talking among themselves, one Saturday afternoon, respecting the comparative excellence of their respective catechisms, one of the boys said, "Ah, miss, my catechism is better than yours. Dr. said last Sunday in the pulpit, that the Shorter Catechism was the best in the world. Now I am sure it is better than yours." His sister replied, "I say it is not better than mine. It's not half as good. Your catechism says wicked things: it says that God has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. I heard mamma say the other day that that was a bad doctrine, and against the Bible. I am sorry Pa makes you commit to memory such wicked things." Their mother, hearing this conversation from an adjoining room, very wisely came in, and put a stop to it.

When the second daughter of this couple was about five years of age, she was removed by death. When the question arose in what burying ground her remains should be interred, it gave rise to not a little painful discussion. Mr. M. wished them to be deposited in the cemetery which was attached to the church in which he usually worshipped, and where he expected that all that was mortal of himself would finally be laid. But his wife opposed this with a degree of urgency and ardour of feeling, which surprised all who witnessed it, excepting two or three of her more immediate relatives. She insisted on her daughter being buried in the ground adjacent to her own church; alleging that as she had been baptized by a minister of that church, and usually attended worship in it, there seemed to be a propriety in that being the place of her interment. She urged this with so much decision and perseverance, and with so many tears, that her husband, partly that he might not seem unwilling to gratify his wife, and partly to get rid of a controversy which, in the existing state of his

feelings was peculiarly distressing to him, yielded to her wishes, and the interment took place accordingly.

About eighteen months after this, their youngest son died. He was a charming boy, of more than usual promise, and peculiarly dear to both his parents. They were bowed down under this dispensation of Providence, and almost overwhelmed. The question as to the place of interment again arose. It might have been supposed that, on the same principles with those on which the question had been before decided, it would now be deemed proper to acquiesce in the former wish of the father, and make choice of the burying ground attached to the church in which the dear little deceased had been baptized. But a host of feelings-and certainly not very unnatural or unreasonable ones-arose against this measure in the mind of Mrs. M. She could not bear the thought, that the remains of her beloved son should be separated from those of her equally beloved daughter. She, therefore, gave her husband no rest until she had carried her point a second time. He acquiesced; but the whole affair evidently left him in a state of feeling by no means calculated to promote conjugal affection or domestick harmony.

Another circumstance gave rise to some uneasiness between this amiable and otherwise happy couple. Mr. M. had, a short time before his marriage, purchased a pew in his paternal church, at a very high price. And, as the support of the clergyman fell upon a few individuals, the pew-rent for which he was annually called upon was also high. As his pecuniary circumstances, though comfortable, were not affluent, he never felt himself able to make a similar purchase, and to pay a similar rent in another church. He therefore never bought a pew for his wife in the Episcopal church. He saw that she was well

accommodated in the pew occupied by her father's family, and thought nothing further necessary. This, however, was not satisfactory to Mrs. M. The situation of that pew was not such as to gratify her fondness for splendour and fashion; she wished for one of her own in a more conspicuous part of the church, and never felt satisfied that her wishes had not been more fully consulted on this point. Indeed her mortification on the subject was so frequently expressed, as to disclose that it formed a matter of no small uneasiness between herself and her husband.

The character of the second son became early very unpromising. He was idle, fond of low company, and constantly on the watch to escape from the eyes of his parents. From the age of twelve to sixteen, he had been in the habit of accompanying his father every Sabbath to publick worship. This placed him, for at least a part of every Sabbath, under parental inspection and control. But about the time that he reached the latter age, his turn for vulgar, degrading dissipation, became still more apparent and mortifying. He adopted every contrivance that he could think of, to avoid going to church at all. He at first excused himself to his father, from time to time, under the pretence of accompanying his mother to church; but generally slipped away from her at the church door, and spent the season of publick worship in some improper place. When this course had been for some time acquiesced in, or at least connived at, he then professed to alter his mind, and to be desirous of again returning to his father's church; but only with the view of practising a similar system of evasion. Each of his parents would have been more uneasy at this conduct, if each had not supposed, at least frequently, that he was with the other. If they had both been together at the same place of worship, this could not

have happened. But they were an example of a "house divided against itself;" and the consequences were more injurious, both to themselves and their children, than they were now willing to admit; though afterwards they saw and acknowledged it in all the bitterness of grief. This son went on from bad to worse, until, at the age of twenty, impatient of all control, he insisted on going to sea, and was never heard of more.

Two of their daughters suffered by the unhappy division in the family, in a manner nearly similar. They had been uniformly in the practice, as was before hinted, of attending their mother's church. When one of them was about seventeen years of age, and the other about nineteen, they became peculiarly intimate with the young ladies of a family, which was accustomed to worship in the same Presbyterian church which their father frequented. These young ladies, though genteel and reputable, were gay, volatile, and inordinately fond of publick amusements. The daughters of Mr. and Mrs. M. often besought their parents to let them go to church with these ladies, and to sit in their pew, as there was no female in their father's seat. This permission was seldom refused. They went accordingly. And there, removed from the observation of both their parents, they gradually fell into habits, which, though not at first grossly offensive, were yet regretted by the enlightened and reflecting friends of their parents. In their connexion with that family, and in the liberties which they took, more particularly in going to church with them, they were insensibly betrayed into follies, and formed associations, which led to consequences over which it were to be wished a veil could be forever drawn. Suffice it to say, that the wounds which had been before inflicted on their parents' hearts, by the conduct of a profligate son,

were now opened again, and continued to bleed as long as they lived, on account of these daughters.

The latter part of the lives of this respectable couple was by no means to be envied. They had less and less comfort, both in one another, and in their children-Their eldest son alone realized their hopes concerning him. Neither of them ever became united in full communion with the church: both of them, indeed, and more particularly Mr. M. had seasons of much seriousness and anxiety on the subject of religion, and more than once expressed a wish to make a publick profession of attachment to the Saviour. But their want of union in this great concern, always presented obstacles to their going forward. Each appeared reluctant to take a step in which the other could not unite. Thus they continued to the end of life, divided and comfortless. They died, as they had lived, without any decisive religious character. And even in "the house appointed for all living," they were not united. Their remains were committed to the dust in different cemeteries. And their surviving children are monuments of the unhappiness of different religious denominations in families.

[The author of the preceding narrative has not chosen to accompany it with any remarks, and the Editor will add but a few, and those expressed in a very summary manner. He chooses however to say, that he considers the narrative as calculated to exhibit to persons of all religious denominations, and equally to all, the lamentable evils which may ensue, because they have actually ensued, from a thoughtless or incautious contraction of marriage, with those of a different denomination from that in which the parties severally have themselves been educated. It is not, however, believed that it is always wrong, or inexpedient, for a man, or a woman,

to form the marriage relation with a person of another religious persuasion; because there certainly are some instances of such marriages which have proved most happy to all the parties concerned. It is, notwithstanding, believed that such marriages are not generally expedient; that they are always in a high degree hazardous, when there has not been a distinct understanding on the subject before marriage, as to the course to be afterwards pursued; and that inconvenience always, and often worse consequences, will follow, when from inconsideration, false delicacy, or blind passion, nothing has been agreed on between the parties, in regard to this momentous concern.

It follows as the result of the whole, and as the practical use to be made of this monitory narrative, that it is ordinarily far best for men and women to form the marriage relation, in that religious denomination in which they have severally been educated-That when it is about to be otherwise formed, an explicit agreement should be made in regard to the system of conduct to be pursued after marriage; and that a part of that system, with very few, if any exceptions, should be, that the parties will worship together, and bring up their children in the same Christian denomination:-if this cannot be done conscientiously, the marriage connexion, it is probable, would better not be formed-That, in fine, those who have married without a due consideration of this subject, should, as soon as they begin to experience the evils exhibited by the narrative, come to a solemn pause at once; and if practicable, immediately unite in the same mode of worship, and the same system of religious instruction for their offspring.

We remember once to have read a book, entitled "Religious Courtship," a title by the way, which would have suited very well for

Mrs. Hannah More's "Celebs in Search of a Wife."* If any of our correspondents will furnish us with a good paper on this subject, it shall have a ready insertion in the Christian Advocate.]

FOR THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.

LETTERS FROM AN AGED MINISTER OF

THE GOSPEL TO HIS SON, ON THE

DUTIES OF THE PASTORAL OFFICE.

LETTER II.

My dear Timothy-In my former letter I dwelt at some length on the importance of personal piety in a gospel minister; both as it respects his individual comfort and his publick usefulness. These two things, as I have already had occasion to show, are inseparably connected. What I propose therefore to make the subject of this letter, may be considered as bearing equally on both these points-I shall endeavour to specify the principal means by which the personal piety of a minister of the gospel may be cherished, and by which, at the same time, his usefulness will certainly be increased. These means may, I think, be all comprehended in prayer, lemn meditation with self-examination, and the devout reading of the scriptures and the best treatises of practical piety. On each of these topicks I must of necessity be brief: and indeed, as I am writing to one who is supposed not to need persuasion to perform his duty, but only to have it clearly indicated, it would be out of place to say much in the way of argument or exhortation.

So

1. Prayer. Every minister of the gospel ought unquestionably to be eminently "a devout man-praying always, with all prayer and suppli

"The Christian Observer," in reviewing this work, said "We object first and vehemently to the title of these volumes." Vol. viii. p. 120.

cation in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance, and supplication for all saints.” The spirit and fervency of prayer, which is the vital part of the duty, may perhaps be best cherished by different persons in different ways. Some may find it best to prolong the season of devotion whenever it is commenced, and others to have the seasons frequent, and not of long continuance. A regular and determinate method, however, of daily secret prayer, should be deliberately adopted by all, and observed with care and strictness. As a general rule, I think that a minister of the gospel ought to be on his knees in his closet, not less than three times a day. Nor ought he ever to attempt to address his Maker, without a few moments, at least, previously spent in solemn recollection of the nature of the act he is about to perform. It is worse than mere formality, it is dress the Deity without a reverend nothing short of profaneness, to adsense of his presence and of his glorious majesty. I need scarcely oftener, in the twenty-four hours, mention to you, that once, if not panied with praise, or the use of secret prayer ought to be accomreading of a portion of the word of sacred song, as well as with the

God.

But beside the stated daily seasons of private devotion, he who "walks with God," as every Christian minister ought to do, will find his mind occasionally in a frame, which will strongly prompt him to pour out his soul in prayer. Then let him hasten to his retirement, or

shut to the door" of his study, if he is in it, and indulge the devout feelings and emotions of his heart, which may now enable him to

"draw NIGH unto God." Account

these, my son, as happy moments, in which "the fervent effectual prayer of the righteous man, which availeth much," seldom fails to be offered. Improve them, therefore,

whenever they occur-and the of tener they occur the better.

Ejaculatory prayer ought to be much practised by Christians in general, and especially by ministers of the gospel. It would be impracticable to mention all the occasions that may call for this silent address of the soul to the Father of spirits. The occasions, indeed, may be as numerous as the incidents of life; and when there is no special occurrence that calls to this duty, it is a sweet and delightful exercise for the soul to go forth unto "God its exceeding joy." It was, I suppose, chiefly in this form of prayer that the Psalmist remembered and communed with his God upon his bed. But I must endeavour to be more compendious in what remains; for a good deal yet remains to be hinted at, on this topick.

You ought never to choose a text for a sermon, without asking to be heaven-directed in the choice; and never to compose a sermon, without praying for divine assistance in the composition.

Immediately before leaving your study for the pulpit, always pray for help from God in all the exercises before you, and for his special blessing on the whole service: and always on your return to your house, after the solemnities of the sanctuary, again and immediately pray for a blessing on the services performed, and give thanks for the assistance experienced.

Whenever you go out to visit your people, especially the sick, at least lift up your heart to God to go with you, and to render your visit profitable to the family, or to the individual that is the object of the visit. If you have before you a difficult duty, such as the giving of advice, or the administering of reproof, be more particular in asking aid, direction, and a happy issue.

In ordinary circumstances, I would advise you to set apart a day, once a month, for special prayer; and that your birth day, and New VOL. II.-Ch. Adv.

Year's day, should be regularly observed in the same manner. The

appropriate exercises for these days you will consider for yourself.

On special occurrences of affliction, of doubt in regard to duty, of important and difficult duties to be performed, of dangers to be encountered, or of critical or discouraging circumstances among the people of your charge, observe a day of fasting and prayer.

In all your prayers, both in your closet and your family, especially the former, let not the intercessory part be short or formal. Pray particularly for your family, relations, friends, enemies, and the individuals who have requested your remembrance; as well as for the dear people of your charge, for revivals of religion, for the success of missions, and for the spread of the gospel through the world.

In reading the life of the late excellent Dr. Thomas Scott, I was pleased, and I hope edified, to find that he had been particularly attentive to this part of duty, and thought it was that in which he had been the least deficient. Intercessory prayer, and the giving of thanks for mercies received, are in general less attended to than they should be:

On the whole, remember the maxim, "Bene orâsse, est bene studuisse; and be assured, that experience will increase your confidence both in its truth and impor