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MRS. MANsfield.

Obituary.

On the 8th of July last died, at Spring-hill, near Birmingham, Mrs. Mansfield, late of Derby. The life and death of this good lady was a bright exemplification of the power and infallibility of the grace of God. The first divine impressions of which her mind became susceptible, took place in very early life, by reading the 10th verse of the 9th Psalm; the savour of which continued with her through life, and administered consolation at the near approach of death. When she first entered upon the ways of God, Derby was a benighted place; yet, even here, her pristine zeal appeared in the glorious cause which she had espoused. When Mr. Wesley attempted to preach in the marketplace, but was prevented by a rude rabble, she followed him and his few despised adherents through the public streets, in order to partake, with them, of the reproach cast upon the Saviour's name.

Her conjugal connexion subjected her to much inconvenience; but during a persecution of thirty years, from her partner in life, her prudence and piety were eminently conspicuous; so that through the whole of that period she never was once known to irritate his mind, or to return him one angry expression. Hereby his heart was subdued by the force of her conduct; and so far was he won over by her chaste conversation," as to permit her to attend the gospel.

Her views of divine truth were remarkably clear; and she gloried in the high and distinguishing doctrines of free grace, frequently lamenting the departure of the present day from those principles which humble the sinner, exalt the Saviour, and promote holiness." Possessed of a clear and strong intellectual capacity, she easily discriminated between truth and error, however specious the covering of

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the latter might be, and never em ployed equivocation in the avowal of what she believed.

The ordinances of the Lord's house she greatly delighted in; and, whenever her health would permit, punctually attended divine worship three times on the Lord's Day, and early morning prayer meetings; together with all week-day services, even when advanced beyond her 70th

year.

Private prayer she seriously and habitually regarded, and those who attended upon her testify, that for many years she never received either nourishment or incdicine, without first looking up to God for his blessing upon it.

It pleased the Father of mercies eminently to add to all her other blessings, by the communication of his grace to her two only daughters, who, whilst they were in a singular manner an ornament to their profession, proved themselves, by the exercise of the most assiduous filial affections, worthy of such a parent. After having "adorned the doctrine of God her Saviour" for a long period of time, and considerably con tributed to the promotion of the rising cause of Christ at Derby, the removal of this worthy family to Birmingham, about four years ago, took place in consequence of the marriage of her eldest daughter to a respectable gentleman of very considerable religious eminence, whereby an establishment was formed of the most enviable kind. Their house, indeed, resembled that of Obed-Edom: "the ark of the Lord was in it, and the blessing of God upon it!" Under the roof of a man alive to God, and a zealous advocate for the purity of the doctrine of the cross, she lived in the ch enjoyment of every religious privi lege. It became the custom of this family, soon after it was formed, to establish a Sunday evening-school for the children of their poor neigh bours, under the management of the females; whilst "the good man 4 C

of the house" opened his doors to as many as would attend, for the purpose of prayer and praise, to whom he expounded the word of life; and which practice, so worthy of imitation, continues with good effect to the present day. This was the joy of the good old lady's heart. Her delight in it, and gratitude to God for it, were constant subjects of her conversation. One Sunday evening, when looking out at her chamber window, and seeing her poor neighbours gathering together to the worship of God, she remarked, "We have many pretty things in this court, but none so ornamental as these poor people secking the salvation of their souls."

Having long laboured under great bodily infirmities, it was apprehended that the approaches of the ast enemy would have been in alingering and painful manner: under the expectation of this, she bowed with calm submission to the will of God; and, fully sensible of her own weakness, prayed for the upholding power of the Spirit of Christ, that He might be glorified in her sufferings. Though enabled for a long course of years to bring honour to the Lord, by a close walk with him, and entertaining pure evangelical views of his method of freely justifying a sinner through faith in the blood and righteousness of his own dear Son, no one was more free from those presumptive notions which too frequently characterize the abusers of this glorious truth. Deeply abased in her own eyes, she put away from herself the consolation arising from an assurance of her personal interest in this invaluable blessing, thinking it "too great to be bestowed on such a wretch !" Indeed, few persons had more abasing views of themselves, or lay lower in their own eyes. "She hoped all would be well;" but would say no more. A peculiarly severe jealousy over herself .continually predominated; and while she was indulged with affluence and every earthly good, her great concerà was, that all might be well between God and her soul.

lived low in the dust, with her eye
fixed upon the transactions of Cal-
vary. The last Lord's Day that she
spent upon earth, in the course of
her reading, she placed a pin in
these words,

"My peace and safety lie in this :-
My Creditor my Surety is;
The judgment-day I fear the less;
My Judge is made my righteousness.”
Contrary to expectation, nature
suddenly gave way; and it was per-
ceivable that the clay - tenement
would soon be in ruins. Her family,
occupying "the painful post of ob-
servation," in the most scrupulous
exercise of the purest affection, wait-
ed" round the death bed of the
just," and God proved himself kind
and faithful. The painful dissolu-
tion of the most tender friends was
wonderfully alleviated, by a rich
display of grace in the hour of
trial.

After conflicting with death all
night, she revived in the morning,
and delivered many an affecting ex-
pression of gratitude and praise.
One of her daughters asking her if
she was too hot,
she replied,

"Neither too hot, nor too cold; neither finger-ache, nor toe-ache. God is very gracious to me, and always has been; only a little shortness of breath; but not much."

Her friends spoke to her of the goodness and love of God; to which she answered, "Ah! I long forgot him; but he did not forget me!" Here her strength failed. Whilst her lips were blackening and her eyes closing in death, her son-inlaw said, 'The blood of Christ is of more value than a thousand worlds ;' she added, "It is ines

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A little before her final departure, she raised her hand, as if feeling for something, when the nurse asked her if she wanted any thing; which, with a voice now faltering in death, she immediately replied, Christ Jesus is my hope! want nothing. Where He is, Want cannot be ! They will not, they cannot want!" Thus

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I shall

"Her God sustain'd her in her final hour:

Thus this venerable matron, ap-. Her final hour brought glory to her. proximating to her eternal rest,

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J. B. MRS. ELIZABETH HORTON, Or North Searle, in Lincolnshire, died March 18, 1807, aged 40. About 14 years ago, the Lord was pleased, by a variety of adverse providences, to bring her to see her dreadful situation as a sinner. She immediately sought him with diligence in the means of grace among the Methodists, then in that village; but laboured under the terrors of a guilly conscience for about four years; when, being informed that the Rev. Mr. Macdonald (in the connexion of the late Countess of Huntingdon) was to preach at a small distance, she was determined to hear him; and apprehending that something was still wanting to complete her happiness, she went; and heard him speak from Psalm xxxvi. 7," How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore, the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings." From what she then heard of the origin and perpetuity of the Lord's love to his people, and its divine effects upon them, she was enabled to embrace the truth with the firmest confidence; and hence received solid comfort and establishment.

Though her attendance on the means of grace was constant,- tho' she was much in secret prayer,though she was possessed of a more than ordinary tender conscience, though her public usefulness, in many respects, was eminent, - tho' she uniformly maintained the strictest integrity, yet, with the exception of a few intervals, she was like Hannah of old," A woman of a sorrowful spirit." The enemy was permitted to assail her mind, and, in some particular instances, to a very extraordinary degree. So powerful have her temptations sometimes been, that she has been led even to call the being of God into question. From her indefatigable attention to the sacred Scriptures, her knowJedge of divine things was above

mediocrity.

She had very consistent views of the doctrines of the gospel; and though she was strictly Calvinistic in sentiment, she was of a truly Catholic spirit, as her joining the Methodist Society, and continuing therein till her death, evidently proved. She was unwearied in promoting the best interests of all around her; and her liberality to the needy was, perhaps, more than equal to her circumstances.

For many years she had strong symptoms of a decline, the disorder which eventually terminated her existence; yet it was not till a few weeks before her dissolution that she was considered, either by her friends or herself, in immediate danger; but the disorder after this took such rapid strides, as to elude the power of medicine, and produce every symptom of a speedy departure.

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It was in her affliction as it had been in health: the Accuser of the brethren was permitted frequently to harrass her mind respecting her interest in Christ, though at intervals she was enabled to rejoice in the prospect of a happy immortality, and converse about Death and Eternity with the greatest composure. On my visiting her a short time before her death, I found her extremely reduced; but perfectly sensible it was sometimes with the greatest difficulty I could hear her s, cak. Though I found her at first labouring under much desertion, I had the pleasure, before I left her, to observe a visible change, and hear her express herself in the most satisfactory manner. After this, enquiring how she felt her mind, with a most penetrating look, she answered, “O Sir, it would puzzle the tallest Archangel to conceive how such a wretch as I am can be saved after all !” Thus hopes and fears alternately pervaded her mind, until the former happily and finally prevailed. She exhorted several who visited her, in the most solemn and impressive manner, to seek an interest in Christ. also vis ted by many of ber Christian friends, who appeared to rival cach other in their kind endeavours to administer relief; whose assiduous

She was

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Nor food support, nor sleep refresh !" From the nature of her complaint, she was constantly obliged to sit up in bed, and gol but little rest; which, when she did enjoy, she expressed much thankfulness for. On the Tuesday evening peceding her death, the Lord was pleased, in answer to many prayers, so to shine upon her soul, as to dispel every cloud, dissipate every fear, and enable her to triumph in his sovereign love. She said, "I now believe Satan has made his last attack; and I am as sure of Heaven as though I were now in the actual enjoyment of it!" On the following morning she said, with much animation," I have gone thro' many deep waters, but the Lord enables me at last to pass over Jordan dryshod.” taking a most affectionate farewell of her disconsolate husband, &c. she added, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly;" and then sweetly expired without either a sigh or a groan. Thus, in this subject of divine grace, was eminently verified that ncouraging declaration, "They that sow in tears shall ceap in joy !” The words from which her death was improved, and which she herself chose, were, "Jesus said unto her, I am the Resurrection and the Life," &c.

Brigg

After

J. C.

ELIZABETH BULLOCK,

OF FRADDON, IN CORNWALL,

WAS a remarkable instance of the powerful operations of the Holy pirit; for although she could recollect that, from a child, she had frequent checks of conscience, and used to weep on account of the sufferings of Jesus, yet nothing last

ing remained, until some time before her last sickness, when, on hearing a minister who preached in the neighbourhood, insist on the faithfulness of God to his promises and threatenings, she made an open profession by joining a few religious people; one of whom, falling into sin, she received such a shock as almost brought her to conclude, that religion was vain; but God, in infinite goodness, delivered her from the pit, by bringing her under the sound of the gospel, which publishes pardon for the chief of sinners, through the righteousness and blood of Jesus,

But the most remarkable period of her experience was during her illness; for although her weakness was extremely great, yet she bore her sufferings with uncommon patience; thai sweet promise, "I will never leave thee," &c. gave her great support, the said God was ber reconciled Father in Christ; and that she had proved the truth of the doctrine of election. At another time, she broke out into an holy rapture, saying, "O come and rejoice with me, who am now enabled to rejoice in Jesus!" About three months before her death 1 visited her, in company with another person, who declared he scarcely ever witnessed such an instance of faith, When that sweet hymn of Dr. Doddridge's was repeated, "Jesus, I love thy charming name," she seemed peculiarly refreshed. At one time she said, "I can rejoice even in suffering!" At another, “Although I cannot praise him as I would, yet I can look up with comfort to my Father in Jesus: I feel Jesus daily supporting me: he is my Jesus, I can trust in Him and not be afraid! Glory, glory, glory, be to his name for ever! long to be with him !"

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A short time previous to her death, on being asked if any particular portion of God's word was precious, she repeated," Him that cometh to me I will in nowise casi out;" which she said was the first promise she could take any comfort from; and which, by her desire, was improved in a sermon preached at her bouse, just before her interment. J. D.

REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

The Causes of the Increase of Methodism and Dissention, and of the Popularity of what is called Evangelical Preaching, and the Means of obviating them: in a Sermon preached at the Visitation of the Rev. the Archdeacon of Leicester, at Melton Mowbray, with Appendixes, &c. By Robt. Acklom Ingram, B. D.

Ir sometimes happens, that a polemical writer, mounted on his ecclesiastical Pegasus, like our friend J. Gilpin, goes farther than he intended. This is the case with Mr. Ingram, who, while he sorely laments the increase of Methodism and Dissention (as he chooses unkindly to term Dissent) pays unwittingly the highest compliments to the persons whom he opposes. He ascribes the popularity of Evangelical Preaching to Calvinistic opinions, which he thinks are accommodated to the gross conceptions of ignorant minds; while, on the contrary, many of his brethren think that Calvinism contains speculations far too high for the common people. He next observes, that these preachers adopt the words and phrases of the common translation of the Bible in their discourses, which, he says, is a presumptive argument with common minds, that their preaching is more conformable to the gospel of Christ. He is further of opinion, that the practice of what is commonly (perhaps rather inaccurately) denominated extempore preaching, contributes to popularity, likely to secure attention than reading a sermon, is more familiar, more intelligible, &c. He thinks also, that by the frequent use of extempore or memoriter preaching, a minister acquires the art of varying his mode of expression to existing circumstances. It is another recommendation, he says, of the same class of teachers, that they expound the Scriptures; and he wishes this were done in the parish-churches. tempore Prayer is another source of popularity it carries with it an ap

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pear nce of zeal, and gives an op. porinity of adapting prayer to the circumstances of the congregation; and he adds, that "the common people usually prefer a dissenting congregation where this is practised, to the church." He adds, that " frequent and familiar intercourse between these ministers and the lowest orders of people is an obvious token of zeal,— of great avail in engaging their affections." He ascribes the same effect (rather strangely) to their delivering the most frightful descriptions of everlasting punishment.

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He then proceeds to notice some negative causes of the success of Evangelical Preaching, viz. the apathy and supineness of inany of the clergy, a mode of life not altogether conformable to the clerical character, too forbidding a distance from the generality of their parishioners, · discourses not suffciently intelligible, a want of union and co-operation, and nonresidence. We do not dispute the truth of these representations; but we expect few of his brethren will thank him for them; and do not wonder that the Orthodox Churchmau's Magazine declined his communications.

He admits that many of the churches are badly constructed for' the voice; the central parts occupied by principal families; the poor crowded into distant corners, ill-accommodated and exposed to cold blasts; so that he does not wonder that they prefer a warm room or a comfortable meeting-house.

To obviate these causes of popu larity, Mr. Ingram recommends Endeavours to enlighten the minds of the lower orders, by a judicious attention to the education of children, and by familiar intercourse with the adult. He fears that the people disapprove of many of the clergy, on account of a deficiency of what the Methodists, he says, "not improperly call ital Religion." He recommends, "That, in lieu of invective against these

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