which lies before me! Who is sufficient for these things? I would not, therefore, presume to undertake it in my own strength, or depend upon what. I can do for the success of it. I am as well able to remove a mountain, and cast it into the sca, as convert a soul by my own means; for it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. I would this day implore the grace and assistance of thy blessed Spirit, O my God, in the discharge of every duty that has any relation to the sacred office I now undertake! May he who first moved upon the waters, move upon my soul! May he direct me in all my preparatory studies! and since I live in a miserable, divided, distracted church, since there are diversities of opinions, every one contrary, contradictory, destructive to each other, I would pray for and search after truth: I would wholly commit myself, O God, to thy guid ance! I would endeavour to make enquiry after truth and the right way, as if there was no Spirit to guide; and after I have sufficiently, as I think, enquired, I would depend upon the influence and assistance of thy Spirit, as if I had not made the least search. O lead me and guide me in the way thou wouldst have me walk in! and whenever I am at a loss, may thy Spirit be as a voice behind me, saying, This is the way, walk in it! I would further humbly implore such a degree of health of body (which naturally is weak, and of a languid constitution) such vigour of mind, and such communications of grace and heavenly wisdom, that I may go thro' this work with alacrity and joy, ambitious of being made an instrument in the hands of my God of doing a great deal of good in my day; and that I may have many, who may at the great day of accounts be my joy and crown of rejoicing; and as I now undertake part of the office of a minister, I resolve, as long as God shall give me ability to prosecute.it, to aim at his honour and the good of souls! Now, Lord, what wait I for? Truly, my hope is in thee! Accept a poor humble prodigal at the footstool of the throne of thy grace, who desires no-thing so much as to be made capable of doing good. Would God honour me so far, I should be content. Let others take eorn, wine, and oil, and all earthly good things they possibly can attain, I am satisfied.'

The following extract will shew his feelings in the review of his ministerial exercises:

August 30, 1725.

Yesterday I finished and began another year; and I desire -now, with seriousness and solemnity, to set apart a few minutes to look backward and forward. Looking backward, I must own, I have the greatest reason to be in a thankful frame; for what a stream of mercy has constantly attended me through the wilderness! Wherefore is it that such a worm, a poor cumber-ground, has been so long continued! Many, stronger

than myself, are cut off before my age; and yet I am mercifully spared, many, that might have done much more for God than I have done, or have the prospect of doing! Blessed be that God, in whom are all my springs, that I have been able to go through my ministerial work with any measure of com fort, as to my bodily strength; while some, who have bodies stronger than mine, have seemed to groan under it. O what an engagement should this be to lay out myself to the glory of the God of my life and strength, and all my enjoyments! And may I not humbly hope, it is to some good purpose that I am spared, when it seems, by the natural constitution of my body to be somewhat remarkable; and, O that the next year, and all the remainder of my life, may shew that my hopes are not vain? I will then, through grace, offer the praise of all to the name of my God, and will not sacrifice to my own net. And, surely, looking backward, I have not less cause to be humble than to be thankful. How many things crowd in upon me, and stare me in the face! enough, more than enough to affright me, and throw me in the dust before God; and now having finished another year, I must say, How many precious years have I (not lived, but) loitered away?--How many in these years have done much for God and souls, and been very ripe for Heaven themselves! But, alas! how little usefulness can I discover! Upon this account blush, and be ashamed, O my soul! I have been shamefully slothful; I have abused my Master's talent. What meanest thou, O my sleeping soul, thus to act the sluggard! No wonder thou hast not been more successful, when so lazy! Where has been thy zeal for God and precious sous? Where has been thy travailing in birth to see Christ formed in the souls of those thou hast had to do with? Thou hast neither been fervent with souls in preaching, nor fervent with God in prayer for them, as thou shouldst have been. O blush, and be confounded before God on this account! Well mayst thou wonder thou wast not long ago among the wicked and slothful servants in Hell! - and what if, after thou hast preached to others, thou thyself souldst be a castaway! What if, thro' carelessness and carnality, thou shouldst perish thyself, and draw upon thee the blood of other souls! O tremble at the thought, and be sensibly apprized of the danger!— and let a fear thereof spur thee on to diligence and activity in thy great work, to approve thyself faithful to God and souls!

This extract shews the humility which characterized this good minister of Jesus Christ; but other parts of his Diary express his gratitude to God for that zeal and affection which he had inspired in his soul; and which were exemplified in the pulpit and in his pastoral visits. The writer of this has often heard it remarked by those who were familiar with him at Taunton, That his public labours were equally distin

A

guished by close thought, luminous arrangement, and pathetic address. Few men have possessed such a talent for iatroducing spiritual subjects into familiar conversation, or of deducing religious instruction from passing occurrences. great portion of his usefulness was attributed to the manner in which he conducted his visits to the people of his charge. While he endeavoured to acquire personal information from even the meanest of his people, through an explanation of their several engagements, he always repaid them by a word in season fitly spoken.

*

What was the basis of his hope as a sinner, and what were his reflections and anxieties as a minister in his last moments, may be collected from a letter, which he wrote to his congregation a little before his death, and which was read to them soon after his decease. It is prefixed to his Meditations on Select Passages of Scripture The following extract will fully express the state of his mind in that interesting period :How far you dwell on my heart, He only knows who searches it; but I trust I may say, Ye are witnesses, and God also, that I have a real and lively concern for you, especially for that prosperity of yours which is most important in itself, and which it is peculiarly my province to promote, that you may, as a church, be a flourishing society, a nursery for Heaven, a name and a praise unto the Lord in the earth; that your respective persons may share in the special favours of the Most High; that your bodies may be in health, as far as the wisdom of your heavenly Father sees consistent with soul-prosperity; that your trade may flourish; that peace may be within your walls; that all those blessings may be bestowed upon you which are contained in the presence of God, and are experienced by that gospel-church which shall be called Jehovah Shammah, because the Lord is there.

Would you know my heart without disguise while in the views of death, judgment, and eternity? tell you most seriously, that as my preaching among you was extracted from the ever-blessed gospel, and I daubed not with untempered mortar, so I now stand to the doctrines I so often delivered, and make them the basis of my hope and humble confidence in a fainting, dying season. The more near, the more distinct and awful views I take of the future scene, the more suitable I see those doctrines which are peculiar to the gospel, to be to the nature of God, the wants of my soul, and necessary to evrey fallen creature.'

His advice to the church at Taunton, respecting their choice of a minister to succeed him, claims the attention of all bereaved congregations; and with this we must conclude.

*Mr. Pearsall was also the author of two volumes of very pious and pleasing Meditations, on the Ocean, Harvest, &c. a good deal in the manner of Mr. Hervey.

fathers. my

When this event

'I am soon to be gathered to shall take place, there are two things which I would now, as on my bended knees, entreat you to be especially mindful of. Walk in love, and steadily adhere to one another, as members of the same body. Take care, upon such an occasion, that nothing be done through strife or vainglory: be humble and condescending mutually. Sacrifice every little thing to your settlement in a future minister, as much as may be every way proper. Let soundness in the faith, and true holiness, be the first things you look at ;- embellishments, as far as is consistent, are worthy your regard. That it may be so, be much in prayer; and let social prayer, as a church, be made use of. Be not so in a hurry as to preclude proper consultation among yourselves, and with those you know are Christian friends, are established in the truth, and persons of judicious and distinguishing abilities. Be not so slow as to give room for faction or parties to rise up. If you thus walk in love, you may humbly hope that the God of love, of grace, and peace will be with you.'

THE ACCUSATION OF

The Bible against J. Neglectful,

Begging

MADE BEFORE JUDGE CONSCIENCE:

Begging his Interference, in endeavouring to rescue him
from a degraded and dangerous Situation.

My Lord,

THE person of whom I complain, became acquainted with me many years ago. His attachment to me at that time, and for several years afterwards, was exceedingly strong; he loved me as he loved his own soul, and often declared his willingness to suffer martyrdom in my defence. I was then his most intimate companion; seldom did he travel, but he took me along with him. When riding, or walking, he often consulted me upon the most important and interesting concerns; and I always gave him infallible direction; nor was he ever disappointed when he faithfully attended to my advice. We were almost constantly together, and the strictest friendship subsisted between us; even David and Jonathan were not more sincere in their attachment to each other. I was his beloved companion in the field, in the garden, in the chapel, and in the closet; indeed, in almost every place, I was suffered to accompany him; nor would he at any time hear me traduced by an enemy, without, in the true spirit of a friend, vindicating my reputation. He has often been so greatly affected with the seasonable advice I have given him, and with the ' exceeding great and precious promises' which I have made to him, that he has bedewed some of my pages with his tears of joy;

and then he would place me in the sun, or by the fire, to dry me, lest I should sustain the smallest injury. He well knows that I have never given him the least occasion to neglect me; I have never at any time, in the least degree, slighted him; but have always been his steady friend. He never consulted me in any difficult matter, but I immediately gave him the best advice. He never applied to me for assistance, but Îcheerfully assisted him. Often have I given him milk, meat, honey, and whatever he needed to comfort, to encourage, and to strengthen him.

After what I have stated to your Lordship, it will evidently appear that I do not complain without cause, when I inform you, that, for some time past he has treated me with the greatest disrespect. He has passed by me as though I had been a total stranger to him, and has avoided me as if I had been his avowed enemy. Instead of taking me along with him from place to place, as once he did, I am always left at home. Instead of consulting me in his difficulties as heretofore, he listens to the advice of an impostor. Instead of making me his companion at breakfast, he has formed an acquaintance with one whose name is Newspaper, who often ridicules and laughs, both at me and my best friends. Indeed, he seems much better pleased with almost any company than with mine: especially if they are witty, and abound with trifling anecdote. Shakespear, Rambler, Tatler, and others of their fraternity, are his bosom friends. My case is truly pitiable; I am almost buried in dust, and am become they prey of an enemy, whose name is Moth. If I am not speedily rescued from my perilous situation, I shall be totally consumed. I hope, my Lord, you will lay the matter before our King, and that you will exert all your influence in endeavouring to restore mutual friendship between us. You well know that I have given no occasion for this neglect of me; and you know too, that Neglectful was much happier when I was his companion than he now is, or can possibly be, till our acquaintance be renewed.

Mr. Editor,

It is said that the CLOSET intends to bring a serious charge against NEGLEctful. If this should be done, you shall have a copy of it sent the first opportunity.

yours, &c.

ZAIR.

ON EVIL-SPEAKING.

Speak evil of no man.

THE sad propensity to propagate scandal, and to spread evil reports derogatory to the characters of many upright men, is an evil not confined to the world that lieth in wickedness.' The old leaven worketh 'much in this way, even amongst those who think they have a claim to the holy appel