6. G. D. There is a religious and well disposed candidate of the ministry, who has met with discouragements and is out of employment. I would immediately apply myself to find some good employment for him.

Friday, May 23, 1712. I set apart this day for prayer, with fasting before the Lord, on such occasions as employed me this day a month ago; and as then, so now, I had my pious friend Mr. Bromfield with me, in some of the sacrifices.

7. G. D. I am desirous to take a catalogue of the comforts, which I do at this time enjoy; and employ this thought upon each of them: What special service to my dear Savior does this favor of his unto me most agreeably call me to? And the comforts that may in the time to come arrive unto me, I would entertain with the like thoughts.

1. G. D. Having entered upon the work of catechising, and this with very encouraging circumstances, I find beginning to appear already a world of precious opportunities to do good among the young ones in the neighborhood. I would cry to heaven for assistance and use all possible contrivance and diligence, in cultivating these opportunities. And particularly I would proceed now to think on the best methods, that the daughters of Zion may come into them.*

(To be continued.)

OUR SAVIOR'S AGONY IN THE GARDEN.
Mr. Editor,

By inserting the following Questions, in your useful magazinc, you will gratify at least one of your constant readers.

1. Was the agonizing distress, which our Savior felt in the garden, and which caused blood to flow so copiously from his body, the cup, which he earnestly and repeatedly prayed, (though with submission,) might pass from him?

2. Was the sorrow, which he then felt, and which he apprehended would prove fatal, occasioned by an overbearing sense of divine wrath for sin, impressed upon his soul by the hand of God himself?

3. If this was any part of his suffering, by which he was making atonement for the sins of men, could he pray, that that cup might pass from him, unless he shrunk back from that work, on which he came into the world? or could he say, I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened, till it be accomplished?

* On being further conversant with the Diary we find the author's practice to have been to enter one good devised every day, commencing with Saturday, numbering them in order till the next Friday inclusive. The two following paragraphs, having been omit. ted in their proper place, are inserted here.

March, 1712. 6. G. D. There are points of history to be collected and preserved, relating to the conduct of our public affairs. I will desire a worthy friend of mine to do the public the service of making such a collection.

6. G. D. There is a poor family at Wenham, for whom I would not only procurë supplies from some wealthy persons related unto them in my neighborhood; but also myself make additions to them.

4. Will it not appear, as if Christ the Redeemer was even wishing to be released from his engagements, as the Savior of lost men, if the agony, which he at that time felt, was caused by the foresight of sufferings, which were still to come, and which he knew would be brought upon him, by the hands of wicked men?

5. Was it a speedy death which he feared, as the consequence of that agonizing distress, which he then fek, and which caused him to exclaim, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death?" or was it that scene of heartfelt sufferings, which he foresaw, and quietly consented to undergo?

6. Was an angel sent to strengthen him to endure and to carry him through his present agony, or his subsequent distress?

It is earnestly desired, that some able divine would attend to these questions, and give them a clear and full answer, in the Panoplist, QUERIST.

For the Panoplist.

A PLAN FOR THE MORAL AND RELIGIOUS IMPROVEMENT OF

MR. EDITOR,

CHILDREN.

Having been requested, by a number of your readers, to give an account of the system which has been adopted, in the place of my residence, for the moral and religious improvement of children, I send you the following communication: if you think it will be useful, you are at liberty to publish it.

Is the spring of 1814 a Society, consisting of about seventy men, was formed for DOING GOOD.

In the spring of 1815 a Branch Society was formed, consisting of about one hundred and fifty women. This Society have in view a number of objects; one of which is, the Moral and Religious Improvement of Children. For this, and other purposes, they contribute about one hundred and fifty dollars a year.

The concerns of the Society are conducted by a Standing Committee, consisting of twelve men, who are chosen annually. They meet once in three months to devise ways and means of accomplishing the objects of the Society. The Society have an annual meeting; when they unite in religious exercises, and a discourse is delivered by some person previously appointed for that purpose, The Standing Committee then report their proceedings, during the past year, and the success which has attended them.

In the spring of 1816 another Branch Society was formed, consisting of between two and three hundred children. The exclusive object of this Branch, is to furnish the heathen with Bibles. Every child who daily reads the Bible himself, or, if he is not old enough to read, who hears it read by others, and endeavors to understand and obey it; and who annually contributes, to send it to the heathen, is a member. The particular sum, to be contributed, is left, entirely, to the discretion of each individual. At the opening of the schools, in 1816, each teacher was furnished with a blank book, ruled with eight columns. On the first colum was

to be written the name of each scholar;-on the second, bis age; on the third, the number of times he had been at the head of his class at the last spelling for the day;-on the fourth, the number of books which he had taken from the Library;* on the fifth, the number of verses of Hymns, and Divine Songs, which he had learned; on the sixth, the number of answers which he had learned of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism;-on the seventh the number of verses which he had learned of the Bible; and on the eighth, the number of cents, which, in the course of one year, he had given to the Bible Society. When any scholar had, in the course of the week, saved any thing for the heathen, he was allowed, on Saturday, when he took a book from the Library, to hand it to the teacher; and the sum was recorded against his name in the eighth column, as a donation of his, to the Bible Society.

After the scholars were made acquainted with the whole system, they were informed, that the Committee, at the close, would examine the schools, and inspect the books: when, at one view, they would see how many children had attended school-what was their age; how many times each scholar had been at the head of his class;-how many books he had taken from the Library; how many verses of Hymns and Divine Songs, he had learned;-how many answers of the Catechism-how many verses of the Bible: and how many cents he had given to the Bible Society.

The object of the Bible Society interested the children exceedingly. You might see tears of compassion trickle down many eyes, as they heard of the destitute state of the heathen; and their hearts beat high, with desires to send them the Bible. The great question was, How shall we get money to give?

The Committee replied, that almost every one would, in the course of the year, receive a few cents from his parents, or friends, and that they might save one quarter, or one half, more, or less, as they saw fit, of these: and that probably many parents would give them more, when they found that they devoted it to so good an object.

The Committee then pointed out four ways in which they might earn something for this object. They informed them that each scholar, who should be at the head of his class, more than six times, should be considered as earning six cents: which should be

This Library was established in 1815, by the Standing Committee of the Society for Doing Good. After procuring a large quantity of Books, suitable for children, they divided them into as many parcels as there are schools in the place; and took one parcel, enclosed in a trunk, to each school. The teacher was appointed librarian. All children, whose conduct and improvement met the approbation of the teacher, were allowed to take a book from the library every Saturday. The book was charged to them, and the next Saturday they were required to return it: and if their conduct, during the week, had been good, they were allowed to take out another.

In the course of six months, the whole, taken together, read more than thirty thousand pages, learned more than two hundred Hymns, and many select portions of Scrip ture: and notwithstanding their unusual attention to reading, &c. their improvement in the various branches of learning, was much greater than had been witnessed before.

† This would show, not only how much he bad read, but also what had been his be havior: as no one was allowed to take out books, unless he behaved well.

paid, for him, out of the Treasury of the Society for Doing God; and be recorded in the eighth column, against his name, as a donation of his to the Bible Society; and that the scholar who should read the most books should in the same way, and for the same object, receive six cents more; and each scholar who should learn such a number of hymns, and chapters in the Bible, six cents more; and each scholar who should learn through the Assembly's Shorter Catechism, six cents more; and that in these ways, they might, by their diligence, and good conduct, greatly benefit themselves, and, at the same time, be constantly earning something for the heathen.

Both teachers, and scholars, when the system was unfolded, entered into it, with very great ardor; and the result has surpassed the most sanguiue expectations.

At the examination it was found, that four hundred and fifteen children had attended school-that their average age was about eight years—that one hundred and eight had been at the head 1 of their respective classes, more than six times; that one hundred and twenty-seven had learned through the Catechism; that two hundred and forty-one (all taken together,) had learned more than seven thousand verses of Hymns, and Divine Songs; and one hundred and twenty-one, more than five thousand verses of the Bible; that two hundred and forty-two had become members of the Society, and had, in addition to their contributions, earned for it fifteen dollars, and thirty cents.

Their behavior, at the examination, was remarkably good, and it is believed, that they sustained a better examination in the various branches of learning, than the Committee had ever witnessed before. PASTOR.

REVIEWS.

XCV. The Duties enjoined by the Fourth Commandment, illustrated in a Discourse delivered Jan. 1817. By AARON BANCROFT, D. D. Pastor of the Second Congregational Church in Worcester. pp. 39.

Ir may not be known to all our readers, that Dr. Bancroft belongs to that class of ministers, who call themselves liberal. We do not mention this for the sake of prejudging his sermon, which must stand on its own merits; but merely that the quotations, which we shall make, may be the more easily understood.

The text of this discourse is the fourth commandment. In the first part of it, the preacher enforces the duty of laboring six days; in the second, the duty of remembering the Sabbath. It is easy to see, that the particular object in view, was, to expose the sin of attending religious meetings on the six days of the week, rather than to promote the strict observation of the seventh. Indeed, wẹ presume the author himself would not deny, that he was induced to prepare and publish the sermon by the fact, that conferences, and other religious meetings, have recently been held with unusual

frequency in his town and neighborhood. It is because we suppose this to be the occasion of his publishing, that we have thought it advisable to write the present article. The sermon is not in itself deserving of particular notice. The style is feeble; the train of thought not remarkably well connected; and the effect by no means powerful. The subject is, however, of considerable importance; for if it is a breach of the fourth commandment to meet for social prayer and religious improvement, on any of the six days, it is time that Christians should be better instructed in this matter, than they generally are; better instructed, also, than the most faithful, and laborious ministers of Christ ever have been, But let us attend to what Dr. B. has thought proper to say, in reference to this subject. "All will allow," he asserts, "that it is the duty of man to be constantly occupied in some honest and useful worldly pursuit." Now we by no means allow this. It is the duty of man to be constantly employed in the service of God. It is the duty of most men to have some regular worldly occupation; and of every man not to be idle; but worldly pursuits should not engross the mind, nor be permitted to exert a constant influence. There should be many and frequent intervals, in which the world should be forgotten, and eternity brought near. There should be many seasons, in which the social powers of man are employed in conveying and receiving spiritual improvement, and in the immediate worship of God,

After stating that labor is enjoined by the authority of God, the preacher adds: "But some fall into great and perhaps fatal mistakes on this subject. They appear entirely to separate the common business of society from religious duties, and to suppose that religion, strictly speaking, cannot be carried into the ordinary employments of life." At the close of two paragraphs to this purpose, the following sage conclusion is formed: "All these absurdities result from an error in first principles." We can assure the preacher, that he will not find the persons, whom he has described, among the patrons and promoters of conferences, and other similar religious meetings. They know very well, that religion is to be carried into all the concerns of life; that mere profession is nothing; that the mere attendance on religious worship, whether on the Sabbath or any other day, is nothing; that the heart is to be renewed, and the life conformed to the require ments of the Scriptures. We have, indeed, known individuals, whose views of religion bore a great resemblance to the description which has been quoted and referred to; but these individuals never entered a conference room. Their religion was confined to the Sabbath, and consisted entirely of a dull attendance on dull services for a part, or the whole, of that day, whenever they could attend without the least inconvenience. Can Dr. Bancroft be ignorant, that such men as Baxter, Whitefield, Cotton Mather, Brainerd, Edwards, Luther, Knox, who abounded in extraordimary services of religion, would be the last men in the world to separate religion from the common duties of life? It is unques