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While here he wrote to his father; from whom he received some affectionate letters. He was just going out governor of York Fort, in Hudson's Bay; and sailed before Mr. N. could see him. He never returned to England, but was drowned while bathing, just before the ship arrived in the Bay.

Mr. Newton reached Liverpool in May, 1748, where the Lord had provided him another father, in the late Mr. Joseph Manesty, a merchant of that town; who treated him with peculiar kindness, and took upon himself the care of providing for him. He shortly offered him the command of a ship: this, however, he prudently declined for the present; but accepted the station of a mate. He made a short visit to London, and from thence to Kent, where he obtained an interview with Miss

; and, before he left England, their intended union was agreed upon, his father having previously expressed his approbation.

On his voyage to Guinea, his religious fervor gradually abated; -he grew slack in waiting on the Lord; became vain and trifling in his conversation, and seemed almost to forget the divine mercies. The remembrance of this sad decline proved, however, a useful lesson of instruction, by which he learnt how incapable he was of standing a single hour, without fresh supplies of strength and grace from Jesus. A violent fe

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ver, with which he was visited, broke the chain, and once more brought him to himself. He was then exceedingly distressed; and, retiring to a sequestered spot, poured out his soul before the Lord;-he was enabled to hope and believe in a crucified Saviour; the burden was removed from his conscience; and not only his peace, but his health was speedily restored.

On his return to Liverpool, after settling the ship's affairs, he repaired to Kent. All obstacles to his long-expected union were now removed, and he was married in Feb. 1750.

In the month of June, however, duty again called him abroad ;* and he sailed from Liverpool in August, commander of a good ship.

He had now the care of about thirty persons, whom he treated with great humanity, and kept up the worship of God among them. On this voyage, he pursued his study of Latin; and mastered, though with much difficulty, Terence, Virgil, Livy, Sallust,

* Speaking of this separation, in the Preface before mentioned, he says, "The necessity of being absent bitter as death, I have now reason to from her, which then seemed to me acknowledge as one of the chief mercies of my life. If I could have obtained my fond short-sighted wish, and have continued with her, I see that, humanly speaking, it would have

proved the ruin of us both."

To alleviate the pains of absence, Mr. Newton had recourse to writing, even while at sea, two or three times a week, though no conveyance offered for six or eight months together. "I have," says he (Letter xi. page 163) "to the amount of near two hundred sheets of paper now lying in my bulection of these Letters was publishreau of that correspondence."-A se. of Mrs. Newton, in two volumes. ed by Mr. Newton, after the death

He returned to England in Nov. 1751.

In July, 1752, he commenced a second voyage to Africa; during which he was wonderfully preserved in the midst of many dangers, and especially from a conspiracy among the crew to turn pirates and seize the ship. His stay on the coast was long; the trade precarious; and he was in "deaths oft;" but he was as marvellously delivered, and returned to Liverpool in August, 1753.

...His third voyage, as master of the vessel, which commenced in about six weeks after his return, was shorter and less perplexed than either of the former: he left the coast in about four months, and sailed for St. Kitt's. On this passage he was visited with a feyer, which gave him a very near prospect of eternity: but his hopes were greater than his fears, and he was enabled to wait the event without much anxiety. The Lord appeared in his favor, and he arrived in the West Indies perfect ly recovered. On his arrival there, he found much spiritual profit from the conversation of a Capt. Clunie, a member of Mr. Brewer's church, at Stepney; he received an increase of knowledge; and his conceptions of divine truth became much more clear and evangelical. He arrived safe at Liverpool, in August, 1754.

See a volume entitled, The Christian Correspondent; or a Series of Letters, written by Mr. Newton to Captain Clunie, from 1761 to 1770. In the first of these Letters (page 6) he says, "I often think of you with peculiar pleasure and thankfulness, as by you the Lord was pleased to bring me to know his people. Your

VOL. I. New Series.

By the beginning of November he was again ready for sea; but the Lord saw fit to over-rule his design. He had been, in general, satisfied with the slave-trade, not having the least scruple, at that time, as to its lawfulness, and considering it as the appointment which Providence had marked out for him; yet, he looked upon himself as a sort of gaoler or turnkey; and was sometimes shocked with an employment that was perpetually conversant with chains, bolts, and shackles. In this view, he had often prayed to be fixed in a more humane calling, and in which he might enjoy the means of grace. His prayers were answered; but in an unexpected way. When he was within two days of sailing, while sitting at tea with Mrs. Newton, he was suddenly seized with a fit, which lasted about an hour, and produced effects which rendered it imprudent to proceed on the voyage ;he therefore resigned the command, and was thus freed from that detestable service, and from the calamitous consequences of that voyage, in which the captain and many of the crew died; and the vessel was brought home with great difficulty.

H

Disengaged from business, he. spent most of the following year in London and in Kent; but he was exercised with a new trial; for Mrs. Newton was taken ill, and, for many months, reduced to the lowest state.

In London, he commenced a religious acquaintance with many excellent persons,particularly with Mr. Brewer, of Stepney; whose

conversation was much blessed to me, at St. Kitt's; and the little knowl

edge I have of men and things, took

its rise from thence."

friendship and ministry proved of great advantage to him. The Rev. Mr. Hayward was another of his intimate friends. He was also introduced to the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, whose ministry was exceedingly useful to him.

In August, 1755, he received, through the kind procurement of Mr. M. an appointment to the office of tide-surveyor of the port of Liverpool. This place, though unsought for by himself, was the very thing he could have wished, as it afforded him much leisure, and the liberty of living in his own way.* His circumstances now became as smooth and uniform for some years, as before they had been stormy and various. At that time, religion was at a low ebb in Liverpool; yet he found a godly few, with whom his association was pleasant and profitable. About the year 1757, he increased his religious acquaintance in and about

Leeds, where the gospel flourished.

He was now desirous of improving his mind in the best kind of knowledge, and spent his leisure hours in the study of the Greek Testament, and of the Hebrew Bible. He kept up also a course of reading in the best writers of divinity, in French and Latin, as well as in English.

About this time he turned his thoughts towards the work of the ministry; his first inclination to which, arose from a reflection on Gal. i. 23, 24.

He could not

but wish for an opportunity to testify the riches of divine grace. He thought, and justly thought, that above most men living, he was the fittest to proclaim that faithful saying, "That Jesus Christ came into the world to save the chief of sinners ;" and as his life had been full of remarkable turns, he thought himself selected to show what the Lord could do; entertaining the pleasing hope that, perhaps, sooner or later, the Lord would call him into his service. Writing to Captain Clunie, July 30, 1762, he says, "I believe I have, in some degree, that inward call,-that desire and preference to the service, and a little measure of that experience, and those gifts, which would justify my embracing a proper invitation, or opening, whenever it shall happen: till then I shall wait."—“I appointment of Providence so good hope it is not a high conceit of and gracious, and such a plain answer to my poor prayers, that I cannot but myself, which makes me want to wonder and adore. My predecessor, rush upon that important service; Mr. C, had no intention to resign but a serious regard for the honhis place as reported; but the report our of God, the good of souls, and put Mr. Mon an application to especially the constraining force Mr. Sthe member for the town) of that love, which spared me, the chief of sinners, to be a pattern and encouragement for others to believe in his name."

"I entered upon my business yesterday (Aug 19). I find my duty is to attend the tides one week, and visit the ships that arrive, and such as are in the river; and the other week, to inspect the vessels in the docks. I have a good office, with fire and candle; fifty or sixty people under my direction, with a handsome six-oared boat, and a coxswain to row me about." Letters to a Wife, vol. ii. page 6.

"When I think of my settlement here, and the manner of it, I see the

for the place; and the very day he received the promise in my favour, Mr. C was found dead in his bed, though he was perfectly well the night before."-Ibid. p, 17.

(To be concluded in our next.)

RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

ON THE PREVALENCE AND EVIL OF LOOSE AND INDISTINCT IDEAS OF RELIGION,

Man, on the dubious waves of error toss'd,
His ship half founder'd, and his compass lost,
Sees, far as human optics may command,
A sleeping fog, and fancies it dry land,
Spreads all his canvass, every sinew plies,
Pants for't, aims at it, enters it, and dies.

RELIGION obtains a place in the vocabulary of almost all nations. But when it is not taken in a christian sense, how various and even contradictory is its import? How small a portion of mankind can harmonize in their religious rites! and how few of those who do thus harmonize are able to explain the nature and propriety of their ceremonies! Even the christian religion, which is directly calculated to enlighten the mind, and to relieve it from suspense, is viewed, perhaps I may say by the majority of those who have heard of a Saviour, as having nothing very definite or important in its character. Or if it be allowed to contain any thing applicable to our condition, it is complimented by an unfeeling and sullen acknowledgment, rather than by a careful examination and a welcome reception of its doctrines.

It is the practical language of the multitude; "Let us not trouble ourselves with such concerns; or at most, let us not be over scrupulous in selecting models of conduct, or fixing upon invariable standards of sentiment." At intervals, it is true, they may be more seriously disposed. There is in all men something which, at times, prompts them to regard religion. But their regard is sel

COWPER.

dom marked by any determinate object in view. They gaze upon it occasionally, as they gaze upon a cloud, which has no definite shape or size. And as a cloud may sometimes bring rain and lightning, so may religion, for aught they know, involve consequences which may render it noticeable, provided it do not disturb their minds, nor intrude upon their pleasures. They keep it at a distance, and now and then look at the obscure, half-visible object, as coasting sailors often look at the far distant harbor, as their only asylum, when overtaken by a storm. Religion sounds in their ears like an almost forgotten tale. They can recognize none of its peculiar features-none of its distinguishing marks. They may indeed remember to have heard, that it offers salvation from punishment, but forget that this offer is founded on the condition of repentance and new obedience. Perhaps also they may recollect, that it requires us to be charitable in our opinions; but this recollection serves only to contaminate their principles, by preparing them to tolerate every species of error.

Smooth things are always palatable. Man is by nature a dupe to flattery. He listens with avidity to those parts of the tale, which

confirm his present security; but over those which disturb his repose or alarm his apprehensions, he, with a Dedalian craft, casts a thick cloud of indifference or unbelief. He fears to examine the principles of that religion, which condemns his character, and refers him to the chancery of heaven for the decision of his future destiny. He treads with cautious reluctance the threshold of that sanctuary, in which the servant of God addresses him as a sinner, exposed to the wrath of an offended judge. He retreats from the examination of the scriptures, although they contain the words of eternal life. But as he retires from this fountain of knowledge and blessedness, he alas! too frequently takes a fatal glance at the words, "God is merciful, and is no respecter of persons," and sinks into Universalism, or uninterrupted security, being given over, perhaps, to believe a lie. The most that multitudes can say of revelation is, that it is a book containing doctrines, which, they never noticed, or precepts which they have forgotten.

I would not intimate that all men are alike remiss in the investigation of moral subjects. There is doubtless a great difference among them, according to their education, habits, and prejudices. But we are all witnesses, that by far the greater portion of mankind assume the shield of Felix; "Go thy way for this time," and with it ward off the arrows of conviction, and repel the force of reason and truth. Thousands have been accustomed to wrap the gospel in a shroud, considering its doctrines too gloomy to be examined, and its sanctions too frightful to be delineated. Their guilty souls

take the alarm at the first approach of any definite idea concerning a change of heart, the cross of Christ, and the future misery of the finally impenitent. Every distinct ray of truth betrays their defections; therefore they will not come to the light, lest their deeds should be made manifest.

It were easy to adduce further proof of the prevailing looseness and indistinctness of men's ideas concerning religion, and other subjects intimately connected with the best interests of man. But it is needless. The world is full of indistinct conception, irregular thought, and wavering sentiment. Sudden fiights of fancy supersede the labor of thorough investiga tion; and principles of universal application are hastily and absurdly deduced from the partialities of self-interest.

The scenes of life are painted by the mind in high colours. They are portrayed as we wish them to be, and not as they really are.

All our objects of pursuit are spangled with gold, and illumined by the rays of hope, even at the moment when experience, reason, and revelation assure us, that we shall reap a harvest of adversity and pain. Misfortune, when it is specific, and sure to befall us, is frequently overcast with a blur or a hope-not. As we all dread disasters, so the mind, with reluctance and pain, examines an impending evil. The common, though often pernicious maxim, "hope for the best," does, in a thousand instances, while it diminishes the terror of our apprehensions, add poignancy to that misfortune, which, had it been dis tinctly foreseen, might have been remedied, or borne with greater fortitude.

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