Miscellanies. ON THE SALARY OF MINISTERS. Extract from a Circular Letter of the said he was very much astonished at the pleas urged; as if liberalities to other institutions, aiding to build meeting houses, erecting costly houses, making sumptuous marriages, or contracts to amass wealth, could exonerate from a positive duty. I remarked, he had made a short crop, and had Hothing to spare; to which agreed J, K, L, and M. N said, he was poor, and though willing, was unable to do any thing, with whom O, P, and Q agreed. R stated, that short crops, and poverty, might excuse from doing much, but could be no just plea for doing nothing; since it is required according to what he has, and not according to what he has not. S said, he never subscribed to any paper. To whom T said, 'Yes, brother, I am for none of this ob "THE church in conference assembled,-The deacon arose and said, 'It is time, brethren, to make up something for the support of our minister,' (offering a subscription) whereupon, A said, he thought it to be a matter of mere charity, and (as charity begins at home) he was bound to provide for his own; at any rate, he thought the minister to be as well off as he and many of his brethren were, and, therefore, considered himself under no obli-ligation, if I get any thing to spare, gation. B replied, that it could I will give it, and be done with not be a matter of charity at all, it.' V, W, X, and Y, alleged, that since the laws of nature and of they thought it rather dangerous God enjoined it; and their own to give liberally, lest they should call of the brother, made it a make their minister proud, and matter of moral obligation. Cso hinder his usefulness, &c. alleged, that he had subscribed liberally to a useful institution, and must be excused in that case. D said, he had assisted freely in building the meeting house, and must have time to recover it. E rejoined, he had been building houses, or mills, and had no money left for any purpose. F said, he had a son lately married, and it had called for all he could raise. G stated, that he had made several contracts, and feared that he should not be able to meet them, &c. H arose, and Z, rising soberly, said, he had attended to what had been said on the subject, and was grieved in spirit to hear so many objections to the discharge of a rea sonable and just duty: he feared that a spirit of pride and covete ousness, had disposed them to serve themselves of the good things of God, without returning him one thankful offering: he wondered how Christians could expect the continuance of the blessings of life, who are more abusive of, and unthank on the one hand, or have detected a hypocrite, freed the church of a pest, and the world of an impostor, on the other. The faithful servant of Christ, be humbled by the abounding of your liberality. How relieved and comforted would the poor minister be, if his brethren were to say to him, as a late meek old minister, said to a young one on his commencing the ministry." ful for them, than heathens who never use any of a new crop, till they have offered the first fruits to the Giver of all good. To the brethren, who are so afraid of spoiling the minister by liberali-instead of being haughty, would ties, he said, Are not your sons and daughters as lovely, and heir souls as precious in your sight as your minister? If so, why do you not govern them by the same rule; and when the sons request superfines to wear, high-prized gaily horses, and fifty or sixty" Go on, my brother, in the cause dollar saddles to ride, and the daughters lutestring dresses with trails from three to five feet in length, fine bonnets and feathers, and other costly equipage of dress, Why do you not say, "No my lovely children, these will make you proud and ruin you." No, your families can be, and appear in all the fashionable elegance of dress, and your boards loaded with all the luxuries of life, without adverting to the evil consequences of such conduct. I would,' said he, · that brethren would be consistent. Dear brethren, the spirit and result of the above are often seen - of your Master, and be not anxious about the family, for they shall never suffer as long as I live." But we speak not with respect to want, or that we desire a gift, but, that you may have fruit, which may abound to your account, to praise, and honour, at the coming of Christ, the chief Shepherd. Phil. iv. 11—17.” COWPER, THE POET, WHEN the celebrated Cowper first resided at Olney, the late Rev. John Newton was curate of the parish. On the even large room of a house near the in the face of your subscriptioning of the Lord's day, in a very papers, Thus we see annexed to some names, ten dollars; to others five, others one, and others nothing; some giving, and others withholding more than is meet; by which it much oftener happens that the preacher is like the colt tied where two ways meet, than likely to be exalted by the abundance of your liberality. And, indeed, if any of you think the standing and usefulness of your minister depend on his poverty, we would advise you to be liberal to him, that he may be proven, and stand in his true light; and, especially, we recommend this measure, as thereby you will have done your duty, and re-heard any one who prayed so lieved a poor minister of God excellently as Mr. Cowper." Obituary. JOSEPH CALDICOTT, son of Joseph and Mary Caldicott, was born in the village of Long Buckby, February 13th, 1802; taken ill on the 14th of September, 1815, and died on the 19th of the same month. Born of religious parents, and restrained by a religious education, he was not left to run to the extremes of iniquity, but nevertheless manifested too great a love to the vanities of the world, and too great a conformity to its vices. Though not unmolested by the stings of conscience, yet, it was not till near his dissolution that he manifested a serious concern for the state of his soul. His father, who had been absent on a journey at the commencement of his illness, addressed him on his return in an impressive and alarming manner, respecting a future world; but a cherished hope of recovery induced him to treat with inattention the parental admonition. Three days afterward, on the Tuesday morning, while his mother, overwhelmed with trouble, was earnest in prayer, that the Lord would have mercy on him; he eagerly said, "On my poor soul?" His mother replied, Ah! it is your soul that I am concerned about; your body is precious to me; but nothing to your soul.' A friend coming in, he begged him to pray for him: He did, and the prayer seemed to make some impression on his mind. His father, in a few minutes after, said to him, My dear son, should you like to go to Heaven when you die ?" "Yes, but I have no hope." What is the cause He that you have no hope?" " I have been such a great sinner." Here he pointed him to the Saviour of sinners; the glorious invitation and exceeding great and precious promises in the gospel. He wished him to pray by him; and whilst in the exercise of that duty, he offered up many fervent ejaculations, especially when praying that the affliction might be sanctified to his soul, his sins be pardoned, and he made meet for eternal glory. Indeed, every friend that came to see him, he eagerly pressed to pray by and for him. The writer, at this time, had an interview with him. His father asked what he should pray for: "That my sins may be pardoned.” again rejoined his amen to important petitions offered up on his behalf, and especially for an interest in the Saviour of sinners. His father said, 'My dear son, do you love the people of God now as well as you did your former wicked companions?" " Yes, but I have no hope." His countenance indicated a soul filled with anxiety. He was again asked, • Do you think hard of the Lord for laying this heavy affliction on you? With a sort of holy indignation, he replied, No." It was an amazing heavy affliction, but he bore it with admirable patience. It appeared about this time he had a hope of salvation, through Christ being revealed to his soul. He was recommended to look to the Lord Jesus Christ by faith and prayer.-"I do, in my poor way, as well as I can." Reclining his head upon the arm of his father, the latter said, My dear son, you love your father and mother. I as safe as the hope of assurance. "Yes." Do you love the dear When asked, Can you use the Redeemer ?' "Yes." "Should prayer of Stephen, in his dying moments?' He immediately said, you like to leave your parents, and go to the Saviour?" "Yes." Have you any conception what the employment of Heaven is?' "Incessant hallelujahs to God and the Lamb." If it were the will of the Lord, should you like to be raised up from this affliction?"Yes." What is the principal reason why you wish to be raised up?' "That I may be a useful character." Are you more composed? Do you feel you have a hope?" "Yes: a little." What, Do you hope for acceptance with a holy God, through a dear Redeemer ?" "Yes." Soon after he was asked, concerning the nature of his hope of salvation; he said, "I cannot positively say I shall go to heaven; I hope I shall, but I want a firm hope and well grounded; nothing else will do my soul good." His father replied, The hope of reliance is equally Lord Jesus receive my spirit, or my soul will be lost for ever." He seemed, at intervals, to be much in prayer to God, when not interrupted by the conversation of his friends.-The change was manifested by the concern he expressed for his brother and sister. He looked at his brother, and, with an impressive tone, said, "Thomas, can you pray?" This question was once more repeated. Sometime afterwards, and after a friend had concluded prayer, he was anxious to know, whether his brother and sister felt the importance of the petitions. This was but a little time before he departed. He retained his mental faculties to the last, and calmly breathed out his spirit into the hand of his compassionate Redeemer. Review. The Indwelling and Righteousness of on such a basis, and supported kind. Our limits permit us to THIS discourse was perused glance at a few passages only of this with expectations of high grati- excellent composition. After giv fication, which have not been ing a just description of the great disappointed. "A strong at- celebrity of his departed friend, tachment to the same religious the writer introduces this reflecprinciples, a decided aversion to tion: "His religion, however, the same errors, a predilection had nothing about it of an ostenfor the same authors, with a con- tatious and self-exalting nature: cern for the cause of Christ at he preached not himself, but home and abroad, and particular-Jesus Christ the Lord: he sought ly for the success of the Baptist not the applause, but the salvaMission," a friendship erected tion of men." To the justice of mercies on sinful and undeserving men. The excellencies of God's character, his purity, justice, truth, mercy, goodness, patience, this tribute, all the friends and correspondents of Mr. Fuller will assent. The intimate correspondence of Mr. Fuller with one of his many friends, for the past fif-wisdom, and immutability, deteen years, was lately examined serve and claim the unqualified for a particular purpose. Some esteem, and love, and confidence, of these letters were very long, and delight of all his rational and embraced a wide compass of creatures. All his favours lay us subjects; they were replete with under the highest obligations to be faithful advice, manly reproof, grateful. In some instances, these prudent direction, and abounded combine and heighten each other. with explicit statements of divine When a Christian not only beholds truth, on a variety of leading to- the display of God's love in the pics. But, from them all, little mission of his. Son to sinners in could be collected of Mr. Fuller: general, but learns gradually his the writer was hid behind his own special interest, in that writings. His printed works bear love which is in Christ, the ferthe same impress. They say no- vour of gratitude is added to the thing of the author: they exclu- fire of love; a Thornton's kindsively direct the reader to the ness to others, has produced in subject. In his paintings he drew our minds a profound regard for his master's likeness, not his own. his character. But had we been We were much gratified with the personally the objects of his Doctor's illustration of the first godlike liberality, would not his head, "The indwelling of Christ in interposition in our behalf have believers." There is a fulness of unspeakably augmented that evangelical truth, and a richness prior esteem which we entertainof Christian experience brought ed for his worth? Favours from into it, which will be very edifying a bad man ought to inspire gratito every pious mind. He lays tude, but fail to produce esteem. great stress on a Christian's loving In God, his mercies are expresthe Redeemer for the sake of his sions of his character, and sup excellencies; and gives such full ply additional reasons for lovand plain elucidations of this first ing his trancendent excellencies. principle in the Christian life, We love our God in proporthat we were rather surprised to tion as we see his glory, and find a postscript on the same sub- we see his glory in the blessject annexed to the sermon. It ings of salvation imparted to is indeed of great moment, but sinners, to us-displayed in the may more easily be enforced by most enchanting light. Thus, unvarished statements of facts gratitude and love are united in than by intricate and abstract the feelings of the Christian toreasonings. Gratitude and esteem wards his Redeemer and his God. are distinct, and sometimes seperate exercises of mind towards others. Benefits conferred command our gratitude. Moral worth is the basis of love. In God, both are united. It is the beneficence of his heart which has led him to confer such invaluable That religion which originates altogether in self-love, cannot be too much reprobated. Its root is nature, and its blossoms are death. Till a sinner be brought, through divine teaching, to see the infinite evil of all sin, to own the purity, justice, and even |