C. Should you not be prepared for it?

G. Yes: for this life is uncertain and short.

C. Do the Methodist preachers ever speak to you?

G. Some little time ago, when one of us was ill, they visited us; and there was certainly a great alteration amongst us.

C. I would recommend you to think about your soul, and to pray to God to enlighten your mind.

G. We cannot know so much respecting these things as those that are taught.

C. It is God by his Holy Spirit, and not human learning and human teaching, who gives us this knowledge.

Here the conversation broke off and I had not afterwards an opportunity to renew it.

In order to do good amongst the gypsies, we must conciliate their esteem, and gain their confidence. Having been inured to this mode of life from infancy, it would be extremely difficult to induce them to alter it. Their conversion to the Gospel must, I humbly apprehend, pave the way to this. They do not seem quite averse to receive religious instruction, and to attend a place of worship. Those with whom I have conversed, appear grateful for any favour shown them; and they are very civil and well-behaved.

A CLOWN.

MR. EDITOR,

We all know that when a person first engages in business, he frequently finds himself involved in perplexing difficulties, and has to struggle with numerous disadvantages, arising from his inexperience as to many circumstances intimately connected with his new occupation. To relieve his distracted mind, he applies for advice and direction to so friend whose long acquaintance with similar transactions renders him capable of suggesting proper means, by the use of which, his distressed applicant may extricate himself from present embarrassments, and be better enabled to guard against future contingencies. In like manner, a young person just entering on the Christian life, whose state as to knowledge and experience in divine things is necessarily very limited (as was particularly noticed on a former occasion), will, in addition to the benefits derivable from the hints al

ready thrown out, find it much for his advantage to live in habits of intimate friendship with some spiritual father, by whose sage instructions, and salutary admonitions, his attention may be directed to the most useful pursuits, his mind opened and enlarged, false opinions corrected, his judgment rightly formed, and his whole deportment regulated according to the Gospel standard.

You, Mr. Guardian, and your senior friends, will be pleased to sec such an advice coming from a young Christian, as you are generally disposed, and, I am sorry to confess, not without cause, to censure us for keeping too much aloof from those whose age and experience make them well qualified for our instruction and correction in righteousness.-But you must give youthful timidity some indulgence. None of my young friends, I believe, will entertain a doubt as to the advantages held out by the present proposal, yet

I can easily conceive that cach will have his own objection against carrying it into practice. It is the fear of giving trouble, or of appearing presumptuous, that prevents many from asking counsel of those who they know can give it. In others, this modesty is joined with a false dislike at expressing their immatured sentiments: while there are few who do not feel an additional restraint laid upon them, from the unrelaxing manners of And, pardon me for saying it, when elderly Christians do speak to those who are babes in Christ, and of weak faith, there is frequently a want of "meekness and gentleness," which by no means tends to diminish their timidity, or remove their

maturer age.

reserve *.

But the manners of all grownup Christians are not alike forbidding to the young believer. Far from it. Many are very .accessible, while others are quite conciliating and engaging. However, as it is the duty of the young to yield submission to their superiors in years and in wisdom, on all occasions; so where their spiritual improvement is concerned, it is in an especial manner their interest to do so and an incitement so powerful as duty and interest combined should certainly induce them to use every endeavour for the restraining those feelings of fear, and for conquering that false re

serve.

*It is hoped what is said above will give offence to none of the senior members "of the household of faith," to whom the writer looks up with the highest reverence and respect. As age cools the affections, there is nothing unnatural in elderly people having a stiffness in their manners, which as naturally imposes a restraint on the young, whose manners are so opposite. And as to the other charge, which has some appearance of severity, it is supposed, none will take it home to themselves but such as have a consciousness of its truth; and this, the writer hopes, is a sufficient excuse for bringing it forward.

Happy consequences must fol. low such a conquest; for I am. sure, that your serious young readers will unanimously say, that they enjoy much inward happiness, at those occasional seasons, when this difficulty in opening their minds to advanced Christians is overcome; and that nothing yields them greater pleasure, than sharing the friendship of these fathers with some degree of ease and familiarity. The condescending attention of an elder to their interests, easily gains those whose affections are warm; and when young people meet with encouragement of this kind from their superiors, instead of keeping at a distance, they will not only lay themselves open to instruction and correction, but feel grateful and gratified thereby.

Difference of years and of knowledge does not prevent the hearts of all Christians from being "knit together in love." They all have one Master, and are all members of the same Head. They are all influenced by the same Spirit; so the "babe in Christ" has only to fix in his mind, on that one, for whom he has the greatest regard, and whom he knows to be properly qualified, as he who is to be his spiritual guide. Love begets love; and after the first resolute effort to overcome his fears the young Christian will see the twofold barrier falling before him. The talking about the concerns of his soul to this selected friend, will soon cease to be a hardship; and as the ease and frequency of his communications increase, he will find that the stiffness in manner, of his elderly friend (allowing that he should possess any), will gradually be lost in his affability and kindstruction to Christian intercourse ness of heart. Every former obwill now be annihilated, amidst symptoms and expressions of mu, tual attachment.

When serious young people are

so situated as to enjoy the benefits of frequent interviews with others of the same age, and of similar sentiments, they stand less in need of such an experienced counsellor and guide; but still every one will find that many occasions occur, on which it will be essential to the peace and happiness of his mind to consult with a senior of ich a character; while to those who are separated from regular intercourse with serious companions, it becomes an almost necessary part of their spiritual existence, seeing that nothing is so prejudicial to the interests of genuine religion in the young Christian's soul, as his privately brooding over the difficulties and distresses which may harass his mind.

Whatever then may be the circumstances, or wherever the situation in which a serious youth is placed, he will, derive much advantage from the confidence and affection of an elderly Christian. If he should be persecuted by his friends for having taken up the cross of Christ, what an happy refuge the protection of such an one will afford him! If his mind be overcast with doubt, or disquieted with fear, where will he be more likely to have the one removed, or the other dispelled? If he is struggling amidst outward impediments, or inward perplexities, who will he find better fitted, or more willing, to assist or relieve him? As he knows his friend to be actuated by the purest motives in all his conduct towards him, his advice is gratefully received, and faithfully followed; his reproof does not fail to produce very salutary effects; and his approbation, while it is highly gratifying, will have the most encouraging tendency.

Under the tuition of this spiritual father, the young Christian will obtain a more enlarged knowledge of God in his glorious perfections, a clearer insight into the

amazing plan of man's redemption. by the incarnation, sufferings, death, and resurrection of the Eternal Son, Jesus Christ, and a better acquaintance with all the component parts of the grand Christian system. His sense of the power, as well as of the guilt of sin, will become more deep and abiding, his abhorrence of it will increase in proportion, and thus will he study to shun even the appearance of evil. The Christian graces will take deeper root in his heart, and "the fruits of righteousness" will be more plentifully brought forth in his life and conversation. Thus his knowledge and experience grow up together, and both entwine themselves into his practice. His Christian principles gradually strengthen; and as this takes place, he becomes better furnished with "the whole armour of God ;" and will thereby more easily withstand persecutions, resist temptations, endure trials, and overcome difficulties for the sake of Christ.

The conclusions I have drawn from Christian intercourse between the old and the young, are perfectly consonant with reason, and, on this ground, should have their effect: but I have had some experience of their truth, which urges me to recommend the matter to the serious attention of my young fellow-Christians. My own situation has been a peculiarly favourable one: many have been my religious advantages: and it certainly has not been the least of them, to have had an experienced friend, who, from the voluntary interest he took in my spiritual well-being, laid himself out for my "edification, exhortation, and comfort." The essential service his instructions and reproofs, advices and cautions, have done me, fills my heart with an anxious wish, that other young Christians may be strengthened and encouraged in the good ways of the

Lord, by similar means: and trusting that some extracts from a letter of advice I received from my spiritual monitor, will neither be unuseful nor unacceptable to those whom I love in the Lord

Jesus, and whose eternal interest I have much at heart, I will shortly send them for insertion in your useful work, and in the mean time remain as formerly, A YOUNG CHRISTIAN.

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Select Works of BISHOP HALL: containing his Contemplations, with his devotional and practical Works; being the most interesting and useful Parts of his Writings. With the Life of the Author, Glossaries, and a pious Index. 5 Vols. Demy, 21. 10s. Royal, 31. 10s. London. L. B. Seeley. 1811.

THE last of the three publications here mentioned, reminds us that we had designed an earlier notice of Mr. Pratt's plan of republishing the complete works of some of the most distinguished

writers of the Established Church. We so cordially approve the bringing back of men's minds to the scriptural views of divine truth, which abound in the works of our earlier predecessors, that, so far as our recommendation may go, we urge every friend to the true interests of the Church to countenance such undertakings as these to the utmost of his power.

While the "Fathers of the English Church" (a most valuable publication, just brought to its close in 8 vols. Svo.), exhibits the mind of our Reformers and Martyrs in plain, but perspicuous and forcible language; the works of Bishops Hall and Hopkins, and those of some of their contemporary, or nearly contemporary brethren, illustrate and enforce the same truths with every advantage of genius and reasoning. Archbishops Usher and Leighton, with Bishops Hall, Reynolds, Beveridge, and Hopkins, are eminently entitled to this praise: and that clergyman will have made great progress toward the character of

a wise master-builder," who, in aid of a serious and diligent study of the Divine Word, has imbibed the spirit and digested the instruction of all these holy men.

Mr. Pratt has here furnished us with the works of two of these authors, in a form more commodious, and in a manner more complete, than those wherein they had before appeared. He has

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BUCKINGHAM AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

To the Editor of the Christian Guardian. SIR,

I HAD lately the pleasure of transmitting you some extracts of a letter from Cambridge, relative to the formation of a Bible Society there. I am happy now to have it in my power to send you some similar accounts from another quarter, which I trust will prove gratifying to many of your readers. I am, &c.

J. S.-H. Extracts of a Letter from Buckingham, dated Jan. 9, 1812.

"On Thursday last we had our meeting for establishing a Bible Society in this neighbourhood. It was well and most respectably attended. The Marquis of Buckingnam, as President, took the Chair, and opened the business in a most animated speech, declaring the deep interest he took in the success of the design, and dwelling on the value which he felt the Scriptures to be of to him, now in his declining years, and his anxious desire to promote the distribution of them throughout the earth. In the course of his speech, he took occasion to illustrate the necessity of the Scriptures to the preservation of Christianity where it was already planted, as well as to its extension in new regions, by a fact which had lately come to his knowledge through the medium of a near relation, who had long held a high rank in the Emperor of Austria's army.Through the negligence of the clergy, joined to the effect of the long wars which had prevailed in those parts, the Scriptures were nearly lost in Moldavia and Wallachia. The effect is, that Christianity is rapidly declining, and the two sects which receive the apostate Christians, CHRIST. GUARD. VOL. IV.

are the Jews of Poland and the Turks! The Marquis concluded with calling our attention to that passage of St. Paul, Rom. x. 12, 15. How shall they believe on Him of whom they have not heard, &c. The three London Secretaries followed in their usual eloquent manner. The effect on the whole was delightful. Many of the Clergy there seemed to be utterly astonished, and more than one could not refrain from tears. Our subscription amounts to between 400l. and 500%.

"Huntingdon also has formed a Society, and raised 600l.; and last Tuesday there was a meeting at Wallingford (Berks), for the same purpose.

"Mr. Vansittart has placed 4000 copies of his Answer to Dr. Marsh, at the disposal of the Bible Society: and Mr. Perceval, Lord Harrowby, Mr. Ryder, and several other members of Administration, zealously espouse its cause."

BEDFORDSHIRE AUXILIARY BIBLE

SOCIETY.

[Continued from p. 71.]

THE Rev. Legh Richmond, Rector of Turvey, seconded the resolutions, observing, that at length, a cement was happily discovered, by means of which all the living stones of the spiritual temple of God were firmly united together in one common cause, without the least surrender of conscientious consistency on the part of any one. This cement was the Word of God distributed at home and abroad, without note or comment; or rather it was the foundation on which they all stood firmly built and compacted together.

In whatever relation he stood connected with mortality, he could not but rejoice in the prosperity of the British and Foreign Bible Society: whether as an in

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