ing their remarks upon what they had heard. I am weary, said Mr. Curiosity with hearing the same old tale, every time he preaches, he never gives us any thing that is new. I am displeased, said Mr. Obstinate, that he always insists upon our giving up our side of the controversy, and never speaks of the king's yielding a little. For my part, I am willing to be on good 1 terms with the king, provided he will give up his claims, and be reconciled to us. For my part, said Mr. Pride, I cannot bear to hear him always talking of submission. And what is worse than all, he would have us submit unconditionally. He would have us throw ourselves into the hand of the king, to be disposed of at his sovereign pleasure. Perhaps he would banish or imprison the half of us. I am determined never to be reconciled to the king, unless he will previously stipulate never to bring me to trial, but to raise me to a throne; and then Ishall be willing to submit, if he calls that submission. The greatest fault I find, said Mr. Self-Complacent, is that he gives such an odious character to those who are in rebellion against the king. He will not allow that there is any moral goodness in them, but insists that they are wholly corrupt, and that every imagination of the thoughts of their heart is only evil continually. I consider this as a libel upon the whole of us. I am displeased, said Mr. Secure, that he preaches so much terror. For my part, I have no idea of being frightened into submission to the king. I do not believe there is any such pit of fire and brimstone, as he speaks of, beneath our city, ready to swallow us up. I have a better opin ion of the king, than to suppose that he will punish the creatures which he has made, for any crimes which it is in their power to commit. DEATH OF MR. NICHOLS, ONE OF THE AMERICAN MISSIONARIES, STATIONED AT BOMBAY. Late in the autumn Mr. Nichols commenced a tour in the southern Konkan, for the purpose of visiting, and to a certain extent newly organizing, the schools which had been established there. He expected to be absent a month. But before arriving at Rawadunda, aboat 16 miles below Bombay, he was taken ill with a fever, and reached that place with difficulty. Immediately on his arrival, the teacher of the school at Rawadunda furnished him with a bed and with every attention in his power. Hearing of his illness, Mr. Garrett proceeded to his assistance, and sending back word that he grew worse, Mr. Frost accompained Mrs. Nichols, in a covered boat, to the place of his sickness, for the purpose of bringing him to Bombay, whither they conveyed him on the 9th of December, ten days after the commencement of his sickness. He was speechless, and much of the time insensible, and, about the middle of the following night, fell asleep and rested from his labors. The funeral services were attended the next day in the chapel, to which many of the natives resorted, and were solemnly addressed by the Rev. Mr. Fyvie of Surat, who happened then to be at Bombay. The Rev. Messrs. Davis, Fyvie and Kenney visited Mr. Nichols repeatedly after his arrival at Bombay, and, with the Rev. Mr. Carr and the American Missionaries, accompanied his remains to the grave. Miss. Her. THE CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE. VOL. II. JULY, 1825. No. 7. MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOSEPHUS WHEATON It is now several months since the lamented death of the Rev. JOSEPHUS WHEATON of Holliston.A number of short notices of him, has, in the interval, been given to the public. If the present memoir comes too late for the purposes of sympathy; it may come in a more proper season for extended and practical reflections. Josephus Wheaton, son of Jos eph Wheaton, Esq. was born at Rehoboth, Mass. on the 16th of March 1788. It will be interesting to his acquaintance, and may be useful to those of tender years, to know, that the same amiable disposition which endeared him to his friends in riper years, was manifested by him when a child. His peaceable, condescending and kind behaviour toward his brother and sisters made him their delight. He was obedient to his parents; and, as his father relates of him, "never needed to be spoken to a second time." In this respect, he early imitated the example of his Savior, respecting whom, little is written of his first years to gratify the learned ;yet it is particularly recorded that he was subject to his parents.-While a child, Josephus was sober minded. And although not religious; yet he seems to have been free from the vices and follies incident to that period of life. This was probably owing to religious instruction, seasonably and faithfully imparted; which before it was the means of his conversion operated as a strong moral restraint. Until about the age of seventeen, his opportunities of education were confined within the limits of our common winter schools. At this time, the native energy of his character and his thirst for knowledge, began to open his way to the means of obtaining a more finished education. By his own ingenuity and perseverance, he obtained a trade, the avails of which were destined by Providence, to prepare him for his future usefulness in a profession, where it may be said of him, that his feet were shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. He entered Brown University, a year in advance, in 1809. Here he prosecuted his studies with ardour, diligence and success. The regularity of his conduct won the esteem both of the officers and students of the University. He was graduated in Sept. 1812, one of the best scholars of his class; among whom was Kingsbury, the able and devoted missionary to the Indians, the roommate and endeared friend of the subject of this memoir. There they emulated each other's industry and attainments; they u nited in the morning and evening sacrifice," took sweet counsel together and walked to the house of God in company." Wheaton is removed from his earthly labours; Kingsbury stays to tread the wilderness, and lead the wandering Indian to the blessings of civilization and christianity. It will be inferred from this that Mr. Wheaton was religious while at College. He entertained a hope of reconciliation to God, before his entrance into College; but whether the hope was well or ill founded, he with that self-distrust, which was always peculiar to him, abandoned it. Near the close of his collegiate course, his mind was refreshed with peace in believing; and if this was not the time of his conversion, it was evidently of deepened seriousness, and more unreserved dedication of himself to God. He then united himself, by solemn covenant, with the visible church. In respect to the choice of a profession, he formed different designs and expectations at different periods of his preparatory and collegiate education. His first view was to the law, and for a considerable time, his habits of mind were forming under the influence of that expectation. But for what particular reason, it is not understood, he became afterwards inclined to the profession of medicine, and he attended the various lectures of that department, under the expectation, that he was preparing for the business of his life. When, however, his christian hope permitted him to turn his attention to the ministry, he abandoned all other prospects of life, and determined to consecrate all his powers and acquisitions to the work of preaching the gospel.His changes of purpose will not be imputed, by those who knew him, to any instability of character. They have been mentioned, under the conviction, that they were, in this case, and have been in others, providential, and well calculated to enlarge the sphere of ministerial usefulness. After leaving the University, Mr. Wheaton was engaged as Preceptor in George Street Academy, in Providence; but was soon invited to a tutorship in the University. Here, as might have been expected, he discharged with eminent ability and faithfulness, the duties of an office, for which he was admirably fitted; and he had the happiness, at the same time, to benefit and please the students under his tuition and government. He was a tutor more than two years; during which time, he was not merely gratifying his high relish for classical learning; but was devoting what time his office would allow to the study of divinity. Previously to his resigning his office in the College, he was licensed to preach; and was invited to supply the desk at Holliston, the town in which he was afterwards ordained and settled.His ordination was on the 6th of Dec. 1815. He now entered zealously into the duties of the ministry; and performed those duties with great credit to himself, and it is believed, with lasting advantage to his people. The labors of a christian minister, whose main concern is to feed the church over which he is made an overseer, are not of a kind, to afford interest by a particular detail. Rev. Mr. Wheaton laboured faithfully to promote what he considered the best interests of his people. He cared for souls as one that must give an account. He was anxious for the enlargement of his church, and very anxious, that all who named the name of Christ should depart from iniquity. He used to lament that no special revival of religion was experienced among his people; and would express fears that it was owing to his unfaithfulness. Others however may justly say of him, what his characteristic humil . ity did not suffer him to say of himself. He, in truth, sought fer} vently the welfare of Zion and the good of souls. But he feared being deceived himself as to the foundation of his religious hopes; and he feared lest others should be deceived. This made him a close and distinguishing preacher; by which I mean, that he incessantly laboured, in his preaching, not only to make persons religious; but to make them trust in nothing, but those pure and disinterested affections, in which he conceived that true religion consisted. In his intercourse with his people, his wisdom was evangelical; first pure then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated. His conciliating deportment, amiable temper, and dignified, yet unaffected manners won the affections of those who were not always pleased with his sentiments.theological Among that highly respectable people, there had been unhappy divisions previously to Mr. Wheaton's coming among them. unanimity which attended his call to be their pastor, and teacher, was under such circumstances considered remarkable; and Mr. Wheaton continued to hold and to increase their respect and affection. The A spirit of improvement, in general, he seemed desirous of promoting. Hence his solicitude for the prosperity of schools and his encouragement of every laudable undertaking among his people. But he was all the time a stu- topicks and chapters of which remain as a memento of his useful designs. dent as well as a pastor. What time the more active duties of his office would permit, he was with his book and his pen. His dear companion who bewails his death, bears witness to his diligence; and observe that scarcely a day past, without hearing from him some lamentation, that he had not better improved his time. He usually read with system; and embraced in that system nothing which he did not deem subordinate and conducive to his usefulness as a servant of Christ. His desire for learning was indulged rather from motives of duty, than of variety. He was, indeed, made to be not only a minister but a literary man, such was the character of the talents with which God had endowed him; such had been the effect of the circumstances into which divine Providence had cast him. But his object was learning sanctified and devoted to increase the glory of God and the good of men, he meant to make the wisdom of the Egyptians subservient to the terest of the people of God. in He excelled in an intimate acquaintance with the classics. His literary character, and eminent talents as an instructor of youth, made his house a favorite resort of young men fitting for College, or perfecting their education. Among the plans which quickened his industry, was a book which he was well qualified to compose on the subject of school education; the He was extensively acquainted with the authors who have written on mental philosophy and moral science. He had so great a taste for these subjects, and had read so extensively in reference to them, that he sometimes ventured to contemplate a publication, not intended as an original work, but which should embody the best views on these important subjects. As a preacher Mr. Wheaton was what he principally aimed to be, instructive. He considered truth to be the ordinary instrument of sanctifying and saving men; and that the chief object of a preacher should be, to inculcate truth, in humble dependance on a higher power to give it a saving energy. Yet he was also an animated and animating preacher. His whole soul appeared in his work; and his pulpit exertions were even too fatiguing for an ordinary constitution to support. He was always instructive and animated, and sometimes powerful. To be eloquent, was not his object, yet he was occasionally eloquent to a very high degree.— That part of his discourse on the equality of mankind, which relates to slavery shews no less the pen of a master than the heart of a christian philanthropist; and needs only the authority of a name to spread it in other climes and countries. But it was his maxim, that the world generally do justice |