in my affairs; and four pounds a year have been left me for life."* This fact removed all the fcruples of her cautious friends; and, recollecting the following affertion of the God of Truth, they held their peace. "Truft in the Lord, and be doing good, fo fhalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." Pf. xxxvii. 3.

BOLSOVER, Feb. 19, 1806.

T. PINDER.

The GRACE of GOD MANIFESTED.

MEMOIRS of the late MRS. ROBERTS of BRISTOL.

BRIST

"DRISTOL, April 15, [1804.] died Mrs. Roberts, Wife of Thomas Roberts, Efq. and daughter of the late Wm. Randolph, Efq. of this city: A lady in whom every amiable quality was fupported by real piety and found understanding, fincerely beloved in life, and moft deeply regretted in death." Such was the brief account furnifhed by the provincial papers. But never did any perfon in private life, manifeft higher claims than Mrs. Ro. berts, on the duties owed to fociety by the editor of a religious obituary. Your Magazine will receive additional honour, if it fubjoins to the above juftly-merited eulogy, a few traits which, alas! now loft to the church and to fociety, were eminently confpicuous in her character, and obtained for her, the esteem of all who had the pleasure of witnefling them.

But in delineating the character of Mrs. Roberts, the only difficulty is to make a proper felection from the many excellencies which, without the leaft exaggeration, may be faid to have belonged to her. Before her entire devotednefs to God, fhe was confidered a moft amiable character. Poffefling naturally a sweet temper, a mind luminous and elegant, and, at the fame time, exhibiting the moft undifguifed ingenuoufness of heart; warm and faithful in her friendship, and cheerful and pleafing in her conversation, never, perhaps, did any perfon flare a more lively and affectionate intereft in the eftcem of all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance. And never, perhaps, was there a perfon who enjoyed, with more fatisfaction, and even delight, the regard of thofe fhe loved. Such a natural difpofition, though a charming foil for the reception of the incorruptible feed of divine truth, has

This annuity was from a donation left for the relief of the industrious deferv

ing Poor.

been

been known, in many instances, to be, in fome fort, prejudicial, when, through grace, the heart has been disposed to the things of God, by a flexibility injurious to religious principle. There was an exception in the prefent cafe; though Mrs. Roberts did not abandon her fweetnefs when the embraced religion. She renounced, but was not foured by the world. After coming out from among them, fhe was not contemned by those who refufed to admit her views. She was still the object of their love and esteem; and she still felt the fervor of friendship, and estimated, by the highest standard of benignity, whatsoever was lovely or of good report in them. With her mind of the pureft delicacy of fentiment, with her heart of the finest texture of feeling,the had, in extremely trying and tender points, to practise the first and indifpenfable precept of the Redeemer. She began, therefore, where genuine christianity commences, with felf denial. Forbearing to confult with flesh and blood, she had to fix her eye fingly on the Lord, and facrifice every feeling of her foul, at the command of his Word and Spirit, and in compliance with the dictates of her enlightened confcience.

This fhe did not with a cold prudence allied to indifference, nor with a momentary warmth of zeal, oftentimes too nearly allied to imprudence; but with fimplicity and godly fincerity, which willingly and determinately followed the light of truth, as it continued to daw upon her mind. And being thus led from the beginning, the steadily and confiftently perfevered to the end, advancing in the fame perfpicuous and uniform path, which may truly be faid to have been like the fhining light, that fhineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Of the work of the Spirit upon her mind, we are poffeffed of the particulars, for fhe kept a regular diary of her daily experience, She never fhewed it to any perfon. What fhe wrote, therefore, was the genuine and unaffected state of her foul: her hopes and fears, her diftreffes and delights. She noted down where and how the fpent the day; and if the had heard preaching, generally penned a sketch, or inferted the most prominent parts of the fermon, with remarks on thofe particulars which the deemed fuitable to her own condition.

Her mind, from her youth up, was under a bleffed degree of moral influence, continually correcting or impelling her conduct. Oftentimes, after he became the fubject of higher principles of action, the mentioned this, with thankfulness to the Father of light. As far as fire was acquainted with it, the highly honoured and venerated religion, treating with profound refpect and deference, all whom the knew to be pious and devout. The late Rev. Sir James Stonhoufe, who much admired her, used to say to her, You want nothing but true religion to make you perfect."

The firft effectual difpenfation of providence that fickened her heart to the pleasures of the gay world, was the death of a dear friend. But this ftroke was prefently fucceeded by one much hea vier, a domestic calamity, which entirely diflodged her heart from all the world calls great or gay. This trial was bleft, likewise, to her dear mother, who found, in the means of grace, and in a devotedness to God, the only but certain folace for the mind, when bowed down under the preffure of anguish and forrow.

Notwithstanding many prejudices, which to others might have feemed infurmountable, were in the way of the daughter's feeking comfort, in the fame manner, and in the ufe of the fame means at the fame place, where the mother had happily found help in the time of need, yet our late friend, with a heart that obftinately refufed to be comforted by the world, refolved, if poffible, to obtain that peace and confolation, by which, to her aftonishment, the beheld her 'mother's mind fupported. With a foul, fick of folly, and inwardly fighing after peace, fhe went, at the request of a friend, to hear Mr. Roberts preach, in Guinea-street Chapel. At first her mind, ever fond of intellectual pleasures, was merely entertained; by and by the word of God pierced to the dividing asunder of foul and fpirit. She perceived the inward fource of all her mental anguish, by being convinced of fin, which the now began to view in its radical nature, heinoufnefs, and demerit. Conviction having fast hold, the divine Spirit, by farther illuminations, gave her diftinctly to know the plague of her own heart, the neceffity of being pardoned through faith in the atonement, and of being renewed and fanctified by the grace of God.

Her attachment to the miniftry of him whose inftrumentality the Lord had ufed for her awakening, as is known in many fimilar inftances, became very great. This is particularly mentioned, because, by a series of providential circumftances, it was afterwards the chief ingredient of, perhaps, as much conjugal felicity as ever fell to the lot of a couple, fince marriage was inftituted in Pa

radife.

It was towards the end of 1791, when she was thus awaken. ed to ferious concern; and, amidft much darknefs, yet following the drawings of the Father, fhe felt after the Lord, if the might find him; the darkness paffing away as the true light continued to fhine with increafing luftre. This is perceptible in the following extracts from her diary.

"Sunday, Jan. 1, 1792. Merciful God, I defire to thank thee for the mercies which thou haft vouchfafed thy poor unworthy creature. Without thee I am nothing. Oh! give me the knowledge of thyfelf, whom to know is life everlafting. Look

down

down upon me in tender compaffion, and make me all that I am capable of being. Thou haft forely afflicted me this year; yet I dare not complain. I lowly bend beneath thy correcting hand; thou chaftifeft in mercy: I fee the rod, and who hath appointed it. Oh, my God, may I learn wifdom by this heavy affliction, for it has a voice that has penetrated my inmoft foul. But have mercy upon me. Leave me not comfortless. Give me that peace which the world can neither give nor take away, and which paffeth all understanding. Brighten my horizon, and blefs me this year with the light of thy blissful countenance. Do thou turn my heart, which is defperately wicked and deceitful above all things.

I know it not."

Friday, Feb. 3. Heard Mr. R- at Chapel, from Mark v. 7, 'What have I to do with thee, Jefus thou Son of the most High God?' Methinks if I were to hear fuch doctrine often, I fhould be wifer than I am; nay more, I fhould be better, though I can be pious without being a Methodist, or going to chapel; yet during the long winter evenings, I will hear Mr. k- fometimes, indeed whenever I have opportunity. This is a wonderful unravelling of the meaning of Scripture; but quite new to me.

"Sunday 5. Heard Mr. R- from Phil. iii. 8, Yea doubtlefs, and I count all things but lofs for the excellency of the knowledge of Chrift Jefus my Lord, for whom I have fuffered the lofs of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Chrift,' O my heart! what is religion? alas! thou doft not know. There must be fomething more in it than I know any thing of. Lord teach me what true religion is !

"Friday 24. Heard Mr. R- at Guinea-ftreet Chapel, from 1. John iii. 23, 24. May I know the text and fermon by bleffed experience. Oh! that the living God would abide in me, then fhould I feel the power of true religion, then would its divine influences change my heart. Never, till this day, did I know that my heart was fo defperately wicked. How little do I know of myself! What have I lived for? What will become of me? My heart is torn with anguish! I am very ill. I-hate life, but I dread death!"

Soon after this time, we find her thus expreffing herself,— "Monday, April 30. This is my birth-day. Alas, how many have I pafled unprofitably! Lord, grant that the future may be fanctified by thy grace! I dedicate my future days to thy fervice! May I grow in wifdom, and be fnatched as a brand from the fire! Make me, I humbly befcech thee, to feel my own weakness and thy power, which is able to fave my poor benighted foul! Thou haft graciously promifed to receive all who come unto thee. Lord, I come, heavy laden with in, poor, wretched, and friendless,

but

but thou art able and willing. I do not depend on my own worthinefs, for I am become loathfome to myself. All that I have is thine. Without thee, I am a very worm, and the outcaft of the people. Let the light of thy countenance shine full on my foul, and make me fenfible of the neceflity of regeneration, which I beg through the mediation of my Lord and Saviour, who was delivered for my offences, and was raised again for my justification."

We find her frequently longing to be freed from every worldly entanglement. "Sunday 20. Would to God, I could be quietly fet down in fome fpot, unknowing and unknown, and there devote myself to God." And again, "Ah, gracious Lord! how often have i lately wifhed that my fituation in life had been lefs elevated. I then fhould be free from the numberlefs trials of which many can form no idea, but which conftantly befet me, and which I cannot always overcome!" "The preacher proved, in the cleareft light, the neceflity of regeneration, or the new birth, which the world laughs at fo much, but I am fo convinced of its abfolute neceffity, that I pray I may know it, and be able to fpeak of it experimentally, for without it, I am loft indeed. We may hope in the mercies of God, but we fhould have juft grounds to go upon. Religion and morality are two diftinct things."

Nearly in this frame fhe went on, following her convictions, till the Spring of 1793, having previously united herself in clofe connection with the religious Society, to which he was cordially attached till her death; and was watched over, and helped on by Mifs C, whose usefulness in the church is well known. Nor did our late friend fail to use, willingly and earneftly, all the means of grace, public and private, looking out and longing for the joys of falvation; which having, at length, obtained, she continued to walk in glorious liberty till her pilgrimage was completed. Of her experience up to this period, fhe has given a brief narrative in the following letter.

"Nov. 12, 1793.

"THE first moment of returning eafe and health, I will devote in thanking you, my very dear friend, for your letter. It faid, what is very interefting to me, that, though absent, you are not unmindful of me. I am much obliged by your expreflions of concern on my account. I was unwell when I left you, though I did not complain much. I looked upon it as a bleffing in one fenfe; had my fpirits been in their ufual flow, I fhould have felt more at parting with you and my dear Elen; but my indifpofition ferved to keep the balance of my mind even. Thus it is that I fee the goodness of God to me in every thing, and, therefore, ficknefs or health, life or death, are welcome, as coming from the VOL. XXX. JANUARY, 1807.

E

fame