spangles of the skies; and, instead of foolish prattle while they sit at their needles (when they so employ themselves) they, in turn, read some useful author for the general benefit. I could not help thinking how much more amiable the latter employments render persons than the former; and how much more becoming a rational nature it is to cultivate and improve the mind, than foolishly to squander precious time, and employ their rational powers in the most futile of all amusements, in entertainments that can serve for no good purpose to themselves or others. When religion comes in for its proper share, how pleasant, how peaceable, how secure, how useful, may such persons live, adorning their profession in all things, exalting and ennobling their minds, freeing themselves from the fetters of sensible objects, and, by degrees, rising to a greater likeness to the inhabitants of Heaven, a likeness to them in employment, and a likeness to them in delight. Such is the world that we must be weary of it,-we must be unsatisfied and uneasy in the midst of its enjoyments if we do not maintain some intercourse with Heaven: that alone will support us, and be an inexhaustible source of consolation and tranquillity." Y. Z. -a ON PUNCTUALITY IN CONDUCTING Mr. Editor, PUBLIC WORSHIP. As I consider one useful end, among others, which your Miscellany is calculated to answer, to be that of affording a medium through which to lay before the religious public such things, as though by no means unimportant, are not of sufficient consequence to become the subject of a distinct publication, I beg leave, by your favour, to submit to the notice of those whom it may concern, the following brief hints on a subject which, though at the first glance it may appear trivial, is, I believe, in its consequences, of more importance than many are apt to imagine. What I refer to is, A general punctual attention to the limits of the time which, by common consent, is appropriated to public worship: I say general attention, for it is obvious that particular circumstances will carry with them an irresistible excuse for occasional deviation. When any given time is understood to be fixed for conducting the public service, persons lay their plans of domestic arrangement, &c. accordingly, and those arrangements being disconcerted by an unusual lengthening of the service, is often productive of considerable inconvenience. It is to no purpose to answer, that PUNCTUALITY IN PUBLIC WORSHIP. 599 the Sabbath being set apart for religious exercises, every thing else should give place to them; for not only must we argue from what the world is, and not from what it should be, but there are also inconveniences (particularly in dissenting congregations) which imply no want of religious principle in those who feel them to be so. Some servants are members of different churches from those which their masters or mistresses are connected with, and their being detained longer than the stated time, must-often be productive of very awkward and disagreeable effects; and as to other families, where no servant is kept at home (of which there are a great number) it is unnecessary to descend into particulars, a little reflection will point out many things which will obtrude themselves on the mind, and discompose it from profitable attention after the allotted time is clapsed." It may be Said, this ought not to be: but the plain answer is, these things will be; and if persons are censured for them, they will naturally transfer the blame to those whose inattention or caprice has been the occasion of it. I have been often surprized that ministers, whose aim in preaching seems, in all other respects, to be the spiritual profit of their bearers, should regulate matters so badly, that the application of their sermons, which is usually the most important part of them, is just beginning when the time allotted is expired, and the minds of many of their auditors begins to be irresistibly assaulted with ideas of the various consequences that will follow their being detained; to say nothing of the necessity of curtailing or hurrying over the remaining parts of the worship, singing, and prayer. When this is done by a young man, who may be occasionally called to preach to a congregation, it savours of self-conceit and illmanners; but I am more surprized at it in those who, from age and experience, can look further into consequences. plaints of this nature have been interpreted by ministers as arising from dissatisfaction with their preaching, but without any foundation; for the more acceptable the discourse, the more mortifying will it be to have the best part of it so mangled and marred, And it is of considerable consequence to recollect, that our congregations are not composed of real Christians only, but of numbers, of whom, although we hope there are in them some good inclinations and dispositions, yet we cannot expect from them that steadiness, self-denial, and constant influence of a religious principle which is found in settled Christians; and though it ought not to be expected that a minister should deviate, in the smallest degree, from his duty, to accommodate himself to such persons, yet, on the contrary, he should not, surely, by a want of punctuality, which is, in a sense, a deviation from duty, contribute to throw a stumbling-block in the way to their Improvement. I am, Sir, yours, &c. Com T. C. B. ON A MINISTER'S WIFE VISITING HIS PEOPLE. S:R, In reading a letter addressed to you, by a Minister's Wife,' I felt a degree of conviction that my sister was sheltering herself under lawful, becoming, and necessary duties, from that exertion and care for the best estate of those with whom, by her husband, she was connected, as must eventually be to their mutual disadvantage. Reflection on this subject convinces me of its importance, and induces me to trouble you with my thoughts thereon; that if there be a reality in what so powerfully impresses my mind, you will have the goodness to warn ministers' wives of the high responsibility attached to their situation. With this view, I connect the idea of a minister's wife being discreet, chaste, a keeper at home, who rules well her own house, in whom the word of God dwells richly, whose conversation is always with grace, seasoned with salt, ministering profit to the hearers; whose carriage is mild, cheerful, serious, and lowly. Such an one, Sir, I think, might be greatly her husband's helper in the Lord. If by visiting be meant only an appointed and formal interview, then indeed, I admit all that has been urged against it; but I have read of a minister who used to cultivate, and speak highly of private visiting, which gives me an idea of those social and friendly calls for ten minutes or longer, as circumstances serve, made with a view to doing, or getting good, and which cannot fail of being acceptable to those who are interested in them. Nor can I think a minister's family will suffer any derangement by his wife's thus planning to devote an hour or two in the week to the female part of his charge. She will, in many instances, ensure the confidence of those whose timidity, or peculiar circumstances, may prevent their acquainting their minister with the exercises of their minds, either as it respects their experience in the divine life, or or their outward estate. Thus occasions will be afforded for her tenderest sympathies, — her respected counsels, her affectionate reproofs. She will also be greatly a gainer, by having opportunities to take the circumstances of others into connexion, or contrast with her own; which will stimulate a spirit of prayer, excite her gratitude, and lead her, with increasing reverence, to adore the sovereignty of his dispensations, who rules all things after the council of his own will. I believe, all serious minds feel an incompetency to the great work of instructing those around them in spiritual things; but a sensibility of the importance of the charge their Lord has given, to occupy till he comes, will excite them to improve the smallest talents he has given, to his glory; that, in the great event, they may be approved as good and faithful. Would not a minister's wife thus be regarded as a mother in Israel? and ought not this to be the aim of A MINISTER'S WIFE? Mr. Editor, VISIONARY. In perusing a late Magazine I was struck with the remarks of J. T. on Modern Visionaries, and could not but wonder that any person possessed of common sense should be induced to embrace such nonsensical errors. It brought to my recollection an anecdote related by Mr. Robinson, in one of his Village Discourses*; the insertion of which, in your Miscellany, may be useful. FORSET. "ABOUT one hundred and ten years ago, there lived at Graystock, in Cumberland (I know the spot) a farmer named Henry Winder. This man, in the spring of the year, had buried one of his children, to the inexpressible grief of himself and his wife. In the harvest time, two women, pretending to have a word from the Lord in prayer, went to Winder, and told him, that the Lord had revealed to them, as they were at prayer, that he and his wife had murdered their son, and that the Lord had sent them to say to him, "Yet forty days, yet forty days are given thee to repent." The man and his wife were thunderstruck; but, knowing themselves perfectly innocent, they recovered their spirits, and thought the women distracted, till they understood that the scandal was made public, and that many of the congregation to which the women belonged, knowing them to be devout persons of good character, supposed them inspired to discover sin, and to establish justice in the case. The matter at length became so serious as to interest the whole country; and the justices took it up. Winder denied, the women persevered, and delivered their testimony in prayers and tears; and the persecution of the farmer and his family lasted three years, and ended in an action for defamation, tried at the assizes at Carlisle, and the imprisonment and ruin of the two infatuated women and their families. Nothing could cure them; they knew no one fact to criminate the man; they had no feelings for the anguish of an innocent family, taxed with murdering their own son but the Lord had spoken, and, in the faith of this, they went to jail, named twins (of which one of them was delivered in prison) the one Innocent Prisoner, the other Harmless Sufferer, and protested, "O, Lord, thou hast deceived us, and we were deceived: : every one mocked us since we cried violence and spoil; but thy word is in our hearts as a burning fire shut up in our bones; we are weary with forbearing, and cannot stay; everlasting confusion shall prevail against our persecutors. This one instance is enough to make every one afraid of impulses, for who can tell whither they may carry him. This is sufficient to make each of us pray, " Remove from me the way of lying, and graciously grant me thy law." ON A LIFELESS PROFESSION. Mr. Editor, A constant reader of your Magazine has often thought that an account of some clear and decided instance of a lifeless profession, ending in a despairing death, might be the means of stirring up and alarming some of your constant readers. The Scripture gives us an account of the death of a Judas and a Stephen: a mixture of the like narrative might make your publication, under the blessing of God, still more useful. - The thought was strengthened by reading Dr. Doddridge's note on the 27th verse of the 9th chapter of the first Corinthians; where he says, "It is certain that God engages his people to persevere by awful threatenings against apostacy, as well as by the promises of eternal life to those who continue faithful and constant." Peter proposes alarming considerations to the people of God, that they may be diligent to be found of him in peace. Many awful instances, I fear, the ministers, who read your publication, might bring forward for this purpose, if you should think it adviseable to make use of them. Might not the truth of the relation be attested without mentioning the name of the character exhibited? The account you give us of highwaymen and harlots, &c. are very awful, but do not appear to me so well calculated to strike the conscience of the almost Christian and barren professor. When Providence unmasks the hypocritical professor's life, to warn us by its awful effects in death, might we not as well speak publicly of such a one as of the notoriously wicked and prophane? If I am mistaken in my views, pardon the trouble I have given you, and burn this letter and the liberty I have taken. I remain, Rev. Sir, with much respect, A YOUNG MAN. ANECDOTE. AMONG the many whom Mr. Whitefield was honoured to be the means of converting to the knowledge of the truth, and who shall be a crown of joy to him in the day of the Lord, it is perhaps not generally known that the celebrated Mr. Hervey is to be numbered. In a letter to Mr. W. Mr. Hervey thus expresses himself: "Your journals, dear Sir, and sermons, and especially that sweet sermon on "What think ye of Christ ?" were a mean of bringing me to the knowledge of the truth." See Memoirs of Mr. Hervey by the Rev. John Brown. |