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be could not but at times feel considerable depression in the want of her society. However, it was so ordered in the course of Providence, that he should shortly after remove to Bristol with his family, where, as it respected his worldly concerns, it was his lot to move in a more ele. vated sphere than before; and where he soon after became acquainted with The worthy person who proved to be his second wife; but here the goodness of God towards him was remarkable, for never were two persons united more congenial in sentiment, especially on religious subjects; and few instances have occurred, wherein any two persons have more uniformly studied to render each other happy. She was admirably calculated to render his declining years comfortable; and the consideration of this circumstance would at times almost overwhelm him with gratitude to God for the care of his good providence towards him.

For about 10 years his union with this excellent woman lasted; when it pleased God to deprive him, in a most unexpected manner, of this his greatest earthly blessing. The shock, as might have been expected, was very great; but he was enabled to bear it in a manner beyond the expectation of many. With Christian fortitude he submitted to the bereavement, not doubting his heavenly Father must have had in view the accomplishment of some wise design, probably to raise his affections entirely above the world, and it him for his own great change, which was so shortly to take place, At the grave, one of his friends told him she believed he would soon follow his beloved wife, although at the time there was no particular indication of his speedy removal. However, such was the event; for in about six months after, he was called to follow her to that bright world where sin and sorrow for ever cease; and thus, like the waters of some ample stream, svered by the piers of a stately bridge, they speedily reunited in incllabis glory!

Although Mr. D. was not favoured with that sudden transition from earth to Heaven, which is dear

partner experienced, yet, there was nothing particulaly distressing in his last illness. It was happy for him that, when the time of his departure arrived, he had nothing to do but to die; yet, it must be admitted, he had some little dread of the passage through the swellings of Jordan. However, the event proved that his fears were groundless. He did not appear to endure, even in his dying moments, that excruciating torture which falls to the lot of many. The pain of body he felt during his illness he was enabled to bear with patience and resignation to the divine will. His mind was in a great degrec tranquil, and his faith fixed on the Rock of Ages. The atonement and perfect righteousness of the God-man were the foundation of his hopes; and he rested fully on the veracity of that God, who hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee!'

A day or two prior to his death, one of his sons, being on the point of commencing one of his regular journies, and impressed with the thought that, he should never more behold his dear father in this world, waited on him for the last time. In this interview he was anxious to ascertain the state of his father's mind; and O! how delightful was it to hear the venerable saint, at the close of such a long Christian course, express his unshaken confidence in God and his faith in the Lord Jesus! Many, many years,' said he, has it been a matter beyond a question with me, - My perfect salvation through the complete work of my adorable Redeemer. Of my interest in my blessed, blessed Jesus, I have no more doubt than I have of my existence !' In the most satisfactory manner did he thus express himself, to the no small consolation of his surviving relatives and friends; and thus was he enabled, through ́divine grace, to triumph in the near approach of death."

After a short illness, his happy spirit was released from the earthly tabernacle, on the 23d of November 1809, in the 67th year of his age.

A suitable oration was delivered at the interment, by the Rev. Mr,

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Sloper; and an interesting sermon was preached at the Tabernacle, Bristol, on, the following Sabbath evening, by the Rev. Mr. Tozer, of

Taunton.

In the experience of this excellent man, we see exemplified a most-important doctrine, namely, the final perseverance of the saints.' A strong evidence this, that where the great work is begun, it shall be carried on, and finally crowned in eternal glory! This was a doctrine dear to the deceased. It was almost a perpetual subject of rejicing with him, in the midst of his sharpest trials. He knew that he could not miscarry, because his a'd was divine. He had often occasion to lament his inward corruption and deadness ; but, notwithstanding all his crosses and perplexities, he was enabled to live almost 50 years an ornament to his Chistian profession, and at last to finish his cours with joy. May we also die the death of the righteous, and may our last end be like his!

REV. GEORGE GOLD.

JANUARY 29, 1810, died the Rev. George Gold, in his 66th year, hav. ing been nearly 40 years pastor of the Independent Church at West Ham, Essex. He has left a widow and a numerous family. During the last three months of his life, he was confined to his own house, heavily afflicted; but the Lord was with him. His general frame of mind never much elevated,

was serene,

nor much depressed.

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To a neighbouring minister who visited him (Jan. 16) he said, speak ing of the salvation of Christ,' Tell it out, to sinners tell. He saves me without any help of mine! am a poor helpless sinner, full of the deepest need!' When he was requested to say if he repented of the doctrines he had preached, he replied, that he could rest his all upon them, - he would not alter one of them. Concerning death, though he had a very strong impression of its awful natur, he said he had no more fear of dying than of going to lie upon a bed of down. On the

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following Sabbath (the 21s!) he said he had been much disquieted; but in the last two or three days he had found a solid resting-place on the Rock of Ages.

He was buried on Tuesday, Feb. 6, in the meeting-house in which he had so long laboured. The pallbearers were six of his brethren in the ministry: Mr. Barker, of Deptford; M. Stodhart, of London; Mr. Newman, of Old Ford; Mr. Buck, of London; Mr. Parker, of barking; and Mr. Williams, of Ratcliff.

A large concourse of people attended; and Mr. Townsend, of Rotherhithe, delivered the Address at the interment: Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.' Numb. xxvii. 16, 17.

On Lord's Day, Feb. 11, Mr.Stodhart, of London, preached his funeral-sermon to a very crowded audience, from Rev. xxii. 20, He which testifieth these things, saith, Surely, I come quickly,' &c. Mr. Newman also, at Old Ford, noticed his death, from Zech. i. 5,' Your fathers, where are they? - and the prophets, do they live for ever?

RECENT DEATHS.

JANUARY 3, died at Turnham Green, Mr. Campbell, in the 84th year of his age. He was 50 years an Elder in the Scots Church, Crown Court. As a Christian, his piety and spirituality of mind were most exemplary. As an officebearer in the church, bis zeal and fidelity were conspicuous to all. On the 11th of the same month, his mortal remains were interred in Bunhill Fields. The Rev. Mr. Greig, his pastor, spoke over his grave; and the following Sabbath morning preached his funeral sermos, from Eph. ii. 8, the text chosen by himself many months previous to his decease.

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OBITUARY.

On the 18th of the same month, died at his house in Fetter Lane, Mr. George Pirie, in the 60th year of his age, many years member of the church in Crown Court. Besides his sincere and unaffected piety, his d sposition and manners greatly endeared him to all who knew him.

On the 224 of the same month, died at his house in St. George's Fields, Mr. George Rew, sen. in the 57th year of his age; another of the Elders of the Church in Crown Court. In him an unusual portion of humility and self-diffidence were blended, with a great degree of that charity which thinketh no evil. He was ever ready to put the best construction on the conduct of others, while his own deficiencies were strongly felt and lamented. His funeral sermon, and that of Mr. Pirie, were both preached on the same day at Crown Court, by Mr. Greig. The former from 1 Thess. iv. 17; and the latter from Rom. viii. 31, being the last words of Mr. Pirie. At the same time the preacher noticed the death of another member of the church, subsequent to Mr. Rew's decease. To this church God has of late been speaking in loud and solemn accents. May his voice be heard! May it awaken serious reflection, and lead to an en crease of personal and family religion among the relatives of the deceased and the church in general.. Not less than eight members have been removed by death during the last three months.

Died, on the 5th of January, at Hanley, in Staffordshire, Mr. James Greatbatch, aged 57. He had known the precious truths of the gospel upwards of 20 years; during which period his conduct was so becoming his Christian profession, that those who knew him best, all united at his death in saying, He was a good man.' The principal traits in his character may be seen by turning to the following passages of Scripture: Malt. v 3; Phil. ii. 15; 1 Thess. v. 12, 13; James iii. 17 S 1 Pet. iii. 4 (latter part); Rev. ii. 2, And the patience, &c. Thus he lived; and at his death another interesting portion of the sacred volume was emi

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neatly accomplished, viz. Psalm xxxvii. 87, Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace!' His death was improved by his son'(an Itinerant Minister in Lancashire) to a very crowded and attentive congregation.

Bicester, Oxon. aged 44, after a On Tuesday, January 30, died at long and painful illness, which she sustained with exemplary patience wife of the Rev. R. Fletcher, Diss and fortitude, Mrs. Mary Fletcher, following saying will give a fair senting Minister of that place. The view of the general state of her dying bed: I feel it my happiness that I have not now a Saviour to seek; but a Saviour to enjoy!'

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AWFUL PROVIDENCE.

A person of considerable property and eminence in the city of N——, who lived in habits of impiety and profaneness, was seized, a few weeks since, by an indisposition, which induced him to call in a medical genileman; but being disappointed for a time, by his absence from home, Mr. L. fell into a violent agitation, which was vented in horrid imprecations. As soon as the medical geatleman arrived, he was saluted with vollies of oaths. The violence of his agitation broke a blood-vessel; so that oaths and blood continued to flow from his mouth till he could speak no longer; and in this situation he expired! This awful pro

vidence has much affected his medical attendant.-May it operate as a solemn warning to such impious transgressors as Mr. L. who found God 'near him in judgment,'' for as he loved cursing, so it came unto him; and as he clothed himself with cursing, like as with his garment, so it came into his bowe's like water, and like oil into his bones :' from immediate sin he was hurried to instant judgment! Bishop Hall observes, That suddenness of death certainly argues anger, when it finds us in an act of sin. God strikes some, that he may warn ali!'

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REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

Memoirs of the Life and Writings of John Calvin; compiled from the Narrative of Theodore Beza, and other Authentic Documents, accompanied with Biographical Sketches of the Reformation. Byg John Mackenzie. Svo, 9s.

BIOGRAPHY is not less pleasing than beneficial; and when executed upon the avowed principle of the writer, viz, to attend to genuine and attainable excellence of character in the selection of subject' it is calculated to excite admiration and promote our improvement. The work before us consists of an Introduction, containing a Brief Sketch of the History of the Reformation, - Memoirs of Calvin's Life, Memoirs of his Writings,-An Epitome of his Institutes,-and an Appendix, comprizing Biographical Sketches

of the other Reformers.

In the Introduction, Mr. M. properly ascribes the Reformation to the same cause as the first propagation of Christianity, namely, Divine Providence; and shews its friendly aspect to the liberties and happiness of mankind. As this sketch is comprized in 25 pages, it is, as must be supposed, very brief; but it contains some of the most remarkable circumstances in the history of the Reformation, from its dawn, in the time of Wickliffe, to the appearance of Calvin; and concludes with a description of the manner in which our Reformer promoted the cause of the Reformation, extracted from the learned translation of Mosheim.

The first section of the Memoirs gives us an account of the early piety of Calvin, with his rapid progress in literature; which, by his own inclination, was directed to Theology; but though his father procured him a benefice in the eburch; in which, though unordained, he frequently preached, his pursuits were changed, by his father's order, to the study of the law, as the most certain method of acquiring riches and honour.' With this desire be readily complied; for

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having received instructions in the true religion from a relation, and having diligently perused the Scriptures, he began to be disgusted with the errors of the church of Rome, and resolved to renounce her communion. In this place Mr. M. takes an opportunity to shew the value of human learning, in its connection with Christianity, and the importance of early and persevering application to study, as a preparation for future usefulness.

We are informed that, after the death of his father, Calvin resided at Paris; from whence he fled to avoid a persecution, which was occasioned by his friend Nicolas Cap, having spoken freely against public errors in religion, which gave offence to the parliament. On this occasion we have the following just remarks: How ignorant of human nature must they be who are not instructed in this most obvious truth, That opposition only strengthens opinions and confirms prejudices! that it is equally incapable of subduing truth and of suppressing error.'

P. 35.

The persecution which obliged Calvin to quit Paris, favoured the enemies of Truth, and encouraged them to calumniate the reformed religion. This occasioned him to publish his Institutes, to repel their slanders; and learning that ideaswere cherished in Italy favourable to the Reformation, he visited that country; but the infernal vigilance of the Inquisition soon obliged him to flee, even from the court of the Duchess de Ferrare, under whose protection he was placed; but their opposition made his doctrines more generally known; for we learn, at the end of this section, that he preached at Piedmont with such success, that a pillar was erected to commemorate his arrival at Aousta; which exisis to the present time: another proof, among many, of the vanity of any attempts to prevent the progress of truth.

The second section furnishes some incidents in this important life, tu

illustrate the wisdom of God in his mysterious providence; it was, no doubt, the determination of the divine will, that the immediate scene of Calvin's usefulness should be Geneva; which place he was compelled, by the war, to pass through, In an intended journey to Basil or Strasbourg; and though he was prevailed upon by the arguments of a godly, minister and the desires of the Seigneurs to accept a charge in the ministry, he was, for his opposition to error and vice, banished by the influence of a faction which his piety and zeal offended. This caused him to retire to Strasbourg, where he was appointed Professor of Theology, and pastor of a French church. The influence of genuine religion in this part of the Reformer's life, is strikingly exemplified in his affectionate concern for the church at Geneva; and upon the overthrow of the faction which had procured his banishment, he accepted the invitation to return to them, though the income was very inferior to that which he received at Strasbourg.

This section describes the labours of Calvin in detailing the errors he attacked, the enemies with whom he contended, his determined and constant opposition to vice; and cone taios besides, a very interesting letter to Martin Lutber, requesting his opinion upon an important subject. The third section examines the Reformer's conduct to Servetus. After presenting the reader with a correct statement of the fact from authentic documents, the author manifests his candour and impartiality in the following remarks:

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The civil and ecclesiastical ju risprudence of the tribunals, with respect to heresy, was undoubtedly grossly inconsistent with the spirit of Christianity and the principles of equity: but, if we could transport ourselves into that age, and contemplate the circumstances in which Calvin was placed, divesting our minds of prejudice, we should no doubt perceive that the sentence was that of the civil judges, and that they strictly followed the ordinary course of the law; that Calvin followed the judgment of all the

ecclesiastics of his time, and complied with the sanguinary laws of every country in Europe against heretics.

act.

It cannot, however, be denied, that in this instance Calvin acted contrary to the benignant spirit of the gospel. It is better to drop a tear over the inconsistency of human nature, and to bewail those infirmities, which cannot be justified: he declares that he acted conscientiously; and publicly justified the Cranmer acted the same part towards the poor Anabaptists in the reign of Edward the Sixth. This doctrine they had learnt at Rome; and it is certain, that, with a very few exceptions, it was at this time the opinion of all parties. The apostles John and James would have called down fire from Heaven ;Calvin and Cranmer kindled it on earth; this, however, is the only fault of Calvin; - but Let him that is without sin cast the first stone."-p. 91.

In the fourth section, instances are recorded to shew the inflexibility of Calvin in his opposition to vice, the firmness of his faith in severe trials, and his kindness to the persecuted. The unexampled persecution in England and France is here noticed, together with the conduct of the Reformers towards heretics; upon which the author, having referred to the punishment of Gentilis, takes the opportunity to introduce some just remarks on the right of private judgment as a first principle of the reformation, and on the absurdities as well as the wickedness of religious persecution.

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