DIED at Warwick, Jan. 2d. 1798, aged 6 years. It must be acknow, ledged a fource of confolation to the afflicted chriftian, that there is a religion whofe influence is fenfibly felt under the trials of life, and which affords living comforts in dying moments. Nor is this religion peculiar only to believers of mature years, or cultivated minds; God has often by the power of his grace in the heart, exalted men of low degree, and fometimes, as in the following inftance, he fulfils his purpofe in exhibiting the truth of that important paffage of fcripture," out of the mouth of babes and fucklings haft thou ordained ftrength." In the converfion of young children to himfelf, Jehovah indeed, perfects his own praise.

The dear little fubject of these hints, was attacked with a violent fever, which the patiently endured about ten days, and then fell asleep. Her firft ferious impreffions were noticed by thofe attending upon her foon after fhe was taken ill, whilst the uttered the following line of a hymn. "Af. fiction pains me, lo I bend!" Her mother immediately repeating the next line of the couplet, "Though he chastise me, he's my friend," asked her whether the could fay fo?" God only knows," replied the child, thaking her little head, expreffive of great inward concern.

She conftantly coveted her mother's company, which could not be complied with, on account of the fickness of feveral whom the Lord had vifited in the fame family at that time. As often as her mother could be with her fhe would improve the time-fometimes withing her parent to fing hymns. Once particularly when her pains were extreme, inftead of repining, the fung herself, an hour together "Hallelujah, praife the Lord," then cried out with great warmth of expreffion " I want-I want;" upon being afked what the wanted? replied, "I want the Lord and Mrs. F." (a godly friend of the family). Upon being called to the child, in company with fome other friends, the little one faid, " fome of you pray:" when enquired of, what they fhould pray for, faid fhe," that I may die, and go to heaven to Jefus Chrift." Her mother then faid "Would you not rather live and stay with your father? (for whom the always thewed partiality) "No (faid the) I had rather die."

At another time Mrs. M. putting fome queftions to her about heaven, and Jefus there; the child broke out with eagernels and faid I love the Lord with all my heart and with all my mind and with all my fouland with all my ftrength (articulating the words) for Jefus Chrift is my Redeemer, Hallelujah, praife the Lord," and added, " fing it fome of you. She paffed the remainder of that day finging of hymns.

A little while after, the mother having, according to the child's request, obtained two or three godly young women to fing to her, it was wished the would name a hymn, when the fixed upon the following, in the Coventry fupplement :

"Lord, and am I yet alive,

"Not in torment, not in hell, &c."

After which fhe begged them to fing,

"Rock of ages cleft for me,

"Let me hide myfelf in thee, &c."

when she had repeated the laft lines, lifting up her little dying hands and` eyes to to heaven, fhe faid, "Oh, what a sweet hymn this is! upon which,

bar

her mother defired her to fay if the knew what the rock of ages meant yes (faid the child) it is the Lord Jefus Chrift."

Next day feeing her mother with the Bible in her hand, she said, "Mother find that chapter that fays: they that believe shall be saved, and they that believe not thall be damned." After reading it, it was put to her, whether the thought the was among the happy number who believed--when fhe haftily replied, "yes."

About this time, a little female play fellow being with her, was fpeaking of her deceased little brother, and was faying, “that her brother's body was devoured by worms" Ah! (faid Eliza) it does not fignify what becomes of the body, if the foul is in heaven."

The child appeared fenfible of her approaching diffolution, and at one time, when the thought no one was in the room, fhe was heard several times to cry out, "Oh Lord! come-come to me;" upon being asked whether the expected to fee Mrs. and Mifs M. (who were then on a journey) any more, the answered" No, for I fhall die."

The morning of the day before her departure, the appeared greatly exercifed in her foul, and, as if under the power of ftrong temptation, ftarted up and cried out, "what shall I do?" Upon this her parent faid, "my dear the Lord will have mercy." "He wont, he wont" (replied the chlitd). A few words of prayer were then put up by one prefent, in which the joined, and when it was concluded, the continued, "Pray Lord-pray God: with her dying bands lifted upward. After this, fhe faid, "Kifs me my dear precious mother, for I love you," and appeared to take an affectionate farewell. She then enquired for her father, wishing to fee him-but he was too ill to attempt to go to her, of which they informed the child. After this the lay more compofed-then called upon the house to help her to praife God, and concluded the day with singing,“ Jefus Chrift is my redeemer."The following night she grew worse, gradually declining till about feven the next morning, when without figh or groan, she closed hes eyes in Jefus, and entered into the joy of her Lord.

MARY SALMON.

Jan. 20th, 1798, died Mary Salmon, of the parifh of Clavering, in the county of Effex, aged 25, after a painful illness which confined her near three years. Her mother is a believer in Jesus, and would gladly have brought her children under the word, but never was able fully to accomplish her defire. Occafionally however the fubject of this narration, heard the Gofpel, and, as the afterwards acknowledged, had in the early part of life, ferious impreffions, which nevertheless, as fhe grew up, were in a great measure loft. In the month of May laft, her younger fifter was removed by death after a very fhort warning. From hence it plealed the Lord to awaken in her a ferious concern for her foul, and at that time the writer of this article first converfed with her upon the important fub ject. She had dilcovered much patience under the whole of her confinement, but was convinced he was a finner. Her complaint was, that the was afraid the was not fincere; that he did not forrow for her tranfgreffions in a fuitable manner; nor feel her heart drawn out in love to God, and declared that her long affliction, was nothing to her in comparison with her immortal interests. Of a complete falvation by the merits and righteoufnefs of the divine Redeemer fhe had very little idea, and appeared Father disappointed when that only way was pointed out.

In this ftate of bondage the continued through the remainder of the year. However the was gradually led to fee that Chrift was the only Saviour, though the Hill expected a change must be wrought in her before the

might

might look up to him with hope. In the mean time the bleffings of the everlasting covenant were laid before her; the rich and free promises of the word were stated; and the was encouraged and exhorted to pray for the teaching of the Holy Spirit. As the time of her removal from this world more nearly approached, her concern was the greater. She then declared there was no hope for her but Chrift, yet found not confolation from him. Sometimes he was favoured with a beam of light, but it was tranfient. On being asked whether the could give up her expectation from the Redeemer, the replied, "not for all the world." The Monday before her decease, herd ftrefs was very deep. The cafe of thofe, to whom Peter addreffed his difcourfe at the day of Pentecoft, as alfo, that of the jailor at Philippi, were laid before her, and the way in which they found relief, was laid open. Hence it was fhewn, that falvation is wholly of grace, and that the very chief of finners, have full encouragement in the Lord Jefus. On his merits and righteoufness she was exhorted to reft all her hopes, and to cat the whole weight of her eternal concerns upon him. The converfation was closed with prayer.

When visited two days afterwards, on being asked, how it was with her? The replied, "I hope, Sir, I have faft hold upon Chrift," and added, "In the evening after you left me, the Lord told me that all you said was true; that he was the Saviour for poor loft finners; that my bad heart fhould not hinder him from faving me; that it was his own work, not "mine, to bring about the change I wanted; and he said also, that I should fup with him, and he with me. Then I thought, how foolifh it was for me to keep away from Chrift 'till I was in a better state of mind; and "then also, I found my love drawn forth towards that dear Redeemer." But he did not long experience the comfort which she enjoyed when the discovery was first made, and it was obferved to her, fhe would probably be called to go through another dark season, before the arrived at glory. Thus it proved. The two following days, her faith was feverely tried. "I have "no fenfible comfort," said she, "but hope the Lord will again reveal "himself before my departure. It is he who has fhewed me these things, and he would not have done it, had he not defigned to fave me."Another time the faid, "fhould the Lord fee fit to remove me while in the dark, ftill I trust he is my Saviour." On another occafion fhe obferved, "when I lie in great affliction, I think with myself, what is all "this to what the dear Lord Jefus fuffered to fave wretched finners like "me?" On the morning of her diffolution, being in much pain, the beg ged to be informed if they thought her to be dying. When told, the really was, the expreffed full refignation and willingness to go to Chrift. She exhorted her friends to walk in the ways of God, telling them, that from the diftrefs fhe had felt, they might learn the evil of a negligent converfation. Afterwards fhe took an affectionate leave of thofe around her, and when nearly exhaufted, fpoke thus, "He fays, come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden; my dear Mother, I am a poor heavy "laden finner."-Her mother replied, "I know you are my child, but he will give you reft."-She rejoined, "I hope he will." After a little interval, she said—“ In my father's house are many mansions.” Being told that Jefus was gone to prepare a place for her, he replied, “ I truft he is."-The laft words fhe was heard to fpeak diftin&tly, were, "fweet Jelus!" Her lips moved untill her fpirit departed, and the peacefully fell asleep in Christ.

Thus the great head of the Church, by ways truly his own, finds out his children, and conducts them to everlasting reft; and however diftant many of them may fometime appear to be from him and glory, he will at the last make it evident that, "not an hoof is left behind."

POETRY.

POETRY.

THE

PRINCE OF PEACE.

ENOUGH of hoftile arts, and war's alarms,

Of garments roll'd in blood, and feats of arms;
Soon may the brazen trumpet cease to found,
And the wide wafting scourge no more be found:
A nobler theme my glowing bofum warms
With brighter glories, and fuperior charms.
Blefs'd Comforter! who gave my foul to prove
In early life the drawings of thy love;
Deign from the heights of glory to impart,
A beam divine, to animate my heart;
To teach a worm Jehovah's name to fing,
And celebrate the praises of my King.

Eternal bleffings crown thy facred head,
O Jefus! first begotten of the dead.

Prince of all earthly kings, whofe righteous fway,
Thy creatures, both in heav'n and earth obey;
Thou, (brightest bleffing of the Father's love),
Didft bow the heav'ns, defcending from above,
And take man's nature, guilty man to raise
From fin and death, to triumph through thy grace.
Behold, my foul, with reverential awe,

The Lord of Glory subject to the law;
An off'ring made upon the painful tree,
Obedient to the death to ranfom thee.

O matchless love! the just th' unjust to fave,
Vifits the dreary manfion of the grave,

Rifes, afcends, and reigns at God's right hand,
With ev'ry throne and pow'r at his command.

Hail, glorious Conqu'ror! may thy peaceful rega

Widely extended, bless the earth again!

Give from thy radiant throne, the fov'reign word,
And multitudes fhall rife to preach their Lord.
Pity the millions of thy creatures bound

In chains of awful darkness all around;

And fend thy light and truth with pow'r divine,

'Till all the nations of the world are thine.

See, Lord, thy fervants touch'd with human woe, Affembled in thy hollow'd courts below;*

And realizing mis'ry's groan, appear,

To pour the fervent pray'r, the pitying tear.

Look down from Heav'n, with a propitious eye,

"Take thy great pow'r and bring thy kingdom nigh;" Let vanquish'd finners bow before thy throne,

And ev'ry tribe, confess thee Lord alone.

J.A. K.

Alluding to the public Meetings of the Miffionary Society.

LINES