duct of Hazlem, to his former companion in iniquity. Sinners are to be treated not with anger or severity. Such conduct has been a source of much evil. They are to be dealt with faithfully; and are to be reasoned with, out of the scriptures, yet with gentleness and affection. We see in the instance before us, what great encouragement we have to reason with, and to urge the wicked and the thoughtless to attend on the preaching of the gospel. In the case before us, and in innumerable instances, these means have been followed by the divine blessing. Should we fail in our attempts to save a soul from death, our love of souls will prove, that we ourselves have passed from death unto life. Paul did not merely apply argument to the reasoning faculty; but also applied persuasion to the passions, "Knowing the terrors of the Lord, we persuade men. " In the effect, wrought on the heart of this poor Collier, we see that the Gospel now, as well as in the days of the Apostles, is mighty through God. Cock-fighting that cruel sport-that element of savage barbarity, and that deep reflection on our rationality, was abandoned by the Collier when he became a Christian. Christianity and cruelty can no more amalgamate than the iron and the clay in Nebuchadnezzar's image. "I'll lay a wager he has been to hear the Methodists." And what marvel? The most direct and efficacious way to impede the progress of pure and undefiled Religion, is to misrepresent, and make a bugbear of it. For shame, put away the tales of raw-head and bloody-bones about Methodism; or leave them to the nursery. Come out of this babyism of ridiculous prejudice. Think with the freedom, determine with the judgment, and act with that candour and justice, which dignifies a man in dealing with his fellow men; particularly, on so important a subject as Religion, compared with which, all other subjects, however excellent, are little more than a speck, scarcely visible, compared to the sun; or a grain of gold to an eternal weight of glory. Men, on subjects which respect theology, should see with their own eyes; and form their own determination. All that is needful to be said on the great change effected by methodism, on the present state, and on the future destiny of man, is contained in the Spanish proverb, "Let the miracle be done, though Mahomet do it.". See the purifying influence of faith. The collier believes the gospel report. This begets veneration in his heart for God; and this veneration cleanses his lips from those oaths, which pollute the jockey, the bawd, and the blackguard. Of course, gentlemen, heroes, philosophers, and statesmen, should be out of the question. But it is not so. Their throats also, are an open sepulchre, exhaling the pestilential effluvia of vulgar profaneness. Yet not all; for some have too much regard to dignity and propriety thus to demean themselves. Whether gentlemen learnt profane swearing from the blackguards, or the blackguards from the gentlemen, is a point of chronology which I cannot settle. Yet one thing is plain; it is common to each. But christians cannot use the name of God lightly. They believe it to be a high and holy name; and therefore cannot but reverence it. They feel the weight of that authority, which enjoins, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." and they tremble at the fearful sanction, "For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." It was from God, the great and adorable author of all good, that the collier, now a penitent believer, derived that influential sense of his weakness, which made him tremble at the thought of being left to himself: and which caused him to pre fer immediate death to sin. A tender conscience, and a believing apprehension, that all our sufficiency is of God, are inestimable blessings. The poor man's prayer was heard, and he died, blessed in the Lord. His race was short, and his conflict soon over. "His prayer scarce ended, 'ere his praise begun." In some instances God cuts his work short in righteousness. Truly regenerated in his soul, from spiritual death; and fully justified in his state, from the legal death denounced on him in the law; the collier was, in all that was essential, prepared to meet his God. Such is the preparation, which the gospel requires; and such is the preparation, which the gospel alone can produce. May, the infinite importance of this evangelical preparation, be deeply impressed on all who read, and on all who hear these well meant reflections. THE FAMILY ALTAR REBUILT. V The following anecdote transcribed from the Weekly Instructor, having a happy effect on my own mind, as well as on the minds of many of my friends, I take the liberty of enclosing it, as I trust it will be instrumental in the hand of God, of encouraging heads of families, never to relinquish or neglect a duty which appears so universally attended with divine blessing. If you deem it worthy of a place in your highly valuable Miscellany, you will greatly oblige. Yours, &c. Tunbridge-Wells, H. NYE "A pious tradesman, conversing with a minister on family worship, related the following highly instructive circumstance respecting himself. When I first began business for myself, I was determined through grace, to be particularly conscientious with respect to family prayer, accordingly, I persevered for many years, in the |