and prayer, and substituting gall and wormwood for that "continual feast" (Prov. xv. 15), a cheerful heart. It is said that Augustus Cæsar, hearing of one who died greatly in debt, expressed a wish to buy the bed upon which a man so much embarrassed in his circumstances could sleep. Burton, in his Anatomy of Melancholy, speaking of these prodigal fools, as he calls them, says: "When they have indiscreetly impoverished themselves, mortgaged their wits together with their lands, and entombed their ancestors' fair possessions in their bowels, they may lead the rest of their days in prison, as many times they do, and repent at leisure, and when all is gone begin to be thrifty: but 'tis then too late to look about: their end is misery, sorrow, shame, and discontent. The civilians of old2 set guardians over such brainsick prodigals, as they did over madmen, to mode. rate their expenses, that they should not so loosely consume their fortunes, to the utter undoing of their families." 66 In reckoning luxury and self-indulgence among the causes of melancholy, and eventually of ruin, this author has the following powerful passage:Many men have made shipwreck of their fortunes, and go like rogues and beggars, having turned all their substance into aurum potabile, that otherwise might have lived in good worship and happy estate; and, for a few hours' pleasure (for their Hilary term's but short) or free madness, as Seneca calls it, purchase unto themselves eternal tediousness and trouble."3 An old proverb says, "He that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing." Thomas Sackville, the first Lord Buckhurst and earl of Dorset, a statesman and poet, having wasted his fortune, was so shocked at being detained for some time in a waiting-room at the house of a citizen to whom he went for the purpose of borrowing money, that he resolved from that time to become economical; and thus he retrieved his estate, which might else have been kept out of his hands as long as he lived. In the interval during which he was expecting a summons to the rich man's presence, he had probably contrasted his own dependent condition with the comfort and influence enjoyed by one who was his inferior in rank and talents; and the busy scene around him had suggested some wholesome self-reproach on idleness and improvidence, and on those many needless wants of his, which his inherited wealth had been unable to satisfy. Having turned his sorrow and dejection of mind to a good account, he was afterwards received into the favour of Queen Elizabeth, and employed by her in many important affairs. It is the part of a wise and a good man to keep his mind free from the injurious effects which an unsettled state of finances almost invariably produces, and to prevent his worldly concerns from falling into that confusion from which no one but himself can clear them. "Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live" (2 Kings xx. 1), is a direction which may, in all cases, be applied literally. He who neglects it can never know the difficulties which his negligence or idle habits may occasion to those who come after him. What fa mily disputes, what enmities, what disappointment and distress, what unnecessary expense and trouble, are to be traced to this cause, as well as to extravagance in general! Such expense and trouble may well be called unnecessary; because a few hours of prudent consideration, and patient persevering industry, would often save as many months, or perhaps years, of anxiety to survivors. We have no right to tax persons in this way. It is a departure from the rule of doing to others as we would have them do to us. Let our bills, therefore, be punctually paid; and the receipts for them be carefully preserved. Let there be a faithful list kept of our debtors and creditors; and a general account and estimate made of our property. Let a statement be drawn out from year to year, of our whole income and whole expenditure. Let our title-deeds and other securities, if we have any, be in their proper places. Let all engagements which we are bound, either in conscience or by law, to perform, by ourselves or our representatives, be detailed in writing. When Archbishop Cranmer perceived the storm coming on, which afterwards fell upon the Church and himself, in Queen Mary's days, he gave express orders for the payment of all his debts; and when this was done, he felt a burden removed from him, and experienced in its place a comfort and satisfaction to which he would otherwise have been a stranger; and having arranged his affairs with men, he was enabled to devote himself more heartily to God. This instance should teach us all to remain as free as possible from the bonds of debt to men, that we may, without painful reservation and selfreproach, perform aright our several religious duties, which are liable to be interrupted, if not entirely suspended, by inordinate and anxious cares. Our Lord compares the ground overrun with thorns, which brings forth no fruit to perfection (Matt. xiii. 22), to the heart choked with worldly cares; and it is not too much to say that, as thorns and briars choke the seed cast into the ground, the reflections constantly arising to the mind of a man immersed in debt naturally hinder the operation of the word of God. And this they do not only by diverting the mind from religious contemplations, but by setting it against them-so contrary are all anxious cares about money to the eternal interests of the soul. The being thus "careful and troubled about many things," is too apt to make us forget that "one thing is needful," and to prevent our choosing that "good part which shall not be taken away" from us (Luke x. 41, 42). indulgence of covetousness is at least as serious a And here it may be right to observe, that the disturber of mental peace and religious reflection, as improvidence can ever be. The mountains out of which men dig the precious metals are said to be the most barren and unfruitful. So there is no soul more devoid of divine grace than that which is eaten up with the love of worldly gain. Thus, reader, we would warn you of the danger of leaning, in your abhorrence of debt, to the opposite extreme, and of advancing towards another precipice, by being guilty of the sin of covetousness, which is condemned in holy Scripture as idolatry (Col. iii. 5). Let this be understood. It is not the sin of covetousness to obtain things which God has provided as his good gifts to man. It is not sin to labour to the utmost for our maintenance, or to do all in our power that we may promote the welfare of our families, charitably aid the young upon their way, and return, if required, to our parents, the benefits which they bestowed upon us in our infancy. To rise up early, and to beg the blessing of the Lord upon the occupations of the day; and, when we take rest, to thank God that he has prospered our undertaking, and upheld us in our toil; that he has provided for those who cry unto us; that sin, and misery, and loss, have been mercifully shut out from our dwellings; that we are come again to our bed, and so much nearer to our grave, in peace with ourselves, and in peace, through Christ, with our Father, who is in heaven :- -there is no stain of greediness in this. This course is a Christian course, such as shall receive a blessing from the Lord. This is the honest and religious temper, both of the poor and of the rich. This is the character of the good man, described by the Psalmist, of whom it is said, according to the metrical version: "Yet what his charity impairs, He saves by prudence in affairs" (Ps. cxii. 5). "I continue to incur debt," says one," that my trade may increase. It is bold dealing that brings in great returns." But surely any speculation above a man's ability is at the best precarious. "It is," as Lord Bacon said of hope, "a good breakfast, but a bad supper." In debt, which is continued by means of money taken up at interest, there is certainty of loss; but in great trading, beyond the power of making a speedy adjustment, there is no certainty of gain, nor assurance of God's blessing. When men undertake too much, and will be rich in haste, they act against the precept of Solomon, who teaches us that "an inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed" (Prov. xx. 21); while "he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent" (Prov. xxviii. 20). It seems a kind of madness in any one who has a competence, or is exercising with fair success any business or profession, to hazard all in pursuit of some new scheme, which, however promising, may fail, and involve himself and others in ruin. And yet, how many are the victims of this folly! How many instances in our own country do the records of the years 1720 and 1825 supply! In the former year was projected the memorable South-sea trading-scheme, from which immense advantages were expected, but which in a few months burst like a bubble, when numerous families, who had been living in comfort and even splendour, were brought to distress and misery. In the latter year, a spirit of hazardous adventure prevailed; and new projects were almost daily formed, to the injury of thousands. Another attributes his debts to what he styles the necessary expenses of housekeeping, and maintaining himself according to his rank and station, not omitting, perhaps, the luxurious and ornamental parts of an establishment, in which nothing but what is requisite ought, under his circumstances, in fairness to be allowed. His, then, is a mere frivolous pretence. Let him contemplate the beautiful representation given by the poet Goldsmith of the village pastor who on small means not only maintained his independence, but performed many acts of hospitality and beneficence. "A man he was to all the country dear, And passing rich with forty pounds a year." We know the obligation upon us, conveyed in language familiar to us from our youth up, to "do our duty in that state of life unto which it shall please God to call us." Now, if God limits us in point of means, shall we not limit ourselves in matters of expenditure? Ought we not, according to the homely but expressive proverb, to "cut our coat according to our cloth?" Or are other persons, as men in business, who furnish goods for which we cannot pay, or relations who reluctantly bear the burden in our behalf, to make our income double or treble what it really is? In Knox's Essays is a paper "On the guilt of incurring debts." Having touched on the folly of tradesmen in giving unlimited credit,—and great folly, or something worse, it undoubtedly is, the author strongly censures the unfeeling and dishonourable man who abuses their confidence. "Who," says he, "but must feel indignation, when he sees a person in high life, as it is called, eating a joint of meat of some poor tradesman, whose children are, at the same moment, begging of their parent a morsel of bread?" He then describes the case of some reckless, unprincipled man, enjoying himself at the head of a plentiful table, which has been supplied gratis from the shop of one who has a family dependent on him for support. in debt." Frugality is put by Cicero in opposition Well may Plutarch speak of the "vice of being to wickedness,- -as if he thought it impossible for the improvident and careless to be otherwise than bad. THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.' I WRITE to you now on the Church, which I define to be, a body of men joined and united together by the profession of one and the same Christian faith, and by the communion of one and the same sacraments, under the government of legitimate pastors, whose Head is Christ; and which is styled by our Lord sometimes "the body of Christ" (Ephes. i. 22, 23), and sometimes "the temple of God" (Ephes. ii. 21). As members of his Church, by his doctrine and his sacraments, thus I say, to ingraft men into the body of his Church (Matt. x. 7, 8; xviii. 19; Mark xvi. 15, 16, 20). First proposition-Christ has instituted a Church. Argument I. Produced from the words and deeds of Christ, as also by his institutions. in most decisive and plain terms, and sometimes I. He speaks of her sometimes in a figurative style. Texts: Matt. xviii. 17, "Tell it unto the Church; but if he neglect to hear the Church." John x. 16, " And there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd." He speaks of his Church sometimes in his parables-as in Matt. xiii. 19, 34. In which parables, one observes that he speaks of the conjunction of numbers for one common end. II. With these words of Christ, his actions, arrangements, the ordinances introduced by him, clearly coincide; for, 1 The above is the substance of a letter lately addressed by the celebrated Dr. Wolff to his dissenting parishioners, substantiated-so the actual existence of the Church THE MAN OF ROSS. To the Editor of the Englishman's Magazine. SIR, I have been whiling away a long evening by reading an account of the various objects of interest which present themselves to the tourist on the Wye; and it has occurred to me that your readers might derive the same interest which I have myself received from a brief sketch of the history of the " Man of Ross." in order to establish such a Church-to propagate, extend, and to give her stability-he taught and performed miracles, chose seventy disciples and twelve apostles-as you may perceive in Matt. x. 1-42; Luke ix. 1, 6; x. 1-10; vi. 13. III. For this purpose, also, he instituted external rites, as1. Baptism: John iii. 5; Matt. xxviii. 19; Mark xvi. 16. 2. The holy eucharist: John vi. 53; Matt. xxvi. 26-28; Mark xiv. 22-25; 1 Cor. xi. 23, 34. 3. Absolution: Matt. xvi. 18, 19; xviii. 18; John xx. 21, 23. In short, in order to establish, propagate, and perpetuate a Church, our The name of this gentleman was John Lord instituted the sacraments, sent the Holy Kyrle. He was born at the White-house in Ghost, and sent forth the apostles with full power the parish of Dymock, in the county of Glou-bestowed upon them the gift of miracles-incester, May 22, 1637, and lived the greater order that they might be able, and be entitled, to part of his long life at the small market-town enlighten the world. Argument II. That Christ of Ross, on the banks of the Wye. He is deactually established such a Church appears clear scribed as having been a very sober, tempefrom the Acts of the Apostles-from their testi- rate, regular, humane, generous, religious, monies, from their whole career, their pursuits,from all the occurrences during their lifetime;and sensible man; respected by all who knew the Church was governed by them-persecuted by him, and applied to by rich and poor for his the Jews and by the Gentiles; and, in spite of all, assistance and advice. He was remarkably was yet increasing by the power of the Holy Ghost. hospitable, and kept a plain and plentiful I refer you again, for every assertion in this second table, though frugal and self-denying when argument, to the following texts: Acts ii. 42, to alone. Every Thursday, which was marketthe end; Acts iv. 23, to the end; x. 22, to the day at Ross, his house was open to all his end; Ephes. i. 22, 23; iii. 21; v. 23, 24. Argu- friends; and his table was more noted for good ment III. Farther, just as the fulfilment of many substantial fare than for luxurious living. He prophecies contained in holy writ may be sub- kept very good hours, and was abed betimes, stantiated by historical facts-and this is the only except his friends, in order to enjoy his conway by which the fulfilment of prophecy can be versation, entered upon the subject of buildfrom the beginning may be substantiated by histo-ing, of which he was remarkably fond; though rical records. The Church is described as a body distinct from the Jewish synagogue (Acts ii. 42, 47; viii. 13). The history of the heretics who separated from the Church proves the existence of such a body. That the apostles received the Gentiles without imposing on them the ceremony of circumcision, is a sufficient evidence that the Church existed as a body distinct from the Jewish synagogue. My dear friends, our blessed Lord Jesus Christ himself most graciously condescended to make his actual bodily appearance on earth, in order to enlighten us by his doctrines, to strengthen us by his example; in order to join us to himself; in order to call into actual existence an united body of individuals who were to lay aside their individuality; in order to enlighten the world as an united body by their life and conversation. Jesus Christ by his actual appearance upon earth became "the light of the world" and therefore, he called on his body-the Church-by her actual appearance-distinct from the world, to be, like himself,- -as the visible members of his body, "the light of the world:"-" to be that city set on a hill" (Matt. v. 14). One word more on this subject. The dispersion of men was the consequence of the fall-the consequence of sin. The reunion of men is the consequence of redemption. He that leaves the Church from fear of loosing the independence of his individuality, may, for the same reason, leave the circle of his own family, and separate from the interests of the country which gave him birth, and from every other corporation of men essential in society. it is to be noted, however, that he spent no money on his own house, which was an oldfashioned building, though large enough, and good enough, as he judged, for himself. The chief peculiarity in the character of the Man of Ross was, his constant anxiety to be doing good in his generation. The first public work of his which I find mentioned, is the construction of a noble stone causeway across the flat land between Ross and Monmouth, soon after you leave the former place; whereby the communication, which was before dangerous and inconvenient, was much improved. Another public benefit was the laying out beautiful and healthy walks on an eminence adjoining the town, and commanding a delightful prospect of the course of the Wye. During the progress of this work, Mr. Kyrle might be seen issuing forth from his house with his labourers, shouldering his spade like the rest of them, as they went to their employment. And it is remarkable that the trees which he planted-and he planted most of them with his own hand-seem to have flourished more than commonly, if we may judge from the noble elms which adorn and protect the parish church. One of these elms was cut down some years since; but the suckers forced themselves up within the church, in the pew which used to be occupied by this worthy man: and the inhabitants, partly out of respect for his memory, partly from the singularity of the phenomenon, suf Is any sick? the Man of Ross relieves, Baulked are the courts, and contest is no more." fered the shoots to remain; so that two healthy young elm-trees are seen growing in the inside of the parish church. Besides his weekly open house, Mr. Kyrle used to entertain the poor at Easter, Whitsuntide, Christmas, and the other great festivals of the Church. The beautiful pulpit in the church, and the gallery, were erected at his expense. He also presented a large silver tankard, weighing five pounds and one ounce, and containing five pints of liquor," the cover of which was lifted up by Mr. Kyrle's crest, a large hedgehog,"-to Balliol College at Ox-suaded to pay contributions to charitable ford, where it is said to be still produced at table schemes: this influence he obtained by an when any native of Herefordshire favours the example of liberality exerted to the utmost society with his company. Many other ex- extent of his power, and was thus enabled to cellent traits, besides his liberality, are related give more than he had." Johnson's explanaof the Man of Ross, especially the interest tion, far from detracting from the merit of the which he took in the well-doing of the boys Man of Ross, rather adds to our estimation of at the grammar-school, whom he would often his worth, by shewing that a man may do visit, and bestow his commendation or disap- even more good by his example than by the probation, as it was deserved. And again, the expenditure of his private wealth. confidence placed in him by all his neighbours; insomuch that he was always named referee in case of disputes, and gave so much satisfaction by his arbitration, that he is said to have driven all the lawyers from the town. After a life spent in doing good, he died at Ross, November 7, 1724, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. There is a portrait of him in the possession of Lord Muncaster, which represents a man "in a loose morning-gown or robe de chambre, his cravat hanging down below his chest, after the fashion of King William the Third's time. The hair is parted at the top, and combed down close to the ears, below which it hangs. There is something extremely calm and placid in his countenance, corresponding with his benevolent mind.” The marvel is, that he exercised so much influence, and did so much good, with very limited means; for, as Pope informs us, "Of debts and taxes, wife and children clear, This man had just five hundred pounds a year." "Who hung with woods yon mountain's sultry brow? It is, in fact, the example of the Man of Ross, which is most truly valuable, and deserves to be well considered, in the present day. We have plenty of active men in our towns-men whose minds are set on public works of far greater extent than those in which Mr. Kyrle was engaged-vast schemes for railroads, canals, and joint-stock companies, which were unknown in former generations; but then there is the per-centage which spurs the zeal of these active gentlemen. We have plenty of men whose minds are set on building and planting-but then it is in building villas and boxes, and planting shubberies and gardens for themselves, that these worthy gentlemen are so much interested. Оссаsionally we have instances of men who will, from their own resources, execute some public works-but these are not the generous possessors of a poor five hundred a year, instigated solely by the love of doing good, but the great landowner, or the millionaire, who wishes to make his party popular, or secure his influence in the borough or the county. These are the men who in the present day build bridges, or lay out public gardens. It is all interest, self-interest, the acquisition of power, the increase of already overgrown estates, which excites the energies of men of the present generation. Not but that there is a nobler spirit springing up; and it is in the hope of adding a stimulus to the feeling, that I have thus briefly sketched the character of the Man of Ross. How pleasant would it be to see the men of five hundred a year, with which our towns and counties abound, animated by the same generous spirit-not some of them striving how they might make the most show with their income, and the rest hoarding every farthing they can lay their hands on for their children-but ready with their money to con tribute to those numerous works which, though they may bring no tangible interest, no actual per-centage, will promote the good of their neighbours; and, if done in faith, will be registered to their account in heaven! How many schools, how many churches, would then spring into existence; and these not built in the poor lath-and-plaster style of modern edifices, but in the substantial solid shape of our Elizabethan schools, or the churches of former centuries! Then again, how much farther would their hospitality go, if, instead of vying with their richer neighbours in their champaigne and claret, their rich hangings and costly furniture, men of five hundred a year would be content to entertain their friends, and their friends would be content to be entertained, with a good substantial meal of old English roast beef, spread on a plain oaktable! We only want a few examples of men who have strength of mind enough to revert to the wholesome habits of former times, and our Church might be restored; sound education given to our poor children, instead of their infant years being consumed in misery within the walls of the factory; the plain honesty of the English character might be again restored; and that mutual attachment be revived between the upper and middle classes, and those below them, which in the last generation has, to our great loss and danger, been so much impaired. W. G. Royal Hotel, Ross. Feast of St. Michael. law, and variations from the ancient unity. So, again, when he is falsely told that the Roman Catholic is the old religion, he is unable to give the true answer, that the Church of Christ existed in unity and purity for centuries before the corruptions of Rome were ever heard of, much less generally adopted. Similarly useful is a knowledge of history with reference to civil affairs. The most impressive way of inculcating the value of the strict hereditary succession, established by law in this realm, is to shew the miseries of civil war which ensued from the rival claims of the houses of York and Lancaster. And the disastrous consequences of popular rebellion are best learnt from a knowledge of the barbarities and crimes which took place when the dissenters rebelled against their lawful sovereign, Charles I. History has also a great power to enlarge the mind, and raise it above the narrow, selfish interests of the present, by exhibiting the noble deeds and characters of those worthies whose names adorn the annals of former generations. Next to Scripture-history, our worthy schoolmaster was careful to teach his boys the history of their Church and country. Of course he availed himself of all useful help, especially of what have been called the two eyes of history,-geography and chronology. There was a great "stream of time" hanging up in the school-room, on which were depicted, in various colours, the divisions and sub-diviSCHOOLMASTER AT HOME. sions, the ramifications and conjunctions of the various empires and dynasties. A good CHAP. VIII.-A Lesson in History. collection of maps also adorned the walls, MR. PRIMER judged that a certain acquaint- which were not only employed for the boys ance with history was not only necessary for to point to when the names of places occurred the middle and upper classes of society, but in the course of reading, but were also taken also extremely useful for the lower. English- down, and carefully copied by those who could men ought to know at least something of the || be trusted with them. Sometimes Mr. Primer history of their own country, in order to form would desire them to trace out on the map a right judgment with regard to many im- any subject connected with the part of history portant social duties. How could they fully which they were reading; as, for instance, appreciate the value of a Reformed Church || the track of Columbus in his discoveries, the unless they were aware of the superstitions route of ancient traffickers from Europe to and corruptions which existed when popery|| India, the march of the Crusaders, the extent was the religion of the land? How could of the Roman empire. This he found to give they learn to abhor, and pray to be delivered greater interest to geography than the mere from, the present state of schism and dissent, pointing out the names of places, and to unless they were shewn from history the impress the facts more vividly on the memory possibility of union in the Church? Nothing of the boys. In addition to these, Mr. Priso blinds the understanding as to judge of mer had himself, with great pains, constructed things merely from what we see around us. a chronological chart of Church-history, shewThe present ignorance and prejudice with re- ing the general course of events, and the gard to Church-affairs is in a great measure points where sects sprang up and separated attributable to the want of a knowledge of themselves from the Church, and where varihistory. A boy educated without some know- ous errors, as those of transubstantiation or ledge of the history of the one Catholic and purgatory, arose within the Church. This Apostolic Church, learns to look on the pre-chart Mr. Primer thought of publishing. It sent divisions and denominations as the na- would certainly be very useful, especially in tural state of things, instead of regarding middle schools. them, as they are, sinful perversions of God's History, taught with all this precision and |