of calumny or contempt, he attends to that Being who whispers better things within his soul, and whom he looks upon as his defender, his glory, and the lifter up of his head. In his deepest solitude and retirement, he knows that he is in company with the greatest of Beings; and perceives within himself such real sensations of his presence as are more delightful than any thing that can be met with in the conversation of his creatures. Even in the hour of death he considers the pains of his dissolution to be nothing else but the breaking down of that partition which stands between his soul and the sight of that Being who is always present with him, and is about to manifest himself to him in fulness of joy."

As, then, the Supreme Being is not cognizable by our natural senses, and as the immortal part of man is also invisible, it is not inconsistent with reason to conclude, that the spiritual part of us may be immediately influenced by that power which created it; that He may in former times have communicated his will to intelligent beings in a supernatural manner; that these having recorded the impressions made upon them, a written revelation may have been intrusted to mankind. That this has been done in the case of the Holy Scriptures, we most firmly believe; for when we consider the tendency of the precepts there given for the conduct of life, and how eminently they are calculated to promote the happiness and well being of the human race, not only during the short period of their natural lives, but in the interminable state which is to follow; when we see that the object of these divine precepts is to produce peace on earth and good will among men, and also consider that one of the most glorious attri

butes of the Deity is love, the source from which these precepts have originated becomes apparent, and there is no longer room for doubt.

As it is clear, then, that the dispensations of the Divine Being have a reference to the happiness of man, it follows that the exercise of benevolence, and deeds of mercy, must, in a peculiar manner, be consistent with his will. It seems, indeed, that by an ordinance of his providence these acts are made a source of the purest pleasure. "If,” says a celebrated author, "thou doest good to man, as an evidence of thy love to God, that peace which is the foretaste of Paradise shall be thy reward on earth.” And I need not tell those who are engaged in the medical profession how many opportunities they have of exercising the best feelings of the heart. They are called to see human nature under the most afflicting and trying circumstances. It is when the mind is subdued by misfortune, and when the body is oppressed with disease and pain, that the value of the balm of sympathy is most fully appreciated. He who is qualified to administer it, under these circumstances, may be regarded as an angel of mercy, a delegate from heaven. Your profession is a liberal one, and it is expected that your conduct should do honour to that profession. It is not enough that you merely bring to it that knowledge which is essential to the cure of diseases; suffering humanity requires something more: it requires soothing manners, it demands sensibility of heart, and those exalted feelings which distinguish the man and the Christian. These qualifications are necessary to the complete character of a medical man: they will not only be acceptable in the sight of

DURING a period in the history of the Israelitish nation when they were governed by judges, between the demise of one, and the succession of another judge, the Ammonites took the advantage of their situation, made war upon them, and laid waste their country. In this distress the elders of Israel called upon Jephthah, to become their judge, and to lead them against their enemy. Jephthah hesitated for some time, but finally consented to obey the voice of his people. He twice sent messengers to the Ammonites remonstrating against their injustice and cruelty in making war upon a nation at peace with, and who had done them no harm. He solemnly called upon them to desist from their predatory incursions, and return to their own country. Jephthah's remonstrances were in vain; the enemy persisted in his unreasonable and wicked conduct.

At this momentous period the spirit of Jehovah came upon Jephthah, he blew the trumpet of war, collected an army, and marched against the enemy. Before he engaged in battle; while under the pressure of awful responsibility to his people; while under a deep sense of the absolute need of divine help, he made his supplications to Jehovah God of hosts for his interposition, and then made the singular vow above mentioned: that upon the event of his success in repelling the enemy and reducing him to submission, upon his return in peace to his native city, whosoever coming out of Mizpeh, should come from the doors of his own house, should be solemnly devoted to the service of Almighty God;

peace.

On the day of his triumphal entry into Mizpeh, with one accord the people expressed their feelings by one universal burst of praises and glory to God, who had extended mercy and salvation to his people Israel. The women, laying aside their domestic cares, joined the glad anthem; and among the foremost was Jephthah's only child, the loveliest of the lovely. Upon her he depended for the continuance of his family; upon failure thereof his name would cease in Israel. Arrayed in garments of spotless white, her virgin heart overflowing with holy joy, she took a timbrel in her hand, headed the choir of her lovely companions, and went forth to join the loud acclaim; to meet her victorious parent.-Alas, for the uncertainty of all earthly joys! At another time to have met and pressed to his bosom his only child, would have been the perfection of parental bliss-upon this occasion 't was death! He had made a vow.

Upon being informed of the circumstances of her father's vow, this amiable damsel submitted to the will of God with holy resignation. The Eternal had heard the prayers of his people, and had rescued them from the hands of the destroyer, and should she murmur and repine? She bowed before the Almighty, and consented to the vow. Her pious heart was lifted

holy aspirations were, "not my will, but thy will be done, oh my heavenly Father, as in heaven so on earth; I give myself to thee, 'tis all that I can give." She requested permission to retire to the mountains with her youthful associates, to bewail the extinction of her family, and the blighting of the hope of Judah's matrons. At the end of two months she returned, was openly and publicly professed, and

life to be occupied in dispensing the blessings of religion to the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, the fatherless and the widow.

So lived and so died this exemplary virgin. To commemorate this living, devoted, and holy offering of Jephthah's lovely child, the virgin daughters of Israel had a solemn lament four days in every year. H. T.

Natchez, Sept. 3, 1827.

THOU KING OF SAINTS

their hearts

Thy title is engraven with a pen,
Dipt in the fountain of eternal love.
Thy saints proclaim thee King; and thy delay
Gives courage to their foes, who, could they

see

The dawn of thy last advent, long desired, Would creep into the bowels of the hills, And flee for safety to the falling rocks!"

MARTHA H. HINDE, the young lady an account of whose conversion and triumphant death we gave in the last number, was an extraordinary female; and time elevates her standing by comparison. Meekness, humility, and prudence, marked her steps. She deliberated, and coolly reflected, before she proceeded to act; this was her deportment on all occasions. Her death, as a loss in society, was felt, severely felt, by her aged parents; and almost equally so by her relatives and friends generally. I find now many young females bearing her name, in token of respect for departed piety, given by pious parents. The tidings of her death reached Kentucky in a few days. One of major John Martin's sons, an amiable young man, was now grappling with death from the same disorder that had taken off his female friend. The family were fearful of communicating the account of her death to him, lest it might have an in

culars. An account of her death had been fully communicated; he read it with floods of tears: being somewhat skeptical, he now sought the Lord, and also died triumphantly.*

* We believe it to be a scriptural doctrine, that angels become "ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation;" how happy then the faithful follower of the Lamb to reflect, that the blessed Redeemer sends those holy beings to minister to the necessifrom which we draw our Christian consolation speak of such. To survive many pious friends or relatives, has a tendency to unloose our affections to this lower world! But perhaps there are other holy and intelligent beings besides those engaged in the same employ, whom Cowper describes as the morning stars

ties of the saints. How often does the book

That navigate a sea that knows no storms,
"Tell me, ye shining hosts-.
Beneath a vault unsullied with a cloud,
If from your elevation, whence ye view
Distinctly scenes invisible to man,
And systems of whose birth no tidings yet
Have reach'd this nether world, ye spy a race
Favour'd as ours, transgressors from the
womb,

And basting to the grave, yet doom'd to rise,
And to possess a brighter heaven than yours.
Pants to return, and when he sees afar
As one who long detain'd on foreign shores,
His country's weather bleach'd and batter'd

rocks,

From the green wave emerging darts an eye

This young female, soon after she embraced religion, began to lay plans to make a religious impression on the mind of her younger brother,* who now resided at the metropolis of Kentucky. Seeking on all occasions to do good, she ultimately became the happy instrument of his awakenings. Her pious example, her deep humility and godly conversation, frequently introduced in the most tender manner, brought him to reflect very seriously on the necessity of embracing religion. One instance of her peculiar turn may suffice. While her brother was on a visit to see his father's family, and with his friends engaged in the busy amusements of the day, on his preparing to return, Martha packed up his clothes; when he had returned to the metropolis, in unpacking them he found neatly folded up a "BOOK" among them. Her brother was at a loss at first to know how it came there. On opening it, he found it to be "Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul." Upon reflection he could trace the circumstance to the motive; and this with a variety of other cases of the kind, began very seriously to operate upon his mind. Thus his case in some particulars resembled that of an eminent Baptist preacher, who be came governor of Kentucky. This gentleman, when a young man, joined a fishing party, for the purpose of having a frolic. On the first haul with the seine they drew ashore a book. He seized the prize, and sat himself down to read it. On opening the book and turning to the title page, he found it to be "Law's Serious Call to the Unconverted." It proved to be a serious and blessed call to him; he retired under deep convictions, embraced religion, and became a preacher. This book, so strangely taken, it is supposed, had been dropped from the pocket of

Radiant with joy towards the happy land;
So I with animated hopes behold,
And many an aching wish, your beamy fires,
That show like beacons in the blue abyss,
Ordain'd to guide th' embodied spirit home
From toilsome life to never ending rest.
Love kindles as I gaze. I feel desires
That give assurance of their own success,
And that, infused from heaven, must thither

tend."

Then let the morning stars sing together, And all the sons of God shout for joy. * And this "younger brother" is poor Theophilus Arminius! the author of these very humble sketches.

some person while fording the river above the place, when it so providentially came into Mr. G-d's hands.

Having presented to the reader many interesting instances of the operations of divine grace connected with the doctor's and his old lady's Christian experience, we will endeavour now briefly to review the lives of these pious old people.

When the doctor settled in Kentucky, his reputation as a physician and surgeon followed him. This state at that day was remarkably healthy, and his principal employment was in the surgical line. In this he was unusually successful. Residing in the central part of the state, and this country then being the great theatre of the west, he became extensively known. But however constant his employment, he carried his religion into his practice. Before he left his house, he would retire to secret prayer, for a blessing upon the means prescribed; when he arrived at the patient's dwelling, he would immediately call the family together, and unite in public prayer for the afflicted. Strange work this, to many of the Kentuckians; and I presume many physicians would now conclude that this old gentleman had to bear a heavy cross. Not so. It appeared to be his element: it was his meat and his drink: it was indeed the great source of enjoyment: and these people appeared to fall in with the measure, as regularly as if they considered the doctor to be their own priest. As certain as the doctor was sent for, the family expected family prayer. Whether professors or not, no matter what order, it made no difference with him. This made a very considerable impression wherever he went; he became beloved and esteemed; and the Baptists were so remarkably attached to their practising physician, that they sent for him to attend all their public meetings; but ultimately had to pay some penance by bearing his severe philippics on their absurd adherence to close communion. It appeared that the God of love heard his prayers, the cures effected on his patients in many instances appeared almost miraculous. These cures are frequently spoken of surprise. The wild and adventurous by many at this day with wonder and disposition of many of these people constantly subjected them to wounds, bruises, or broken limbs; but no mat