several months; but, a few weeks "I can but perish if I go; I must for ever die." From that period it appears, (whatever she might have done previousJy,) she maintained constant intercourse with God by prayer, though with but little comfort. She him, and expressed her willingness "O if my Lord would come and meet, She became gradually weaned from She was exceedingly impressed and with a firm conviction of her unworthiness of it, and her insufficiency by her own merits to obtain it; and this led her feelingly to repeat the verse, Be A guilty, weak, and helpless worm, sought the Lord sorrowing." From her own confession, what she most desired in her prayers was, the forgiveness of her sins, and the salvation of her soul. She seemed indifferent as to getting well, expressing it to be her whole concern to "be" found in Christ;"-and on being asked which she should prefer, could she have her choice, " to live without an interest in Christ, or die, and go She derived much comfort from to enjoy his presence in heaven?"reading; she carefully improved every she replied very emphatically, "I convenient opportunity, when in would rather die." At her urgent health, for this purpose; and when so request, her father and a friend pre-exhausted in her sickness as not to be sent engaged in prayer; which, be able to read herself, she was much ing complied with, proved a melting pleased that others should read by season to those present; "sorrowing her. The books to which she gave most of all that they would so soon a decided preference, next to the Bisee her face no more." She conti- ble and various Hymn-books, were, nued in the present state after this Memoirs of Mrs. Newell, and Miss day, only a fortnight, and was only Anna Emery; many expressions in three days confined to her room; so which were precious to her in her rapidly did she “ go down to the affliction; and several times she exhouse appointed for all living." At pressed a wish to meet them in beatimes she felt rather reluctant to ven. She frequently enjoyed much leave her relatives; but the hope of from hymns, to enumerate which meeting them in heaven, never to would exceed the proper limits. She suffer separation, greatly reconciled was much delighted with those lines her mind. All her fear was, that at of Kent's Hymn on the Gospel an interview so blissful, she should Feast: be absent; her sinfulness operating rather, (in her view,) to awaken Divine wrath, than Divine compassion. The Redeemer's language, "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out," was frequently repeated to her, to her great encou ragement. At one time she was enabled to hope, she had come to "Here's fruit, the like never in Paradise And frequently repeated, "O'tis a heaven worth dying for, where there is no more sickness, sorrow, pain, or death; and by her looks and expressions gave ample proof of her increasing" desire to depart, and to be with Christ;"-and this passage she frequently repeated with great pleasure. The nature of her disorder was such as to prevent her speaking much; yet the expressions which dropped from her lips gave satisfactory evidence of a work of grace being begun in her heart; and though unable to say, with the assurance of the apostle, "I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded, &c." yet she could say with one of old, "Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief." Her appearance and conversation remarking, that this hymn was ex-became so interesting, as almost to pressive of her heart's desire, which, should it please the Lord to grant her, she hoped in return to praise him" loudest of the crowd." A little time after, with the most perfect composure, she made a selection of those hymns she wished to be sung at her funeral. dissolve the "earthly charm" in the minds of her attendants, and lead them to exclaim, "Let us also go and die with her." And, in her own breast, she evidently felt" a strange pleasure mingled with her pain." She greatly delighted that the happiness of heaven consisted, not merely in deliverance from affliction, but in seeing Jesus, and being like him. This was all her salvation, and all her desire." So completely did this absorb every other consideration, that she could view her grieving relatives with apparent ease. 66 Her regard for them, and concern for their distress, now no longer placed her in “a strait betwixt two;" it being her determined "desire to depart and be with Christ," esteeming this" far better." She was extremely anxious for the company of good people, and never allowed them, if possible, to leave her before they had engaged in prayer, from the conviction of the avail of effectual, fervent prayer; nor did she forget to pray herself. She was visited by the Rev. Mr. Knight of Staughton, to whom, with great earnestness and freedom, she communicated her feelings. After having a very affecting interview, he asked, on leaving, what message she had to the young people of her acquaintance. With great earnestness, and many tears, she replied, "Tell them to remember now their Creator in the days of their youth." From this passage she requested he would preach her funeral sermon, desiring him particularly to address young persons. Amidst all her sufferings, she was never heard to utter one complaining word-she seemed convinced that her sins deserved much more than she endured: and she acquiesced in the dealings of infinite Wisdom, adopting the Shunam-some mite's language, "It is well." She was much animated one evening in some conversation with a friend, on the nature of that blessed state, VOL. XII. The last two days of her life were spent in great pain and exhaustion. Yet her mind was very composed and tranquil, excepting once, when raising herself up in great distress and agitation, she exclaimed, “O, I fear I shall not see Jesus; I fear 1 shall not go to Jesus." The 23d Psalm, and other parts of scripture, were read, which were blessed to her encouragement; and not long after she was heard to say, "The Lord will open the door; he will cast out none; no, not one." And 66 time after she whispered, My Jesus, my Lord, and my Rock!" As a proof of her composure in the anticipation of death, she said to her parent, "Mother, if I 3 M should die, pray don't grieve for me." This was repeated. She seemed to have a presentiment of her approaching dissolution. On the night before she died, she said, "I have been thinking a good deal of those words, and they seem to speak to me, 'This night shall thy soul be required of thee.'" And a short time after, she said, "O how I wish I were in heaven; how I long to. be gone!" A friend remarked, You are ready to say, Why tarry the wheels of his chariot?" She replied, "Yes, I think the time long." Soon after, pressing the hand of a relative, she said, "It is hard parting; but heaven will make amends for all." MRS. Sophia Millard died in March, 1820. She was the youngest daughter of Mr. Richard Knight, a respectable farmer in the neighbourhood of Reading. A series of afflic tions in the early part of life, was the means of bringing her under the ministry of the late Mr. Davis, pastor of the Baptist church at Reading, The gospel became the power of God to her salvation, and she was baptized, and joined the church in June, 1770, where she continued a member till her death. She was a person of very retired habits, and her worth was known and appreci ated by those only who were intimately acquainted with her. Her last night in this world was restless and painful; but her mind maintained its wonted composure. In the morning her appearance wore every indication of speedy dissolution. Several questions were asked, which she found considerable difficulty to answer. The last was, "Are you happy?" to which she replied, as firmly as possible, "Yes, -Yes." These were her last words. She continued perfectly composed, till at length nature could no longer endure the conflict.minated her life, she was calm, and Grace conquered, and without a sigh or pain she fell asleep in Jesus, twelve o'clock, July 21, 1820. She sparkled-was exhal'd, and went to heaven." Agreeably to her request, her remains were interred the following Sabbath at Staughton. Mr. Knight preached a funeral discourse from Eccles. xii. 1. During the afflictions which ter resigned to the will of God. As she approached nearer the heavenly rest, her mind was increasingly affected with the prospect of its bliss. She often conversed with her family on the glories of her divine Saviour; and she frequently joined them in singing some of the sweetest portions of Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns. The first two or three visits I paid her, I found that she thought she should recover, and especially antiYouthful reader! To you the cipated with great pleasure the advoice of instruction, the admonitions vancement of the spring, when she of Providence are directed. Boast hoped to see her son, who is pastor not of bloom or health. These were of the Baptist Church at Lymingpossessed in an unusual degree by ton, in Hampshire. As I found her this young person. How short her particularly gratified when converscareer, how short her affliction! Re-ing respecting her family, I one day member similar circumstances await you. O then, listen to the language of inspiration-to the voice of the dying, above recorded-"Remember now thy Creator." Flee from the wrath to come, to the throne of grace-to the cross of Christ. Recollect that in Jesus's remarked, that my own beloved mother used often to say, that her principal sources of consolation were, her God and her dear children;-she said, that she found this to be the case with her also. I usually prayed with her, and she generally remarked, "I always feel better after prayer." Her mind was never enraptured, but always serene and comfortable, cherishing a good hope of future bliss, founded on the glorious work of our beloved Saviour, which she told me, she would not part with for all the world. comfort. But death arrested the daughter in 1804; and removed her to the world of spirits. In November, 1818, the son, a young man of considerable erudition, also fell a prey to the "King of terrors." The mother, like a shock of corn in its season, calmly resigned her spirit into the hands of her Redeemer, within a few weeks of her son (viz.) January 30, 1819, aged seventy years. Thus has Death swept away a whole family, whose remains lie interred in the meeting-house at Croscombe; and the present pastor, Mr. W. Lush, addressed a numerous congregation on the first Sabbath after the funeral of the mother, from Matt. xxii. 27, " And last of all the woman died also." As Mrs. Evans during her widowhood had derived benefit from different funds, her Christian mind impelled her to will the following legacies. After a few days I perceived that a decisive change had taken place. She was evidently about to leave the world. I was confirmed in this opinion by observing, not only that she was much weaker in body, but that her mind was very materially changed also. She had given up all hope of recovery, and was willing, and even longed to depart. She said, that she had done with the world, and was going home, and rejoiced that this was the case. Every time I called after this alteration had taken place, she always requested me to pray that she might have a speedy and a comfortable dismission. She frequently declared that Christ was precious to her; and often wept when she acknowledged "To the London General the unwearied kindness and affection of her daughters. She many times prayed most affectionately for all the children, especially for her son in the ministry; her mind seemed to dwell on him with evident and peculiar pleasure. After a few days of severe indisposition, her weary, yet happy and longing spirit, peacefully took its flight to the immortal mansions prepared for the redeemed in glory. May the widowed husband, and the bereaved children meet her in the family where there is no more death, and where God shall wipe away all tears from off all faces! B. H.D. Fund for the Relief of To the Bristol Broadmead To the same Trustees, the £ s. d. 140 0 60 00 40 0 19 19 0 19 19 0 And as she often attended the Independent Meeting at Shepton Mallett, owing to infirmity, she generously bequeathed them a present of 197. 19s. towards liquidating the debt on that chapel. She appointed John Spencer, Esq. of Oak-hill Brewery, her sole executor, who, for many years, had been on terms of intimate friendship with the family. W. L *Owing to mistake called "Hush" in our Magazine for December last. RECENT DEATH. MRS. ESTHER SAUNDERS. ON the 8th of August died, at Whitchurch in Hampshire, aged seventy-six years, Mrs. Esther Saunders, wife of Mr. Joseph Saunders, who had borne, with truly Christian fortitude, a long and painful affliction. She had maintained a consistent Christian profession for upwards of fifty-three years; and died in the firm faith of the gospel: her hopes being fixed on the mercy of God, through the mediation and intercession of Jesus Christ. A correspondent says, her character was accurately described in the Salisbury and Winchester Journal, viz. "If devotedness to God, deadness to this world, and an active spirit of benevolence, mark the Christian, those were hers. The poor will lament in her death the loss of a kind benefactress." Review. Early Piety exemplified, in a brief Memoir of Miss Mary Ann Mabbs, of Mountnessing, near Billericay, Essex; with Extracts from her devotional Papers. 1s. 3d. Bds. Pure Religion recommended, &c. In a Series of Dialogues. By the Rev. J. Thornton, 12mo. Bds. 5s. MR. THORNTON is well known to the religious public as a sensible, serious, and useful writer; and his well-earned reputation will not be impaired by these recent publications. The former is an interesting Memoir of a young lady of great piety and good sense, the extracts from whose Diary are accompanied with some judicious reflections. The latter is the more elaborate work, containing eight Dialogues. In the first, the Author describes and exposes ultra-Calvinism and Antinomianism. The second points out the evils of modern Pharisaism. Here Dr. Mant's view of baptismal regeneration is properly noticed. The third and the fourth are intended to guard the reader against enthusiasm and scepticism. The fifth, and the three following, illustrate the great fundamental doctrines of revelation. We are glad to observe, that, in the close of the Preface, the writer says, "Should what is here presented to the public meet with acceptance, and my life and health be continued, I design to add to these a few other Dialogues, in which evangelical doctrines will be branched out into their practical effects." Mr. Thornton's common-placebook is rich, and he has made a very good use of it. We think, ment if he were to give the reader however, it would be an improvethe exact references to the writers he has quoted. which, the Author seems to admit, We have selected a passage, is a little quaint, on account of its useful tendency. "I think I might with advantage place the evils of anxious care, and the benefits of earnest prayer, in opposite columns, like debtor's and creditor's account. "ANXIOUS Care. "Item 1. In one week spoiled two good nights' sleep. "Item 2. In one day discomposed and irritated the temper three times, be sides cold looks, and short churlish answers, not put into the account, though certainly meriting a distinct entry. "Item 3. In a single journey of bu siness neglected five or six things necestracted the mind, and blurred the tablet sary to be done, because solicitude dis of memory. |