"Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things-in short whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind-that thing is a sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself."

CONTENTMENT.

That lovely bird of Paradise, Christian Contentment, can sit and sing in a cage of affliction and confinement, or fly at liberty through the vast expanse with almost equal satisfaction; while 'Even so, father, for so it seemed good in thy sight,' is the chief note in its celestial song.

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Who knows not that truth is strong, next to the Almighty; she needs no policies, nor stratagems, nor licensings to make her victorious, those are the shifts and the defences that error uses against her power.-MILTON.

At Mr. Jay's ordination over the church, in Bath, over which he so honourably presided for upwards of half a century, his venerable tutor Mr. Winter, delivered a very appropriate and impressive charge. Among other things, he gave him advise in reference to his conversational habits, which it becomes all young ministers to follow :—

'Be cautious of becoming the retailer of idle or evil reports, even where justly grounded and deserving of credit; leave that forbidden business; and show your friends that that current is too filthy for the purity of your mind. You cannot, with becoming confidence inculcate 'speak evil of no man,' unless you are careful to avoid being a partaker of the same sin. The minister had better sit in awkward silence, or abruptly depart from the company, than keep up the spirit of conversation in this way. This hint may be taken as characteristic of that prudence and discretion which I would lay down, recommend,' and enforce, in relation to the whole of your deportment towards this society, the neighbouring churches, and towards mankind at large.'

In his 'confession of faith,' Mr. Jay gives a clear and candid statement of his views of the gospel. He never thought he had a tongue given him to cloak his creed and puzzle people. The views which he states in that No. 26, Vol. I.

confession, were those which he ceased not to proclaim during his lengthened ministry.

'I think no man can rationally hope for pardon unless he can see a way in which God can do it as God, and be "faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' Such a scheme is the gospel; it reveals a free, rich, righteous salvation, through Jesus Christ, "set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood." Hence it answers its name; it is good news, glad tidings. It would be easy to illustrate this view of the gospel-if there was a man in debt, and I told him a surety had discharged him,—if there was a man in want and I told him where to get provision,-if there was a man destitute of clothing and I told him of raiment, or if there was a condemned man, and I told him of liberty and life; who does not see in each case, that there would be good news? Sinner, "behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy." Sinner indebted to divine justice, having nothing to pay, behold “the surety of a better covenant." "The Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world." Sinner, perishing with hunger, behold "the bread of life, whereof if a man eat he shall never die." Naked soul, here is "fine raiment that thou mayest be clothed; that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear." And then, poor wretch, writing bitter things against thyself, condemned by the holy law, crying, where shall I flee for refuge? "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

Mr. Jay's was a free communion church. Baptists were admitted not only to full membership, but also to office-bearing. And during his life, though there were differences of opinion, there was no division. Applicants were not, as is often the case, required either to deliver before the assembled church an account of their conversion and experience, or to send in a written one. With them, the minister, or one of the officers, or one of the members, conversed alone with the individual, and reported the nature and ground of his satisfaction, at the church-meeting, when the matter was left for a month, during which, inquiries are made after his moral character and deportment; at the end of which, if no objection was advanced, he was admitted,

Shortly before his ordination he was united in marriage to Anne, the eldest daughter of the Rev. Edward Davies,' a pious and evangelical clergymen of the establishment, first rector of Hengeworth, Worcestershire, and afterwards of Coy Church.' She appears to have been a woman of great excellence.

'It was she who contributed to give me that exalted idea of the female char acter, which I have always entertained and expressed. She excluded, perfectly, the entrance of every notion and feeling of submission or authority, so that we had no rights to adjust, or duties to regulate. She possessed every requisite that could render her a helpmate. Her special qualities were admirably suited to my defects. She had an extemporaneous readiness which never failed her, and an intuitive decisiveness which seemed to require no deliberation. Her domestic virtues rendered my house a complete home, the abode of neatness, order, punctuality, peace, cheerfulness, comfort, and attraction. She calmed my brow when ruffled by disappointment or vexation; she encouraged me when depressed; she kept off a thousand cares, and left me free to attend to the voice of my calling. She reminded me of my engagements, when I was forgetful, and stimulated me when I was remiss, and always gently enforced the present obligation, as 'the duty of every day required.'

In

process of time she became the mother of six children, three of each

sex, who "rose up and called her blessed." One of these, Statira, died at the early age of nineteen. It was the first time that death had entered their dwelling. The father's heart was desolate within him; and there was danger that weeping would hinder sowing; but the mother with heroic resolution bore him up.

"Oh woman!

When pain and anguish wring the brow,
A ministering angel thou!"

About thirty years after his marriage, Mrs. Jay had an attack of illness, which greatly weakened her memory, and led her almost constantly to call things by the names of their opposites. From this she never wholly recovered; but the husband learnt to kiss the rod that inflicted the blow.

For a time his own health was in a very critical state. He suffered from violent head-aches, which sometimes came suddenly upon him in the pulpit, momentarily confusing his sight and depriving him of consciousness. The faculty who then attended him, viewed those attacks as severe and perilous; and he was bled, and cupped, and reduced in strength and size, till he seemed a shadow hastening to the grave. In this state, Mr. Wilberforce, being in Bath, called upon him, and urged him to see Dr. Baillie, whom he extolled as his friend and physician. This was done; and a new treatment commenced, which speedily restored him.

'I should have mentioned before, that at rather an early period of my ministry, I suffered very considerably from a nervous malady, and which threatened for the time to lay me aside from my work. This was of my own procuring, in neglecting for a season early rising, and proper air and exercise, and confining myself to long sedentary reading and writing. From a firm conviction of my own, I threw off, by degrees, but not without difficulty, this affecting and deplorable complaint, to return no more.

With few exceptions, I have always practised early rising, being seldom in bed, summer or winter, after five o'clock; and this has been with me, not as with some, who say they rise because they cannot sleep, for it has always been an act of self-denial, for I could enjoy more, but I feel a conviction that it was morally right, as it redeemed time and aided duty; and also it was physically right, as it was wholesome and healthful. For how does it refresh and invigorate the body, revive the animal spirits, and exhilarate and elevate the mind. Yet how many are there, and even ministers, and young ministers, not too much qualified for their work, who can sacrifice all this advantage to the lazy, low, debilitating, disreputable influences, of a late indulgence in bed..

6

In looking back upon the years I have passed through, for nothing am I more thankful than the cautions I was led to exercise with regard to drinking. I knew the danger of increase with regard to spiritous liquors; I knew what temptations a young minister of some considerable popularity is exposed to in his frequent dinings-out, especially in great towns and cities, and at the entrance of professors who vie with each other in extravagance; for the faithful do not always add to their faith temperance.' As far as it was in my power by word or deed, I always discountenanced such needless and improper "teastings of themselves without fear." I commonly used water, principally, and for years back, only; and I am fully persuaded that it has befriended my digestion, preserved the evenness of my spirits, and added to my comfort, especially in my feeling cool and fresh in the relaxation and lassitude of warm weather, while others were deservedly panting, and burdens to themselves. My natural wants were so many, that I never thought of adding to them the cravings of fictitious

appetites equally importunate.

I had, therefore, no trouble or expense from the wretched habits of snuff-taking or smoking.

In 1839, Mr. Jay gave in his adhesion to the Total Abstinence Society, with the following testimony:

The subject of Teetotalism 1 have examined physically, morally, and christi anly, and after all my reading, reflection, observation, and experience, 1 have reached a very strong and powerful conviction. 1 believe that next to the glorious gospel, God could not bless the human race so much as by the abolition of all intoxicating liquors.

As every man has some influence, and as we ought to employ usefully all our talents, and as 1 have been for near half a century endeavouring to serve my generation by the will of God, 1 have no objection to your using this testimony in any way you please. 1 am willing that both as a pledger and a subscriber you should put down my name.

Mr. Jay's authorship has been very extensive, and his writings, all of them of a practical nature, have been very acceptable with the public. A discourse on "The Mutual Duties of Husbands and Wives," which he was importuned to publish, went rapidly through six large editions.

I next published, in succession, four volumes of 'Short Discourses for the use of Families.' These, too, were kindly received, and went through repeated editions, and procured for me a diploma of D.D.,-a dignity I never used but once in travelling, when I left a case of manuscripts at a large inn, the better to ensure attention to the recovery; and it answered my purpose. Who, then, can deny the usefulness of such honours? I also sent forth two works of a biographical kind, "The Life of Rev. Cornelius Winter,' and 'Memoirs of Rev. John Clarke.' The first of these sold well; the sale of the second was slow and limited; yet it occasioned me more pains than any other of my publications; and in America they have published extensively my remarks and obser vations, detached from the narrative itself, furnished by the diary of the deceased.

His 'Morning and Evening Exercises,' were next published, and soon reached a large number of editions. The Christian Contemplated,' and 'The Domestic Minister's Assistant,' and several other smaller publications, he also sent forth through the press. Most of them were begun, completed, or much advanced, when he was taking an annual excursion by the sea-side, and had a little more leisure, which necessary relaxation and occasional preaching at these seasons required.

Jay's knowledge of the wants of the lower ranks of the community, from his humble birth, fitted him better to accommodate himself to their modes of thinking and feeling.

And may not this be one reason why God takes so many of his labourers from common life? And how was it with the great teacher sent from God? We e are aware of a grand specialty in his case. We had knowledge by intuition-but he communicated it naturally. His teachings were unlike that of the doctors of the schools," he spake as one having authority, and not as the scribes." He did not soar above vulgar apprehension. He did not abound in learned allusions. His images were all taken from familiar scenes. Other teachers were very fine-he was very simple. They were mechanism-he was nature. "The poor,' therefore, had the gospel preached unto them, and the common people heard him gladly. Was this recorded of him who spake as never man spake, in a way of commendation? Why, then, do we not seek to resemble him?