ed the stranger to lend him a half-penny to buy a candle, as it was not light enough to shave him with safety. He did so, revolving in his mind the extreme poverty to which the poor man must be reduced.— When shaved, he said, "There must be something extraordinary in your history, which I have not now time to hear. Here is half a crown for you. When I return, I will call and investigate your case. What is your name?" "William Reed," said the astonished barber. "William Reed!" echoed the stranger: "William Reed; by your dialect you are from the west?" "Yes, sir! from Kingston, near Taunton !" "William Reed, from Kingston, near Taunton! What was your father's name?" "Thomas." "Had he any brother?" Yes, sir; one after whom I was named; but he went to the Indies, and as we never heard from him, we suppose him to be dead." "Come along, follow me,' said the stranger; " I am going to see a person who says his name is William Reed, of Kingston, near Taunton. Come and confront him. If you prove to be indeed he who you say you are, I have glorious news for you. Your uncle is dead, and has left an immense fortune, which I will put you in possession of, when all legal doubts are removed."

They went by the coach-saw the pretended William Reed, and proved him to be an impostor. The stranger, who was a pious attorney, was soon legally satisfied of the barber's identity, and told him that he had advertised him in vain. Providence had now thrown him in his way, in a most extraordinary manner, and he had much pleasure in transferring a great many thousand pounds to a worthy man-the rightful heir of the property. Thus was man's extremity, God's opportunity. Had the poor barber possessed one half-penny, or even had credit for a candle, he might have remained unknown for years; but he trusted God, who never said, "Seek ye my face in vain.”

POPISH MIRACLE.

The Patron Saint of the town of Naples, is a Saint Januarius, part of whose blood, though shed in Martyrdom, more than fifteen hundred years ago, is still preserved in a vial. On the day of the Saint's festival, the Bishop surrounded by a crowd of priests, and a multitude of lighted tapers, and clouds of smoke of frankincense; takes the vial in his hands, when a red lump appears in an upper division. The people in crowds are kneeling in the church, expecting the yearly miracle, with the greatest anxiety, while the bishop handles the vial every way, till the lump begins to melt and falls in drops into the lower part of the glass. Upon this, the bells are rung-the guns are fired-and the whole town is in a state of rapture. The trick is so gross, that there is not a priest, or a man of common sense at Naples, that is not convinced that the red clot, is a certain composition which melts with very little heat-the heat that the hands of a priest, and a crowded house will produce. Sometimes, it is a longer time in being brought about, and the populace for whom the juggle is performed, are in a state of great fear and discontent. On one of these occasions, a very excellent friend of mine, an English officer, was near the priests; but the meeting being delayed, he was advised by one of them to retire, for the mob would have torn him to pieces, from a notion that the miracle was delayed on account of his being a Protestant. When the French, during the revolutionary war, were in possession of Naples, the priests wished to raise a tumult against them, and on the day of St.

Januarius, the blood would not melt. The mob were ready to take up arms, when the French General sent word to the Arch-bishop, that, if the miracle was not performed instantly, he would play the artillery upon his palace. This broad hint, had its desired effect; the blood began to drop, and all was quiet.-[Blanco White.

TO OUR PATRONS.

This number closes the third volume of the Magazine. The publishers would take this opportunity to offer to their friends, their cordial congratulations on the commencement of a New Year, and express their thanks for the support with which they have been favored. With the blessing of God, and the assistance of a few faithful friends, they have been enabled, thus far, to sustain this work. Their chief object in commencing it, was, to promote the interests of religion in the Evangelical Lutheran Church; and how far they have succeeded in this design, is not for them to say. They, however, cherish the hope, that in faithfully and disinterestedly devoting themselves to the cause of their Divine Master, and the interests of his church, they have not labored altogether in vain. They are sensible, that in conducting this work, they have, in many respects, fallen short of their duty, and perhaps disappointed the expectations of their friends. They humbly acknowledge, and deeply lament, their many deficiencies. But they are also sensible, that God has graciously condescended to assist them in their humble labors: and if any good has resulted from them, it is to be attributed to His blessing.

The work is now transferred from the Conference to the Board of Directors of the Domestic Missionary and Education Society of our Church in this State, who will continue it on the same terms upon which it has beer. hitherto published. The board have resolved that the publication of the next number be deferred until the first of May next, when the arrangements for continuing the publication will be completed, and the work be issued in an improved condition.

Mr. THOMAS KILMER, a theological student of Hartwick Seminary, is appointed by the Board, an Agent to procure subscribers, and is now engaged in visiting various places, for this purpose. He is also authorised by the Conference, to collect arrearages. He will call on our delinquent subscribers, who are directed to pay to him what remains due on their subscriptions.

The Board will continue the publication at Schoharie, under the present editorial superintendence. The first number of the fourth volume, will be issued on the first of May next.

Subscribers who have not paid up their arrearages, and given notice of discontinuance according to the terms and conditions of the work, will of course be considered as subscribers for the ensuing year.

CONTENTS OF VOL. III.

Jefferson's religious opinions, 227 Parables, from Krummacher, 264

Statistics of Evan. Lutheran
Church in the U. States,
291 Sovereigns of Europe,

288 Satisfaction derived from a