God to his apostate creatures, in giving his only begotten Son to die for their sins-he heard him describe the character of the Saviour, the dignity of his person, the extent of his compassion, the efficacy of his blood-and then, he heard him, like a faithful ambassador, beseech sinners to be reconciled unto God; point them to the bleeding cross for pardon, and call upon them to believe in the Lord Jesus for salvation. These interesting truths were brought home to his heart with divine power, and an impression was made upon his mind, deep, durable, and transforming. Great, however, as the benefits are which the Christian receives from a preached Gospel at his conversion, there are others which he receives at a subsequent period of his experience, not less necessary nor less valuable. Thebest feelings of which the Christian is the subject in the present life, are far from being constant. The lively impressions made upon his mind at the commencement of religion in his soul, are too frequently variable and transient. Like the church at Ephesus, he too often loses his first love. In this state he repairs to the house of God, with scarcely any perception of the importance of its privileges. Sin has imperceptibly deprived religion of that sweetness and beauty which it once possessed. Under circumstances like these, public worship often proves peculiarly beneficial. The Christian goes up to the house of God, cold and almost indifferent. The minister of the Gospel, directed by that Spirit who searcheth all things, and is acquainted with the circumstances of all his people, is led to insist upon the cultivation of holiness of heart and purity of conduct, to point out the indispensable necessity of diligence, watchfulness, and prayer; and to show, that those only will be saved, who endure to the end. Under such preaching, the Christian is roused from his lethargy. His love to God, which before was like a spark almost extinguished, kindles into a flame; and his indifference, becomes like the crystal stream, that imparts blessings wherever it flows. Thus public worship becomes the means of carrying on that work, which is begun in time, and will be consummated in eternity. Through the same means God is pleased to impart consolation to the minds of his dejected servants. In the present life, the Christian is taught to expect trouble. The most eminent saints are often in circumstances of the greatest distress. In this, as well as in every thing else, God acts as a sovereign. That he has the best reasons for all his dispensations, is unquestionable; but they are known only to himself. Instead of making curious inquiries into the reason of our afflictions, will it not be much more becoming to inquire how they are to be borne, what end they were designed to answer, and what means God has appointed for their removal? Public wor ship is undoubtedly intended by God to administer consolation to the minds of his dejected children to assure them of victory over every enemy-to provide them with balm for every wound-a remedy for every disease-and an antidote against every ill-grounded fear. Has not the Christian often gone to the house of God full of doubts as to the issue of his conflict with sin, and overwhelmed with anxiety, lest through the force of temptation and the prevalence of corruption, he should fail to hold out unto the end-and God by the mouth of his servant has inspired him with fresh courage, assuring him, that by persevering in the path of duty, and relying on Divine aid and protec tion, he should ultimately obtain a complete victory over all his enemies? Another reason why the Christian will value a preached Gospel, is because it tends to draw him from the world. The world is the Christian's decided foe; and though it often comes habited in the garb of a friend, its object is always to deceive and betray. It lurks unperceived, until a fair opportunity presents itself for an attack, which it never fails to improve. Like a fatal poison, it diffuses its influence over the soul, and insensibly deprives the Christian of all relish for spiritual enjoyments. Against this enemy the Christian finds it exceedingly difficult to contend. Conscious that all his efforts to keep himself unspotted from the world, without divine assistance and the means of grace, will prove ineffectual, with much pleasure he repairs to the house of God. Application to business or labour has left him, comparatively, but little time for God. He feels, notwithstanding all his watchfulness, that he has imbibed too much of the spirit of the world. He wishes now to unbend his mind, and to give himself up entirely to the service of God. He perceives how earnestly the Christian minister warns his hearers against the love of the world, how affectionately he cautions them against conformity to this deadly enemy, how clearly he proves, that to be the friend of the world, is to be the enemy of God. A powerful application of these truths to his heart, by the Spirit of God, produces in him holy determinations to watchfulness and circumspection. Public worship will be valued by the Christian, as affording him some faint conceptions of the employment and glory of heaven. Our congregations, it is true, are mixed; and perhaps, the greater part do not enter into the nature, nor feel the importance of the CONG, MAG. No. 69. work in which they profess to be engaged. Still it is truly delightful, to behold a numerous assembly, of all ranks, stations, and ages, met together to worship the same God, to seek for an interest in the same salvation, and to aspire after the same glorious inheritance. Another reason why the Christian loves public worship is, because it is there that God is pleased to make the brightest displays of his glory-God is the supreme object of the Christian's love, the centre of his hopes, and the source of all his joy. Nothing can impart to his mind so much pleasure, as a review of his glorious perfections. Heaven, with all its inconceivable and inexhaustible enjoyments, if God were absent, would afford the Christian no satisfaction. Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee, is his constant language. It is in the sanctuary that the Divine Being makes the richest displays of his glory; here he unfolds the infinite loveliness of his character, here every perfection of the Godhead shines with the brightest lustre, in the face of Jesus Christ. The Christian will value public worship, because it is the grand means employed by God for the conversion of sinners. The truths of the Gospel relate to every thing connected with the present happiness and future destiny of man. Its leading features are, the depravity of man-the necessity of regeneration-complete redemption for the vilest of sinners through faith in the blood of Christ the importance of divine influence, and the free promise of God to bestow it upon all who seek for it. The faithful, clear, and plain disclosure of these truths by the Christian minister, accom panied by Divine influence, will produce repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ; will teach us how to bear 30 all the troubles of the present life, support our minds in the prospect of death, and inspire us with a hope full of immortality. Ought we not then to endeavour to appreciate its blessings, to make every effort to improve them, and to pray that they may be universally enjoyed? BARNABAS. Ipswich, March 16, 1823. ་་་་ from the contributions of the communicants, after the expenses of furnishing the Lord's table are discharged; would it not be a desirable and beneficial thing for the minister to be furnished with a part, at least, of this money for the purpose of distribution to the objects just named.* I am aware that the money collected after the solemn festival, is disposed of by the deacons, to CORNELIUS WINTER AND SA- objects of charity among the mem CRAMENTAL ALMS. (To the Editors.) GENTLEMEN,-In reading that very interesting volume, Mr. Jay's life of Cornelius Winter, my attention was arrested by a passage, which occurs in a letter written by Mr. W. to the people at Marlborough, when he had the prospect of being settled among them. It is as follows:-" Having no fortune of my own, makes it necessary to propose that I may have the disposal of the sacramental alms. My own liberalities cannot be large; hitherto they have been to the very extent of my circumstances, nor do I wish to curtail them by this requisite. In market towns the sick poor are generally numerous, and the alms of the minister accompanying his prayers, do much to remove prejudice, and bring them under the word." The situation in which Mr. W. here represents himself, is that of the great majority of ministers of the Gospel. And while every faithful servant of Christ feels it to be his duty to visit the poor and the sick of his flock, and finds it advantageous to his own soul; how many pastors are the subjects of painful feelings, from not having the means of ministering to the temporal comfort of deserving objects, whilst they witness their great necessities. As in all our churches, in proportion to the number and condition in life of those who compose them, there is a surplus arising bers of the church; but as they are generally persons engaged in business, it cannot be supposed they have the opportunity for personal visits and distribution of the alms of the church, which the minister has: and so far from its being an encroachment on the prerogatives of their office, I should judge that the excellent men, who fill this station, would feel both relief and gratification, in furnishing their minister in the way this paper proposes. The writer of this would be the farthest from proposing any thing that should seem like introducing irregularity or impropriety into our plans of action; but thinks it worthy of consideration, whether in those cases where the disposable sum is more in amount than the real necessities of the poor members of the church require, the overplus might not be bestowed upon other necessitous persons in the congre、 gation, or even out of the congregation;t and thus the effects of Christian benevolence would be more extensive: and as Mr. Winter observes, much might be done "to remove prejudice, and bring them under the word:" to which I cannot refrain adding, it is calculated to affect the heart, to be * We beg leave to inform our correspondent, that the money contributed at the Lord's table is sometimes wholly entrusted to the minister for distribution; in many cases half is entrusted to him, and half to the deacons.--Ed. + Mr. Winter's mode of expression implies, that he thought this perfectly right. ago your (To the Editors.) GENTLEMEN,-A few months you allowed me to notice in Magazine, the degenerated state of the churches at Boston, in New England, the secular principles from which that degeneracy seems to have arisen, and the persecuting spirit by which the synodical associations in that country appear to be actuated towards those professors of Christianity, who wish to revive the sentiments and piety of their forefathers. It is well known that, in the southern provinces of the United States, the presbyterian mode of church government prevails. In New York, I believe, there are not more than two congregations of the Inde pendent order. Lately, however, a schism has sprung up in the presbyterian hierarchy, or, rather, a number of ministers and people have withdrawn from that body, and formed themselves into congregational societies. This secession chiefly relates to the Dutch churches. Hence it is that a work has lately been published at New York, bearing the following title: "The Church of Christ independent of the Synod of Dordrecht, and all other Synods; or Scriptural Principles in relation to the order and government of the church; embracing documents and explanatory notes relative to the separation of certain ministers and people from the classes of Montand the general Synod of gomery, the Dutch church." VIATORIUS MERCATOR. Liverpool, Aug. 13, 1823. The correspondence in the Congregational Magazine on the subject of the refusal of what is termed "Christian burial," or the interment, in consecrated ground, of Dissenters or unbaptized persons, brought to my remembrance a little anecdote I somewhere lately read on this subject. 66 Bishop Thomas once told a friend, that when he was chaplain to the British factory at Hamburgh, a gentleman of the factory being ill, was ordered into the country for the benefit of the air. Accordingly he went into a village, about ten miles distant, and after some time died there. Upon this application was made to the parson him in the church-yard. The of the parish for leave to bury parson enquired what religion he was of, and was told he was a Calvinist. No, says he, there are none but Lutherans in churchyard, and there shall be no other. This, says Dr. Thomas, was told me, and I wondered that any man of learning or understanding should have such ideas. I resolved to take my horse, and and go argue the matter with him; but found him inflexible. At length I told him he made me think of a circumstance which once happened to myself, when I was curate of a my church in Thames Street; I was burying a corpse, and a woman came and pulled me by the sleeve in the midst of the serviceSir, Sir! I want to speak to you! Pr'ythee, says I, woman wait till I have done. No, Sir, I must speak to you immediately.-Why, then, what is the matter? Why, Sir, says she, you are burying a man who died of the small pox, next my poor dear husband, who never had it! This story had the desired effect, and the curate permitted the bones of the poor Calvinist to be laid in his churchyard." A. B. POETRY. He came not thus, no earthquake shock Shiver'd the everlasting rock; No trumpet blast, nor thunder peal, Made earth through all her regions reel; And but for the mysterious voicing Of that unearthly choir rejoicing; And but for that strange herald gem, The star which burn'd o'er Bethlehem, The shepherds, on his natal morn, Had known not that the God was born. There were no terrors, for the song Of peace rose from the seraph throng; On wings of love he came,-to save, To pluck pale terror from the grave, And, on the blood-stain'd Calvary, He won for Man the victory! ON VIEWING THE DEAD BODY OF A BEAUTIFUL INFANT. THERE is a smile upon that cheek- The chill of death is on that cheek- And now the kiss of agony, |