AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

To inform the mind, affect the heart, and promote the best interests of mankind, must ever be considered as a pleasing and honorable employ. Various means, indeed, may be made use of in order to accomplish these ends. Some do good by wise and judicious conversation; others by constant and laborious teaching, and many by an excellent and uniform character. The Compiler of this volume has here attempted to contribute something towards so good and desirable a work.

It need not be observed, that men are naturally indifferent about their duty to God, and unconcerned as to the welfare of their immortal souls. Any attempt, therefore, to set before them the grand object of veneration and worship, to rouse them to duty, to facilitate their happiness, to show them the deformity of vice, and to inspire them with true and exalted views of the sacred religion of Jesus, cannot, I think, be considered as unworthy of attention. How far this Work will conduce to these ends, must be left to the judgment of the reader.

Volumes of Anecdotes have already been presented

t

to the public under various titles; but none that I know of which have been more particularly selected as religious, and more immediately calculated to lead men to genuine devotion and solid piety. It is to be lamented, that while many write merely to amuse the imagination, the real profit of the mind is not thought of. The passions, perhaps, are affected, and the fancy pleased, while the temper remains unsubdued, the heart unimpressed, and the conduct unstable and irregular. Now, without incurring the charge of egotism, I hope the present Work, while it affords a degree of entertainment to the reader, will also tend to excite reverence for the Best of Beings; a regard for the noble and delightful system of Christianity; together with benevolence to our fellow mortals and an earnest desire to devote ourselves to the glory and service of our God and Saviour.

The reader will evidently see that novelty has not been so much my design as utility. If any object, however, to the Work on this account, I can only say in reply, that Anecdotes cannot be made. In writing on any system, invention may be displayed, and the ideas of the author may bear the air of novelty; but in a Work of this kind we must confine ourselves to our materials. I own it is not difficult to find, now and then, an original Anecdote; but, in this age of writing and publishing, it would be very difficult indeed to find a volume of them, since almost every thing of importance is speedily conveyed to the press for the public benefit. We must, therefore, take them as we find them, and make the best improvement of them

we can.

I am conscious that every Anecdote will not strike the mind of the reader with equal importance; nor

can it be expected, that, in a selection of so many, i should be so. Besides, men are of different tastes they form different views, and are situated in differen circumstances: each one, therefore, will judge favora bly of that which is most congenial to his own ideas In respect to authenticity, which is of considerable importance in a work of this kind, I have carefully avoided what appeared to be apocryphal and was supported only by doubtful evidence; yet, after all, if any thing should be found of this kind, (which I am ignorant of, if there be,) still its moral or use will be found beneficial, inducing the reader to view religion and morality as worthy of his sincere regard and constant pursuit.

To conclude: if any good be done, any mind instructed, any comfort derived; if love to men, gratitude to our adorable Redeemer, and a firm adherence to the truth, be excited or promoted by this selection, it will abundantly cempensate the little labor and feeble efforts of the Compiler.

C. B.

ANECDOTES.

AFFLICTIONS.

WHOEVER Considers the manifold calamities to which mankind are exposed in the present state, must feel some emotion of sorrow. Sin has introduced great misery and universal disorder into the world. No person, however mean and obscure, or eminent and exalted, can stand invulnerable against the arrows of adversity. It is, however, the peculiar privilege of a good man, that though, alike with others, he partakes of the sufferings of humanity, yet he sees a wise hand directing every event, and rendering all subservient to a grand and glorious end. He desires to learn the noble lessons of patience and submission, while his heart glows with gratitude to Him to whom he is indebted for every comfort he enjoys, and without whose permission he knows no evil can transpire.

Ebenezer Adams, a celebrated Quaker of Philadelphia, on visiting a lady of rank, whom he found, six months after the death of her husband, sitting on a sofa covered with black cloth, and in all the dignity of

woe, approached her with great solemnity, and gently taking her by the hand, thus accosted her :-' So, friend, I see that thou hast not yet forgiven God Almighty.' This seasonable reproof had such an effect upon the person to whom it was addressed, that she immediately had all her trappings of grief destroyed, and went about her necessary business and avocations. 'A word spoken in due season, how good is it !'

And

Afflictions, though not blessings in themselves, yet when sanctified are productive of great good to them who are exercised thereby. Even Demetrius, a heathen, could say, That nothing could be more unhappy than a man who had never known affliction.' one who was not a heathen has left it on record, That it was good for him to be afflicted. Let us not therefore sink into despondency under a view of approaching difficulties, nor suffer our imaginations to dwell with horror on supposed future events. The evils and afflictions of this life, indeed, appear like rocks and precipices, rugged and barren, at a distance; but at our nearer approach we shall find little fruitful spots, and refreshing springs, mixed with the harshness and deformities of nature.'

Sir

A Minister was recovering of a dangerous illness, when one of his friends addressed him thus: though God seems to be bringing you up from the gates of death, yet it will be a long time before you will sufficiently retrieve your strength, and regain vigour enough of mind to preach as usual.' The good man answered, 'You are mistaken, my friend; for this six weeks' illness has taught me more divinity than all my past studies and all my ten years' ministry put together.'