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watchfulness over your thoughts, words and deeds, and a proper use of the means of grace, I assure myself, you will daily, through divine assistance, be gaining advantages over your spiritual adversaries, and happily experience, that the "ways of God are ways of pleasantness, and that all his paths are paths of peace." Prov. iii. 17. And when, in God's good time, you shall be called on to bid adieu to all sublunary things, what joy and satisfaction will possess your soul! And how bright, how pleasing will be the prospect, which will then open to your view! The presence of a reconciled God! The smiles of a divine Saviour! The society of saints and angels! Heaven itself with all its dazzling glories; ecstatic and unceasing joys! Blessed reward of righteousness! May it be the fervent desire of all men to enjoy it! May Christianity be duly practised by all who profess it!

I am sorry there is a "dearth" of the spirit of the gospel in the vicinity of your habitation. May God grant that faithful labourers may be sent into every part of his vineyard, the church! Religion, I am happy to mention, flourisheth in several places in this county. It is the inquiry of many souls, "What shall we do to be saved?"

As I preach in many parts of this state, and have made appointments to preach in several places for a considerable time to come, it will not be in my power, with convenience, to do myself the honour to wait on you until Friday the 24th of October next, when, if agreeable, you may inform your neighbours, that, by divine permission, I will preach at Beverwyck, at 3 o'clock, P. M. Inclosed are two sermons I have published, which I beg your acceptance of.

I shall, with pleasure, be mindful of you in my petitions to Heaven and I ardently pray that the Almighty, with liberality, may confer on yourself and family, his spiritual blessings. With affectionate respects to Mrs. Van Beverhoudt, I am, Dear and worthy Sir,

Your sincere friend,

Newtown, 14th July, 1783.

And most humble servant,
UZAL OGDEN.

N. B. Mr. Van Beverhoudt hath been dead several years. (To be Continued.)

EXTRAORDINARY DELIVERANCE.

The following very remarkable epitaph was copied by a traveller from the burying ground in Spring-Path, over against Port-Royal, Jamaica.

"Here lieth the body of Lewis Galdy, Esq. who died September 22, 1739, aged eighty. He was born at Montpelier in France, which place he left for his religion (being a Protestant,) and settled in this island; where in the great earthquake in 1692, he was swallowed up, and by the great providence of God, by a second shock was thrown out into the sea, where he continued swimming till he was taken up by a boat and miraculously preserved. He afterward lived in great reputation, and died universally lamented."-Thornton's Anecdotes.

For the Methodist Magazine.

IMPORTANCE OF STUDY TO A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL. (Continued from page 34.)

CHRISTIANITY lives and shines in the lives and conduct of its possessors. Hence the utility of Christian BIOGRAPHY. This, therefore, is another department of study which will engage the attention of the Christian minister.

The Scriptures abound with biographical sketches; and these are the best, because the most impartial. You have not only the excellencies, but also the defects of the characters there exhibited. In reading the Holy Scriptures, therefore, you will do well to notice all the peculiarity, the variety, and the contrariety of charac→ ter which they delineate. If we would make a just estimate of the human character, we must view it as it is, and not from any fanciful or partial representation of it, which may have been dictated by the warmth of friendship, or by the heat of malice; and this impartial delineation is to be found, in its greatest perfection, in the Holy Scriptures. And what enhances the value of Scripture Biography is, that it is composed of facts and incidents which are introduced by the writer to perfect his narration, and not from any desire to eulogize the hero of the story. No laboured panegyric, with a view to emblazon the virtues of a particular person, appears upon the page of inspiration.

Who can view the dignified, the courteous, the self-denying, the intrepid, and the disinterested character and conduct of Abraham; the pious and faithful conduct of Lot; the bold, the innocent and meek, the wise and faithful, the determined and persevering conduct of Moses, in the various situations and relations of life which he sustained; of Joshua, the courageous man of God; of Samuel, the faithful prophet and the impartial judge; of Saul, though tinctured with a mixture of good and bad, of wisdom and folly of David, of Solomon, Daniel, &c. &c. with many others so faithfully and impartially pourtrayed in the sacred Scriptures; -Who, I say, can study the life and actions of such personages, without being both wiser and better?

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CHRIST is a perfect example. To trace Him through all his life, to witness his' triumphant death, and to behold his resurrection, affords one of the most instructive lessons of biography to be found on the records of time. And let us remember, that He has said, LEARN OF ME.

The lives of the apostles, both before and after the crucifixion, exhibit a lively picture of human nature in its various appearances of weakness, of timidity, of strength, of boldness and of daring intrepidity. In all the biographical notices recorded in the Scriptures, on account of the fidelity of the writer, we are continually presented with the ever-varying shades of the human character;

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sometimes struggling through weakness, and often, in the midst of discouraging obstacles, through grace triumphing over them all; at other times overcome and defeated by what might seem trifling considerations. And while we behold the saints of God surmounting every difficulty and conquering every foe, we see the malice of their enemies exemplifying itself in pouring contempt, and by inflicting torments, upon them.

All history, indeed, continually presents us with men and women, exhibiting their peculiar excellencies and defects, and all that variety of character, of which human nature is susceptible; and hence history becomes one of the most interesting and instructive departments of study.

But, in addition to the scattered fragments of biography found on the pages of general history, there are biographies of particular persons, written especially to perpetuate their goodness or greatness, that succeeding generations might emulate their virtues, and thus profit by their example; and so numerous are they that it seems almost needless to mention them. But, as a Christian minister, you ought to be acquainted, especially, with all those eminent men who have employed their time and talents in defence of Christianity. The history of the Reformation will unfold such men as Wickeliffe, Huss, Jerome, Luther, Calvin, Zuinglius, Knox, Cranmer, Latimer, Ridley, &c. who dared the relentless fury of popish superstition and bigotry. And in looking at them, you cannot but see their enemies; and thus, from a contrasted view of human nature, you will experience the alternate excitement of admiration and disgust, of joy and of sorrow. Neither will it be a waste of time to acquaint ourselves with those men who have shone in the galaxy of literature, and have shed a lustre upon the moral world by their philosophical researches. This will afford an instructive lesson, by shewing us the gradual developement of the human mind in its pursuit after truth. Who can contemplate such characters as Lebnitz, Locke, Bacon, Johnson, Newton, Reid, &c. without feeling an involuntary desire to emulate them, as far as is consistent with the higher claims which the science peculiar to our profession has upon us, in their literary pursuits? This kind of biography combines the history of MIND, in its varied progress from infancy to manhood, with the history of science, and the dominion it exercises over the destinies of mankind.

And if we wish to see human nature in all its varied forms, we must not exclude from our notice statesmen and warriors. Who that has read of the mighty achievements of the latter part of the last, and the beginning of the present, centuries, but would wish to acquaint themselves with those characters who have stood upon the theatre, and have either been the principal actors, or have secretly moved the machinery? Hence the lives of such men as Pitt, Nelson, Washington, Franklin, Buonaparte, &c. &c. must

afford a most interesting and impressive lesson of instruction to all who wish to see the varied hues of the human character. Neither should we be ignorant of those who have exerted their influence to destroy the holy child Jesus. Many such there have been, and by having a knowledge of their character, and of the manner in which they have endeavoured to effect their nefarious designs, we shall be the better able to guard ourselves against their rude assaults. The dark designs and diabolical deeds of those who formed the Illuminati of France, such as Wieshaupt, Rosseau, Voltaire, Volney, and their associates; as well as Hume, Bolingbroke, Paine, and such like, should be known, that we may be qualified, when called to it, for the vindication of truth; for it is sometimes necessary to look error in the face, in order to heighten the beauties, and to enhance the value, of truth. Most of the Encyclopædia record the biography of all the noted characters, whether good or bad, which have figured upon the world.

But, as a minister of Christ, and as a member of His mystical body, you will be most delighted in tracing the experience, in witnessing the success, and in sympathizing with the sufferings, as well as rejoicing in the final triumph, of the faithful witnesses of Jesus, and especially of those messengers of His who have advocated and advanced His cause. Fox's Book of Martyrs will exhibit a number of such. In the Life of Wesley you will have an example of a man, richly adorned with almost every science, and matured with every grace of the Holy Spirit, vigorously and successfully exerting all his powers for the present and future happiness of mankind. In Fletcher you will see a combination of excellencies, literary, moral, intellectual and spiritual, uniting to set forth the purity and amiableness of the Christian character. You can read neither of them without feeling, unless a criminal indifference has benumbed your soul to every thing pure and good, a holy ambition, an ardent thirst, for the attainment of an enlightened piety, an unreserved devotion to God, and a burning love to the souls of men. The quick, the animated, and the indefatigable, as well as the pious and zealous, Coke, will teach you to frown upon every thing little and miserly, and to condemn indolence and inactivity. And O Asbury! How do we blush, when thy journals tell us of thy labours, of thy sufferings, of thy perils by sea and land, and among false brethren! What an example for our modern missionaries! The American Methodist preachers will long revere thy virtues; and while they read thy pages, will lift their hearts to God in devout thankfulness for having inspired thee with courage and perseverance in the cause of thy adorable Master. Swartz, Brainard and Elliot, as well as the philanthropic Howard, will each contribute his share of instructive piety and persevering zeal. Honest John Nelson will teach you courage; Thomas Walsh will inspire you with prayer and devotion; while Bacon and Martyn will administer consolation in the midst VOL. VI.

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of discouragements and difficulties. It is needless to enumerate more. Your own judgment will direct you to those which are the most suitable. If, however, you wish to see Female excellence shine forth in the splendour of Christianity, besides those recorded in Scripture and general history, read Jane Cooper, Hester Ann Rogers, Mrs. Fletcher and Lady Maxwell.

But are these to be enumerated among the internal evidences of Christianity? Unquestionably! What more forcible evidence can we have of the truth of any doctrine, than to see it exemplified in the spirit and conduct of its professed disciples? This is a living, a moving, a perpetual monument, known and read of all men, of the truth and reality of our holy religion. Have you not heard, have you not read, time after time, that Christianity is a fable? And why? Because of the manifest inconsistency between its principles and professors. Say the objectors, "Christianity requires us to be holy, to be meek, humble, grave, honest, just, merciful; but we daily witness its professed believers, to be unholy, proud, high-minded, light and vain, dishonest in their dealings, unjust in their contracts, and unmerciful in their conduct; and therefore there is neither truth in their principles nor honesty in their professions." Now exhibit to them those men in whom all the Christian principles exerted an active influence, in whom its graces shone with conspicuous splendour, and you present them with a most commanding evidence in favour of the truth of Christ and of His doctrine. Present them with a man who, like Paul the apostle, has felt the renovating power of the Holy Ghost, and whose after life has corresponded to the doctrines and precepts of Christ, and you disarm infidelity itself, and strip the objector of his last weapon which he wields against your religion.

And even the lives of its enemies declare in its favour. In regard to some of the most eminent philosophical and literary men since the establishment of Christianity, they have been its warm admirers and able defenders; while many of the others, par ticularly its bold defamers, have, in their lives, evinced the necessity of Christianity to reform them; and in their deaths, have proved its truth by the moral darkness, distress and doubts, with which they have passed from time to eternity!

(To be continued.)

ANECDOTE OF AN ARCHBISHOP.

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AN Elector of Cologn, who is likewise an Archbishop, oneday swearing profanely, asked a peasant, who seemed to wonder, what he was so surprised at. "To hear an Archbishop swear," answered the peasant. "I swear," replied the Elector, "not as an Archbishop, but as a prince." "But, my Lord," said the peasant, "when the prince goes to the devil, what will become of the Archbishop?

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