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ed, as he advanced in divine knowledge. The poor and the afflicted ever found in him a comforter and benefactor. Το his connexions and acquaintance, he was, invariably, a faithful friend, and able counsellor. He was most scrupulously exact in keeping the commandments of God, and in ordering his conversation in conformity to the precepts of the Gospel. According to this principle, it was his invariable practice to spend his time, either in doing, or in conversing on, things of momentous concern. Though, in his religion, he was careful to avoid every thing ostentatious, there is the most abundant evidence, that he spent much time in secret devotion. Any violation of the divine law by others, always gave him more pain than temporal afflictions.

Having made respectable at tainments, in human and divine knowledge, and possessing a heart deeply impressed with the worth of souls, and the importance of eternal things, his preaching was original, doc trinal, distinguishing, and peculiarly edifying, and impressive; and afforded, at all times, a word in season, which seldom failed of leaving an abiding impression on the hearers. The doctrines of grace, and the extent, and spirituality of the divine law, were ever clearly set forth, and faithfully inculcated, in his sermons; and nothing could induce him to keep back from his hearers any truths contained in the revealed will of God. Many have lived in more conspicuous, and popular situations; but considering those which were assigned him, by divine providence, and the time

allotted for his work, few have been the instruments of doing more for their divine Master.

MEMOIRS

OF CAPT. ABIJAH PERKINS, WHO DIED AT WINDHAM, SCOTLAND

SOCIETY, (CONN.) DEC. 11, 1812, IN THE 34TH YEAR OF HIS AGE.

THIS man was blessed with a Christian education, was in the habit, from his childhood, of attending the public worship of God, and had a speculative belief in the doctrines of the Gospel. He was, in his manners, easy and agreeable; in his dealings, upright; and in his general intercourse with mankind, calculated to gain their friendship and esteem. But, by his own confession, he lived, till a short time before his death, without God in the world, a stranger to the exercise and comforts of religion. It pleased a sovereign and merciful God, however, to call him by his grace, and to give him great joy and peace in believing, and a hope unshaken in the awful moments of dissolution. The following sketch of the dealings of God towards him was given by himself, but two days before his death. Being attended by an intimate friend, he awoke, as it were, from meditation, and thus addressed his attendant: "Come, I want to tell you how God has dealt with me." He then proceeded, "You know my manner of life, which I think has been, for the most part, orderly and moral, I having been from my youth taught to attend meeting, and reverence the Sabbath. I had felt in general no great remorse of conscience on account

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of the transactions of my life, till about four years ago. Then, in conversation with a friend, I was warned of the great evil and dangerous consequences of using profane language, to which I was in some degree addicted. This timely and friendly reproof gave me such a view of this sin, and made such an impression on my mind, that I have been restrained from it ever since. Having no evidence, that I was a new creature, I be gan from that time to meditate more on the doctrines of the Gospel, and to attend strictly to preaching, and felt more powerfully than ever, that I had nothing of my own to recommend me to the grace of God, but stood in infinite need of the Savior of sinners, to plead my cause before the Father. But being busily engaged in the concerns of the world, I became in a measure inattentive to the concerns of my soul, and nothing of particular importance occurred till the last spring or summer. Being then with a neighbor in the fields, he observed to me: "Your concerns are numerous and complicated, and should you be taken away suddenly, your estate would be a difficult one to settle." To which I answered: "no: my accounts are all adjusted, and may be easily attended to by another." He replied: "that is right; we ought always so to conduct our business, that we may be ready to live or die." This observation so operated on my mind, that the following night I could not sleep as usual. I was almost continually reflecting upon it, till seized with the sickness which I am now languishing un

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der. My complaint, I soon concluded, must destroy my body. My concern for my body, however, was nothing compared to that for my soul. The horrors of my mind were so great, as to deprive me of rest or ease in any way, and even of satisfaction in the company of iny nearest friends. I viewed myself as a sinner both by nature and practice. My sins appeared so great, that I began to despair, thinking God could not have mercy on so great a sinner. In this distress I cried to the Son of God to intercede for me before the Father. But in these requests, I had doubts resting on my mind; and again despair got almost full possession of my soul. Still, however, I continued my cries to the Lord Jesus, without any relief till the morning of the 25th November, when, as I humbly hope, and trust, God on a sudden appeared for my soul. This transition, I cannot fully describe. I saw the perfections of God in every thing I beheld. I saw that my afflictions and sickness were all ordered in wisdom, and that God could do me no injustice. With wonder and astonishment I viewed the love and compassion of Christ to sinners. From this moment I began to loathe myself, and to won. der how Christ could take notice of such a vile wretch as I was. But he was infinitely precious to my soul, and I longed to leave this world and all its enjoyments, that I might go and behold him face to face. In this happy state of mind," continued he, "I remained till the 29th of November in the afternoon, when it pleased God to hide his

face from me. No tongue can express the horrors I then felt, having, as I supposed, been permitted to taste the joys of the redeemed,and being now thrust out of the presence of my God. In this deep distress I cried to the Savior, who, I humbly trust, heard my prayers, had compassion on me, and interceded for my help. My fears and doubts began soon to be dispelled, and my hope has been daily strength ening to the present time." He then added, "I hope I am not deceived, for, if I am, how awful is my situation! I have to appearance almost done with the world." He then prayed, "O God, if I am deceived, for Christ's sake may I be undeceived and plucked as a brand from the burning before I die." He concluded his narrative of God's remarkable dealings towards him, by expressing the benevolent feelings of his heart in humble prayer, that not only his family and friends but all his fellow creatures might come and taste the joys of the blessed; that all might look to the Savior, and find mercy. On being asked, if he might live and get well, whether this would not be his choice, he answered, "I would choose it should be just as God pleases, but if I should recover I am afraid I should again mingle with the world and dishonor God, so that if it be his will, I desire to depart and be with my Redeemer." Being asked if he was not afraid to die, he said, "O no, my greatest fears are, that I shall not be willing to wait God's time. My hopes of a blessed immortality far outweigh all fear of death, for I believe that God will be

with me and support me through the gloomy valley. There is but one thing I wish to stay any longer for, and that is, that I might make a public profession of my faith in Christ; be admitted into the church, and give my children up to God in baptism." On being informed, that if he lived till morning his request might be complied with, he seemed to be animated, and said, "if I may live to accomplish this object, if it be God's will, I hope with submission to depart, for I long to be with my dear Redeemer." It was then said to him, “your hope appears to be strong and unshaken, as eternity draws nearer to your view, and it is expected your continuance here must be short; it is desired you would briefly state what are the particular articles of your faith." He then with solemnity said, "I believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost; and that God is a God of justice, as well as of mercy, and will by no means spare the guilty. I believe that God has ordained all things that come to pass. I be lieve that man in his natural state, has nothing to recommend him to the divine grace or favor, and that all who do not exercise genuine repentance for their sins, and like faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, will be doomed to eternal misery." He then made some observations on the connexion which God has ordained between means and ends, the importance of prayer, as a mean of obtaining mercy, &c. and uniformly manifested his firm be lief, in the special agency of the Divine Spirit in convincing, converting, and sanctifying the soul.

In short, he was a firm believer in the great doctrines of grace. For he expressly declared at the close of his account respecting his faith, "I would plead no merit of my own, for after all that God has done for me, if he should at last send me down to hell, he would do me no injustice. For it is all of grace if I am saved." He then gave a kind of sigh or groan, but immediately observed, "Shall I complain, when this poor body is afflicted? No; when I think how much Jesus suffered that I might live, I am ashamed to complain." He then raised his hands and looking on them said, "Jesus had nails driven through. his hands and feet, that he might finish the work of redemption, that sinners might be brought home to glory. Am I deceived? I think I am not, I think I am willing to pass through this sea of troubles, that I may go and be with my Redeemer. Come Lord Jesus, O come quickly, why are thy chariot wheels so long in coming. I long to be with thee. May God forgive, if I am impatient. Not my will but thine be done." Early on the next following morning his mother came in to see him, and thus addressed him, "I had doubts, my son, when I retired, whether I should see you alive again." He with a smile, replied, "Yes, it has pleased a holy God, to spare me to see you once more. But this is of no consequence, mother, don't be troubled about this body. I have got almost well." She asked him if he was willing to give up all. "O yes, said he, if it be God's will I shall soon be gone. His wife stood by his bed weep

ing, perceiving that his departure drew near. He looked upon her with a smile, and said, "Olive, don't weep for me; I am going home." Then turning to his attendant, he added, "How troubled this woman is about the fate of this body." Holding his wife by the hand, he thus addressed her. "Olive, I love you more than any of God's creatures; but I love my Jesus better. I can freely leave you and my dear children, to go and be with him. Teach my children to keep the Sabbath; teach them the Catechism; teach them what is the chief end of man; and let this in particular be strongly impressed on their minds. It was now light. He repeated his request to be admitted to the church, and to give up his children in the ordinance of baptism. The Rev. Mr. Fisher and the church were immediately sent for, and came as soon as was expedient. He assented to the covenant and was admitted to the church. His strength of body was so far exhausted, that it was expected he would need assistance in dedicating his children to God. But he remarkably revived, and said he must give them up himself. The children were in tears, but he addressed them with a smile, "I am going to give you up to God; I am a going to give you to a better Father than I am." He went through the whole with the greatest steadiness and composure of mind, and the most apparent satisfaction. He appeared to be strengthened for this duty, and to have joy unspeakable in performing this his last work.

Solemnity and astonishment,

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were visible on the countenances of all present. He exhibited to all, "a mortal paleness on his cheek, but glory in his soul." When these exercises over, he appeared to be exhausted; but soon revived, and in prayer commended himself, his wife and family, to God. When persons came in, who lived without religion, he warned them to look immediately to the Savior for mercy. When professing Christians visited him, he took them by the hand, and exclaimed "O how I love you because you love my Jesus." A few hours before he died, being asked if his hope remained strong: "O yes, said he, I believe that God will support me, and that I

shall soon be at rest." He often prayed that he might not be de. ceived, and if he was, that God would undeceive him. He geveral times repeated the following lines;

Jesus can make a dying bed Feel soft as downy pillows are, While on his breast I lean my head, And breathe my life out sweetly there."

Thus he continued till the last, rejoicing in hope. When he was informed that his dissolution drew near, being in the perfect exercise of his reason, he whispered with a smile, "Good news, Come Lord Jesus, Come quickly," and soon expired. E. L. Canterbury, July 28th, 1812.

RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

PLAIN SCRIPTURE READINGS.

No. II.

I INTENDED to have observed in my first number, and will therefore observe now, that if the alteration proposed by Griesbach in Matt. i, 18, has any effect upon the meaning of the passage, the effect is to make the passage more evidently teach the doctrine of the incarnation of Christ, as this doctrine was understood by Bishop Horsley, and is now understood by many, if not most, Trinitarians. Admitting the alteration, the verse will read thus: Now the generation of Christ was on this wise, c. or which is the same thing, Now the generation of the Messiah was on this wise, c. Then follows the account of the miraculous VOL. V. New Series.

conception. The opinion to which I have alluded, is, that the second person in the Trinity became the Son of God when he became the Messiah; that, antecedently to this event, the relation of Father and Son did not subsist between the first and second persons in the Trinity; and that, in the words of Bishop Horsley, the "Son of God is a title which belongs to our Lord in his human character, describing him as that man who became the Son of God by union with the Godhead." Posthu. Ser. vol. i, pp. 93, 94. Am. Ed. It will be remembered, that the angel said to Mary, Luke i, 35. “Therefore," i. e. in consequence of the miraculons conception, which had just been revealed, therefore, also, that holy thing, which shall be born of thee, shall be cal

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