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ANECDOTES

AFFLICTIONS.

are exercised thereby. Even Deme

then 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

WHOEVER Considers the manifold trius, a heathen, could say, “That calamities to which mankind are ex-nothing could be more unhappy than posed in the present state, must feel a man who had never known afflic some emotion of sorrow. Sin has tion." And one who was not a heaintroduced 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 of nature." with gratitude to Him, to whom he A Minister was recovering of a is indebted for every comfort he en-dangerous illness, when one of his joys, and without whose permission friends addressed him thus: "Sir, he knows no evil can transpire. though God seems to be bringing you Ebenezer Adams, a celebrated Qua-up from the gates of death, yet it will ker of Philadelphia, on visiting a be a long time before you will suffi lady of rank, whom he found six ciently retrieve your strength, and remonths after the death of her hus-gain vigour enough of mind to preach band sitting on a sofa covered with as usual." The good man answered, black cloth, and in all the dignity of wo, 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!"

Afflictions, though not blessings in themselves, yet when sanctified are productive of great good to them who

"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."

It is related of one, who, under great severity, had fled from the worst of masters to the best, (I mean he had sought rest in the bosom of Je sus Christ, the common friend of the weary and the heavy laden,) that he was so impressed with a sense of the benefit he had derived from his afflictious, that lying on his death-bed, and seeing his master stand by, he eagerly caught the hands of his op

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pressor, and kissing them, said, (for surely it is rather a disease than These hands have brought me to a passion of the mind) so strongly heaven." Thus many have had rea- that, within a few days of his death, son to bless God for afflictions, as be-no importunities could induce him to ing the instruments in his hand of buy a few pounds of meat, for the promoting the welfare of their im- purpose of making a little soup for mortal souls! him. "Tis true, (said he,) I should. It is said of Dr. W., that from his not dislike the soup, but I have no most early infancy to his dying day, appetite for the meat; what, then, is he scarcely ever knew what health to become of that ?" At the time that was; yet we are told that he looked he refused this nourishment, for fear upon this affliction as the greatest of being obliged to give away two or blessing of his life. And the reason three pounds of meat, there was tied he assigned for it was, that, being na-round his neck a silken bag which turally of a warm temper and an am- contained 800 assignats, of 1,000 libitious disposition, these visitations vres each. At his outset in life, he of Divine Providence weaned his af- drank a pint of beer, which served fections from the world, and brought him for supper, every night at a house every passion into subjection to the much frequented, from which he carDivine will. ried home all the bottle corks he could come at: of these, in the course of eight years, he had collected as many as sold for 12 louis d'ors; a sum that laid the foundation of his future fortune, the superstructure of which was rapidly raised by his uncommon success in stock-jobbing. He died possessed of 125,000l.sterling.

AVARICE.

Or all characters, perhaps, none are so truly wretched as the miser. The prodigal, it is true, spends his substance, but then he attempts to enjoy himself, and to make others happy around him; whereas the covetous man does neither.-Avarice is

a principle not only detestable in its nature, but prejudicial to the possessor of it; inasmuch as it alienates the mind from God, frequently leads to dishonesty among men, and, what is worse, is a disorder hardly ever cured. "Other passions have their holidays, but avarice never suffers its

votaries to rest."

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There have been few persons in whom avarice has predominated more than in the late Mr. Elwes. His mother, indeed, was excessively avaricious, and though she was left nearly 100,000l. by her husband, yet she absolutely starved herself to death. Mr. Elwes seemed not less wretched than his mother. At his house at Stoke, in Suffolk, if a window were brown paper, or by patching it with broken, it was mended by a piece of a small bit of glass; and this had been done so frequently, and in so many shapes, that it would have puzzled a mathematician to say what figure they represented. To save fire, he would walk about the remains of an old green-house, or sit with a servant in the kitchen! In the advance of the season his morning employment was to pick up chips, bones, or any thing he could find, and carry them home in his pocket for fire! One day he was surprised by a neighbouring gentleman in the act of pulling down, with great difficulty, a

crow's nest for this purpose; and riches! He never took snuff, for that when the gentleman wondered why was extravagant, but he always carhe should give himself so much trou- ried a snuff-box. This probably he ble, "O, Sir," replied Elwes, "it is would fill in the course of a month, really a shame that these creatures by pinches obtained from others! should do so; do but see what waste When the box was full, he would they make. They don't care how barter the contents for a farthing can. extravagant they are." He would dle at a neighbouring green grocer's: almost eat any thing to save expense. this candle was made to last till the At a time when he was worth eight box was again full, as he never sufhundred thousand pounds, he would fered any light in his house, except eat game at the last state of putrefac- while he was going to bed.. He seltion, and meat that no other person dom washed his face and hands but could touch! As to his dress, any when the sun shone forth; then he thing would do. He wore a wig for would betake himself to a neighboura fortnight which he picked up in a ing pool, and used sand instead of rut in the lane, when riding with soap: when he was washed, he another gentleman. His shoes he would lie on his back, and dry himnever suffered to be cleaned, lest they self in the sun, as he never used a should be worn out the sooner. As towel, for that would wear, and, the infirmities of old age, however, when dirty, the washing was expencame upon him, he began to be more sive. Since his death there have been wretched. It is said, that he was jugs of dollars and shillings found in heard frequently at midnight as if the stable. At the dead of night he struggling with some one in his has been known to go to this place, chamber, and crying out," I will but for what purpose even Old Grif keep my money; nobody shall rob fiths could not tell; but it now apme of my property." There are pears he used to rob one jug to add many other remarkable circumstances to the other. related of him, but what we have al

avoid noise or visits; maintained one poor old woman to attend him in his. garret, and allowed her only seven sous per week, or a half penny per day.

M. Vandille was the most remarkready quoted afford a striking proof able man in Paris, both on account of the vanity of sublunary things, and of his immense riches and his exof the insufficiency of riches to ren-treme avarice. He lodged as high der mankind happy.-See his Life. up as the roof would admit him, to Daniel Dancer, Esq. was remarkable for a miserly disposition. Lady Tempest was the only person who had the least influence on this unfortunate man. She had one day the His usual diet was bread and milk, pleasure of prevailing on him to pur- and, by way of indulgence, some poor chase a hat (having worn his own sour wine on a Sunday. This prufor thirteen years) from a Jew for a dent economist had been a magistrate shilling; but to her great surprise, or officer at Boulogne, from which. when she called the next day, she obscurity he was promoted to Paris, saw the old chapeau still covered his for the reputation of his wealth, head! On inquiry it was found that, which he lent upon undeniable secuafter much solicitation, he had pre-rity to the public funds, not caring to vailed on old Griffiths, his servant, to trust individuals with what constitupurchase the hat for eighteen pence, ted all his happiness. While a mawhich Mr. Dancer bought the day gistrate at Boulogne, he maintained before for a shilling! He generally, himself by taking upon him to be in severe weather, laid in bed to keep milk taster-general at the market, himself warm: to light a fire he and from one to another filled his thought expensive, though he had belly and washed down his bread. 3,000l. per annum, besides immense without expense to himself,

It was a common saying of Julius Cæsar, "that no music was so charming in his ears as the request of his friends, and the supplication of those in want of his assistance." Let Christians learn to imitate this Pagan.

When he was become exceeding-ject who is relieved by our munifily rich, he one day heard a woodman cence. go by in summer, at which season they stock themselves with fuel for the winter. He agreed with him at the lowest rate possible, and stole from the poor man several logs, with which he loaded himself to his secret hiding hole, and thus contracted, in that hot season, a fever. He then sent, for the first time, for a surgeon to bleed him, who, asking half a livre for the operation, was dismissed; he then sent for an apothecary, but he was as high in his demand. He next sent for a poor barber, who undertook to open a vein for three pence a time; but understanding from the barber that he should be blooded three times, he asked what quantity of blood it was meant to take at once. About eight ounces each time,' answered the barber.-'That will be nine-pence :-too much, too much!' says the old miser: 'I have determined to go a cheaper way to work; take at once the whole quantity you designed to take at three times, and that will save me sixpence ;' which being insisted on, he lost twenty-four ounces of blood, and died in a few days, leaving all his vast treasure to the King, whom he made his sole heir. Thus he contracted his disorder by pilfering, and his death by an unprecedented piece of parsimony.

INSTANCES OF BENEFICENCE,

AND CHARITY.

The King of Prussia once rang the bell of his cabinet, but as nobody answered, he opened the door of the antichamber, and found his page fast asleep upon a chair. He went up to awake him, but coming nearer he observed a paper in his pocket, upon which something was written. This excited his curiosty. He pulled it out, and found that it was a letter from the page's mother; the contents of which were nearly as follow: "She returned her son many thanks for the money he had saved out of his salary, and had sent to her, which had proved a very timely assistance. God would certainly reward him for it, and if he continued to serve God, and his King faithfully and conscientiously, he could not fail of success and prosperity in this world." Upon reading this, the King stept softly into his closet, fetched a rouleau of ducats, and put it with the letter into the page's pocket. He then rang so long till the page awoke, and came into his closet. "You have been asleep, I suppose," said the King. The page. could not deny it, stammered out an excuse, put (in his embarrassment) his hand into his pocket, and felt the rouleau of ducats. He immediately pulled it out, turned pale, and looked at the King with tears in his eyes. "What is the matter with you?" said the King. "O," replied the page, "somebody has contrived my ruin : I know nothing of this money." "What God bestows," resumed the King "be bestows in sleep.* Send the raoney to your mother: give my respects to her, and inform her that will take care of both her and you."

"It is more blessed to give than to receive," says our Lord. Happy is he who can subscribe sincerely to this truth, and whose felicity arises in proportion as he alleviates the distresses of others. To do good is to resemble the best of Beings. It is, indeed our honour, and renders us valuable and useful in society. A compassionate heart and a liberal hand form a degree of amiableness ever worthy to be venerated. There is a threefold plea-I sure in doing good. It is pleasant to God for his creatures to be like him; it is pleasant to ourselves to discharge our duty; and it is pleasant to the ob

It is said of the excellent Lord Chief

Justice Hale, that he frequently invi

*A German Proverb.

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