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observing, that some encouraging hints may be collected from it by those who would adopt the most scriptural method of bringing sinners to repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.'

Your Constant Reader,

T.S.

Rev. Sir,

Evangelicana.

THE EXCELLENCE OF THE SCRIPTURES.

Reading lately a scarce and valuable little Work, entitled, King Solo mon's Portraiture of Old Age,' by Dr. Smith, a pious Physician of the 17th Century, towards the Close of the Book I met with the following interesting Passage; which, perhaps, you will think worthy a Place in your Evangelicana.

eye,

N. R.

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AFTER commenting at large on Eccles. xii. 1-6, the author gives a decided preference to the description of the symptoms and diseases of old age here given, to all that has been written, either by Heathen If what I have said may serve or Christian authors, and observes, only to tell men that there is a treasure hid in this field, and withal to shew of what nature and what value it is, and which way the veins of it do secretly pass under ground, I shall have my full end hereby. word of God doth upon many subjects of natural things, though but briefly and incidentally mentioned, give a clearer and more sure light than all the voluminous writings of the whole shoal of Heathen philosophers. He that planteth the ear, shall he not hear? and he that made the shall he not see? He knoweth our frame;' and the frame of all things that he hath made; and, therefore, whatsoever he saith, concerning any of them, ought most diligently to be hearkened unto, as to the best and truest word that was ever spoken about them. This great truth, I know, many learned men are not aware of; and none but those that search the Scriptures, and dig in them, as for hidden treasure, can ever understand. The labour that I have taken upon these six verses, I am so far confident of, as that it hath made this truth appear upon the subject we are now treating of, as I have already done upon some others, esMy design is plainly to pecially that de Formatione fœtus, &c. persuade men to be in love with the Scriptures; that as some, looking after eternal life, have therein, by the way, found out many natural things; so others, looking after natural things only, may yet far more happily find eternal life. This eternal concern is the principal drift of these holy writings of God; yet they are everywhere besprinkled with abundance of other truths of less concernment, which will give great delight and satisfaction to the diligent enquirer; for they are as the garden of God, wherein groweth every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden.'

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ANECDOTE OF MR. HERVEY.

MR. HERVEY'S man-servant slept in the room immediately above that of his master. One night, long after the family had retired to rest, he awaked, hearing the groans of Mr. Hervey in the room beneath, who seemed to be in great distress. He went down immediately, and opened the door of his master's room; but, instead of finding him in bed, as he expected, he saw him prostrale on the floor, engaged in earnest impor

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tunate prayer to his God: like Jacob, he wrestled with his God. Disturbed with this unseasonable appearance, Mr. Hervey, with his usual mildness, said, John, you should not have entered the room, unless I had rung the bell.'- Do we not here see the genuine trait of the man of God, Precious intimate fellowship with God, joined with the meekness and gentleness of Christ? When found improving our access to the throne and presence of God with such fervour, might we not reasonably hope that, in some measure, like this holy person, our whole conversation would shine in the beauties of the divine image?-To be much in this kind of prayer, is the way to be rich in grace.

OF THE AGE OF METHUSELAH.

Ir is commonly taken for granted that Methuselah was the oldest man that ever lived; but we have no proof of it. It is true, he was the oldest of any one we read of in the Scripture; but it should be remembered, that Moses gives us the age only of Adam's posterity by Seth, and of the males only, not of their wives; but we have not the age of Cain, nor of his sons and daughters; some of whom, for aught we know, might have lived as long or longer than Methuselah, which appears to be probable, if we admit that the seven generations of the line of Cain lived as long (that is, to the time of the Flood) as the nine generations of the line of Seth.

CONVERSION OF CAMBO,

A Negro in one of the Southern States of America.

CAMBO, being desired to give some account of his conversion, proceeded as follows: While in my own country (Guinea) me had no knowledge of de being of a God; me thought me should die like de beasts. After me was brought to America, and sold as a slave, as me and another sarvant of the name of Bess were working in de field, me began to sing one of my old country songs, "It is time to go home;" when Bess say to me, Canibo, why you sing so for ?' Me say," Me no sick, me no sorry, why me no sing?" Bess say, You better pray to your blessed Lord and Massah, to have massy on your soul.' Me look round, me look up, me see no one to pray to; but de words sound in my ears, "Better pray to your Lord and Massah!" By'm bye, me feel bad, sun shine sorry, - birdssing sorry, — laun look sorry; but Cambo sorrier dan em all. Den me cry out, Massy, massy, Lord! on poor Cambo!' — By'm bye, water come in my eyes, and glad come in my heart. Den sun look gay, woods look gay, birds sing gay, laun look gay; but poor Cambo gladder dau em all. Me love my Massah some; me want to love him more.'

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If we suppose Cambo to have been previously informed of the evil of sin, and the way of mercy thro' Jesus Christ, although, till the moment above referred to, unaffected by what he knew, this little anecdote will excite pleasing reflections on the power of divine grace on the heart of a poor negro, and the genuine effects of it thus simply and sweetly expressed; while the real Christian will rejoice to perceive what a similarity is found between the experience of the untutored slave and the polished European. Christ is all, and in all.'

QUERIES.

Two Correspondents request the Explanation of the two

following Passages:

And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.' • Prov. xxiii. 2.

&c.

6

By which (Spirit) he went and proached to the spirits in prison,'

1 Pet. iii. 19.

Letter of Advice from a Master to his Apprentice, When leaving his Service and entering into Life for himself. [Taken from a printed copy, sent us by a Correspondent; but which we believe was never publicly sold]

My young Friend,

As you was early committed to my care by your valuable and pious mother, whose death soon after left you a tender orphan,-se, I trust, in sincerity of heart, I have er.deavoured to warn and advise you against those evils which your inexperienced age was exposed to, and direct and encourage you in the principles of religion, and practices of virtue, which might lay the foundation for an happy and useful life; and I am now with great affection fulfilling the last part of my trust, by giving you some important counsels and cautions, on your entrance on the stage of life, wherein you will meet with temptations and difficulties you never yet experienced; and will need all the assistance you can receive from God and man for your wise and happy conduct.

1. See that the foundation of religion be well laid in a sincere conversion, entire and willing resignation of your soul to God, as your sovereign Lord and Ruler, and supreme and satisfying good: living by faith on Christ Jesus as the Saviour and hope of sinners, through whose mercy and mediation you are to seek for and receive every blessing from God, for time and eternity. I trust you are not altogether a stranger to these dispositions of soul; but my advice is, that you never rest satisfied until you have in your own conscience a full evidence of your sincerity herein. It is a dreadful thing for an immortal spirit to hang in a state of suspense, by the slender thread of life, between two such amazing extremes as an eternal Heaven or Hel. Satisfaction may be had; and is worth all the prayers, pains, and vigilance you can use to obtain it.

2. As you are entering into a world wherein great variety of examples, methods of conduct, and maxims in religion, will be presented to you, some plausible, some pernicious, and many destructive; if you value your conscience or your comfort, make the sacred word of God, which is to be the rule of your future judgment, and of God's present providence over you, the invariable rule of your disposition and practice. Believe me, you will never find a more faithful counsellor, a more advantageous guide, or cordial, constant, and comforting friend, than in those sacred oracles of wisdom and truth, if you closely study and practice them. Let no day, therefore, pass over, without some serious perusal of it, joined with humble, earnest prayer to God for wisdom to understand it, and power to conform to it. Study those inimitable rules of wisdom and prudence in the Proverbs of Solomon, to direct your prac tice; the Psalms of David, to inspire your devotion; aud the whole word of God, especially the New Testament, to form your faith, your heart, and hopes thereby. Particularly, treasure up in your mind some pertinent passages to every article of faith, commanded duty, and forbidden temper and practice; that your belief may be directed by the wisdom, and your conscience awed by the authority of God, in every season of duty and temptation. 'Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tic them about thy neck: -When thou goest it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee; for the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light, and the reproofs of instruction are the way of life.' Prov. vi. 21-23.

3. If you would enjoy the pleasures of a rational, religious being, let your actions not only be lawful for the matter of them, but laudable as to the ends for which you perform them; that is, let it be the chief view, and highest end in all you do, to please God, and glorify him. It is the great prerogative of the most high God, and the proper homage that is due to him from all his reasonable creatures; that as he is their Creator and absolute Owner, so he should be their chief End; and this end should be habitually intended by them in all their actions; and it is the

great condescension of God, and consolation of religion, that he hath not only permitted us to enjoy the comforts and perform the offices of life, but hath made it part of our duty so to do so that there is not a minute of our lives but we may be doing the work of God while we are serving onrselves; and may convert the common actions of life into the services of religion, by directing them to his glory. Study noble views therefore, in all you do: devote yourself entirely to God, and he will return you to yourself wiser and better than he found you; study to glorify' him by a life of holiness and beneficence, and he will honour and bless you. So much as is done for God, he will accept and reward as the expressions of your duty and affection; but what is done from low and selfish views is lost from your account. Whatsoever you do, therefore, do it in singleness of heart as unto Christ; with good-will, doing service as to the Lord.' Eph. vi. 5-8.

4. Be very watchful against an inordinate affection to the present world. Use it with sober cheerfulness and gratitude to Heaven, as far as is necessary to your present comfortable existence; but suffer it not to engage your heart. An earthly sensual mind is the basest perversion of the noble faculties of the soul of man, and the highest dishonour reflected on that glorious and good Being, who created and redeemed it, and proposes himself to be its full felicity and eternal joy. The predominant degree of this evil and sordid disposition is ever inconsistent with sincerity in religion; and the inordinate degrees of it in good men, are the foundation of many sorrows, divine rebukes, and providential afflictions to them. Very just is the saying of a worthy Divine to this purpose, • Whatsoever we make an idol of, will be a cross to us, if we belong to Christ; and a curse to us, if we do not.' The interests of the soul, in sincere Christians, more often suffer from the unhallowed love of lawful objects, than from the love of unlawful ones. Watch carefully, therefore, over your affections; and when any temporal good appears unusually delightful, see that your inclinations to God do not grow feeble and languid thereby, and your affections to spiritual concerns more cold and indifferent; remembering, that to be carnally-minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.'

This

5. Labour to procure, and constantly to cherish a meek and humble spirit; which is of high estimation in the sight of God and man. will make you easy to be pleased, difficult to be offended, calm and serene in every circumstance of life. This will cause you to be courteous and affable to inferiors, respectful to superiors, and procure honour and esteem from others, far beyond all the assuming airs of pride, arrogance, and self-applause. Especially let this disposition be cherished in all your reli gious concerns:--A condescending God, an humble Redeemer, and a proad sinner, are the most astonishing scenes that can present themselves to the mind of man. Labour to be sensible how little knowledge and goodness) you possess, compared with the rule of your duty, and the attainments of others; and never measure yourself but by your superiors in wisdom and goodness, except to excite your gratitude to Heaven for its greater, lavours to yourself.

Be

6. Watch over the natural appetites of the body, lest those senses which were designed to administer innocent pleasures, become incentives to sin. The sensitive affections have so far overpowered reason and conscience in man, that the Scripture can find no word more fit to describe his fallen state by than flesh and believe me, it requires all the assistance that reason and religion can afford, to keep them in due subordination. chaste and virtuous, not only in converse and behaviour, but in the dispositions of your mind; indulge no lascivious thoughts or looks, and run not unnecessarily into temptations thereunto; you know not how great a fame the fire of last indulged may kindie. Observe the injunctions which our Lord and Saviour has given concerning the government of the eyes (Malt. v. 28.) and imitate the wise examples of Job (ch. xxxi.) and David (Psalm cxix.) relating thereunto.-Be also sober and temperate in

the use of diet and drink; every degree is excessive herein which renders you indisposed to action and exercise of body and mind; particularly, let no company engage you to exceed the bounds of reason herein; a peremptory refusal or two at first will ever after free you from their solicitations; but easy compliance will encourage their repeated assaults upon your innocence and virtue.

7. Be very cautious in your choice of company and friends, for we innsibly grow like unto those whom we frequently and familiarly con verse with. Be rude and uncivil to none, but intimate only with few; and let those few be well-chosen; such as you may improve by in virtue and goodness. Especially let this advice be attended to in the choice of a relation for life. Believe it, that love is usually a blind passion, erroneously mistaking both persons and things; and therefore, if you would consult your true happiness, never enter into an engagement of this nature without first consulting your elder and judicious friends, whose knowledge of mankind is greater, and their affections more cool, and thereby fitted to form a truer judgment of things.

8. I cannot conclude this letter of advice without recommending to you a benevolent heart, and useful charitable life, as the noblest disposi tion, and highest enjoyment the present state can afford Consider yourself as a member of the universe, whose proper disposition is to feel the sorrows and rejoice in the happiness of all the beings that surround you; and permit me to assure you that the sensualist, the covetous, the ambitious, in the highest gratification of their desires, never felt a joy comparable to that of doing good. Watch therefore against a contracted, selfish spirit, as an high injury to yourself; and be diligent, prudent, and frugal in all your economy, that you may have the capacity of being a great blessing to others; especially, endeavour to promote their best interests by all possible means, whereby you may be an everlasting blessing unto them. As to the prudent and virtuous management of your calling. I again very seriously recommend the piece I put into your hands, styled The radesman's Calling, as a most excellent directory to you therein.

May the God of all grace inspire your heart with heavenly wisdom, preserve you from the evils of life, grant you prosperity, and make you a blessing in every relation thereof; give you more to feel the power, and enjoy the pleasures of religion in this world, and in due time grant you to receive the rewards of it in a better, is the hearty prayer and desire of Your sincere Friend,

Nov. 17, 1752. AN AFFECTIONATE MASTER. The Lord is with you while you are with him; and if you seck him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. Chron.

XV. 2.

Copy of a Letter from the late Countess of Burford to her daughter, the Right Hon. Lady Mary Beauclerk, left with a Friend, to be given her after her mother's Death.

Dear Child,-When you receive these lines, I shall be gone to Jesus, whom I used to talk and read to you about. Pray now take some of my best advice. Hear my faith, and pray to the Lord Jesus to give you the same. He was pleased to shew me at 25 years of age, soon after you was born, that all my strict attendance at public worship, my many prayers, alms, and reading good books, would not make me good. I saw I sinned in whatever I did. I read that precious book, Mr. Hervey's Theron and Aspasio; which I particularly recommend to you. I there saw I was to apply to Jesus for every thing. I did so he gave me to trust that I was pardoned through his blood, completely justified by his righteousness. He has guided me hitherto by his good Spirit, and I am assured he will stand faithfully by me in the last and trying hour of death. Yes; this God will be our God for ever, and our Guide even unto death.' Psalna xlviii. 14.

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