happiness it would afford her, if it should | in a state to judge of any thing. I could please God, to render those services not examine any thing. Persons in the means of bringing even one soul to the knowledge of the truth. such a situation must take all on trust, without knowing whether they are right or wrong. I am now in a state to require the supports of religion, and I am thankful to God that I do experience them." But from this hasty and superficial sketch of the character of our late friend, it is time to pass on to a brief narration of the circumstances which attended her last illness; which were When recovering at another time, eminently such, as ought to alarm the from a state of stupefaction, she recareless, and to induce an holy circum-marked, "I thought I should have spection in those who are really devoted to God. Having left home, in her usual state of health, on a visit to a friend in the neighbourhood of town, she was on Friday the third of August, seized with a shivering fit, which was immediately succeeded by fever. In compliance with her own request, she was conveyed without delay to her house in London. There she had every aid, which the great skill and persevering attention of her medical advisers could render, seconded by the most assiduous kindness of those immediately around her: but disease made rapid advances, and in ten days from its first attack, death closed the painful scene. wasted away my time in a stupid indifferent way, thinking of nothing but what distressed me." Her friend observing "It is not so now," she answered, "No, in the multitude of my thoughts within me, his comforts delight my soul"-repeating with emphasis the last clause, "His comforts delight my soul." She proceeded to recite, with great animation and feeling that well known hymn "Begone unbelief, my Saviour is near," commenting on various parts of it, as she advanced with much force and propriety, and closed with repeating many passages of Scripture suitable to her case. On Wednesday the 8th, when conversing with her husband, she thus expressed the good hope through grace, by which her mind was supported in the prospect of dissolution. “If it shall please God to remove me, I am not afraid to die. I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him;" adding with an emphasis "And I have committed my soul to Him." When the value of her life to her family was mentioned, and the hope expressed that on this account shemight be raised up again, she replied, During the greater part of her illness, her sufferings were very severe, so that she began to fear lest her patience might fail. She entreated those around ber to pray that a spirit of resignation might be granted her, equal to the trial: the request was mercifully heard, and a friend to whose kind attention she was indebted, had repeated occasion to congratulate her on the goodness of God in this respect. Her mind was kept in perfect peace, stayed upon him. In a case where personal piety had been so evident, dying declarations" If I am called to leave them, I know were not necessary to guide the opinion of others; but still it is gratifying to record, that amidst the drowsiness and stupor incident to her disorder, she was enabled to bear her decided testimony to the value of true religion. On its being suggested to her, "how great must sufferings such as yours be without religion," she instantly replied, "Oh yes, quite intolerable; a sick bed is not the place to make up one's mind about religion. My mind is not that the Lord can raise up, or preserve those who will do as much as I could have done for them. I am quite resigned whether to live or to die. I feel there is nothing which I cannot give up." Alluding to the severity of her affliction, and the weakness which it produced, she said "I am brought to that state that the grasshopper is a burden.” At another time she caught hold of the hand of her friend and said, “I need wish you particularly to tell the audience, that I have been a man of great trials and sufferings, both of body and -a am, I am by the grace of God, and this I trust will be my everlasting song sinner saved by grace. I die a poor repenting sinner, relying solely on the blood and righteousness of my risen Lord. My soul cleaves to the doctrines of free, sovereign, discriminating grace; if these deceive me I must be lost, for I have no other support, no other foundation on which I can depend. The eternal God is my refuge, and I hope and trust to find, that in my last moments his everlasting arms will be underneath me. If I am found in Jesus' hands, my soul can ne'er be lost. My heart's desire and fervent prayer are expressed in this one verse :— to have lovers and friends, for my affliction is very acute; but-it is the Lord." During the whole of Lord's day the mind, but say nothing in praise of me. 12th, she was so overcome with drowsi-I am only a lump of sin; whatever I ness and stupor as to prevent any communication, and it was evident that her end was rapidly approaching. In the course of the night she was somewhat roused for a few minutes; when, after answering some anxious inquiries from her medical friend, she remarked. "Religion is an individual concern;" and shortly after, "I have been endeavouring to build upon the Lord." These, with the exception of a word or two, as to the medicines administered to her, were the last words she uttered. Nature was sinking, and the next morning, August 13th she entered into rest. The remains of our deceased friend were interred in the family vault at Maze Pond, on Tuesday the 21st, when an appropriate address was delivered by the Rev. Joseph Hughes, A. M.; and funeral sermons were preached on the following Sabbath, in the morning at Maze Pond, by the Rev. John Dyer, from 2 Tim. i. 12; and in the evening at Muswell Hill, by the Rev. Eustace Carey, from 1 Thess. iv. 13, 14. THE REV. JOSEPH PATRICK. When I draw my fleeting breath, that I was born at Kettering, in this On Monday morning, the 23d of July, died, at Northampton, the Rev. Joseph Patrick, pastor of the Baptist church at Harpole, near Northampton. His mortal remains were deposited in the burying-ground belonging to College-street meeting-house, on Wednesday evening, and on the Sabbath following a sermon was preached to improve his death, by the Rev. W. Gray, from 2 Cor. v. 4.; words chosen by the de-leave them, and I doubt not but the ceased. "Before I conclude, permit me to request you, dear Sir, to do what you can for my poor widow, and afflicted daughter Ruth; as I have nothing to Lord whom you serve will reward you for your kindness to the widow and the fatherless; and may the Lord make you a great blessing to the souls of men, and when your labours of love shall terminate, may you and yours have a place at Christ's right hand in glory. This, my dear Sir, is the prayer and last request of your heavily afflicted, but affectionate friend and brother in the lived in the esteem of all who knew him. gospel of Christ, "June 14, 1827." "JOSEPH PATRICK. On the following Lord's day afternoon his remains were deposited in the REV. W. CULVER. silent grave. In the evening Mr. W. DIED, on Lord's day morning, Sept. 9, Bowes (who succeeded Mr. Culver 1827, in the 83d year of his age, Mr. some time since in the pastoral office) William Culver, nearly thirty years pas- preached the funeral sermon, to a very tor of the first Baptist church in Wool-numerous and attentive congregation. wich; a man who, by the integrity of Mr. Culver was probably the only dishis principles, the simplicity of his man-senting minister who was a pensioner ners, the affection of his disposition, upon the bounty of our excellent moand the spirituality of his conversation, narch, George IV. GLEANINGS. THE YEARLY EPISTLE OF THE SOCIETY | that we have a right apprehension of the OF FRIENDS. doctrines of the gospel, this availeth not, DEAR FRIENDS, unless we are regenerated by the power of WE who have been permitted to assemble, the Holy Ghost. We therefore tenderly to transact the concerns of this meeting, entreat all to wait in humble faith for its have reverently to acknowledge that it has quickening influence; and to seek to have been good for us that we have come toge- their hearts contrited before the Lord. Then ther. It has been a comfort to behold the we believe that they will know for themcountenances one of another; and to be selves of his great goodness; and as they sensible of the prevalence of that Christian continue, from time to time, profiting by love and fellowship which invigorate the what they learn in the way of life and salmind, as we pass along the arduous path of vation, but not trusting to it, they will parlife. And we feel it to be a duty to inform take of that living bread which cometh down all our beloved brethren and sisters, that from heaven; they will drink of those living the Lord, in his continued mercy, has en- waters which nourish the soul unto eternal abled us to proceed in the deliberations life. This course of Christian experience of this meeting, in much brotherly love. we earnestly desire for every one amongst What then, dear friends, prevents our us. It is an individual work; but it is inbecoming wholly a spiritually-minded peo-dispensable for all. It may often be slow ple-a church, though small, well compacted in its progress, but it is certain in its effects; and fitted together, and built up in Christ and amongst the blessed consequences which Jesus our Lord? We fear that sin and it produces, we come to have an establishtransgression are separating some amongst ment in Christ, resulting not from any speus from Him, and thus preventing them culative system of belief, but from a heartfrom becoming living branches in the true felt acquaintance with his power inwardly Vine. O that such would apply in faith revealed to the soul. When assailed by to the great Physician; unto Him who false doctrines, or when in the support of hath loved us freely, who would heal our our views of Christian practice, trials are diseases, and present us faultless before the our portion, knowing in whom we have be-presence of his glory. May we all nar-lieved we can look, in humble but firm rerowly examine ourselves in the light of liauce, unto Him. Resignation under the Christ, and see how far we are engaged varied trials incident to human life, is often each to do his part well; that we may, as the happy attainment of the patient, Chrisa religious body, shine with brightness: tian traveller: these may arise to him from with that brightness, which, if the fault were not our own, the Lord, in his unmerited goodness, would cause to break forth amongst us. Vital Christianity consisteth not in words but in power; and however important it is Jude 24. outward afflictions, or from the privation of the society of faithful Christian friends: be may be cast down from not feeling those evidences of the love of God, or of the clear guidance of the Spirit of Truth, which his soul would desire. But a frequent recurrence to past mercies, and to numberless blessings still bestowed upon us, should warm the heart with gratitude; and animate it with the belief, that all these things will be blessed, as means by which we may become of the pure in heart who shall see God. Wait, then, dear friends, upon Him: be of good courage, and he will strengthen your hearts. dnctive of serious injury, which might have been prevented by an early, yet prudent disclosure to those of greater experience. And we recommend to such of our young friends as know and approve what is excellent, and may have been strengthened in some small degree to practise it, not to shrink from modestly yet faithfully counselling their associates in early life, when they may be deviating from the path of duty. A tender caution may be received with peculiar advantage, when those to whom it is given know that their counsellors are still alike subject to the same temptations to which they are exposed; and when, as may sometimes happen, the relative as well as the social tie may call for the extension of a hand of help. There is a humility and sweetness, combined with a noble firmness of character arising from the expansive influence of Christian love, which ought to actuate all our endeavours for the good of others. Strive then, dear friends, that in your benevolent exertions to promote the temporal, the moral, or the religious welfare of your fellow-men, your whole conduct may be marked by an unobtrusive, Christian temper; that wher associated with your friends and neighbours on these occasions, it may be manifest that your great concern is to live under the influence of that wisdom which is from above;* which is pure, peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, without partiality and without hypocrisy, full of mercy and full of good fruits. The pnre exercise of Christian kind Those who have felt the effects of a Saviour's love should be often considering whether they are making an open confession of Him before men, and cherishing the desire that others may become full partakers of the blessings of the Gospel. We speak not here of the preaching of the word; highly as we esteem this, when exercised in the power and life of the Holy Spirit; but of that faithful adherence to sound principle and consistent practice, of which, in our intercourse with the world, we ought to give proof. At the same time it is very important that we abide in true humility and in the fear of the Lord, and that we reverently and patiently wait to know the service assigned to us in the church. All, if they are faithful to the manifestations of the light of truth, may be employed in its service; and as they order their conversation aright, though it may be in the private walks of life, others seeing their good works may be led to glorify our Father who is in heaven. † We have in this meeting been led to the reflection, that one of the great benefits of religious society is, that it places us under the care one of another, and that we are called upon to watch over each other for good. When we see any of our brethren or sisters are overtaken with a fault, or neg-ness brings with it its own reward; but to lecting an important duty, we ought to cherish a solicitude for their improvement; and in that love which would lead them to Christ, to offer such counsel or encouragement as we may think best calculated to help them. Much depends on the manner in which advice is offered, and on our embracing the right opportunity to convey it. If it should not immediately have a salutary effect, we are not to be too much discouraged; we ought to take heed that we become not impatient or discomposed, but repeat our efforts in the spirit of love and forbearance. The result of this Christian concern for our friends is often greater than is at the time apparent. In the exercise of this duty, it becomes those who have the earliest opportunity of knowing the faults of others, seriously to consider on all occasions whether they ought not to endeavour to reclaim them before they disclose the matter to another.. At the same time we believe it has often happened, that the lengthened concealment of the errors of our friends from those who were best qualified to advise them, has been pro * Matt. v. 8. + Matt. v. 16. be pure, it must have its origin in the love of God, which produces love to man; and the satisfaction is never so great, the efforts are never so steady, as when we continually bear in mind, that we are to commit all our exertions to the blessing of Him whose providential eye is over all, and who is continually caring for the workmanship of his holy hand. Our friends of Ireland, and of each of the yearly meetings in America, have been brought to our remembrance with feelings of Christian love, by the reading of the epistles which they have respectively addressed to us. It has been very acceptable to find that our brethren on the other side of the Atlantic are in various places alive to the enormities of Slavery; and diligent in their endeavours to expose the iniquity of the internal Slave-trade carried on in the southern and south-western states of the union. The desolating and widely extended effects of this dreadful traffic, whether we turn our attention to Africa, to America, and the West India islands, or to other parts of the globe, are indeed enormous and * James iii. 17. mournfully distressing. Much remains to is free, the exercise of it is to be free be done before this foul disgrace is removed also; that the office is to be filled by those from the Christian name; but we are com-only who feel themselves called of God forted in believing that, not only in this through the power of the Holy Spirit, who country but elsewhere, the cause of the op- in their preaching, as well as in their cirpressed is gaining ground; and as its advo- cumspect lives and conversation, are giving cates continue to labour with zeal and per-proof of this call. Impressed as we are severance in the spirit of the Gospel, we with these views, we feel ourselves couentertain no doubt that they will have fresh scientiously restrained from the payment of cause to rejoice; and that ultimately, Sla- those demands which are made for the supvery, with the vices resulting from it, will port of such a system; or from any com. be unknown amongst the subjects of those promise whereby such a payment is to be governments where the pare and just pre insured. A forced maintenance of an escepts of Christianity are professed. tablished ministry is, in our apprehension, The amount of the sufferings of our mem-a violation of those great privileges which bers, as reported to this meeting, includ-God, in his wisdom and goodness, designed ing the charges of distraint, is upwards of to bestow upon the human race, when he fourteen thousand six hundred pounds. sent his Son to redeem the world, and by We have no cause to believe that our the power of the Holy Spirit to lead and ancient testimony against all ecclesiastical guide mankind into all truth. demands is losing ground amongst us, but Whilst thus setting forth the grounds we think it right to revive in your remem-of this testimony, we gratefully remember brance those considerations which led to the kindness with which our religious scraits adoption, and which induced our pious ples are often regarded by those who have predecessors to undergo many and grievous to support and to enforce the laws by which hardships in its support. You know, be- we are affected. loved friends, that it has been the uniform Dear friends-As we have been permitted belief of our Society, that our blessed Lord at this time unitedly to partake of the merand Saviour, by his coming, put an end to cies of our Heavenly Father, and to feel that priesthood, and to the provision for its our confidence in Him to be renewed, in support, as well as to those ceremonial the belief that He is watching over us as usages, which were before ordained; and a religious society for good, may we all that He came to introduce a dispensation, so live in his fear, that we may availingly pure and spiritual in its nature. The pre-pray for his blessing: so acknowledge Him' sent system of tithes, against which our in all our ways that He may direct our paths early friends as well as ourselves have borne whilst here, and finally grant us an admistestimony, was no institution of our holy sion into his heavenly kingdom through Jesus Head and High-priest, the great Christian Christ our Lord. In the love of the GosLawgiver. It had no existence in the purest pel we cordially bid you farewell. aud earliest age of the Church; but was gradually introduced as superstition and apostacy spread over the Christian world. It is further our belief, and it has been uniformly that of the Society, that the ministry of the Gospel is to be without money and without price; that as the gift Signed in and on behalf of the meeting, by JOSIAH FORSTER, * Prov. iii. 6. INTELLIGENCE. DOMESTIC. which contain much valuable and important information. It seems that very BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. few of those Institutions can co-operate The Report of this Institution, lately with the British and Foreign Bible Sopublished, contains an Appendix of very ciety, on the principles adopted at the interesting documents. Among them is two last annual meetings; inasmuch as a collection of letters received from the Bibles used on the Continent have, Bible Societies on the Continent, rela- from time immemorial, contained the tive to the exclusion of the Apocrypha, Apocryphal writings. The Committee |