age. In the morning of the last day of her mortal existence,

"She opened (writes her mother) her eyes, and looking earnestly in my face, she said,

"Jesus sought me when a stranger,

gave

Wandering from the fold of God; He to save my soul from danger, Interpos'd his precious blood." "How did I rejoice in this testimony! I embraced my darling child, and said, My child, do you not love Jesus more than your mamma.' At first she was silent when I repeated the question, she replied, I hope, mamma, when God is going to take me, he will enable me to do so;' and, ob, how wonderfully and graciously was her desire fulfilled! The Lord mercifully disengaged her young heart from every earthly tie. I again asked her, 'What death a sting?' she replied,' Sin '--' What, then, my darling, takes away the sting?' immediately she answered, The blood of Christ.' Shortly after this she said, Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth I desire in comparison of thee:' thus evincing, that God had then dissolved the charm, given her the victory, and filled up her whole heart. Her breathing towards evening became most painful: no word of impatience escaped her lips; her countenance was not only serene, but there was a sweet smile when she spoke. After remaining some time silent, about nine o'clock she turned to me, and said, My dear mamma, take me in your arms, and lay me in the arms of Jesus.' I replied, Oh, my beloved child, you are safe in your Saviour's arms, you do not fear death.' 'Oh, no,' she replied, folded in my Saviour's arms, I am safe from every fear.' When I observed she would soon be before the throne of God, she added, 'Yes, mamma, and he will wipe away all tears from my eyes, and I shall sing the song of grace, and view my glorious hiding-place: I know, I know his grace is sufficient for me.' I said, My child, you have to pass the dark valley of the shadow of death:' 'yes,' she added, and he will be with me, and his rod and staff will comfort me.' She then desired to be raised up in her bed, and calling for all her brothers and sisters, she took a solemn and affecting farewell of them, kissing each affectionately, and thank ing them for their attention during her illness; and, distressing as every exertion must have been to her weak frame, and nearly exhausted breath, she stooped to embrace the youngest child. Observing her sister cry, she said, 'Louisa, why do you cry; don't you know I am going to God? When her aunt observed,' You are, my dear, a happy child,' she replied, 'How can I be but happy when I am going to God?'"--pp. 20--22.

6

Well might the tender and pious parent of this lovely child say,

Nature mourns, while my spirit re

joices in God my Saviour. Very sweet and pleasant wast thou to thy mother, my sainted child, in the days of thy sojourning here; and, ob, how precious is thy remembrance, now thou art removed from my desiring eyes. Thy poor worn-out tabernacle is laid in the cold and silent grave! No more can thy anxious mother watch thy bed, snooth thy pillow, dress thy tender limbs, seek to nourish thy delicate frame, cheer thy drooping spirits, or instil into thy tender mind the sacred principles of divine truth. No, my child is now emancipated from all pain, and care, and sickness, equal to the angels, who excel in strength. The Lamb, who is in the midst of the paradise of God, has wiped away all her tears, clothed her with the garments of salvation, crowned her with a glorious diadem, feeds her with the living bread, and gives her to drink of the fountain of life; she shall thirst no more, no more know weariness or painfulness; but, filled with the divine fulness, she beholds God as he is, and is made like unto bim. Blessed be the Lord, who hath done for us great things, whereof we rejoice! My heart yields this darling object of its tender affection to her dear Saviour."--p. 18.

The short account' of her brother, Walter, written by the same hand, is not less interesting, and the remaining obituaries are well worthy of preservation. The 'poetry' commences with a most shattered reading of Robert Robinson's celebrated epitaph on an infant.

"EPITAPH ON FOUR INFANTS.

Bold Infidelity, turn pale and die;
Beneath this stone four infants' ashes lie:
Say, are they lost or sav'd?
If death by sin--they sinn'd, because they're

here:

If heaven by works--in heaven they can't appear.

Ab, reason, how deprav'd! Peruse the Bible's sacred pageThey died, for Adam siun'd; they live, for Jesus died."

This is absolute incoherence; we are not quite sure that we may implicitly trust our memory, but we will venture our own recollection of the words as we read them many years ago, on a tombstone in Whittlesford church-yard, a few miles from Cambridge.

Bold Infidelity! turn pale and die,
Beneath this stone an infant's ashes lie;

Say, is it lost or sav❜d?

If death's by sin, it sinned, because 'tis here; If heaven's by works, in heaven it can't appear-

Ah, reason, how depraved! Revere the Bible's sacred page ;--the knot's untied-

It died, for Adam sinned;--it lives, for Jesus died.

THE Editors of this publication have of late been gratifying themselves by inserting sundry splenetic remarks on our Magazine. We take it for granted they are all the composition of the same pleasant individual, and that they are referable to certain feelings which will most assuredly be much more injurious to himself and his coadjutors than to us. One attack we passed by in silence, nor should we have thought it necessary now to notice it, had not a second appeared to manifest an intention of systematic assault which-though we hesitated a little on the point-seemed to require from us something in the way of animadversion. The first was an alarming tirade;' but as it is not long, it shall speak for itself.

6

"I have just seen, in a dissenting periodical, a very angry tirade against the pamphlet entitled, Correspondence between the Rev. R. Hall, &c.;' and I write you a few words in haste, to request that no notice may be taken of it. The conductors of the publication alluded to are so highly prejudiced, both personally in favour of Mr. H. and politically in favour of his principles, that their making a desperate effort to check the circulation of the Correspondence, can occasion no surprise in any quarter. And, as they have not attempted to prove any thing; as they have not even ventured to quote a single line, we may well allow them to make the best of a bad cause. Nor need we regard their torrents of abuse, since it is perfectly natural for the vanquished to call names."

This curious paragraph has all the characteristic marks of the writer's composition-all the cogency, modesty, and good faith, which so egregiously distinguished his former publications. The imputation to us of making a desperate effort to check the CIRCULATION of the Correspondence, may be safely left to itself; but when the gentleman hazarded the assertion respecting the prejudices' and politics of the conductors of this Magazine, he not only veatured out of his depth, but betrayed, to say the least, considerable levity of principle in the hardihood of his asseveration. There was, in the article which seems to have galled him so severely, a cautious avoidance of identifying ourselves with Mr. Hall's politics; and as to our personal partialities, there is but one of several editors, who has any acquaintance with that highly-gifted man. The gentle reviewer of the Christian Guardian, the forbearing correspondent of Mr. H. and his friends, accuses us of a propensity to

call names! Well, let that pass :-but there is one point on which we have some curiosity. This meek proclaimer of his own triumphs designates us as "the vanquished." When, and where ? We can assure the gentleman that we never felt the smallest inclination to mingle in the controversy, either as principals or auxiliaries.

We are sorry that we cannot afford room for the insertion of the long note which appeared in the December number of the Christian Guardian. It is directed against the announcement of the death of the Rev. John Owen, which appeared in our November number; and it is very wordy, very malicious, and perfectly ineffective. Our assailant seems anxious to fix upon us, as a heavy delinquency, the fact that we praised Mr. Owen, as the historian of the Bible Society, for honourable impartiality in ascribing to his dissenting colleague the first idea of that noble Institution. We can only reply to this, that we did certainly so praise him, and that we deliberately repeat our eulogy. But the heaviest charge is founded on our observation, that any clergyman, however gifted, who had committed himself against Dissenters, would be in our opinion ineligible. The answer to this consists in very gravely inquiring what-in the event of Mr. Hughes's death, and the appearance of a similar sentence, mutatis mutandis, in the Christian Guardian-would have been our comment?--Simply that the caution was fair and wholesome, especially if suggested by a rumour that such an election was probable. It is, however, curious to see the contrast between the professions and the conduct of the Christian Guardian in the very page where this occurs. We are rebuked for not leaving all this to the "wisdom" of the Committee of the Bible Society; while our reprover takes upon himself, somewhat authoritatively, to dictate to the same committee on the very same subject !

"Some of our readers," he goes on to observe, 66 may think that these paragraphs, in such a publication, were undeserving of notice. We should have been of the same opinion, had not the Magazine in question been avowedly connected with the most distinguished names among the dissenters-with Collyer and Pye Smith-with Clayton and Burder."--These are some of the dirty tricks of controversy. We are yet to learn that the literary character, or indeed the character in any sense, of the Christian Guardian, stands sufficiently high to justify it in assuming lofty airs

pable of feeling the rebuke implied in silence, and we are unwilling to give them any reason to suspect us of so thoroughly contemptible a fear as the dread of encountering them. If we were disposed to retaliate, we might find ample opportu"Where nity in the very note before us. one clergyman has committed himself against Dissenters," they permit themselves to say, "ten dissenting ministers have committed themselves against the church!" And if we took delight in exposing thoroughbred bigotry, we need not travel out of the number in our hand to look for finished specimens of it.

Though the volume from which we have selected the following "varieties" might have more properly claimed a place under the head of worm-eaten literature, we have rather chosen to arrange it in the present class, since we shall deal with it altogether in the way of extract, without any attempt either at discussion or analysis. Of the history of the book we know nothing; we are unable even to cite any more of its title than the word "Gleanings," since our copy is mutilated of all the leaves antecedent to the third page. We infer, however, from the following singular thanksgiving, that this little duodecimo was published during the time of the Commonwealth.

"God's mercy to England, since it was a Commonwealth. From the first of King James, to the last of King Charls, England was seldom free from the Plague, but now (God be praised) the Land is free from that judgement, and our London Bills of Mortality have given in of the Plague none, for many weeks together."

Mixed with a great deal of rubbish, these "gleanings" contain some curious facts, and we are persuaded that our readers will be gratified by the following selection.

"A noble act of faithfull Courtiers.— Lewis the eleventh of France, going about to establish some unjust edicts, when some of his chiefe Courtiers perceived his drift, they went all together to him in red Gownes; The King asked them what they would? The President La Vacqueri answers, We are come with a full purpose to lose our lives every one of us, rather than by our connivency any unjust Ordinance should take place: The King being amazed at this answer, and at the constancy and resolution of those Peeres, gave them gracious entertainment, and commanded, that all the CONG. MAG. 1823.

former Edicts should bee forthwith can celled in his presence."

"A Souldier of pious and publick spirit. 'Twas a Noble Spirit that acted in one Terentius, a Captaine of the Emperour Valens, who being returned out of Armenia with a great victory, the Emperour bad him aske a reward; hee asked onely that hee would be pleased to grant to those of the Christian Religion, one pub lick Church in Antioch, and although the Emperour were angry, and tore his Petition, bidding him aske something else, yet hee persisted in this, and refused any other reward for all the service hee had done."

"A fit embleme for over-curious women →→→ Mercury being to make a garment for the Moone, could never fit her, but either it would be too big or too little, by reason she was always increasing, or decreasing. This may be the Embleme of some women, whose curiosity, about their clothes, can hardly be satisfied"

"The sermon is not uone untill it be practised. A Lady that was not herself at Church that day, seeing her man come home, askt him, if Sermon were done? He answered no. Why then, said she, doe you come away? He answered, that though the Preacher had done speaking, yet the Sermon was not done, till the hearers had practised it."

Though Kings Crownes sit light upon their heads, yet oftentimes they lye heavy upon their Consciences.-Philip the third of Spaine, whose life was free from grosse evils, professing that hee would rather lose all his Kingdomes, then offend God willingly; yet being in the Agony of death, and considering more thorowly of his account he was to give to God, feare struck into him, and these words brake from him; Oh, would to God I had never reigned! Oh, that those yeares I have spent in my Kingdome, I had lived H

a private life in the wildernesse! Oh, that I had lived a solitary life with God! how much more securely should I now have dyed? how much more confidently should I have gone to the Throne of God? what does all my glory profit me? but that I have so much the more torment in my death."

"Christians lives should answer Christs rules.-Ponormitan having read the 5, 6, and 7 Chapters of Matthew, and comparing the lives of people with those Rules of Christ, said, that either that was no Gospel, or the people no Christians."

"The world will be sure to keepe Christ poore enough.-The Church of Canterbury, before the dissolution of Abbies, had three severall Shrines, or Altars, one dedicated to Christ, another to the Virgin Mary, and a third to Thomas a Becket; when these things were abolished, there was found in the Leger book of that Church, the yearly oblations made to those severall Shrines; As thus :

Item, the Oblations offered to the Virgin, this yeare, £63. 5s. 6d.

"'Tis enough to repent the day before ones death.-A Jewish Rabby pressing the practice of repentance upon his Disciples, exhorted them to be sure to repent the day before they dyed; one of them replyed, that the day of any mans death was very uncertaine; Repent therefore every day (said the Rabbin) and then you shall bee sure to Repent the day before you dye."

"A text well improved.-One preaching upon Num. 22, 30. Am not I thine Asse, &c. raised these foure solid and profitable Doctrines.

"1 That the silliest, and simplest, being wronged, may justly speake in their owne defence.

"2 That the worst men have a good title to their owne goods, for though Balaam was a Sorcerer, yet the Asse confesseth twice that he was his.

3 That they who have done many good offices, and fail in one, are often not only unrewarded for former services, but punished for that one offence.

4 That when the Creatures, former

Item, to our Saviours Shrine the same yeare, £3. 2s. 2d.

Item, the next yeare, to the blessed Virgin, £4. 1s. 8d.

Item, the same yeare, to Saint Thomas, £954. 6s. 3d.

Item, to our Saviour, pro hoc anno. £0. Os. Od.

"So that, if that world had continued but a little longer St. Thomas a Becket would have undone both Mother and Sonne."

"Christ weeping over Jerusalem.-Christ wept over Jerusalem; so did Titus; and so did Marcellus over Syracuse; so also did Scipio over Carthage. But they shed teares for them whose blood they were to shed, but Christ for them who were to shed his blood."

Ingratitude.-Ingratum si dixeris omnia dixisti; for what is Religion, but gratitude to God? What is piety, but gratitude to parents? What is loyalty, but gratitude to Princes? What is Charity and friendship. but gratitude to our Neighbours?"

"Affections infectious.-Our vitious Affections are so many dangerous infections, of the minde; for anger is a fit of phrensie; feare, a shaking Feaver; Ambition, a wind-Collick; Malice, an Impostume; Faction, a Convulsion; Envy, a Consumption; Security, a dead Palsey; Lust, an impure itch, &c."

"Gods Mercy.-The weapons of Gods Artillery are turned into the Rain-Bow; a Bow indeed, but without an Arrow; Bent, but without a string; with the back towards Heaven, as if we rather shot at God by our sinnes, then hee at us, by his Judgements."

former obedience, man ought to reflect on his owne sin as the sole cause thereof."

"Three good questions for every man to aske himselfe every night.-Seneca reports of one Sexius, who every night when he should take his rest, would ask himselfe three questions; 1 What evill hast thou healed this day? 2 What vice hast thou stood against? 3 In what part art thou bettered?"

"Riches the bane of the Church.-Bishop Jewell records out of Joannes Parisiensis and others, that when Constantine the Great advanced Bishops, and endowed the Church with Lands, and great temporall Possessions, there was a voyce of Angels heard in the aire, saying, Hodie venenum funditur in Ecclesiam; This day is poyson poured out upon the Church."

"Jesuiticall juggeling.-When the House at Black-fryers in London fell, and had killed about a hundred Persons, and wounded above as many more, who were Roman Catholicks met there to heare a Popish Priest preach, which was in the yeare 1623, upon a Sabbath day, and the fifth of November (the Powder Treason day) according to the Romish account; the Jesuits presently published a Booke, wherein they set forth this accident, with all the Circumstances, as a Judgement of God fallen upon a company of Hereticall Protestants and Puritans, as they were met together in a Conventicle; All this was, that the poore deluded people might not come to the knowledge of this remarkable Judgement, lest it should startle them in their profession of Popery, and that it might confirme them in their indignation against the Protestant Religion; and thus they make lyes their refuge."

DERBYSHIRE.

ABNEY, in the parish of HOPE. There is a General Baptist Church in this place, the members of which reside here and at Bradwell. It was formed about the year 1789, by means of the itinerant labours of the Rev. N. PICKERING, pastor of the General Baptist Church at Ashford; and continuing to enjoy his ministry, was considered as united to Ashford for several years. In consequence, however, of the distance from Ashford rendering it difficult for the people to keep up an intercourse, they seceded in 1811; and were, for some time, supplied by occasional preachers from Sheffield. They are still without a settled pastor.

"He

ALFRETON.-The origin of dissent in this parish appears to have been the ejectment of the Rev. JOHN OLDFIELD from the church of Carsington. spent the latter part of his life," says Calamy, at Alfreton, from whence be took many weary steps to serve his Master, and was very useful in that neighbourhood; but at last was forced, by his infirmities, to cease from his la. bours, and departed to his everlasting rest, June 5, 1682, Æt. 55. He hath built himself a lasting monument, in a small piece entitled, The first last and the last first,' against Hypocrisie. The substance of some lectures at Wirksworth. And in his larger piece about prayer, which by many judicious persons, both Conformists and Nonconformists, is esteemed as valuable a discourse as any extant upon the subject. And the eleventh Sermon, in the Collection of County Ministers Farewell Sermons, on P's. 69. 6. is his." The meeting-house at Alfreton appears to have been erected about 1688. In 1715 the Rev. JAMES HUTHWAIT was minister; but relinquished his office a very few years afterwards, and went into Yorkshire. He was succeeded by the Rev. JOHN HOLLAND, who died in 1732. Who was the immediate successor of Mr. Holland has not been ascertained, but it appears that, in the year 1749, the Rev. ELIEZER HEYWOOD was the minister of Alfreton, and that he probably removed in that or the following year to Mansfield. After Mr. Heywood, the Rev. JONAH MALKIN was minister upwards of thirty

years, and dying about 1782, was followed by the Rev. DANIEL GRONOW, who deceased in 1796, and was succeeded by the present minister, the Rev. JONATHAN BENCLIFF.

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ALLESTRY, near Derby.-The Act of Uniformity ejected Mr. TIMOTHY STANIFORTH from the pulpit of this parish, as it did his brother Jonathan from that of Hogmaston. They were," says Calamy, sons of an ancient godly minister, both good men, who gave much attendance to reading, and had a good library. After their ejection, and the taking place of the Oxford Acts, they were driven from pillar to post, yet were in all places at work, as they had opportunity, and that with success. Many persons about Heage had cause to bless God for their night labours. They lived some years together, and died very near one to another." There appears to have been a Baptist congregation at Allestry in 1692, of which Mr. JOHN WILLS was minister. At present the General Baptists have preaching in a private dwelling-house. The only meeting-house in Allestry is one newly erected by the Wesleyan Methodists

ALVASTON.--There appears to have been an ancient congregation of Dissenters in this place, which had, several years previous to the year 1789, so much declined as to shut up its meeting-house. The only person of whose ministry, during this period, we have any record is the Rev. JOHN ORREL, a presbyterian. He resided at Findern, and supplied various other places in the county. In 1789, after the meeting-house at Alvaston had been shut up for several years, possession of it was obtained by the late Mr. THOMAS WILSON, of Islington, (a native of the county, who manifested on this, and other similar occasions, great concern for the moral and spiritual welfare of its inhabitants), and it was for some time, under his patronage, supplied by the minister of the Independent church and congregation at Derby. It has since been alienated, and there is now no congregation of Protestant dissenters in this place.

ASHBURN. There was formerly a very small meeting-house in this town, the origin of which we have not been