polishing and repolishing the periods; -he gloats over the beauty of the phraseology in which he clothes his maledictions. In one of his prelections, talking of Unitarians, he told his admiring audience, "They are hellish and full of hell, they are damnable and damned, they are liars from the centre to the circumference." How sublime, how beautifully poetical is this! but I think it rather exceeded by a more recent denunciation.- "The gates of heaven are for ever shut against them, and hell itself will not receive them." This was publicly declared by him, and, I suppose, applauded by his hearers, who take the liberty of calling themselves Christians. What an appeal to the tender sympathies of his audience! how well calculated to cause the tear of pity to tremble in the eyes of all who were within the hearing of his voice, for the frailty and folly of their erring brethren! How admirably discourses in which such beauties occur are fitted to dispose those who are edified by them to act the part of the good Samaritau! And these men call themselves Christians!what a horrible desecration of the word!-can it be that they dare to jest with a matter so solemn, or is it possible that their creeds and confessions have so blinded the eyes of their understanding that they can for a moment suppose, when uttering such horrid blasphemies, that they are acting in the spirit of him who prayed for forgiveness on his murderers! Alas! and this is Christianity-fashionable, orthodox Christianity in the nineteenth century! 'Tis unfortunately too true-the propounder of such execrable sentiments is a most acceptable (as it is cantingly called) preacher of the Gospel of peace. Nor has the seed he has sown failed to produce its natural fruit. I have witnessed with sorrow its effect on hearts naturally kind an I benevolent. I have heard it in the unkind expression from those who would not otherwise offend, I have seen it in the eye flashing anger if even the slightest hint was given that such doctrines might possibly be corruptions of our holy religion. Such, Mr. Editor, has been, such is, and such ever will be the case, till men, forsaking par y, and the miserable feelings to which love of party ei es rise, will inquire, without passion or prejudice, "What is truth ?"

But what is all this cursing and swearing about? If you believe them, it is solely intended for our benefit.

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This, however, I must take the liberty of doubting. It appears to me to arise from both fear and hate. They fear, because even the most stupid of them have an indistinct idea that the principles we profess will gradually work the downfal of priestcraft, and emancipate the minds of men from that superstition and folly in which ages of ignorance on the one hand, and cunning on the other, have bound them. They seem to feel that the small stone cut out of the mountain without hands, is smiting their idol on its feet of clay, and will eventually grind it in pieces. They hate us, because they know in their hearts they have tried to injure us by every species of misrepresentation, calumny, and abuse, without receiving from us a return in kind; their dislike is therefore deadly, the well-known principle of human nature being that the injurer never forgives.

Before I conclude, I must take notice of the contemptuous manner in which it has pleased Mr. Blake to address Mr. Doherty. He is too contemptible-for that is the meaning of "too high or too low, take it which way you will," for his notice. In what does this fancied superiority consist, I should like to know. Is Mr. Blake mentally, or as a scholar, superior? He is, much against the will, I believe, of many of his hearers, the minister of a small but highly respectable congregation of Christians. Mr. Doherty is, by unanimous consent, the minister of a small but equally respectable body of "Christians," I would call them, if permitted. In what, then, does this superiority consist? I certainly, will feel much obliged if Mr. Blake, or any of the persons who signed the address, will favour me with a reply. He has kept constantly telling us that he is a gentleman, but he seems to forget that one of the duties of a gentleman is to treat his inferiors with urbanity. Now, seeing that, in every sense, Mr. Doherty is so vastly beneath him, I trust the style of any epistle he may hereafter honour him with will be more courteous than the last. Since the Unitarians here have formed themselves into a separate congregation, they have tried to avoid giving offence to any one; in so doing, they believed they were following the precepts of their divine master. They will, I am sure, continue to act in the same spirit, but if needlessly and wantonly assailed, they will prove they have both the power and the will to defend themselves. Mr. Doherty is bound to tell them what he believes to be

true, they are bound to protect and encourage him in so doing, and he may rest satisfied, that, until he fails in fulfilling his duty, he will ever find them willing to perform theirs.

Aug. 10, 1839.

AN INHABITANT OF COMBER.

THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDY TO THE CLERGY. THE last number of the North American Review contains an article on the importance of self-cultivation to the clergy. It is timely and valuable. The truth needs to be insisted on, its importance inculcated. There is cause to fear that some of our clergy have tried to effect so much good out of the pulpit, they have done but little in it. The duty of frequent and familiar intercourse with the people, has been much dwelt on. It is constantly said, 'a minister can do more for them in this way than by preaching.' But if he does not gain their respect and reverence while in the pulpit, he will effect nothing outworth effecting. And he will not gain their respect and reverence unless he comes before them in that place, with what impresses them as fresh, original, living thought and real feeling. They perfectly well understand this matter. They know when a man addresses them from the full, flowing energy of his soul, and when he talks to them about things, in relation to which he has thought little and feels little. He may be very attentive, and very affectionate, instant in season and out of season. But it will all be to no good purpose. He has no deep hold upon them. The pulpit must be his throne, or he will have none. Action is undoubtedly the chief requisite in the ministry. But it is not that bodily exercise, which consists in going from house to house. It is the activity of the higher sentiments and faculties of the mind. His profiting, his progress must appear unto all. His inner man must be renewed and invigorated day by day. The fountain of living waters must be kept ever open. It must not be suffered to become stagnant. The angels of thought and reflection must be ever stirring its depths-then he will make glad and beautiful the city of God in which he is placed. Streams of refreshing, healing, elevating influence will be ever flowing from his words, deeds, life. All will take note of him that he has truly been with Jesus

and with God, held communion with the sources of true power, won celestial energy from its everlasting springs: and, therefore, whatever he does and says is with and full of power. But what high results can proceed from a barren, feeble, empty mind. And this every mind will be that has not formed the habit and cherished the love of unwearied application and study. He may be very active, bustling, and enterprising. He may form many plans and societies. He may hold frequent meetings, write innumerable sermons, drive furiously about his parish, exhort with all long suffering to others, if not to himself, put in operation a surpassing quantity of machinery-but it is all nought-for soul is wanting. One such tear as trickled down the Saviour's cheeks, or one such prayer as he breathed in the garden and on the mountain, or one such emotion as he felt on the cross, would effect more than all. This array of means and this bustling activity are nothing but wood, hay, stubble; it may be with a little sprinkling of gold and silver and precious stones.

A true, rich, living soul is the only direct, efficient agent of good on earth. Its silent existence is an incalculable good. Its influence perhaps descends in silence like dew upon the mountain. But it is none the less fruitful of the best effects. It excites in the hearts of all that come within its sphere, a hunger and thirst after righteousness, purity, honour, glory. It touches gently but strongly the diviner portions of our nature. It is leaven that continues in stillness to spread its blessed effects till the whole mass is sanctified. It is ever quickening and calling forth the latent sparks of spiritual energy, beauty, and excellence. We cannot impart what we do not possess. And if we have not life in ourselves, in vain shall we strive to infuse it into others. We must abound in the fruits of the spirit if we would cultivate a rich harvest in others' bosoms. We say we do not preach ourselves. But we do, and cannot help it. about our own moral state and sentiments. selves are poor, in vain shall we labour to rich. If ourselves are cold, in vain shall we strive, by means of loud and vehement declamation, to warm others. There is more of God in the still, small voice, that issues from a quick, full soul, than in thunders and earthquakes.

We diffuse And if ourmake others

If we are feeble and barren, in vain shall we strive to make others strong and productive. We should have no doubt in regard to a young man, who had formed the habit of daily, sustained study, that he would become, if not a star of the first magnitude in the moral firmament, highly respectable and extensively useful-a burning and a shining light. He might not succeed at first-but he will at last, and beyond his own expectations. He will constantly rise and grow. His force and influence will continue to increase in depth, volume, and beneficence, till they pour a bright, majestic stream into the ocean of eternity.

But in regard to one, who had not formed the habit of daily, sustained study, we should be very certain he would not succeed. He may enter the profession with much ability, promise, and popularity. But he raises expectations only to disappoint them. He will soon begin and continue to sink. What oil there may be in his lamp, is gradually consumed. And he does nothing to replenish it-till at last he finds himself in outer darkness, useless, neglected, the joy and brightness and melody reserved for the faithful, beyond his reach. Study, reflection, thought, action, soul-action is the one thing needful for the clergyman. We must look to ourselves for the means of accomplishing our work. We must open and enlarge the fountains of power within ourselves. We must dedicate ourselves to persevering self-cultivation. Drop by drop we must fill our spirits with living energy. And we shall not labour alone. He that seeks finds. God will help us. He will give us of his grace without measure. we shall reap an hundred fold now in the present world. We shall be clothed, with righteousness, and the saints every where rejoice and Zion put on her beautiful garments. Christian Register.

will

And

GEORGE FOX, THE FIRST PREACHER OF THE SECT CALLED QUAKERS.

GEORGE FOX, the son of " I righteous Christopher," a Lancashire weaver, by his mother descended from the stock of the martyrs, distinguished even in boyhood by frank inflexibility and deep religious feeling, became in early life an apprentice to a Nottingham shoemaker, who