in October 1809, to October 1828, one thousand four hundred and twentyeight females have been relieved at the time of nature's heaviest calamity. In many instances, she visited and prayed earnestly with them; and there have been cases of the conversion of some "careless daughters," to whom she thus became the honoured instrument of "converting from the error of their ways," of "saving souls from death, and hiding a multitude of sins." In reference to those females who had been assisted, and converted, and edified by that Society, she might have said, "When the ear heard me then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me. Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy."

A deason of the church not long after, | zeal, till the period of her death. By proposed himself to her in marriage; this institution, since its commencement and her mother, who thought she might be left an orphan, friendless and destitute, urged her acceptance of the offer; she was married to him (a most worthy man) in her eighteenth year. Mr. Price died Sept. 23, 1794, aged thirty-three years, leaving her with three children; one had previously died. The property he left her and the children was about 1000l. Her eldest son William, died at the age of sixteen: he was a pious youth, and of uncommon powers as a mathematician. Her daughter Anne died in London in 1812, in her twentyfirst year, and her memoir is printed in the volume of "Miscellaneous Tracts," by the author. Her son George still survives. Immediately after the death of her husband, she, notwithstanding her deep and incessant grief, engaged most earnestly in conducting the silversmith's business which he had left her, and which she managed chiefly herself, having for several years only a lad to assist her, God smiling upon every thing she undertook, and prospering the work of her hands.

In Jan. 1808 she came to London, as the wife of the pastor of the church in Eagle-street. It is presumed by the writer (her almost broken-hearted, but divinely supported, widowed husband) that he shall not be deemed arrogant or eulogistic in quoting the following passage of the apostle Paul, as applicable to her, and appealing to the congregation, and especially to the members of the Dorcas Society: "Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblameably she behaved herself among you." She filled the situation of secretary to this Society; and here her benevolent and pious character appeared to peculiar advantage. By this office she was enabled to effect a considerable portion of good to the poor and destitute of her sex. She founded that excellent Society soon after she came to London, more than twenty years ago; and conducted it, in connection with the Treasurer, (Mrs. Buttenshaw,) with the utmost fidelity and

She attended the commemoration of the twenty-fourth anniversary of her husband's ordination, on the 16th of Dec. last, (and the sixtieth of her own birth); she was very ill at the time. On returning home in a coach, she said, "My dear, I have been much pleased with the tokens of respect shewn towards you. I shall not see another anniversary: I shall never come here any more." Many things besides this, the next day, shewed that she had a strong presentiment that her death was near. She set her house in order; every thing was settled; and, with a few trifling exceptions, every bill was paid. She was confined at home on the next Lord's-day. On Monday she took to her bed; but neither her husband, nor any of the family were alarmed, as they had seen her, from the effects of a cough, apparently much worse at former times. The means prescribed by the physician, who attended her on Wednesday at four o'clock for the first time, produced such a revival, that her husband concluded, that God had "come to heal her," and that the "bitterness of death was pass

with her, and earnestly supplicated that God would help her, and that if she was now to pass through the valley of the shadow of death, that his rod and his strength might support her, she said, "Oh what a struggle this is, what a terrible conflict I have had to-day! What a day of labour this has been to me! Oh, this is indeed the terror of kings ;' this is the king of terrors! Oh, these are the groans, the pains, the dying strife.' Lord help me: I am looking to Jesus." He told her that he now recollected, that all he had preached, and all the hymns he had given out of late, had related to death. That at the last Saturday evening prayer-meeting in the vestry, every hymn had been on the subject of the believer's triumph over death; so that, at the close of that meeting, the thought had passed his mind,

ed." But in the evening it was thought she was dying. At seven o'clock, when very weak and sleepy, she said, "I am looking to Jesus; I have no distress, no rapture. The Lord," she said to her husband, can make up any loss by the joys of his presence." She then said, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." "I think," she said, my time is come to die; but though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil." She then said with energy, "Pray with me." She added, "God is able, my dear, to raise me up again, but I think he will not." It was thought about nine o'clock that she was dying. Her sons-in-law, Mr. Joseph Ivimey, jun. and Mr. John Parr, were standing by her bed, she looked on them, and with all her energy" Who is about to die? Is it myself?" ssid, "Bless the lads," alluding to the dying blessing of Jacob on the sons of Joseph. She was better throughout the night, and at five o'clock on Thursday morning, with her kind friend, Mrs. Burbidge, wife of one of the deacons, the writer knelt by her bed-side, and offered up hearty thanksgivings for the mercy which had been manifested towards her; adopting the language of the apostle Paul respecting Epaphroditus, he said, "for indeed she was sick and nigh unto death; but the Lord had mercy on her, and on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow." She appeared to be much better, until after four o'clock on the afternoon of Thursday. About half-past four, asking her how she felt herself, to his unspeakable surprise, she said, "Do you not think, my dear, that I am dying? Every thing looks yellow." He endeavoured to comfort her with the probability that God would yet restore her to life. “No,” said she, “I should like to live my dear; but my time is come to die. Pray for me. Ah!" said she, "good Mrs. Penney said, 'If they do not now, the time will come when they will all say, Lord help me!'" She added, "On Lord, help me; Lord, help me; Lord, help me now!" After he had prayed

but that he had not once thought it was her. That on the Monday evening, he had spoken from the twenty-third Psalm: he repeated to her what he had said from the first verse, and said, "the Lord is your shepherd, my dear, and you will not want either support here, or glory hereafter." She said, "Speak!" intimating she wished to hear more of the same subject. He did so, and she listened with uncommon eagerness. Commenting on the fourth verse, he told her, he had reminded the people at the prayer-meeting, that it was the shadow of death; only the shadow, and no substance, to the believer in Jesus. He told her of the observation of good Mr. John Ryland, at the grave of Dr. Andrew Gifford, that "when Christ hung upon the cross, Death threw his sting with such violence at the Redeemer, that it went through his body into the cross, and that he had not been able to get it out again to bring it to the death-bed of a believer ever since."

He was alone with her; but on the servant telling her that Mrs. Bailey, the wife of one of the deacons, was in the parlour, he said, "Desire Mrs. B. to come up." On this affectionate friend approaching the bed-side, she exerted

earth," is the honest statement of him who, for more than twenty-one years, was most intimately acquainted with the dispositions of her heart, and the actions of her life. She was a woman that "feared the Lord," and ought therefore to be "praised." It was this holy principle which enabled her to sustain the character of a dutiful and affectionate daughter to her aged mother; of a devoted and anxious mother to her fatherless children; and to exemplify the honourable character of “ a widow indeed." It was this sacred feeling which influenced the whole of her conduct in managing a large business, with the highest degree of reputation, so that it was common for persons to say of her shop, "You may send the smallest child there, without

On the writer speaking to her, she said with difficulty, “I am afraid, my dear, of being roused." Her head sunk from the pillow, and he attempted to raise it by putting another pillow under that on which her head had rested. "Never mind, my dear," she said, "don't rouse me." Her groans increased for some time; they then grew weaker; her head dropped from the pillow, her cap entirely covering her face. "Surely," he said, "Mrs. B. she is not dead." fear of any advantage being taken of The reply was, "She just breathes." its ignorance of the value of the purchased article."

Her breath ceased; not a struggle nor a convulsive motion were seen; not a sigh nor a groan were heard; she was motionless in death! With an agony of mind not to be described, but he hopes with the most entire submission to the will of God, he kissed her hand, covered with cold clammy perspiration, and said, "Farewell, my beloved wife, farewell!" This was twenty minutes before six o'clock. Mrs. B. and the faithful servant, to whom she was much attached; and her sons, Mr. Joseph Ivimey, and Mr.John Parr, were standing by, and witnessed the closing scene! And here the narrative at present concludes, excepting the addition of one line from Dr. Young :

""Tis the survivor dies!"

She was buried in the family grave in Bunhill Fields, in which only the writer's former beloved wife, Mrs. Sarah Ivimey, Miss Anne Price, and Jane Ivimey, a pious child, had been before interred. Precious dust!

"Those ruins shall be built again,
And all that dust shall rise !"

That the deceased possessed many qualities of sterling worth, and excelled even amongst "the excellent of the

There is not, probably, any station in society which more demands such an union of wisdom, firmness, and affability, than that of the wife of the pastor of a dissenting church: it would be easy to produce abundant evidence in proof of this assertion; the reputation, peace, and usefulness of a pastor, depends in no small degree upon the spirit and conduct manifested towards the members of the church and congregation by bls wife. The writer fears no contradiction when he states, in regard to his late inestimable partner, that she sustained her very important station with true Christian dignity, and with universal respect the tongue even of slander was never suffered, on any occasion, to assail her reputation; all classes of society, the rich and the poor, treated her with similar respect: those who have observed how her seat was attended after the public services, and how the aisle was crowded to ask after her welfare, will, if it were necessary, attest the truth of this statement.

Her solicitude to please every one, and her anxiety to avoid giving offence, were indeed excessive. She was more affected by what she thought a cold look, or an appearance of neglect, than

she should have been, considering the in all things," in behaviour as becometh varieties of temper which necessarily holiness?" She was no "false accuser;" exist amongst a numerons and voluntary she was "not given to much wine;" society. Her kindness also was fre- she was a "teacher of good things;" quently displayed, sometimes by birth, she taught by her example, and by her and at other times by marriage pre-advice," the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their

sents.

In conclusion, the weeping, discon- children: to be discreet, chaste, keepers solate writer records it as his convic- at home, good, obedient to their own tion, that his late lamented wife was an husbands, that the word of God be not example of domestic affection, and blasphemed." In a word, she discoChristian consistency, worthy of being vered the conjugal respect of Sarah, generally imitated. Her temper, and the pious zeal of Deborah, the domestic dress, and behaviour, were formed after prudence of Martha, the humble spirithe model of "the holy women in old tual mind of Mary, and the exemplary time, who trusted in God." He ap- conduct of Elizabeth, walking “in all peals to "the holy women in the church the ordinances and commandments of of Eagle Street, whether she was not the Lord blameless."

INTELLIGENCE.

DOMESTIC.

BAPTIST HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

prospect with respect to the operations of this Society on our domestic population.

The following pleasing retrospect of The annual meeting of this Institu- the labours of the year, is all our limits tion was held at the City of London will afford. The Committee observetavern, on Tuesday evening, June 16. S. Salter, Esq. the Treasurer, was una- Having communicated some informanimously called to the Chair, in the tion, at least of a pleasing nature, they have absence of Sir T. Baring, who had been now to solicit your renewed and redoubled exertions from motives of gratitude-not announced as the Chairman, but whose from feelings of grief. The Society has not attendance was unavoidably prevented spent its strength for nought, but every enby an important engagement. The Ba-couragement is afforded for hoping that the ronet sent an apology for his absence, holy leaven of the Gospel, which the Spirit which he accompanied with a donation through their agency has put into the hearts of 10l. to the funds of the Society to sanctify the mass of a corrupt population. of many, is gradually diffusing itself, so as The evening commenced with singing Many villages and hamlets which were once the 107th psalm, after which the Rev. destitute of religion, and "dead in tresJ. Ivimey offered a prayer for the bless-passes and sins," having felt the awakening ing of God on the Meeting and on the and transforming influence, have given eviSociety, with its officers and mission-dence of progressive amelioration, and the

aries.

humble and faithful itinerants of your Society have, in various instances, reaped with We cannot carry our readers over the joy, where they once sowed with tears. In extended field of the Society's labours conclusion, your committee would respectduring the past year. The interesting fully solicit the increase of pecuniary conReport which was read at the meeting tributions. The fact that the present enfully shews, that the hand of moral half its stated income, is impressive; espegagements of the Society exceed by one culture is actively and successfully em- cially when united with the consideration, ployed, and presents an encouraging that several willing labourers are withheld

from those important missionary exertions As it is written, "Out of thine own which the moral destitution of different mouth do I judge thee." And when places seems to demand, on account of an is Britain, "by one mild effort of the insufficiency of funds. With a view also to stimulate your Christian generosity, they conquering hand, to free the earth from will state that, in addition to occasional as- this detested blot?" Have not sufficient sistance rendered to many village preachers, experiments been made (dreadful expeyour Committee have been enabled, during riments, by which numbers suffer,) to the greater part of the past year, to employ warrant the immediate suppression of thirty home missionaries. The future diminution or increase of that number it is for these horrid practices? At this rate of you and the religious public to determine; experiment, another century may be that determination your committee will ven- expected to roll away before this custure cheerfully to anticipate, while they tom is extinct, and 100,000 widows fall humbly urge the scriptural duty and motive a sacrifice to its devastations. Will the "to do good and communicate forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." humane and pious in this country be While many run to and fro for the extension still, and not "plead for the widow?" of general knowledge, let us be active in the The grass pile adopted at Poonah, near diffusion of evangelical truth and piety. Bombay, though not effectual to preWhile the sons of infidelity combine to cir- vent the practice, has been useful; yet culate their pestiferous sentiments, let the it has not been adopted in Bengal. Force, by means of cords and bamboos, is occasionally adopted under that Presidency. The cool, calculating way, in which a subject of life and death is considered, is very painful to a humane mind. Let Britain plead for the widow by petitions, and this "abomination, that maketh desolate," shall soon be no more. Societies appear requisite to rouse and direct public attention to the nature and extent of human sacrifices in India, and the facility and safety of their abolition; and also to promote simultaneous and annual petitions, till these evils are annihilated.

children of the true faith at least evince a

commensurate zeal in the communication of those principles which will restore perverted reason to its place, elevate debased man to his real dignity, purify human nature from its pollutions, and prepare a people for the everlasting presence and paradise of God."

The Revds. Joseph Kinghorn, Isaac Mann, Mr. Stowell of Swanwick, J. Edwards (Secretary), J. Birt of Manchester, J. Smith of Ilford, E. Clarke of Truro, P. J. Saffery of Salisbury, J. Dyer, T. Price, and W. B. Gurney, Esq. proposed and seconded the respective resolutions.

Upwards of 2001. were received during the evening, and the list of annual subscribers was considerably increased.

SUTTEES.

The Coventry Society for the abolition of human sacrifices in India, established Nov. 1828, in addition to the pamphlets respecting the Suttee, pilgrim tax, Ghaut murders, and claims of

To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. India, has published "Suttee's Cry,

DEAR SIR,

The accompanying Letter on the Suttee is extracted from the Parliamentary Papers relative to Hindoo widows, ordered by the House of Commons to be printed July 18, 1828." It appears particularly interesting at this period, as shewing the sentiments of the Honourable Court of Directors on the Suttee, taken from the latest printed documents. And what are these sentiments? That the burning of widows may still be perpetrated, and countenanced by the sanction of the British government!

abridged," pp. 16. and has in the press, an Appeal to British Humanity and Justice, pp. 16. These publications are sold to subscribers and benevolent individuals, at 2s. 6d. the whole set. A few active Societies, especially in London, Edinburgh, Dublin, &c. would do much in this work of justice and mercy.

Hoping that much will be done at this eventful period for India, to abolish the Suttee and other murderous practices in the East, I beg to subscribe myself, on behalf of suffering humanity, Yours, truly,

J. PEGGS, Sec.