EVANGELICANA.

morrow morning stand in need of a veil, but not for the same reason that the face of Moses did, on his descending the mount, to temper is lustre,→ but to shroud its loathsomeness and deformity ! Consider what hath been said, and set a watch on the door of your lips,' and keep the heart with all diligence.'

ILLUSTRATION OF 1 KINGS II. 9.

his

FOR want of attending to the frequent use of a small Hebrew particle this passage has generally been misunderstood, and the character of David misrepresented. Dr. Delany, in his Life of David, observes, That the particle vau, rendered in our translation but, should bave been rendered, as in similar cases, not connectively, but disjunctively, nor. For instance Agur (Prov. xxx. 8) beseeches God to keep him from the extremes both of poverty and wealth. If the VAD were to be rendered connectively, the peti tion would run thus: Give me not poverty and riches; which is absurd. In the same analogy, this verse, rightly rendered, will stand thus: Now, therefore, hold him not guiltless (for thou art a wise man, &c.) nor hoary Lead bring thou down to the grave with blood; that is, as Parkhurst observes, for his past offences against David. Accordingly, Solomon held him not guiltless, by confining him to Jerusalem, under pain of death; and when he violated this condition, to which he himself had expressly as sented and sworn, Solomon, for this fresh offence, as a wise man, caused him fo die; and so Jehovab eventually returned Shimei's wickedness against David on his own head. This interpretation fully explains the text; and acquits David of the charge of cruelty and treachery in his conduct towards Shimei. See Parkhurst's Heb. Lex. p. 186, third edit. Dr. Kennicott's Remarks on Select Passuges of the Old Testament, p. 131.

Dear Sir,

JUVENILE DEPARTMENT.

EDMUND JEFFERIES,

born July 1, 1795, died August 22, 1809, aged 14.

To the Editor.

I am happy that you have devoted a portion of your valuable Magazine to the Instruction of the Young. The following Narrative may be useful in your Juvenile Department, the case coming under my own knowledge when on a visit last year to Bristol and Kingswood; and affords another proof that the Lord has not forsaken his church. had the pleasure to preach a funeral sermon for the youth who is the s bject of it, at Kingswood, among the Colliers; and I think a more affecting sight I never beheld. There were at least 7 or 800 young persons from the surrounding neighbourhood present on the occasion; and their serious and attentive manner was truly delightful. If you will have the goodúess to insert it, you will greatly oblige yours, respectfully,

Brixton Place.

T. JACKSON, parents, and to be At a very early circumspect in his When he was not

It was Edmund's privilege to be born of pious trained up from his infancy in the good ways of God. period he experienced serious impressions, and was very conduct he was remarkably afraid of telling a tie. more than five years of age, a young man in the neighbourhood died., His mother observed, she hoped he was gone to Heaven. He replied, 0, mother, we are all sinners! and there is no way to Heaven but by the merits of Christ!" When he was about eight years of age, his parents re sided at Bath; where he was exposed to temptations and childish follies, from the number of bøys around him. This, however, only afforded an

opportunity for them to discover the state of his mind; for he would never associate with any one who was in the habit of using bad words; and if he heard swearing, or any improper conversation in the streets, he would turn away from it, and make some serious remarks on its sinfulness. He would, at this early period, often exhort his sister; telling her, that if she was wicked, where Christ was she could never come. When he was about ten years of age, he began to be afflicted with an abscess; which eventually Occasioned his death. Under this long and painful affliction, the power of divine grace upon his mind appeared conspicuous. He manifested much patience and resignation to the divine will; often saying, he believed his heavenly Father had afflicted him in mercy, About two months before his death he was greatly exercised about the safety of his state; and often said, he feared he was not personally interested in the blood and righteousness of Jesus. He was convinced, that unless he was born again, he could not enter into the kingdom of God: he said this was a truth he had often heard from the pulpit, but now he felt the need of it. He was very con stant in his attendance on social prayer-meetings in the neighbourhood; and would often lament that he could not pray like those who took the lead in these exerc ses. When he could no longer walk to the tabernacle at Kingswood, where his family worshipped, and being very desirous of altending public worship, his father, being a wheelwright, readily procured him a conveyance. Thus while many thoughtless youth around him, who were blessed with health, were profauing the Sabbath, would he beg and entreat that he might be conveyed to the house of God. There, he used to say, he could learn the good and the right way. He would often, upon his return, complain of wandering thoughts under the word; and would shut his eyes when hearing, that he might not be diverted by any external objeet. When those who visited him expressed their satisfaction as to the safety of his state, he would say, he often doubled for himself, for he had committed sins enough to damn him. His affliction increasing, he mani, fested increasing solicitude about the salvation of his soul; saying, he was not anxious whether he lived or died, if he did but know his interest in Christ. As his end drew near, his doubts and fears subsided. On one oc casion, when some medicine was administered to him, he requested that he might not have any more, saying, I desire not to live, for I am in Heaven already;' exclaiming, O what should I do now, if Christ had not suffered for me! I should have been lifting up my eyes in everlasting burning! Some time after this, the enemy of souls was permitted to buffet him; and he expressed his tears with much solicitude. H's sister, of whom he was very fond, being from home, he wished to see her before his departure; and one of his friends observing him apparently somewhat agitated, informed him his sister would soon arrive upon which he replied, No, no I love my sister; but Christ is at this time more precious to me than any one else When his heart and his flesh were failing, bis mother expressed a hope that he would revive; upon which he replied, O mother, I shall revive in Heavep! Some time after, his father asked him if he still feared Christ would not save him, he answered, No; he will save!' but in so low a tone of voice, that he could not be distinctly understood. The question being repeated, he appeared to summon up the little strength which remained, and answered, with much energy, O yes, he will save me he will save me! he will not cast me off! This confidence continued until the last. Reviving a little, he said, O dear, I am afraid I shall live till the morning! I long to depart, and to be with Christ, I long to be gone.' Then clasping his father's hand in his own, he exclaimed, Come, come, come " In a few minutes after, he said Ee is coming, he is coming! and fell asleep in Jesus. What a lesson dees this short narrative (which contains only a small part of what he expressed) teach to every young person!-May you, my young leaders, go and imitate his example, and seek an interest in his Saviour, is the s.notre wish of yours, affectionately,

·

T. J.

Death of ROBERT DONALDSON, a pious Boy, Ten Years of Age. He was an amiable, sensible, serious youth, -an only son, and the only surviving child of his parents. His days, though few, were marked with wisdom and piety, which would have done honour to mature age, and not have disgraced the hoary head. A delicate state of health, and the retired habits of his parents, tended to produce reflection and sedateness, and were favourable to the growth and vigour of his mental faculties. Of no common capacity, and thirsting after knowledge, he soon learned to read; and the Bible held the first place in his estimation and perusal. Young Robert manifested deep reverence for God and divine things; and secret prayer was his daily practice and pleasure. It might be expected that such a child would honour and obey his father and mother; and towards them his conduct was most exemplary. Mild and placid, courteous and kind, his manners were engaging to all; and he discove ed a sense of propriety and delicacy far above his years. He had a particular dread and abhorrence of lying; and carefully avoided the company of immoral and mischievous school-fellows; but took great delight in well-behaved and good children. Fond of public ordinances, and devout on attending them, he might have furnished a pattern to grown men. Such was his acquaintance with the book of God, that when a passage of Scripture was quoted from the pulpit, tho' the chapter and verse were not mentioned, he could easily find it out; and his little fingers were often engaged in this employ. A small book Jerment's Early Piety) was precious and useful to his soul. During an illness of five months, his gracious principles and temper shone with a heavenly lustre. In the time of sore trouble here was the faith and patience, the hope and love, of the pardoned, adopted, renewed child. He never tasted food or medicine, without expressing thankfulness to God, and imploring the divine blessing. Even when but one expression of apparent murmuring dropped from his lips, it touched his religious sensibility to the quick. Desirous, as was natural and lawful to him, he became, by divine grace, wonderfully reconciled to death; and could hear of it with composure, and even with satisfaction. The last sermon which this dear youth heard, was on a subject which he had begun to apply particularly and closely to himself, and which had lost all its terrors to his soul: David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, and was gathered to his fathers, and saw corruption.' - Strong was his wish to see the Lord's Supper celebrated in Oxendon chapel, on the second Sabbath of April, this year; but he was too distant and too weak to attend.

The day before his death, the pious and patient sufferer being scarcely able to speak, gave, by appropriate signs, satisfying answers to questions proposed by his minister concerning his dependence on Jesus Christ, love to the Saviour, and a desire to be with him. Sensible that the time of his departure was at hand, he requested the 25th chapter of St. Matthew might be read; and distinguished it by the Parable of the Virgins. Indeed, during his illness he frequently desired that portions of the bock might be read; and when asked What portion ?" he uniformly replied, "Read about Christ, read about Christ!' Early in the morning of the day on which he died, he said, None can enter Heaven till they are washed in the blood of Christ' an evidence on what subjects his mind was musing and resting, in the ageries of dissolution. Fervently he prayed' God be merciful to me a sinner!' and not long thereafter exclaimed, Bless the Lord, O my soul, who forgiveth all thine iniquities!' Within an hour of his death he requested his father, who was sitting sorrowful and silent, to speak about Christ: a request readily granted; and the redeemed soul passed from hearing and believing to seeing, possessing, and enjoying for tver. Ilis death was improved at Oxendon chapel the following Lord's Day, May 15, in a discourse from Malt. xxv. 13, Watch, therefore,' &c.

Obituary.

what alarmed by conviction of some sins, and by reflection on her general conduct in the prospect of death. She expressed a hope she might yet recover; and requested my opinion. I said her complaint was a very flattering one; and advised her not to encourage any hope of recovery. She mentioned this again, on my second visit. I told her 'she could not recover; and begged she would not think any thing more of it; and from that time she gave up all thought of living, nor did she ex press any desire of it. When I first saw her, she acknowledged she was a great sinner, and appeared concerned about the pardon of her sing: but she knew nothing about the way of obtaining it. I therefore pointed out the divine revealed character as a just God and a Saviour;' and held up to her the encouraging words of our Lord: Seek, and ye shall find,' &c. 1 exhorted her to prayer. She said, she did not know how to express he self; and requested me to assist her, by praying with her. She said she had found a prayer, in a book I lent her mother, which she thought suitable; but she wanted information and assistance. She found herself encouraged; and, on my taking leave, she begged me to come again soon. I went to see her every day, and sometimes twice a day, for near a fortnight before she died. Her falner perceived a revival and return of spirits and strength, and a pleasing alteration, with respect to the peev shness, impatie..ce, and dissatisfaction she had

died at Stratford, April 16, 1808. ABOUT nine years before, she was bereaved of her mother, who endured a long and painful illness, with good evidence of divine teaching and support, which excited much sur prize in the family, who made no profession of religion. Mary, the eldest daughter, and the subject of this Obituary, was of a delicate frame and consumptive habit. Her temper was naturally irritable and perverse; and in the early stage of her disorder, she could not be prevailed on either to regulate her diet, or take proper medicine. Thus her complaint increased till her cough became very bad, and her whole frame debilitated; but notwithstanding these circumstances, she Battered herself she should be better when the spring came. She had some convictions at times, which she stifled; and discovered a strong aversion to religious subjects, and to any serious conversation. About a fortnight before she died, perceiving her disorder rapidly increasing, she asked her father whether he thought she might recover. He replied,d'scovered heretofore; and she no should be glad if that were to be the case; but from that which I see in you, and have seen in others, I fear you cannot.' She said, "If it be so, I think it is time for me to have Some one to visit me, who can instruct, advise, and, pray with and Do you know a suitable

for me.
person?" Her father said, It is
too late to night: I will a tend to it
early in the morning.' In the mora-
ing, she asked again; and he sent
for the writer of this narrative.

On being sent for, I cheerfully went to see her; and found her in a very weak state of body, and some

longer obstinately refused any medicise adapted to relieve her. Finding her so much revived, and capable of sitting up in her bed, I advisd her to read, whilst her slength would ad nit, sme part of that hest of al hooks, the Bible; and some of Mr. Burder's Village Serm ns. These she read; and thought them very suitable, and was thankful for them. They proved a mean of much speedy mruction, respecting hersif, and of the only way of salvation. She now saw, that if ever she was saved, it must be freely by the gracs of Cod, in Christ. She re