sent for the parish priest to be his confessor, and to pray for him. It constrained Paine, in the wretched extremity of that moral maniac's life, to cry out, "O Jesus ChristJesus Christ have mercy on me." The mother of David Hume, whom he had seduced from the Christian religion into deism, moaned out piteously her supplications of despair, while she conjured that wretched son to give back to her soul that calmness and peace which she once had enjoyed. Volney in the quiet of his chamber wrote-and in the scenes of profligate life often declared-that there is no God. But, on one of our Lakes, when the storm threatened to swallow up the vessel and the crew, that Athiest fell on his knees, clasped his hands, and looking up to heaven said, "Oh! God have mercy on me!" And there is on record a prayer uttered by a soldier of the Duke of Marlborough, when entering the field of battle. And the said prayer gives a true exhibition of the principles of the modern philosophism. It was such a prayer as David Hume must have dictated-and Adam Smith, and all the disciples of the Hume school must have used. They must be practical, as well a theoretical Atheists-and never adore the Deity-or they must use this as the only orthodox formula according to their tenets. For it contains in it the very essence of the Hume philosophy. The prayer was this, "O God-if there be a God-save my soul--if I have a soul." What a contrast between this genuine prayer of the infidel, and the prayer of the devout Christian. A distinguished officer in the civil war in England, though, indeed, he was unfortunately on the wrong side in that political dispute, uttered this prayer when a battle commenced. "Oh! my God! if in the tumult and confusions of this day, I should forget thee, do not thou forget me." And the king of Israel, before whom our modern infidels are mere sciolists, bowed before the throne of the King of Heaven and prayed thus: "Teach me thy way, Oh Lord, I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord, with all my heart: and I will glori fy thy name for evermore."-"Return unto thy rest, my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: mine eyes from tears: and my feet from falling." And that prince of prophets Isaiah, thus approaches the throne of grace: "O Lord I will praise thee, thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away: and thou comfortedst me. Behold God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength, and my song: He also is become my salvation." Daniel thus poured forth his supplication for his captive people and his desolate country: "O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant, and mercy to them that love him; and to them that keep his commandments; 0 Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee; but unto us confusion of face, as at this day: to the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations;-0 Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord hearken: and do: defer not; for thine own sake, O my God, for thy city and thy people are called by thy name."Stephen while sinking in the arms of death, under the murderous hands of his countrymen who were stoning him, called thus upon God, and said, "Lord Jesus receive my spi rit" and kneeling down he cried with a loud voice, "Lord lay not this sin to their charge." Job in the hour of his deep troubles, thus made his appeal to his God-"I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though, after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." The venerable patriarch Jacob, when predicting and blessing his sons with his last blessing, paused with deep solemnity, in the midst of his discourse and said, "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord!" And how affecting are these devotional words from Paul "the aged."-"This corruptible must put on incorruption; and this mortal must put on immortality: so, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption; and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." And in the last extremity, he fixes his eye on heaven, and thus appeals to his God: "I am ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight: I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me, a crown of righteousness, which the Lord. the righteous Judge, will give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto them also that love his appearing." The young martyr, Hugh McKail, who fell by the cruel persecution of Charles II. of England, thus breathed his soul out on the scaffold. "Now I leave off to speak any more to creatures, and begin my intercourse with God; which shall never be bro ken off. Farewell father and mother; friends and relations; farewell the world and all delights; farewell meat and drink: farewell sun, moon, and stars; welcome God the Father; welcome sweet Jesus Christ, the mediator of the new covenant; welcome blessed Spirit of grace; and God of all consolation; welcome glory; welcome eternal life; and welcome death." Then he added with great animation, "O Lord into thine hands I commit my spirit, for thou hast redeemed my soul, O Lord God of truth." And the executioner turned him over. And the venerable pastor and man of God, Cargil, another martyr, in that reign, to the cause of Christ, thus offered himself up to his God, before his execution. "Farewell reading, and preaching, praying and believing, wanderings, reproach, and sufferings. Welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, into thy hands I commit my spirit." What a contrast are these to the last scene, and disgusting triflings of David Hume while he stood on the verge of eternity. And the last sayings and doings of poor unhappy Robert Burns, who raised himself up on his miserable death bed, and plunged head foremost over the foot of the bed, like one, who driven to the verge of a precipice, plunges desperately over what he cannot avoid! AN ANECDOTE. B. The name of Father Robertson of Kilmarnock, is known all over Scotland. He was, take him all in all, an extraordinary man. No one of his brethren spent more time in secret prayer, than the venerable Father Robertson. He was one of the most extensively read divines in Scotland. He was zealous, even to jealousy, for the pure and holy truth, as it is in Je sus. He was an eloquent, and impassioned speaker. He was a Boanerges--a son of thunder. Ihave felt, sometimes, a shivering over my whole frame, while sitting under his ministrations. Occasionally he was extremely eccentric, and sometimes most sarcastic in his remarks in the sacred desk. him, it was in his own pulpit at K.- roar. "I heard the lad's sermon"-said Father R. with a severe look. "And to be plain, for I am a plain man, it just puts me in mind of porridge without meal, and brose without lumps. I wad advise our young brither to give the people meckle mair solid senseand a less rabble o' words!" A most seasonable criticism for our times! Father R. had a deep insight into human character, and seldom failed in forming a very accurate estimate of those with whom he associated. He was always a most kind and affectionate man to students and young preach ers. But the foibles and delinquen-· cies of even favourites never found mercy nor apology with him." One criticism he once made on a certain student, who was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of which he was at the head. That criticism I can never forget. It was, I have often thought, something of an approach to the prophetical. The person I allude to previous to his entering on a course of studies, had been a pediar, or a travelling merchant. Father R. did not think the The last time I heardless of him for labouring in that ho nest vocation. For he used to say, that there was no situation in which a christian might not be useful to God and the church: and that there was not the employment, the humblest that could be named, around which a Christian could not throw a beautiful lustre and say more truly, than the famous Athenian General said, when the envy of his fellow citizens detruded him from the honours of a general, down to be the scavenger of the city. "The office" said Themistocles66 can add no honour to me. But I shall add glory to the office of scavenger !" But there was something in the manner and style of this student, and in the specimens of his theological exhibitions which absolutely filled Father R. with disgust. In the after discussions of the brethren, on the merits of the candidate, when the question was put, in court,-shall Mr.- be licensed by this Presbytery, to preach the gospel? Father R. rose and spoke for nearly an hour against the granting of the license. He could not believe, he said, that the young man had piety. He did not believe that God would countenance him. He could not bring himself to vote for him. He had no personal animosity in the case. He was anx forcibly brought to my remembrance, the other day; when this very person presented himself before me, and a friend of mine in the city of New-York under his huge broad beaver, and a flowing livery of drab clothes. And with a most sweet smile over his sleek and rosy face, he introduced himself with "Friend B. I want thee to buy this Hebrew book of me.-Thee reads Hebrew!" "Ay, friend," said B. drily, "as fluently as thee did on a memorable time, to Father R. while as yet the Presbyterian minister had not metamorphosed himself into the Quaker." BURLEIGH. ANECDOTE OF DOMINE RYSDYCK. Domine Rysdyck was, in his day, considered the most learned theolo gian in the Dutch Church. He was familiar with the classicks. He wrote in Greek, and particularly in Latin with as much facility, as in his native Dutch. And in the University of Groningen, he was made as familiar with Hebrew, as with his mother tongue. And great as were his attainments in the sacred and profane classicks, his theological reading and attainments were no less extensive and accurate. of His sermons, unlike those of our times, which abound in declamation from the outset, were specimens the analytical form of discussion.— The body of the sermons were judicious, and masterly dissertations: and the applications were very practical; and full of affectionate consolations, warnings and reprovings. ious only for the glory of his Master, and the good of the Church. "Finally" said Father R. "Mark me, my brethren, and remember my words. If you license this man, he will trouble you and the Church of God! The time is coming when the words of Zechariah, see chap. xiv. & xxi.-will be fulfilled, And in that day, there shall be no more the Canaanite in the Walking with his young friend Dohouse of the Lord.' Take notice, the mine K. one day along Broadway, word Canaanite there, means a ped-Y. he asked him if he had ever heard tar!" This youth was, however, licensed. But in the lapse of a few years he laid aside his ministerial office; he renounced his christian profession, and those doctrines which the Church holds most dear. This anecdote was N. any of the Presbyterian clergy preach since he was licensed. "I have frequently heard them," said Domine K. "Have you perceived any remarkable difference between their mode and ours. I mean as we practise sermonizing in Holland?" Domine K. stated, that he had perceived considerable difference, in as much as (it appeared to him) the Presbyterian brethren took a delight in copying the manner of WHITEFIELD. "Do you know the cause of this difference between us?" Domine R. asked, "I will tell you. The Presbyterian brethren first make their discourses, and after they have finished them, they seek out for the texts to suit them as nearly as it be may possible. But the Dutch Domines, of the Holland schools, first fix on a text, and give the analysis, and discussion on the very pith and marrow of what is in it." ANECDOTE. Mr. Davidson was a Clergyman of the Established Church of Scotland, in a village near Dumbarton, on the Clyde, below Glasgow. Being on a Communion Sabbath at a neighbouring parish church, to assist at the service; he happened to be seated near the tent, where the neighbouring ministers officiate in the open air, by way of conventicle, while the communion is being celebrated within the church, before as many worshippers as the place can contain. As Mr. D. was seated on the green grass, and the multitude, listening gravely to a reverend brother's declamation, called preaching by some; there came forward an aged matron, bustling, and puffing, and blowing, to redeem her time if possible, in as much as she had already been criminally late. Having seated herself beside Mr. D. and having adjusted her specks, and opened her octavo Bible; for nobody there thinks of going to church or conventicle without a Bible; she gravely looked up to Mr. D. and in good broad Scotch demanded of him, "Whaur's his grun, Sir ?"—meaning his text, or the ground of his dis course. Mr. D. composed his face into a grave look, approaching the severe, as if he meant to rebuke her-"Indeed," whispered he at length-" my honest woman! he has nae grun. He has lost it lang syne. He has been swimming this half hour!" EXTRACT OF A LETTER. "My dear child.-We are the children of a day. We are sojourners here for a few months. Eternity is And let those men who our home. make the world their only home, think and act as they will, Jesus Christ has pronounced them fools.' And no man can persuade them at one certain hour in their life that they are not fools. There is a sad contrast between one's feelings in health, and one's views and feelings at the hour of death. And there is a very melancholy difference between the actions and einployments in which we permit ourselves to engage when in health, and under the influence of an excessive anxiety to accumulate wealth; and those in which we would wish ourselves to be found employed when summoned by death to appear before our Judge. Who would be willing to die in a state of intoxication, rather than when sober? Would even a profligate rather die with the cards in his hand, rather than while reading the holy book? Who would be more willing to die in a theatre, rather than in a house of God? And who would be willing to die acting a tragedy, or a farce, rather than while engaged in some honest christian-like vocation. A certain distinguished actor while pronouncing these words in Kotzbues play of the Stranger-'surely there is another and a better world"-dropt down on the boards and expired. An English paper gives an affecting account of the sudden death of Mrs. Windsor, an actress on the Bath theatre, the circumstances of which are spoken of as one of those awful dispensations of Providence, which must compel the most unthinking to reflect on the frail tenure of human existence. During the last act of the farce when, Alas! poor lady; it was bad enough indeed to be playing a farce in the last moments of human life. But it is unspeakably worse my child! to be found all one's life time playing a farce! murder, that they are unconscious of their position, until they tumble over into the horrible gulph below! But, then, the difficulty in my mind, which prevents me from subscribing to the Dean's sentiment is this. I am compelled not only to view them as four huge surly hell hounds, or curs—as in truth they are worrying each other with tooth and paw; with the very fury and murderous feelings of Satan himself for truly, I never can conceive of them in any more amiable a character; and as for their malignity I question if ever Satan carries on his murderous schemes himself, more coolly and deliberately, than these his hopeful sons, engaged in their master's business. I am compelled to view them as immortal beings—offering the highest and most cold blooded insult to their ALMIGHTY CREATORas immortal beings deliberately spurning the mercy of the Lord; and tak ing a leap with design, and intention into the burning fury of the bottomless pit, for "no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." And, moreover, I see four deliberate murderers acting the part of base cowards, and loons, Mr. Editor.-I would willingly sub-in deserting the post of duty publicly scribe to Dean Swift's remark on this fragment of antique folly; and barbarous knight errantry, were it not for one fearful consideration, the value of at least four immortal souls staked at the moment of murder perpetrated at every duel! "Though long The wise have urged, that man is yet unborn, Who duly weighs one hour!" Let us never engage in a conversation, or amusement, or a business, in which we would not be very willing to be found when summoned to the bar of the Eternal. ON DUELLING. W." "I should be sorry," said the Dean "to see any laws whatever enacted against duelling. For it rids the world and decent society, of many a scoundrel!" To this sentiment I should subscribe, I say, cordially could I permit myself to view these persons (say at least four human beings, I mean the principals and the seconds,) merely as four huge mastiffs, worrying and killing each other on the edge of a frightful precipice, and each so intent, in his father's hellish malignity on finishing the work of cool and deliberate assigned to them by the ALMIGHTY, and by their country. And, particularly, if they be soldiers, or naval men in the public service of their country. I see, in that case, four cold blooded murderers, acting the part of desperate cowards; fleeing from their posts assigned to them by the Rulers of their country. And you may add, that as they bound themselves to that post of duty, by a solemn oath, that they would be faithful and not desert it, they add the sin of damning perjury to their murder and cowardice. Hence, I cannot but feel a high degree of horror at the account of a duel. I feel all these ideas rush into my afflicted mind. I feel for the honour and glory of the ALMIGHTY. I feel for the immortal souls hastening "unanointed, unanealed," into, deliberate measures which lead to eternal |