Page images
PDF
EPUB

signed, and happy; for the agitated mind was now tranquillized, by the introduction of heaven-born peace. Her conversation was truly in heaven. She spoke of death with the most perfect composure, its sting being now extracted. She talked of an eternal weight of glory, of mansions of light, and crowns of life, with a familiarity and anticipation which afforded delight to all who heard her. On one of those occasions that I visited her, she said, "I have no wish to continue any longer in this world; it is a vain and uncertain world; I would now much rather die, and go to heaven. For me to die would be gain." At the same time she said, Having now obtained peace, and an interest in Jesus, how shall I retain these blessings, so as to die in the favour of God?" On being informed that these blessings were retained by faith, and resting the soul entirely on the atonement of the Saviour, she appeared quite satisfied, and entertained no doubt that her end would be peace.

From this time until she terminated her earthly career, her body became more weak, but her soul continued very happy. While her weak state and partial silence warned of the near approach of death, her occasional expressions, and earnest breathings of soul, indicated the nearness of her sanctified spirit to the palace of angels and God. Shortly after, her cough, which was very painful, subsided; her respiration became less frequent; and she sunk in the arms of death, without a distressing struggle. Her conversion and death have been instrumental in quickening the society of which she was a member; and recently several have been awakened, whose present conduct promises future stability. ROBERT H. LINDSAY.

2. Died, at Little-Kelk, in the Bridlington Circuit, May 25th, Jeremiah Lamplough, aged fifteen years. Though young, he possessed many excellencies which are often sought for in vain, even in those of riper years. Like Timothy, from a child he was acquainted with the Scriptures of truth; and by those he endeavoured to regulate his life and conversation. In his childhood he was remarkably sedate, and seldom appeared to relish the sports and follies of children in general; his chief delight being in reading, and singing hymns and spiritual songs: for the latter exercise he was well qualified, having an excellent voice, and a fine taste for vocal music. His obedience to his parents was cheerful and constant. His mother says, she does not remember that he ever intentionally disobeyed. In a character so truly amiable, the young reader may imagine he beholds a "heaven-born saint;" but, alas, had he rested here, he would have come far short of that inward peace and love which shone so conspicuous in his last illness.

In November, 1831, he became a pupil in the Sunday-school at Harpham; and continued to attend until prevented by sickness. Sock after his admission into the school, he was awakened to a sense of his lost state by nature, under a sermon preached in the schoolroom; and from that time he never rested until he found the pearl of great price, the forgiveness of his transgressions. He now rejoiced in God his Saviour: the love of God was sweetly shed abroad

in his heart; and he might be truly said to be born for a better world. Soon after his conversion he was visited by Mr. Jewitt, one of the Itinerant Preachers, and closely questioned as to the time and manner of his release from spiritual bondage; and his answers were so clear and satisfactory as not to leave a doubt on the mind of his being converted to God.

In a journal, which he commenced writing soon after his conversion, he writes, "I bless God that I was born of praying parents, who endeavoured to bring me up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. By their pious instruction, and by being regularly taken by them to the house of God, I was restrained from committing many heinous sins. I cannot remember the time when the Spirit of God first strove with me; but I was very young. I was a strong, healthy child, and bade fair for manhood; but in a few years health was taken away, and pain and sorrow came upon me. In the year 1829 it pleased the Lord to afflict me with an abscess on my breast, which brought me very low." Here ends his journal. It is highly probable that the affliction of which he speaks laid the foundation of the pulmonary complaint of which he died.

For some time before his death he seemed to enjoy a constant and settled peace. It was truly good to be with him; especially when surrounded by his young friends. At these times it would have staggered infidelity itself to hear him talk as calmly and composedly of death as if it were a pleasant journey. It appeared that patience in him had her perfect work; and that he was completely dead to the world. At one time he exultingly said, "I know that iny Redeemer liveth; and that he shail stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and not another." To his mother, on saying something to him about dying, he said, "If God gives me grace to live with, he will give me grace to die with." He frequently prayed for his only sister, that she might follow him as he followed Christ; and that he, and his sister, and parents, might all meet in glory. Then, he used to say,

"We'll range the sweet plains on the banks of the river,

And sing of salvation for ever and ever!"

To some friends who visited him, he said, "When I am most afflicted, and nearest the gates of death, I am the happiest." He one night awoke his mother, and said, "I never felt so near death as I do now; and if the thoughtless, who are contriving to ornament their bodies, only felt what I feel, they would not do so." When his father went home from his labour in the evenings, he was in an ecstasy of joy: he used to say, "No one knows, but myself, how much good I derive from seeing my father;" and added, "I have need of all prayer for humility." To a cousin he said, "O repent, and turn to the Lord, while in youth, or I shall stand a witness

to his bed, he said,

I cannot reward you; but may the Lord reward you an hundred-fold;" and added, "Bless the Lord, he always provides before I want." A few hours before his death, his aunt observed, "Death is approaching; but it is no terror to thee!" He smiled, and said, "O no." His mother said, "Hast thou any thing more to say to me?" He earnestly replied, "Live to the Lord, mother." He often prayed that he might die like one falling asleep; and the Lord was pleased to grant his request; for after kissing his father, and grasping his hand, he sweetly fell asleep in Jesus. WILLIAM WOODMANSEY.

POETRY.

DIVINE LOVE.

IMPENDENT death, and guilt that threatens hell,
Are dreadful guests, which here with mortals dwell;
And a vex'd conscience, mingling with their joy
Thoughts of despair, does their whole life annoy :
But love appearing, all those terrors fly,
We live contented, and contented die.

They in whose breast this sacred love has place,
Death as a passage to their joy embrace.

WALLER.

THE HORSE TO HIS RIDER.

On the frequent wanton Abuses of the Powers of that noble Animal.

O, MASTER, cease! a little mercy lend,

Nor thus my reeking sides incessant play;

Let thy sharp scourge my lab'ring bones befriend,
Nor thus my efforts cruelly repay.

Since morning's dawn near eighty miles I've sped,
And day's meridian scarcely now is o'er;
O let me seek near yonder alehouse-shed
That lowly stable's hospitable door.

And must I pass it? O, my trembling limbs,
Ye soon beneath your cruel load must sink;
My brain ev'n now in faint delirium swims;
My life fast verges to destruction's brink.
Bred in thy fields, I knew thy presence well,
And ever ran thy soothing hand to greet;
Then frisk'd along the daisy-sprinkled dell,
To show thee early that my powers were fleet.

To please thy fancy, I with patience bent

My velvet ear to' endure the iron's heat,
And all the torturing whims that these invent

Fed in thy pasture, I, with grateful speed,

Have been the foremost in the tuneful pack; Nor hill, nor hedge, nor wall, could e'er impede ; But over all I brought thee on my back.

When late at fairs and markets thou hast stay'd, Thy sense unequal to direct the road;

O'er the dark heath or rutted lanes I've neigh'd, And borne in safety home my drowsy load.

Oft my dear mistress have I drawn with care,

With her loved brood, to join the village school, And felt myself full proud when she would spare One look, one pat, or call me her poor fool.

With such a charge thou know'st I never fell,
Nor gave alarm to those so dear to thee;
Then let compassion in thy heart now dwell,
Nor furious thus increase my misery.

O, if Intemperance, in her wildest hours,
Has press'd thee to propose the cruel bet,
My once-kind master, strain no more my powers;
They fail beneath the arduous task that's set.

If true the doctrine that some sages hold,
Of transmigration's just and vengeful fate,
O think what horror will thy page unfold;
How thou wilt suffer in thine alter'd state.

This day's base action then shall rise in awe,
And doom thee to some pannier'd ass's lot;
Thy sides half famish'd, and thy back half raw,
Standing neglected near thy master's cot.

Or some grim tyrant, bent on pelf and blood,
May bring on thee a premature old age;
An outcast cripple, sell thee from his stud,

To meet the collier's or the sandman's rage.

Ah! didst thou pause? thy heel forget its stroke?
'Tis now too late to shun the deed accurst:
Mercy has in thy heart too late awoke;
My eyes grow dim, my mighty heart is burst.

Farewell! affected by my mournful tale,

Some breast may feel the keenness of remorse; And should my fate but turn compassion's scale,

INDEX TO VOL. XVII.

Allen, Mr. James, communication from, respecting the market-cross
at Devizes, 397

Allison, Mrs., verses by, on Music, 214

Anecdotes. John Howard, 13-Jonas Hanway, 51-The Rev. Dr.
Nisbet, 167-The Pretender, 278-Dr. Franklin, 366-Henry
Martyn, 369, 370-Mr. Wesley, 330, 403, 404-A Cherokee
Chief, 417-The Jackdaws at Cambridge, 423-The Dog, 129,
167

Apprentice, advice to an, 57

Aristotle, style of, noticed, 278

Astronomical Notices, 26, 62, 97, 137, 175, 208, 245, 284, 315,
354, 391, 426

Athens, national funeral ceremony at, 8-account of the plague of,
88

Attraction, what, 111, 269-effects of, 160

Augustine, St., extraordinary facts stated by, 51

Bales, Peter, curious achievement in penmanship by, 20

Barrow, Dr., biographic sketch of, 145, 183

Barton, Bernard, verses by, entitled "Sabbaths," 106

Beal, Rev. William, a series of papers by. See Christian Philosophy.
Birds of Greenwich Park, stationary, 204-migratory, 239

Blackheath-hill, curious cavern at, 21

Blair, Dr., on the proper management of time, 82

Body and soul, difference between, 84

Bonaparte, Louis, his American Ornithology mentioned, 388

Books, origin and materials of, 308

Boston, attempt at kidnapping in, 19

Bowles, Rev. W. L., verses by, "on hearing a sacred song of Mo-
zart," 142

Bradburn, Miss E. W., verses by: On Flowers and Leaves in my

« PreviousContinue »