Singular Providence. 119 cret I don't tell every one. "But quest of the place, though she should could not I get a sight of that book?" go from one end of London to the says she. Yes," replied he, "if other. They accordingly set out, you speak me fair, I can help you and went into several churches as to a sight of it." "Pray, then, get they passed along, but none of them it me, doctor, and I'll give you any answered to what she saw in her thing you please." "Yes," said he, dream. About one o'clock they "if you will promise me one thing, found themselves in the heart of I'll bring it you, and that is, that the city, where they dined, and you will read it over carefully; and if then set out again in search of the you should not see much in it at first, place of worship. Being in the that you will give it a second reading. Poultry about half after two o'clock, She promised faithfully that she they saw a great number of people would. After coming two or three going down the Old Jewry, and she times without it, to raise her curios-determined to see where they went. ity, he at last took it out of his pock- She mingled with the company, and et and gave it her. This book was they conducted her to the meetingthe New Testament. When she house where Mr. Shower was the looked at it, she said with a flirt, minister, in the Old Jewry. As soon "Poh! I could get it at any time." as she entered the door, and survey"Why, Miss," said he, "so you ed the place, she turned to her commight; but, remember, I have your panion, and said with some surprise, solemn promise to read it carefully.""This is the very place I saw in my "Well," says she, "though I never dream." She had not been long read it before, I'll give it a reading." there before she saw Mr. Shower Accordingly she began to read it, and go up into to the pulpit, and, looking it soon attracted her attention. She at him with greater surprise, said, saw something in it, wherein she" This is the very man I saw in my had a deep concern, but her mind dream; and, if every part of it hold now became ten times more uneasy true, he will take for his text, Psalms than ever. Not knowing what to cxvi, 7, Return to thy rest, O my do, she soon returned to London, soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountiresolved to try again what the fully with thee."" When he rose diversions there would do to dis- up to pray, she was all attention, and sipate her gloom; but nothing of every sentence went to her heart. this kind answered her purpose. Having finished his prayer he took She lodged at the court end of that very passage for his text, and the town, where she had with God was pleased to make the disher a female companion. On Sat- course founded upon it the means of urday evening, she had a remark- her saving conversion, and thus she able dream, which was that she at last found what she had so long was in a place of worship, where sought elsewhere in vain" Rest to she heard a sermon; but when she||her soul!" And now she obtained awoke, she could remember nothing that blessing from God, the fountain but the text. This dream made a of felicity, which pious Mr. Rogers deep impression on her mind, and so many years before had so solemnthe idea she had of the place, and|ly and fervently implored in her beof the minister's person was as half. strong as if she had long been acquainted with both. On the Lord's day morning she told her dream to her companion, and said that after breakfast she was resolved to go in The sum total contributed by all the different religious societies during the last year, whose annual meetings were held in London, during the month of May, is £300,972. Poetry. LINES TO AN ORPHAN. BY MRS. HEMANS. Thou hast been reared too tenderly, Beloved too well and long, Watched by too many a gentle eye, Now look on life-be strong! Too quiet seemed the joys of change, To sleep, in silvery stillness bound, This world hath no more love to give But oh! too beautiful and blest Thy home of youth hath been; Kind voices from departed years Friends-now the altered or the dead- Alone!-it is in that deep word And brave the tempest's wrong. On one, ONE friend, thy weakness cast, From the Atlantic Souvenir, for 1830. BY FREDERICK S. ECKARD. One last strong effort and he gain'd The lingering rock which yet remain'd There was no hope! a frowning sky Yet from his glance they could not hide There was no hope! and now he stood So long had storm and madness been, That with the lightning's lurid glow, "Earth! earth! the doom may be withdrawn, The raging wave subside; And God's pure day once more may dawn But yet though surge and cloud disperse, By which thy children died, "Fierce and unnatural in thy crime, The voice was hush'd-a sudden bound, And the vex'd waters closed around Relented now to save; And slowly, at the strong command, LUTHERAN MAGAZINE. VOL 4.] Original. OCTOBER, 1830. For the Lutheran Magazine. BRIEF DISCOURSES-No. III. Earthly and Heavenly Mindedness.-Text, Matthew vi, 24-34. [NO. 6. the man and put him into the garden of Eden." For what purpose? that he should "dress it and keep it." Hence, also, we read in 1 Cor. xv, 47, 48, "The first man is of the A few verses preceding the words earth, earthy-as is the earthy, such of the text, Jesus says to his disci- are they also that are earthy." Still, ples, "where your treasure is, there man then enjoyed even a visible interwill your heart be also." As much course with God; and as his underas to say, What you consider as the standing formed in the divine image, best and dearest object, of that you was enlightened that he could penewill think the most-be the more trate into the innermost nature of all frequently engaged in it, and remem-created things; so also, in all things, ber it of your own accord, without did the wisdom, power and love of needing to be reminded of it; you God, manifested in every creature, will be unwearied in your endeavors shine into his eyes and heart, that to obtain it, and having obtained it, no earthly nor any other creature, you will carefully preserve it. You could lead him away from God, but Hence, will consider the possession of it as served to bring him nearer. your greatest happiness and enjoy- amidst the variety of objects with ment; and looking upon the loss of which man was surrounded, God it, as your greatest calamity. Thus continued to be his highest good, to it is in spiritual and in temporal things. which he clave with his whole heart. And thus every man can at But after the fall the case was sadly moment positively determine the altered. In Gen. vi, 3, we read of that " race, state of his soul, unless he is deter- the whole human mined hypocritically to deceive him- flesh;" that the spirit was departed self. There has, indeed, a great from them, and they would no longer change taken place in all men re-listen to his strivings. But especialspecting these things, from what ly in the New Testament, this earththey were at their first creation. It ly and carnal mind of man is rewas not, to be sure, the divine in-vealed and condemned. In Rom. tention that our first parents should viii, 5-8, "For they that are after at once, like the Angels, come to the flesh do mind the things of the heaven and be exclusively engaged flesh;-to be carnally minded is in the service of God. It is said, death-because the carnal mind is Gen. ii, 15, of Adam, before Eve enmity against God-they that are was created, "The Lord God took in the flesh cannot please God." any man is Therefore did God suffer his Son, to|| situation, you would soon think and become man in our flesh, that through speak differently. Notwithstanding him we might again become spiritual it is a truth of God, that what is eterand obtain a heavenly mind. nal, should always have the preferIn the words of the text, our Sav-ence. Therefore, Jesus taught us in iour has declared to us wherein the the Lord's prayer, to pray in the folearthly and the heavenly mind con-lowing order: 1. Hallowed be thy sists; warning us against the one name, our father in heaven. This and recommending to us the other. is the chief thing of all. 2. Thy But we ask, what is the character of kingdom come. 3. Thy will be too many of those who profess the done, as in heaven, so also upon doctrine of Christ in respect to this earth. Then first follows the petisubject? tion, 4. Give us this day our daily The Lord Jesus here declares that bread. Prudent care is never forthe Heathens are anxious and distrust-bidden, but that distracting and unful, saying, "what shall we eat? what shall we drink? Wherewithal shall we be clothed?" We wish that it might be asserted with truth that the heathens only do this. But many are the instances, where mere natural and unconverted persons, whether called Christians or not, do the very same. When men are placed in circumstances in which they cannot live in the luxuries and superfluities of life, or by means of a salary or other income, but must depend for a support by the labor of their hands; especially in times of distress, and possessing the bare necessities of life, or when they do not prosper as they could wish, or have in seasons past. What is the first and chief care and concern of all such persons? What engrosses the whole of their attention? Whither are their thoughts and endeavors directed? To heaven? To that which is eternal? Surelyly things, whose God is their belly;" not; but upon food and clothing. Many of them, if we should desire them not to suffer this to be their pleasures of the world. What does he first and greatest concern, would im-say of them? He says, "that they are agine we were deriding them; or enemies of the cross of Christ, whose they would reply, if you were in my lend is destruction." Of another easy solicitude about the wants of life, or concerning the future. And again; to rely so much upon the providence of God, as to neglect the means, or use the powers and faculties with which the Divine Being has endowed us, is to tempt him, and act as an infidel. Therefore, the very circumstances of need, in which many persons are placed in this world, ought to excite them the more to gather a treasure in the heavens, that shall endure. Thus would the troubles of this life become much more supportable, and they would here already be rich in God. As to other unconverted persons, who have not these cares and anxieties as to the means of subsistence, yet they are no less earthly minded, some in one way, and some in another. Thus, Paul, Phil. iii, 18, 19, speaks of persons "who mind earth whose highest good consists in eating, drinking, and in the amusements and attachment to earthly things. Matthew sat at the receipt of custom, but when Jesus said, "follow me," he immediately rose and followed him. Mat. ix, 9. Again; when Jesus said to Zaccheus, that he would abide that day in his house, he was so filled with joy, that he "stood and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man, by false accusation, I restore him four-fold." Luke xix, 8, class, our Saviour says, that theyther also, and followed Jesus-Mat. serve Mammon, that is, as Job ex- iv. 22. More than this; sometimes presses it, xxxi, 24, 25, "They such as are intent upon acquiring make gold their hope, and say to the|| wealth, by means of usury, &c. have fine gold, thou art my confidence; in a moment, to the astonishment of they rejoice that their wealth is all, torn themselves loose from their great, and their hands have gotten much." Or, according to Ps. lii. 7, they are men "that make not God their strength, and trust in the abundance of their riches." And now the Lord Jesus says expressly of such, Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. Though they may pretend outwardly to serve God, yet in their hearts, to which the Lord looks, it will be seen that it is not true; because they will hate the one and love the other, and in their hearts they cling to their riches, and despise their God. Reader! pause a moment; the Lord probably has bestowed upon you liberally; and from the abundance which he has given you, has your heart delighted to relieve the wants of your fellow creatures, and promote the cause of Christ? With others, again, who have also been awakened, it is not only very difficult for them to forsake earthly things, but it is frequently the only reason that they cannot come to a resolution of following Christ. The rich young man, who asked Jesus, what he must do to inherit eternal life, must have had much that was good about him, because it is expressly said, Mark x, 21, that Jesus loved him; but when the Saviour told him, He Among persons who are awakened, there is a great difference in regard to this subject, Many, at the very first impression which the gra-" one thing (only one) thou lackest: cious call of God makes upon their go and sell whatsoever thou hast, and hearts, manifest so much sincerity, give to the poor, and thou shalt have that at once, all earthly things ap- treasure in heaven; and come, take pear, in the contrast, poor and worth-up thy cross and follow me.” less to them. Peter and his brother Andrew were fishermen ; and altho' to a poor man, it seems quite as hard to lose the little he has, as to a rich man to lose his wealth, yet Peter could say, as we read, Mat. xix, 27, "Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee." James and John your heart. left not only their ship, but their fa-||your treasure? was discouraged at this saying, and went away sad, for he was rich, and his heart was attached to his possessions; at which Jesus made the observation, "How hardly shall they that have riches, enter into the kingdom of God"! Reader! look to Young man, where is Judas actually fol |