vancing thy glory, and the immortal interests of their fellow-men; may their only emulation be, who shall love thee best, who shall serve thee, the greatest and bestof Beings, with the purest zeal; and may they advance in that divine knowledge by which they will finally save their own souls, and the souls of those to whom they may hereafter minister, through the merits and mediation of thy Son JESUS CHRIST. Amen.

The closing devotions terminated with the following deep and fervent petitions:

Most gracious and merciful God, we render thee most humble and hearty thanks as for all thy mercies, so especially for the inestimable plan of salvation through thy Son JESUS CHRIST, in whom we have access to thee, our offended judge, in whom we receive the spirit of truth and grace to enlighten and purify our nature, and in whom we enjoy a title to an everlasting inheritance of glory beyond the grave. Look graciously, we beseech thee, upon these young persons, who, depending upon thy grace, are humbly desirous to prepare for receiving the glorious ministry of reconciliation, and to become the heralds of mercy and salvation to a fallen world. Strengthen and increase, we beseech thee, the good desires which thy grace has enkindled. Impress on them the exalted dignity, the everlasting importance, and the rich rewards of the Christian ministry, that no prospect of worldly advantage, no enticements of sensual pleasure, may seduce them from the service of thee. Amen.

Blessed JESUS, the divine Head of the Church which thou hast purchased with thy blood, behold with thy favour these young members of thy fold. May they ever cherish a deep sense of their own unworthiness and depravity, and a lively view of thy grace and mercy, that they may be fitted, as the ministers of thy everlasting Gospel, for leading the guilty children of men to thee, their all-sufficient and compassionate Saviour. Amen.

HOLY SPIRIT, Almighty Sanctifier of the faithful, enrich these persons with thy heavenly graces. Inspire them with deep huBerrian, p. 113.

mility and distrust of themselves, with ardent piety and love to GOD, with humble and holy confidence in their Saviour. Teach them constantly to invoke thy enlightening and sanctifying power, and in thy strength to war against all the temptations of the world. May they regard all its highest pleasures with holy indifference, and press forward for the prize of their high calling in CHRIST JESUS. Sanctify them by thy truth, that they may be preserved from the evil that is in the world. Amen.

Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, unto thee we commend them. Fit them for the holy office of displaying the manifestation of thy glory and mercy to the world; and when they have been the successful instruments of turning many to righteousness, and of advancing the Redeemer's kingdom, may they receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away, and be admitted to the participation of thy ineffable felicity, FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST, for ever and ever. Amen.

Unto God's gracious mercy and protection we commend you. The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace both now and Amen d.

evermore.

In pursuance of the great task on which he had entered, of building up the laity of the Church in zeal and sound doctrine, Mr. Hobart undertook, about this time, the establishment in New-York of a religious monthly periodical, for the use and benefit of the Church.

The Churchman's Magazine,' a work of similar object, had been for several years previous sustained, though with difficulty, at New-Haven, (Connecticut,) under the supervision of the Rev. Dr. Smith. Mr. Hobart now proposed removing its publication to the city of New-York, which, after some discussion, was acceded to, and he became its sole responsible proprietor and editor, and so continued until his accession to the episcopate, in 1811.

Berrian, pp. 116-118.

The first number was issued April, 1808. This was the earliest attempt at such a work within the Diocese of New-York, and met, for a time, with but feeble support, evidently attracting but little public interest.

The grounds upon which its editor placed it should certainly have secured for it a wider patronage. 'It is,' says the prospectus, with eloquence, as well as truth, ‘to promote the knowledge and the practice of the truths and precepts of Christianity; to advance objects which must appear of the first importance to every good citizen and every good man,-for without religion society is deprived of the only effectual restraint on those passions that are hostile to its peace and order, and the most powerful incentives to those virtues which are the only sure basis of its prosperity and happiness. Without religion life loses those hopes which soothe its numberless cares and ills, and brighten with immortal light the scenes of virtuous enjoyment. Impressed with these considerations, the subscriber shrinks not from the difficulties and labours, the cares and the responsibility which he will have to encounter as editor of this miscellany. He will endeavour to discharge the sacred duty of exposing error and vindicating truth, in that spirit and manner which, if they do not remove prejudices, shall never increase or confirm them by rudely wounding the feelings, or invading the rights of character and conscience.'

It is one of those minor circumstances which mark the identity, at all times, of Mr. Hobart's character, and the continuity of a policy adopted upon principle, that the very first subject that follows the prospectus, should be the biography of the individual the republication of whose work constituted the first of his own editorial labours'; 'the life,' says he, 'of a layman and a scholar, who distinguished himself by his labours in the cause of Christianity,' and concludes his eulogium with,-'Honourable and happy d Circular, &c.

William Stevens, the author of Constitution, &c., of the Christian Church.

would it be for the Church could she boast of many such, who, while they adorn her doctrines by a holy life, defend and support her by their talents and munificence.'

With most men, absence of patronage would have been an argument for its discontinuance, with its editor it was the reverse, it was the strongest argument for persevering, for it proved the necessity of the work he had in hand. He therefore redoubled all his efforts, and found, as men always will find, if true to themselves, in a good cause, that success is never to be despaired of. An honest zeal, well-directed talents, and, above all, a never-tiring industry, seldom fail to carry their reward with them. This Mr. Hobart well knew, and when, added to this, came the reliance, which few men more deeply felt, on that blessing which waits on conscientious endeavour for the advancement of gospel truth, no wonder that he persevered, or that perseverance was crowned with success. The 'Churchman's Magazine' was, therefore, carried on with growing reputation, for several years, until it became merged in other and, perhaps, more efficient forms of attaining the same end.

The only wonder in relation to such a work is, when and where Mr. Hobart found time for his editorial labours, for he permitted nothing to pass without personal revision, amid the multiplied, or rather unremitted calls, which his professional duty and public reputation brought upon him, from morning, it may be said, even until night.

Nor was he content with what was absolutely necessary to his charge. Among the incidental remembrances of an active benevolence, which was ever labouring for others in the midst of his own toils, the following, though a trifle, is one that will be appreciated by those who know the plagues of the 'press.'

'A young deacon,' says one" now an eminent clergyman at the South, having sent for the "Churchman's Maga

zine" an article written with too much carelessness, Bishop Hobart voluntarily undertook, with no little cost of time, to prepare it for the press, although no acquaintance, at that time, existed between him and the writer. He was further pleased to introduce the article to public notice with some remarks very encouraging to the unfledged author, and said not one word of the trouble incurred by the worthy editor. But he ever delighted to foster the efforts of the young, especially when employed in the service of his beloved Church.'

This, certainly, was kindness, and doubly so from one whose hands were so full; but some men there are who seem to find time for every thing, and Mr. Hobart was one of them. Two marks which the author has often noted as never-failing tests of a business man, he had in perfection; he never committed to others what he could do himself, and never deferred himself whatever he had to do. With the aid of these two rules, perhaps, there would be more like him. "Tis true all have not his talents. In the work of the press, rapid thought and a ready pen, made a little time go far; but the higher secret was, a conscientious spirit allowed no minute to be wasted. But it was the same in all. He had time for every thing but to be idle always seriously busy, yet always at leisure for any call of duty, or of kindness. His powers of abstraction, however, were, perhaps, peculiar; he could turn at any moment from the subject that most deeply engrossed him; enter with all his heart into the new one to which he was summoned, and return again to his first thoughts when the interruption was past, without seeming to lose a link in the chain of his speculations.

In 1809 was established the Bible and Common Prayerbook Society of New-York, the earliest association, (it is believed) with the exception of the Bible Society of Philadelphia for the Distribution of the Scriptures, in our country. Of it, Bishop Moore was 'ex officio' President, and all the clergy Managers; but it is doing injustice to none to say, that Mr. Hobart was the originator and soul