A REMARKABLE PROVIDENCE.

THE Rev. Andrew Duncan was minister of Craill, in Fife; and for his conscientious adherence to the truth of the gospel, was, by order of King James the Sixth,impris oned in the castle of Blackness, and afterwards banished the kingdom.

He settled at Berwick; but having several children, and his wife near her time, they were reduced even to want the necessaries of life. For this cause also they were obliged to part with their servant maid. One night the children asked for bread; and, there being none to give them, they wept sore. Mrs. Duncan also was much depressed in spirit; but Mr. Duncan had often recourse to prayer; and in the intervals of it endeavored to cherish his wife's hope, and please the children, till at length he got them to bed. But Mrs. Duncan mourned and grieved exceedingly, on account of the dear children's sufferings, in which she shewed more of the tenderness of a mother than the confidence of a Christian. Mr. Duncan exhorted her to wait patiently upon God, who was now trying their faith and patience; but would undoubtedly provide for them in his own time and way; and added, that he was sure that the Lord would even rain down bread from heaven, but he would send them a supply. They had neither friends nor acquaintance in the place, to whom they could make their wants known. But that very night, a man brought a sack ful of provisions, and went away without letting any of them know from whence he came. When Mr. Duncan opened the sack, he found a small bag with twenty pounds in it, a bag of flour,two loaves of bread, and several other VOL. I..

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articles of provisions. Having brought the whole to his wife, he said, "See what a good master I serve!" Upon this they took their maid again. In a short time his wife was taken in labor, and was in want of every thing necessary both for herself and the child. But the good Master whom he served, knew and provided for all their wants. While she was in labor in the night, and he knew not where to find a midwife in the town, a gentlewoman rode up to the door, alighted, sent back the servant with the horses, and ordered him to return again at a certain time. She presently had access to Mrs. D. spoke very affectionately to her; presented her with an abundance of all that she or the child should want of every kind; and also performed the office of a midwife. She dressed the child, and, after having given Mr. Duncan several pieces of gold, she took an affectionate leave of them, adding, that they should never want. The horses were waiting, and she went off; but would not satisfy them who she was, nor whence she came.

N.B. They that trust in the Lord shall not want any good thing; and faithful is he that has promised.

PROVIDENCE.

LORD, are ravens daily fed by thee?

And wilt thou clothe the lilies, and not me?
Begone, distrust! I shall have clothes and bread,
While lilies flourish, and the birds are fed.

THE FLOWERS.

BY THE LATE BISHOP HORNE.

THE

HELIOTROPE.

THROUGH all the changes of the day,

I turn me to the sun;

In clear or cloudy skies I say
Alike.....Thy will be done!

THE VIOLET.

A lowly flower, in secret bower,
Invisible I swell;

For blessing made, without parade,
Known only by my smell.

THE LILY.

Emblem of Him, in whom no stain,
The eye of Heav'n could see;
In all their glory, monarchs vain,
Are not array'd like me.

THE ROSE.

With ravish'd heart that crimson hail,
Which in my bosom glows;
Think how the lily of the vale
Became like Sharon's rose.

THE PRIMROSE.

When Time's dark winter shall be o'er, Its storms and tempests laid,

Like me you'll rise a fragrant flow'r,
But not, like me, to fade.

THE GARDEN.

The bow'r of innocence and bliss,
Sin caus'd to disappear;
Repent, and walk in faith and love;

You'll find an Eden here.

70.

60.

50

40

30

20

OR, A SCALE OF THE PROGRESS OF SIN AND GRACE.

GLORY.

Dismission from the body.

THE SPIRITUAL BAROMETER;

Desiring to depart, to be with Christ.

Patience in tribulation.

Glorying in the cross.

Ardent love to the souls of men.

Following hard after God.

Deadness to the world by the cross of Christ.

Love of God shed abroad in the heart.
Frequent approach to the Lord's table.
Meetings for prayer and experience.

Delight in the people of God.
Looking to Jesus.

Love of God's house and word.

Vain company wholly dropped.

Daily perusal of the Bible with prayer.

Evangelical light.

Retirement for prayer and meditation..
Concern for the soul. Aiarm.

Indifference.

Family worship only on Sunday evenings.
Private prayer frequently omitted.

Family religion wholly declined.

Levity in conversation. Fashions, however expensive or indecent, adopted.

40------- Love of novels, &c.

50-.----

Luxurious entertainments.

Free association with carnal company.

The theatre, Vauxhall, Ranelagh, &c.

Frequent parties of pleasure. House of God forsaken.
Much wine, spirits, &c.

Skepticism. Private prayer totally declined.
Deistical company prized.

Parties of pleasure on the Lord's day.
Masquerades; Drunkenness; Adultery.
Profaneness, lewd songs.

Infidelity; jesting at religion.

Sitting down in the chair of the scorner.

Death.

PERDITION.

N.B. The reader must peruse this from the middle upwards or

downwards.

ON CARD PLAYING.

"ALTHOUGH Major Cartwright has been married nearly twenty years, he has never yet possessed such a piece of furniture as a card table. His rejection of cards is not accompanied with any thing cynical, but from secing and knowing the ill effects of habit. He was particularly pleas. ed with a passage in a sermon of his friend George Walker, observing, that 'Cards were invented for the amusement of a royal idiot; and they bid fair to make idiots of us all.' He was also much diverted with an insane nobleman VOL. I. * 17