his name. I seek not to aggravate this offence-I wish not to make you more wretched—but I hope that you will not apply some healing falsehood to your soul. Short as your time is for preparation, remember that it is more than twenty-times-. told that which you gave to this unhappy man. Between the last assizes and the present time, I hope you have not been wanting in providing the defence you have this day made, as well as in a much more. important affair, in making your peace with that God with whom alone is mercy. The clergyman of this gaol is, I understand a most respectable man. I recommend you to converse earnestly with him, and to seek the only means of regaining, through the merits of your Saviour, the pardon of God whom you have offended. I implore you to seek for it earnestly, and I pray most sincerely that the gates of mercy may be still open to you. [The Judge was here much affected: the prisoner Hunt sobbed loudly, and placed his handkerchief before his face. Thurtell's countenance indicated no emotion; he was serious, and profoundly attentive.] To that mercy I commit you. The sentence of the law on you, John Thurtell, is, that you be taken hence to the place from whence you came, and that on Friday next, the 9th of January, you be taken to a place of execution, there to be hanged by the neck until you are dead, and that your body be afterwards taken down and delivered over to be dissected and ana "John Thurtell and Joseph Hunt, after a very full, a very fair, and, I trust, an impartial trial, by a jury of your country, you have been found, I think with great propriety, guilty of the offences with which you have been respectively charged; you, John Thurtell, as a principal in the murder, and you, Joseph Hunt, as his accessory. It cannot but give to every feeling mind deep regret, that a person who has this day shown | himself born for better things, and who, I hope, in earlier life received impressions of virtue from his parents, should have committed so detestable a crime; for, notwithstanding the assertions of innocence which you have over and over again made, I, who can only judge like all other mortals from the evidence before me, am as fully satisfied of your guilt, as if I had seen you commit the crime with my mortal eyes. I beseech you not to lay that flattering unction to your soul, fest that all seeing eye, which, as you have this day truly said, reads all hearts, should discover that you have entered his presence with a lie in your mouth, and perjury in your right hand. You know, and he knows, whether there is any foundation for the assertion which you have so often repeated. By the evidence before me, it appears that this is one of the most foul and wicked murders that ever was perpetrated. That you should have formed an intimacy with the deceased, in those haunts of gaming and vice which are the bane of society-that you should have professed friendship for him-tomized. Upon you, Joseph Hunt, that you should have invited him to the house of your friend; that he should have carried with him clothes for his ornament and for his use: and that, in a moment of darkness, and before he reached that house, he should be no more-cut off by your hand, are all circumstances aggravating your crime. If he was a man of such character as has been represented, think how much the criminality of you and your accomplice has been increased, by sending him to his final account before he could once think of his God, or call upon who have been convicted of maliciously aiding and abetting this murder, the sentence is, that you be taken hence to the place from whence you came, and thence to a place of execution, there to be hanged by the neck till you are dead: and may the Lord, of his great mercy, have pity on your souls." Thus, as an inspired writer has solemnly affirmed, "When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." 72 Obituary and and Recent Deaths. MRS. VINES OF READING. MRS. David Vines, whose death was briefly noticed in the Magazine for April last, was born in the year 1767. From early life she was the subject of deep convictions of sin, which were strengthened by a melancholy case of suicide, which occurred when she was about eleven years of age, and caused a great sensation in that neighbourhood. For several years she was a stranger to peace; though she sought it both in the strictness of a pharisaic life, and afterwards, at the solicitation of misjudging friends, in the amusements of the metropolis. At length the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Cadogan, then vicar of St. Giles's, in her native town, was blest to the relief of her anxieties, and to guide her feet into the way of peace. After some time, she was induced to hear occasionally at the Baptist meeting, where Mr. Thomas Davis was then pastor, and by him she was baptized and received into the church, not long before his death in 1796.* The points in the character of Mrs. Vines, which are especially worthy of imitation (for which purpose alone any part of her character is exhibited) are these: 1. Her walk was close with God. The private devotions of every day were ranked among its first duties, and attended to with deep seriousness and fervour. Her domestic cares, even when most numerous These two excellent men (Mr. Cadogan and Mr. Davis) were long cotemporaries in the work of the gospel at Reading, and died within about a fortnight of each other. It is related that the funeral procession of Mr. Davis was passing through St. Giles's Church-yard on the Sabbath afternoon, ere the worthy Vicar had closed his discourse; and that, alluding to the solemn spectacle, he exclaimed, "There go the remains of a man of God to their last home, and who among us shall be the next, God only knows." He was then in usual health, but the next Lord's-day was his last of service upon earth! and heavy, she never suffered to diminish the secret exercises of piety. She was eminently studious of the sacred scriptures: delighting to ocretirement, and large portions of the cupy in their perusal much of her time in which she was not engaged in family concerns. And her life furnishes a motive to an imitation of her diligence; for she was among the happiest of saints. Experimental religion was always out both inward and outward trials, in its power: and, though not withto endure them, and to profit by she was admirably prepared, both them. So well supplied with sacred subjects of thought, trifles laid no hold on her mind. Her heart was full of "good treasure," out of which she was ever ready to bring forth tion of all: and, deeply under the things new and old, for the edificainfluence of divine things, she was both ready and furnished to every good word and work. Such a life resolute enough to persevere in the many have longed after:who is method of its attainment. 2. Her attendance on the public means of grace was most exemplary. No opportunity in her power was ever lost: nay, she redeemed many, which most persons would have thought lost. She never yielded to a little bad weather, or a little fa tigue, or a little disinclination; and, with very great difficulty, even to much. Above all, she never sacrificed her privileges to social engage ments of any kind. The call of a friend never detained her from the house of God; and, even from a and return. large company she would depart, Her zeal was especially discovered during her residence at a farm, several miles from the place of wor ship, attending, in the midst of many hindrances, not only on the Sab, bath, but on a week evening, after days of laborious exertion. And she had her reward. Her enjoyment of divine ordinances was great: and their influence mingled itself powerfully with her ordinary affairs, and habitual feelings. She commonly returned rejoicing, and saying, "What blessed truths!" "What a word in season after the trials and cares of the day!"-" Doth not my word do good, saith the Lord, to them that walk uprightly?" 3. Her attention to the spiritual interests of her family was unremitting. It was her invariable rule to begin, at a very early period, the religious instruction of her children: she watched over their souls, and travailed in birth again with them until Christ should be formed in them. By scriptural instructionby affectionate conversation - by habitual prayer with them-and by religious correspondence when they were from home, she earnestly sought her children's salvation and not in vain. Out of ten children, seven sat down with their mother at the Lord's table; nor are these all, in whom it is hoped that piety exists. Pious parent: you long for pious children be stedfast, therefore, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; for your labour will not be in vain in the Lord. 4. Her endeavours to be useful were laborious and habitual. With this view she began at home; bestowing the most earnest and kind attention on the religious instruction of her servants. She soon ascertained whether they could read, and whether they knew any thing of divine truth, or experimental piety, to which last it was her object to lead them. She next attended to the neighbourhood; and the poor families around the farm witnessed much temporal benefit, and solemn admonition. She was prompt also in introducing serious topics into general conversation, and more pointedly with individuals, (although strangers,) when occasion offered, always with a tendency and design to do them good. On her recovery from the gates of death in the year 1821, it was her strong impression, that "her work was not done," or that she was to be instrumental in the salvation of another soul. She was on the watch for all opportunities; and, during a visit of a few weeks to one of her sons in London, her conversation was blessed to the conver VOL. XVI. | | sion of his housekeeper. Through her instrumentality, also, one of her servants is now a member of the Baptist church in Reading; and another went before her to heaven, to welcome her entrance there. We often hear the complaint, "I know not how to be useful." Ah! is it not rather the inclination that is wanting? Mrs. Vines died March 4, 1823, in the fifty-sixth year of her age. She had been some time in ill-health, and familiar with thoughts of death; but a gloom had overspread her mind, which it pleased God to remove by the last sermon she ever heard: it was on the words, "Whom he justified, them he also glorified." The illness immediately preceding her death lasted but two days, during which her mind was tranquil, and fixed upon God. The expressions which fell from her, were such as these: "My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Sickness and sorrow, pain and death, are felt and feared no more. -I can say that Christ is all and in all. I can do nothing without him. I looked to him long ago, and he is my refuge now.-My helpless soul I venture on Jesus Christ alone. He is a solid comfort when all other comforts fail.-There is nothing here like my God. All earthly comfort is gone; but he changes not therefore we are not consumed. It is remarkable, that during this illness Mrs Vines had no apprehension of death. She said frequently, "I think my work is not done yet: but I wish to live only to win souls to Christ." About four hours before her death, having said, “I don't think I am dying; I seem better," it was intimated that her life was not expected many hours. She replied, "Indeed?" but with a calmness that could spring only from a wellprepared heart. Her last anxiety, her last expressed wish, was for the I But the conversion of her remaining chil- though the subject of great weakdren, "that all might meet with joyness and pain, we fondly hoped she around the throne." She sleeps in Jesus:-O that, at the resurrection of the just, her opening eyes may realize the sight for which her heart beat so warmly, even in its dying feebleness! MRS. STENNETT. (We have received the following Obituary of Mrs. Stennett, from one of the daughters of the worthy woman to whom it refers.) Paternoster-row, January 20, 1824. MY DEAR SIR, 66 would be restored to us. Lord's ways and thoughts are not as ours, and the beginning of November she was again confined to her bed, no more to arise. Her mind, during the whole of her affliction, was kept in a state of peace and serenity; and her constant answers to our anxious enquiries was always, “ Quite happy, willing to wait the Lord's time, I have no rapturous joys, but my soul is kept steadily fixed upon Jesus, as the Rock of Ages, and all shall be well." Sometimes she said, “The I sit down to give you a few par- thought steals into my mind, (How ticulars relative to the long affliction shall it be at the last?) but even of my late beloved mother. Her this, I am enabled to leave." From former life and connexions are well the Sabbath preceding her death, to known to yourself, and most of the the Friday morning, when it took religious friends in our denomina-place, she had few intervals of contion, and knowing as I do, her serious objection to obituaries in general, I should very much scruple to enlarge upon any part of her early history. Thus much I may say, that her's was a life of constant and persevering exertion for the good of her fellow creatures, never did she shrink from any act of mercy, however painful; and her conduct was a practical comment upon that scripture, "Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device in the grave, whither thou art going." She needs no public eulogium, for she will live in the hearts of an extensive circle of friends, and the poor will bless her memory. sciousness; but these few precious moments bore ample testimony to the faithfulness of God, in not leaving his people at the last extremity. The name of Jesus was to her as ointment poured forth, when all earthly joys and ties had lost their influence and power to touch the chords of the heart: so that there was always a responsive string. May the dying scene, so deeply engraven on our minds, animate us to to follow her example, and cherish the Saviour as our Lord, and our God. Should you, my dear Sir, find any thing in this short statement, at all likely to benefit the religious public, and to help any soul forward in the divine life, by another proof of the efficacy of grace to overcome every difficulty, we shall be rejoiced. S. S. LIEUT. STEPHEN ROGERS. Her last painful and serious illness commenced in September, 1822; from which time, till the April following, she never left the house. When fully aware of the danger of her situation, and of the necessity of entire cessation from active duty, she seemed at once to sink into passive DIED, October 1, 1823, at Key submission to the divine will, and to West, Thomson's Island, West Inleave every thing to its disposal. dies, Lieutenant Stephen Rogers of She used often to say to us, 66 My the American Marine Corps, the dear children, admire the hand of sixth and only surviving son of the the Lord in thus quieting my anxious venerable William Rogers, D.D. of mind, for this is his work; I am so Philadelphia. He was carried off different naturally." in the twenty-fourth year of bis age by the yellow fever, which he is supposed to have caught through at From April to October last, she seemed gradually recovering, and That makes the tooth of sorrow venomless, gave, Islington. J. E. JOSEPH BRADNEY, Esq. tendance upon the sick; so that he fell a sacrifice to his humanity! He appears to have been an amiable In the eye of Christian [faith, and and interesting youth, possessing all under the beamings of Christian those qualities which endear the hope these distressing bereavechild to the parental heart. In 1818 ments are only "so much taken from he graduated at Brown's University, the enjoyments of Time to enrich Providence, Rhode Island, and sub-the prospect of Eternity." The Lord sequently at Nassau College, New and the Lord hath taken away, Jersey. At both of these Literary blessed be the name of the Lord. Institutions, his talents and his acquirements ensured to him academical distinction. Having entered the Navy of the United States, he was acting under Commodore Porter-the object of whose commission was, by his squadron, to scour the seas of those pirates by which they had been long infested. A favourite with his superior officers, be would have arisen to eminence in the service of his beloved country; but these flattering prospects have been terminated by a premature dissolution. Mysterious, Ruler! so it hath seemed good in thy sight. His truly afflicted parents, and his three sorrowing sisters-whose loss is irreparable-have drank too deeply into the spirit of the glorious Gospel of the blessed God—which hath brought life and immortality to light-not to bow submissively to the will of Heaven DIED, on Saturday evening, the 10th inst. (January,) after a very short illness, Joseph Bradney, Esq. of Clapham Common, one of the Trustees of the Meeting-house occupied by the Rev. James Philipps. The decease of Mr. Bradney was attended by another bereavement, which furnishes a most striking and awful instance of the absolute uncertainty of life. Mr. Prior, a respectable surgeon of Clapham, who had been in attendance for several days, after closing the eyes of Mr. Bradney, went home, and had scarcely reached it, ere he burst a blood vessel, and immediately expired! So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Review. his investigations, and though we cannot adopt his conclusions, yet we ought not to withhold our testimony of the high respect we entertain for him, both as a gentleman and a Christian, and our acknow An Essay on Baptism; being an Enquiry into the Meaning, Form, and Extent of the Administration of that Ordinance. By Greville Ewing, Minister of the Gospel, Glasgow. With an Appendix, containing a Vindication of the Ex-ledgment of the excellent temper planations in the Author's Greek displayed in his Essay. We are Grammar, and Greek and English glad to see the productions of thinkScripture Lexicon, on the same ing men on every subject connected Subject, in a Letter to the Author, in any way with our common faith; from a Literary Christian Friend. by this means all the evidence, and all the illustration, that can be apGlasgow, 1823. pp. 204. 12mo. plied to the point in hand, are brought forward and made common property. THE worthy author of this work has given his readers the result of |