upon him next day. But what was his sorrow on find. ing him labouring under a violent disease, from which there was little hope of recovery.

"My dear friend," said Williams, " I did not expect to find you thus." The other merely shook his head. "I hope you have at least that anchor of the soul which ensures safety in the storm," Williams added, and the other still making no reply, "From the character you have hitherto sustained, I trust you are a follower of

the lamb?' and

"So I persuaded myself when in health," said the sick man ; "but, sir, there is a torch in the precincts of death, which discovers occult blemishes in actions, motives, and intentions; and, sir, there is an alchemy in dying breath, which analyses these in their germ and in their principle, their consequence and contingency."

"The conscience," said Williams, 66 or more properly the spirit of a man, is the candle of the Lord, searching the innermost parts, and-

"Yes," said Mr Clay, interrupting the other; "but I repressed that spirit-I silenced conscience with popular feeling and palatable reasoning-I-in short, I extinguished the candle of heaven, and now it blazes forth with all the vividness of eternal fire."

Mr. Clay's pastor being on this announced, Mr. W., having official engagements, immediately retired.

On 1eturning next day, he was happy to find his friend, though deeply repenting his former inconsistency, yet with his mind resting upon the finished work of Jesus Christ. He was again restored to health, and to a greater degree of happiness than before; but he no longer contended for the bias of either Old or New Testament writings, in behalf of the sentiments he formerly urged.

Mr. W., on returning home, was welcomed by a wife's affectionate arms. Sorrow never having again revisited his son, he has now forgotten his grief; and, in such circumstances, the father is of opinion that he has, at present, nothing more to TELL.

Printed for R. and S. Fletcher, Grainger Street, Newcastle.

THE YOUTHFUL PASTOR.

"Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.'

The venerable pastor who has outlived his ministerial jubilee, whether in the established or dissenting church of the Scottish kindom, finds that a new race have arisen who know not the feelings of their fathers. A spiritual democracy has sprung up, which the former years of his ministry knew not; the unfettered sons of Caledonia now, in a great measure, choosing to do "that which is right in their own eyes," or, at least, to be less swayed by the opinions, and less awed by the office of their respective pastors. The mental distance has slidden into a certain proximity of feeling; and the general veneration of yore has dwindled into a thing of love, respect, or critical indulgence, according to the merit, demerit, or propensity of the parties.

To comment on the cause or the result of this change the writer presumes not. Suffice it that the leading incidents of this tale are facts.

The subject of these notices, who shall at present be designated the Rev. Mr. Rennew, on being appointed over his flock fifty-five years ago, held his ministerial sovereignty with more undisputed sway, and perhaps occupied a larger share of the veneration of his people, than generally falls to the lot of the youthful pastor of the present day. His settlement was in a small town in the south of Scotland; and his charge, consisting chiefly of a rural population, was perhaps more characterized by this ecclesiastical loyalty than that of a large town. Added to this, the young minister was specially a man according to their hearts' desire, whether in his private character, or his public ministrations.

His kindness of heart-his consolation to the mourner -his gentle yet faithful dealing with the dying-his conversational powers, unmarked by dogmatism, and at all times distinguished by raciness, usefulness, and spirituality with his thousand amiable traits, all conibined to enshrine him in the affections of a loving people. Nor were his public services less appreciated.

"He was more like an angel from heaven to-day, than a man clothed in fleshly garments," said Mr. Boyd; when he and a number of the country part of the congregation were assembled in a large room in the inn for refreshment, during the interval of public worship.

"He is an angel," replied Mrs. Boyd, who, like the rest of womankind, was less inclined to any qualifying system than the other sex.

Yes, he is an angel," resumed another of the softer sex. I could have sat hearing him until to-morrow at this time, and I do not think 1 could now submit to hear another minister."

"Now, sirs, do not let us idoleeze our minister," said Mr. Weatherston, who held office in the church, and who was universally esteemed not only a sensible, but a "good and godly man.". "Do not let us idoleeze him, nor mistake the warmth of feeling for devotion," he continued, addressing himself more particularly to the last speaker. "If you could continue worshipping God until to-morrow at this time, it is well; but whoso cometh to the sanctuary with a supreme desire to 'see Jesus' to 'worship in the beauty of holiness,' his heart being consecrated to the Master of assemblies, will be ready to listen to that servant who, bearing the image of his Master, declares the whole counsels of God, although not possessed of such bright parts' as this lad seems to be.' Silence ensuing, the good man, seeming to regret his interference, again proceeded: "No doubt such a minister is the greatest blessing that can be vouchsafed to the church; and may we all remember that great privileges incur great responsibility; and that unless we obey the precept, it will be of little avail to admire the manner in which it is enforced."

"You accompany him to his visitations which commence this week, I suppose ?" said Mr. Boyd; and hereupon, the wives of the poorer classes, who were seated in a more remote part of the room, taking no part in the conversation, although entertaining as much affection for their pastor as the others, immediately began to consider of the preparatory steps which they deemed due to his reception.

"I wish we had had our flour home from the mill first," thought one-"I wish we had got our new family Bible," thought a second-"I must have a general cleaning," thought a third; whilst they all with one consent began to divine how much might be in the respective whiskey bottles. The younger members of the families, at the same time, proceeding to charge their memories with forgetfulness of their catechisms, on their acquaintance with which, they doubted not, their pastor would examine them.

After another soul-impressive sermon in the after part of the day, the preacher made the following an

nouncement :-

"Individuals wishing to connect themselves with this church, or to hold spiritual conversation with me on any other subject, will have an opportunity of doing so tomorrow, from 10 in the morning until 8 in the evening, when I shall be happy to meet such at my residence.

"The families connected with this congregation, and residing in Birchambraes, Barleyknowes, Inglestead, and Lawend, may expect ministerial visitation on Tuesday; and, on Wednesday, those residing in Marshydean, Kirkstanehaugh, Lebonlow, and Swampton, may expect the same."

This was the first visitation; and on the Monday morning there was, in each of the villages referred to, an uncommon degree of rubbing, scrubbing, altering, and adjusting. With some, indeed, the most private recess was investigated and remodelled, insomuch that one might have supposed the various housewives expected their pastor with a search-warrant in his hand, to examine their most secret household privacies. The eldest school-boy of each family was also seen with a

bottle in his satchel, as he journeyed to the school of a small market town-the contents of the whiskey bottles having been respectively weighed, and found wanting, new supplies were to be obtained from a distillery in the neighbourhood of the seat of learning. But if aught of anxiety, trouble, or expense attended these preparations, such were more than repaid by the short interview with the loved and venerated pastor-in his courteous manner --the interest he manifested in their temporal affairs— his spiritual instructions and his ardent prayers. And, indeed, so intent were the good people to repay with things temporal, him who ministered to them in spiritual, that long before the conclusion of the day, he felt utterly unable to satisfy them by sufficiently participating of their bounties.

"I have already made such inroads upon the cheese of my kind friends to-day, that you must excuse my not tasting yours," said he, at last.

"I am sorry we have nothing better to offer; but you will at least take a glass, sir,—you will taste.”

This

“I fear that in this you must also excuse me. is the thirteenth house I have visited to-day, in each of which I have tasted ; and I really—you must, indeed,

excuse me."

"Ou, sir! ye'll certainly taste with us," responded the disappointed matron.

In this, and in many other instances, there might be misapplied kindness; but all seemed so much the work of unsophisticated nature, proceeding from hearts overflowing with good will and affection, that the youthful minister could not fail to feel gratified.

Nor was this feeling diminished when, at eventide, he was welcomed by Mrs. Weatherston, whose husband had accompanied him during the day, and at whose house he was to sojourn that night. One alone greeted him not with that apparent heart-felt cordiality which was so manifest in all the others. This was Miss Weatherston, the only child of her parents. Timid, retiring, and unassuming; she was, at the same time, possessed of a competent portion of learning, and of mind to appreciate such endowments in others, more especially