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would over a church which had voted that intoxication was no evil. But yet, ministers will take part in ordination services, when they know the church has cheated their pastors, and not say a syllable about the sin of it. If I should be sent as a delegate to such a church, when they were going to ordain a minister, I would refuse to act, and tell them plainly my reason was, because they had not paid their honest debts.

D.

Dear me! It would make a stir if you should.

G. Well, it is time there should be a stir. The people of God have slept over this evil long enough. It is time for the churches to act on principle, and neither cheat, nor countenance cheating, any longer. Sins in churches should not be connived at by other churches.

D. That is true, and I wish all Christians were of the same opinion.

G. And did you ever think, doctor, how mean it is, thus to cheat ministers? If a church owed a worldly man an $100, it would be paid, because they would be afraid of being sued. But if they owe a minister, they say,

he'll not take advantage of the law, and so they will meanly rest contented to owe him forever.

I don't approve of Christians going to law, or else I should hope that some minister who has been cheated, would prosecute the cheating church, that Christians who will not do right from principle, might be compelled by the law to do so.

D. Well brother Greiting, what do you think of those churches which in building a meeting-house, so contrive the plan, that if there is any loss, it shall fall on the mechanics who erected it?

G. What do I think! I think it is downright cheating, and shows a dreadful lack of principle.

D. What do you think of churches, which allow their agents in getting subscriptions for building a meeting-house, to have on their list the name of some prominent man for a large sum, which, it is understood, he is never to be called upon to pay, merely to induce others. to subscribe liberally?

G. Any church that will consent to that, I consider guilty of the vilest hypocrisy, but

don't ask me any more such questions, for I hate to think of such things among the churches of Christ. It grieves me to my very soul, when I think how little real principle there is. I trust the day will come when there will be more of it among God's people.

D. So do I, and I must try myself to act more from principle than I have.

G. And so must I, and may the Lord help me to do it.

The doctor now took his departure, and Samuel Greiting again sat himself down to work, and rap, rap, rap, went his hammer o'er his lap-stone, as he said to himself"The Lord, not man-the Lord, the great head of the church, has said-has ordainedthat those who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel. I am afraid that some of our churches forget,-that the Lord has ordained this. They must think man has ordained it, or else they would not half starve their ministers, nor cheat them. Oh!-that there was more principle among Christians.

CHAPTER XV.

REV. CHRISTOPHER FICKLE.

""Tis strange, 'tis passing strange,

That such a man, a man of so much sense
Should be so fickle minded."

Rev. Ferdinand Fickle, the grandfather of Rev. Christopher Fickle, was a man of gigantic stature, gigantic intellect, gigantic resolution, and gigantic strength. He was said to be the strongest man in the northern part of England, and was frequently challenged by the most powerful men of his country to a trial of strength. These challenges, however, he invariably declined, considering it incompatible with his dignity as a minister of the gospel to accept them. One man who had rode a long distance (as the story goes) for the purpose of trying his physical powers with him, after vainly endeavoring to induce him to engage, rudely seized him, being determined to know which was the stronger of the two. Mr.

Fickle very calmly took him up, and threw him over a neighboring fence. The man, being fully satisfied which was the stronger of the two, and not the least out of temper, though somewhat bruised, good naturedly said, "Be kind enough to throw my horse over, and I will be going."

Solomon, his son, was like his father in two respects, and unlike him in two. He was of gigantic stature and strength, but of inferior intellect, and of no resolution. He ran away from home when thirteen years of age, and went to sea. At seventeen, being tired of the ocean, he quitted the mariner's life, and commenced learning the trade of a carpenter. Having worked at this trade about thirteen months, he ran away from his master, and enlisted in the dragoon service for three years. At the expiration of two years he deserted, and took passage in a ship for Canada. He was wrecked on a desolate part of Newfoundland, and nearly died of starvation before he found a human habitation. He at last arrived in Canada, and remained there three years, and then returned to England, and opened a store in his native town. Being soon wearied

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