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her bed, but she found him not. She arose and went about the city in the streets. She went to the watchmen inquiring at them, but found him not. She went but a little further and she found him whom her soul loved. She held him and would not let him go. Though you have missed him in reading, meditation and prayer, in attending ordinances and other duties, you must go a little further; perhaps you will find him at his table. We will assure you that he will be there. Plead his promise, "I will see you again."

But, perhaps, you may have been off your guard and employed with some temptation, and that has provoked him to hide his face and deprive you of sensible communion with him. This should lead you to search into your hearts and to ackuowledge your sin unto God. There are both the greatest encouragement to that exercise and the greatest hazard attending the contrary practice. (1 John i. 1, 9,) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins," &c. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy." Sin regard ed in the heart makes God shut out his people's prayers. It was in the way of confessing sin that David got deliverance. (Psal. xxxii. 5,) "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin."

AN EXTRACT

FROM ANOTHER OF MR. CLARKSON'S SERMONS.

Lastly, Let me put you in mind of, and exhort you to, the performance of another important duty, namely, public collections on each Lord's day, when you are assembled together to worship. This is a duty in which we have the example of the saints for our direction. (Acts xi. 28, 29, 30, and Rom. xii. 13, and xv. 26, 27. 2 Cor. viii. 1, 2, 3, and ix. 6, 7, 8.) If it should be here objected, that these scriptures respect collections made for the poor, but that in this land we have public funds by which the needy are supplied, and that removes the necessity of collections. To this I answer, that it can not escape the knowledge of many that there are some who need more assistance than is allowed them by that laudable scheme. Moreover there are many other uses for col lections, than simply the necessities of the poor. We find (2 Kings xii,) that money was brought into the treasury for repairing the house of the Lord; and in many other places of scripture. Yea, we find that it is a standing ordinance or duty in the christian church. (1 Cor. xvi. 2,) "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him, that there be no gathering when I come." The Westminster Assembly of Divines, in the Larger Catechism, on that Question, How is the Sabbath or Lord's day, to be sanctified? quote this text proving public collections to be a part of the worship of the day. Solomon says, (Prov. iii. 9, 10,)"Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of thine increase. So shall thy barnes be filled with plenty, and thy presses burst out with new wine." (Chap. xi. 25, 26, and xxix. 17. Eccles. xi. 1; and Mark xii. 41.) All these duties ought to be done out of love to God. The motive to obedience in slaves is sordid and base, it is love to themselves, and fear of God as an enemy.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

OF THE REV. THOMAS BEVERIDGE.

Ir must be confirming to the faith of christians, and encouraging to those who are engaged in a testimony for present truth, to read the ensuing account of the life and death of that eminent servant of Jesus Christ, the Rev. THOMAS BEVERIDGE, late minister of the gospel to the Associate congregation of Cambridge, Washington county, State of NewYork.

This great and good man was born in the year 1749, at East-side, parish of Fossoway and shire of Fife, in Scotland. He was descended of reputable parents. His uncle, Thomas Beveridge, was a member of the Associate congregation of Paisley, and died in a manner almost as remarkable and triumphant as that of his nephew. Mr. Beveridge was bred under the ministry of the Rev. William Mair, of Muckart, whose lectures on the 1st, 2d and 3d chapters of Matthew are published, and have received the approbation of a discerning public: the preface to these lectures was written by him. After studying philosophy he entered the divinity hall, under the in spection of the Rev. William Moncrief of Alloa.

Some time after he was licensed to preach the gospel, he was appointed to assist the Rev. Adam Gib, minister of the gospel at Edinburgh, in his aged and infirm state. Here, by lodging in the same house with Mr. Gib, he had access not only to his library, but to be daily conversant with him, which was greatly for his improvement. This intercourse led to a friendship between them, which was never after impaired. His public services in Edinburgh were very acceptable both to Mr. Gib and the congregation; and his private deportment was marked with wisdom and circumspection.

In consequence of a petition from the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania for help, the General Associate Synod ap

pointed Mr. Beveridge to come to America, and directed that he should be ordained by the Associate Presbytery of Edinburgh. Mr. Gib preached the ordination sermon on the 23d of September, 1783, from John x. 16, "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them also must I bring."

In the spring of 1784 he arrived in America, after a tedious passage of sixteen weeks: and soon after took his seat in the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania, met at Philadelphia May 4th, same year.

Here the abilities of Mr. Beveridge were early displayed. The Presbytery finding it necessary to state their prosession of the faith of Christ, in a manner more particularly suited to the state of this country, agreed to draw up a Testimony for the Doctrine and Order of the Church of Christ; and they appointed Mr. Beveridge to make out a draught. This work he cheerfully undertook, and assidiously

* This excellent sermon is printed, and contains the following remarkable passage. Speaking of the manner of Christ's bringing his sheep-"He waits not till they come to the means of grace, but he sends these means to them. He has each in his eye, in every generation, through all parts of the world, whom he must bring; and he sends, and will send the gospel to them for that end. He sent it in the early ages to Scotland. He has been bringing many of his sheep here, in the course of by-past generations, and he is still doing so to the northernmost isles of it, which the ancients are supposed to have meant by their Ultima Thule, as being the remotest parts of the then known world, from the original seat of literature and refinement. And in this latter period he has gone, and is still going farther off, for bringing in his other sheep, în the far remoter climes of America. He will bring them all as they may be found scattered through the regions of a new protestant empire, wonderfully constituted in that part of the world."

The solemn charge delivered to Mr. Beveridge immediately after his ordination, concludes with this memorable passage:-"Commit yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ, as devoted to his service in the ministry of reconciliation. Entrust him with your preservation and through-bearing, amidst all dangers, distresses and difficulties, which may be before your hand.-Commit your ministry to the Lord Christ, for his supporting you in it, qualifying you more and more for it, and countenancing you in the exercise of it, in bringing some of his other sheep.-Study faithfulness to the solemn engagements which you have come under, with steadfastness in your christian profession; maintaining a steadfast adherence to that Testimony for a Covenanted Reformation which you have solemnly espoused; neither ashamed nor afraid to persevere in an honest appearance for it.-Study faithfulness to the exercise of your ministry: rightly dividing the word of truth;' and preaching to others, that doctrine upon which you are to venture your own soul for eternity. 'Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine: Meditate upon these things, give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.' And let all your dependence be upon the Lord Christ, for his being the breath while he makes you the trumpet.-Depend upon him in frequent and earnest prayer; for his enduing you with wisdom, prudence, courage, honesty and ability, on the side of his cause: in opposition to the apostacy now taking place in North America, among some who were once of the same witnessing body with us. And the Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit: Grace be with you. Amen.'"-This solemn charge was delivered by the aged and venerable Mr. Gib, and was truly exemplified and faithfully kept by Mr. Beveridge, in the whole course of his ministry.

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