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the best of hufbands and of fathers, and a very fober good man. I could tell you' of many other inftances. Can you deny them?

J. I have heard fuch things; but what have they to do with the fubject we were talking of?

T. I'll tell you, John. You fay the Bible was written by bad men-knaves and hypocrites: now then you believe that knaves and hypocrites confpired to write a book full of good things, and calculated to make men good and honeft.

J. Suppose I allow them to be good men?

T. Then you must allow the Bible to be good and true; or elfe you believe that good men united to cheat the world in matters of the greateft importance. But this is not all. In rejecting Chriftianity you muft fuppofe that twelve plain countrymen, the greatest part of whom were fifhers, undertook to cheat the world with a new religion; not to obtain wealth, or honour, or eafe, or power; but hatred and perfecution, disgrace and contempt, poverty and ftripes, imprisonment and death: that thefe men travelled over great part of Afia and of Europe, and in fpite of the wifdom of philofophers, the influence of priests, and the power of princes, made innumerable converts, hundreds and thousands of whom gave up every thing, even life itself, with joy and fatisfaction to preferve a good confcience and the favour of God; and yet, all the while were knaves, and hypocrites, and impoftors. Now tell me, John, is not this as bad as Jonah fwallowing the whale?

John was a little confounded with thefe queftions, for he did not expect the tables to be turned upon him thus. However after a little recollection he proceeded.

J. Truly Thomas, I did not think you could have preached fo: but tell me now, how is it you afcribe fuch wonderful effects and influence to the Bible? I have read fome of the morals of Seneca, and Plutarch, and other Heathen Philofophers; now are not these books as good as the Bible, without its ftrange unaccountable ftories?

T. Dear John, did you ever know any body reformed by them? What good effect have they had on you?

J. Truly not much, I believe: but how is that?

T. I will tell you, John; it is the moft ftrange of all thefe ftrange ftories, as you call them, that does the bufinefs: I mean that of the birth, life, fufferings and death, refurrection and afcenfion of the Son of God.

J. How fo?

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T. In

T. In many refpects the heathen taught the fame moral duties as the Bible, though not. fo clearly nor fo perfectly; but they wanted the motives to virtue which the Bible alone can furnish.

J. Explain yourself, Thomas.

T. You know mafter has got two watches; one goes, the other does not; now what is the reason? have they not both the fame wheels?

J. Aye; but the main fpring is broken in one of them. T. You are right, John: and this is the cafe here. It is the love of God which is the main fpring of virtue and morality, and that is revealed only in the Bible. Here we learn that God loved the world fo as to give his Son for them that Jefus Chrift loved finners fo as to die for them: and fo we learn to love him because he firft loved us. Nor is this all. The heathen had a faint hope indeed of a better world hereafter; but it was all conjecture and uncertainty. Now by the Gospel, "life and immortality are brought to light" and we know that "the fufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory which hereafter fhall be revealed."

John was all attention to this difcourfe, and forgot his infidel raillery. Thomas faw he had gained ground and wished to push his advantage farther. My dear John (said he) do you ever think of thefe things? You know that you muit die is it not very defirable to die happy?

J. Truly bet is that poffible? How can there be happinefs in death?

T. I wish you had feen my father die. I was very young, but I never shall forget his departing words.

J. What were they?

T. Oh, I never fhall forget them!" Thomas," faid he, taking me by the hand, while we all ftood weeping around his bed, the cold fweat of death was upon him, yet joy and happiness gliftened in his countenance "Thomas," faid he," love the Bible; ftudy, and revere, and practise it: then will you live happy, and die joyfully, as I do."

Here a paufe enfued. A tear ftole down the cheek of Thomas, and another started in the eye of John. As foon as he could recover himself, Thomas faid, "I with you would go with me to hear our minifter on Sunday next. John made no objection, and it was foon agreed. Little paffed in the week, only John was much more ferious than common. Sunday came, and John went. He had feldom been at church, and the fcene was almoft new to him. The congregation

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congregation was large and attentive: the minifter animated and folemn. John was all eye and ear. The preacher named for his text, "How fhall we escape if we neglect fo great falvation?" He defcribed the danger of the finner; John trembled. He opened the falvation of the Gospel : he wept and hid his face. After fervice John went home to his father's houfe; but it was with an arrow in his heart. His father thought him unwell, but he could not tell what ailed him. After dinner the ufual jefts and fports began: he tried to fmile, to please and pacify his friends; but he tried in vain. He was like a wounded bird that chirps and flutters, but can neither fly nor fing. He returned fooner than common to his mafter's, in order to meet with Thomas, and unbofom his mind to him. Thomas had a fympathizing heart, and while he rejoiced in the conviction of his companion, endeavoured to foothe his troubled foul. John could jeft with religion now no more. The infidel prejudices he had acquired at home vanished like the vapours before the rifing fun. He could no more queftion the character of Chrift, because he loved him: he could no more defpife the fcriptures, because they were his daily food. In fhort, he became an eminent inftance of converting grace. Through the remaining period of their apprenticeship, they took fweet counfel together, and walked to the house of God in company. PARVALUS.

The following is an EXACT * Copy of a genuine Letter, without date, and without a fuperfcription, (which is loft) from the eminently holy and pious Mr. RICHARD BAXTER, all of his own hand-writing, from which this copy is taken: hoping it may not only be entertaining but inftructive to many of your Readers, I fend it you, to be inferted in your useful Magazine.

Taunton.

SIR,

I'

J. H. B.

T hath pleased the Lord, whose I am, to give me a fharp and plain fummons to come forth of his vineyard, and leave his work. I confefs I understood not that voice of the rod a while; but it hath now fpoken louder. Little caufe have I to murmur as moft men breathing, fo long and frequent have his warnings for preparation been, fo

* Except that, for the ease of our readers, we have modernized the spelling.

.long

long and frequent mine opportunities of doing and recei ing good, and all this ten years ago, fo unexpected, that f may conclude I have had a competent fhare: and indeed, though unwillingness to die has all this while been my fin, my great fin, yet God hath made me iomewhat more willing, though alas! but fomewhat. I confeis, when I think of poor Kidderminster, my heart bleeds, and I could gladly yet live: but the Lord muft difpote. It hath been long my obfervation, when men, after trouble and unfettlednefs, be• gin to think of quiet and reft, they are near death, yet did not I promife my foul much eafe in fettling. Oh, that you could help to quiet and comfort my dear friends of Kidderminster. I pray you, Sir, write one word to that purpofe to my father, who, I fear, will bear my death with toolittle patience. Oh, Sir, if you will die comfortably, be much with God, fuffer not eitrangednefs eafily, have promifes at land, be daily in Heaven: bring faith by daily exercife to real affecting apprehenfions: be induftrious privately as well as publicly for the recovery of ouls; let flip no opportunity; let nothing filence you; but let Chrift when he comes find you fo doing: be tender of the godly that differ in queftionable things, without favouring their fin, or countenancing a toleration of open evil. In all thefe I have too much failed. All my friends have left me, and here I am worse than alone, but that God is with me. I had fo much fudden ease on the faft-day, that I was fenfible of the benefit of prayers. I pray fet one day apart privately for me with your godly friends. There is no other hope left: phyficians, nature, fiefh, blood, fpirit, heart, friends, all fail: but God is the ftrength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Yet I know the God whom I ferve is able to deliver, and hath delivered; but if he will not deliver, though he kill me, yet will I truft in him, and I know whom I have trufted.

I confels I was never yet near fo low; but I truft in him ' who raifeth the dead. I know my Redeemer liveth, and as he hath not died in vain, fo neither have I run or laboured in vain. Though mine iniquities fometimes lie heavy on me, yet I have fought a good fight, &c.; and if I fee your faces no more in the fieth, farewel till eternity; and the Spirit and grace of Chrift Jefus our Lord, preferve your fouls to himself for ever.

Your languishing, decaying,

Yet believing, hoping friend,
RICHARD BAXTER.

ON RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE FUNDS.

A

S many of the Readers of this Magazine may be interested in trufts of money, in the public funds, for public religious ufes, the following fuggeftions and regulations, refpecting the nature and management of fuch concerns, may prove acceptable and ufeful.

ft. Refpecting Money invested in the Funds in certain Names, and for public or private Ufes.

The Bank admits of only four names in our account; money may be purchased in the fame names, in every exifting ftock; but the particular purpose for which it is invefted is not noticed by the Bank; the obligations of the trustees are not recognized and the flock, thus purchased, is abfolutely at their joint difpofal. On transfers of stock being accepted by the parties, in whofe names it has been purchased, the dividends, as they feverally become due, may be received by any one of them. If distance from London makes perfonal acceptance and receipt of dividends inconvenient to the parties, they may grant a power of attorney to an agent or agents, to tranfact this business for them. If either of the parties accepts any fubfequent purchases of stock, added to the joint account, or receives any dividends, or is deceafed, the power of the agent or agents is made void. No transfer, or fale of any part of the flock, thus invested, can be made, but by the concurrence of all the perfons in the truft. Transfers or fales, however, may be effected by power of attorney to agents, in like manner as the acceptance of ftock and receipt of dividends are authorised. On the death of a trustee no more stock can be placed to the joint account in which his name ftood; nor can a transfer of the ftock be made by the furvivors, into their names, joined with any other that may be agreed on, till the probate of the will of the deceafed is exhibited in the proper office at the Bank; or a certificate of the burial of the deceased, extracted verbatim, from the parish or other registers, with an affidavit annexed, purporting that the faid extract is a true copy from the regifter of the burials, and that the perfon mentioned in it was one and the fame perfon included in fuch joint account, defcribing the ftock, fum, and names. After thefe papers are registered, the fur- vivors may transfer or fell the stock; the fame process is to be attended to in the event of the decease of more than one of the trustees; but in cafe the ftock thould be fuf

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