God, I cannot, with a good conscience, swear to them, and I dare not. Mental reservation I regard as a very great sin; and should I, knowingly, commit any one sin?"

"It was on Wednesday evening, October 26, [1831,] that I held my last public service [at Carlshuld]. The thought that this was the last meeting for devotional edifyingthe last public word that I should address to my beloved, my dear parishioners-affected me very powerfully. They were assembled, and deeply distressed. I followed them into the poor, but to me so endeared, hovel of a church. As I mounted the pulpit, they sang, with loud sobs and crying, the following verse." [Six lines of a German hymn, expressing dependence on the Lord Jesus, as the immovable foundation.]

Then follows Mr. L.'s brief account of his address, which consisted chiefly in reading Acts xx. 18-38, and ending, "Thus, then, alas! my beloved, my dear people, I close. Remain faithful to the gospel-truth which ye have been brought to know, and the grace of God which ye have experienced. Stick fast to the Lord and his word, and let nothing draw you away from him. Out of him is no salvation; but in HIM ye have found pardon, righteousness, and eternal life. Therefore, hold fast that which ye have, that no one take your crown!"

In his subsequent narrative he says,—

"Never can I forget that evening hour, that farewell from my beloved parish. Oh, that they all, who have in faith acknowledged Christ as the one ground of salvation for time and eternity, may continue firm to that ground, so long as they dwell here below! The Lord grant them courage and strength to remain faithful to him, and that nothing may lead them to err from his person and his cause! They are sheep of his pasture; and none shall pluck them out of his hand."Historical Notices, Part IV. p. 83—87.

In his deeply touching printed Farewell Address, he says, "I determined to know, to preach, and, by the grace of God, to plant nothing in your hearts but Jesus Christ, and him crucified; since I am convinced, from Scripture, from history, and from my own

REV. DR. A. CLARKE.

and others' experience, that, except CHRIST CRUCIFIED, no other foundation can be laid for faith, righteousness, and life. I have kept back nothing, but have made known to you the whole counsel of God for your salvation. And, praise and thanks unto his name! it has not been fruitless. Of many, very many, the Lord has opened the hearts, that they have been enabled to believe, embrace, and enjoy, what was preached to them. Now, hold fast that which ye have, that no one rob you of your crown!' Continue faithful to the gospel-truth which ye have acknowledged, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, which ye have experienced; and take ye notice, that I even now know no other way to life, righteousness, and blessedness, than that which I have a thousand and a thousand times represented and recommended to you. If, then, I myself, or an angel from heaven, should declare to you another gospel, or preach any other way of salvation, than that which, through my ministry of five years, I have made known unto you, let him be accursed: Gal. i. 8-12. And if I should (which the Lord, for his own name's sake, preserve me from!) be so unhappy as to prove unfaithful to the truth and grace which is in Christ, yet stand ye firm; for it is not in me, but in CHRIST, that ye have believed, as the foundation and fountain of all wisdom, righteousness, and salvation. Nor has it been by any efficiency of mine that ye have believed on him, but ye have known and experienced him in your ownselves as perfect Wisdom and Grace."Words of Exhortation, Advice, and Comfort, to my late Parishioners on the Danube Moss, p. 4, 5.

Oh, reader! who have never known what such fiery trials mean as those of poor Lutz and his endangered flock, pray, pray for them, with the holy agony of compassion! Surely they will not "turn aside into crooked ways! For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous, lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts!" --Psalm cxxv. 3-5.

Ir is our melancholy task to record the death of this eminent divine, and truly amiThe sorrowful event took place able man. on Lord's-day evening, the 26th August, at the house of Mr. Hobbs, Bayswater, to which the venerable doctor had repaired, with the hope of preaching at the anniversary of the Methodist chapel in that place. He arrived on the Saturday, and was in eternity on the following evening! He fell a victim to ma

of apoplexy. The date of this sad event we have not yet learned. How greatly will such an individual be missed! No man in Great Britain understood better the merits of the Roman Catholic controversy, and few ever rendered greater public service than he did, by the publication of his admirable work, entitled "" The Protestant."

REV. JOSEPH KINGHORN, OF NORWICH.

We regret to announce the death of this great and good man, the well-known antagonist of Robert Hall, on the subject of free communion among Christians. Though we regarded him in error upon this subject, we always looked upon him with profound respect and esteem. His death took place on the 1st day of September, in the sixty-seventh year of his age, and the forty-fourth of his ministry. His loss is greatly felt in a large and respectable circle, to whom he had endeared himself, not more by the integrity of his character, than by the primitive simplicity of his manners, and the devout earnestness of his piety.

Selina Huntingdon Hopkins was born at Chatham on the 5th of September, 1811. Her parents were members of the church enjoying the pastoral superintendence of the Rev. Joseph Slatterie; and the name which they agreed to give their infant daughter indicated their solicitude that she might become a follower of the faith, and an imitator of the excellence, by which the late Countess of Huntingdon was more graced than by her coronet. And who can say what influence may have been exerted on their own parental prayers and training, by the reflection, that they had given their child a designation that would be utterly inconsistent with a character of frivolity and irreligion? And who can say how far her own mind may have been influenced by the consciousness that she bore such

a name?

At the commencement of the year in which this infant was born, a youth was sent forth, while yet a stripling, from the church of which her parents were members, to study for the ministry in one of our metropolitan academies. They, probably, joined in commending him to the office of the ministry; and their prayers, it may be presumed, were uplifted, that usefulness might attend his career. But

VOL. X.

little were they aware that in him the instrumentality was in course of preparation by which their best wishes, as parents, were to be fulfilled. That youthful candidate for the ministry visited, from time to time, the place "from whence he had been commended to the grace of God;" and, occasionally stammering out his message among them" who were in Christ before him," he knew, perhaps, what it was to be "a prophet in his own country." Ere long, the student became a pastor in a remote province, still revisiting, at intervals, the friends who had constituted his early religious connexions.

Having become a pastor of more than ten years' standing, it was his lot to occupy the pulpit on occasion of a visit to Chatham in October 1826. Selina had now attained her fifteenth year, and was one of his hearers on the evening of the last Lord's-day in the month. These words of the holy seer of Patmos furnished the text of the evening,

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." Selina had often felt that all was not right with her, and had occasionally made the resolution of self-dedication to God; but hitherto her convictions had not led to decision, and the act of self-dedication had been postponed. Now she verified the awe of judgment, and found herself ranked among the parties who had An appeal was made pierced the Saviour. to the children of pious parents, and unutterable emotions were awakened in her bosom. She looked on him whom she had pierced, and mourned and was in anguish. Her heart was broken with a sense of sin; tears streamed from her eyes; and prayer spontaneously burst from her inward spirit. The word had come "in power, and in the Holy Ghost."

For a time the young convert was overwhelmed with anxiety. Great were her searchings of heart, and diligent were her inquiries after scripture truth. A state of sickness immediately succeeded, and furnished at once new motive and opportunity of solemn investigation. With an appalling discovery of the evil of sin, she did not clearly apprehend how its forgiveness could comport with divine justice. At length the work of Christ unfolded itself to her illuminated mind, in all its wondrous adaptation to her necessity; she discerned the efficacy of his propitiatory blood; and she felt her whole heart engaged by the marvellous, boundless love which he had displayed. Peaceful hours succeeded, the recollection of which recurred, with peculiar sweetness, in seasons of subsequent trial. Her sickness now became a season of meek submission and spiritual enjoyment. Many passages of scripture are enumerated in her private papers, as cheering her mind under her affiction. She became conscious of a great in2 T

ward change; and she records the tokens of it with the lowliest humility, and the liveliest gratitude.

In due time, when its permanence had made her conversion unquestionable, Selina was admitted to the fellowship of the church; and, with the ordinary privileges of membership, she had the special comfort of a pastor whose counsels she greatly prized, and whose person she tenderly venerated. Her surrender of herself to her God was most unreserved, and cannot be better expressed than in her own words:-" Receive now, I beseech thee, thy revolted creature, who desires nothing so much as that she may be thine. To thee I leave the management of all events: do with me as thou shalt think fit."

It seemed fit to her heavenly Father severely to try her. In the year 1829 she was called to minister to a sick mother, to behold her gradually approaching to the grave,—and at length to find her already departed, at a moment when she was not in expectation of the sad event. It was a heavy stroke; but Selina upbraided herself for the selfish wish which would rise within her, that her mother might return. Her affectionate heart would often imagine her yet lying on the couch where she had been wont to minister to her; and then the thought, that the scene to which she had become so familiarized should know her no more, became almost intolerable; but she wrestled with God for a resigned spirit; comfort was vouchsafed; she seemed almost to catch a glimpse of her sainted parent's glorified form, and the sound of her melodious song. Then she would anticipate, with delight, the bliss of a re-union,-an event which the delicacy of her own health led her to regard as not very distant.

New afflictions came with the year ensuing. Selina herself was brought to the borders of the grave; and two of her sisters were removed by death in the space of a few months. At first she was nearly stunned by the twofold stroke, and was ready to regard it as the token of divine indignation; but "when the enemy came in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord lifted up a standard against him." She had a well-grounded assurance of her sisters' blessedness, and had witnessed, with delight, the supports of grace in the dark "valley of the shadow of death." These are the sentiments penned by her, on a review of the bereavements she had experienced :-"O how sweet is the thought, that my dear mother, two dear sisters, and three dear infants are in the presence of Jesus, serving him day and night in his temple,' and singing, 'Unto him that hath loved us, and washed us in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God, to him be glory, dominion, and power for ever and ever!' Happy souls!yes, I rejoice in the thought, that you are happy. Great as my grief has been in parting from you, I do rejoice that you are freed

from sin, sorrow, and suffering, and that you will be for ever with the Lord.""

Many instructive passages might be selected from the journal of this interesting young Christian, illustrative of her earnest desire to be usefully employed in her Lord's service. Had health allowed, she would, no doubt, have been found actively engaged in every work of feminine zeal; but her's were the scenes of sickness, and the graces demanded were such as are required in ministering to domestic affliction, and in enduring the strokes of fatherly discipline.

Her affectionate nature evinced itself in

every relation. She was well adapted to soothe the sorrows of a widowed father, and was formed for the intercourse of Christian friendship. Her pastor was equally venerated and beloved. The preacher, whose instrumentality was first blessed to her, she constantly designated "her minister." His visits are once and again named in her journal. Her record for the close of 1830 refers to three or four discourses which she had heard

him preach at that period, from which she had derived a large measure of delight and profit. Referring to the exhibition of his love, "who spared not his own Son," she exclaims, "O what a feast was it!" and, speaking of the preacher, she adds, "This may be the last meeting we may have on earth; but I trust we shall meet again in heaven. The last time I saw my dear minister, two from our circle had been taken to their eternal home; and the time before, I was lamenting the death of my dear mother. Before he comes again, I may be mourning for a beloved brother. The time must soon come, when we shall all appear before the throne, to give an account of the deeds done in the body. O may we be an unbroken family at thy right hand, where we shall meet to part no more. O how cheering is the thought of meeting dear friends, (from whom we have felt it hard to part here on earth, though only perhaps for a few months or weeks) where separation shall be done away-for we shall part no more for ever!"

The anticipations expressed in these lines were fulfilled. The farewell with the minister referred to, was the final farewell on earth. Her brother was, in a few short months, laid in the grave. She herself was removed in the course of the year. Her own sickness commenced with the year 1831; and such was her debilitated condition, that when the crisis of her brother's illness approached, she was removed from home; nor was she brought back till his funeral had been solemnized. When she discovered that he had expired, and that his poor remains were removed, without her being permitted to take a last farewell, it was too much for her affectionate and debilitated nature. Reason staggered-she fancied that her own obsequies were about to take place, and calmly and eagerly demanded to be laid

in her coffin, and conveyed to her grave. Upon being removed into the country, her mind regained its tone. Depression of spirits was not immediately removed; but, ere long, her consolations were made to abound.

The period of her blissful translation was at hand; and she anticipated it with intelligent, lowly, and calm delight. On the last morning of her life, she saluted her father with these expressions:-"I am still here;— I have been very happy in prayer to God this morning; he will not leave me, he will not forsake me." She told her nurse that it would be her last day. She continued till eleven o'clock at night. Her powers were preserved to the last, and she frequently breathed out these words, " Lord Jesus, receive my spirit-Come, Lord Jesus, come!" She expired on the 21st of August, 1831, not having quite completed her twentieth year.

Happy mother! already surrounded with so many of her redeemed children! Happy father! bereaved, indeed, but privileged to witness the blissful departure of so many of his household to the safe and eternal home of the skies! ROFFENSIS.

REV. RICHARD FLETCHER.

On Wednesday, June 27th, 1832, died, after about two days' illness, which he bore with Christian meekness and resignation, the Rev. Richard Fletcher, in the sixty-seventh year of his age, and the thirty-fifth of his public ministry.

On finishing his studies at Newport Pagnell Academy, in 1797, he accepted of the unanimous invitation of the Independent church and congregation at Bicester, Oxon, and was ordained to the pastoral office in May, 1799. From that period, till the last Sabbath which he spent on earth, he continued a faithful and diligent labourer in that part of the Lord's vineyard.

Though he did not see the good effects of his labours to the extent which he earnestly desired, he was not suffered to labour in vain, or to spend his strength for nought. There are, we believe, many who are now with himself surrounding the throne of God, who form his joy and crown of rejoicing; and there are some still living on earth who gratefully acknowledge him as having been instrumental, in the hands of God, in their conversion, and in promoting their spiritual comfort and edification. Such can bear testimony to the fidelity with which he delivered the whole counsel of God-to the fervour and spirituality with which he supplicated the throne of grace, and to the affection and tenderness which he always manifested in his pastoral visits; and especially in the chamber of affliction : "He was gentle among them,

even as a nurse cherisheth her children." His feeling and tender heart was soon affected by the sight of human woe, and

prompted him to afford all the relief in his power. His disposition was naturally kind and amiable; and the grace of God had given to it additional tenderness and loveliness. To do good, and communicate, was his delight; and he needed no higher reward than the happiness which he felt in the exercise of Christian benevolence.

His humility was sincere and genuine. Retired and unassuming, he sought not the notice or applause of men. He thought lowly of himself, and he did not wish that any should think more highly of him than they ought to think. There was, in his spirit and conduct, much of the meekness and gentleness of Christ; and he was enabled, by divine grace, to honour God by his consistent deportment, as well as by his active and persevering exertions.

Animated by the love of Christ, and compassion for the souls of others, he pursued his ministerial course with steady perseverance. Difficulties and discouragements did not cool his ardour, or check his labours. He acted from principle, and knew that the command and will of God, and not the degree of success we may meet with, is the rule by which our conduct should be regulated.

During his public ministry he enjoyed an unusual measure of bodily health. For more than thirty-two years he was confined by illness only one entire Sabbath. He was accustomed to preach three times on the Lord'sday, and once or twice in the week; and he did not devote to the service of God that which cost him nothing. The numerous manuscript sermons which remain in his study, are a monument of his unwearied and diligent labours in preparing for the services of the sanctuary. From these it appears that he preached more than eight thousand times at Bicester and other parts of the Lord's vineyard. The two sermons which he preached on the last Sabbath he spent on earth, were prepared, apparently, with more than usual care; and those who had the privilege of hearing them can bear testimony to the fervour and deep feeling with which they were delivered. That in the morning from 1 Peter i. 4, 5: "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time," led him to contemplate that world of immortal purity and happiness, in which he was soon after called to enter. In the evening he preached from Numbers xvi. 48 : "And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stayed;" a subject particularly adapted to the painful circumstances of this town and neighbourhood, at that time visited with the cholera, by which many of the inhabitants had been suddenly removed from time to eternity. He felt deeply the solemn situation in which he