which his visitors did not presume to determine. As the result of this pleasant interview, the room was taken, the land purchased, the donation given, and the chapel erected.*

In 1831, Mr. Salt received and accepted à unanimous invitation to the pastorate from the church at Erdington, near Birmingham. Here he was much respected and beloved. While at this place, he exerted himself, with a brother minister, in promoting the erec tion of a chapel at Coleshill. This object was accomplished chiefly by the munificence of the late Mrs. Glover and Miss Mansfield, of Birmingham. He remained at Erdington five years; but in March, 1837, removed to Hinckley, in Leicestershire. The church in this place at the time was in a low and divided state, but by his peaceful and prudent conduct order and harmony were restored, and he enjoyed a happy course of ministration among the people for twelve years. His labours were greatly blessed in the conversion of souls. About ten persons joined the church each year while he was there. Six or seven young men, members of the churches at Lichfield and Hinckley, during his ministry at these places, became devoted to the Christian ministry; most of whom are now occupying important spheres of usefulness.

Being now in the 66th year of his age, and feeling increasing infirmities, Mr. Salt entertained serious thoughts of retiring from the regular ministry, and of preaching occasionally, as his services might be required. But Lichfield, the object of his "first love," and the sphere of his first labours, was ever upon his heart. And how many instances have been known of a minister, who has left his first charge, after a few years, longing and sighing to return to it! In the bitterness of his soul has he said to himself" I would go and return to my first husband; for then it was better with me than now!" But

• See "Independency in Warwickshire." By J. Sibres and M. Caston. P. 340.

the door has been shut. It was not altogether so, however, with Mr. Salt. His old flock at Lichfield, by unhappy changes, and untoward circumstances, had been greatly reduced. Some of its most valuable and influential members had been driven away. The church being without a pastor, and their first old pastor being prospectively without a flock, some mutual inquiries and overtures were made, which resulted in an invitation being given to the latter by the former to reoccupy the pulpit, and to reassume the pastorship. He returned, therefore, to Lichfield, April 22nd, 1849, and continued to preside over the church, and to dis charge the duties of his ministry, till within a few days of his removal to the rest and rewards of eternity. After a short but painful affliction, he peacefully departed to be with Christ, June 1st, 1857, in the 74th year of his age, and the 50th year of his ministry.

The high estimation in which he was held was manifest in the general sympathy that was cherished towards him in his last illness. He received the visits of two clergymen of the Established Church. One of these was the venerable Archdeacon Hill, who called upon him repeatedly. Mr. Salt said to him, on one of these visits, "I have no triumph, but I feel myself safe upon the Rock." The Archdeacon said to his bereaved widow, when speaking of the closing scene of his life-"His end was one which you and his bereaved flock may look back upon with thankfulness, illustrating the passage, 'Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace."" At a Bible Meeting held soon after the death of Mr. Salt, the Archdeacon expressed the pleasure he felt in the Bible Society, as the means of bringing together the ministers of different denominations; and added-"But for the Bible Society, I should never have known Mr. Salt, nor should I have had the pleasure of ministering to his comfort in the last illness of that excellent minister." The other clergyman, the

so admired both for the classic elegance of the design, and the taste and beauty of the execution. But in the suburban solitary churchyard of St. Michael's, there is an humble grave, covered with only the green sod, on which the eye of many will rest hereafter with peculiar interest, containing the precious dust of the humble, devoted, beloved, and lamented pastor of the Christian church in Wade-street.

"Peace to the good man's memory! Let the light

Stream on his deeds of love that shunn'd the sight

Of all but heaven; and in the book of fame The glorious records of his virtues write, And hold it up to men, and bid them claim A palm like his; and catch from him the hallow'd flame!"

Coventry.

J. S.

WHERE is the Christian minister who has not had occasion to notice the profound significance of the words of "the Faithful and True Witness," addressed to the Church of the Laodiceans? "I would thou wert cold or hot." Hearers of the Word, who assent to everything, but feel nothing; who applaud the preacher, but neglect the Saviour; and who admire sound doctrine, but practically deny its influence; are everywhere to be found. They are cumberers, stumblingblocks, a perpetual drag upon the wheels of progress, the joy of the devil and the woe of the pastor! They are regular in attendance, generally a few minutes late in coming in, attentive to all that is said, among the first to leave at the close of the service, are never seen at the prayer-meeting or weekly lecture, are sure to find fault with an occasional supply, think the Established Church a great abomination, praise the voluntary principle as the perfection of ecclesiastical arrangements, wonder that the quarterly pew-rents are so often called for, believe their own minister one of the cleverest men, and from Monday morning till Saturday night, every week of the fifty-two in the year, act the part of the most sordid, selfish worldlings, living without grace, without Christ, and without hope in

the world! Verily, they know not what intense pain they cause to the man who despises their empty praise of his ability, and mourns over their awful insensibility in relation to the tremendous realities of judgment and eternity! The man who has felt the love of Jesus filling his soul and send. ing a thrill of holy joy through his whole being, and who has tasted already some of the drops that overflow the cup of pleasure which will be put into his hand at the marriage supper of the Lamb, cannot but look with pity, mingled with awe, on such gospelhardened men. Ay, "awe,” that is the word; for is it not awful-a spectacle fitted to make angels wonder-to see intelligent and accountable human beings, sitting from year to year listening to the highest truths in the Universe of God-truths, the establishment of which brought the Prince of Life to an ignominious death, and truths, moreover, in which their eternal salvation or perdition is involved

unmoved, unimpressed, unaroused, unsaved? If this be not awful, what is? Anything else will move them, by anything else they will be awakened to attention, in anything else they will take an interest. How to deal with such men is the perplexing question. You are distressed, your hearts are

torn, at the idea of their departure to the world of spirits with the rejected ministry of reconciliation ringing in their ears, to be exchanged into the everlasting toll of the second death to them! With the reckless profligate, the bold infidel, the foolhardy denier of God and His Christ, you can do something; of the publicans and harlots you are not quite hopeless; but these men, who believe everything you say, and yet in fact believe nothing, put you to your wit's end, try your faith and patience, and constitute, emphatically, the pastor's difficulty.

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I think the minister of Christ is not only warranted but required to use extraordinary means with such persons. "Out of season" is the law for them. I remember a specimen-Alas! too many of this class of chapel-goers. Peter Stone lived in the town in which I laboured at that time. Peter Stone was a hardware merchant. And Peter Stone was making money fast. On one or two occasions he was chosen a town councillor, and that he felt his own importance is only a matter of course. As a matter of conscience, when visiting his family, I always endeavoured to say something in the hope of reaching his conscience; but all in vain. Peter Stone was an honest man, a town councillor, and a chapelgoer. "What would you have more ?" ask the multitude. Respected multitude! a great deal more, as you shall presently hear, if you will listen to the following conversation between Mr. Stone and myself. It was a calm autumnal evening. We were sitting in a well-furnished room, whose windows opened on a scene of rare loveliness. The sun was setting in a sea of molten gold. To the right stood a field of sheaves ready to be gathered in. Right before us in the distance lay a lake of crystal water, tranquil as the cheek of a sleeping babe whose soul has not been ruffled by the passion of sin. On the left an extensive orchard hung its arms earthward, bending beneath the weight of their delicious

burden. And many little birds were circling in the air or passing to and fro in the exquisite enjoyment of life, and undisturbed by any fear of to-morrow. "Mr. Stone," I said, you have chosen a pleasant situation for your house."

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"Yes, very good, very good, Sir. Rather too far from business. Handy though for the Town Hall."

"Mr. Stone, a singular question has occurred to me whilst looking out of this window, and I should like your opinion about it."

"Certainly, Sir, certainly. What is it ?"

"Do you think," said I, speaking in a whisper, and looking round the room as if afraid some one else would hear, "do you really think there is a God ?"

I shall not attempt to describe his look. Suffice it that surprise, consternation, and incredulity were all in that look, the last-named arising from a doubt whether he had heard me aright. "What did you ask, Sir ?"

"Do you really think there is a God ?"

"Can you, Sir,-no, you cannot, be serious!" On a

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Deeply serious, Mr. Stone. subject of this nature levity or jesting would be irrational, I shall not say impious, for if there be no God, there cannot be impiety, in the highest sense of that term."

Blank bewilderment now sat upon my neighbour's face, and I noticed a movement of his hand as if he meant to ring the bell.

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Stop a moment, if you please," said I," and I will tell you why I ask your opinion on this question. I know two gentlemen, one of whom says he is not satisfied with the evidences in favour of the being of God, and the other not only professes to believe in the existence of a glorious Creator, but he also attends a place of Christian worship and teaching every Lord's-day. He readily assents to every evangelic doctrine, considers an atheist a fool,'which undoubtedly he is,-talks freely

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