3. What pain of body does this often bring a man to! Ah, what a long list of diseases do gluttony, drunkenness, indolence, disorder, and inordinate pleasure quarter upon a man! Religion saves from all these, for "the fear of the Lord prolongerh days +;" but wickedness shortens them; and not only shortens them, but fills them with bitterness and woe. "Those trembling hands, that shaking head, those disjointed knees, that extinguished resolution, that feeble memory, that worn-out brain, that body all infection and putrefaction, these are the dreadful rewards which the Devil bestows on those on whom he is preparing himself shortly to exercise all his fury and rage." Surely," the way of transgressors is hard!" 4. What fears, anxiety, and mental distress does it produce! Adam flies, Achan turns pale, Belshazzar trembles, Saul despairs; Judas hates existence, and hurries out of life! Yea, the wicked even flee when no man pursueth!" Could we penetrate the heart of a sinner, what misery should we find there! -what but a book, on every page of which is written lamenta tion, mourning, and woe! - what but a fountain, from whence none but bitter streams continually flow!— what but a den of savage beasts of prey, tearing and devouring, tormenting and destroying, till at last nothing but ruin and death appear! Ah, Conscience! how dost thou rack the sinner, sting his guilty soul, witness against his crimes, and treasure up the remembrance of them to his confusion! Surely," the way of transgressors is hard!" 5. To what temporal calamities have such been exposed! It is not for us indeed to be rash in pronouncing judgments, even on the wicked; but let us look for a moment at a few instances of God's wrath and displeasure: Yonder is one tuned into a pillar of salt*: -- bere is another struck with the leprosy, and become white as snow †. On this side, one falls down dead with horror ‡. on that, another seeks destruction from his sword & One's smote by an angel, and eaten up of worms-another is instantly consumed by devouring flames T. What an awful catalogue does the Scripture produce, on whose monuments this epitaph may be written, "The way of transgressors is hard!" -- Lastly, Such are exposed to the wrath of God in a future state. The wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment; they shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power**.' Say not then, sinner, that your life is a life of pleasure, and you death a death of triumph; that God is to be discarded, religion despised, and thy soul reglected; for on thy con + Prov. x. 27. Lot's wife. Saul. + Gehazi. *Mat. xxv. 46. 2 Thes. i. g. science now, on thy countenance in the day of judgment, and on the gates of Hell for ever, shall his sentence be written, "The way of transgressors is hard." From the whole, learn, - 1. The evil of sin. Surely, it is not that delightful thing which many imagine: it carries death and Hell with it. How unreasonable is it to hear men exclaim, "It is religion alone that requires a sacrifice, that creates a gloom, that calls to hardships and difficulties!" No; it is vice, and not reli gion, that chains to the gaming-table, that indulges luxury, that follows extravagant fashions, that produces disease, that breaks whole nights of rest, that calls from home to the scenes of dissipation and folly, that requires expence, that hazards life; and, at last, drags to the pit of woe. These, O fruitful parent of woe, are but part of thy numerous progeny! Miserable man! unhappy creature! who is living under thy galling chains, lost to liberty, to happiness, and to God! 2. Lear the necessity of repentance. Reason, Conscience, Religion, Interest, Heaven, Hell, all call to this. To persist in this evil way, a way so full of misery, and the end of which is so fatal, what madness! O Sinner, hear the voice of Duty, of Conscience, and of God! Repent, repent. 3. Learn the benevolent design of that system which saves men from these miseries. How we value the man who studies to alleviate the miseries of human life; who is continually labouring for the good of others; who travels and toils that the prisoner may be liberated, the sick healed, and the miserable relieved! Behold in the gospel such a character. Behold Jesus, the true, the best, the greatest philanthropist! Ah, how many has he saved! How many has he raised from misery, and crowned with glory! Thine, O adorable Saviour, it is to bless mankind ;-thine to heal the wound which sin has made;thine to pardon the guilty, and change the heart; and thine, at last, to elevate to the mansions of eternal bliss! C. B. Sir, CLAIMS OF AGED MINISTERS. To the Editor. HAPPENING to spend a few days, last Christmas, with a friend, 1 met with a volume of your Magazine; the general plan and contents of which have pleased the so much, that I have resolved to become your reader; and, with your permis sion, an occasional contributor. Nor is the general plan and contents only, though uniformly interesting and excellent, the only motive which has attracted my esteem; but the generous and noble application of the profits of the work for the relief Dda of the widows of those good and faithful servants of the Lord, who are now at rest from their labours. This excellent object of your work cannot fail, as I cordially hope, powerfully to recommend it to the notice and patronage of the Christian world. And may the grain of mustard seed speedily grow up, so as to become a great tree, under the shadow of which many afflicted hearts may find consolation! But though it be perfectly right to apply the whole profits in the manner you have adopted, yet I hope the Reverend Trustees will not always confine their benevolent views to this one object. Aged Ministers have likewise a strong claim for the esteem, the sympathy, and the benevolence of the Christian world," and it deserves the most serious consideration, Whether some plan could not be devised for their comfortable support, when years and infirmities compel them to resign the active duties of their important stations. Nothing can be more interesting to the sight or contemplation of a serious man, than a venerable aged minister, who has" fought a good fight, finished his course, kept the faith, and is humbly waiting the awful summons for his departure." Nor should their Christian friends omit any tokens of esteem and affection which may tend to make this important period easy and comfortable. Many excellent letters and hints upon this interesting subject, appeared, some years ago, in "The Protestant Dissenters' Magazine;" but as that useful publication was chiefly perused by those of our brethren who call themselves "Moderate Dissenters," it is not in the least surprizing, that the scheme proceeded no farther; because such moderation is nearly allied to indifference, and, in the present case, may become convertible terms. But Calvinists can be properly moderate; and yet as properly active, intelligent, and energetic: and if ever this much-wanted plan should be executed, it will be by them. May they do it speedily, effectually, and may an abundant blessing attend this labour of love! In an affair of so much consequence, every hint, however trifling, may eventually be of soine use. Conscious of my own inability, yet anxious to suggest something which wiser heads may improve, I venture to recommend the following, very imperfect hint to the attention of your readers: Suppose that all, or a great majority, of Independent congregations could be induced to contribute at least 20s. per ann. by four equal payinents. There are fifty-two counties in England; and, including the metropolis, I suppose there will be, upon an average, six congre gations in each county, which, at 20s. per year, is 3121. Let this annual sum be accumulating for a given number of years, suppose six or seven, and it will then amount to upwards of 2000. the interest of which, together with the annual contribution, will afford relief to many a hoary recipient, and encourage those who are in the prime of life to devote themselves more willingly to the service of the sanctuary, when all dread of wanting the necessary supports of life, in case they happen to survive their usefulness, is thus happily removed. The same respectable body of Trustees who manage the Widows' Fund, might manage this in question. They might draw up a Circular Letter, containing the general outlines of the plan, the qualifications, certificates, testimonials, &c. which would be expected in case they succeed in their laudable efforts; and conclude with an earnest Address to our brethren throughout the kingdom, for their concurrence and steady support. When the business has proceeded thus far, there can be little reason to fear the result being otherwise than favourable, and amply succesful. Norfolk. Yours, &c. A DEACON. A CONCISE ACCOUNT OF ARMINIANISM. As many serious persons occasionally hear the term Ärminianism, perhaps without a clear determinate idea of it, the following brief account of it, in the words of an accurate writer on the subject, may be satisfactory and useful: 1.. The Arminians will not allow election to be an eternal, peculiar, unconditional, and irreversible act of God: 2. They assert, that Christ died, equally and indiscriminately, for every individual of mankind; for them that perish, no less than for them that are saved: 3. That saving grace is tendered to the acceptance of every man; which he may, or may not receive, just as he pleases: 4. That the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit is not invincible; but is suspended, for its efficacy, on the will of man : 5. That saving grace is not an abiding principle; but that those who are loved of God, ransoned by Christ, and born again of the Spirit, may (let God wish and strive ever so much to the contrary) throw all away, and perish eternally at last. "To these (says Mr. Toplady) many Arminians tack a va riety of errors beside; but the above may be considered as á general skeleton of the leading mistakes which characterize the sect." These are the famous five points which have occasioned so much controversy in the church. I have stated them, not to excite debate; but from an apprehension, that the bare statement of them will be suflicient, in the judgment of many plain, serious, and converted readers, to shew their impropriety, as being contrary to the express decisions of the word of God. EVANGELICUs.. Sir, DISPLAY OF GOD'S GOODNESS, IN ANSWER TO PRAYER. "What various hind'rances we meet "In coming to a mercy seat! "Yet who that knows the worth of pray'r, "But wishes to be often there !" To the Editor. NEWTON. I WAS lately spending an evening at the house of a parti calar friend, where a circumstance was related by an old lady, who was one of the company, which I thought worthy of particular attention, and which, if your sentiments concur with mine, you will perhaps consider as deserving a place in your useful Miscellany. It is a fact, which is not perhaps generally known, that Dr. Joseph Stennet, the father of the late Dr. Samuel Stennet, though he received an excellent education by the care of his father, from his ignorance of trade, and the diffidence he felt on entering on the public ministry, was, in the early part of life, engaged as a clerk in some manufactory at Abergavenny (I think in the iron trade). During his residence at this place, a poor man, whose business it was to prepare charcoal for the manufactory, was, by a heavy fall of snow (a circumstance very common in that mountainous country) prevented from pursuing his usual occupation, and reduced to a state of the utmost distress. His stock of provisions was entirely expended; the snow rendered it impossible for him to repair to the neighbouring village; and his children were crying for bread. In this dreadful exigency he acted the part of a Christian he retired to his chamber, and poured out his heart to Gol, earnestly entreating, either that he would remove the craving appetites of his children, or afford him the means of satisfying their wants. Soon after his return from prayer, the children went quietly to bed; and about three o'clock in the morning he was roused from his repose by a knocking at his door: upon opening which he found a person on horseback, who said he was sent by a Mr. Jones, who resided in the neighbourhood, with a sack of provisions. The good man was not curious to enquire into circumstances, but considered the event as a peculiar interposition of Providence in answer to prayer. He recollected, however, having occasionally conversed with a gentleman of that name (a Presbyterian) whom he had sometimes met with as he was going to meeting. Mr. Stennet, knowing that the man was in low circumstances, when he had an opportunity of seeing him again at the manufactory, enquired how he had fared during the severity of the season; : |