Imatges de pàgina
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care left," he said, except to know that my sins are forgiven; and, Jesus! I trust that they are,' On its being observed, that he had been better the past few days,-be said," As a taper flames up before it goes out." He said, that Law's Serious Call, Doddridge's Rise and Progress, and his Sermon on the One Thing Needful, had been very useful to him. "How dreary," said he, "would it be, if I had now to be awakened to a sense of my state." He had always a great dread of a merely formal religion, without the heart being renewed,without being born again. Frequently, in health, he used to observe, "O, I hope I am not a mere formalist after all."

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can forgive my sins. Of ourselves we can do nothing. Remember what I say to you, my little darling, all your life. Pray to God, your Saviour, and love him,—so much,—so much more than we can express,→ and read your Bible a great deal, -then we may hope, that God will give you grace to lead a new life, and that, through the merits of our Saviour, you will be taken to heaven when you die,-but it can only be if you put your trust in your Saviour; for he only is the way, the truth, and the life!" May the Lord, of his infinite mercy, grant, that her dear father's dying exhortation may be blessed to the eternal welfare of this darling child, and that all her life she may put her trust in her Saviour and Redeemer!

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The preceding evening, he sent messages to several members of the family, whom he feared were still in an unawakened state. "Tell them," said he, “this from me, that, as a dying man, I aver, that the Bible is the only book which can support and comfort a person in my circumstances. It is my support, my hope, my trust, my joy. If they say, they do read it, tell them to read it more and more, with prayer,

Yesterday evening, he remarked, "People may say what they choose in health, and call religion Methodism and enthusiasm, but nothing else will hold good at the last." I answered, What a blessing it is you have not to begin religion now. "O," he replied, "I should be the veriest wretch on earth, if that were the case. But I have not thought half enough of these things." No one does, my love, I answered, but you know where your trust is. 0 yes," ," he quickly to judge for themselves;-tell replied, his whole countenance il- them to leave all other studies, all lumined with joy, "in Jesus!-he other pursuits, and turn to the Biis my trust, my comfort, my sup- ble, therein is peace and joy everport, to be with Jesus, how de-lasting; tell them, that religion is lightful!" he then added, with his every thing, that without it they eyes uplifted, "We should beravenous, will be miserable at the last ;-they ravenous to go to Jesus, no lesser may be amiable, good-natured, goodword will do,—we should be raven- tempered, but that will not save ous to be with Jesus." Observing them,-Christ is the only Saviour. my tears, he thought them tears of The grace of God alone.. can give a sorrow, and said, "O, my dear, you longing desire to enter into heaven, should not grieve, these things and to leave all that makes, a should make you leap for joy.". I man most happy in this world. To said, Yes, and with truth,-for the grace of God I owe my present wonderful as it may appear, I never happiness; without it I should be in my life experienced such unut- miserable.' terable joy and happiness.

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He wished to see little Gertrude; when she came, and said "How are you, dear Papa? I am so happy to see you again!"-he answered, Pretty well, my little dear,-looking up to God for strength and protection, and so happy, because I hope my sins are forgiven. I trust in my Saviour alone, because he only

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A very remarkable feature in his character has always been, a child like submission to the will of the Almighty. I said to him, “ I suppose, that at the beginning of your illness, you did not feel the same submission to the will of God, as you do now?" He paused a moment, and then said, “ I think I was always convinced, that whatever

was the will of God, must be best. | When my friends used to come and see me in London, and say, I hope to hear that you are better, I used to beg them, instead of expressing hope of my recovery, to pray, that the grace of God might be given me to submit willingly to whatever the Almighty might see fit to order for me."

Many chapters' were read, by his desire, from the Revelations, to which he listened with inexpressible delight. The eleventh chapter of John, likewise, gave him great joy. He expatiated at large on those two exquisite words, Jesus wept!" which he thought very beautiful; and especially consolatory, as intimating, that the compassionate Saviour feels, at this moment, for all our sorrows, as he did for those of Martha and Mary,—

“Thou, Saviour, seest the tears I shed, For thou didst weep o'er Lazarus dead."

Another evening, he said, he thought it very detrimental to all spirituality of mind and conduct, to live with those below us in spiritual | knowledge. It is likely to make us vain. The heart is deceitful above all things: and if we think more of religion than those around us, and are more strict in our outward conduct, we shall be much inclined to fancy ourselves good; and, O how dreadful is that thought, when our only trust should be in the Saviour, -and when we should feel convinced that we are vile and sinful. This, of itself, should be sufficient to prevent our mingling more than can be avoided with the world.

After the children had left the room, and we were alone, he repeated several prayers, particularly one for the spiritual welfare of our children, ending, "Enable us to teach them Christ, and Christ crueified. Enable us to conduct them to the foot of the cross, and there to present them and ourselves." He then repeated several texts, ending with that one, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." He observed, "That is a blessed text, scntus for our comfort, and, blessed be God, it has comforted

me." He thanked God for his mercies, and had a deep fear of ingratitude. Sometime since, he told me, that one bad symptom of his disorder was lessened: "What a blessing!" said I. "Indeed it is a

blessing," he quickly replied, and added, "I did not think, till you had said that word, of thanking the Lord for it. What an ungratefu wretch I am!" Very frequentlyl after that did he complain of his ingratitude, and of his utter unworthiness of all God's mercies. He advised all his friends to give up the world, and to devote their talents and time to the service of the Lord.

He continued repeating, in a low tone of voice, "Our Saviour,-Qur blessed Saviour,-I am the way, the truth, and the life;-though I walk through the valley of the shadow of words of the verse," thy rod, and death, I will fear no evil;"--the last thy staff, they comfort me,"-he repeated slowly, as if pondering on them,gave him inexpressible comfort. The tone of deep feeling with which he uttered the words, wretched sinner," penetrated my inmost soul. To see one who has been, and who is, so devoted a servant of the Lord, so abased, so completely laid in the dust, in his own eyes, was to me a most affecting proof, how entirely his mind was renewed by Divine grace.

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Thursday, Feb. 26. I read to him 1 Cor. xiii; he said, " Charity and love will last to all eternity." Few exceeded him in charity, in the enlarged sense of the word. He always endeavoured to put the best construction on every one's actions. If any were blamed, he would try to discover some palliating circumstance; or else say, we did not know the motives which influenced them. If the actions were such that even charity could not, hope that there were any circumstances to diminish their guilt, he would then say, "Who maketh us to differ? I might have done just the same."

I remarked, that one of his greatest mercies was, his being enabled to cast himself, for life or death, entirely into the hands of the Lord, and that all care and anxiety were

removed from his mind. "It is all of grace," was his answer:" of myself, I should be murmuring and | impatient all the day long. I will rejoice in the Lord my God; he fills me with joy unspeakable;—he will | deliver my soul from death, he will wipe away all tears from our eyes." All this was said with many pauses, -low, as if he were thinking, and as if those thoughts filled him with inexpressible happiness. He said, he was convinced of the truth of the remark of a revered friend, That we should sing louder praise to the Lord, for our afflictions, than for our other mercies, when inhabitants of the New Jerusalem,

Some months since, he used to say to me, "I do not grieve for myself, my dear, I only grieve for what you suffer on my account." He does not now grieve, nor does he seem to have the shadow of doubt or anxiety remaining. He would sooner doubt of its being light at noon-day, than that the Almighty will not make good his promise of support and comfort to the afflicted in the hour of trouble.

March 1. Yesterday he saw all the dear children, and was pleased with little Henry's improvement in walking. He had much conversation with my mother on religious subjects. In the evening he listened with great pleasure to many hymns, which I repeated to him: he was particularly struck with that of Doddridge,

"When on the verge of life I stand,
And view the scene on either hand,
My spirit struggles with my clay,
And longs to wing its flight away."

When I came to the 3rd verse,
"Come, ye angelic envoys, come,
And lead the willing pilgrim home;
Ye know the way to Jesus' throne,
Source of our joys, and of your own;"

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a wretched sinner should have such a hope; but the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin."" He then went on to say, "What a blessed, blessed sickness this was to him,—marked with so many, many mercies;"-he added, that from our affections being so wound up in each other, and from our living in such complete retirement, we were particularly in danger of becoming too fondly attached, and of forgetting the heavenly inheritance, which should have the first place in our hearts. Whether our minds are fixed on earthly objects, or completely engrossed by domestic affections, the sin must be equal in the sight of a jealous God.

March 15. He was the subject of painful spasm. I whispered, "The "God Lord is with you, my dear;" will bless us both," he quickly replied. He went to sleep, and when he awoke, I said to him, " You will soon be so happy.” "What?" he asked, not appearing to under"You will soon be so stand me. happy in heaven, my dear," I replied. His whole countenance was illumined with celestial joy, and he answered, "O, shall I Come, Lord Jesus! come quickly? I long to be with thee! Come, Lord Jesus!" He then asked that the last chapter of the Revelations might be read to him.

Late in the evening, his medical attendant said, in reference to his food, "Is there any thing which you particularly desire?" "Nothing, thank God," he replied, "but that the blessing of God may be on us all, to lead us to the cross of Christ, that we may have forgiveness of our sins. Jesus is the only Saviour; through him alone can we get to heaven. Mr. M., he is the way, the truth, and the life; those who do not trust in him, will make shipwreck at the last."

I said to him, "I hope it may please God, that you shall have no more pain." "I hope so too, my dear," he replied, "but the will of the Lord be done." I asked him, after a severe fit of the spasm, whether he was happy. "O quite happy, quite comfortable, thank God for it," was his reply. Seeing

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me in tears, he shook my hand, and said, in the most feeling manner, My God! and thy God!" I then said, "How much happier you will soon be in heaven, my dear." "O yes," said he, "with my Saviour, and my God. I am now so happy, so very happy, you cannot conceive how happy; so are you, I hope, my darling L-." "O yes," I replied, we do not grieve as those who have no hope." He then asked for his brother, and said, he hoped they should meet in heaven.

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He turned to his medical attendant, and said, "Mr. M-- is very kind, but he can do nothing for me but with the blessing of God. God is over every thing."

He looked round on those who were in the room, and said, "My dear friends, I love you all very much; I thank you for all your kindness. I wish I could hold all your hands. I love you all much, and hope, through the mercy of God, we may meet in heaven.'

He held my hand, but did not particularly address me. I said, "Do you know me, my dear?" "Know you!" he exclaimed, “ my blessing! -my **! I hope I shall always know you, unless it should be the

will of God that I should not, and then, you know, it will be the best I should not."

Sunday, March 7.-He saw little Henry that morning, and blessed God for allowing him to see the dear babe once more.

In the night, by the movement of his lips and eyes, we could perceive that he was in prayer continually. He took my hand, and lifted his eyes to heaven, as if in prayer. He repeated this several times.

Imagining, by his countenance, that he was suffering, I asked him if any thing was the matter. "Nothing but what is right, my dear," he answered. In a minute his countenance returned to its usually placid state. He went to sleep apparently about five in the afternoon; his pulse became feebler, till, about eleven o'clock, he sweetly fell asleep in Jesus, we humbly trust, to enjoy everlasting happiness in the bosom of the Saviour.

REV. JAMES PHILIPPS.

DIED, on Tuesday evening, May 14, at his house at Clapham, the Rev. James Philipps, who had presided over the Presbyterian Church in that village, upwards of twenty-four years.

Review.

A Father's Reasons for not baptizing his Children; with some Remarks on the Subject of Baptism, as affecting the State of Religious Parties, and the future Prospects of the Church. By a Lay Member of the Church of England. Westley, Stationers'-court, and Murray, Coventry-street. 1824. Pp. 97,

8vo.

THIS is a curious pamphlet, and we read it with great interest. The writer has paid great attention to the subject before him, and, even where, on some points, we differed from him, we felt it was a difference with a man who commanded our respect.

It seems, from his own statement, that he entertained scruples respecting the authority on which Infant Baptism was practised; he could

VOL. XVI.

not find any thing on the subject in his Bible; and, after examining the arguments usually adduced, he was satisfied they were all invalid. In the present pamphlet he presents his readers, not, perhaps, with the history of the process, but, at least, with the result, and shews us how he reasoned on the different arguments alleged for Infant Baptism, till, at last, he became satisfied that he ought not to have his children baptized.

From his habits of reading, as a "Lay Member of the Church of England," he appears to have been more used to the works of Churchmen than of Dissenters; this might, for a time, impede the progress of his thought; but it has given an air of originality to his reasonings, and, by this means, bas made them more impressive, at least on those minds

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who had been accustomed to hear them in a different form. We should feel a pleasure in analyzing our author's observations, were we not restrained by our limits; but we cannot help noticing, that he happily brings forward, on many occasions, a condensed view of his argument in a single sentence; and some of these sentences are very striking. | For instance, speaking of the baptism of John, as designed to prepare the people for the dispensation of the Spirit, for which purpose it was the baptism of repentance, he asks, Is it probable that the Christian dispensation should retrograde in spirituality? and then concludes by the forcible, and, we believe, just remark, "the divine dispensations have never retrograded." p. 5.

with baptism to infants, yet they frequently make it evident that they would rather escape from close discussion." p. 43. This is very truc, and we often see it.

In a Churchman's inquiry on this point, Sponsors come in for an examination, as a matter of course. Our author grants, that Sponsors give to Infant Baptism the air of an actual contract, since they are ostensible parties engaging for the child till he can enter into the engagement for himself. This is pleaded for, to connect the case with the Circumcision of the Jewish Church; but, as the author observes, this will not forward the cause, unless the Abrahamic covenant and the gospel covenant are the same; and his opinion is, that "the aspect of the New Testament covenant is entirely against it." p. 50.

The argument from households, also, comes under review,in two of the cases he observes, the accounts are too concise to render it certain, that, if there were infants in the

The common argument from cir. cumcision could not fail to engage our author's attention, and he discusses it at some length. At the conclusion he observes, "Infant Baptism, like circumcision, has its effect in bringing professors of Christianity into a secular corpo-family, they were baptized; but the rate capacity, and to mingle the church and the world, in direct contrariety to the solemn precepts and holy principles of the New Testament. And, can that institution be from God, which indirectly tends to frustrate his own commands and solemnly revealed will?" p. 23, 24.

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other two, he thinks, inevitably lead to the conclusion that infants were not baptized. After noticing some other parts of the New Testament, in which, if infants were baptized, he thinks it impossible the subject would have been passed over, he comes to the conclusion, "that, in fact,—it is manifest, that the Apostles must have been totally ignorant of the practice." p. 55.

He boldly meets the principle of the arguments from antiquity, and observes, "there is enough in the early history of the Church to warn He observes, that there is au evius, that the sentiments and practices dent connexion between Infant of the early Christians ought not to be Baptism and a national church, and passed as safe examples, without hence he justly expresses his surbringing them to the test of Holy prise, that Pædobaptist Dissenters Scripture." p. 34. And, in reply to should plead for it; for, in his opinthe common notion that infant bap-ion, it is in "diametrical opposition tism is a privilege, (and, consequent- to the principle on which they ly, that Baptists do very wrong to formed their opposition to the estabdeprive infants of it,) he observes, lished church." p. 69. "it must be proved to be scriptural, before it can be claimed as a privilege." p. 41.

The author notices other bearings of the subject;-he observes, that with respect to the blessings supposed to be connected with Infant Baptism, the defenders of the practice" would not be thought to deny that grace is some way connected

Yet still this author does not go the full length of our system. He thinks the Baptists lay too much stress on the mode of baptism, and,` though he agrees with them in many points, still he is a Lay Member of the Church of England." Doubtless he thinks his conduct is consistent with his principles, but we confess we are unable to perceive

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