the present W. T. Minors, Esq. By this circumstance, the eight younger children were left unprovided for; but this gentleman, with a generosity seldom equalled, but which does honour to Christianity, immediately made over to his younger brothers and sisters three considerable estates (it is said of the value of 10,000.l.) which were about two-thirds of the whole property. This munifi cence is the more extraordinary, as he had a young and increasing family of his own. On a friend remonstrating with him on his conduct, his answer was, "I have enough ; and am determined that all my brothers and sisters shall be satisfied." This article is communicated by a person well informed of the fact, but without the least privity of the gentleman to whose honour it is related, and who, probably, does not know that this publication exists. It is fit, however, that deeds like this should be recorded, that others, beholding the good work, may glorify God, and, if occasion and opportunity offer, imitate it. REV. SIR, To the Editor. As the scriptures abound with Similitudes of the Lord's using, I some times employ myself in collecting them. I have here sent you three; which, if you should think worth a place in the Evangelical Magazine, by inserting them all at once, or one at a time, you will oblige, Rev. Sir, yours humbly, 1. DIVINE SIMILITUDE. J.C Hosea xii. 10 I have used Similitudes. DEATH LIKENED TO A PASSAGE THRO A DARK VALLEY. Psalm xxiii. 10. Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no Evil, &c. THAT there cannot be two hills without a valley between, is a rule that admits of no exception. "To appre hend the scenery in this scripture, we must conceive the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant as two mountains, between which lieth the Valley of the Shadow of Death, necessary to be passed by those who would go from one to the other. Over all that region of dreariness and desolation, extendeth the empire of the King of Terrors: and the believer alone feareth no evil, in his passage thro' it; because he is conducted by that "great Shepherd of the Sheep, the Lord Jesus Christ, whom God brought again from the the dead";- and who can therefore shew him the path of life, through this dark vale. In all our dangers and distresses, but chiefly in our last and greatest need, let thy rod, the sceptre of thy kingdom, O Lord, protect us; and thy pastoral staff guide and support our steps, till, through the dreaded valley, we pass to the heavenly mountain, and join the multitude of the redeemed, which St, John saw, standing with the Lamb thereon. See Bp.Horne's Commentary. Death cannot make my soul afraid, If Christ be with me there ; MA NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FOX, OR JACKALL. ANY circumstances have led to the suspicion, that the for mentioned in the Scriptures, was of a different species from those in Europe, and particularly in England. Our foxes, for instance, are not gregarious; but those of Palestine are described, as going in troops (whence Sampson caught 300 of them) as remarkably ravenous, and, destroying every thing before them. Now by the accounts of eastern travellers, the jackall (or chacal) answers exactly to these characters; and as the true fox is very rarely seen in those countries, there can be little or no doubt but the jackall is the animal called in the Old Testament shual, in the New, aλon, and in both rendered fox. The jackall, however, is of two species, commonly diştinguished as larger and smaller; the latter of which is called by Buffon and others, the jackall adive; and bears the nearest resemblance to the fox, being about the same size and colour. Perhaps both kinds may be alluded to by the author of Canticles :-"Take for us the foxes (or Chap. ii. 15. 3 H 2 jackalls) Jackalls) the little toxes (or jackalls adive) that destroy the vines," the latter chiefly iufesting the gardens and the vineyards. Thevenot mentions large troops of these animals; and Sampson caught 300 of them in wheat-harvest (that being the season when they are most plentiful); and tying them tail to tail, with fire-brands between them, scnt them into the corn-fields and vineyards of the Philistines *; where they love to run, and where they must do immense damage in that dry season, when the eastern herbage will catch like tinder, and blaze like tow. Ezekiel compares the false prophets of Israel to foxes, i. e. jackals in the deserts, where they make a great noise, chattering, and howling, and devour every thing that comes within their reach t. So these impostors were continually prating, "The Lord saith," and "Thus saith the Lord," when he had not spoken by them; and, instead of "healing the breaches of the people," were like the jackalls, especially the larger sort, who broke down the fences, and destroyed the hedges. The Psalmist, speaking of his enemies, says, "They shall be a portion for fores:" wluch exactly agrees with the character of the larger jackalls, who, according to the accounts of travellers, tear up the graves and devour the putrid bodies; whence the inhabitants love to bury deep, or" in the lower parts of the earth." " Our Lord compares Herod to a for, as the text is commonly understood; but the jackall is a much juster emblem of a tyrant, as being equally artful and insidious, but more cruel and blood-thirsty. But does not this sound extremely harsh from the lips of the Lamb of God? Let it be remembered, he spake in his public character, and as one having authority. He was the Great Prophet of the church, and Herod was a persecutor. He was the true King of Israel, and Herod was an usurper. The Lamb of God is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah. T. W. * Judges xv. 4, 5. + Ezek. xiii. 4. ANECDOTES. + Ps. lxiii. 10. W ALKING in the country (says the Rev. Mr. Jay) I went into a barn, where I found a thresher at his work. I addressed him, in the words of Solomon, - My friend, “in all labour there is profit." Leaning upon his flail flail, and with much energy, he answered: "No Sir; that is the truth, but there is one exception to it :-I have long laboured in the service of Sin, but I got no profit by my labour." Then you know somewhat of the Apostle's meaning, when he asked, "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed "Thank God," said he, "I do; and also know that now, being freed from sin, and having become a servant unto righteousness, Į have my fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." THE Rev. Basil Woodd, preaching at Long-Acre chapel, took for his text, 2 Cor. iv. 6. In his auditory was a young man, servant to Mr. M-, of St. Martin's Court, who, when he went home, told one of the family, that he had heard such a sermon as he never heard before; he never before feit such an impression from a sermon. Indeed! what did you hear? I'll fetch the meat from the baker's, and then tell you all that I can recollect." Returning with it, he said to a woman who passed him,-"Take this dish from me; I am very ill." As she did not understand him, he placed the dish upon the pavement, laid down backward, and immediately expired. -How mysterious are the means by which the Lord gathers in his elect! The sun shining on a mirror forms his own image in an instant; and are not the beams of God's holy Spirit equally potent? May we not hope, in this case, that the work of God was almost instantaneous? instead of telling the wonderful tale of his conversion to his fellow-servants, may we not hope he went to relate it to the redeemed throng who surround the throne? The fact, however, has another aspect: How awfully near was he to eternity before he received the joyful sound! The late Rev. Mr. Berridge, when about to begin his sermon at Tottenham Court, was once employed, longer than usual, in wiping his spectacies. The cause occasioned many to look up, to account for it; when the good old man, with great gravity, said, "If you can see without spectacles, thank God for it; I thank God that I can see with them." This is a useful hint both for those who use, and for those who do not need, glasses. If it should cause one of your readers to thank God for the power of vision, your insertion of it will not be in vain. Reply Reply to the Queries of a BEDFORDSHIRE FARMER, Inserted in the Evangelical Magazine for July last, p. 275. Ist. " 's sin the source of evil, and the procuring cause of all our calamities in this life ?"Answer. Undoubtedly; for evil and sorrow of every kind, so far as they respect reasonable creatures, came into the world only by sin; and when the people of God quit this world of sin and imperfection, they will lose their sorrow for ever! Genesis ii. 17. — iii. 16—19, compared with Romans v. 12, confirm the first idea; and Revelation vii. 13-17. with chap. ii. 1-4. prove the latter. gd. "In what sense are such calamities, afflictions, &c. sanctified to those who are exercised therewith "-Answ. Afflictions, &c. are sanctified to us, when, by the gracious interference of God, they are made the ineans of our spiritual benefit, by promoting our hatred of sin, and our entire conformity to God in temper, heart, and life. Thus Job's trials were made the means of purging out a selfrighteous spirit; Paul's temptations prometed his humility; and David's manifold afflictions engaged his cart more effectually to love God and keep his commandments. * 3d. "If the people of God experience their affictions, &c. sanctified, do they act with propriety when they pray to God for their removal?"-Answer. Afflictions, considered in themselves, are evils; and as administered by the Lord to his children, are chastisements; for the removal of which they may lawfully pray; yet so, that they submit to the will of their Heavenly Father, and leave the issue at his disposal. Thus, our Lord, the example of his people, prays for the removal of the cup; yet submits therein to the will of his Father. Warwick. *Psalm cxix. 67. OBITUARY. M. MR. THOMAS FOXALL, OF WALSALL. MR. FOXALL was the son of a respectable innkeeper, in a con siderable market-town of Shropshire. His parents, early perceiving a natural quickness of parts, had determined him for a professional line. A suitable education was of course deliberated upon; which was received and finished with considerable credit to the youth. At a proper age he was apprenticed to an eminent surgeon and apothe cary, |