friends, but of society at large, and for her to be beloved, she was only to be known. With a reflecting turn of mind, which naturally led her to be serious, to think of religious subjects, and to meditate upon the state of the human family both here and hereafter, she had acquired a comprehensive view of the doctrines and requirements of the Gospel, which led her to place her hopes on the merits of her Savior for salvation. This was discernible in her conduct through life, and, in a particular manner, in her last sickness, which was long and severe, she appeared to be supported by the hope of the Christian; yea, so strong was this hope, that her desire to depart was great, and her mind never wavered a moment from this during the course of her sickness, which continued with unabated severity for the term of six months. "For what," she would exclaim, "should I wish to recover? I should still remain in this world of trouble and pain, and if I now leave this world, I shall go home to the unsullied enjoyinent of my Savior, there to sing his praise, and enjoy his love eternally," Death to her mind was wholly divested of its terrors, nor did it through all her sickness strike her with any fear. She considered it only as the gate to heaven, and the introduction to that happy place, where she might participate in the joys and sing the songs of the redeemed. Serene as the morning, her sun appeared unobscured, and to shine with meridian splendor. At times, altho her distress was great, her mind was so filled with the love of her Savior, that all other things appeared absorbed in this. She placed her trust in God, and she feared no injustice from this greatest and best of beings. Persevering in her inquiries after truth, she was not moved with every new and speculative idea that might dart upon the mind of man, whether according to reason and scripture, or not; but adopted her sentiments from what reason and revelation taught her; and this she held fast, whether in sickness or health, whether in the view of life or death. Thus she continued firm and unshaken in her mind, but languishing in body, until the morning of the 15th of March, when she willingly resigned her breath without a struggle, and met, as we firmly believe, the fruition of her hopes in the realms of bliss. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; for they shall rest from their labors, and their works shall follow them."-Com.

At Sharon, March 12, Widow MARTHA MITCHELL, aged 84. This venerable old lady was for many years a member of the Congregational Church in Acworth, N.H. but in latter days she was very charitable to all denominations.

POETRY.

INTEMPERANCE.

For the Repository.

Oh, thou dread scourge of every land,
Thou fiercest, sharpest foe to man,
How cruel is thy power!

A mother's joy, a father's hope,
A lonely widow's only prop,
How oft thou dost devour!

How oft a tender parent's tears,
E'en in their last declining years,
Thy cruel hand doth draw;
Nor yet can these, thy course restrain,
A father's grief, a mother's pain,
Thou heed'st no sacred law.

How oft the bud of genius bright,
Thy all-consuming breath doth blight,
And blast our rising joys;
Beauty and wit yield to thy power,
The brightest gem, the fairest flower,
Thy cruel hand destroys.

How oft the lone neglected wife,
Whilst the frail partner of her life
Is lock'd in thy dread arms,
Doth pass the lonely silent eve,
Alone, dejected, left to grieve,
No joy her bosom warms.

And oftener still, thou tyrant fiend,
Thou turn'st to cruel foe, that friend,
Who should have been her joy;
Thou mak'st that friend, a tyrant prove,
And every gentle spark of love,

Does thy dread draught destroy.

The orphan mourns thy hapless sway,
While memory paints that happy day,
A parent he possess'd;

But, O, thy dread, thy fatal power,
This once gay, smiling, blooming flower
In sable hue has drest.

E'en beasts, devoid of reason's light,
Shun and abhor thy fatal sight,
And flee thy wanton bowers;

And shall then man, with reason blest,
In God's superior image drest,
Fall victim to thy power?

All brutal nature thee disclaims,
God's noblest work alone remains
To bow before thy shrine;
Wisdom in vain her arms extends,
In vain celestial reason blends
Her sacred ray divine.

Shall man, within whose breast doth shine
Wisdom's pure ray of light divine,

Below the beasts descend?
Blush, manhood, blush. and hide thy face
In dark confusion and disgrace,
Nor dare thy cause defend.

Yet lend to wisdom's voice an ear,
And circumscribe each passion dear,
Each wild desire confine;
Nor longer truly let us say,
On man does reason's heavenly ray
With beams unheeded shine.

Rise, beings of immortal birth,
Nor sink beneath the beasts of earth,
Tho in this dark abode;

To us are given, superior powers,
The mind of man triumphant soars
To converse with its God.

Rise from the dust on faith-plum'd wings,
Go soar beyond terrestrial things,

Nor stoop to sensual toys;

Go soar beyond time's narrow; bounds,
Where ever, in succeeding rounds,
Do flow eternal joys.

Windsor, Feb. 8, 1826.

J. BROWN.

No. 2.

WOODSTOCK, AUGUST, 1826.

VOL. VII.

SERMON, NO. XXX. THE INFLUENCE OF RELIGION ON

PROSPERITY. by C

Psalms i. 3.—He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The kindly influence of religion on the heart and condition of man has, by most men, in all countries, and in all ages of the world, been received and generally acknowledged. But she has been chiefly confined to the shades of life. Mankind are willing to receive her as a comforter to call in her assistance on any occasion of deep distress, or when suffering under some great and unexpected calamity. But it is not only in the dark and adverse parts of a man's life that religion is useful; she is no less salutary in the hour of prosperity, than in the day of adversity,

Those who would confine her influence to the gloom of disappointment or the melancholy of old age, greatly mistake her nature. She is indeed useful in such seasons, and without her assistance, we should find it extremely difficult to bear up against the many painful sensations, that then unite to overwhelm us. But to those who are acquainted with her character-to those, whose hearts have felt her warm invigorating touch, she will ever be a welcome companion. They will seek her when the sun is clouded-wish her to cheer the evening of life; but will wish her no less--will find her powers no weaker, in the morning of prosperity.

And then she puts on her lovelier charms and appears in her more engaging dress. Imagination cannot present a more pleasing object than the youth animated by the pure emotions of genuine religion--than the man smiling with prosperity, obedient to her calis and faithVol. VII.

5

ful in the discharge of her offices. "He is like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

A more lively and beautiful figure, to represent his prosperity, could not have been selected from the whole compass of nature, than the one chosen by the Psalmist in our text. A tree is an object of beauty. Few things in nature can awaken more pleasing emotions in the bosom. To see one stand on a barren heath with short and shrubbed branches and withered leaves is, I confess, calculated to depress our feelings, and overwhelm us with melancholy reflections. But to see one growing beside the running stream, that moistens its roots and replenishes the soil-to behold it bearing its "fruit in its season," giving fragrance, beauty and shade to the surrounding scenery, will fill with admiration every lover of nature. Add the evergreen leaf with the assurance it "shall not wither," and you have a picture on which you may gaze with emotions of delight and tranquility.

To point out the man that is likened unto this tree, and show the increase of his prosperity, is the design of what follows.

The Psalmist has assisted us in the first part of this inquiry. He begins by informing us he is blessed; "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Such a one, we are informed in our text, "shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water," &c. He is one then, we may say, who has withdrawn himself from ungodliness--has not mingled with the vicious multitude, nor joined with scoffers-one who studies the law of God, carefully inquires his duty,