gifts; we are to search for these gifts, and nurture, and bring them forward for useful

ness.

There are two remarks, which the section will support, and which we will endeavour to illustrate.

1 Churches are under an obligation to look out, and to encourage the gifts among them. If men carelessly and negligently squander their property, and reduce their families to indigence and beggary, we consider them criminal. But what property is for the support of a family, that gifts are for the support of the church; and, if growth in grace be an obligation binding, and the cultivation and use of gifts be the means to that end, it will follow, that to neglect gifts is a sin against Him who bestows them upon the church.

their Lord on earth, he made up the deficiency by miraculous gifts, when he ascended to heaven; which merely suggests, that, though learning is not essential to the Chrisuan ministry, yet, as an auxiliary, it is highly desirable.

It is not wise to leave gifts, like fruit-trees in a forest, to produce, if they cannot be prevented; and, under such disadvantages, to bring forth their fruit in its most imperfect state. As fruit-trees need, and will pay for cultivation, so will gifts in the church. If you send a son to school, the first inquiry you make is, are his teachers competent? If you place a lad as an apprentice, you inquire, is his master skilful in his profession? If you call in medical assistance, or legal advice, you act upon the same principle. Why, then, I would

only place, where ignorance can be tolerated?

Gifts are not always so ap-ask, should the pulpit be the parent, and the spirit which possesses them so ardent, as that they are noticed by all.

In looking out gifts, imWhere, through diffidence, portant facilities present themmodesty, or other circum- seives. Prayer-meetings-vilstances, they seem concealed, lage-reading-Sunday-schools it is proper to look them out,visiting the sick, and suchand bring them to light, and like exercises, where the gifts use means to make them an- of young men are unfolded. It swer the most valuable ends. will be said, every man that The generality of young men, can pray is not qualified to whom we call to the work of preach. We allow it; yet, if the ministry, are, in the first we notice in a youth, an aptiinstance, illiterate; we are glad, tude to accommodate his ideas therefore, to give them a re- and expressions to existing cir treat from the world for a time cumstances; a diversity of lively in our academies, under godly impressions upon the imaginaand learned teachers. We find, tion; a good taste in selection, because circumstances render- together with correctness of éd it impossible for the apostles judgment and ardent zeal; we to go through a course of regu-may pretty safely conclude, lar study, during the ministry of God has marked out that man

VOL. VIII.

E

for usefulness. Your attention the body, and contract a debt. should be particularly directed What we owe to a perishing to discover whether the know-world, cannot be better disledge of such a person be pro- charged than by sending forth gressive, or not. For, in some men, who, by their amiable instances, we have seen indi- conduct, draw the minds of viduals make astonishing ad- men to attend to their advice; vances in knowledge for the while their doctrines, distilling first few months, who have, like dew, shall soften their for ever after, seemed to con-hearts, and point them to realms tinue stationary. of bliss.

The increase of churches in our denomination, renders an increase of ministers very desirable; but, the men we want are labourers, not men of fashion-men of sound judgment and unequivocal piety, not of fastidious genius, who shine and fluctuate like a meteor-men whose powers are devoted to the service of the sanctuary.

What a glorious reward for every such church, to hear of the success of those sent from her bosom on such messages of mercy! She is, by such means, extending, multiplying, and perpetuating her fruits in both earth and heaven. In short, our obligations to God the Redeemer, and the church; as also the duty of benevolence to men, and what we owe to ourselves, all conspire to urge us to the important work, and say to us, Be not weary in

well doing, for, in due time, ye shall reap, if ye faint not."

2. Gifted members are bound to submit to the judgment of the churches to which they belong, concerning their supposed gifts.

Whatever is public stock, should be appropriated by pub

The obligations of churches to search for, and foster gifts, may be urged from the obedience they owe to Jesus Christ, who seems to have adopted this mode of supplying their necessities, in order to form a test of their fidelity. Surely individual churches are greatly indebted also to the body at large, from which they have been supplied with ministers; and, therefore, are bound to seek after, and strive to pro-lic consent. But gifts are pubvide ministers for other congre- lic stock, they belong not exgations. Were you, at this clusively to the individual who present time, destitute of a mi- possesses them, but are given nister; would it be a matter of "For the perfecting of the perfect indifference to you, saints, for the work of the miwhether any other church had nistry, for the edifying of the a gifted brother to take his body of Christ ;" and are, therestand among you as your pas- fore, under the control, and at tor? Surely not; and, cer- the disposal of the church. tainly, indifference to the state and comfort of other churches, is ungenerous. To receive, and not repay, is to impoverish

Gifts usually discover themselves in youth, or in the early parts of our profession, when our experience is small, and

our judgment immatured. There are, perhaps, very few who have not, in the days of their first love, breathed the pious and benevolent wish-O that I were a useful minister of the gospel of Christ! But, it is manifest, that such a wish is not always prophetic; prophetic; nor would it be prudent, in every instance, to cherish and encourage such a desire.

disgrace in the work of the ministry.

A

There seems a beauty, with which nature is pleased; in a church calling, and a brother obeying that call, as if it were the voice of his God and Saviour. He discharges, in this act, the obligations which are implied, and under which he brought himself, when he joined that church. He embraces a fine scope for the display of the benevolence of his heart among his fellow men. world of important objects are before him, which must, to all eternity, be interesting, either in happiness or misery; upon each of which, by his instrumentality, God is capable of performing a miracle of mercy, and giving him his warmest wishes in conjunction with the joy of angels, He approves his heart and conscience in the sight of God, and establishes his fidelity to his great Master, while he escapes the charge of a wicked and slothful servant, by not hiding his talent, if it be but one, (and that a small one,) in a napkin, till his Lord shall return.

It is certain individuals are not prepared to form a proper estimate of their own abilities. They are liable to view them through a medium too partial, or, from an excess of modesty, to consider them of less importance than they really are. Though we cannot consider the decision of any body of men to be infallible, yet there are substantial reasons why the decision of a church, concerning the gifts of an individual member, is more to be depended upon than his own opinion, They are more likely to be impartial in their judgment, less liable of feeling the influence of improper motives than himself. There are generally, in our churches, men of years, with a good share of experience; and a judgment, chastised by a series of adverse and perplexing events; in consequence of which, although the stamina may not be equally strong with those of his mind, upon whose gifts they are called to determine; yet the decisions are likely to be more correct. To treat with contempt the concurring opinion of ex- tised before sickness comes, or perience and age, betrays a it will be too late, or very difvanity of mind, which pre-ficult to do it after. sages nothing but mischief and

Ridgmont.

ON DEATH.

G. K.

BELIEVE it, sickness is not the fittest time, either to learn virtue, or to make our peace with God: it is a time of distemper and discomposedness; those must be learned and

prac

SIR M. HALE.

Juvenile Department.

PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTIONS.

No. I.

THE Christian can never sufficiently estimate the worth of divine revelation Without it, how little could he discover of the glorious nature of God, and how little could he know of his vast designs. It is far from the intention of these remarks to divert the attention from the sacred scriptures. But the attentive observer must see, that the believer too frequently overlooks every other source of information; and though his views may be expanded concerning the cha racter of the Almighty, as the God of salvation, yet, viewing him as the Creator, his ideas are remarkably, if not blamably, contracted. He believes that divine wisdom and power have been displayed in the formation of the various beings and productions with which he is familiar, or of which he has heard, and that they are also evinced in their preservation, for, as a Christian, he could not do otherwise; but, from his ignorance, he is incapable of dwelling upon such considerations with delight, and of appreciating, in any useful degree, the Deity's attributes in those works. He is hardly aware, that what are called the works of nature, are extensive beyond human discovery, perfect beyond our comprehension, and manifestations of goodness exceeding all calculation: that they are, in fact, a revelation of the divine perfections.

In an age like the present, when infidelity has enlisted in her service" science, falsely so called," it is desirable, that the disciple of Christ should oppose to it real philosophy; that he should know, that an understanding of natural philosophy is far from being calculated to cause irreverence for the word of God; for, as it expands our ideas of his infinite power and wisdom, so it must tend to exalt our opinion of his amazing condescen sion in the inestimable gift of his holy word!

Does the serious man admire the wisdom of the Supreme Being as displayed in the formation of the least insect he has observed? How would his admiration increase, could he behold the minute animalcules that are now brought to view. Does he behold with wonder the grand expanse of Heaven? How would his wonder increase, should he contemplate infinite space, and consider the stars, which perhaps he had regarded as little more than spangles to beautify the skies, really suns and worlds, revolving in order through immensity, and all glorifying their Maker? Does he breathe the air with gratitude? With what new sensations would he breathe it did he understand its properties! Is he thankful for the light by which he reads his Bible? How must he feel, if he knew its nature!--It is not then too much to say, that a thousand beauties are hidden from his sight by the veil of ignorance, and a thousand pleasures denied him by his want of observation. In every walk of life,

CALENDAR

FOR

JANUARY 1816.

I. The Name.-This Month derived its Roman name from Janus, one of their divinities, to whom they gave two faces; because, on the one side, the first day of this month looked towards the new year, and, on the other, towards the old one.

II. Jewish, or Roman Catholic, or Church of England fasts and festivals.

the Creator would be seen with additional pleasure; and, in the domestic circle, one of the most important, he must appear with new interest. One reason why the child is often eager to spend his evenings from home is, because he finds little there to engage his lively disposition. The same dull round occurs, or a want of system prevails, and it seems a mere accident if the evening is pleasant: time seems to hang heavily even in the parents' hands. Opportunities continually present themselves, in the smallest family, for commuThe Jews keep the second as a nicating useful knowledge. A fast, occasioned by the first apspirit of inquiry should be ex-proaches of Nebuchadnezzar in cited and encouraged, and this the siege of Jerusalem; (Jeremiah, can only be done by an ability xxxix. 1.) and which Zechariah is in some one of the family to con- supposed to call the Fast of the tribute information. It would be Tenth Month. The thirtieth is well if the head of a family would called by the Jews, New Year's devote one evening in the week Day, for the trees bud on this to the acquisition and communi- day: also, the daughters of Shiloh, cation of philosophical informa- clothed in white, went into the tion, or, at least, that he was fields to dance. Judges, xxi. 21. able to afford those hints and illustrations that would render his society increasingly desirable. He would soon find, that the evening was anticipated, and the occasion not suffered to without his being reminded of the engagement; and it would be his own fault, if it was not even a religious opportunity.

pass

In the Church of England, 1, Circumcision; 6, Epiphany; 25, Conversion of St. Paul; 30, King Charles I. the Martyr.

III. Astronomical Occurrences. The Sun enters Aquarius at 11 min. past 2 in the morning, on the 21st. The Moon: First quarter the 7th, -Full the 15th,-Last quarter, 21st.-New Moon, 28th,

With some such view, it is inFor the conjunctions, quadratended, occasionally, to submit a tures, &c. of the planets, the imfew reflections, through the medi-mersion and emersion of satellites, um of the Magazine, on a variety &c. see the Nautical Almanack, of Philosophical Facts May the or Time's Telescope. divine blessing attend them. Let it be seen, that the volume of nature, and the volume of revelation harmonize; yea, that they illustrate and explain each other: and let praise and glory be ascribed to Jehovah, for the beautiful works of creation, as well as the glorious works of redemp

tion.

IV. Naturalist's Diary.—The redbreast begins to sing-Larks congregate and fly to the warm stubble for shelter, and the nuthatch is heard. The shell-less snail, or slug, commences its depredations on garden plants and green wheat. The hedge-sparrow and the thrush are heard. The N.Ñ. wren also 'pipes her perennial lay'