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as the Apostles in the primitive age first planted the Church in trueth of the Gospell; so, the same trueth beyng agayne defaced and decayed by enemies in thys our latter tyme, there was none that travayled more earnestly in restoring of the same in this realme of England, than dyd William Tyndall."

Query. Is it not desirable that some competent person should compile and publish a history of the life and times of this eminent Reformer, accompanied by select extracts from his works, which might give a clear idea of

his doctrinal sentiments?

Kent Road.

J. M. C.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER

FROM THE

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Rev. Dr. Erskine of Edinburgh, vices to the church of God. As

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I was just about to have wrote you, when our good friend Mr. Thomson acquainted me of the heavy trial you have lately sustained. May your shoes be as iron and brass, and as your day is, so may your strength be! and when your dearest stream of earthly comfort is dried up, may you drink more abundantly of the fountain! You have recommended, in your " Contemplations," Calamy on Inspiration, and Flavel on the soul, which, though long in my possession, I have not read, but purpose now to read. Let me recommend to you Flavel's Token for Mourners, which I think the best book of the kind I ever read, though I have frequently perused it. On the other side I have transcribed for you

our world loses by the death of eminent saints, the other gains by it. They fall in our world to rise more illustrious there. Could we trace them exulting before the throne of God and the Lamb, triumphing in our blessed Redeemer, in immortal youth and vigour, freed from all disorders of mind and body whatever; could we discover how bright they shine, how ar dently they love, how humbly they adore; and could we hear the melody of their songs; it would soon make us weary of this sinning, vain world, and adopt these words in an allowable sense, Let us also go, that we may die with them.'

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be composed and comforted even when Providence has set us down among the tombs. We are called to mourn, but not as without hope; not as if Christ's interest were to sink and die with them. No. His stability depends not on any mortal, but upon him that said, I am he that liveth and was dead, and be. hold I am alive for ever more.' Christians die, and ministers die; but the word of the Lord dieth

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good news, that, though the earthen vessel is broken, the heavenly treasure is not lost and buried in the grave. Oh to be taught of God, to look up to him, who has the seven spirits of God, to supply all our wants, and to heal the wide breaches. that are made from time to time!

good and valuable, have likewise got to heaven before me, and left to poor me the sinning, sighing part, while they are joined to the spirits made perfect in knowledge, holiness, and joy. However well pleased our Lord and the saints are in one another, upon the change that death makes, it is not easy to make us pleased too, and cordially wish them joy of their new dignity and elevation. Their sentiments are different. Their affections are raised and enno-not, but liveth for ever. It is bled; and as well as they loved us, they would not come back to us for a thousand worlds. Upon their entrance into heaven, we may suppose their first wish is, Oh that I had been sooner here! and their next wish is, for our being with them as soon as may be. The saints are Christ's friends, as well as ours, and we must allow him his blessed will, John xvii. 24, to have his friends about him in preference to ours, who have had them so long; and it may be, before Christ has had them so long with him, as some of us have had them here below, we shall be with them again, and Christ, and they, and we shall be all together. Oh what a happy meeting! They and we freed of all natural and sinful infirmities! There the communion of saints is in perfection, and this blessed society shall never break up or separate. No parting salutation there! the word farewell is no part of the heavenly language.

"Now, my dear friend, when our Lord takes away our gracious, eminently useful friends and public blessings, we must learn to translate our affection and dependence from earth to heaven, from these short-lived and uncertain supports to the ever-living God; and as our eye is directed to and fixed upon him, we shall

The weaker the poor instruments are that are left, the excellency of the power will be more of God."

WORDS OF THE WISE.

INSTEAD of standing still, going back, or turning out of the road, always proceed. It is better to creep in the right way, than to fly in the wrong.

Art thou arrived to maturity of life? Look back, and thou shalt see the frailty of thy youth, the folly of thy childhood, and the insensibility of thy infancy. Look forward, and thou shalt behold the insincerity of the world, and the cares of life; the diseases of thy body, and the troubles of thy mind.

In this world death is everywhere, grief every-where, and desolation every-where. The world flieth from us, and yet we follow it. It falleth; and we adhere to it, fall with it, and attempt to enjoy it falling.

Juvenile Department.

To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. | dead nor absent. I put it into your

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Ignorance and vice are the usual effects of an unlearned and undisciplined education. Of my passionate desire to free you and your brother from both these, I suppose I have given you and the world sufficient testimony: sure I am, I have satisfied myself. You may guess how violent my longings are to advance your piety and understanding, that is, to render you perfect men, in that death is only displeasing when I think of dying before I see this my desire accomplished, or at least so far as that my hopes may be greater than my fears. And as death every day makes his approaches nearer and nearer, (God knows how soon he will make a long separation between us,) and in this other regard too, that whilst I live I shall always be with thee, be this then received, either as the legacy of a dying, or the advice of a living, father. If it be observed or obeyed in either capacity, I shall think myself neither

hands with a prayer, that God will give it his blessing, and then you have mine. It was the wisest saying of the wisest man,-the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Holiness, then, is the introduction of all wisdom. So it shall be the first of my advice,-fear God; and if holiness give knowledge, knowledge will give thee happiness, long life, Length of riches, and honour. days is in the right hand of wisdom,

and in her left hand are riches and honour, said the wise king. How exalted a thing then is religion, which is the mother of so great blessings!

As for your DUTY TO ME, I doubt not but it will grow up with your understanding. And when you know how nice and curious my care hath been over your education, even to the least circumstance,— my prying into your inclinations, observing the bent of your soul, her very first putting forth, heightening the good and checking the ill, placing guards upon your senses and conversation, not only pointing out the way to virtue, but putting your feet into it, and teaching you to tread it, (I speak not of fashioning or adorning your body, for I would not have you to measure my love and care by gay clothes, noble diet, and recreation, though you enjoyed these in some measure:) when you come to know and judge of this, I have reason to expect, and therefore may boldly challenge, that if you were to choose a father, you would seck me out. Should you now so behave yourself, as that if I were to choose a son, to adopt a gentleman into my family, to inherit my name and fortunes, you only I should pitch upon; besides the joy of beholding, I should have a requital even to my wish. Nor were it possible for you to die in my debt for your education, if you observe this, with like care to

bring up your children also, (if it shall please God to give you that blessing). And because I have an ambition to oblige posterity, I do here charge this duty upon you, that you also lay the like charge upon yours, and they on their children successively. For ingenuous manners first made us noble, marked out and advanced our family first to honour; with equal reason, and more facility, will such manners preserve us noble, which is most certainly effected by education; otherwise the estate. I leave you will be but as rich trappings upon an ass, and render you more ridiculous: wherefore, whatsoever you leave your heirs, (and now I speak to your posterity in you,) be sure to give them a learned and liberal education; there being, in my judgment, no other way to secure you from falling from honour, and from │| the despite of fortune. This which I have said concerning your duty to me, is also applicable to the memory of your excellent mother, for a personal observance you cannot pay her. I most strictly charge you, often to call to mind, that you and your brother have entered into a solemn engagement unto me, under your hands, to imitate the honours and excellencies of that dear saint, the best of wives, the best of mothers and friends. Be religious in the performance of it, as you expect my blessing. Remember, Frank, she had more pangs in your bringing up, than bringing forth, and she has been an excellent nurse to your mind, regarding more the health and straitness of that, than of your body, though this was cared for with the greatest tenderness imaginable. The truth is, you owe her so much that you cannot clear your obligation by any other way; nothing can discharge you, and acquit you to her also, but by being such to yours, as she was to you; thus her memory will be honoured, and I shall profess myself satisfied.

AFFECTION TO BROTHERS AND

SISTERS.

As for your carriage towards your brothers and sisters, I must needs

say, that your natural kindness towards them now, gives me great hope that you will be a loving brother hereafter. And be so, Frank, as you expect the blessing of God, and my favour. Besides, your interest will require this from you; wealthy, and ancient family, entire, and agreeing within itself, with all its dependents and relatives, cannot easily be wronged in such a country as this. I know very well how little it can suffer, and how much it can do; but then it must be, as I said, entire. The dying father's bundle of arrows in the fable, has an excellent moral, to show, how invincible love and union are.

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And that you may rightly understand me, this love of yours to them, must not only be in affectionate words, kind entertainment, and the like, but in a hearty real performance of all good offices that may tend to the advantage of their estates and reputation; study to do them good, and stay not for opportunities offered,-snatch them rather, and prevent their wishes. This is a noble way of obliging, and by this means you may make them your friends, a dearer name by far than that of brother or sister, and which, perhaps, may be repaid to yours, though yourself may not need the return; for I must tell you, kind offices have been remembered when the bestower has been rotten; and the grandchild hath been thanked, sometimes relieved, for the grandfather's kindness. Insomuch as the courtesy to your brother may prove a charity to your child, think seriously of this, and remember it. But that I may be thoroughly understood in this advice, your love doth not end here, and I am not fully obeyed if you only love them in that manner which I have expressed : you must endeavour that they love one another also. To this end, be sure to put out the fire of discontent, if any appear, or but the smoke thereof, presently, so soon as it doth appear; and be careful to put it quite out; for smothered discontents break out afterwards with more violence. And, herein, after my decease, you are to show the authority of a father, as well as the love of

AFFECTION To Kindred.

a brother, to your family; for which things; learn, therefore, first to purpose, you ought to enable your-make a right judgment of things; self with those abilities of under-esteem not a feather, and slight a standing and judgment, that you jewel; know that nothing is beautimay be a person fit to be soughtful, great, or your own, but only unto, and to be relied upon. This piety and virtue. Riches are not will give you authority: for both great revenues, noble houses, mosides will be confident that your ney, or plate; but not to want that equal affection will not suffer you to which is necessary to support a modeceive them, nor your sound reason derate and ingenuous condition. to be deceived yourself. Glory, is to hear well for doing good; honour, a reverence for being virtuous; power and command, an ability to oblige noble persons; nobility, heroic actions, or to be like noble ancestors; generosity, a natural inclination to virtue; health, such a constitution of the body as renders the mind vigorous; beauty, a fair soul lodged in no unhandsome body; strength, not to be weary in virtuous actions; pleasure, those pure, firm, lasting delights, which arise from those things alone which belong to the understanding and soul.

After you are able to judge of things, having kept off the servile yoke which opinion hath laid upon most men by imposing false names, and governing the world by that cheat; after you can plainly see a

This advice I must carry also into my next particular that concerns your kindred, which, for the former reasons, you must also labour to preserve in amity, at least the major and better part of them; and it will require a very good skill; but once happily effected, it must needs bring you great reputation. Let your outward deportment be full of respect to all your kindred, but reserve to yourself a secret mark and character of each. And take heed of suffering them to come within you; yet thrust them not off. Gentleness, but managed with discretion, will be sometimes necessary, yet distance and gravity must presently step in to secure it from presump-rich man to want those things which tion, and protect it from abuse. I should say more concerning this, but I refer you to my more secret instructions, where you shall have, God enabling me, a particular account of those friends and servants to your family, whose counsels you may follow, and whose service you may trust.-Frank, you are now setting your foot into the world, and before you place it, look about you, and consider that you can hardly set it but upon a snare, or a thorn, which calls upon you both for care and courage. With these, take my experience for your guide; and, if you follow not my directions exactly, which frees you from all danger, yet tread as near as you can; you shall suffer the less; slip you may, fall you cannot.

MANNERS.

I have observed, that the greatest mischief to our manners proceeds from a mistake of the nature of

he has, and a high content in poverty; and after you can discern a great man, in all his liberty, chained like a slave to his lusts and idleness, and another free in his fetters ;this done, to fit you for conversation, receive these following directions.

First, because the eye doth make the first report of the man, and as she tells her tale, so, for the most part, the presence is liked or disliked, (though sometimes very unjustly,)-to avoid prejudice, be sure to put yourself into good fashion; and, without flattery, I may tell you, but do not hear it without thankfulness to God, you have a body every way fit to bear a graceful presence, answerable to your rank and quality. But take heed of affectation and singularity, lest you act the nobleman, instead of being

one.

And whether you stand, sit, or move, let it be with such a becoming, pleasing gravity, as that your very behaviour may commend you, and prevail for a good opinion with

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