things, except it was abfolutely neceffary. Her health was gradually declining, and on Feb. 28, 1796, he was feized with a violent Apoplectic Fit, which continued two hours, no signs of life were perceived, but to the furprize of thofe around her, and contrary to the expectation of the apothecary, the again revived. Hysteric fits immediately fucceeded, the next day the became fenfible, to our great joy, and expreffed great comfort of mind. She begged feveral Pfalms might be read to her, which she found delightful to her foul. But, ah! how foon was our grief again renewed, by beholding our amiable fier deprived of her reafoning powers by most dreadful fits, which continued with little intermiffion for a fortnight, when he became fenible, though extremely debilitated, and happy in her mind, the feemed willing either to live or die, but rather defired to depart. Indeed, to all appearance, we thought he could continue but a fort time; her temptations were at certain times very great, and a dejection of mind fucceeded the fits, with conftant and acute pain in the head. This weakened her eye fight to much, as to render her incapable of reading, in which he took great deligh', and rendered the affliction much more heavy. For a year and half paft, fhe has been incapable of attending at the house of God and unable to converfe, owing to repeated attacks of the Epileptic and Convu'five fits, which reduced her to extreme weakness, and brought on a mortification in the feet, for want of exercise. Six weeks before her departure, her fenfes were perfectly restored; calmness and ferenity of mind were again enjoyed; but a violent cough took place, with fhortness of breath, fo that she could fcarcely fpeak more than a fentence or two together. She was conveyed up and down ftairs by my fifters to the last night of her life, which was on the 26th of February last, when her immortal fpirit took its happy flight into that glorious ftate ; fhe had tweetly anticipated, fo gentle was her difmiffion, as to be fcarcely perceptible; her age was 23. Mr. Hilyard preached a Sermon at her interment on the following Sabbath, March 4, 1798, to a crouded auditory. The text made choice of, was from Plalmn xxxiv. 19. MR. STANDEN. MONDAY, March the 12th, Mr. Rickard Standen, miller, at Blatchngton, Suflex. Aged 60 years. He was brought to a knowledge of the ruth, as it is in Jefus, about 27 years ago, under the miniftry of the Rev. Mr. Gilbert, at Heathfield, in the above county, (by a fermon from Ephefians . 14, 15,) and continued, by the grace of God, in a clear view of, and dependance upon the doctrines of the Gofpel until his death. About twelve years fince, he first began to exhort, among a few pious perions in his vicinity; and three years afterward, publicly to preach the glad tidings of falvation to loft finners. His mill-houfe was occupied for that purpose, and he also preached in a small chapel at Alfriston. About three months ago, the benighted state of Newhaven, was impreffed upon the mind of a gentleman of Brighthelmstone, one of the managers of the late Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel; his concern was increased from relative ties in that place, and he refolved in dependance upon the divine bleffing to attempt the introduction of the Gospel there. The proximity of Mr. Standen's refidence, and his knowledge of his character, led him to confider him as a probable inftrument of Providence for that purpose. He readi y offered when applied to, a place was procured and licensed, and there was a peaceful and hopeful attendance. On the Sabbath day imme diately diately preceding his death, he preached there in the morning, and, though a little indisposed, in the afternoon at Heighton, a village in the vicinity, and was remarked in preaching to be as lively as usual. On the Monday following, in the forenoon, after being in his mill, as he was fitting in his chair, he fuddenly expreffed to his wife who was fitting by, a dreadful pain in his head, at the fame time putting up one of his hands to the part affected, he repeated his fenfe of violent pain, putting to it the other hand, afked for fome drops, and while his wife ftepped into the adjoining room for them, fell backward to the ground a lifelets corpfe. His funeral Sermon was preached prior to the interment, at his house, by Mr. Gilbert, from Ifaiah Ivii. & 1. And the fubject was improved at Newhaven the following Sabbath, by Mr. Caldwell, one of the minifters of the Countess of Huntingdon's connection, from Numbers xxiii. 10. (latter part) the audience at each place were ferious and attentive; and at the latter, a hope is entertained of fpeedily erecting a chapel. The fuddennefs of his death, precluded thofe expreffions of fupport and hope, that are fo defirable to furrounding friends; but the tenor of his deportment, as a believer, left evidence he was "paffed from death unto life." The manner of his diffolution, loudly enforcing, "Be ye allo ready." He left a wife and four children, two fons grown to manhood, and two daughters in their minority. "Bleffed is he that watcheth." Revelation xvi. 15. MRS. HALLIDAY. ON Thurfday the 15th of March, died, at Chifwick, near Berwick, Mrs. Halliday, an aged widow. Mr. J. B. her minister, visited her on Tuesday the 13th of March, and faw her in great diftrefs, but very fen. fible, calm, and refigned to the will of God. Having afked her, if he was afraid to die, the replied, "I cannot say I am. Death is awful indeed; but Chrift died for me; he bore my fins and carried my forrows." A little after, she said, "It was all settled between Christ and me, at Stitchill-Brae, 31 years ago, on a Communion-Sabbath, when he faid to my foul," "I will betroth thee unto me for ever in righteoufnels and in judgment, in loving kindness and in tender mercies." He efpoufed me to himself that day, and fealed the efpoulals. Upon further conversation with her, the obferved, that fhe had lived feveral years in a fad cafe, under deep concern for her foul's falvation, and was fometimes on the very brink of despair; often she was about to give up attending ordinances, but still kept hanging on, though the could not tell why. At length her day of Saiyation dawned, and Chrift fpake par don and peace to her foul. She further obferved, that he had had many trials in her lot, but fince that day at Stitchili-Brae, she had never lost fight of Chrift altogether. After prayer by her, the expreffed vehement defires for the Salvation of her fons and daughters; fe fad, O that Chrift would give them fuch a visit, as I got at Stitchill-Brae; and that he would fanctify and fave them, and establish his covenant with them and their feed, to be a God to them for ever!" In this pleafant frame, the continued with little variation till the laft. Her illness having been of a lingering nature, the expired without a struggle, Blefied are they whọ live and die in the Lord!" MARY ALLEN. THIS young woman, who was a native of Wooburn Moor, ufually attended public worship at the New Church at Loudwater. The word whilft being preached, appeared comfortable to her; but no fooner did the leave the the church than, to ufe her own expreffion, "fhe loft the word afterwards;" which exactly agrees to our Saviour's defcription of the way-side hearers: "When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and under"ftandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth that which was fown in his heart, this is he which received feed by the way fide." She acknowledged to the writer of this account, that the knew in ge-, neral, that she was a finner, but did not know the remedy, till he visited her, and took pains to explain to her the way of Salvation by a crucified Redeemer. She then told him, that "now prayed to God, to pardon her "through Chrift; that the knew he could only be faved by his blood, " which mutt wash her from her fins." Wherever there is true faith, it will produce an intercourfe between the foul and Chrift. It did fo in Mary Allen. The Lord, the Spirit foon taught her to pray. In the Gilent watches of the night, when many, if they wake, think only of their lufts, or "devife mifchief on their beds," (Pí. xxxvi. 4.) She commonly prayed to God. This exercife was wont to relieve her. At first (we ufe nearly her own expreffions) "the would find herself bad, but when the had prayed, the found herself better, "fometimes even in her body." She declared that the daily became more and more comfortable by looking to Chrift." Which fhewed how rapidly the work was advancing, and how genuine was her experience. There is no confolation to the believer, but by looking to the Redeemer, who is "the Author and finisher of his faith." (Heb. xii. 2.) She faid, "he was willing to fuffer more than fhe did, if the thought it would be "for the good of her foul, and for Chrift's honours ;" which fhews that fhe had received the fame fpirit and temper that was given to the apostle, "who most gladly gloried in his infirmities, that the power of Chrift "might reft upon him." 2 Cor. xii. 9. In defcribing her deteftation of fin, all language failed her. At one time the faid, that fin was a great terror to her!" But, on this fubje& her accents were broken and her fentences incomplete. "Nobody could think!" She meant, nobody could think how hateful and tremendous fin was. She earnestly begged her parents to repent, and faid that he was exceedingly forrowful for thofe of her neighbours, who yet lived in fin, and gave this emphatical reafon for it, expreffed in her own artlefs manner, because faid the, "I can now fee the danger." Oh! that the worldling, who lives in the habit of foftening down the deformity of vice could have heard and felt what he did! One day the defired to receive the Sacrament. The Minister was "backward to adminifter it, left the should depend upon i, like Papifts, as a paffport to heaven. She declared, in her view, that the Sacrament was only a commemoration of what Chrift had done and fuffered; and that the understood, that he must look through the elements to him, the Saviour of mankind. Previous to its administration, a preparation book was procured, but faid that "fhe never had any comfort in its perufal, nor ever read much of it." Alas! How many deceive themfelves with a conceited worthiness, when they approach the Lord's table, from having read fo many prayers, and meditated fo fweetly in their own eftimation!While many godly perfons unneceffarily diftrefs themselves for want of fuch preparations, who in Chrift's esteem are every way fit for the pious communication of his table! Suffice it to fay, M. Allen, feeling her tin, and feeing her neceffity of a Saviour, received the bread and wine, as emblems of the broken body and fpilt blood of her Saviour, was refrethed, ftrengthened, and fatisfied. Soon after the above circumstances, this godly young perton, through extreme illness, took to her bed. She had before, wifhed to be in her bed-chamber, that the might be out of the the way of thofe people, who occafionally came into the house, and talked of the world. "Woe is me," said the pfalmiit, “ that I sojourn in "Mefech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar." (Pf. cxx. 5.) On the 15th of March, fhe faid, "fhe was quite willing to die, if it "were the Lord's will, for he had no reason to doubt that Chrift would "forgive her :" thus taught by the Spirit of God, that the ever-adorable Jefus the Lord God " Almighty," (Rev. i. 8.) and the Son of Manhath power to forgive fins. (Luke v. 4). Once talking to her up ftairs on the heavenly glory, fhe faid, that the longed to be there!" And at length, when the pangs of death were upon her, the exclaimed, "come 66 my Lord and fetch me, for I am willing." The last words fhe was heard to utter were, "Fight-Death! Fight-Death!" By which it was understood by a perfon who fat by, that she meant, fhe was fighting with death, the last enemy, to gain the victory. This was on the 25th of March, 1798. Thus, "The chamber, where the Christian meets his fate, "Of virtuous life, quite in the verge of heaven. "God waits not the last moment; no, he owns his friends, "On this fide death, and points them out to men ; "A lecture filent, but of fov'reign power." REV. J. HARMAR. "The fpider's most attenuated thread, "On earthly blifs; it breaks at every breeze." YOUNG. MONDAY, March 26, died, fuddenly in the 54th year of his age, the Rev. J. Härmar, of Sheffield. He was awakened to a ferious concern for Salvation, about the age of 19, by the death of his father. He entered on preparatory ftudies for the ministry about a year after, at the Homerton Independant Academy, where he continued fix years. On leaving the academy, he exercited his miniftry about 18 months at Gofport. In November 1773, he removed to Sheffield, and was ordained in May following. He preached three times on the day preceding his death; his last Sermon was from Zech. iv. 7. "Who art thou, O great mountain? Be"fore Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain; and he shall bring forth the head-itone thereof with fhoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it." On the last clauft, he was animated and enlarged in a very unufual manner, declaring his joyful affurance that, notwithstanding every oppofition, the building of God's fpiritual temple fhould go on till completed in the realms of glory. For fome time past he had plain symptoms of the disease denominated, Angina pectoris, which ufually terminates in fudden death; of the probable iffue of his complaint, he feemed to be aware, as he frequently expreffed a wish that, if agreeable to the will of God, he might die fuddenly. He dined with his family on the day of his removal, and appeared very chearful; after dinner, he spent a fhort time with a friend, in free converfation on the good things of God and Salvation. In paling along the street, foon afterward he complained of his usual pain in his arm and breaft; ftepped into a friend's fhop, where having stood a few seconds, he faid, O dear! and inftantly expired without ftruggle or groan. By deure of the friends of the deceated, a Sermon fuited to the folemn occalion was preached on the following Lord's Day afternoon, to a very crouded auditory by J. Boden, from Pi, cxvi. 15. The The writer of this article and two brother Minifters fpent the forenoon 345 of the Thursday previous to his death, in concerting with him the meafures neceffary for forming a friendly Affociation of Minifters and Churches in the furrounding neighbourhood. Monday and Tuesday, April 10th and 11th, were the days fixed on for our first meeting at Sheffield, and for public fervice in the different chapels.-The circunftance of Mr. H-'s fudden and unexpected call from the scenes of time, rendered the meeting on the appointed days peculiarly interefting and folemn to all prefent; and it may he hoped fome impreffions were then felt by Minifters and hearers, which will prove of laiting benefit. Instead of being met and affited by our refpected friend and brother, in the public fervices of the place in which he had fo long prefided, we had to witnefs the gloomy appendages of death, and to mingle our tears of fympathy with the bereaved family and congregation. Mr. H. had expreffed great pleasure in the profpect of the approaching meeting with his brethren; but thefe purpofes were broken off; and while we met, furrounded with manifold imperfections on earth, we doubt not he was rejoicing in all the fuperior advantages of that perfect affociation of the fpirits of the juft, which is held before the throne of God and of the Lanrb. T. SHRIMPTON, ESQ. ON Friday morning, the 30th of March laft, died, at Chefham, Bucks, where he was on a vifit of friendship, T. Shrimpton, Efq. of High Wycombe, in confequence of an apoplectic feizure on the Tuesday night preceding, foon after he got into bed. Happily for himself, and the confolation of furviving friends, there is good reafon to believe Mr. S. died interested in Chrift. From his youth there was fomething diftinguifhing about him. It is now full thirty years fince he first made a public profeffion of religion. Refiding at that time in London, he was originally a member of the late Dr. Gibbons's church at Haberdasher's Hail; but at the Doctor's death, he removed to the Rev. Mr. Bennet's, on the Pavement, Moorfields. On coming to live at Wycombe, he united himself to the church of Chrift, then under the Rev. J. Smithfon's ministry, and fince under the writer of this account. Mr. S.'s mind, at one period of his life, was exercifed with most diftrefling convictions of lin. During their continuance, he has often thrown himfelf proftrate on the ground from anguifh of fpirit, and with deep felfabafement before God. His religious views were truly Evangelical; fpiritual, not merely fpeculative; attended with an inward favour of the Gofpei, which nothing but a feeling fenfe of his need of it could infpi:e. Among many paffages expreffive of his high and endearing views of the bleffed Redeemer, is the following ftrong testimony to his Deity. "It is a great Gofpel truth, which, however the fceptic may regard as abfurd and antifcriptural, is the joy of the true believer's heart, and the only folid foundation of his hope." Few Perfons knew him to be the Chriftian in private which he really was. By means of fome writings left behind him, we are enabled to view him, when withdrawn even from his family, on the Sabbath and in the week, recording various occurrences of Providence and grace, expreffing a tender concern for his family's everlafting interetts, as well as his own; manifefting a holy jealoufy refpecting his heart, bewailing its corruptions, longing VOL. IV. 3 B fter |