comfort when tried by affliction, tempted by Satan, or oppressed by the cares of the world, unless at the throne of grace? We may search the Bible through, but we shall not find the history of one saint who lived without prayer. The thing is impossible; as well might we expect a man to breathe without air, as a Christian to live without prayer. Even our Saviour himself, than whom none could possibly less need to pray, was nevertheless more earnest in prayer than any man; and shall the disciple be above his Lord? Surely not. We may confidently affirm, that he who never felt either the need, the duty, or the privilege of prayer, has but the name of a Christian. He may be outwardly moral in his deportment, but he cannot be a new man; he may associate with the people of God, but he can know nothing of fellowship with Christ. He may in words acknowledge himself to be a sinner, but unless he be daily coming to a throne of grace, asking mercy to pardon and grace to help in time of need, he ought not to imagine himself to be a Christian, nor ought others to encourage him to think well of his state. R. T. Southampton, Aug. 25, 1815. To the Editor of the New Evangelical Magazine. SIR, MUCH as has been said and written on various occasions upon the duty and importance of PrayerMeetings, as a mean not only of promoting the growth of genuine piety in the souls of those immediately concerned in supporting them, but as essentially contributing to the prosperity of the church, and to the spread of real religion in the world at large; it is to be feared that many professors of the present day by no means pay that attention to them which their utility and importance seem to demand. The writer of this was, not long since, grieved to hear a member of a christian church exclaim with indifference, not to say with contempt, as an excuse for absence from this variety of public worship, "Its only a prayer-meeting!" And indeed the very frivolous excuses which many professors of religion make to satisfy themselves and others for their neglect of these means of grace, especially on a week day, but too plainly indicate that their hearts are not in the work, and a scoffing world may reasonably inquire, "What religious services do ye attend more than others?" Permit me, therefore to suggest, that a few thoughts upon the duty and the advantages of prayer-meetings, and the best method of conducting them so as to edify, from some of your judicious contributors, might be rendering a profitable service to the public, and would confer a favour on A Friend to Prayer-Meetings. ON THE OMNIPRESENCE OF IT is comparatively a matter of no great difficulty to have that faith in Christianity which consists in mere indiscriminate belief. We are taught from our earliest years, that there can be no question whatever concerning its infallibility that it contains every thing which the immortal soul can desire; hence our belief in its divine origin becomes, if the term may be allowed, a kind of prepossession in the human mind; it "grows with our growth, and strengthens with our strength." The case is different with regard to the practice of the duties which Christianity enjoins. The most awful propensity to do and think evil continually, is so intimately connected with the existence of man, that it truly requires no common remedy. The subject of our present thoughts may be considered as one of the most powerful. If any thing could im "A lonely wanderer on a desert shore," the consideration that his Father is with and watches over him, is enough indeed to make the heart leap for joy. "Let us go on our way in life's pilgrimage, fearing lest that eye should turn from us for ever in anger and abhorrence; and being thankful when we feel that the omnipresence of God is matter of rejoicing to our souls." press us with a fear of sinning, it parts for a far distant country, to would be the consideration that proclaim the glad tidings of salvathe eye of God is constantly fixed tion, this assurance will dry up his upon us. It is a melancholy fact, tears, and remove the weight which however, that with a fixed con- involuntarily presses on his heart, viction of the omnipresence of the when he pronounces, to that land pure and holy Creator, the conduct so loved, to those friends so dear, and thoughts are so frequently of the farewell for ever. And when such a nature, as to cause us justly his eye rests on the interminable to tremble at the idea of our fellow-continents and vast regions of other creatures being acquainted with climes; when amid the scenery of them. Our actions in this respect nature-among human beings, he are almost continually at variance feels as if in solitude, weary and with our belief. Well indeed would desolate, it be for us, were we to accustom ourselves to ponder unceasingly on this most important and mysterious truth-to make it precede even the minutest of our thoughts and actions. By this means, how many years of bitterness and remorse, through the blessing of God, might be prevented! Start, son of man, when the magic circle of iniquity seems to be drawing around thee! this is really enchanted ground— you will sleep indeed, and your sleep may be sweet, but its waking will be horror indescribable; it seems to the eye the path of pleasure and enjoyment, but it leads to the gloomy caverns of eternal perdition-the end thereof is death. Start, son of man, at the first and earliest intimation of iniquity, as at the shock of an earthquake-as at the rustling of the tyger! Never forget, even for a moment, that the Creator and Governor of the universe traces (not with indifference) your actions, and the workings of your mind, from infancy to the last hour of existence! Sept. 25, 1815. W. V. APOPHTHEMS SELECTED FROM We may be members of a true church, and yet not true members of the church. Some are not decidedly religious, and yet cannot let religion alone. To be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in an evil generation, is great; but to be without rebuke from Christ himself, is greater still. Let us beware of judging ourselves by what others think of us. Corrupt Christianity is more offensive to God than open in The reflection, that God is always present, is most consolatory to the Christian. In prosperity, in adversity, "I will never leave nor forsake thee," imparts a felicity to his mind which nothing else possi-fidelity. bly can. Wherever he goes he is in the immediate presence of the Father of mercies. If soaring after a higher measure of usefulness, he leaves the land of his forefathers, the place of his nativity, and de-without it. A high conceit of one's self is no proof of excellence. To know what religion has done for an individual, we should consider what he would have been Our names may be written among the professed followers of Christ, and yet be blotted out when he comes to judgment. We may have space given us for repentance, and never have grace to repent. It is bad for the world to be dead, but for a church to be so is worse this is salt without savour, neither fit for the land nor the dunghill. To walk with God at any time is acceptable to him; but to do this while others around us are corrupt, is still more so. Religion is revived in a church by each one beginning with himself, and ending with one another. We are not to reckon the future greatness of men according to their talents in this life, but according to the use they made of them. While justly censuring others, we may decline in spirituality ourselves. Religion seldom thrives with much worldly prosperity. preach from-"One thing is needful." And what is that one thing; said Fuller. Tyro replied without hesitation, Christ, certainly! Why then, said Fuller, you are worse than the Socinians: they do allow him to be a man, but you are going to reduce him to a mere "thing." This unfortunate remark spoiled Tyro's sermon; and when he arrived at the place of his destination, where the flock was waiting for his sage instructions, he had not courage to bring forward what he had provided with much study and care. PSALM SINGING A MARK OF The following curious Anecdote is recorded by Thuanus, in his History of his own Times, book xx. A. D. 1558. At a time when every place resounded with tidings of miseries brought upon us by a foreign enemy; that we might not be at rest from domestic broils, one evening, at Paris, when a multitude of people, according to custom, had met together for recreation, in a place called the Scholar's field, adjoining to the Fauxbourg of St. Germins; a few of them who were addicted to the Protes Call to remembrance former days, not to get comfort under declensions, but to recover those views and sensations which we had at the beginning of our chris-tant Religion, their boldness intian course. FULLER AND TYRO. creasing with their numbers, began, as they walked, to sing the Psalms of David in French metre. Such as favoured the ancient (Catholic) religion, looked upon this as done on purpose, that by the novelty of the thing, which in light minds has a considerable influence, and by the sweetness of the melody, they might draw more people to them. Nor were they mistaken in their opinion: for most of the crowd began to lay aside their sports, and joining the sing It is very well known that Mr. Fuller was generally candid and forbearing towards young ministers, and ready to assist them in the explication of a subject, or in the composition of a Sermon; but he knew also how to chastise vanity, ignorance, and conceit, and was not very sparing with persons of this description. A young man calling on him on a Saturday, anders, to sing psalms with them. On announeing rather consequentially the following days a larger company that he was going to preach on the assembled there, and among the morrow at a little distance; Fuller rest, Anthony, king of Navarre, and asked him for his text. He readily his Queen, who had previously answered that he was going to been suspected of wrong senti THE VISION OF ZAHID. An Eastern Fragment. ments in religion! This the Clergy is the command of God, that all resented exceedingly, affirming that should sing, so all should make a method was found out, whereby conscience of learning to sing, as the sacred offices, which by ancient it is a thing which cannot be depractice received from the Roman cently performed at all without mother church, had used to be per- learning. formed in Latin, were now expressed in such a language as that the meanest of the people could understand, and would consequently fall by degrees into contempt with the vulgar. The thing therefore was represented to the King as seditious,by whose royal authority a process was decreed against the authors [of this new invention] and a prohibition issued under pain of death against all future meetings and public singings of that kind. Thuani Historia sui temporis. 1. xx. ON SINGING THE PRAISES OF GOD, BY PRESIDENT EDWARDS. in the breast! V-R-N. OFT does the sun illumine the face of nature-yet the heart of man is sad within him. Often is the sky of fortune bright and unclouded, yet there is a gloom within, which the sun of nature cannot scatter with his beams,-nor the star of fortune dazzle by its effulgence. But, child of misery! whose heart is lacerated by real anguish-sit not brooding with anxious eye and pallid look, oir the sorrows of the past-the dis appointments of the present!-Listen to the Tale-May it be some relief from care-may it steal, though it were but for a moment, the soul from misery. From his Sermons on Self-Examination. Do you not live in sin, in living in the neglect of singing God's praises? If singing praise to God be an ordinance of God's public worship, as no doubt it is, then it ought to be attended and performed by the whole worshipping assembly. If it be a command, that we should worship God in this way, then all ought to obey this command, not only by joining with others in singing, but in singing themselves. For if we suppose it answers the command of God, for us only to join in our hearts with others, it will run us into this absurdity, that all may do so; and then there would be none to sing,guinary tyrant in impending dannone for others to join with. If it be an appointment of God, that Christian congregations should sing praises to him, then, doubtless, it is the duty of all; if there be no exception in the rule, then all ought to comply with it, unless they be incapable of it. But if persons be now not capable, because they know not how to sing, that doth not excuse them, unless they have been incapable of learning. As it ZAHID sat on the gently rising hillock-the soft zephyr played around him-the clear brook ran in soothing murmurs at his feet— the carol of the birds, the green hue of the foliage-all bespoke the hour of nature's rejoicing. Panting and weary, he sought for repose in this terrestrial paradise. He praised almighty Allah, who had preserved him from the san ger-but his gratitude was mingled with bitterness of heart." Why was I placed in this life, predestined to misery?-the victim of woe? Better were it for me, had I never seen the light of day— Better, much better, had the angel of death covered me with his wings, ere my soul began to acquire the dross of this existence and expand to the dreary, fitful blast of sorrow. Alas! mine is the indiscriminate fate of hu- saw the mountain billow close for manity! Children of misfortune! ever over it. The tempest raged every hour seems more to em- with increasing fury-the conflictbitter the cup which is mixed for ing elements seemed to portend you! In vain the earth rejoices-the desolation of the universe. the birds sing-is it not mockery? Nature should mourn-there should be perpetual winter on these now smiling plains-for joy blooms not in the heart of man-all there is barren, and wild, even to desolation. The cry of the miserable, the oppressed, is unheard-unanswered. The oppressor walks erect, at noon-day, unmolested, he enslaves the body and saps the vigour of the mind." The bark of the mariner was driven impetuously to and fro-horror possessed his senses-he looked wildly on the right hand and on the left, and there was none to help him-he grasped with the despair of a maniac, the broken rudder. At this moment, the Sun of Righteousness arose to his delighted view. Peace and Hope, with garments of heavenly brightness, descended towards him. The Thus mourned Zahid.-Every boat was guided by an invisible object around him, as he gazed, hand. The roaring of the tempest deepened the gloom of his mind. seemed to abate, as he advanced. Lost thus in melancholy musing, Brighter, and still brighter, the even feeling was at last benumbed, light continued to shine. With and he slept-The Genius of Ima- real gratitude of heart, Zahid gination waved her glittering wand bent the knee to Allah, the holy over him. and all-merciful. The voice of The storm rose in darkness-unmingled gratitude and praise the roar of the thunder reverbe- continued, till it seemed to overrated along the black vault of whelm his soul-The light became heaven, and as for a moment it too dazzling for his eyes-A chill seemed to die away, the wild indescribable torpor, he felt creepdashing of the shoreless ocean— ing over him-The storm had been the raging foam of the cataract with him, but its roar came far and wave, made visible by the forked faintly now: and joy sparkled in lightening-completed the horror his dim eye, at the inward assurof the scene. Zahid sat in hisance, that where he was fast hastbark as if unconscious of the ening, it should be heard no more storm, which momentarily threat- for ever. His eyes closed-his ened inevitahle destruction. His pulse ceased to beat, and all was thoughts took the same cheerless still. direction as before. He raised his The sounds of immortal music, head-the moon walked not in rose on the ear of Zahid-inexbrightness no star sparkled in pressibly soft and soothing to the the firmament of heaven-A stately soul, it seemed at one moment to vessel seemed to stem the adverse die away in distance and then to waves as it advanced-a fickle and swell around him in tones of exquivering light played around it-quisite clearness and melody.the noise of joy and mirth-the He breathed the air of Heaven; sounds of music and singing-the celestial light beamed on his eyerevelry of the dance, proclaimed He was surrounded by beings of it, the yacht of pleasure. It passed refulgent beauty, whose harps of ---suddenly the light was extin- gold breathed sounds, which an guished-Amid the loud howling inhabitant of earth cannot conof the winds, the wail of un-ceive-which the pen of a mortal utterable agony was heard-and cannot describe-An Angel adthe son of sorrow sighed as he vanced towards him, and beckon |