they ever occasion dissention, it is (like the perversion of christianity itself) owing entirely, to the evil passions of men.

My dear brethren, the harvest before us is exceedingly great, but alas, the labourers are comparatively few. When we anxiously enquire, "who will go for us," to gather the lost sheep of Christ's flock, both at home and abroad?-there are few found to answer, "Here am I, send me." Let us then remember the exhortation of our saviour, "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he wombl send labourers into his harvest." He can call them from the ranks of his enemies. But we know the fountains from which usually issue the streams that make glad the city of God, and that all these fountains must be replenished from heaven.-Let us pray then especially for the rich effusion of the Holy Spirit, on all our churches and colleges, and seminaries, and all benevolent societies, and missionary stations. It is a fact, that most of our candidates for the ministry, and almost all our missionaries, first felt the constraining love of Christ, which led them to this office, in the midst of revivals of religion.

that our responsi

I beseech you, Christians, to reflect upon the means and facilities which God hath granted to the American churches, for diffusing th light of the gospel over the world, and remember bilities are in proportion to what has been given. Who can say, th God may not have destined this favoured nation to achieve this glo rious object! The work shall be done; but it will depend on herseli. whether she shall have a share in it. Undoubtedly, it would be the most brilliant star in her banner. May God give the right impulse. and guide its direction.

FAMILY WORSHIP.

A few weeks since I spent the night with my friend Edmund aud his family. Edmund has named the name of Christ, and has many years been numbered with his people. He has a numerous family. Having spent the evening, as ten o'clock drew near, Edmund spoke unto his wife saying, “LET US PREPARE TO RETIRE," and so saying, walked into another room, brought out a Bible, seated himself in the midst of his children, and began to read. While reading a LON chapter, his industrious wife was employed arranging her work-ba ket, and putting things in order; the elder boy was busily employe with one shoe that needed lacing, or somewhat else; another humming over his lesson; a beautiful little daughter was arrangi her hair, and the younger son was seated on the carpet with his top and sundry other things. Thus the time was spent, while Edmund

па

was reading the word of God. I confess I heard but a small part of it, and I presume the members of the family heard less-however, Edmund concluded the chapter and closed the book, just at the time his good wife had arranged her basket, swept the carpet a little, &c. Edmund arose from his seat and said, "let us pray.' We all knelt down-I say all, but judging from the confusion that followed, the children were playing "hide and seek," or something else, while his wife by loud and repeated whispers, endeavoured to preserve order; but to no purpose. At length the prayer was was ended; but what he prayed for I know not, for it required all the power of my mind and body to keep the chair on which I was leaning in its proper place. We then retired, as I could neither hear nor compose my mind on account of the noise.

O! ye who are parents, be instructed by this sad picture; O, my soul, take heed to thyself and to thy ways; who that trains up children in this manner will be able to say at the judgment seat of Christ, "here am I and the children thou hast given me." Is there not reason to fear that such a father will be a savor of "death unto death," rather than of "life unto life?"

The servants

The elder son

Not many days after, I spent the evening with my particular friend Veritas, who is also numbered with the Lord's people, and has a family. I was present at the season of family worship; but how great and delightful the contrast! It does not appear to be the object of Veritas "to pray to be seen of men," nor merely because he has made a profession of religion and feels it to be his duty. At an early hour in the evening, Veritas said to J, the elder son, "bring the bibles." J—, with eyes sparkling with joy, immediately procured the bibles, and gave one to his father, one to M-, one to C—, and one he retained himself. were called in, and all were soon seated in order. next to his father, and the two younger children, who could not read, beside their mother, on the opposite side of the room, reclining on her, and with expressions of interest and anxiety, looking alternately at her and their father. Without naming the chapter, Veritas said, 'have you all found the place?' 'Yes sir,' was the reply from the three boys. The younger son then commenced reading, and each read at the discretion of Veritas, who occasionally made a remark and replied to an inquiry of the elder son. Veritas concluded reading, and added a few appropriate remarks, during which time all eyes were fixed on him, and every countenance manifested feelings of intense interest and delight. We then knelt down, and for a moment all was silent as the grave. I thought I could adopt VOL. II.

20

the language of Jacob, and say, how awful is this place; this is none other than the house of God. Veritas commenced his prayer with expressions of solemnity and reverence, and holy fear; his prayer was not long, but appropriate and fervent. When we arose, I looked at the members of the family, and while I beheld, a tear stole down the cheek of one of the boys. After a few minutes spent in free conversation on the subject of religion, in which the children took a part, the younger children retired, and the remaining part of the evening was agreeably, and I hope profitably spent. After taking leave of my friends, my reflections were delightful. It was. thought I, good to be there; it was a bethel; it was the gate of heaven. If there is true happiness on the earth, it is to be found in such a family. Often shall I look back to that hour with peculiar satisfaction, and while my spirit lingers around that consecrated altar, may it be my desire to follow Veritas as he follows Christ.

Eclectic Recorder.

PIOUS MOTHER.

The following communication has been put into our hands by the individual to whom it was originally addressed. Having been merci fully rescued from the paths of the destroyer, in answer to the prayers of a faithful mother, he has himself been the instrument of turning many to righteousness. He has for many years occupied a highly important station in the church of God, and been one of her most active, laborious and successful ministers. His name is not to be dis closed in connexion with this document, until he shall have been gath ered to his fathers; but the letter itself has been esteemed too precious to be any longer concealed.. We have had the privilege of seeing the original, and witnessing the tears of a grateful son, as he opened and perused this sacred deposit; and have no doubt that we copy from the hand-writing of one who has gone to her rest in the heavens. Pious parents will esteem it a privilege often to advert to the precious sentiments here expressed by this Godly Mother.

66 - August 10, 1810.

To the child of my prayers, tears and vows, this paper is dedicated, when I am no more.

MY DEAR SON, I am this day fifty years old, and this week I have reason to think you have been separated to the work of the Gospel ministry; consecrated an Ambassador of the King of Glory to guilty man! I would bless God that I have lived to see this event. Far greater is my joy, than to have seen you crowned an earthly mon

arch.

And now my son, as I am not only by bodily infirmities, but by age called to look into the grave, I desire to set my house in order, that I may be ready to depart at the sovereign call of heaven. For the honour of a faithful prayer-hearing God, and for your encouragement in prayer, I now record some things respecting you.

You have often heard of my extreme sickness at your birth. Perhaps by that, my mind was better prepared to receive you as the peculiar gift of God. I think I have more evidence of acting faith, in devoting you to God in baptism, than devoting any other one of my children. Your own memory will be the best witness for me, as to the pains I took in your education, to impress your mind early with a sense of divine things. I am not conscious of having done more for you in this respect, than for my other children. But when in your early years you discovered a propensity to vice, how great was my distress for you! I know that you often witnessed my tears, but the anguish of my heart you were a stranger to. And when in the face of all instructions, entreaties, warnings, reproofs, and corrections, you still persisted in that course, what could be my resort But the throne of grace?

You will remember the day of fasting and prayer set apart by your father and myself on your account. My heart was that day overborne with sorrow. I thought it would be comparatively easy to follow you to the grave, to what I then suffered. But my heavenly Father was pleased to show me, before the day was over, that my help and hope were only in Him; and to Him did my heart turn as to its only refuge; insomuch that when the day was ended, I felt as though my work was just begun.

It is impossible for me to describe to you, unless you know experimentally what it is to wrestle with God, the ardour of my soul before God on your account. At first I seemed to be content to plead for restraining grace for you. But I did not long rest there. The promises of a Covenant-God, respecting the righteous, and their seed, were very sweet to my soul. I knew that God would be inIt was his quired of by the house of Israel, to do this for them. constituted way of bestowing the blessing; therefore I had confidence to plead with him. My work seemed plain before me; and I had no disposition to relax in it at all until God should appear for you. I told no one my feelings, not even your father. The work was between God and my own soul; and I firmly believed that he would in his own time answer my prayer.

That you may better judge of my feelings, I will relate one circumstance. In the course of a few months after these impressions

on my mind, I was taken sick. I was at first taken violently, and thought that perhaps God was about to remove me. You were then the nearest on my heart of any object in the world. My work, as to you, was not done. To whom should I commit it, if I were removed?. I determined to wait for more decided appearances in my disorder, and if I found myself going, to commit this work to your father, enjoining it on him as my dying request never to cease wrest› ling with God for you, till you should be gathered into his fold. But God, in mercy to you and my other children, I hope, restored me; and with renewed vigour I returned to my closet.

When the first serious impressions were made on your mind, that I was acquainted with, I felt a new and fresh engagedness in my work. Sometimes, at least the midnight hour has witnessed my prayers and tears for you. You will not now wonder that I was anxious to know your particular state of mind while you were absent from me at college. Sometimes, indeed, I was ready to limit the Almighty, and say, O let the salvation of God come, this night, to my child! But God taught me more commonly to lie at his feet, and humbly implore the blessing in his own time and way. In his own time, he has, I trust, brought you forth to the light, and you behold his righteousness; yes the complete righteousness of Jesus, your Advocate on high!

When I am sleeping in the dust, look over this sheet, and give Glory to GOD! who has wrought such wonders for you. Look upwards and be animated to double your diligence in the work of the Lord. Remember that short is the space between us; and as we are both infinitely indebted to free, rich, and sovereign grace, will it not be unspeakable pleasure to celebrate that grace for ever and ever?

And when you leave this mortal stage, may your children be lest on earth, a seed to serve the God of their fathers, that, through us his praise may be handed down to latest generations!

Your affectionate Mother.

Remarks.

The writer of the preceding letter, was the mother of eleven children, five only of whom survived her. Eight of the whole number, there is reason to hope have been already brought to the knowledge of Christ and his salvation, and two are now ministers of the gospel. What a privilege to have such a mother!-Mothers, go and do

likewise.