is at your bed-fide? She answered, "No." I replied, "it is Mr. Pawfon; the answered rather quickly, "Then is a man of God there.“, After he had prayed with her, the faid, "May God keep you night and day, and water you every moment." Mrs. Hamilton taking farewell, afked if he had any fear on her mind;, the answered, None at all, praise the Lord for me!"

One day, while I was converfing with her, the faid, "The Lord has taken care of me all my life, in a peculiar manner. He called me from gay, trifling companions, and brought me acquainted with his minifters and people; with them I have lived, among them I shall die, and dwell with them for ever." After a paule, he added; "My delight is now in the Lord of Hofts, and I fhall delight in him, and in the Lamb that was flain, to all eternity." One day, I obferved to her, that he would foon join her chriftian friends who were gone before, and then mentioned the names of Meffrs. Wedley, Whitfield, Romaine, Fletcher, and other minitters and chriftian friends, with whom the had been intimate; and added, to meet alfo the general affembly and church of the first born which are written in heaven, and to fee God the judge of all, and the fpirits of juft men made perfect; and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant."

I then faid, "There will be a glorious company, when faints and an. gels join the replied, A glorious company, a glorious company indeed! Kneeling by her one day, I faid, "My dear love, have you any word to say to me, that may be of ufe to my foul, when you are called to your eternal reward?" She answered, Wherefore, comfort one another with these words." I replied "what words ?. She foon faid,

"I fhall behold his face, I fhall his power adore;

"And fing the wonders of his grace for evermore."

A few days before her death, the called the nurfe to the bed-fide, and with great exultation, repeated the following lines.

“Thou art my hiding place, in thee

"I reft fecure from death and hell; "Safe in the love that fanfom'd me,

"And shelter'd in thy wounds I dwell.

One evening, when a light was brought into the room, the exclaimed with peculiar energy; fhall walk in the light of the Lamb, and join the heavenly choirs, to praise him for evermore." Her daughter and only furviving child visiting her, she put forth her hand, and faid, My dear child, I am glad to fee you," and prayed that her bifling, the blessing of her father, and above all, that of her Father in heaven, might rest upon her. Then paufing a minute, fhe faid, See, how a chriftian can die!". And foon after added, "I fhall meet you again in heaven." Moft of that night, and all Sunday, the was much convulfed, and in great pain; but not a murmuring word, or the leaft complaint, efcaped from her lips. In the morning, when I went into her room, and faid, My dear, you have had a painful night; but I hope you do not murmur or complain," the directly answered, "O! no, glory be to God, not at all!" Towards the evening, the was more compofed, as the violence of the convulfions had a little abated. This night and Monday morning, was a time never to be forgotten. How often did the call out, "I have fought a good fight, I Irave finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, fhall give me in that day: and not to me only, but unto all them alfo that love, his appearing." On the Monday morning, Ifaid, "My dear, how do you do? She replied, "Well, it is all well, it will foon be over." Her daughter came in the forenoon, and fat with her three or four hours. She alked her mother, if the should fing foftly the doxology; "Therefore with - Vol. VI.

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angels

angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven," &c. The replied, "Do, my dear child." She lifted up her hand, and appeared much delighted; and when her daughter had done, the exhorted her to a close, confiftent walk, in the ways of God; adding several times, “ a confiftent walk! a confiftent walk She fpoke very little all Monday night, or early on Tuesday morning; but in the forenoon, recovering from a convulfion fit, fhe was enabled to speak again. The nurse faid, "It is hard work, but it will foon be over." She answered, "It is glorious work, it is glorious work!" And whenever fhe was able to speak, the expreffed herself on the wing for eternal glory. During the afternoon, I prayed often with her, and read and repeated many feriptures and verfes of hymns. She was very attentive, and told me that the beard them all.-About feven o'clock, I read that hymn, "Happy foul thy days are ended,' &c. Afterward I kneeled down and prayed with her, and when I had done, the repeated aloud feveral times, Amen! Thefe were the last words which I heard her diftin&ty speak. In about half an hour, the nurse called me up, and told me that a great change had taken place. The filver cord was now loofening, and the bowl breaking at the ciftern; I therefore prayed with her for an easy passage to her eternal reft. A little after eight o'clock, the nurfe called me up again, and again commended her departing fpirit to God; myfelf, and every one present, being overcome with the divine prefence. Calling in a few friends, once more I kneeled down, and before we had been two minutes in prayer, the departed to her eternal reit, with➡ qut either a figh or a groan.

Thus died my beloved wife, after an experimental acquaintance with God and the truths of his golpel for thirty-feven years.

REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

A Key to the Prophecies, or a concife View of the Predicions contained in the Old and New Teftaments, which have been fulfilled, are now fulfilling, or are yet to be fulfilled in the latter Ages of the World. By the Rev. D. Simpfon, M. A. 8vo. 469 pages. Bailey, Macclesfield; London, Dilly, &c.

THIS

HIS ingenious Writer has taken a very extensive scope, beginning with Genefis, and following the Spirit of Prophecy through both Teltaments to the Revelation of St. John, of which he gives a brief analysis, and enlarges particularly on thofe parts which refpect the rife and fall of Popery. Sections xxix. to xxxii. upon the Doctrine of “ Retaliations of Divine Providence," are very interesting and awful; they are enough to harrow up the foul," and mult compel every reader to acknowledge, "Verily, there is a God that judgeth righteously!"

Pleafed as we are to commend, and happy as we are to find in this ingenious writer fo much to merit commendation, it is our duty to point out defects as well as excellencies; and we do it in the prefent inftance, under the perfuafion, that this liberal and candid Writer will avail humfelt of our hints to render his work more perfect.

The firit thing we obferve, is that fome links are introduced in thes chain of Prophecy, which do not properly belong to it. The threatenings, for inftance, of God to Adam in cale of difobedience, and of Mofes to Pharoah, that God would infct the ten fucceffive plagues, on Egypt, and fome others, are not, we believe, ufually reckoned Prophecies: they

add

A foort Treatife on Christianity, principally calculated for the Correction of the Errors contained in Pyrology. By William Okely, M. D. Author of that work. 8vo. 115 pages. 2s. 6d. Northampton, Dicey; London, Johnfon. I

SOME time fince Dr. Okely published a kind of Philofophical Treatife, under the name of Pyrology, in which he attempted to fubvert Chriftianity 3H 2

by

by accounting for the miraculous events of Scripture from natural caufes, explaining away, or rather contradicting, what could not be thus accounted for. It has pleafed God fince, however, to fhew him the folly of his undertaking, to humble his prefumption, and to convince him of the vital power, as well as the literal truth, of the Chriftian religion; and the prefent Tract is intended to antidote the poifon of the former. For this end he has taken up the fame topics as in the concluding chapter of his larger Treatife, has thewn how he fell into fceptital reafonings and infidel conclufions, and endeavoured to guard his readers against the fame errors. Among other excentricities, Dr. Okely, in his former publication, endeavoured to prove that "our Saviour was a man of genius, and a philofopher;" that the infpired writers were men of genius, and this, in fact, the only infpiration; that they dealt much in bold figures and hyperbole, and thus made common events appear wonderful, and extraordinary ones miraculous. This hypothefis he now retracts, both as unfounded and infufficient. His views of Christianity are completely changed. The kingdom of God (he obferves) is not fcience, commonly fo called, but a thorough and experimental knowledge of divine truth, as contained in the Scriptures; and his righteoufnels is not mere human virtue, the righteoutnefs of the Scribes and Pharifees, but faith which worketh by love." p. 24.

Mental, like natural fight, is not often reftored at once."Young converts are frequently in the cafe of him whole vifionary powers being but half restored, fawmen as trees walking." On fome points we obferve Dr. O. ambiguous, obfcure, and doubtful; we are happy to find him however clear in acknowledging the divinity of the Son of God; and that he confiders the doctrine of the atonement as a main pillar of Chriftianity."

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The conclufion of this Tract is at once fo pious, fo fenfible, and fo modeft, that we cannot forbear quoting it; and it will certainly recom mend both the Author and the pamphlet, more than any thing from us could do.

"Before I conclude, let me obferve once for all, that I write no part of this work as a teacher, but as an humble learner, willing to be inftructed by the meaneft inftruments; and confcious that, as I have no guide in my enquiries, except the Holy Scriptures and experience, my words can carry no authority to others, unlefs when fupported in their minds by thofe two telts. Let, therefore, every reader follow the plan of the Bereans, (Acts xvii.") and, with unfeigned humility and prayer, fearch the Scriptures, whether these things be fo. If in this way an expreffion of mine fhould be the means of affording direction to any one, no praise is due to me, it is the work of God; and fhould any inan in this way convince me of a mistake, he shall have my thanks for the candour of his communication, and God the honour of having directed us both. To him be glory, both now and for ever. Amen!

A Difpaffionate Enquiry into the Probable Caufes and Confequences of ERthufiafm. A Sermon, preached July 30, 1798, in the Parish Church of St. Mary's, Reading, at the Vifitation of John Lord Bishop of Salisbury. By the Rev. Jofeph Eyre, M. A. Vicar of St. Giles's, Reading, and of Ambrofeden, Oxfordfire. Small 4to.` 24 pages. 18. Reading, Smart and Co.; London, Rivingtons.

OUR Readers may recollect that this gentleman fucceded the late excellent Mr. Cadogan, to whofe memory he profefles great respect, on account of his well-meant piety, extenfive liberality," and "amiable manners:" but, as for his heareis, of fuch" auditors as thofe," he knows not how

to fpeak with fufficient contempt: "Enthusiasm, or Fanaticism, or by whatever name the fame thing may be fignified, prevails and abounds among them."

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After apologizing, as may be thought neceffary, for thefe particulars of exordium, let us proceed (fays the Rev. Preacher) to examine the nature or character of Enthufiafm." Now we expected to be gratified, at leaft, with a difisition; but unhappily this "fame thing" flips through the fingers of the orator, before it could be exhibited; and all we hear of it is, that "generally peaking it produces evil." So fays Plutarch and Bishop Lavington. Mr. E. therefore, contents himself by giving it an ill name, and applying to it an expreflion ufed by St. Paul of certain Pharifees, who had "a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge," (Rom. x. 2.) and this ferves him for a text, or rather a motto, to the following difcourfe.

It is very lucky for this gentleman, that he ftopt with his text where he did, for had he ftumbled on the next verfe, he would have found, that "being ignorant of God's rightecufnefs," thefe perfons went about to "eftablish their own;" an expreffion no way applicable to the preachers and believers in the imputed righteoufnefs of the Redeemer.

Endeavouring, however, to collect the motly character of thefe enthufiafts from the mafterly traits of this judicious divine, we find they are either perfons of ftrong paffions or weak understandings," which latter defect is particularly evidenced in ftopping "their career of youthful levities or exceffes," in refolving to ferve God "much," in "not trufting to the guidance of their own reafon," and in fearing they cannot ferve God "fufficiently after all that they can do."" Of this fort," it fcemus, "there are many. Such were the hearers of Mr. Cadogan and would to God "We all of Us" (to adopt Mr. E.'s elegant phrafeology) were the fame!

But it is time to enquire what are the doctrines of these enthusiasts, which do so much mischief. We are told in a quotation from Mr. Paley-they are especially election, predeftination, and regeneration. "We, all of Us," may hope no more to hear that thefe men to licention nefs and iminerality; because it appears that them" lead men to fupprefs levity" of conduct, and much," yea, to fear they cannot ferve him fufficiently!

Well then; doctrines lead They all of to ferve God

But do we read nothing of these doctrines in the Scriptures ?—Yes,` indeed; the New Testament is full of them, but words did not mean then as they do now. Seventeen hundred years have produced wonderful revolutions in language as well as ftates. Believers were then honoured by "titles of great feeming dignity and import, fuch as Elect, Called, Saints," &c. which only meant, to be fure, that they were called Christians. Ás to the "New Birth," this was a change, of which, fays the learned Archdeacon "We have now no juft conception." This we believe is too true, both of the author and the preacher; for We bear them record they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge."

Some of thefe enthufiafts it feems go "very far," fo far as to imagine to themielves certain perceptible impules of the Holy Ghoft, by which... they become new creatures." Alas! could any honeft heathen in the world believe, that men who thus fpeak against the impulses of the Holy Spirit have folemnly and repeatedly declared and fworn that they beheved themfelves to be "moved by the Holy Ghost? that "They, All of them," every time they officiate at the altar, pray that the thoughts of their hearts may be cleanfed by the infpiration of the Holy Spirit !"

But we haften to the fecond part of this extraordinary Sermon, in which the Rev, Author confiders the charge of "not preaching the Gotpef

and