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be ready, at the shortest notice, to surrender up to him that life which I have twice received from him. Whether I live or die, I desire it may be to his glory; and it must be to my happiness. --I thank God that I have those amongst my kindred to whom I can write without reserve of sentiments upon this subject, as I do to you. A letter upon any other subject is more insipid to me than ever my task was when a school-boy; and I say not this in vain-glory; God forbid! but to shew you what the Almighty, whose name I am unworthy to mention, has done for me, the chief of sinners. Once he was a terror to me; and his service, oh what a weariness it was! Now I can say I love him, and his holy name; and am never so happy as when I speak of his mercies to me.

Huntingdon, Sept. 3d, 1766.

Yours, W. CowPER.

BIBLICAL CRITICISM.

certain man made a great supper, and bade many; and sent his servants, at supper-time, to say to them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready. Luke xiv. 16, 17.

THERE is a striking conformity between the circumstances intimated in the introductory part of this parable, and the ceremonies attendant upon a Chinese entertainment. Among this people, "an invitation to an entertainment is not supposed to be given with sincerity, until it has been renewed three or four times in writing. A card is sent on the evening before the entertainment; another, on the morning of the appointed day; and a third, when every thing is prepared *.”— The invitation to this great supper is supposed to have been given when the certain man had resolved upon making it; but it is again repeated at supper-time, when all things were ready. Now, as it does not appear that the renewal of it arose from the refusal of the persons invited, of which no hint is yet given, we may suppose it was customary thus to send repeated messages. The practice was very ancient among the Chinese; and if admitted to have prevailed among the Jews, certainly gives a significancy to the words not usually perceived.

REFLECTIONS.

The repetition of gospel-invitations does not arise from the want of sincerity, but from the earnest solicitude of the

• See Goldsmith's Geography, p. 117.

Founder of the feast to bring sinners to partake of it. How happy are they to whom these calls are addressed! But how is that felicity augmented when they effectually reach the heart, and are followed by a believing approach to the Lord Jesus Christ! Let the men of the world enjoy its vain delights such as have tasted that the Lord is gracious, can no longer relish them. Let the religious formalist satisfy himself with customary duties and services, the lively Christian seeks to obtain the provisions of God's grace, through the medium of ordinances. He is not satisfied to neglect the means, but he cannot be comfortable till he enjoys the blessing promised to be thereby communicated.

St. Albans.

-

S. B.

ANECDOTE.

A GENTLEMAN of my acquaintance was asked in company, What led him first to embrace the truths of the gospel, which formerly he was known to have neglected and despised? He said," My call and conversion to God our Saviour was produced by very singular means: A person put into my hand Paine's Age of Reason: I read it with attention; and was very much struck with the strong and ridiculous representations he made of so many passages of the Bible. I confess, to my shame, I never had read the Bible through; but from what I remembered to have heard at church, or accidentally on other occasions, I could not persuade myself that Paine's report was quite exact, and the Bible quite so absurd a book as he represented it. I resolved, therefore, that I would read the Bible regularly through, and compare the passages when I had done so, that I might give the book fair play. I accordingly set myself to the task; and as I advanced, was so struck with the majesty which spoke, the awfulness of the truths contained, and the strong evidence of its divine original, which increased with every page, that I finished my enquiry with the fullest satisfaction of the truth as it is in Jesus; and with my heart penetrated with a sense of obligation I had never felt before, resolved henceforth to take the sacred word for ny guide, and be a faithful follower of the Son of God. But, judge of my surprize! I no sooner began to avow my sentiments, and to change my course of life, than those who never reproached me for my ignorance and infidelity, branded me as a Methodist!-Will any of you, my friends, let me know the real meaning of this term, and what are the characteristic marks of this reproachful term, Methodism?"

T. H.

MYDOW,

AN OTAHEITAN YOUTH.

Obituary.

MYnow and OLEY, two Otaheitan youths, were brought to England' about two years ago, by a South Whaler, and, frem motives of Chris. tian compassion, were taken under the wing of the Missionary Society, who committed them to the care of the Brethren's Society in Yorkshire. The climate appears to have disagreed with them; and it was in the contemplation of the Society to send them back, if possible, to their own country. Inthis, however, they have been disappointed; but it af fords much pleasure to perceive some hopeful appearances of the power of Divine Grace in their hearts; and that Mydow, who is dead, was thought by the Brethren to have died in the faith and hope of the Gospel, as appears by the following letter to the Secretary:

Rev. and Dear Sir,

Yesterday evening I returned from Misfield, whither I had been cailed by an express, on Saturday the 24th

My last to you was of the 31st of August, written just before my departure from London, in which I once more made what observations, I then could do, concerning the proposal of the Directors of the Missionary Society to bring the Otaheitan youths to London, with a view to their return to their native island. When I came to Fulnec, I examined into their situation, and, according to the wish of the Directors, made a report of it to Mr. Hardcastle, who no doubt has com. municated to you what I wrote. When I left Fulnec, Sep. 16th, they were both at Misfield; where I had

visited and taken leave of them.

I expected shortly to hear, that either Mydow or Oley was worse; but a brother frem hence having paid a visit to Fulnec and Misfield last week, I obtained from him on Friday night, 23d, some informa

tion respecting them, which to the ap cared of so satisfactory a nature (s far as related to their best interest) that I was going, on Saturday morning, to make it the subject of another letter to you or Mr. Hardcastle, when I received a letter from Dr. Okely, by express, requesting, that if I had not settled otherwise, I might return to Misfield and attend the baptism of Oley, and fune ral of Mydow.

In this letter he informs me, that ever since I left Yorkshire, Mydow had been growing weaker; that there seemed a gathering in his neck, which put him to great pain and inconvenience; and that, on Wednesday and Thursday, it had plainly appeared that his dissolution was approaching; in consequence of which his repeated urgent request to be baptized had been taken into serious consideration by the minis. ters of our Yorkshire congregation, who happened to be assembled at Misfield on that day, to hold the customary half-yearly meeting with that congregation. The bap tism was resolved to be administered in the afternoon of the same day; and many of our brethren from our other Yorkshire settlements being present, all took a most lively interest in the transaction.

At first, it was intended to have baptized him on his sick bed, in his apartment; but a general wish being expressed that it might be done in the chapel, he was carried in his bed into the chapel, and placed in the middle, the bed-stead being covered with a white cloth; the congregation sat all round; the children in the inner rows. After the singing of some verses, and an appropriate address, the situation of the patient not admitting of the use of the liturgy, usual on such occasi ons,-Mr. Benade, a bishop of our church, and minister of Fulnec, declared in the name of the candidate, his often repeated request to be admitted into the church of Christ by

holy baptism; his faith in Jesu, as the only Saviour; his confession of his being by nature under the power of sin and the Devil; and also, his hopes of pardon and deliverance, thro' the blood of Christ, &c.; all which Mydow had often before most unequivocally and spontane. ously declared to be his heart's wish and hope; and then baptized him into the death of Jesus, calling him Christian, six brethren being witnesses, and standing around the bed, four of whom were ministers, and joining in the imposition of hands. The whole congregation was exceedingly affected; and even the children shed many tears during the solemn transaction, and most fervently joined in singing that verse,

"The Saviour's blood and righteousness
Thy beauty are, thy glorious dre.s.
Thus well arra 'd, thou needst not fear
Soon in his presence to appear."

The following morning, about four o'clock, this dear soul took flight; and, we firmly believe, is now singing the praises of the Lamb before the throne of God. Oley was present at the baptism, though very weak and much affected; and immediately after, repeated his request to be baptized. For this long time past there appeared a great change in him; his naturally haughty spirit seemed subdued by God's grace: he confessed himself a sinner, sought pardon, through the merits of our Saviour; and declared his faith in and love to him, in terms that left no doubt of his sincerity; and his baptism was therefore appointed for Sunday morning. As soon as I had received the letter, I set out, on horseback, and crossed the hills to Misfield, thirty-two miles. Oley was very much reduced; but was supported by two brethren, and led to a chair, covered with a white cloth, in the midst of the chapel the other arrangements as before described. A great many of our brethren and sisters from our five congregations in Yorkshire, had as sembled, and many friends with them, who were spectators at this solemn transaction. Mr. Benada was

:

again desired to administer baptism:

and I begged that his name might be called Joseph, which he himself much approved of, in token of re gard to Mr. Hardcastle. Six brethren were witnesses. I believe no one present will forget what was felt and enjoyed on this occasion. The fervency with which the candidate answered, "O yes, I certainly do!" to the question in our liturgy, "Don't thou desire to be baptized, and washed from thy sins in the blood of Jesus?" &c, was very striking, and drew tears from all eyes.

The funeral of Christian was appointed for the afternoon, as, from the nature of his complaint, the body seemed fast to decay; and a very numerous auditory crowded the chapel, to whom I was desired to speak; which I did from the words contained in the two texts appointed for the day on which he departed: "Praise the Lord all ye nations," &c.; and he shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth ;” which were remarkably suitable. The crowd in the burying-ground could hardly move to the grave; was so great, that the procession but all was order and silence. Oley (now Joseph) frequently desired to be led into the room where his bro ther Christian lay a corpse; and once more, before the coffin was shut, he stood and contemplated him in silence, and often declared that he himself was not afraid to die, but resigned to the will of the Lord.

A more pleasant looking corpse I never saw; a smile seemed to rest upon his countenance.

Thus departed into eternal bliss to this country by what the world a poor Otaheitan, who was brought calls accident, led to the knowledge of his Saviour and Redeemer by your instrumentality, and that of a few friends, who providentially met with him, and provided the means of his instruction, in humble reliance upon the Lord's blessing and support, in which we have not been disappointed.--I expect very shortly to hear that Joseph has followed his brother into the realms above. A more detailed account of their

proceedings amongst us, I have

drawn up, from Dr. Okely's memorandums; and you shall have it in time. They stood the severity of the weather last winter, in Yorkshire, very well, and were seized with their last illness during summer; which made even Yorkshire appear like Otaheite. Thus it has pleased the Lord to remove them, and, in some respect, to disappoint their kind benefactors; but we have more cause for joy than grief; and I was delighted to hear the ob. servations made by our brethren at Misfield about it, both there and at Fulnec. Joseph and Christian were great favourites, and every body had a love for them.

Their

departure (though I am inadvertently led to speak of Joseph as though he were already gone, which is perhaps not the case) caused pain to many; butall declared, that to see this conclusion of their abode with us, afforded a joy far overbalancing all our grief; and I dare say you will

feel the same. Of the care, attention, love, and faithfulness, shewn them by the brethren at Misfield, I cannot speak in terms sufficiently strong. C. T. LATROBE. Fairfield, near Manchester, Sep. 27, 1803.

ON the 3d of October died the Rev. E. D. Jackson, of Warmin ster. He had been indisposed and unable to preach for some weeks past; but was not, in the apprehension of the physician or his friends, so near his end as the event proved him to be. By the death of this able and exemplary minister, the Christian world at large, and his own church in particular, have sustained an affecting loss. It is our intention, as soon as possible, to present our readers with a Memoir of this excellent man.

REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

The Divine Glory displayed by the Permission of Sin: a Sermon preached at a Monthly Meeting of the Society for the Education of Young Men for the Work of the Ministry among Protestant Dissenters, April 7, 1803; to which are added, Copious Notes and References. By John Pye Smith. 8vo, 2s.

THE author of this discourse in forms us, that "The subject of it was not selected by his own choice, but by the appointment of others." He feels it to be profound; and manifests great moderation, care, and attention in treating it.

Some have considered all such discussions as improper, and savouring of that spirit which as. pires to be wise above what is written. We grant, that in inves tigating subjects so much beyond our comprehension, there is danger of erring in this direction; but we cannot allow that the subject itself is unrevealed, or. merely specula

tive. It is an indisputable fact, that moral evil exists; and we must consider it either as occurring by chance, or as falling under the superintendence of God. The for mer would not only be inconsistent with infinite wisdom and knowledge, but would leave us in a state of dreadful uncertainty as to the issue; for that which was introduced by chance, might, perchance, prove eventually successful, and the go. vernment of Heaven itself be ultimately overthrown. As to the latter, the principal, if not the only objection to it, arises from the danger of undermining the account ableness of sinners, of transferring their blame worthiness to their Maker, and so of hardening them in their sin. The doctrine of philosophical necessity, as held by modern infidels, and some who call themselves Rational Christians, we are persuaded, is of this tendency, The truth of God, however, is not, on this account, to be relinquished;

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