at her rapturous departure. Her her departed child, and be willing remains were deposited, on Wed- to live a little to pray for those who nesday, November 13, in the Bap-remain let her aged father look to tist burying-ground at Crendon: the Rev. James Crook_supplying there, preached from 1 Cor. xv. 57; and the Rev. W. Hoperaft, pastor of the church at Aylesbury, addressed the spectators at the grave, who were very numerous, and generally deeply affected by the solemn scene. We may learn from the above, 1. The blessing of youthful piety -the deceased soon ripened for glory, and God greatly honoured her in death: " they that seek me early shall find me.' 2. The necessity of remembering our Creator in our youth-she was one Sabbath ill, the next in eternity; and only spent twenty-three years and a little more below: let her youthful companions and readers remember this! 3. The utility of religious tracts, and of sacred history particularly.We hope the esteemed author of Joseph and Jonah will know and take courage when he reads of this fruit of his labours. 4. The benefit of habituating children to read and hear the word of God-she was saved from many evils by hearing and reading at thirteen years of age. 5 The advantages of social religious exercises among young people -she in heaven, and more than one of her nearest relatives on earth, and many more, can testify how these, and private instruction and prayer, are blessed of God. 6. The uncertainty of all human plans for happiness-in about three years brought to God, baptized, united in marriage about two years, removed from, returned to, and departed from her friends by death! 7. Let her sorrowing partner set his affections on things above, where his dearest, earthly, and best heavenly friend, is gone: Jesus will bring her with him, let him rejoice, and prepare to meet her spirit there! Let her brothers dry their tears, learn to take off their expectations of happiness from creatures, and fix them on God alone. Finally, let her beloved mother rejoice in the clear evidence of the eternal felicity of the God of his dear daughter, to bless his latter days, and lead him to her in glory by Jesus' atoning blood: let all her friends learn to prize the company of saints, and to imitate the holy conduct and glowing zeal of those who sleep in Jesus. O Lord, let me die the death of the righteous, and let my latter end be like theirs! June 24, 1817. B. H. B. MRS. GOFFE. MRS. GOFFE, of Birmingham, was brought up at Hook Norton, a village in Oxfordshire, and, early in life, manifested much love to the sanctuary. She joined the church, in her native place, in the year 1808. Being removed by the providence of God to Birmingham, she received an honourable dismission to the church-meeting in Cannonstreet, in that town. She was a person of great cheerfulness, affection, and piety, and much respected by her fellow Christians. Her regular attendance at the house of God before the worship commenced, and the kind encouragement she was accustomed to give the pious young people of her acquaintance, were often noticed. The evening before her death, (May 1,) she said to her family, "We will all go and hear Mr. Birt to-night, he is going a journey for his health-and who can tell, perhaps, some of us may never hear him any more." Mr. Birt's subject was Heb. ix. 27, "It is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment." She paid particular attention to the sermon, and said much respecting it when she returned to the bosom of her family. The next evening, (May 2,) having read several psalms, and charged her daughters to be up early the next morning, that they might have leisure to prepare for the approaching Sabbath, and might be ready to hail its first dawning beams, she retired, as well as usual, to rest. She had scarcely, however, entered her chamber, before She she was struck for death. B. H. D. MRS. ANN MANN. But a divine blessing, this was one of the chief means of the family afterwards arising to comfortable circumstances. When the good man left his work, he was not driven to an ale-house, by finding his own house a scene of confusion and dirt, but had a comfortable welcome to his own fire-side. Yet, however amiable these traits of character were, one thing was wanting in the sight of God-vital godliness. It pleased him, however, in the year 1780, to enlighten her mind by his Spirit, and to renew the heart by his grace. The year following, Mrs. Mann united with the Wesleyan Methodists, and continued connected with that body for some time. During the same year, Mr. Mann had also been received a member of the same community, but seceded the next, and united with the BapMRS. ANN MANN was born attist church at Bridlington. Hunmanby, ten miles south of Scar- Mrs. Mann was not so soon conborough, December 11, 1747. Her vinced of the errors of that system parents were of the middle class in which, under her first serious imsociety, and most entirely devoted pressions, she had embraced, and to the communion of the church of hence held it fast for some time England. At an early age she lost after her husband had changed his her mother, and leaving home, en-theological views. That divine vogaged herself as a servant in a farm-lume which she had most cordially house. Whatever she might have heard of divine things in her father's house, or in the parish church, she appears to have lived in entire neglect of the things which concern the immortal soul, till after she was married: indeed, there is reason to fear also, every thing serious was treated with entire neglect. After it pleased God to bring her wandering soul to himself, she very seldom spoke of those days of vanity; but if ever she adverted to them, it was with humiliation for the follies then committed. In the year 1769, she was a servant with Mr. D. Wilson; and on May the 7th of that year, was married to Mr. Joseph Mann. She now began to apply herself tonished in these years of her life sufher family affairs with the most laud- ficiently interesting to detail; it may able diligence and concern. What- not, however, be deemed impertiever the husband could earn was nent to say a word on her spirit and used with care; and a family, which temper in her own family. The rapidly increased, was most sedu-writer of this article has frequently lously watched over. If her neigh-remarked her peculiar tenderness of hours had time for idle visits, and her husband's reputation. If at any useless conversation, she had no in- time he had manifested an improper clination for either. Perhaps, under temper before his family, and its embraced, was her constant companion when the concerns of a large family allowed opportunity to converse with its sacred contents; and from a perusal of it, and occasionally hearing the Rev. Joseph Gawkrodger, then the Baptist minister at Bridlington, she at length joyfully acceded to the truth of the doctrines of sovereign grace, and became a member of the Baptist church at Bridlington, July 4, 1790, having been baptized the same day by Mr. Gawkrodger. After this period, her conduct was agreeable to her pro fession of faith in Jesus, and her communion with the church truly grateful to her soul. Little is fur eller branches had afterwards aui- on the Lord Jesus: this has much madverted upon it, the affectionate alleviated the affliction." And in and tender wife would always offer another letter, after her removal, he an apology for such inadvertency: adds, "I have now to mourn the and if at any time there had been loss of a beloved wife-we took any warmth of temper apparent sweet counsel together, and shared between herself and Mr. Mann, she the toils of life together more than endeavoured, by all proper means, forty-seven years. She has been an to conceal it. No society ever bore industrious partner, a tender mowitness of Mrs. Mann's reproaching ther, and an affectionate wife. For her husband, or telling of her family nine weeks she has been afflicted, difficulties; a practice most detest- during seven of which she was conable, and yet by no means uncom- fined to her bed, only helped up mon. As a mother, her affectionate once a day to lighten the bed a concern for her children's welfare little. But her sickness was borne was truly great-for them she cared, with exemplary patience: her pains she wept, she prayed, with every were often very great, but I do not lively emotion. However, it pleased remember to have heard her utter a God to shake her tabernacle, and murmuring word. As far as I could give her notice of its approaching learn, she was enabled to trust in fall. During the summer of 1814, the Lord at all times. She was parshe was affected with a slight para- ticularly encouraged by a view of lytic stroke, the effects of which Christ as the Rock of ages;' also, were never wholly removed. Yet by that scripture, The name of the her children fondly hoped that a Lord is a strong tower, the righteous beloved mother would long have runneth into it, and is safe;' and, been spared; and thus she was 'Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, spared in tolerable health, till Sep- to-day, and for ever:' also, 'In my tember, 1816; then it was death Father's house are many mansions." seized her mortal frame, nor relin- A little before she breathed her last, quished his hold till he had brought she pronounced the name of Jesus, the mortal part to the grave. Through but her voice failed, and her spirit this affliction, which was most sefled to his arms. Thus died a bevere and incessant, till death ter- liever in Jesus, December 10, 1816. minated the struggle, faith and pa- | Her mortal remains were committed tience reigned triumphant. Mr. to the dust, December 12; and her Mann remarks, in a letter to his funeral sermon preached, December son, "Your mother is a little better 15, by her beloved pastor, the Rev. at present--the Lord has supported Robert Harnies, from Isaiah, li. 11.”. her under her affliction-she appears strong in faith, entirely depending Shipley. J. M. Review. A Series of Discourses on the Christian Revelation, viewed in connection with the modern Astronomy. By Thomas Chalmers, D. D. DR. CHALMERS had observed, that the astronomical objection against the truth of the gospel does not oceupy a very prominent place in any of our treatises of infidelity: but, that it is often, however, met with VOL. IX. in conversation; and, that it is known to have been the cause of serious perplexity and alarm in minds anxious for the solid esta blishment of their religious faith. The infidel argument, our author observes, "involves in it an assertion and an inference. The asser tion is, that Christianity is a religion which professes to be designed for 2 R the single benefit of our world; and | do not stand close enough together, the inference is, that God cannot there is too much amplification. be the author of this religion, for Another might complain of the great he would not lavish on so insigni- length of some of the sentences; ficant a field, such peculiar and and it would not be very marvelsuch distinguishing attentions as lous if it were thought, that our auare ascribed to him in the Old and thor had not avoided so perfectly as New Testaments." Of the truth of might have been wished, “ the speeuthis assertion, and of the justnesslative daring" which he has so justly of the inference, the work before us condemned in eertain adventurous is intended to supply a solid refuta-philosophers, who reject revelation. tion. We have, also, heard it hinted, that there are representations in the volame before us, which favour the idea, that the redemption of our race is not the greatest work of God; a sentiment not accordant with the general intimations of the sacred However, with every deduction that may be justly made, these are very interesting discourses, and they shall now speak for themselves. Speaking of the modern astronomy, Dr. Chalmers observes: The first discourse gives a sketch of the modern astronomy; the text is, Psalm viii. 3, 4. The second discourse treats on the modesty of true science; the text is, 1 Cor. viii. 2. The third discourse represents the extent of the Divine condeseen-pages. sion; the text is, Psalm cxiii. 5, 6. 'The fourth discourse respects the knowledge of man's moral history in the distant places of creation; the text is, 1 Pet. i. 12. The fifth discourse is on the sympathy that is felt for man in the distant places of creation; grounded on Luke, xv. 7. The sixth discourse describes the contest for an ascendency over man, amongst the higher orders of intelligence; the text is, Col. ii. 15. The last discourse illustrates the slender influence of mere taste and sensibility in matters of religion; the textment, and fill the whole concave of is, Ezek. xxxiii. 32. The volume concludes with an appendix, containing a compilation of passages from scripture, as serving to illustrate, or to confirm, the leading arguments which have been employed in each separate division of the general subject. A minute reference to the principles, or a general representation of the beauties of these eloquent sermons, the limits of our work will not permit; but, to every one it must be obvious, that discourses embracing such interesting general topics, written by a faithful minister of Jesus Christ, of acknowledged ability, cannot be less than highly interesting and important. This is, certainly, their general character, whatever may be thought of particular parts. One will say, the rays of this luminary would have consumed the infidel objection more entirely if they had not been cast on so extended a surface: the thoughts "The planetary system has its boundary, but space has none; and if we wing our fancy there, do we only travel through dark and moccupied regions? There are only five, or at most six, of the planetary orbs visible to the naked eye. What, then, is that multitude of other lights which spackle in our firma heaven with innumerable splendours? The planets are all attached to the sun; and, in circling around him, they do homage to that influence which binds them to perpetual attendance on this great laminary. But the other stars do not own his dominion: they do not circle around him to all common observation, they remain immoveable; and each, like the independent sovereign of his own territory, appears to occupy the same inflexible position in the region of immensity. What can we make of them? Shall we take our adventurous flight to explore these dark and untravelled do minions? What mean these innumerable fires lighted up in distant parts of the universe? Are they only made to shed a feeble glimmering over this little spot in the kingdom of nature? or do they serve a purpose worthier of themselves, to light up other worlds, and give animation to other systems?" The comparative insignificance of our world, in the universe of God, is thus illustrated: "The universe at large would suffer as little, in its splendour and variety, by the destruction of our planet, as the verdure and sublime magnitude of a forest would suffer by the fall of a single leaf. The leaf quivers on the branch which supports it-it lies at the mercy of the slightest accident-a breath of wind tears it from its stem, and it lights on the stream of water which passes underneath: in a moment of time, the life, which we know, by the microscope, it teems with, is extinguished ; and, an occurrence so insignificant in the eye of man, and on the scale of his observation, carries in it, to the myriads which people this little leaf, an event as terrible and as decisive as the destruction of a world. Now, on the grand scale of the universe, we, the occupiers of this ball, which performs its little round among the suns and the systems that astronomy has unfolded, we may feel the same littleness, and the same insecurity." The omnipresence of God is described in the following mauner: Only grant us, that God never loses sight of any one thing he has created, and that no created thing can continue either to be, or to act independently of him; and then, even upon the face of this world, humble as it is on the great scale of astronomy, how widely diversified, and how multiplied into many thousand distinct exercises, is the attention of God! His eye is upon every hour of my existence! His spirit is intimately present with every thought of my heart! His inspiration gives birth to every purpose within me! His hand impresses a direction on every footstep of my goings! Every breath I inhale is drawn by an energy which God deals out to me! This body, which, upon the slightest derangement, would become the prey of death, or of woful suffering, is now at ease, because he at this moment is warding off from me a thousand dangers, and upholding the thousand movements of its complex and delicate machinery! His presiding inAuence keeps by me through the whole current of my restless and ever-changing history! When I walk by the way-side he is along with me! When I enter into company, amid all my forgetfulness of him, he never forgets me! In the silent watches of the night, when my eyelids have closed, and my spirit has sunk into unconsciousness, the observant eye of him who never slumbers is upon me! I cannot fly from his presence! Go where I will, he tends me, and watches ine, and cares for me; and the same Being, who is now at work in the remotest domains of nature and of pro vidence, is also at my right hand to eke out to me every moment of my being, and to uphold me in the exercise of all my feelings, and of all my faculties !" The Consolations of Gospel Truth, exhibited in various interesting Anecdotes, &c. By John Pike, Minister of the Gospel, Derby. 12mo. pp. 191. 3s. 6d. 66 THIS little volume contains more than forty accounts, chiefly respecting the dying hours of good men and women; "to which are added, some affecting narratives, describing the horrors of unpardoned sin when death and eternity approach." A well-written Preface introduces them; and the concluding address is powerful and pathetic in a high degree. We agree with Mr. Pike, that a dying, but immortal being on the verge of eternity, is as solen a spectacle as the world can furnish." In the next edition, the compiler, we hope, will give his authority in every case. In our Sunday-schools and charity-schools, and schools of a higher order, these narratives will be read with great interest; and the book may be given as a reward, or prize book, to those who merit distinction by their diligence. |