when he has found that, he perceives such a sweetness and savour in it, as to make it not easy for him to go forth again into the world." Against such an experience as this, which sees, and handles, and tastes of the word of life, there is no arguing. If a man should attempt to controvert this testimony, it would be worse than to deny the evidence of the natural senses; because it is founded upon the truth of God, which worketh all in all."

CONVERSION AND DEATH OF A COLOURED WOMAN.

A FEW months ago, an aged woman of colour, who resided in the upper part of this city, and whose children attended one of the Sabbath Schools, was represented to the teachers to be dangerously ill. She was immediately visited by them, and also by a young gentleman to whom they made known her situation. Their visitations were continued regularly during her illness, and with what consequences will be seen in the following statement given by the gentleman referred to:

"The first time I went to see her, (E. I.) I found her in a most pitiable state both of body and mind. She was lying on a miserable bed, in a dark and dirty cellar, surrounded by a number of unruly and noisy children. She was far gone in a consumption, with which she had been confined for more than a year, and had not received any medical aid. The grossest moral darkness pervaded her mind. To the questions which I put to her, she answered, that she had been brought up in the country, under a mistress who treated her with severity, and never gave her any religious instruction; that she had never stolen, nor did any body any harm, and therefore hoped God would save her. In a manner simple as I could, I pressed upon her the extent and spirituality of the divine law, and the impossibility that she could ever satisfy its demands; and then asked her if she had ever heard of any one who was able and willing to deliver such creatures as she from the ruin which threatened them. She answered, No. I asked her if she had ever heard of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came into the world to save sinners. She had never heard his name. I then informed her of the person and work of the Messiah, and her absolute need of him ;-pressed upon her the necessity for fervent and importunate prayer for an interest in the Redeemer-read some of God's word-prayed with her, and departed. I visited her about once a week from that tin e till she died. According to the accounts given by the family, and by her own, she prayed constantly. Her mind seemed wholly absorbed in spiritual subjects; and, as the truths of revelation were unfolded to her view, her earnestness increased, and her countenance exhibited the satisfaction she enjoyed at every communication of divine light; and she seemed as a new-born babe to de

sire the sincere milk of the word, that she might grow thereby. There is reason to think that the God of grace revealed his love in her heart, and sealed her pardon by the communication of the joys of the Spirit, and giving her, with the Psalmist, songs in the night.

"Several weeks before her death, she told her family, in her own simple language, that, "she had made friends with God." It was about this time that one night (having been somewhat light-headed during the day) she broke out and sung a hymn of praise to God and her Saviour, the most beautiful her family, and a white woman of sound information who were present, had ever heard, and in a voice more melodious and strong than they had known her to possess. Her hope remained firm, though her feelings had ebbs and flows, till her soul took its flight to the eternal world. Just before her death, she told those about her, that God had sent for her, and that she was going to live with him. In this pleasing frame she left this vale of tears, with the joyful hope of an inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for all them who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth."

X.

FAITH IN GOD EXEMPLIFIED.

ONE of the masters of an Hibernian Free School, not very long since, passing along the road in the evening, was attracted by the cries of young children in a cabin by the road side. He entered, and witnessed a moving scene; the corpse of a woman lying on the straw, on which she had expired, surrounded by her four children, the eldest, a boy, about 12 years of age. On inquiry of the boy, he learned that his father had died about a fortnight before, of a fever; that their mother had caught the fever, and died that morning; and that no one had had the humanity to enter their wretched habitation since her death, but himself. Unable to render them any assistance, and being on a journey, he left the house, and the poor afflicted children, as he found them, without fire or candle, light or comforter. Early the next morning, the same account was brought by another master, who had witnessed the same scene as he passed. They were still alone, and around the remains of their parent. Observing the eldest boy more composed than the rest, he inquired of him, and heard the same distressing account. The poor boy closed his narrative by saying, "While my mother lay dying and neglected by her neighbours, who feared the distemper, I gave her all the comfort in my power; possessed of my Testament, which I got in the Hibernian Free School that I attended before the affliction of the family, I constantly read to her about Jesus Christ; and what she heard gave her great ease of mind. When she was dying, I

kneeled by her, and still read to her about Him, and begged of her not to be troubled about us, for the Lord was so good, he would surely provide. My poor mother had her senses to the last; attended with eagerness to what I read, and to my request; and although she could not speak, she seemed to consent to all, and to die with great composure of mind." When he had ended, the master asked him what he intended to do? He replied, that "he did not know; that he had no friends there, his father having come from a distant part of the kingdom a few years before, to work at his trade of heckling flax, and that his sister was too young to travel with him to beg; but that he was not uneasy; that he trusted in God, and was sure that He would be their friend."

We are happy to record a remarkable answer in Providence to the faith of the poor dying mother and the little boy. On this afflicting tale being related to the worthy Agent of the Hibernian Society, means were used for their relief. Their melancholy and destitute circumstances being made known to Lady L-, she immediately gave five pounds for their present support, requesting to know the ages of the female children, in order that they might be provided for by some of the charitable asylums in Ireland. The boy and his sisters were properly clothed; and as they had neither firing, bed, nor food in their wretched hut, they were conveyed to a neighbouring house, to be taken care of till her ladyship should give directions concerning them.

OBITUARY.

Mr. Henry Nayler, born at Nortons-wood in Shropshire, (Eng.) in 1733, was for many years an eminent apothecary in Jermynstreet, St. James's: and a regular communicant at Orange Street Chapel, from the time of Messrs. Toplady, Cecil, &c. down to the period of his dissolution.

Of his early history we have but little information, except, that, during his apprenticeship, he was brought under serious impressions, as is believed, under the ministry of the Rev. George Whitfield, at Long-acre Chapel. A friend had intimated to him that he did not hear the gospel at his usual place of worship, and recommended him to go and hear that celebrated preacher; and from that time he became a hearer at Tottenham-court Chapel, at the Lock, and at St. Dunstan's. He now gave evident proofs of his love to religion, by enduring persecution for its sake. Having attained to an experimental knowledge of the excellency, power, and consolations of the gospel, he could no longer endure the dry lectures which were read on morality, and the unscriptural doctrine of obtaining salvation by our own works.

From this period he became a decided character; separated himself from the world, and relinquished its ensnaring follies.

wreck of faith and a good conscience,' and also turned aside to An old acquaintance of Mr. Nayler remembers his being invited to make one of a party to Vauxhall; when he replied, 'Oh dear, I have long done with such amusements; those things only to which I now desire to attend, are my Bible and my business.

To show both of these Mr. N. paid a diligent and scrupulous regard, not suffering the one in the smallest degree to interfere with the other. To effect this (till within these two years) he rose at 5 o'clock. His fire was laid over night, and when it was cold he kindled it himself. The first part of every day was spent in conversing with himself, his Bible, and his God. He was generally thus occupied till breakfast time; and has sometimes been heard to say that he had enjoyed a most delightful morning: and if any thing broke in upon this season of communion with God, he used to lament it, and say that he was never so comfortable through the day.

He was also a man diligent in business, which in the prime of his life was very extensive and laborious; but he beautifully illustrated the apostle's maxim, 'Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.'-Rom. xii. 11. On the Lord's day he used a great deal of management and diligence to secure his attendance on public worship, for the neglect of which too many medical men think their business a sufficient apology. He set off early, shortened his visits, and took his patients in such order as would allow him to reach Orange-street Chapel by the time, or soon after the prayers began; and as soon as the service was over he commenced visiting the remainder of his patients, and got his dinner in time to be at chapel again in the evening.

He did not even content himself, as too many Christians do, with Sunday devotion. He loved the house of God well enough to strive to employ a little of his time there on other days; when he could by economy snatch a portion of it from business and who might not effect this at times were they so inclined? He was generally at Orange-street on Thursday evenings, and when busi ness would allow, at Tottenham-court on Tuesday, at Long Acre on Wednesday, and at the Adelphi on Friday. Nor was our friend merely a hearer of the word; he gave close attention to the devotions and to the subject; seldom allowing his eyes to wander from the preacher. He exercised also an humble and candid spirit. Among the ministers he might have some favourites, but he did not allow it to be seen; he esteemed them all as the servants of the same master, and therefore whoever was the preacher he was sure to be seen in his place.

He was not more diligent in attending the outward ordinances than he was clear and settled in his Christian principles. He saw many on the right hand and on the left, who were 'unstable as water,' and did not excel;' who had even made 'ship

vain janglings; among those he stood unmoved, holding fast his confidence, and 'contending earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.'

His religion was not outward or in the letter merely; but it was in spirit and in power. The gospel had been to him 'the power of God unto salvation;' and his religion having begun in the heart spread its mighty and holy influence through his whole soul. He was convinced of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and had his heart broken under a sense of it; he saw the insufficiency of his own righteousness, and embraced that of Jesus Christ; and, by a living faith, the Holy Spirit carried on the great work of sanctification and holiness in his heart and life.

His liberality was equal to his piety and diligence. He not only subscribed to most of the neighbouring charities; but also to most of the great public institutions of an evangelical character; besides which he contributed very materially to the support of ten or twelve aged men and women.

Having lost by successive bereavements most of his nearest relatives, he felt it his duty to devote a part of his property to benevolent objects, including both those which relieve the temporal miseries of human nature, and those which are directed to the illumination of the mind, and designed to bring the souls of perishing sinners unto the kingdom of God.

The disease which carried this worthy man to his grave, was severe and rapid, and prevented the intercourse of his most intimate friends; but by the report made by the few persons who had access to him, it appears that his confidence in God never failed him.

I shall conclude this narrative of my excellent and much esteemed friend, by the account which I received of the closing scene from his medical attendant,

'I attended Mr. N. professionally, throughout the illness of which he died. I saw him four or five times a day, and frequently sat up with him all night; he had hold of my hand when he expired, and I declare that I never witnessed a death so easy: in which there was so much resignation to the divine will, and so much confidence in future happiness. He said a few hours before his death, I know that my Redeemer liveth; and that he suffer. ed for us, and in him I have full confidence, and that I shall be happy.'

A funeral sermon was preached for him at Orange-street Chapel, from Gen. xxv. 8. And Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man,' &c. &c.

Legacies left by the late Mr. Nayler.

J. T.

Sunday School Society
Poor Pious Clergymen

£. s. d