About the season when our wake was set aside by general consent, and our beer house shut up, he was working in a shop within hearing of the cries of a notorious drunkard dying of cholera. These so affected him, that he soon afterwards drowned his bull dog, and betook himself to his long neglected Bible; and now for three months he has been so consistent in every part of his conduct, as to have induced an old companion in sin to accompany him in his new course of life. Extract from a Letter by the Rev. J. Clarkson, Vicar of Wednesbury. The impression produced in the minds of the people in this parish was very great. The awful solemnity of death, and the very uncertain tenure upon which life seemed to be held, led many to frequent the worship of God, who heretofore had been very careless and indifferent about religion. Many notoriously wicked partially reformed, and during the yearly festival of the wake, the time usually spent in cruel sports, was devoted to the service of God. There were two services in our Church on the Monday and Tuesday, and one on the Wednesday; and many attended to supplicate divine mercy, and to intreat the Lord to spare our guilty town and land. Extract from a Letter by the Rev. E, Davies, Curate of the New Parish Church at Kingswinford. With regard to the religious impression made by the cholera, the congregations in this parish have been a good deal increased, as well as the number of communicants at the Lord's Table; and there was generally a much greater seriousness throughout the parish. A TABLE SHOWING SEVERAL MATTERS CONNECTED WITH THE SUBJECT OF THIS NARRATIVE. For Bilston, Darlaston, Dudley, Kingswinford, Sedgley, Tipton, Walsall, Wednesbury, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton, Wednesfield, Willenhall. In this table it is to be remarked that, 1. The numbers in general are rather below the truth than above it; minute accuracy being neither necessary for the purpose here intended, nor attainable by any means within the author's reach. 2. Of the 23 churches, 8 are new within the century; and 10 have been rebuilt, and considerably enlarged. There is no addition to church room now in progress in the district. 3. In the column for schools, about half are daily and half only Sunday schools. Those for boys, for girls, and for infants are counted separately. 4. Of the nine schools in Sedgley parish, two have as yet no school rooms, being the Sunday schools held in Coseley church, for want of funds for a building. This may possibly be the case with some of the other parishes. 5. The deaths by cholera, as reported to the Centra Board of Health, usually fell short of the reality; it being next to impossible in such parishes as these for the me dical practitioners to watch the termination of every case Thus in Sedgley, whilst the deaths reported are only 227 we have since ascertained by the burial registers, no less than 290. This discrepancy is probably far less in the parishes where the population is less widely spread. 6. The orphans have in many instances lost both parents. And in most cases only those under the age o nine years are counted. 7. The public subscription in Dudley, Kingswinford, Walsall, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton, and Willen hall, was raised chiefly among the inhabitants or pro prietors. In the other cases it was for the most part contributed by friends at a distance, or strangers. The parish of Sedgley received through the Bilston fund 257 from Lichfield, and through the Darlaston fund above 64 from a party unknown. b A t 3 L I. THE DUTY OF VISITING THE SICK. att. xxv. 36. I was sick, and ye visited me II. ON THE GOODNESS AND SEVERITY OF GOD. mans xi. 22. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity: but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.. Page III. THE BLESSEDNESS OF A CHRISTIAN DEATH. velations xiv. 13. I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.. IV. THE DANGER OF RELAPSE. 19 37 tthew xii. 43, 44, 45. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth e, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more I vicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: ind the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation .... 51 V. EXHORTATION TO COMMUNION. 'or. xi. 28. Let a man examine himself, and so let him at of that bread, and drink of that cup .............. VI. THAT THE IMPENITENT MUST PERISH. Fte xiii. 2, 3. And Jesus answering said unto them, Supose ye that these Galilæans were sinners above all the alilæans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, lay; but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish -VII. THE COSTLY SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING. amuel xxiv. 24. And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; ut I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I *ffer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which 'oth cost me nothing ADDRESS PREFIXED TO SERMON I. To the Parishioners of Sedgley. THE parish of Sedgley having been severely afflicted by the Cholera, I thought it my duty to recommend a day of voluntary fasting, in the following address; signed by myself and the other clergymen officiating in the parish: During the prevalence of Cholera we are anxious to impress upon our Parishioners that Sickness is God's chastening for the Sin of Man. We therefore exhort all to observe on this occasion a day of solemn Fast and Humiliation; wherein Prayers and Alms may be offered for the sick, whilst the healthy give Thanks that they are well, and they that have been ill for their recovery. For this purpose, there will be Services, on Thursday next, September the Sixth, in Sedgley Parish Church, at Eleven in the Morning, and Three in the Afternoon, besides the usual Lecture at half-past Six; and in B |