it probable, indeed, that there is no one sin which may be so justly and generally charged upon professing Christians, and of which at the same time they think so little, as that which consists in the waste or the abuse of time. And time, you should remember, although precious in every period of life, is most of all precious in youth. Every portion then, which is rightly employed, is like a sum of money put out to interest for the remainder of life; and every portion which is then wasted, is also a sum, with all its interest, irretrievably lost. My own life, you know, has not been generally past in idleness or inactivity; but now that it is drawing to a close, I do assure you that on looking back I greatly lament the loss of much, very much time, which might at least have been employed to better account than it actually was. Endeavour then, my dear son, deeply to impress your mind with a sense of the value of time, as a talent entrusted to you by God, and for every portion of which you are to render a strict account at his tribunal. This is a truth which all ought to recollect, but it is peculiarly worthy of the constant recollection of a gospel minister. He is, or ought to be, a devoted man-devoted to the immediate service of God and the good of immortal souls; the most important business certainly on earth, and in regard to which, therefore, the loss of any portion of time by which, either directly or indirectly, it might have been promoted, implies a far higher degree of criminality than if he were engaged in a secular calling, of little importance perhaps to any but himself. I will only add further, in a general view of this subject, that if I were required to mention some one trait of character, in a young man of tolerable talents, which more than any other should indicate that he was destined to distinction, usefulness, and respectability in future life, it would be, that he was remarkably sensible of the value of time.

Since time then is so inestimably

precious, the inquiry returns-in what manner may it be most extensively redeemed and most profitably employed? The general answer to this is easy-Lose no time that can be saved, and employ every part in the most advantageous manner. But let us come at once to particulars

Consume not too much time in sleep, in meals, and in recreation.

I am satisfied, on careful observation, that some persons really require more sleep than others; and therefore that no general and absolute rule can properly be given in regard to this point-farther than to say, that every individual should carefully and conscientiously consider what his own experience has taught him is the smallest quantity necessary to health and activity, and firmly resolve to take that quantity and no moreLess, I am persuaded, is necessary, in most instances, than is commonly supposed. But it is too manifest to be dwelt upon, that he who takes either more sleep, or less, than that which will enable him to perform the greatest number of active duties, and to the most effect, in the course of twenty-four hours, is not the best economist of time. It is among the humiliating circumstances of our present state, that a considerable portion of our existence must be passed in a kind of death: And it is one of the excellencies of the heavenly state, that "there is no night there," and that the blessed inhabitants never weary in the service and praise of God. But while we are in the body, we should view it as a duty to endeavour to be lost in forgetfulness, as long as is necessary to enable us to do the most good while we are awake-and not a moment longer.

As to meals-no man ought to spend much time at table; and to do so is peculiarly improper for a clergyman. He, of all men, should be most careful to show that he does not "live to eat, but eat to live." Tabletalk may sometimes be profitable, and such you should endeavour to render it, both in your family and in

company; and when it is so, a little more time than would otherwise be proper may be spent at table. Circumstanced as you are, you will need to guard carefully against acquiring a fondness for dining in company. This has proved injurious to many clergymen, and ruinous to some. It invariably leads to a criminal waste of time. As a matter of choice, I would very seldom take a meal out of my own family; and when I did, it should be with a friend or a parishioner. Large and promiscuous companies I would avoid, as far as I could do it without giving offence; and there are some convivial entertainments that I would positively decline, even if a civil refusal should prove offensive. But on all occasions, whether private or publick, abhor and avoid the practice of sitting long over the bottle-a practice which, beside the time that it wastes, has, to my certain knowledge, led to an excess in drinking, which has eventually blasted forever the character and usefulness of several young clergymen, who had given high promise of serving and adorning the church of Christ. I must not pass from this topick without remarking, that you cannot be too vigilant in avoiding the commencement of a habit which will make spirituous or vinous liquors, beyond a very small quantity, the object even of desire. It is truly surprising how insidiously and insensibly a habit, leading directly to gross intemperance, is often formed: and one cannot think without grief, and shame, and horror, on the number of our order, who have fallen victims to the reproachful and ruinous vice of inebriation. Shun then, as you would shun a pestilence, every thing which has a tendency to this awful issue. The temperance of a gospel minister should never be questionable. His known and established habits should render him, in this respect, not only free from guilt, but above suspicion.

Recreation is necessary to no man more than to a clergyman. His studies are of the most serious kind, and

they require to be vigorously and systematically pursued. The human mind thus employed will lose its elasticity, activity, and serenity, if it be not frequently unbent and recreated. Yet a clergyman's recreations must all be unexceptionably innocent. Theatres, and dances, and cards, and horse races-the sources of innumerable evils to all who frequent them-he can have no concern with, if he would retain any reputation with the wise and pious. Visiting among his people and friends, literary associations, attending on meetings and societies for benevolent purposes, gardening, walking and riding, are the proper recreations for a clergyman, when the weather will permit him to go abroad. When it will not, and often for a short time when it will, he may profitably amuse himself with his children, or other inmates, so as both to recruit his own spirits and endear himself to his domestick circle-Do not think I have forgotten my subject. What I have just been saying is perfectly in point, when speaking against the loss of time. No time is lost, but much is redeemed, by all the relaxation which is necessary to prevent languor, debility and exhaustion of spirits. One hour of vigorous thought and study, is worth more than a day, when the mind is jaded with application. Beside, when health is lost, as it soon will be without recreation and bodily exercise, active usefulness is wholly lost-sometimes for months together, and sometimes for the remainder of life. No part of your time, therefore, will be more economically and profitably spent, than that which is employed in taking as much bodily exercise daily as is necessary to preserve your health. Do you ask how much is necessary? I will give you an explicit answer, because I think it important. I say then that as much at least is every day necessary, as is equivalent to walking four miles on foot-two before dinner, and two toward evening. Do not omit going out on account of the weather, unless it is unusually bad; because you will often

be obliged to go out in bad weather to perform publick and official duties, and if you are not in the habit of doing so, you will almost certainly suffer; but if accustomed to it, you will usually sustain no inconvenience. What I have said under this particular is predicated on the supposition that your life is to be spent as it has commenced,-with the habits of a student, and your whole time devoted to professional duties. If you should remove to a situation, like that in which many of your brethren find themselves, where you would be compelled to provide for your own support by an attention to some active employment, for a considerable part of the week; or if you should be engaged in missionary services; you will, of course, have bodily exercise enough, without seeking it. Your object then will be to redeem as much time for study as you can. But even then, study should never be continued too long at a time-We are always in danger of extremes. The danger of an extreme attention to study, is that to which I know you are most prone, and therefore I have said so much to guard you against it. But the extreme of studying too little, is still more blameable, and more reproachful. The minister of the gospel, who has any tolerable command of his time, and yet spends little of it in preparing "beaten oil for the sanctuary," but loiters away his hours, or even employs them in some active services, because they are more agreeable to him than close study, is chargeable with guilt in the sight of God, and ought to feel a very uneasy conscience, till he is brought to act more like a faithful servant of the great Lord of the gospel vineyard.

But of all the moths which consumed my time, in the earlier part of life, the most destructive and vexatious was unprofitable company. At first I was drawn into some parties, which met in different places, but I soon got rid of these. My chief per plexity was from the visits and calls of my own people. There were among them-as I believe there are

in almost every congregation-some who seemed to think that their minister's house was the most proper place to get rid of the idle hours which hung heavily on their hands. These saunterers and loungers would sometimes rob me of half a day, or a whole evening at a time. An hour was thought by them a short visit. They often came directly into my study, and there was no alternative but to bear with them, or to tell them to depart.

The latter I never didBut at length I fell upon an expedient, with which I believe you are acquainted. I directed that no body should be shown into my study but by myself; and that I should not be sent for to see any one who did not expressly state that he wished to see me. When I was sent for, as for a while I often was, I went to my parlour with my pen in my hand and did not take a seat, but inquired of the visiter what was his business. If I found that he had business, I took him immediately to my study, and attended to it carefully. But if-as was the case more than nine times out of ten-I found that he had really no business, I talked sociably and civilly with him for a few minutes, still keeping on my feet, and then begged to be excused, on account of my engagements in my study. This system never gave offence that I heard of, in more than a single instance, and that not of a serious or lasting kind. Your good mother, however, helped me out with my plan very much, or I suspect it would not have succeeded as well as it did. I have read of an excellent clergyman, who placed in large letters over his mantle, where it would meet the eye of every one who entered his study, this pithy admonitionBE SHORT. In some way or other, you must contrive to have your time much to yourself, in the early part of your ministry. It is essential to your improvement, and much both of your present and future usefulness will depend upon it. I find that it is getting to be the practice with some of our brethren, to let it be known

publickly, that they do not see company at all, during certain hours of the day. This is, I think, by no means unreasonable in itself; and yet it is attended with some real inconvenience. A stranger, whom you may much wish to see, may be sent away, and you never see him. Or an important concern, demanding immediate attention, may be unduly postponed, and perhaps the opportunity of attending to it be entirely lost. On the whole, I would rather choose to see those who call, and when necessary, to tell them frankly that my engagements in my study forbid me to spend more time in conversation than is necessary to the most summary attention to the subject of the call. I have practised pretty much on this plan for some years past, and I do not know that it has offended any one. Neither a physician nor a lawyer, hesitates to make a professional engagement the avowed reason for leaving any company whatever; and why should not the same privilege be granted to a clergyman? I think that on some suitable occasion you should publickly explain this subject to your people, and then steadily act on the plan which you shall have announced to them. I have said so much on this point, because your settlement in a large country village will, I know, render it one of the most difficult points to manage. Our brethren who live in a sparsely settled country, where but few calls are made upon them, have difficulties enough of another kind, but in escaping this they have one considerable advantage.

One other way in which time may be lost I shall barely mention: it is the consuming of a portion of it in a musing mood, on something that is useless or impracticable. Guard against a habit of this kind-it grows by indulgence. Go immediately and resolutely to your proper business, whatever it may be; and when it is despatched, turn without delay to something else. Apply all your powers to what you are about while

it is before you, and when you are exhausted cease altogether, and take exercise or recreation.

After guarding against the loss of time, the next thing is to take care to spend it to the greatest advantage. You ought to have a well digested plan for the filling up of every portion of your time, that none of it may be lost in thinking what you are to do next, or because you feel as if you had nothing to do; and that no part of your duty may be neglected, but every part receive, and that seasonably, a just proportion of your attention. I am well aware, that now when you have a family and a congregation to look after and provide for, you cannot be as methodical and regular in the distribution and employment of your time, as when you were a student of college, or of the Theological Seminary. Still a plan, and a fixed one, is indispensable, if you would use your time to the most advantage. When interruptions break in on your arrangement, let them displace the business of the hours at which they happen, and let the rest proceed as usual; unless that which has been displaced cannot be delayed, and then let it take the place, for once, of something that will not suffer by delay. Have stated hours for the whole routine of your family concerns, and observe them strictly-for rising and going to bed, for meals and for family devotion.

Assign your most important studies, especially your preparations for the pulpit, to those portions of your time which will be least liable to interruption, especially if these will coincide with those which experience has taught you will commonly find your mind most active and vigorous. Firmly resolve to read no entertaining books at such times; but to give all your attention and all your faculties to your proper business. Some study best in the morning, and some in the evening-A part of both is, I think, generally to be preferred. But consult your own experience; only abide steadfastly by your arrange

ment, after you have formed it. Newspapers, and works of mere entertainment, should never occupy the hours of serious business. Let them be assigned to some remnants of time that can best be spared, or which could not otherwise be more usefully employed.

I shall only add to this long letter, a caution against late hours of study. By late hours, I mean all that follow ten or eleven o'clock in the evening. Nothing is at last gained, but much lost, by night studies. They may seem to be advantageous for a while, but eventually they injure and sometimes destroy eyesight, and indeed impair the general health. They are

therefore to be avoided, both as a matter of prudence and of duty. Doubtless there must be some occasional violations of this, as of other rules; but let them always be the fruit of unavoidable necessity, and never of voluntary choice-never let them become a habit. Keep constantly in mind that your time, health, and all your powers, are sacredly devoted to the most important service in which a human being can be engaged, and try to use, and preserve, and manage them all, in such manner as shall most promote the glory of God and the good of mankind-The Lord direct and bless you. Farewell.

To the Editor of the Christian Advocate.

Sir-In reading the last number of "Israel's Advocate," I find in the report of a committee appointed to devise a plan for a settlement in this country of Jewish converts, the following sentence: "Abandoning, therefore, all idea of recommending to the Board any plan which contemplates the purchase of so much land, your committee next turned their attention to the plan of amalgamation; or of inducing the converts to mingle indiscriminately with our fellow citizens and fellow Christians, both in church and state." The committee add, that "this has been recommended to the Board, and referred to your

committee in a valuable communica

tion from one of our distinguished vice-presidents,* addressed to our venerable president." It does not appear that "the plan of amalgamation," as it is called, has been recommended by the committee; and yet such a recommendation seems to have been forborn, not from any thing

* The Rev. Dr. Livingston, Professor of the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Dutch Church in North America.

considered as objectionable in the plan itself, but because, for the present, it was thought by the committee not to afford the aid believed to be indispensable. What I have now stated, sir, has given rise, in my mind, to a number of inquiries, which I do not feel myself competent to cation is designed to suggest them, answer; and my present communiin hope that I may obtain satisfaction from those who are better instructed than myself: and from no one should I more cheerfully receive instruction, than from the eminent and excellent man, from whom the ceived the recommendation of the committee state that they have replan which they announce. My inquiries are such as these-Does the commended, mean that the Jewish amalgamation contemplated and reconverts should be encouraged to intermarry, as well as in other respects to "mingle with their fellow citizens and fellow Christians;" so that in a generation or two their distinctive national character as Jews shall no longer exist, but be completely absorbed and lost in the promiscuous population of the country? If so, and if this measure were general in Chris