immortal souls, the shortness and uncertainty of time, and the awful responsibility of the Christian ministry, will lead the man who is ever so devoted to the important duties connected with the oversight of the flock of Christ, to exclaim with the apostle, "Who is sufficient for these things!"

Although the faithful minister of the Gospel well knows that his sufficiency is of God, yet he is convinced he will have to give an account for his improvement of the talents he has received. He will feel himself under solemn obligation as a Christian, and much more as a minister, to add to his faith and to his virtue knowledge. Nor will he assume, that though he may have been made an instrument to awaken and convert sinners, without the information or learning he is in pursuit of, that therefore the time allotted him on earth may be spent without improvement: but discovering his ignorance of things which may be known by the knowledge he acquires; and feeling that the honour of the cause of Christ, and the spiritual prosperity of those who attend on his ministry may be greatly promoted by his diligence in the pursuit and acquisition of knowledge, he will be careful to redeem every moment of his time, and improve it in the best manner he can devise, that he may be a scribe well instructed, and thoroughly furnished, so to exhibit the character and attributes of HIM, whose ambassador he is, as to confound the gainsayer, and strengthen, stablish, and settle the humble followers of his Lord and Master. Such were the sentiments, and such was the practice of

Mr. Harris, as will fully appear by the following paper written by him, and dated at Newbern, Thursday, June 25, 1817.

"For about four years and five months I have been striving to preach the Gospel. In which time my greatest desires have been to save both myself and them that have heard me; to this end I have endeavoured to use the means best calculated, as I have thought, to obtain both spiritual and worldly knowledge. But on the whole I fear I have not chosen the most excellent way-for I have grown in grace and holiness but little compared with what I believe to have been my privilege. I believe that I have preached sound doctrine, but I cannot see why it has had no more effect on those who have attended on my ministry, unless it be my want of the anointing unction, or the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven-I find cause to reproach myself, though I have been studious, because I have not laboured more for close communion with God, which I believe to be of much more importance than all human knowledge without it. I also find fault with the manner in which I have pursued my studies. I have been too desultory both as it relates to my hours of study and the books that I have read. Through divine assistance I am resolved to strive to do better, and I here set down a sketch of the method I design to pursue in future, with a view to a growth in grace, knowledge, and general usefulness.

"I design to rise early of mornings, (I cannot fix on any hour, because I cannot retire regularly; but I

wish generally to allow about eight hours in twentyfour for sleep,) and after the usual duties of the morning, I intend to commence the day's labour by reading at least two chapters out of the Old and New Testaments, as I may think proper; after this I purpose to read some spiritual or edifying book until breakfast, which we generally take about seven o'clock.

"After this I intend to spend about one hour in perfecting my knowledge of the English grammar, and about as much in studying the Greek grammar: I have for some time intended to study the Greek language, but never commenced it until yesterday. After this, I design to spend about one hour in the study of arithmetic, of which my knowledge at this time is but superficial. This will bring the hour say, of eleven o'clock, from which time until four o'clock in the afternoon, I design to spend in writing and close study on the Holy Scriptures, which I design as a special preparation for the duties of the pulpit; reserving, however, from the above space of time one hour to dine and for secret prayer.

"The balance of the afternoon I design to improve in reading the writings of Mr. Wesley or Mr. Fletcher, or some other useful book, church history, or geography; reserving some little time from the above last-mentioned period to visit the brethren and friends.

"I am resolved to guard my words more than I have done, and to watch against all sin. And now, in the strength of the Lord alone, and not in my own (for that is but weakness) I consecrate all the

powers and faculties, both of my body and soul, to the service of God and his church.

"According to the advice of the apostle, I wish to redeem the time. The anticipation of future prospects is frequently suggested by the fervour of youthful imagination; and what we have performed when we come to die, generally bears but little proportion to what we have projected.

"In our progress through life, impediments to the execution of our plans occur, and time, in its imperceptible march, steals away both our power and our inclination to complete what has been designed with so much ardour. Hence the maxim of Mr. Wesley, Never leave that for to-morrow's work which can be done to-day :'-similar to that of Solomon, 'What thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.'

"FLETCHER HARRIS.”

The foregoing paper manifests sentiments and feelings highly honourable to its writer. We perceive in it an ardent longing for the salvation of immortal souls, and the determination to use every means to promote and secure so desirable an object. And we see that a diligent application to study, and the successful pursuit of knowledge, will promote humility in a man whose mind is influenced with a pure desire to glorify God. The vast importance of the objects in view; the thought that on the faithful discharge of the duties of the ministry the eternal happiness of intelligent creatures depends; and the conviction that a day is coming in which the whole conduct will be examined at the bar of God,

and attentive congregation, many of whom were deeply convinced of their sin and danger, he returned to his lodgings in a pensive frame of mind. In the evening, while in conversation with the family and some friends, he told them the cause of his dejection, which was, that there were so few seals to his ministry. He went on to relate how long he had been in the ministry, as well as the manner of his conversion. He seemed deeply to regret his too little usefulness in the church, and expressed his fears that it was owing to a want of greater vigifance. He said that, by the help of God, he was determined on more diligently engaging in the work, and declared his steady intention to live and die therein. On the Sabbath previous to his being confined by sickness, some of his friends considered him unfit for the labours of the pulpit; and, apprehensive that the consequence of his preaching in so debilitated a state might be very injurious, if not fatal in its effects: and hence one of them said to him, "Brother Harris, do not go-try and preach to live-the Lord does not require impossibilities of us." He, however, with a heart glowing with desire for the salvation of sinners, said, "Let me go and work for my Lord and Master while he spares me."

After a short discourse, which was observed to have been delivered with uncommon earnestness, he returned home and retired to his bed, from which he arose no more. He continued ill for a week, at the end of which he was so much worse that he called the family, and a few friends who