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ballot; but others are received upon paying, as it is termed, a pension. At the last admission, two little girls, the eldest not exceeding ten years of age, the daughters of a naval captain, the father of a large family, presented themselves, and drew, the one a prize, and the other a blank. Although so young,. they concluded that fate had, in this manner, resolved upon their separation; they felt it, and wept. Another young lady, to whom the next chance devolved, drew a prize; and observing the distress of the sisters, without holding any communication with their parents, or with any other person, spontaneously ran up to the luckless little girl, presented her with the ticket, and leading her up to the directress, said, "See, Madam, I have drawn a prize! but my papa can afford to pay the pension, and, I am sure, will pay it for me;-pray, let one who is less fortunate enjoy the good that has happened to me." This charming anecdote was immediately reported to the Empress dowager, who expressed the highest delight, and paid out of her own purse the pension of the little benefactress.

Carr's North. Sum. p. 369.

▲ GOOD HINT FOR MEN IN BUSINESS.

"I ENDEAVOUR (says the late Dr. Fothergill in a letter to one of his friends) to follow my business, because it is my duty rather than my interest; the latter is inseparable from a just discharge of duty; but I have ever looked at the profits in the last place. At my first setting out I wished most fervently, and I endeavour after it still, to

do my business with all the diligence I could, as a present duty, and to repress every rising idea of its consequences, knowing that there was an Hand which could easily overthrow every pursuit of this kind, and baffle every attempt either to acquire wealth or fame."

Lettsome's Life of Dr. Fothergill.

IT is said that the late Rev. John Brown of Haddington, when passing the Firth of Forth, between.Leith and Kinghorn, had for a fellow passenger, one who appeared to be a Highland noble

man.

Mr. B. observed, with much grief, that he frequently took the name of God in vain'; but suspecting that to reprove him in the presence of the other passengers might lead only to ir: ritate him, he forbore saying any thing till he reached the opposite shore. After landing, Mr. B. observing the nobleman walking alone, stepped up to him, and said, "Sir, I was sorry to hear you swearing while on our passage. You know it is written, "Thou shalt not take the name

of the Lord thy God in vain.” On this the nobleman, lifting his hat and bowing to Mr. B. made the following reply: "Sir, I return you thanks for the reproof you have now given me, and shall endeavour to attend to it in future: but," added he, “ had you said this to me while in the boat, I believe I should have run you through with my sword.”

Tife power of conscience was lately manifested in a remarkable degree, in a man of the name of Cooper, of Hawkesbury-Upton, Gloucestershire. He had long endured a great horror of mind;

and, about an hour before his death, declared the cause of it; which was, that, about forty years ago, he had assisted another man, of the name of Horton (who died about two years since) in murdering a Mr. Rice, a surveyor of the roads, whose body they threw into a well, where, soon after the fact, it was found; but the murderers were not known till now-How many dreadful secrets will come out at that great day, when the all-wise and almighty Judge shall make inquisition for blood! and how dreadful will be the operation of conscience in the world of misery, in the retrospect of innumer able crimes unpardoned! Blessed are they who have an interest in the blood divine, which cleanseth from all sin! Evan. Mag.

SIR John Mason, in the reign of Edward the Sixth, being near his dissolution, and sensible he

had but a short time to live, upon his death-bed called for his clerk and steward, and delivered himself to them to this purpose:

"I have seen five princes, and have been privy counsellor to four; I have seen the most remarkable observables in foreign parts, and have been present at most state-transactions for thirty years together, and I have learned this, after so many years' experience, That seriousness is the greatest wisdom, temperance the best physic, a good conscience the best estate; and were I to live again, I would change the court for a cloister, my privy counsellor's bustles for an hermit's retirement, and the whole life I lived in the palace, for one hour's enjoyment of God in the chapel." He concluded with saying, "All things else do now forsake me besides my God, my duty, and my prayers."

Evan. Mag.

Review of New Publications.

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day. He observes, that as Amos was a shepherd, who watched his flock by night, he would naturally take notice of the different appearances in the heavens; and that hence we find his prophecy tinctured with astronomical allusions. He remarks also, that according to Archbishop Usher, there were two eclipses of the sun in the time of Amos, which happened at solemn festivals, and struck the people with great consternation; and he considers the text as prefiguring, by allusion to an event of this gloomy kind, the calamities,

which hung over the house of Israel. After these introductory observations, he makes a few moral and religious reflections. 1. That we have reason to rejoice in the progress, which has been made in the sciences, and particularly in astronomy. 2. That an eclipse of the sun may properly lead us to contemplate the gloomy changes, which await us in this guilty and mortal state. 3. That the darkening of the earth in a clear day brings to mind the final judgment. 4. That total darkness at noon-day reminds us of the solemn scene of the Saviour's crucifixion. 5. That the cheer ful light, which follows an eclipse, is a natural emblem of that moral change, in which a soul is brought out of the darkness of sin and guilt into the marvellous light of purity, pardon, and peace. 6. That the obscuration of the sun in the sky bids us contemplate the uninterrupted brightness of the heavenly state.

To those, who are acquainted with the excellent theological publications of the American clergy, it will be needless to commend the correctness, perspicuity, and simplicity, which mark the style of Dr. Lathrop The following paragraph, which is found under the first reflection, furnishes no unfavourable specimen of his manner.

"We see innumerable worlds rolling around us, at vast, but various distances with different, but inconceivable rapidity. These all perform their motions with regularity, and observe their times with exactness. They obey their destination, they keep their order, they never interfere. Shall we not fear the power, admire the wisdom, adore the good. ness of that Being, who made and adjusted, who sustains and directs such a stupendous system, and ren

ders it subservient to our happiness? These rational sentiments are pleas. ant and delightful in themselves; and far more conducive to piety and virtue, than the terrors of that superstitions ignorance, which views every comet flaming in the sky, every obscuration of the sun at noon-day, ev, ery failure of the full orbed moon at night, every unusual noise bursting from the clouds, every strange appearance in the heavens, and in the earth, as awfully portentous of some dire, but unknown, calamity."

The following passages, under the fifth reflection, indicate correct views of divine truth, and will be welcome to the Christian.

"How sad and gloomy is the condition of a guilty mortal, who, con: vinced of his numerous transgressions, feels himself condemned to eternal death. The divine law, which

was delivered from Sinai in smoke and darkness, in clouds and tempest, thunders terror and destruction in his ears. But how happily is his state reversed, when light, beaming from Mount Sion in the discoveries and promises of the gospel, breaks in on his soul, exhibits to him a dying Sa. viour, a forgiving God, a sanctifying Spirit? What joy springs up, when his enmity to God slain, his opposi he finds the power of sin subdued, tion to the gospel conquered, and ev. ery thought captivated to the obedience of Christ? The light is sweet, and its sweetness is increased by its the hopes and comforts of religion in succeeding to previous darkness. So the soul are exalted by their contrast to preceding anxieties and fears. Ye awakened, desponding souls, look up to the Sun of Righteousness. He shines from heaven with salvation in his beams. However guilty, unworthy and impotent ye feel, there is grace sufficient for you; there is righteousness to justify you, promises to support you, the Spirit to help you. Light arises in darkness Turn your eyes from the cloud, and direct them to the sun. Christ came a light into the world, that whosoev er believeth in him should not walk in darkness. Look to him and be ye saved."

A Sermon preached before the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America; by appointment of their standing committee of missons, May 19, 1806. Published at their request. By ELIPHALET NOTT, D. D. President of Union College in the State of New York. Philadelphia. J. Aitken. THE preacher chose for his text the following words, 1 Cor. XV. 58. Always abounding in the work of the Lord.

"By abounding in the work of the Lord may be understood an acquiesc ence in the divine government, and a constant and cordial co-operation with the Divine Being, in accomplish ing its objects; one of which, and an illustrious one too, is the establishment of the universal reign of the Messiah on earth." p. 7.

The object of the discourse is to induce the co-operation of the auditors in this work of the Lord with respect to the pagan tribes.

With this view the author proceeds immediately to notice the following particulars; viz. The certainty of Christ's king dom. Its perpetuity. It is to be advanced by human exertions, To succeed in such an attempt will be glorious. Even to fail, after having made sincere endeave ours in so good a cause, will be glorious.

We think a text might easily have been found more impres sive, and better agreeing with the general design of the sermon: but we cannot easily conceive of a sermon better adapted to the occasion,

Dr. Nott entertains very high ideas of the final progress of the gospel, and supposes the millennium is to consist not of a thousand years literally, but either of as many years as there are days in bas period, i. e. 360,000, or else of an indefinite but vast num ber

"This opinion, that Christ shall reign a thousand years on earth, gives a very different aspect to the present state of things, and furnishes no inconsiderable relief to the dark and dismal picture which this world would otherwise present. How different will be the entire view, should it appear in the sequel, that the thousand years of peace promised to the church, are prophetic years, and denote not a millenary, but a vast duration." p. 11.

Every friend to the best interests of man would rejoice at finding this opinion supported by Scripture. How far the pas sages adduced in this sermon constitute such a support, we leave the reader to determine.

That there is considerable force in the following argument, we think, cannot be denied.

"In the economy of redemption, four thousand years were spent in preparing the way for the introduction of Messiah, the birth of Christ. Two thousand more in vanquishing his enemies, and fixing the boundaries of his empire-an empire which is to, endure but for a thousand years! Satan triumph in this world six thousand years, Jesus Christ one! Is this consonant to the dictates of reason, or the analogy of providence ?" p. 12.

Another argument is this. If the millennium continue but simply a thousand years, the world will not exist much more than a thousand years longer. The Doctor thinks, that according to scripture representation (Ps. cii. Isa. li. Heb. i.) the earth will not be destroyed till it shall have waxen old and decayed.

"As doth a garment, so God declares, that heaven and earth shall. wax old. And till they have waxen old they shall not be destroyed. They must first be despoiled of their beauty, marked by the lines, and pal sied by the influence of age.".

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sound and bright, after the wear of almost six thousand years, the author concludes that with common use it may endure more than one thousand years to come. "It does not appear that those heavens and this earth, which after the lapse of six thousand years, still display so much magnificence, and shine in so much glory, will, in little more than a thousand years, have grown old as doth a garment, and become unfit for use." p. 18.

A prudent man may judge. how long a garment will last; a skilful artificer, by examining the timbers of a building, may judge how long it will stand; but none, it is believed, but the divine Architect, so thoroughly knows the structure of the universe, as to foretel either its continuance or dissolution.

The following reflections, arising from this extended view of the Millennial period, are animating, and furnish a fair specimen of our author's style and manner. "What ideas does this article give us of the designs of Deity in creation and redemption! How august appears the character, how complete the victory of Jesus! Where once stood his cross now stands his throne. And the same world which once saw the transitory triumph of his adversary, now sees his own abiding triumph, and pays to his divinity a perpetual homage. This glorious period the death of Christ principally respects. All previous conquests are unimportant. Those subdued by his grace during six thousand years, will be few compared with the number who shall crown his final triumph. How great that number will be I dare not even conjecture. But, though I dare not, I love to agitate the question; to recount the hundred and forty and four thousand; to contemplate, and to become absorbed, in that great multitude of the redeemed, from among all nations, a multitude which no man can number,"

In relation to that happiness which believers will experience,

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Though we cannot give oury. unqualified approbation of this sermon, we, on the whole, consider it as possessing no ordinary degree of merit. It is evangelical and deeply impressive. The author imitates, with much success, the thundering eloquence of the French pulpit. One can hardly read the following paragraphs, without believ ing, that the writer had received the falling mantle of Pastor Saurin. In reference to the Pagan world he exclaims,

"And now, O my God, what more of man contemplate miseries the shall I say? Can the unfeeling heart most extreme, and not be moved?From the hill of Zion, beaming with light, and smiling with life, let me direct your view to the vale of darkness, and the shadow of death.

"Yonder are the pagans. Friends of humanity, O that I could describe them to you!-cold, naked, famished, friendless; roaming the desert, burning with revenge, and thirsting for blood.-Yonder are the pagans. Friends of Immanuel, O that I could describe them to you, assembled on the ground of enchantment, practising the delusions of witchcraft, insulting the heavens by the sacrifice of dogs, and paying their impious adora,

tions at the shrines of devils!

From these profane devotions, the hoary warrior retires. His steps totter with age, he reaches the threshold of his hut, and sinks beneath infirmi,

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