Knows 'twill not be this year.
Then what's the use all such abuse,
Fanatic or his tool,

When each, indeed, has equal need,
To know himself a fool?

WM. STILLMAN.

WRITTEN IN SARAH ANN LANPHEAR'S ALBUM.

To Sarah Ann Lanphear a word I must say,
Since with us no longer she chooses to stay.

Three hundred miles distant her course she must steer,
Since having been with us two-thirds of a year:

So fare you well, Sarah, if off you must be,

No more perhaps ever each other to see;

May blessings attend you wherever you roam,

And peace and contentment dwell with you at home.
Though long miles and mountains betwixt us may rise,
At distance outstretching the reach of our eyes,
May that happy friendship no, never, expire,
Which in my old mansion we first did acquire;
And should your kind fortune so turn it around,
That you in hymenial chains should be bound,
May propitious Heaven provide you with one
Whose virtue and kindness was never outdone.
Then, Sarah, be cautious to what you consent,
Lest when it's too late, you have cause to repent:
For surely, he'd better be both deaf and dumb,
Than one of those dandies that love to drink rum.
And now in conclusion, permit me to say,
Let us for each other remember to pray,

That if on this footstool I see you no more,

We may have one blest meeting on Canaan's bright shore.

WM. STILLMAN.

The following article I read in one of the Norwich papers about fifty years ago, and it seems to me it ought not to be lost; so I have given it a place here. It was said to be written by Dr. Daniel Lee, and signed "Religious Enquirer, and entitled

A HINT TO THE CLERGY.

Having observed the advantages the community derive from the preaching and pious example of the clergy, in producing good neighbors, good subjects to Government, and industrious people, I have a high estimation for them; yet there is one thing of more importance to individuals than anything else, which as far as my knowledge extends among the clergy, seems very much overlooked by them; whether it is from the nature of the subject being entirely unintelligible, or from their amazing neglect, is to me unknown. This, however, is the fact: the road to the celestial mansion is very obscurely pointed out by them. It is not uncommon for the same preacher and in the same sermon, to tell the audience they must do, and they cannot do; that they must go to God for salvation, and they cannot: that it is in the power of all mankind to be saved if they would, and if they are not saved it is their own fault, and yet that no one not elected can be saved, and a few only are of the elect.

to me un

How these seeming contradictions are reconciled, known. Perhaps some gentlemen of the clergy will undertake to reconcile them, and make the matter plain to every understanding. If they cannot, let them either deny the fact, or else confess they have undertaken to explain what is equally unintelligible to all.

If the Savior has purchased unconditional salvation for all mankind, or only a part, then whatever use a man may make of his agency will not alter the matter, and he is saved or damned, according to the sovereign will of Omnipotence.

If this be the case, tell us plainly that a man's conduct in this life can have no effect on his happiness or misery in a state of future existence. Deny not facts for fear of consequences; do not evil that good may come. But if on the other hand, there are certain conditions on which salvation depends, which are in the power of all to comply with, let them be clearly and plainly pointed out; for if the conditions are inexplicable, or such as we are not

capable of complying with, the consequences are the same as unconditional salvation or damnation.

Were the conditions on which salvation is offered to mankind once explicitly pointed out, the preacher would have little more to do than to enforce a compliance. Was this once completely explained, theology would be reduced to simplicity, and I should learn with facility, what few if any, have ever learned in this life. RELIGIOUS ENQUIRER.

When I belonged to a company of the Militia, we chose a Captain, and the General Assembly commissioned another under whom the company did not choose to serve. The following was written to the Assembly in consequence:

Unto the Assembly ourselves we address,

Our respects unto them, and our grief we express.
'Tis not our intention good laws for to break,
But only just mention their woful mistake:

For if this be the course that they mean for to take,
When we choose a Captain some other they'll make,
Then in that same moment is liberty slain,
For which we're made soldiers only to maintain.
They may well consider 'tis not our delight,
For to be obliged to turn out and fight;
But yet if no other but quarrel we must,
We'll surely begin where the shoe pinches first.
For if for our liberty we have to fight,
No body can blame us to take it up right;
We'll not go a hunting for tyrants at Rome,
While we have oppressors so plenty at home.
What is it but tyranny which we now feel?
Poor men that must labor for every meal,
Must turn out to training without any pay,
While great men are taking six dollars a day.
Tho' 'tis not paying deputies we so much mind,
Or training for nothing, altho' its unkind;
But when to choose officers we are denied,
With heart-racking sorrow our spirits are tried.

Then only allow us our leaders to choose,
No more to do duty then will we refuse,
Nor scarce to Appolyon would we ever yield,
While men of our choosing can lead us the field.

WM. STILLMAN.

The following is some of the author's experience, written in a Lady's Album, who requested me to write something original. She was a high Calvinist.

Even when I was young I possessed a weak mind,

I thought perhaps more so than Heaven designed;
My case I lamented, yet had some desire,

In some kind of knowledge to rise something higher;
But how to attain it I hardly could see,

Since those in high standing, scarce two could agree.
My parents advised the Bible to read,

And said it contained all the wisdom we need.
The minister told me with tears in his eyes

If ever I meant to be happy and wise
'Twas needful not only the Bible to read,
But I must add to it old John Calvin's creed.
He told of election and predestination,
Likewise unconditional pre-reprobation.
I asked the reason why God should do so,
To make some for heaven and others for woe.
He said that the reasons were all out of sight,
But urged that a sovereign had an undoubted right;
A long time I doubted, and could not receive
For truth what he said, or his doctrine believe.
At length I concluded such men ought to know
Much better than I do, perhaps it is so;
But when to this doctrine I gave my assent,

Into sad reflection I instantly went.

If this be the case I then quickly replied

I surely must be on the reprobate side;
For this I concluded as easy to see,

No one made for heaven so wicked could be.

I cried is it possible then that good Jove
Can be so devoid of all feeling and love,
To make me on purpose to send me to hell,
And yet that no mortal the reason can tell?
In almost disstraction I went out to pray,
When plainly I seemed to hear something say,
Go back and consider how foolish you be

To think that your praying can change God's decree.
Confounded! I thought I had come to an end,
On earth or in heaven I had not a friend;
And O! the sad horror that seized my breast,
By no human language can be ever expres'd.
But still I felt humble and wanted to pray,
Yet nothing could think of consistent to say;
For nothing more silly or idle could be

Than to ask God to change an unchanging decree.
At length I concluded there yet was one thing
That I might request of so cruel a king.

Then on the cold ground I quite prostrate did fall,
And on the Almighty sincerely did call:
O! Lord was it needful thy glory to show
That I must be made for damnation and woe?
If so I beseech thee grant this one request,
With courage and patience O! let me be blest.
O! grant me assistance, O! grant me thine aid
To answer the purpose for which I was made;
If nothing will do but to hell I must go,
Thy eternal power and glory to show,
Then adequate make me to trials so sore,
O! grant me but this and I'll ask for no more.
I thus agonizing continued to pray,
At length some kind spirit did whisper and say,
If thus you are humble and wish to submit
To whatever God in his wisdom thinks fit,
There is no hell for you, nor ever can be
So long as you wish to be governed by me.
Unreconciliation forever will be

The cause of all misery, and not God's decree;
None ever were made for damnation and woe,
Yet there all impenitent sinners must go.
In extatic pleasure I rose from the ground,

I