The most defirable advantages generally refult from a diligent attention to the fcriptures. It is a mean of preferving us from hurtful errors; of transforming us into the image of their divine Author, of enlivening our graces, of arming us against temptation, of comforting us in trouble, and of directing us in the various concerns of life. The experience of many bears witness to this truth. They feel their beft interefts promoted, in ruminating on the oracles of God.

Sooner or later we fhall reflect upon ourselves for neglecting the fcriptures fo much; and for having given too much of our attention to other writings. This was matter of regret to the pious Mr. Hervey, when he was apparently on the borders of eternity. In one of his letters to a friend, he remarks, "Were I to enjoy Hezekiah's grant, and have fifteen years added to my life, I would be much more frequent in my applications to a throne of grace: we fuftain a mighty lofs by reading fo much, and praying fo little. Were I to renew my ftudies, I would take my leave of thofe accomplished trifles, the hiftorians, the ora tors, the poets of antiquity; and devote my attention to the fcriptures of truth. I would fit with much greater affiduity at my divine Mafter's feet, and defire to know no', thing but Jefus Chrift, and him crucified. This wildom, whole fruits are peace in life, confolation in death, and everlasting falvation after death; this I would trace, this I would feek, this I would explore, through the fpacious and delightful fields of the Old and New Teftament."

We ought now to fearch the fcriptures, because we must be finally judged by them. They declare the prefent ftate, and the eternal portion of all the feveral characters of men; and according to their decifion, we ftand or fall. An examination of ourfelves by them might, by the bleffing of God, be the happy means of feasonably warning, or of divinely comforting us.

It is not only neceffary to fearch the fcriptures, but likewife to attend to this duty in a proper manner. Some fearch them merely as their trade; others, as matter of custom; fome, only that they may be qualified to difpute about them; and others, to find fault with them.-These are dangerous abuses of the duty. Our grand defign fhould be, that we may grow thereby in every chriftian attainment.† We should search the fcriptures with prayer for divine illu† 1 Pet. ii. 2.

John, xii. 48.1

Dd 2

mination,

A

mination, as David did, faying, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." Ignorance, prejudices, &c. often obfcure the truths of God, and lead us aftray, even with the Bible in our hands. meek and teachable difpofition, is as requifite as prayer.* These two, indeed, are infeparably connected, and always in equal proportion. We cannot read the fcriptures with prayer, or to advantage, except we are made willing to receive the most humiliating and myfterious doctrines they teach; and to facrifice the moft favourite opinions to the authority of God's word. The fcriptures fhould be fearched with earnest diligence, exploring them as a valuable mine, and embracing every opportunity for this purpose.↑ We fhould pay a due attention to all their feveral parts. For this purpose, we fhould not merely dip into them in an irregular manner, or as occafions may dictate; but we fhould read them frequently and regularly through, in order that we may form a comprehenfive and uniform view of the whole. We fearch them in vain, except they are mixed with faith. It is this, which renders their doctrines, &c. influential and profitable. May we follow the example of the noble Bereans, fearching the scriptures daily; and, through the influences of the Holy Spirit, may we derive from them, in an abundant measure, all thofe advantages which they were divinely intended to communi

cate to men.

MANCUNIENSIS.

THE LORD's PRAYER IN THE OTAHEITAN LANGUAGE.

N the following fpecimen of the Otaheitan dialect, of that general language, which is fpoken by the iflanders of the Pacific Ocean, the rules of pronunciation laid down in the Preliminary Difcourfe to the Miffionary Voyage, are to be observed, with these exceptions:

The Vowel i, when fingle, has its long found in English. u, is founded as oo in too.

ai, is founded as in air.

ci, is founded as in veil.

• preceding e, always forms two fyllables.

The acute accent (') marks that vowel, in each word, on which the principle emphafis is to placed.

When the vowel a ends a word, and is not accented, it is to be pronounced thort, and low; as the English ufually pronounce it at the end of words. When it has the fame found in the beginning, or middle of a word, it is distinguished by the grave accent (`).

Ou, when the o is accented, is to be pronounced as two fyllables, otherwise only as one fyllable, as our.

To matou modúa-táne tei néa ta ri, Our Father upon the sky, be; be tei airé, harremí be thee; thou the king, come táta no tei àtúa tei néa ta people of the God upon the màtíná wàhárre: aparoú be fubjects are gone: fpeak thou má na matou ta mahánna nei.

по

wàrá tei yóa facred the name of

mei to be táta, ta thou with thy people, the ri; toi àtúa paroú, ta fky; the God fpeaks, the ya matów; waúte! hami ta to us; done! Give us Atàtárra će

ta hárra

food of us the day prefent. Forgive thou the fault

na matóu, tatárra matou tei hárra no ta táta éno mei matou: forgive we the fault of the men bad with us:

of us,

íma vwáràti matou eráto tei ira éno; harremí amoú us into the path bad; come

(do) not guide

ya matou, aóre

us,

refcue

airédo ta táta éno eróto tei oúwàhi: (let) not captivate the man bad in the fire.

No be ta màtiná, óe tei airé aita-áita, no óe ta Of thee the subjects, thou the king mighty, of thee the máràmdráma, hópe óre, hópe óre, aménna.

light,

endlefs, endlefs, Amen!

N. B. The language of the South Sea iflanders has not terms to express the meaning of the English words, kingdom, will, temptation, power, glory; which are therefore paraphrafed according to the idioms in ufe among them.

ON THE SALARIES OF DISSENTING MINISTERS. To the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine.

SIR,

TH

HE queries, which appeared in your laft number, refpecting the falaries of diffenting minifters, were peliarly feasonable and important; and it is hoped, that as

your

>

1

your valuable work has obtained an uncommonly extensive fpread, they will excite general attention, and be productive of the defired effect. It is really matter of surprise, that nothing has yet been done, by diffenters at large, to affift their minifters in meeting the alarming exigencies of the times. While many of the laity are complaining that they scarce know how to live, although the trading part of them have it in their power to advance the price of their refpective commodities, and, it is prefumed, have done fo; what is to become of their minifters, if no means are used to relieve them under their prefent extreme preffure? Englishmen are famed for their generofity, and proteftant diffenters have not usually been behind their countrymen in the exercise of this virtue. Their liberality conftantly flows in many useful and important channels. Is it not then matter of concern that their minifters fhould have reafon to think themselves neglected? It is well known that the best fituations among them afford no very flattering prospects of a worldly nature. Minifters whom the Lord has called will certainly fet their affections on things above, not on things on the earth. They hope for their reward in heaven. But it is not their duty, nor can it be expected of them, to be indifferent to their prefent comfort, and that of their families. If they can behold, without emotion, the anxious looks, and witnefs the heartfelt fighs of amiable and tender partners, who have met with difficulties which perhaps they did not forefee; if the decent appearance, and fuitable education of their offspring, are not points of ferious confideration with them; they muft want those feelings which every wife and good man would wish them to poffefs.

It may juftly be fufpected that many congregations are not aware of the difficulties their minifters labour under. But can it be imagined that minifters themselves should be forward to make their own cafe known? Does not that delicacy which their education and character produce, render it lefs painful to them to ftruggle even with difficulties of a pecuniary nature, than, by making complaints, to expose themselves to the hazard of giving offence, and per haps of lowering themselves in the estimation of their people, who may not fufficiently confider the merit of their claims?

Some may reply to the above obfervations, that diffenting congregations are frequently poor, and cannot therefore be expected to do much for their minifters. This is granted, but the prefent address is made to congregations of a different

different defcription, and to thofe wealthy individuals who are often found in focieties, the greater part of which are in needy circumftances. In fome cafes it may be argued, our minifter has a confiderable property independent of his profeffion, and therefore our exertions for the augmentation of his falary are not neceffary. But is it not poffible, that the property in queftion may be over-rated? Is it not a fact, that many minifters (not excepting thofe that refide in and about the metropolis) find all their fupplies from every fource fcarcely adequate to their expences, even though they ftudy the ftri&teft economy? And may it not be afked, is it reasonable that men who, by their profeffion, are precluded from improving their property, fhould be fuffered, by the narrowness of their ftipends, to diminish their fubftance every year? Is it not cruel, that that fpecies of income (probably brought by their wives) which is all that in any cafe can be left for the maintenance of their families when they are gone, should neceffarily be spent while they are living? Whether a minister has property or no property, if he be diligent and faithful, he is entitled to every expreffion of kindness from his people. None of them expect that a phyfician, be he ever fo affluent, fhould adminifter to the relief of their bodies, without fome confideration. In all other cafes, they confider the workman as worthy of his hire. Why then fhould his claim, who labours to promote their moft effential intereft, be laft of all confidered? Contributions to a minifter of Chrift are a debt of justice as well as of gratitude. Your readers that converfe with their Bibles know, that the priests under the law were amply provided for, were in fact completely independent in their circumstances (fuch was the liberality of the Mofaic inftitutions;) and that it is ordained in the New Teftament, that thofe who preach the gofpel, fhould live by the gospel.

If any of the hints I have fuggefted fhould induce the deacons of diffenting churches, to take the fubject of your correfpondent's queries into their ferious confideration, and adopt fome plan for the permanent, or at least the temporary increase of the falaries of their minifters, it will give no fmall fatisfaction to the friends of that refpectable class of men, and particularly to

Your humble Servant,"

April 14, 1801.

HUMANUS.

ANSWERS