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For the Pastor's Journal.

Faithfulness Blessed.

[Furnished by a Pastor.]

The fear of man bringeth a snare, but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. Prov. 29: 25.

The truth of this passage was so strikingly verified to me in the early part of my ministry, as to be of great benefit to me ever since.

men that love the cause of Christ, and are deeply interested for the souls of our hearers; and if success does not crown our efforts, we must pray the more fervently and preach the more faithfully. But after all, God must determine, whether to give or withhold the increase. We know, that he will not forget Zion; and we are assured, that his word will not return unto him void. As to our own acceptance, it will not depend upon our success, but upon our fidelity. If we are faithful in the discharge of our duty, we shall not lose our reward, though Israei be not gathered."

I threw down my letter, and took my sermons and went to meeting, and if I ever preached “like a man in earnest," it was then. The result was, that at the close of the forenoon service the church gathered around me, and said, "We cannot live so-we wish you to appoint a church fast." One young man was so deeply affected, that he could scarcely eat or sleep for several days. At the close of the afternoon service, I was requested to preach the same sermon (the one which I had addressed to sinners) the next Sabbath, which I did in another part of the town.

In the fall of 1825, soon after I commenced preaching, I was laboring in the town of S., in the eastern part of Maine, as a missionary, with a small and feeble church, and where the state of religious feeling was very low. I became almost disheartened at seeing no fruit of my labors, and especially at seeing the church in so low a state. I deeply felt that an effort must be made to rouse them from their slumbers. I accordingly prepared two sermons for the Sabbath, one to the church and the other to the impenitent. But on reviewing them I began to feel afraid to preach them; and this fear arose from the consideration that they were too true, and too applicable to their situation, and that they would not bear them. My mind was The immediate and, I trust, the per-' exceedingly troubled, and again and manent effects of that day's labor on again did I throw them aside, with the that people were good; and to me they determination to select new subjects. I have been of incalculable importance. read them and prayed over them, till I have never since that time been within fifteen minutes of meeting time, brought into such a snare. I have alstill undecided-still overpowered by ways felt that it was safest to "preach the fear of man. At this moment a and pray" like a man in earnest, and young man came in and brought me a leave the event with God. letter. The hand-writing was familiar, and I knew it to be from my late instructor in theology, Rev. B. T. I opened and read it; and soon the following paragraph met my eye: "Without doubt it is trying to you to labor apparently in vain; but the lesson may be useful, though learned by painful experience, that old Adam is too strong for young Melancthon.' The want of success is not of itself sufficient proof On Friday, March 25th, 1842, beeither of incompetency, or unfaithful- tween four and five o'clock, P. M., my ness. The Greatest and Best of preach-house was struck with lightning, and ers found occasion to cry, All day long have I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and gainsaying people.' Our business is to pray, and preach, and converse, and live, like men in earnest,

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A Chariot of Fire.

A.

From a letter of Rev. S. J. Curtis, of Union, Ct.

Be ye also realy, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.

my wife and daughter were instantly killed. We were sitting very near together-my wife and daughter on my right, and my son on my left. I was not conscious that my dwelling was

struck; or that any thing had taken place, until I recovered from the shock, which I had received; then the scene around me surpassed any thing that ever I saw before. My daughter lay dead at my feet; my wife on my right; and on my left was my son in an agony of distress, at what had taken place.

a long time exceedingly dreaded the struggles of death, though she felt no fear of the future-and now it came without a struggle.

O what a blessed hour was that for the Christian to die! the spirit let loose as upon the wings of the wind, when all around was full of the majesty of God! But a dreadful hour would it be for the ungodly to die. That awful

The unexpected blow pierced me to my very soul. But God-thanks be to his name!-immediately put under-grandeur which but inspired the Chrisneath me his everlasting arms, and tian with sacred awe and joyful venekept me from sinking. He has since ration, must fill the ungodly with disbeen my support and the joy of my may; and their spirits, then let loose, heart. would behold only frowns and terror. Then to be ready, how important! There is no opportunity, at such a time, to get ready."

My companion has been more than usually devoted to God the past year. We have spent many delightful seasons together in social prayer; besides around the family altar.

The discourse which was preached at the funeral adds the following particulars:—

Our daughter-says the bereaved husband and father-who was but eight years old, gave evidence of a saving change of heart. She had very pungent conviction of sin a little more than a year since. One evening she came to her mother of her own accord and made a most humble confession of her sins, saying, "Mother, you do not know what a great sinner I have been!" She also confessed to God, prayed for mercy, and afterwards became very happy in her

"Mrs. Curtis was a native of Wallingford, Ct. She there become hopefully pious at the age of fourteen, and made a public profession of her faith, which she steadily maintained and honored, as a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, and a neighbor. She was truly a helper to her husband in the Ever since that time, until the day cares of his flock as a minister of Christ. Her prayers for and with him, of her death, she has been a different were an essential support and encou-girl-More humble, obedient, penitent for her sins, and benevolent in her disragement in his responsible work.

mind.

THE DEATH-Bed of the RIGHTEOUS.

The season of prayer and self-exam-position. ination which they regularly observed together, on Saturday evenings, aside from family devotions, was one of deep interest and profit. The Saturday evening before her death will long be remembered by her husband as the last of those heavenly seasons.

She had evidently been preparing during several months past, for the coming of her Lord. And though she knew not that he was to come thus in the clouds, and a fire burning before him-though she knew not that, without premonition or pang, her spirit would be separated from the body, to be conveyed, in the majesty of that terrific hour, guarded by the lightnings, to the portals of bliss-yet she had felt, and repeatedly said, that perhaps she should enjoy their new place of residence but a little while. She had for

THIS place is holy ground;

World with thy cares away;
Silence and darkness reign around;
But soon the break of day,
The resurrection morn appears,
To shine upon this scene of tears.

Behold the bed of death,

The pale and lowly clay,
Heard ye the sob of parting breath?
Mark'd ye the eyes' last ray?
No! life so sweetly ceased to be,
It lapsed in immortality.

Bury the dead and weep

In stillness o'er the loss;
Bury the dead; in Christ they sleep,
Who bore on earth his cross,
Soon from the grave their dust shall rise
In his own image to the skies.

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IN obedience to the manifest indications of Providence, the Executive Committee of the American Home Missionary Society have made arrangements for the increase of their operations in the new and destitute portions of the country during the current year. The consummation of these arrangements is delayed only by the want of means. The amount of receipts, the present year, above what had been received at the same period in the last year, is too small to justify much increase of expenditure; while, on the other hand, the necessary disbursements of the Society since May last, have exceeded all precedent; and the same rate of payment must soon reduce the treasury to a condition of serious embarrassment.

The apprehension of such a result must, of course, operate disastrously on the efforts of the Committee to send out more missionaries. All experience of benevolent societies, as well as the public sentiment of the churches, admonish them to avoid incurring debt. If on a fair announcement of its wants, the churches do not respond to the appeals of any society, it cannot be justified in accumulating any great amount of responsibilities, to be met by the uncertain income of a future day.

The question, then, Whether we shall go forward to do what must be done, or the dearest interests of our country must suffer, depends on the previous question, Whether the Christians and patriots of our land will supply the means? Nor can these questions long remain open. Every argument for speedy action that has ever had weight, now possesses a double power. The poverty of the Western churches is more profound than in any former year. The enemy is coming in with great force. Emigration from Europe to this country is nearly doubled the present year. Not much longer can Eastern effort be efficient in forming the Western character, for other agencies are in the field, and the West itself is no longer passive, but is beginning to have an influence of its own upon the whole land. Whatever, then, is done, whether preaching, or praying, or giving, MUST

BE DONE QUICKLY.

For the sake of economy, and out of respect to the feeling of the churches, the number of soliciting agents employed by the Society is reduced to the mini

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mum-no more being retained than are indispensable to the continuance of our operations. It is on this account impracticable, that every Christian, or even every church, should receive a personal visit. We trust, therefore, that the friends of this cause will not wait to be called on, but that each pastor and each private member, in the circle of his own influence, will see that the Home Missionary interest receives no detriment, for the want of a formal appeal by an Agent.

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Description of the Place and the

Population.

also established a Bible class, and 20 From Rev. Hiram Foot, Racine, W. T. or 30 attend, and appear to be much interested in the study of God's word. I cannot but hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will be poured upon us, so that the ways of Zion will rejoice. Last Sabbath, there seemed to be more than usual interest manifested during public worship; some appeared affected by the solemn truths of the Bible. At our next communion season, which will be in three or four weeks, we expect an addition of 6 or 8 to our little church.

At Washington, they are about establishing a Sabbath school and Bible class; they will have a school of 30 or more, and have procured a S. S. Library of 60 volumes. On the next Sabbath, I expect to receive some 4 or 5 more to that church. We are young and feeble, || but I trust all are praying for grace and strength.

At Crawfordsville, I have received 2 into the church since I last wrote. Brotherly love abounds in our borders, and there is harmony of feeling. The German neighborhood of which I spoke in my last, I have visited, and they want preaching very much; but few can understand English, of course I cannot preach to them; there are 12 families, and they expect about as many more this season. If a preacher could be

The natural advantages and present prospects of this place are such as to warrant the expectation, that it will exert a powerful influence upon the interior of our Territory, either for weal or for wo. It has rapidly increased in population for the last twelve months. The erection of new buildings this spring, and the increasing demand for scores of others, show that our temporal prospects are exceedingly flattering. I forbear contrasting it with any other point on the Lake, as it might appear invidious. I can safely say this of Racine—that its location is so beautiful and healthful, its advantages for intellectual improvement so good, and its corrupting influences comparatively so few, as to make it a desirable home for emigrants from the East.

In relation to the intellectual features of this village, I would say that I am not compelled, like many of your western missionaries, to report an ignorant, frontier population. This may, in part, be attributed to our location, which is but a "step removed" from the privileges of older, eastern states-occupy

ing, as we do, one of the entrances to the great West. Our population is eastern, with scarcely an exception, bringing with them, in most instances, the love for schools and the sanctuary, which so pre-eminently characterize the descendants o: the Puritans.

our land-may the Lord continue to prosper it!

The friends of the Bible cause are up and doing. The Racine Bible Society, embracing all evangelical denominations, is an active auxiliary of the Parent Society. The county has in We have an excellent ladies' school, part been supplied. At our anniversary under the superintendence of Mrs. Vail, a few weeks since, between thirty and a member of our church. The school forty dollars were raised, and our exeis well sustained, which is another mark cutive committee has ordered one hunof the intellectual worth of this popu- dred dollars worth of Bibles and Teslation; for amid ignorance such schools taments from the American Society. die. Every feature of society here is A good degree of interest is manieastern, and with the exception of hear-fested for all benevolent objects. The ing no "sound of the church-going monthly concerts for Foreign Missions bell," and being compelled to worship and Sabbath schools are regularly atin an upper room, altogether too strait tended. This people will give liberally for us, our Sabbaths and sanctuary to all benevolent objects. worshippers would seem like those amid the mountains of our childhood's home.

When I came here, this church had been destitute of the preached Gospel for nearly a year. Amid some discouragements, the Lord has in some measure blessed us. Our congregation on the Sabbath has increased nearly three fold since I came here-many more would doubtless attend if we had a comfortable house of worship.

Regular weekly prayer meetings in the village are very well sustainedour meetings in other parts of the society are crowded and solemn-the Sabbath school in our village, having run down 5 or 6 months ago, is now in a very flourishing condition.

We have a Bible class of adults which I attend once in two weeks, Sabbath evening; the alternate week I lecture in the west part of our society. This class I think will be attended with good results-the Bible will be more studied and loved than formerly.

Temperance-Distribution of the
Bible.

The cause of temperance is gaining a firm hold on the affections of this people. Out of a population of about five hundred, it is believed that one half are members of our "Washington Temperance Society." We have had frequent meetings and addresses since my arrival, several from reformed inebriates. They are doing the same glorious work at the north-west as in other portions of

AFFECTING ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF MIS

SIONARY AID.

From a Minister in Wisconsin.

I received yours recently, bearing the more than welcome intelligence of the additional appropriation of fifty dollars to my support, and of the sympathy of the Committee with me, in my labors and trials-for which I believe I am truly grateful. It was timely, and, I trust, received as help from God, through the A. H. M. S.; in view of which my heart arose with a deep sense of obligation (if ever it did in view of any blessing) to God, for the existence of a Society, by whose benevolence I myself and other brethren, are enabled to stand upon these out-posts of Zion, and publish the Gospel of salvation. No one can fully appreciate the feelings of your unworthy missionary and his family, in the reception of your kind assistance, but such as stand in the same relation to God, the church, the A. II. M. S., and this great valley of dry bones. Before opening yours, with a sense of my own weakness, and need of divine grace, I endeavored to look to God that I might be prepared to receive its contents in the spirit of meekness and submission, and when I came to see the kindness of the Lord and of my brethren at the East, my

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