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involving some worthy families in the debt, he leaves them to lament their folly, and perhaps the ruin of a cause, which, if it had been prudently nursed, might have risen to respectability.

I would here caution young ministers from hastily undertaking the enlargement or building of their place of worship, until they shall have been setiled a few years with the people, (unless in extraordinary cases) as there have been several instances where this proceeding has proved the unhappy occasion of their removal.

Allow a word to ministers. It has become too much a matter of course for them to recommend cases of this kind. Neighbourhood, friendship, kindness, and the example of others around them, are too often the motives, without duly investigating all the circumstances of the case. These, with instances (I hope but rare) of appeals being made to the public, at least on very doubtful cases, have tended to lessen the weight formerly attached to the recommendations of ministers. The public have a right to expect that every minister signing a case, vouches, that there was an actual necessity for the building, enlarging, or repairing of the place of worship; that the congregation have, according to their ability, conscientiously subscribed to the utmost; and that no unnecessary expense in the way of ornament or finishing has been incurred.

Surely this is not too much for the public to require; and I am certain that cases so certified will meet with suitable encouragement.

Allow also a word to wealthy country professors. Whilst I can bear testimony to the Christian liberality of some, I fear it is by no means the general characteristic of this class. I have heard of some whose property is known to be from

twenty to thirty thousand pounds, who thought they had subscribed generously when they gave ten pounds towards the rebuilding of their own place of worship, which was to cost more than a thousand pounds; when one hundred pounds would have been below the mark.

Whilst I greatly rejoice in the well attested appeals which are weekly made to the liberality of the religious public in the metropolis, let me caution our country friends against presuming too much upon it. There is a very small proportion of the thousands collected annually, which comes out of the pockets of the wealthy. The man possessed of fifty thousand pounds, or perhaps of a hundred thousand pounds, with very few exceptions, is contented with following his poorer but more generous neighbour with his 1. 1s. or peradventure, as they understand per centage very well, with 1. The great bulk of what is collected comes from persons in the middling rank of society; and it is well known that no class in the community is suffering more from the pressure of the times than this. The aggregate of these collectiors must therefore diminish, until we happily see a revival of trade.

It has for years been a matter of deep concern to many, that no other mode can be resorted to, in order to save ministers from this burdensome and humiliating course of things. But I despair of seeing any effectual remedy provided, until there is more of union among our churches, and less of jealousy on the part of country ministers, in reference to metropolitan management.

Were the country congregations, according to their ability, to subscribe each a small sum annually, and those of London the same, I have no doubt of our being able to give a larger sum to each well

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PERMIT me to occupy a short space in your useful publication, on behalf of that part of the community whose time is almost wholly occupied in promoting the ease and comfort of the more highly favoured part of society, I mean servants; and I wish I could commit the subject to paper with all that warmth of feeling with which it has operated upon my mind. I well know that the servants in worldly families are in general sadly neglected as to their spiritual instruction; and did such servants feel any concern about their best interests, they would have feelingly to exclaim, "No man careth for our souls." But my thoughts on the present occasion are turned to the servants of the godly, for whose welfare a tender concern is felt by their employers. I frequently hear such persons say, "I wish there was preaching at our chapel of an afternoon, that our servants might go; but such is not the case; and, unless we send them to worship at some strange place, which is also at an inconvenient distance, we must either keep them at home all day on the Sabbath, or some part of the family must attend to the affairs of the house, while our domestics go to worship.' I know that faithful zealous ministers of the Gospel, in general, find that two sermons on the Lord's Day are as much as they can conveniently undertake; but it must be admitted,

By

that many preach from home in the afternoon, while part of their own flock is left destitute. I have no wish to press unnecessary duties or fatigue on ministers, but it has appeared to me, that it would be a most desirable thing if a third service could be performed; and I think it might be carried into effect by the minister making choice of a few pious and judicious men in the church, who should take it in turn to read a chapter and pray, and give a short exhortation on the Sabbath afternoon; to which exercise the members of the congregation should be requested to send their servants; and perhaps in most instances the pastor of the church could occasionally officiate. this plan, servants would worship in the same places as their employers; they would hear the same doctrines, and occasionally the same ministers; added to which, masters and mistresses would have a check upon them, for, if they absented themselves, there would be every probability of detecting them; for it is a well known fact that servants do not always avail themselves of the privilege of hearing the Gospel, although expressly sent out on the Sabbath day for that purpose. There is one more circumstance I beg to notice, and that is the exclusion of servants from family worship. I know there are professors who do not live without prayer, but their domestics are invariably excluded: surely this should not be; for servants have souls to be saved, and the heads of families, whatever they may think, are certainly in a great measure responsible for the spiritual welfare of those entrusted to their care. I have also observed, when passing an evening with a pious family, that because there is company, the domestics are not introduced at the hour of prayer; this is wrong, for nothing can'p ease the

pious visitors more than to see the whole family assembled; and as a friend is often invited to pray on such an occasion, it might provenance, and in our reverence for it—we highly useful to the souls of domestics for them to be present.

things wherein we differ. Our brethren who reject infant baptism, as well as we who practise it, all agree in a belief of the sacred institution of this ordi

But I have said enough to shew my object; perhaps it will excite the remarks of some one better qualified, and lead to good; then my purpose will be answered. X.

CHRISTIAN CANDOUR.

THE following passage, taken from a sermon by Dr. Watts, "On Christian Baptism," is so well calculated to promote brotherly love between Pædo and Antipado Baptists, that its insertion in the Evangelical Magazine may, I conceive, be extremely useful to pious readers of both denominations.

PAX.

"BUT this shall suffice for a hint of this controversy, which has filled large volumes in the world, made a huge noise in the church, and destroyed the charity of a multitude of Christians. Since I do not here profess to enter into the argument, but only to give a few short notices and rehearsals of what is said in our vindication, who practise the baptism of infants by sprinkling water on them, I do the rather ask leave to speak one charitable word on this subject, viz. that since this controversy has considerable difficulties attending it, persons of an honest and sincere soul, in searching out the truth, may happen to run into different opinions; and the things wherein we agree are so important, as should not suffer us to quarrel about the lesser

all agree that the children should be devoted to God, and should be partakers of all the utmost privileges into which Scripture admits them, and that they should grow up under all possiAnd since ble obligations to duty.

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each of us desires to find out the wili of Christ, and practise it accordingly, it is a most unreasonable thing that we should be angry with each other, because some of us are devoted to God and Christ by this ceremony a little sooner or a little later than others: or because some devote their children to God in baptism, as a claim of privileges and an obligation to duties, before they can do this for themselves; whereas others let this claim and obligation alone, till children themselves capable of acting therein or because some of us think this ordinance requires much water, and that the whole body be immersed in it, others suppose a little is sufficient, and that he who hath the face or head washed in this solemnity, has as true significancy of Gospel benefits and obligations as he who has his whole body put under water, since our Saviour thought so when he washed Peter's feet; John xiii. 10. In short, where faith in Christ and love to God, and obedience to the sanctifying operations of the Spirit, are made necessary to salvation, and agreed upon by us all, it is pity that these lesser things should raise such unhappy and scandalous tentions among the disciples of the blessed Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace."

OBITUARY.

MRS. ANN BISHOP. ON Monday, Oct. 2, 1820, died, in her 79th year, Mrs. Ann Bishop, of Sheerness, widow of Mr. Henry Bishop, of whose happy death an interesting account was given by his friend and pastor, the late Rev. W. Shrubsole, in the first volume of this Magazine, page 123. She came to her grave in a

con

full age, "like as a shock of corn cometh in his season." She received her religious impressions when about nineteen years of age, so that she had been a disciple of our Lord about sixty years, and was the oldest member of the church at the time of her death. During the long period of her religious profession, her attendance on the

means of grace, public and private, was constant and exemplary, until disabled by age, infirmity, and sickness. In the house of God, and in her own, she was a burning and shining light, in whom her family and friends rejoiced. In the latter years of her life, through her deafness, often she could not hear three sentences in a sermon; yet she would still attend, saying, "That it was good to be at wisdom's gates," and adding, "The text does me good, the hymns do me good." Often she repeated,

perceived it, and her language to every visitant was, "I shall not be here long." A grand-daughter replied, "It will be a happy release to you, grandmamma." She answered, "Yes, Í hope so;" and soon after added, "I am not afraid of death." She much enjoyed the prayers of the writer with her, who, by a very merciful providence,was visiting his native place when his venerable and affectionate mother sickened and died. To the reiterated petitions, "That she might have an easy and merciful dismission from this world, and a glorious entrance into another," she put her fervent, Amen. The day before she died she said, "I am waiting for my dismission, and ready to go." And repeated, that she was 66 not afraid of death." Be.. tween ten and eleven o'clock the same

"I'll go, it is the house of prayer, Who knows but God may meet me there?" But when growing infirmities made her the Lord's prisoner, her Sabbaths in particular, and a great portion of her week days, were spent in reading the Scriptures, with Mr. Henry's exposi- night, she repeated, with great correcttion, Dr. Watts's hymns and piousness, her favourite hymn, "Thou dear sermons, with prayer; and great were her spiritual enjoyments in those exercises. But her late years were not years of confinement only: many and long were her seasons of sickness and of pain; but her "faith and patience" in these furnaces of affliction endured to the end. When her whole frame has been agitated, and her bed shook under her during the shivering fit, which only went off to be followed with a burning fever, her hope in a covenant God never forsook her, but she thought of him and of his grace, and was comforted. It was a usual remark of her Christian friends, "How much the grace of patience shone through all her sufferings." The spirituality of her mind and the holy tendencies of her soul were witnessed by all who visited her, and those visitors pleased her best who would talk about the best things.

She was often delighted with the prospects of another world, and of renewing her communion with her old Christian friends, who had long since passed to the spirits of the just. But while at one time she thus rejoiced, at another she had her fears, and would sometimes say to the writer, "I hope that I am no hypocrite; I pray that the Lord would search me and try me." It is remarkable that in all the attacks she suffered from disease, she never, until her last illness, apprehended death; but then she immediately

She

Redeemer, dying lamb," &c; marking.
by a raised tone the lines that ex-
pressed her love to the Redeemer; and
the last line particularly she pro-
nounced twice, with evident enjoy-
ment,-"And Christ shall be my song,
and Christ shall be my song."
then took hold of each of the hands-
that were offered her, in succession,--
distinctly saying to each, "The Lord.
bless you." She passed a night of great
pain, and on the next morning, upon
a second attack, she opened her eyes,
looked on all around her, then gave a
look upwards towards heaven with a
significance that will never be forgotten
by those who witnessed it, and without
a sigh or groan, and with an unchanged
countenance, she passed "through the
valley of the shadow of death:" somer--
cifully was prayer answered in the ease

of her dismission.

"Soft was the moment and serene

That all his sufferings clos'd,
No agony, no struggling scene,

No feature discompos'd." NEWTON At the earnest request of the family, her eldest son undertook, and was mercifully enabled to preach her funeral sermon. A very large congregation as-sembled to witness the novel and affecting scene of a son improving the death of his mother, which he attempted from Prov. xxxi. 28. "Her children: arise up and call her blessed." The

Rev. Mr. Prankard, the pastor of the church, conducted the devotional parts of the service. W.B.-Gloucester.

JOHN HAMMERSLEY Was born at Alton, Staffordshire, where he chiefly resided, and spent his early days in a state of ignorance and profaneness. But God having designs of mercy towards him, he was directed to the dissenting chapel; where, as he expressed it, he found himself to be a lost sinner. It soon appeared, from his submissive conduct, from the tenderness of his conscience, and from the undeviating consistency of his after walk, that he possessed the grace of God in truth. His goodness was not like the morning cloud; but his path was as the shining light, shining more and more to the perfect.day.

In the beginning of 1820, he caught a violent cold, which, resisting all medical aid, terminated in a consumption. About the month of August, he gave up his employment, and was confined at home. The first time his minister visited him, he said he should not get better, nor had he any desire about it: "If I go to work again, or if it please God to take me, all is well." "Then you think God will take you to himself?" with a strong expressive countenance, he replied, "I have not a single doubt that, whenever he takes me, he will take me to himself." When a medical attendant advised him to

keep up his spirits, he observed, that his spirits were not cast down at the prospect of death. On another occasion, he was asked whether he was not afraid that Christ would desert him at last?

66

No," said he, "he is so precious to my soul at times, that I am sure he will ot forsake me.'

On the first sabbath in October, with great difficulty, he went to the house of God, and united with his brethren in receiving the Lord's supper. He wept at the sight of the chapel, and said, it had frequently been a Bethel to his soul, and he found it so then. A friend speaking of the unchangeable love of God, he replied, "Yes, and I am persuaded he will never leave me, nor forsake me." On the Friday night before his death, a friend said, "I hope the Lord continues to support you." "Yes," said he, "I have no doubt on

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my mind; my afflictions have been great at times, but I have had great support; and when my pain has been very severe, I have been enabled to turn to Christ, and my pain seemed as nothing." When it was intimated that he would hurt himself by speaking, he replied, "It is hard work; but I desire to tell of the goodness of God:" adding, that he had no fear of death. To another friend, he said, "I have no desire to get better, nor am I the least afraid to die." "It gives you satisfaction," said one, "that you have spent some of your days and strength in the service of God." To which he replied, "It gives me comfort that I have not Christ to seek. I am not always free from darkness, but turning to Jesus Christ, I find relief. Blessed be his name, I often find him precious to my soul. I often long for that hour when I shall depart, but I must patiently wait the Lord's time.".

He made choice of 2 Tim. iv. 8. for

his funeral discourse. On the Saturday night before his departure, he had a strong conflict, and said, "I am in deep waters; it is all I can do to keep my head above the water." But being reminded of God's promises, he again exclaimed, "The Lord is my helper;" and the sabbath commencing, of which he was sensible, he spake of the blessed sabbath he should soon enjoy. He said he had been praying the Lord to assuage his pains, and the Lord had heard him. Before he closed his eyes,

he spoke of " them waiting;" when it was supposed he meant the angels, "Who," he said, "would not go without him." IIe left this vale of tears on Lord's day, Nov. 5, in the 31st year of his age: "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." J. T.-Cheadle.

RECENT DEATHS.

ON Friday, Feb. 9, at Upper East Hayes, Bath, Samuel Yockney, Esq. (formerly of Bedford-street Westminster,) in his 65th year.

On the same day, in his 60th year, at his house in Hans-place, Sloanestreet, Chelsea, the Rev. Wm. Nicol, D.D. Minister of the Scots Church, Swallow-street, deeply regretted by his family and congregation, to whom his exemplary piety, and faithful discharge of all his ministerial duties, for upwards of 25 years, so justly endeared him.

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