RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. OPENING OF CHAPELS. PARADISE CHAPEL, AT MILTON, NEAR SITTINGBOURN, KENT. AT the death of the late T. March, Efq. of Borden, the congregation found their Chapel 1921. 9s. 1d. in debt to his family. But the Spirited exertions of the Executors of the late Mr. Simmons, who came forward with 1ool. fo animated the neighbouring churches, and many individuals, who followed their benevolent example, that the congregation have been enabled to extricate themselves from all their incumbrances; and on Sunday, Auguft 19, 1798, two Sermons were preached on the occafion by the Rev. Mr. Slatterie, of Chatham, to the great joy and fatisfaction of the poor worshippers of God in that place, whofe number has continued increafing ever fince; the congregation were fo fenfible of the obligation done them by their brethren, that they agreed that the first charitable collection made in this place, fhall be an offering to the Miffionary Society, as a token of their gratitude. ROYDON CHAPEL. THE benighted state of Roydon, a populous village in Effex, has lately excited the attention of a few friends to religion in the neighbourhood, who with becoming zeal and prudence, have erected there, at their own expence, a small but neat houfe for the worship of God, and the preaching of his Gofpel. The houfe was opened on Thursday, Sept. 20, when Mr. Brown, of Harlow, (under whofe particular patronage the attempt is made) introduced the fervice by ftating the defign of this and fimilar exertions among Diffenters, the right they have to act thus, and the general privileges they poffefs under the toleration act. Befides the ufual intervals of finging, Mr. Corbethley, of Fyfield, prayed; Mr. Chaplin, of Eifhop Stortford, preached from Pfalm lxxxix. 15; and Mr. Brackett, of Waltham Abbey, concluded with prayer. The audience (fome of whom liftened at the windows outfide for want of room within) appeared very attentive and ferious. We trust the God of Zion is about to establish his caufe in this place, and thereby fend another harbinger of the day, when all people fhall know the joyful found." NORTHLEACH CHAPEL. ON Tuesday, October 9, was opened a new Chapel by the Gloucefterfhire Affeciation. The Rev. Wm. Wilkins, of Bourton, delivered a Difcourfe from Phil. ii. 16, and the Rev. R. Hill, another from 1 Cor. i. 23.24. The circumstances of this place have been remarkable; about two years fince Mr. Pain, Minifter of the Independent Church at Chedworth, three miles from Northleach, attempted to carry the Gospel into this place, in which ignorance and low diffipation prevailed, particularly on Sabbath days: But the attempt met with the moit violent opposition from mobs of 4 or 500 people, who affaulted the Minifter and his hearers on the road, and in the ftreet with fhowers of eggs and ftones. But at length by the interference of the magiftrates, the perfecution ceased. Hearers increafed, and this chapel has been built, and is now dedicated to the glory of God, and the falvation of finners. Its erection has coft about 2401. of which 110l. have been already paid. The place is well filled, "And the wilderness begins to bloffom as the field." The The carrying on of this caufe being connected with the It may be proper to add, that about the year 1795, the Minifters of Gloucefterfhire formed themselves into an affociated body, and a county Miffionary Society, under fimilar regulations to thofe of other affociated bodies. It is held twice a year at the different congregations in rotation, where peace, comfort, and profperity have been enjoyed. A double Lecture is delivered in the morning, and generally a Sermon in the evening. The afternoon is devoted to difcuffions upon the best mode of extending the Gofpel, and the moft fuitable places to carry it to. The Treasurer's accounts are then audited. With pleasure the Society remarks about 1061. has been collected in the neighbouring congregations for this good work, and upwards of Sol. has been expended in carrying the Gofpel into different places. Besides Northleach, which is still under the wing of the Society, there is preaching regularly every fortnight in the Forest of Dean, an extensive, but dark tract in this county; at Blakeney, Littledean, and Lidney, where many attend, and it is hoped that good has been done. Thefe places have the labours of a ftated minifter, and a lay preacher alternately. The affociation appointed the Rev. Wm. Bishop, of Gloucefter, their Secretary and Treasurer. The members of this Affociation, are the Rev. Rob. Heath, Rodborough; Wm. Harries, Stroud; J. Thomas, Cam; Cornelius Winter, Painfwick; Thos. Jones, Chalford; Wm. Frames, Forrest Green; Wm. Bishop, Gloucester; Rob. Mc All, Gloucester; John Lewis, Wottonunderedge; Chriftopher Pain, Gloucester; Rowl. Hill, Wottonunderedge; William Jones, Thornbury; Thos. Spilbury, Tewkesbury; D. Ralph, Durfley; and Wm. George, Rofs. ZION CHAPEL, BRADFORD. ON Tucfday, October 23, 1798, Zion Chapel was opened in the town of Bradford, Wiltshire, after repairs and enlargement, in which a Chriftian Society affemble for the worship of God, under the paftoral care of the Rev. W. Dunn, late of Portfea, Hampshire. Mr. Jackfon, of Warminster, preached in the morning from Rom. xvi. 24; Mr. Ball, of Westbury, in the afternoon from Pfalm lxxxvii. 2. In the evening, Mr. Hey, of Bristol, delivered a third Sermon from Matt. xxv. 46. Meffrs. Sloper, of Devizes; Stevenfon, of Trowbridge; Honywell, of Melkfham; Rawlins, of Trowbridge; and Ward, of Melkfham, engaged in prayer; fuitable hymns, felected from Dr. Watts and Dr. Rippon were fung; and the people found it a good day, in which the bleffing of God was with them; and the church more immediately concerned, will long reflect with grateful fatisfaction upon the folemnity. OBITUARY. ANN WOODCOCK. THIS young perfon appeared to be a partaker of divine grace very early. When about five years of age, her father, two brothers, and herfelf, were feized with a malignant fever, which raged in the neighbour hood where they dwelt. Her youngest brother died. For three weeks fhe lay fpeechless and apparently infenfible. When the Lord was pleased to restore her speech, almoft her first words were, "My brother is gone to heaven, but he could not go there without a new heart, and God gave him him one." As the recovered, her parents found he had nearly loft the fenfe of hearing, which the never afterwards recovered. Her deafnefs was frequently a fource of trouble to her, as it rendered her in a great measure incapable of inftruction. When about ten years of age, her chief delight appeared to be in talking of the fufferings of Chrift. Weeping bitterly, he would fay, "Oh, how I love him-I wonder how any one can help loving fo dear a Savidor." She often lamented her wicked heart, and anxioufly would enquire, "Can you tell me if God will really forgive me-I'm afraid he won't." She would ask her little companions, what they knew about Jefus Chrift, whether they loved the Lord, or knew what it was to pray, and often would fhe entice them to accompany her to a place of worth p. She made it a conftant practice to pray before the went to fchool, and if ever the omitted it, the first thing when the returned home, was to go into her chamber and pray. About this time, the was evidently the fubject of temptation. She has been obferved when at work, to appear affrighted. If asked what was the matter? She would fay, "Father, you know God tells us good things, and Satan bad things; I feel as if fomebody was fpeaking bad things to me." In her laft illness, the ufed to fay, fhe was at this time much tempted to believe there was no God. Her great pleasure was in religious converfation and Christian friends. She has often addreffed herself to perfons grown up and aged, in a manner fo powerful and affecting as to draw tears from their eyes, conftantly enforcing the finfulrefs of their hearts, and the neceffity of pardon only through Jefus Chrift. Though deaf, the conftantly attended Divine Service, fhe knew it to be a duty, and efteemed it to be a privilege. Her parents lived in a fituation, where in going to chapel they were obliged to walk by the fide of a river; vet, in the darkest nights, fhe would beg permiffion to attend Lecture and Prayer Meetings, endeavouring to overcome the anxious fears of her paFents, (whole bufinefs would not always permit them to attend) by faying, "The Lord will keep me from danger, I'm not afraid of any thing, he has promifed never to leave thofe who truft in him." The laft time but one, the ever attended public worship, fhe was rather drowsy. But this circumftance afterwards afflicted her very much, as the thought inattention or irreverence in the houfe of God, a high affront to the Divine Being. She would fay, "Though I can't hear much, yet God teaches When I read, then I think, and then I pray, and I feel fatisfied as if what I thought was really true; I think this is God's teaching, for Satan will not teach us good things." me. Her parents meeting with many worldly loffes, fhe faw their anxiety, and affectionately enquiring the occafion, would exhort them to trust the Lord on such occafions, the has been over-heard weeping and praying in fecret, that the Lord would still help them, and encrease their faith in him. Her laft illness, which was a confumption, was long and painful, the bore it with compofure and chearfulness, often calling it a blessed ficknefs." She had a prefentiment when first attacked, the should not recover. This he never mentioned until a little before her death, left her friends fhould be uneasy. Her obfervations were fo ftriking, and fo far above her years, as to fill the writer of this with mute astonishment, and confcious flame. "I am not afraid to die," faid fhe to her mother, "this is a very wicked world, there is no happiness here equal to that I hope to enjoy with my Saviour." When asked, if the wished to recover, the answered, "I dare 549 "I dare not with, I hope to love what God pleafes; though if not finful, I would rather go to my Jefus : Oh, how precious he is to me! But 1 never thould have loved him, had he not first loved me." Obferving her parents weep, the faid, " one going to heaven? I can't die happy if you do thus. Oh, we were Why do you weep? Weep for born to part, but we hall, yes, we shall meet again. I am only going a journey to fee my best friend, and you will foon follow, and then we shall never part again." A few days before her death, the appeared dofing, but feeing her brother alone with her, he called him to her bedfide, and kiffing him, faid, "Now brother, you fee I am going to die. am gone, remember me. Oh, love and ferve the Lord, and be kind to When I your parents. Be fure attend the house of God, neglect no opportunity, do nothing without prayer, and then the Lord may give you as much comfort on a death bed as I have." When her parents came into the room, obferving her brother's tears, the faid, "Poor fellow! I have been talk ng to him. Oh, that he may remember his promife, and feek the Lord. Oh, then we fhall all meet in glory." Then opening her aims, that she might embrace them all together, the fud, "Dear father, you are growing old, you can't expect to live long: keep clote to Jefus; and my dear mother, your time will be but fhort; but ftill truft in God, in a little while we thall be with God for cver. After fome converfation with a minifter who vifited her, fhe appeared convulled with agony, crying, as well as fhe could fpeak, tells me I am going to die, and that I am not fit to die, for my fins are "Oh! Satan not pardoned;" but in a fhort time after the exclaimed, fure of Heaven; all my hopes are in Chrift, not one of his little ones fhall "No, I am now perith." On the Saturday preceding her death, the chofe her funeral text, telling the minister, "Oh, be faithful to fouls--warn poor finners, they mult die too, tell them of Chrift: Ah! he can help them, he has helped me. Yes, precious Saviour!"-But her strength exhausted, she could add no more. The Sabbath evening, thofe pious friends who at her request came to pray and fing with her, obferved they never had before fuch an opportunity they came away wondering and faying, "What hath God wrought ?" The rapid approach of death was now evident, and she was fenfible of it herfelf. She at length appeared gone; but in a few minutes opening her eyes, the called on her father to go to prayer, adding, "I am going; then putting out her hand, fhe took her laft farewell, and while her father was in the act of prayer, lifting up her eyes to heaven, with a Sweet fmile, fhe cried, "Dear Lord, receive my foul! Sweet Jefus, take my fpirit!" She hardly finished her fentence, when her foul winged its #ght to the Saviour, whom the loved. She died January 3, 1798, aged 15 years. A funeral Sermon was preached by the Rev. J. Smith, of Manchefter, from the text he had chofen, Pfalm cxvi. 15. " Precious in the fight of "the Lord, is the death of his faints." MRS. CRESWELL. J. S. DIED, March 10, 1798, of a confumption, Mrs. Crefwell, of Birmingham, aged 28 years. At her defire to fee fome one with whom the Laight freely convelle about the concerns of her foul, I was requested to vifit VOL. VI, 4 G her: her: On my being introduced to her, I remarked, that he looked very ill. "Yes," faid fhe," but not fo ill as I deferve." "No," I replied, "God hath not dealt with us according to our deferts, or we should be where hope never comes; and it is our mercy, that he willeth not the death of a finner, but that he should turn to him and live."-" But I fear," faid the, my fins are too many and too great to be forgiven. I have lived all my life neglectful of God and his fervice." I enquired how long it was fince the first began to think about her fins? She faid, "Not till fince I have been afflicted, but I find it time now to think about a home for my poor foul." Being afked, if the thought God would do right, if he fhould fend her to Heli?"O yes," the replied, "it is ail of mercy that I am not already there." Finding her a convinced finner, I endeavoured to comfort her with the invitations and promifes of the Gofpel; telling her of the power and readiness of Christ to fave the very chief of finners. She feemed to receive a little comfort, and I exhorted her to pray to this Saviour, for he was a God hearing and answering prayer. Accordingly, he joined me in that exercife; and difcovered an extraordinary earneltuets in entreating the Lord to prepare her for himfelt. The next time I called, I found her panting after affurance. faid fhe; I want to feel the love of Christ to my poor foul! I don't want to be deceived--I want to know that my fins are forgiven; but Satan tells me that I fhall never obtain forgiveness, and when I try to pray to Jetis Chrift, 1 find bad thoughts in my head, and I fear that I hall never be heard." Thus, for fome time the enemy kept her foul in fetters; but at length he, who is mighty to fave, brought nigh his great falvation; for one night, about the middle of it, when the lay reflecting on her cafe, a fuitable promile was brought to her mind with a light and energy, which conquered all her doubts. Transported at her deliverance from bondage, the called to her husband, and related what had paffed between God and her foul, adding, "O help me to blefs and praife his holy name!" The entuing day, fhe told me "it was like a heaven begun below," but lamented that the vigour of her joys. was abated. I obícived, that the ought to regard what had pait as an earnest and a foretaste of what the should hereafter enjoy in its fulnets, and that in the diminution of her tranfports, the experienced nothing but what was common to perfons in her weak fituation. "Well then," faid flie, "foul-hope thou in God; for I fhall yet praise him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God." She complained much that he could not praise God as the defired; yet, her language was, "I am waiting for my dear Lord, and long to be gone." Her bodily pains were very fevere and protracted; but fae en dured them without murmuring; and he would frequently fay, "This body has finned, and why not fuffer?" According to my defire, I had an interview with her just before the departed. As foon as I entered the room, fhe faid, “O, Mr. H. its hard work to die." I prayed that the Lord would give her patience a little longer; to which he added, a hearty "Amen." I then read to her a few verfes of that excellent hymu, Jefus lover of my fou!, "Let me to thy bofom fly," &c. at which he was almoft enraptured, and faid, " Pray for me, that I may foon be with the Lord:" and according to her defire, in about three hours after, the died without a figh or groan. T. H. CATHERINE |