: let it alone, and it will soon go out; but if you pour water on it, you will put it out. The first is an act of omission, the second of commission."

Count Godomar. a foreigner of note, often professed in the declining part of his years. when death and the eternal world seemed nearer, "That he feared nothing in the world more than sin; and whatever liberties he had formerly taken, he would rather now submit to be torn to pieces by wild beasts than knowingly or willingly commit any sin against God."

Phebe Bartlett a very little girl, went with some other children, to gather plums in a neighbour's orchard. On bringing some of the fruit home, her mother mildly reproved her, and said she ought not to have gathered the plums without leave, because it was sin: God had commanded her not to steal. The child not being sensible of the evil before, seemed greatly surprised and bursting into tears cried out "I wont have these plums!" and turning to her sister, Eunice, very earnestly said to her, " Why did you ask me to go to that plum tree? I should not have gone, if you had not asked me." The other children did not seem much concerned; but there was no pa