Rev. William M'Millan. This was the first literary institution founded west of the Allegany mountains. Baltimore College, President, Rev. Dr. Knox. Washington College, Washington, Virginia, President, Rev. Mr. Baxter.

Greenville College, Tennessee, President, Rev. Dr. Coffin.

North Carolina University, President, Rev. J. Caldwell, D. D.

Hamden, Sidney, Virginia, President, Rev. Mr. Hoge.

REFORMED DUTCH.

College of New-Brunswick, New-Jersey, President, Rev. Dr. Livingston.

The Unitarians have 3 Colleges; the Baptists 2-; the Episcopalians 3; the Congregationalists 7; the Presbyterians 12; and the Dutch Reformed 1.

We by no means intend to say that these institutions are the exclusive property of those denominations. All we intend is that they have the controul of them. An exclusive property, indeed, in but few instances, in these 28 colleges, would render them more efficient in promoting the views of those whose power directs their operations. Were all the literature acquired in these colleges sanctified, how great a blessing to the church and to our country! We have reason for gratitude that so much of it is.

THE HIRED MAN AND HIS EMPLOYER.

Employer.-Thomas, you are industrious and attentive to my business; we are all pleased with your manners; but there appears to be something in your character, which I do not altogether understand..

Thomas.-Well, if you are not satisfied with me in any point, tell me, that I may reform: or, if it be what I cannot alter, though I should regret the necessity, I must look for another place.

Emp.-The latter I should regret as much as you, and as to reform, that is not exactly what I mean. You always evade the harnessing of our horses when we wish to ride out on Sunday to visit our friends. You are alone some time every morning and evening. You never can be found to attend to our wishes when our friends are with us on Sunday. In truth, I rather suspect you are of opinion that I and my family ought to reform.

Thom.-Now I understand you. I endeavour to serve God, and keep his commandments, which you think sometimes interferes with my duty to you. Do you dislike

Emp.-Stop, Thomas. I do not dislike religion. You know I hold a pew in church-I pay my stipends-I go to church in the forenoon-I am a member of a Bible Society, and pay punctually my subscription for aiding in the circulation of the best book in the world-I give to the poor, and deal honestly with all men. This I call religion. Do not say I dislike religion.

Thom. Do you allow me to speak freely?

Emp.-You may, undoubtedly, for your good sense pleases me, we cannot doubt your integrity.

Thom. I wish I better deserved your good opinion; but to leave that-Your notions of religion, I confess, are very different from mine. You believe the Bible-We shall try religion by it, shall we?

Emp.-Certainly. I admit whatever is there.

Thom.-Then "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, in it thou shalt not do any work," is the fourth commandment. "Pray without ceasing," is also the command of God. The Sabbath cannot be kept holy if it is employed in any other way than in worshipping God, by reading the Bible, by prayer,

praise, hearing the Gospel preached, religious conversation, meditation, and the reading of books strictly religious. Now there is no more religion in visiting neighbours, in conversation about farming, trading, politics and fashions, than there is in buying, selling and labouring. Religion means the communion of the creature with God, and practice of all duty, because God commands it. When we are commanded to "pray without ceasing,"it cannot be too often to be alone every morning and evening, to pray to God in secret.

Emp.-O! you are praying then, when you are alone every morning and evening; is that it? Our minister sometimes preaches on the subject of secret prayer, but I was not aware that he meant retiring to some lone place as you do. Indeed we could not conjecture how you were employed But how you. spend your solitude in prayer I cannot understand. I would not intrude on your secrets, but I am curious to know what you say and do.

Thom.-In a man's religious affairs he should speak with prudence and caution. But as I am sure you do not mean to make any bad use of what I shall say, nothing shall be concealed. Before I venture to speak to a great and holy God I endeavour to compose my mind by meditating on the greatness, the goodness, and the mercy, of my Father in heaven, and on my own meanness, and sins and wants; I then kneel down reverently, and confess to him who knows all hearts every one of my sins that I remember, and I hope I try to remember them all. I do not forget my original sin, and as I know he hates sin, and that those who die in their sins must be most miserable forever, in a place of endless woe, I pray him, for Christ's sake, to pardon my sins and give me a right, on account of Christ's righteousness, to heaven, when I die. I thank him for all the good things I have by his bounty, and beseech him to make me a good man, to make me love him with all my VOL. I.

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heart, and his laws, and all men. I also pray for others that they may be brought to know the salvation by Christ, and I do not forget you and your family.

Emp.-Why truly, Thomas, all this might well employ more time than you spend alone. But if you had a family and saw much company, played an evening game of whist, or danced with the young folks to midnight or later, you would not think all this necessary-indeed you would not continue this prac

tice.

Thom.-Good company would not prevent it; and I should avoid all other company as much as I could. For the whist and dancing they certainly would stop the praying, so I would avoid them altogether.

Emp.-What? you think them wrong! Do you think whist and dancing improper?

Thom You say they would keep me from God, and you are right. Whatever keeps us from God is wrong.

Emp.-"Keeps us from God!" I don't understand this. Is every man kept from God who does not pray as you do? Surely you admit that though my religion is not so precise as yours, yet it will bring me safe to God is what I was about to say, but, really, coming to God is what I have no distinct understanding of.-Bring me to heaven I mean; yes, my religion you admit will bring me to happiness at last?

Thom. You will excuse me from answering that question. I do not wish to pronounce on any man's I leave that to God.

state.

Emp. Come, be candid, speak plainly. I felt some temper rising when you spoke of the cards and whist keeping a man from God, but I will be coolthis is an important business. I admit that you have more knowledge of the Bible than I: for you read it much. I never doubted before that I was a Christian and would attain to happiness after death; but, to say the truth, the thought of being made happy by coming to God has started a new train of reflection,

You seem to be made happy by going to God in prayer, and you would forego the pleasures of whist and dancing for that happiness. I know nothing of this. Some strange doubts spring up and trouble me. To God we must go at death, for "the spirit returns to God who gave it." How can our spirit be happy in returning to God, if we are never happy in going to him here? But no- -I will not doubt. I have always been much at ease on this point. I cannot have been mistaken all my life. Such a man as Į am cannot go to perdition. What say you, Thomas?

Thom.-1 hope you will not, but, "unless your righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will undoubtedly perish." "You cannot serve two masters; you must cleave to the one and hate the other." You admit that your company, your cards, and your dancing, give you more pleasure than drawing near to God. Hence it is plain you are so far from loving God that you hate him. Now should you die loving your amusements more than your Maker, how can you expect to be happy in his presence to all eternity? There are no cards, nor dancing parties in heaven. "Without holiness -no man shall see the Lord.”

Emp.-But all my neighbours and acquaintances think better of my state. I am very intimate with many of them, and have been for years, did they judge of my state as you do, they could not deal with me in so unfriendly a manner as not to tell me.

Thom.-No doubt they think you perfectly safe. They have need to think you a Christian, or what would they think of themselves-for you are more sober than most of them. You are not a profane swearer, some of them are very profane. You do not get drunk, some of them do often, and at your table. Few of them ever go to church, you sometimes do. To condemn your religion, would be to condemn their own. But even did they agree with me, would they certainly tell you? Do you think they are all in the way to heaven?