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men looked backward to watch the receding this Son of God! That he will draw figure of the Christ, till they could no longer all men unto him, even into the wilderness if distinguish him in the distance of the desert, he takes up his abode there, cannot be questowards which he steadfastly kept his face. tioned. But all is mystery, awe, curiosity, The two friends then came to the house of wonder, and excitement just now. No one Rabbi Amos, at Gilgal, the same night, and has settled upon any opinion as to what will there Lazarus made known to us what I have be the end of these things. Rabbi Amos adjust related. It affected us all deeply; and vises all persons to wait patiently the issue, we sat together late at night upon the porch for if God has sent a Prophet, he must have under the fig-trees, talking of Jesus, and the a mission which in due time he will come things that had transpired concerning him forth from the wilderness to deliver. In my that day; and though we all rejoiced that he next I may be able to write you something was on earth, we wept to think that he was further touching the development of what redriven by some destiny unknown and unfa- mains so much enveloped in mystery. May thomable by us, to dwell alone in the wilder- the God of our fathers' house come forth indeed from the heavens, for the salvation of his people. Your devoted and loving

ness.

Now, my dear father, how wonderful is all this! That a great Prophet is among us, cannot be denied. The sun of John the Baptizer's fame dwindles into a star before

ADINA.

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SUPERANNUATED;

OR, THE RECTOR OF ST. BARDOLPH.-A Sketch.

CHAP. I.

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HAT an exceeding flutter and excitement was experienced in the little village of M-, about fifty years ago, when it spread like leaven through the place that "our new minister" would be heard for the first time in the parish, on the next Lord's Day. For a whole year had that afflicted parish in the wilderness been without a shepherd, during which time many sheep had gone astray to be recovered no more. They had been gathered into other folds, and had been feeding in strange pastures, disregardful of their early and first love. The fixed habit of attending the services of the Church had become broken. Experience can alone show the irreparable damage of shutting up a temple consecrated to the service of God for a single Lord's Day. If, as Herbert beautifully says:

"The Sundays of man's life,

Threaded together on one string, Make bracelets to adorn the wife Of the eternal, glorious King," then will that beautiful chain, by such neglect, be severed and broken. The present is linked with the past; and the good deed of today is connected with the good intention of yesterday.

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The parish of M- even at that time, desired a plausible and "pains-taking preacher," who should have, like those who are most popular at this day, "heaven in his eye, grace in his movement, and in all his actions dignity and love." Hence, they had enticed a great many "candidates" to present themselves, who went off one after another, disappointed and lowered in their own esteem. Much had they heard of the fame of the young Rector of Z. Z., but when he was waited upon by a deputation of staid men, to preach as a candidate" for the important parish of -, now vacant by the death of their

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esteemed rector, he resolutely refused to aecede to their request. This remarkable conduct only stimulated their curiosity to the highest bounds. But to call him without hearing him was a thing not to be thought of. Nevertheless, as his fame was wafted to them on every breeze, they at last hit upon an expedient by which they might satiate their curiosity, and also save the parish from being saddled with an unacceptable man. Mr. Admuller was waited upon with a regular " call," drawn out in due form, from the wardens and vestrymen, to " be their minister for one year." He simply read it, folded it, and confirmed the folds with his thumb and forefinger, and returned the document to the gentlemen who composed the committee of two. Such an invitation as that he could not consider for one moment. They went back surprised, and told their "experience." The upshot of the matter was, that this conduct confirmed them with a vague sense of his greatness, and he received a unanimous, unconditional invitation to come "unsight, unseen," and stay usque ad infinitum-just as long as he pleased -which invitation he accepted.

But what an intense excitement was felt to the extreme bounds of the parish, when "our new minister" was to preach his "first sermon." Even then, as now, the vicious sentiment prevailed, that the House of God was not a place where prayers were to be said, but where the fashions were to be shown forth, the sight gratified, and the ear tickled. The day was fine, not a seat was vacant; those who were denominated "poor churchgoers," turned out from curiosity, on the present occasion, and it is said that some "infidels" were present. The square pews occupied by the "quality," were filled. Even the gallery, in which all the humble followers of the lowly one were too proud to sit on ordinary occasions, was thronged with eager spectators; the "black pew," at the extreme end of the church, was fully occupied by Cato, and

clusively what manner of man he was. The sermon, unfortunately, was a plain, practical appeal to their consciences, without effort, without ornament, without consciousness that there were any around him who would judge him.

Pomp, and Jane, and Yaff, and Cuff, and Cæ- (that peculiarity of manner against him. It sar, and Jupiter Ammon, Phillis, Chloe, Clara, was with much impatience that he was heard and Mr. Van Sittart's servants. In short, all through the Prayers and solemn Litany. The the silks, bonnets, flounces, furbelows, fans," sermon" was that which would prove consmelling bottles, and other paraphernalia usually brought to the House of God, were in requisition. It is a curious fact that the same vanity, the same worldliness, the same winks, nods, recognitions, profane behaviour, found within the walls of St. Bardolph's, or any other saint, in the city of New-York, on a Sunday morning now-a-days, might have been found in St. Bardolph's, Westchester County, on a Sunday morning fifty years ago. Human nature is the same everywhere, and in all ages:

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Some go to Church just for a walk,
Some go there to laugh and talk,
Some go there the time to spend,
Some go there to meet a friend,
Some go to learn the Parson's name,
Some go there to wound his fame,
Some go there for speculation,

Some go there for observation,
Some go there to doze and nod,

But few go there to worship God."

He spake only as a dying man, to dying

men. Nevertheless, as they went out they declared themselves to be delighted. There was either something in his air which awed them, and inspired them with respect, or they wished to flatter themselves, and be satisfied with their own judgment in selecting him. "What a delightful sermon-Do you not think that he is very handsome? He is a dear, good young man!" There was not a mother in that congregation who did not go home to trumpet his praises, nor a daughter in Israel whose suffrage was not in favor of our new minister." It was immediately a matter of great concernment where he should be lodged, how he should be fed, who should There was a small organ played by Miss contribute the most to his comfort. Mr. Van Valeary, which was the especial pride of the Sittart" called on him," and took him about congregation, and it was noticed that she was the parish in his carriage, and invited him to now particularly nervous when she began the dine with him. Mr. Van Sittart was very voluntary, and involuntarily twitched in all her kind, indeed; although he thought the young muscles, and crooked her elbows more, and man demure and silent. He was evidently bounced up and down as she pressed the keys, very ignorant of the world; but his Reverand her face flushed, and her trills were more ence knew a great deal more of " the world," rapid, and she was almost too excited to probably, than Mr. Van Sittart supposed. In play"-(Mr. Tubingen looking over her less than a week he was provided with "pen shoulder the while, in order to turn over the wipers" enough to wipe enough pens to write leaves) when the door of the vestry room, a hundred sermons with; with sermon-covers (magniloquently called the Sacristy, within without number, and, in fact, overcome with which you could not swing a cat round with- all manner of "delicate attentions." His out dashing her brains out,) noiselessly turned time was taxed with tea-drinkings, and his upon its hinges, and there entered a calm, stomach injured with sweetmeats. What a meek, pale-faced young man. He seemed to delightful young man! It was observed that partake not in the excitement which was the Rev. Mr. Admuller brought with him a around him, but quietly kneeled. Not to black gown not of the finest quality. The speak extravagantly, the silence was audible. first movement, therefore, in the parish, was When he said "The Lord is in His holy to purchase for "our new minister" a new Temple, let all the earth keep silence before gown. Miss Valeary was at the head of the Him," the first sound of his voice was a re- Committee; Mr. Van Sittart headed the sublief. The charm was mitigated, if not broken.scription, and in less than one week the silk He had a pleasant voice, but a certain pecu- was purchased. The surplice which belonged liarity of manner. Mr. Van Sittart thought to the church was not so handsome as it should

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yet, strange to say, the people of Westchester were not more intemperate then they are now. Those two score beautiful young women, who could carry through any worthy project which they pleased, began to think

be; therefore this defect was also remedied, (that time a side-board was a notable piece of and in a few weeks the Rev. Mr. Admuller furniture,) was well garnished with decanters; walked into the chancel enveloped in the finest lawn, and preached his "excellent sermon" in the best silk which the market would afford. He was becoming very popular. How his words went straight home to the hearts of " some people," and if "some peo-that a " Bee" should be given for the benefit ple" would lay his words to heart, they might of the young clergyman, and no sooner was be benefited. That was the general opinion. this bee fledged and had taken wing, than a Be it observed, that "our new minister" was great buzzing ensued. When the appointed unmarried, but as he "kept house," it was evening came, everybody vied with everydesirable to furnish him with chairs, sofas, body in gifts. Cotton, yarn, linen, butter, pot-hooks, gridirons, pepper and salt, turkeys, tea, eggs, honey, wine, money, poured into roast beef, and edibles. This was accord-the clerical cells. Surely Mr. Admuller could ingly done, until he thought of having an auction to sell off the superfluous commodities, of which he had no need. For at least a year he observed the same demure conduct, be-versed cheerily, and conducted himself most coming more and more popular all the time. The more he turned away from people, the more they sought him, and thought that he was delightful, positively "fascinating." He courted them by contempt of their frail-piano, and drew forth music enough from the ties; he won them by absolute neglect. What a charming man!

not be an anchorite. Every face beamed with animation, and the new minister, in the midst of so much charity, smiled and con

charmingly in his own house. The young people asked him if they might dance, and as he smiled and replied in the affirmative, Miss Valeary took her seat at the old, thin-legged

jingling, ivory keys, to keep them in motion for one good hour. Thus the evening stole There were two score beautiful young wo- away pleasantly, and the guests retired at a men in that parish who were by no means suitable hour. At the end of one year, the idle when any good project was on foot. In" new minister" had become well settled in Dorcas associations their labors were abun-the affections of his people, and they liked dant; but temperance, teetotal, and Martha him very much. Washington societies had not yet loomed up, for every side-board in Westchester, (and at

Huntington, L. I.

F. W. S.

THE SUN AND THE CLOCK.

THE Scripture is the sun, the Church is the clock, whose hand points us to, and whose sound tells to us, the hours of the day. The sun we know to be sure, and regularly constant in his motions; the clock, as it may fall out, may go too fast or too slow; we are wont to look at, and listen to the clock to know the time of the day, but where we find

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the variation sensible, to believe the sun against the clock, not the clock against the sun. As, then, we would condemn him of much folly that should profess to trust the clock rather than the sun, so we cannot but justly tax the miscredulity of those who will rather trust to the Church than to the Scriptures.-Bishop Hall.

Good:

THOUGHTS FOR EASTER.

"Not yet for the ravage of winter I mourn,-
Kind Nature the embryo blossom will save;
But when shall spring visit the mouldering uru-
Oh, when shall it dawn on the night of the grave?"

"If a man die, shall he live again?"-Job xiv., 14.

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LAS! alas! when, in the (realization of his own doctrine of the Resurgarden, die the mallows, orrection of the dead. Till the heavens be no more! He looks forward through the long, dim vista of ages, and the dark sleep of the tomb seems to him for the moment, as it were, an eternal night. Until the heavens should be no more; until, ages distant, the firmament

the green parsley, or the blooming downy anise, afterward they come to life again, and, for another year they spring. But we, the great, the brave, or wise men, when once we die, un-of heaven should be rolled together as a scroll, heard of in the hollow earth, we sleep and the elements themselves should melt with a very long, endless, and wakeless fervent heat, he sees no escape from the antisleep. Thou also in silence, shall be covered cipated gloom of that long and cheerless slumin the earth." Such is the melancholy and ber of the grave. Uninformed, perchance, of chilling sentiment, inculcated in one of the the long centuries of blissful rest, that were sweetest and most melodious passages of the to ensue to the world-wearied servant of God, heathen Moschus. Or, as translated by between the hour when the change of death cometh, and that hour when he is to be called forth from his Paradise of rest, to the more radiant glories and brighter consummation of the heavenly Jerusalem, he feels for a brief moment an inclination to despond. But, with a heart true to its Maker, he does not lose sight of his faith. In another portion of the very same conversation in which this language occurred, the Patriarch, as if gifted with prophetic vision, exclaims, "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet, in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me."

Each blade of grass, the pictured race of flowers, That, with fierce fang, the wintry wind devours, When Spring returns, at Zephyr's kindling voice, Peep from the greensward, and again rejoice. We, lords of all! we, big with bold emprise! When once the spring, the flower of manhood flies, Sink-void of laws to burst the marble tomb, To ether call us, and with life relume." Scholars have compared this passage with the language of Job, xiv. ch.: "For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout out again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and dryeth up: so man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep."

Yet, unlike the heathen in the depths of his despondency, the venerable patriarch does not fail to look with steadfast eye toward the

Yea, though our Lord do tarry long, even "till the heavens be no more," he shall surely come; and lo! his reward is with Him. They that have worn the image cf the earthy, must also wear the image of the heavenly. Corruption must put on incorruption; and the mortal must be adorned with immortality. The chosen plants, which had flourished awhile in the summer-bloom on earth, must

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