make glad the churches of our God. From such a seminary would proceed pastors, who would feed the flock with the same heavenly food; who would preach the same divine truths; and endeavour to preserve the unity of the faith in the bond of perfectness. By such a body of ministers much might be done to silence heresy and error, to heal the divisions, and allay the animosities, which have long disgraced the Christian church; and much to promote that spirit of love, by which Christians were at first distinguished. For this sameness of education will naturally produce, not only unity of sentiment, but union of soul. At a period of life, when friend ship takes root in reason, and the sensibilities are alive to all the charities of social intercourse, it may well be expected, that serious and pious young men will contract those strong attachments and that mutual confidence, which in after periods will occasion delightful recollections and recurrences; and lead them, as circumstances may permit and require, to assist and consult cach other in the duties and difficulties of the ministerial office. In consequence too of having formed at such an institution a much larger circle of substantial and pious friends, every such minister would have in times of trial, a larger number of able protectors, interested to support him. This harmony and mutual support of regular ministers would also have a powerful influence in promoting the order, peace, and harmony of our churches. Such is the importance of a public, solid, and uniform education for the ministry to the cause of evangelical truth, to unity of

faith, to the suppression of sectarian errors in opinion and practice, to the mutual assistance of the minister of Christ, to the order, peace, and harmony of Christian churches. How beneficial, how desirable, how necessary must that institution be, which alone can ensure such an education !

To the remarks, already made, it is scarcely needful to add that, whatever produces the preceding effects, must directly tend to the increase of true religion in general. Next to the unholy lives of professors, Christianity has suffered most from those divisions, contentions, and animosities, which heresy and error have excited in the Christian church.

Here indeed it ought

not to be forgotten, that the unholy walk of many professors, that stone of stumbling to multitudes, is to be resolved into the erroneousness, as well as weakness of their faith. Correctness of life depends in great part upon correctness of principle. So far from truth is the modern doctrine, “that it is of little consequence, what a man believes, if his life be good," that to his life being good, it is of the greatest consequence, that his creed be correct. But the injury to religion, no contemplated, has principal reference to the effect of error, not in an individual, but social view. Error, especially in the momentous concerns of religion, leads directly to contention; and, where contention is, there is every evil work. To sow discord among brethren, by scattering the seeds of error, is to ensure a copious harvest to the adversary of souls. Men of the world, not distinguishing, as they ought, but judging of Christianity from the lives of professors,

too hastily conclude that this religion cannot be of God. Christianity is therefore abandoned by them, if not exposed to ridicule and blasphemy. Thousands, especially among the young and thoughtless, thus contract a fatal prejudice against that name, by which alone they can be saved. In this way unknown multitudes become, if not professed, yet practical infidels. How important is it, then, that the floodgates of error be shut, and that free circulation be given to evangelical truth; not only as this would lessen the number of infidels, but as it would establish the minds of many weak and wavering Christians, and give to Christianity an opportunity of producing its genuine effects on the hearts and lives of professors! Ministers would then have more leisure to dwell on heavenly themes, to unfold and recommend divine truth in all its beauty and sublimity; and private Christians would let their light so shine around them, that others, seeing their good works, witnessing their pacific temper, and heavenly conversation, would also be excited to glorify their Father, who is in heaven.

In the object of the gospel ministry, as stated in the scriptures, we read its importance, Ministers are there represented, as set for the defence of the gos, pel, and to be examples to believe ers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. When, therefore, the clergy consist of men of distinguish ed talents, learning, and diligence; when they stand fast in the same faith, and are united in the same spirit; when in their conduct and conversation they exemplify the purity and charity

of the gospel; there is the best reason to hope, that true religion will generally flourish in princi ple and practice. In the divine economy, means are adapted to ends.

Did not the defence of the gospel depend, under God, upon the ministers of Christ; he would not appoint them to this service. Were not their conduct influential in forming the religious character of men; ministers would not be enjoined to be examples to them in conversation, as well as in doctrine. The language of St. Paul on this subject is deci. sive, importing that able and faithful ministers, "by taking heed to themselves and to their doctrine, and by continuing there. in, shall both save themselves, and them who hear them." The necessity and extensive utility of gospel ministers are figuratively represented by salt and light, ele. ments essential to the life and comfort of all creation. What efforts then ought not to be made for training up a learned, pious, and harmonious clergy, to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world! David of old

swore unto the Lord, and vow, ed unto the mighty God of Jacob; surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes, nor slum. ber to my eyelids, until I find out a place for the Lord, a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob." Surely Christians, under the gospel dispensation, ought not to be less anxious, that his "priests may be clothed with salvation," thoroughly furnished for every good word and work, "that his saints may shout aloud for joy."

N. B. The outlines of a contemplated Theological Institution will be given in our next number.

Fellow Mortals,

As you are your own accusers; as you are repeatedly exposing yourselves to fresh guilt and disgrace before many witnesses, your crimes need not be proved. Unaffected with your guilt and folly, neither the voice of the preacher, the important truths he delivers, the eyes of spectators, nor even the presence of God himself, have hitherto restrained you. Suffer one among the many, whose feelings have been deeply affected, and whose devotion has been interrupted by your indolence and folly, to address you in the plain, faithful language of friendship.

What mean ye, O sleepers, by choosing the day of the Lord, above all others, for a day of slumber, and the time of his worship, above all other times in that sacred day, for sloth? What! have you not houses to sleep in, that you must convert your seats in God's house into places of repose? Have you no time for sleep, but that which he has set apart for his service? Will you find an excuse from the nature of the service? Will you plead that the gospel of Christ is so uninteresting, or the exercises of the sanctuary so unengaging, that it is difficult to preserve your attention to them? Think, what evidence such pleas afford of the hardness and carnality of your hearts. What can engage your attention, if the glorious discoveries of the gospel;

if God incarnate shedding his precious blood for guilty men cannot? What subject so deserving your most serious attention as this? When the Redeemer expired, the rocks were rent, the earth quaked, the graves opened, the dead arose, the sun was darkened, and a centurion exclaimed, "This is the Son of God!" But you, more obdurate and unfeel. ing, present to a disgusted Christian assembly a yawning counte nance, when the wonders of re deeming love are declared from the pulpit. You declare by your conduct, that an idolatrous Gentile soldier felt more like a Chris tian than you, who have been all your days under the light of the gospel. You may profess to be Christians, and you might be displeased with any one who should call your sincerity in question: And is your sleeping in God's house the evidence you give of it? Is this the fruit by which we must judge of your faith? Enter the mosque of a Musselman, the pagod of an In dian, or the synagogue of a Jew, and must you not allow, if atten“ tion be the criterion, they are better worshippers than you? Yes; it is the infamy of assemblies called Christian, above all others, thus to dishonour their religion, and insult their God. And at your door, O sleeper, this infamy lies. Where is your respect for your minister, your profiting by his labours? Unhappy man! thy hearers tell

thee to thy face, thy labours, for a week, are not worthy their attention for an hour. How often has it been, when he has had his heart affected with his subject, and hoped it would affect yours, your indecent and shameful nodding before his eyes hath so grieved and discouraged him, that he has scarcely possessed fortitude sufficient to close a sentence; and a season, which promised delight and comfort, becomes, through your indolence and slothfulness, distressing to the preacher, and unprofitable to attentive hearers. Hath not your minister discouragements enough from the world, without your increasing them by such behaviour as is offensive to God, and injurious to your own souls? Will you apologize by urging a strong propensity to sleep? Why are you not lethargic in your business? Who sees you asleep in your shops, or in agreeable company? When do you close your eyes over an interesting communication in a newspaper, or shut your ears to a tale of scandal? Abuse conscience no longer. You either make the Lord's day a day of intemperate indulgence, and so criminally endure that drowsiness, which renders you a nuisance to the congregation; or your reverence for God and your attachment to the gospel are little more than mere pretence. If your secular concerns would keep you awake at those times, in which you sleep in the house of God, it must be, because you have not so much relish for religion as for the world.

Seriously attend to the following inquiries. Do you believe that public worship is an ordi

nance of God? Do you believe Christ is present where two or three are met in his name? Do you believe there will be a day of reckoning, when he who now inspects his churches will call you to account? And will not the despisers of Christ and his worship be ashamed before him, at his coming? May the Spirit of God impress these queries on your hearts with such weight, as may excite you to amendment, and lead you to worship God in future in a more suitable and spiritual manner.

GAIUS.

THE PIOUS NEGRO WOMAN.

Extract from Oldendorp's History of the Mission of the Brethren in the Caribee Islands, St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. Jan. Vol. II. Book 2, Sect. 2, p. 515.

IN 1736, the late Rev. A. G. Spangenberg, being then engag ed on a visitation of the mission among the negroes in St. Thom as, went with Mr. F. Martin, a missionary of the brethren, to visit sundry negroes that had formerly been awakened, and were now gone astray. Yet, among other occurrences, they were greatly rejoiced and pleas ed with the conversation of an old negro woman, from Guinea, of the Papan nation, called Marotte; who, on account of her age, had been enfranchised by her proprietor. Spangenberg's description of this woman swers very nearly to that which is given of Cornelius in Acts x. She feared God, and was of good report among all the people that

an

knew her. Every morning before ever she takes any food, she falls upon her knees, worshipping God, and bowing her face to the earth. The same she does before ever she retires to rest, having an uncommonly great reverence toward God. She said, That she learned this custom in her infancy from her parents, and that other people in her country served the Lord also in the same manner; but that the inhabitants of the coast of Guinea were totally ignorant of such worship. She did not comprehend why the white people did show so little reverence for God, and only, as it were, make some complimentary addresses to him. Declaring at the same time that, if any one would show her a better way of worship, she would desist from her practice; but that, in the meanwhile, she should abide by the manner she had adopted, lest God should be angry with her.

She had been ill for some weeks, and was yet very weak from the ague. Being asked, Whether she made any use of medicine, or whether she was in want of any thing? "Oh no," said she, "the Lord hath cast me down; he also will raise me up again;" adding withal, that if she looked unto God, he would, in the proper time, restore her to health.

Yet had this woman never heard any thing of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We asked her, Whether she was willing to hear any thing of Christ, who was the Son of God, and who came into the world for our advantage? "O yes, with all my heart,"

said she; "but then I have been told that I must first learn Dutch, and then learn to read, after which I might learn to pray likewise; but now I am too old for all this." We signified to her, that all this was not indispensably needful, for that God understood a languages, that he was able to discern the desire of her heart, and would undoubtedly hear and grant all that she prayed for; advising her, therefore, only to continue constant in prayer, and to beseech him that he would give her yet more light and knowledge.

After this she related, at our desire, what steps she took with regard to the sacrifices she offered.

Thus, whenever she gathers fresh fruit, be it what it may, she never tastes of it till she has taken some part thereof and burnt it; then she falls down upon her knees, thanking God, with all her heart, for granting her health to plant those fruits, and sparing her life, and giving her strength to gather, and now to enjoy them; after which she makes use of them for food.

This same negro woman hearing that her master, whose slave she formerly was, had lost his child, went to him and said, among other things, That he ought to beware of being over much sorrowful, and repining on that account; for it was God' that had ordered it thus, without whose will nothing could happen; and she feared, if he gave way to discontentment, God might be displeased with him.

She expressed great joy and gratitude for the gracious dispensations of God in sending people across the great waters,