as I think nothing will hurt me.' At another time, she said, We shall always be happy in Heaven! - how I shall like to go there! There will not be a moment we shall be unhappy in Heaven! We cannot describe how happy we shall be, and that for ever and ever! I wish I was there!" She was very punctual in her morning and evening devotions. The doctor coming one morning sooner than was expected, and before she had prayed, she asked whether God would not be angry, if she saw the doctor before she had said her prayers; and, when she was too weak to kneel, she said, 'Will God be displeased with me if I sit to pray?' On being informed that God looked at the heart more than to the bodily posture, she seemed quite satisfied Mr. B. saying to her one day, after she had been at prayer, "My dear, what have you been praying for?" she said, "I have been praying that God would give me a new heart; that he would pardon my sina, and that, when I die, he would take me to Heaven. I have been praying too for you, and for all of you.' At another time, she sad it gave her great comfort that she had the prayers of so many of Ged's people she hoped the Lord would hear and answer them : Again: she said, 'I always pray for every body, and especially for them that I know. Whenever,' she added, I awake out of my sleep, I find myself praying.' She was particularly fond of reading; and her general request was for books, rather than toys. During her illness she read the following works: Mr. Wills's Spiritual Register, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Divine Breathings, The Young Christian's Guide, The Treatise on Christian Experience, Hendley's Memorial for Children, Janeway's Token, Experience of Miss Towne, and all but a few pages of the Abridgement of Baxter's Saint's Rest, which she did not live to finish. Such was the satisfaction she derived from Janeway's Token, that she said she should wish to die with it in her hand. Obituaries were her favourite reading, especially of children; and, when she was too weak to read herself, she heard, at different times, with great pleasure, the Obituaries read to her out of the Evangelical Magazine. When she was asked by Mrs. B. if she was tired of hearing them read, she said, ' O no! do read some more! they are so sweet!' How Her mind seemed wonderfally supported under her affliction. thankful,' said she, I ought to be that I have not so much pain as some have!' When she was asked if she did not feel very poorly,—No,' said she; 'I am very comfortable.' Her apparel being changed, she said, I like to be decent, but when I get to Heaven, I shall have better lothing, far more white and beautiful than can be got here!' When her sister said, how happy she should be to see her father come home, So.. said she, ‘shall I; but that is nothing to the happiness I shall have in Heaven!' By her great carefulness, she had saved up exactly the sum of twentyone shillings, and which she ordered to be given for the benefit of the Sunday School at Wilson Street. On being asked what hymns she should like to have sung when her funeral-sermon should be preached, she mentioned the folowing of Dr. Watts: -How pleas'd and bless'd was I,' &c. ; • When I can read my title clear '&c.; and, 'There is a land of pare delight,' &c. For some time she had fixed upon Psalm cxxii. 1, as her, funeral-text; and also mentioned who should engage in the service. -- She appeared to be much in prayer during the night before she died; and a little before the event took place, when the pangs of death were upon her, as if sensible of her departure, she elevated her voice, and, with a peculiar smile and tone of voice, she said, 'Pa, do you love me?'"Yes, my dear," said he;" and Jesus loves you too!" So,' said she, and I love you! Then turning to Mrs. B. she said, Ma, and do you love me too ?' "Yes, my dear," said she. And so I love you,' she rejoined. Thus she took leave of her parents (as these were the last words which could be distinctly heard) and shortly after, her soul took its flight to a better world. C. B. Dbituary. ELIZABETH PORTLOCK, died April 20, 1809, aged 24. O her return home from Tottenham Court Chapel, Lord's Day evening, April 9, she found herself unwell; and continued thus till the following Wednesday morning, when she was seized with a fit, which greatly alarmed her friends., Medical assistance was immediately called and little hope appeared that she could recover. A young friend in; ealled to see her, who found her mind quite resigned to the will of God, expressing the most lively gratitude to her heavenly Father for the grace of patience which she possessed, and was enabled to exercise. Her young friend said to her, 'I hope you can adopt St. Paul's language: I know in whom I have believed,' &c. She replied, "Yes, I can that portion of Scripture has been much on my mind." Lord's Day morning, April 16, she was remarkably favoured with the manifestations of her Redeemer's grace and mercy; and was enabled to express the feelings of her heart, to the astonishment and joy of those who were present with her. Hear ing Miss B. in an adjoining room, she said, B, come in, and I will tell you what the Lord is doing for me. I never thought dying was like this! O 'tis glorious dying! I am going to Heaven;-but do not grieve for me: I am happy in Christ! He is precious to my soul! I am going to glory, I shall soon be there! 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!' Her sister said to her, My dear, I wish I could go with you;' - she replied, "I wish I could take you all with me; but you must wait the Lord's time: I am going only a inthe time before you,- soon we shall meet again, and part no more for ever!" Speaking of eternity, she exclaimed, "If, after millions of ages have rolled along, a thought • Soon I shall bathe my weary soul Across my peaceful breast! What should I now do, if I had not a God to look to! what misery would fill my mind! OI cannot be suf ficiently thankful for the mercies with which I am indulged! I want more gratitude: I feel no pain! I have often wondered what dying was, when I have heard ministers speaking of it, and saying, That none ever returned to this world to give us an account of dying.' I feel my soul separating from my body, and my life drawing gently from me. The Lord favours me wonderfully! my illness short, and my pain but litile! Poor Mary B. has been suffering sixteen weeks; and yet I shall be gone first! dear mother, I desire to bless God, and do you bless him too, that ever you brought me into the world! Don't grieve for me, it hurts me now to see it; but I shall shortly be permitted to look down and see you mourn, and not be affected, When you look into my grave, don't grieve for me; but look up and rejoice that I am safe arrived in Heaven! My My name from the palms of his hands Eternity will not erase; Impress'd ou his heart it remains, In marks of indelible grace! Yes, I to the end shall endure, As sure as carnest is giv'n; More happy, but not more secure, Than glorify'd spirits in Hear`n $ N To her father she said, My dear father, I have for a long time had a desire to reveal my mind more fully to you than I have ever done. My dear father, I know you love me; but I have not made those returns of gratitude to you which you deserve, for all your kindness towards me. I have abundant reason to be thankful, and to bless God for religious parents, by whom I was brought under the sound of the gospel when very young. I look back to the period when I was about 12 years of age, and remember the dawnings of a work of grace upon my soul; and now, dear father, the Lord has given me power to speak those things to you which I believe will be for your comfort when I am gobe. I now feel Christ precious to my soul! I know that he bath loved me with an everlasting love, and therefore with loving-kindness. he hath drawn me. O what a scene of glory will burst upon my soul as soon as i quit this nauseous body, which is now unpleasant to myself! I desire that you will rejoice for me, and not grieve,-I know that you are in the right way! go on, dear father, it will not be long, and you and I shall meet again, to part. no more !" I To her mother, she said, " And you, my dear mother, don't grieve for me; but go on your way, rejoicing that I am gone to Heaven before you, where I trust you wil soon come; and you, my dear sister Sarah, I know what you are:you are one of a sorrowful spirit; but you are in the right way, know you are! Give your doubts and fears to the wind, - the Lord will give you strength equal to your day: I know he will. That God, whose presence I now enjoy, will be your support in life and in death; and finally bring you to behold his face, when sorrow and doubling shall no more be known! 1 now and Christ presept with me, and pre cious to my soul!” To some young persons, who came to see her, she said, my Gear young friends, do recommend the baviour wherever you go. Pray for the conversion of the Heathen,for the increase of the Redeemer's kingdom! If there was a Deist here, I would declare to him the certainty of the divinity of the Saviour, whose presence I now enjoy! If I did not believe that my name was written in the Lamb's book of life, this room would not contain me but I know in whom I have be-lieved I have not followed a cunningly-devised fable. Now I am going, I shall behold you with these bodily eyes no more. In a few mi. nutes I shall be in glory! Sweet Jesus! sweet Jesus! he is precious! he is precious!" Holding out her hand, she said,' Farewell, farewell.* A convulsion fit seizing her, she was deprived of her speech for a little while; when recovering a little, she said, "O how am I disappointed! I thought I was just landed!" A friend observed to her, "I hope you will be resigned to the will of God. Perhaps, he has a little more work for you to do before he takes you to himself. Well," said she, "his will be done! I hope he will grant. me patience!" He graciously did; till he removed her happy spirit to unite with the spirits of the just made perfect, in praising the Lamb, saying, Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, to him be glory for ever! Amen. J. H. 66 RECENT DEATHS. For AT Coventry, on Thursday, Aug. 31, after a few days illness, the Rev. Jonathan Evans, aged 60. about 30 years he has been a zealous preacher of the gospel, chiefly in the villages of Warwickshire, and among a congregation raised by his own labours, at Foleshill, near Coventry. He was a man of sense, piety, activity, and fortitude; a firm and generous friend; and a kind benefactor to the poor, both by his medical assistance and his ministerial labours. We hope to present our readers with a Memoir of this truly useful member of society. Suddenly, on Tuesday evening, Aug.29, at Coventry, Mrs. Sibley, of Islington, immediately after returning from hearing a sermon, by the Rev. Mr. Grove. REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS, &c. Four Sermons, preached in London, at the Fifteenth General Meeting of the Missionary Society, May 10, 11, 12, 1809. By the Rev. James Peddie, Edinburgh; John Clayton, Jun. London; J. R. Richards, Hull; and J. K. Martyn, Jua. M. A. Pertenhall. Also, The Report of the Directors, &c. Svo, price 3s. (Concluded from our last.) WE pass on to the third sermon, which is from Ezek. xvi. 60, 61, and is entitled, Predictions and Promises, Grounds of Faith, and Motives to Prayer and Exertion.' This discourse breathes a serious, evangelical spirit, a deep sense of the ruin of the world by sin, and of the abounding treasures of grace in pardon and restoration, and an ardently benevolent compassion for the benighted and depraved Heathen; yet we must confess, that the enlargements, though sufficiently ample, are not equally appropriate as the general design. When passages of Scripture are quoted in a sermon so very profusely, and with only a slight illustration of their scope and import, it appears to us, that the effect intended by the preacher is much weakened. Among the many wise and valuable injunctions of the Westminster Directory, this is one: The parallel places of Scripture confirming the doctrine, are rather to be plain and pertinent than many, and (if need be) somewhat insisted upon, and applied to the purpose in hand.' We select the following brief passage, to exemplify the pious and affectionate manner of the worthy minister :— "If the preceding statement of the import of the promise be just, it clearly appears that it is the will of Jehovah that the Saviour should have the Heathen for his inherit. ance, and the uttermost parts of the globe for his possession. It appears also, that extreme unworthiness and degradation of moral character, are not impediments to the exercise of divine mercy. Sodom and Samaria ranked among the . most depraved of ancient cities some tokens of success !' This We heard the last discourse with little doubt that many, who could uncommon pleasure, and we have ing, will read it with a large partinot enjoy the advantages of hearcipation of that pleasure. truly catholic, seriptural, and encouraging discourse, is founded on Psalm xcvi. 10-13, and bears the title of The Christian's Privilege and Duty resulting from the Nature and Extent of Messiah's Kingdom." The most general and characteristic impression made upon our minds by this sermon, was that of fine talents veiled by unaffected and humble modesty. We shall present to our readers the concluding paragraph: We hear the voice of the Lord calling to us, to say among the Heathen that he reigneth; hearts burn within us with a holy zeal, to proclaim his glorious name sure, in luxury, and the expensive decorations of the table or the person, we lent it to the Lord? Let us then lend our aid to this glorious cause, which will surely bring a blessing on all who engage in it. Being ourselves reconciled to God, let us draw near and offer our gift with a willing mind, according as he has blessed us ; - offer it on the altar of a pure heart, filled with the love of Christ, and he will present it as an acceptable sacrifice before his Father's throne. Thus shall we become more deeply interested in the progress of the gospel, and shall read, with encreased pleasure, of the future success of our Missionaries. We shall bless God for having put it into our hearts to contribute our mite, and shall only wish that we had made greater sacrifices, exer. cised more self-denial, and offered more abundantly.' The Annual Report of the Direc tors to the Missionary Society, is prefixed to the Sermons. This Report is eminently important, and will be read with attentive interest by those who prefer the prosperity of Zion to their chief earthly joy. The information which it contains has been in part, at different times, and in an abridged form, announced in the department of this work devoted to religious intelligence; but the desires of our readers, who are seriously concerned in this great object, will not be satisfied without the perusal of the full statement, Its details successively relate to the missionary affairs at Otaheite, Be thelsdorp, Orange River, the Namaquas, Graaf Reinet, Vizigapatam, Tinevelly, Negapatam, Surat, Cey lon, China, Malta, New Brunswick, Tobago, and Demarara; the Mission to the Jews, and the Missionary Seminary uuder the able superin tendence of the Rev. David Bogue. In reviewing the operations and attempts of this Society, what heart, that is not void of enlightened patriotism and Christian benevo lence, will not devoutly say, 'Esto perpetua! May it live! may it prosper! the glory and defence of our country, the lowly but affectionate tribute of homage to our RuDEEMER!' |