ing the tunes in different ways; and by others, who fuppofe they have the tune perfectly, when they are very deficient.

This is the worst kind of Singing out of tune. I have wondered fometimes that any would intentionally fing contrary to the body of voices, as it can only make a difagreeable noife in the ears of those that are near them. For my own part, I have chofen to fing with the body of voices, though I varied a note or two from the original tune rather than wilfully make a dif cord. I have frequently known an individual make the attempt, by his fingle voice, against four hundred, to alter two or three notes in a tune from an established method of Singing it; but it will always prove a vain attempt, without apprifing the congregation of his intention.

Thirdly, Deviations from tune, by Singing more notes than are required, happen by fome perfons attempting to ornament or grace the tunes by additions of their own, fome rifing two or three notes, while others are falling. This is a great impropriety in Public Singing; because, if fuch perfons do not rife and fall together, they will of courfe be out of tune. Gracing or ornamenting tunes may do very well for a fingle voice (if done with judgment) but is by no means proper in a congregation. On this account it has been, and will be found beft to use plain tunes in all places of public worship, without any embellifhments, but fuch as may be cafily and naturally fung together.

It is neceffary, in Public Singing, to have fome refpect to pronunciation, as in the following cafes, (i. e.) when a word of two fyllables is abreviated or made one fyllable, as heav'n, giv'n, and has only one note to it. If it is pronounced as two fyllables, hea ven, gi ven, then two notes will be heard, where enly one is intended.

N. B. When a word is to be pronounced, that requires' you to clofe your mouth, as come, you ought not to pronounce the word entirely out at the beginning of the note, efpecially if it be

a 'long

a long note; otherwise you will fing a great part of the note with your mouth clofe, which is an impropriety.

Every word of two fyllables that end with Y. should in genesal be pronounced as E.

It may be necessary to mention another particular belonging to singing (viz.) If a preacher gives out a line of a hymn, and doth not intend to raise the tune himfelf; it is abfolutely neceffary to name the measure, or read the firft verfe of the hymn. But, as we have not a name for every measure ufed among us; reading the verse is the best way to avoid a wrong tune. Befides, it would give a little more time to fuit, not only the tune to the measure; but alfo to the fubject, which is feldom properly attended to in the space of three seconds, and not well understood by hearing one line.

JS.

FR

FILIAL AFFECTION rewarded.

REDERICK the late king of Pruffia having rang his bell one day, and no body answering, opened the door, and found the page asleep on a sofa. He was going to awake him, when he perceived the end of a billet out of his pocket. Having the curiosity to know the contents, he took and read it, and found it was a letter from his mother, thanking him for having fent her a part of his wages to affift her in her distress, and the concluded with befeeching God to blefs him for his filial goodness.

The king returned foftly to his room, took a roller of ducats, and flid them with the letter into the page's pocket. Returning to his apartment he rang fo violently, that the page awoke, opened the door and entered. "You have flept well," faid the king. The page made an apology, and, in his emarraffment, happened to put his hand in his pocket, and fe't wh aftonifhment the roller. He drew it out, turned pale,.an looking at

the

the king, burst into tears, without being able to speak a word. "What is the matter," faid the king, "what ails you ?" "Ah! Sire," said the young man, throwing himself at his feet, "somebody wished to ruin me: I know not how I came by this money in my pocket." "My friend, faid Frederick, God often fends us good in our fleep: fend the money to your mother; falute her in my name; and affure her that I shall take care of her and you."

[From Mrs. Ruth Hall, to the Rev. J. Welley.]

Rev. and dear Sir,

Jan. 18, 1783.

CCORDING to your defire, I will fimply relate to you the Lord's gracious dealings with me,

ferious impreffions upon my mind, when I was very young. The Lord drew me with the cords of his love. When in the means of grace, or in the company of serious people, I often wished to enjoy the happiness which I heard others speak of; but these impreffions foon paffed away. I went on thus till the year 1772, when I was much stirred up to feek the Lord, that I might know him for myself; but I let thefe convictions alfo die away.

The Lord then permitted me to be forely harraffed with temptations from the devil, fo that I had fcarce any reft from morning till night. Blafphemous thoughts of God were mostly urged upon my mind. I then began to think I had finned beyond the reach of mercy. This brought horror into my foul, and made me miferable, till I opened my mind to my dear mother, who encouraged me to feek the Lord, affuring me he VOL. XIV.

would

would be found of me, if I fought him with my whole heart. This generally gave me eafe for the prefent; but I foon funk back into my former despair. I went from home after this, and was in fome meafure diverted from what oppreffed my mind, by giving way to trifling; and as my ferioufness wore off, I was lefs harraffed with temptation.

In this flate I continued till the year 1776, when I was again ftirred up by hearing that a young woman, who had not been long in the Society, had received the bleffing of fanctification. I was cut to the heart, when I thought how long I had been, and knew nothing of the divine life, notwithstanding the precious. means I enjoyed. I then determined not to reft till the Lord fhould blefs me alfo. I wrestled with him much in prayer at all opportunities for about a fortnight; when one night, after I had continued pleading with God till almoft midnight, these words were impreffed on my mind, " Jefus Chrift maketh thee whole: thy fins are forgiven thee.", I could not believe it at first, though the words were repeated many times: for I doubted whether they came from God. At length I determined to ftrive to believe, and as foon as I did this, I felt power to believe that Jefus was my Saviour. My burden of guilt was removed, and I could now rejoice in the Lord. I was foon tempted to think I had deceived myfelf; but I faw this was from the enemy, and was enabled to refift it. I went on.comfortably for a few weeks, and then gave way to fin, by which my foul was brought into darkness; but the Lord again fhed abroad his love in my heart.

I was convinced by degrees of the neceffity of holiness. The Lord fhewed me how much I lived beneath my privilege: that I was called to love him with all my heart, and devote myfelf entirely to him. I often felt a strong defire to experience this bleffing; but found in me an evil heart of unbelief. When I felt evil tempers arife, and get the better of me, I thought it impoffible that I ever could be faved from them; but as my dear mother was fuch a witness of it in every respect,

I had fome hope that I too might experience the faving power of God. Indeed I was much hurt by the conduct of a young perfon of my acquaintance, who profeffed to be in this liberty, but did not walk accordingly. I often feared that I, in like manner, should be a reproach to the caufe of God; but the Lord graciously helped me, particularly by the converfation of one, who, I believe, lives near to him. Having an oppor tunity of being with her alone, I found liberty to open my mind freely; and the Lord fo bleffed what the faid to me, that I thought I could give myfelf into his hands. All my doubts were removed, my foul was as melting wax before the fire, and at a Love-feast about two days after, was fet at full liberty.

These words were then applied to my mind: "Stand fast in the liberty, wherewith Christ hath made thee free." Fear again arofe in me, and I faid "Lord, I fhall not fland, I fhall not stand, I shall not hold the bleffing." When immediately these words were applied, "Thou standeft by faith; be not high minded but fear," and with them fuch light fhone into my mind, that I saw more clearly than ever, how the foul, by believing every moment in Jefus, is upheld and ftrengthened: and in that moment, I was enabled to give myfelf to the Lord. to be entirely his. I felt fuch humility of spirit as I never did before. I saw myself to be nothing, and that Jefus was all in all to me. And, glory be to his holy name, fince that time I have proved his faving power. I have been much exercised both from outward and inward temptations: yet I find, by looking to the Lord, he maketh my peace to flow as a river. I ftill fee heights and depths, lengths and breadths before me, and feel a determination to prefs forward, that I may be made all that he would have me to be. I beg an intereft in your prayers, and am, dear Sir, your affectionate