Rev. Dr. Colston, first minister of the meeting-house already mentioned. The original copy was very politely lent me by the theological tutor at the Unitarian academy in this city. The text is Eccles. i. 2, contributed; and there is yet remaining, opposite the pulpit, not only the seat which she occupied, but a great chair that was appropriated to her use in her declining years. At Bell Hall, the attic story was fitted up for public worship; Vanity of vanities, saith the and the present occupier, who mar- preacher, vanity of vanities; - all is ried a descendant of the Hewley vanity. After having explained the family, remembers it being hung passage, Dr. C. proceeds. Speaking round with black cloth, probably of the soul, he says, Its own faculas mourning for her husband. Her ties would be its misery, if there latter years were chiefly spent at her were no invisible realities for it to house in this city, where she died contemplate, if there was no fuon the 23d of August, 1710. She ture eternal life for it to make sure was interred in St. Saviour's Gate of, and to prepare for. church on the 26th. Drake mentions* a monumental inscription in this church for Sir Henry Hewley and his lady; the former of whom, he says, died in the year 1697, and the latter in 1710. There now remain no traces of this inscription. This respectable historian was, no doubt, mistaken as to the name, as my information is derived from the register-book, and from the following Epitaph, copied by the Rev. J. Hotham, one of the ministers who have successively officiated in the chapel mentioned above: In the same Bed of Dust are deposited the Remains of DAME SARAH HEWLEY, the virtuous Consort of the same Sir John Hewley, who exchanged this Life for a better on the 23d of August, 1710. Among the dead in Christ that shall rise first.'1 Thess. iv. 16. Some time previous to her death, Lady Hewley, it appears, devoted, by a deed of trust, the whole of what was originally her own property to charitable and pious uses; the annual produce of which is said to amount to about £ 4000. The following extracts are taken from a MS. sermon, preached in consequence of her death, by the * Page 312. These were the things which this elect lady, whose mournful funeral gave occasion for this subject, had in her eye. To prepare for these was her daily work, to foretaste these was her daily food; and since God answered her prayers, in turning her eyes from beholding vanity, her steady and uniform course in religion shewed the glorious prize she was reaching to. The early education she had among those of the first rank, raised her spirit to such a height, as made work for humbling grace; and the remains whereof were happily turned towards that glory, honour, and im◄ mortality which lead to eternal life. This virtuous person spake her own experience when she gave me this text, and uttered with her mouth what was inscribed on her heart! But what her modesty intended for a shroud to her virtues, will set them in a fairer view, and will apologize for my endeavour to rescue somewhat of her praises from the grave, which her self-abasing soul .... Her self-denial was wonderful, in would have buried with her. . . . one of her quality and estate, her age and weakness. She would let no fleshly ease hinder a duty. She might have spared herself a hundred times without the sin of indulgence. Her extreme abstemiliving, procured her long life, and ousness and most regular way of the church of God a long blessing. would spend her everlasting Sab- She spent almost half of her tire in Her sinful infirmities she bitterly bemoaned, - a base and treacherous heart was a burden she groaned under. None could speak more severely as to the state of her soul, than she did herself. Her charity was universal, the most illustrious example in our age. She has not left her equal behind her. Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou, my honoured, but now departed friend, hast outdone them all! She was a mother in Israel; to whom many had recourse for wise counsel, and by whose means many children were nursed up for heaven. She imitated God's common providences, in relieving the necessitous, the undeserving; and his special, in her more tender regard to those who were useful and truly good. Multitudes will feel the loss of her. If her private charities were all known, they would amaze you! Her silver streams ran along the vallies to water the adjacent parts. Many that knew not the spring-head, when they find the stream dried up, will know the reason, when they hear that Lady Hewley is dead. May not many say, 'Oh, Lady Hewley, would to God I had died for thee! Not that she was unfit to die; but more fit to live than any of us. She was one of those the apostle speaks of, for whom some would dare to die. These are but dark shadows of the bright star that once shone in our heavens; but now disappears, never to lend her light to us more; and is removed to a higher orb, where she shall shine brighter than the sun. To enter into the particulars of adorning her character, requires loftier strains than I am master of, especially under the discomposure occasioned by the just sorrow for the loss of the most entire and best friend I had in the world. I am more fit to trail along with the silent mourners, to pay the poor tribute of my tears unto her hearse, than to utter a panegyric; but this little I was owing in conscience to the memory of this incomparable lady, which will be sacred and precious in the esteem of all, but those who think nothing well but what is done by themselves. It is possible indeed, and too often happens, that ministers are partial to the memory of their patrons and benefactors; but persons' good works do not flatter them. I appeal to her noble almshouse, built, and exactly paid nine or ten years before she died; where, in the space of that time, she expended about £ 1500. I might mention her other charities in this city, and her several schools, not far from it, to rescue some of the rising generation from ignorance; but if I were silent, her works would praise her in the gate.' Some of her works went before her, as a memorial before God, others follow, to perpetuate and perfume her name in the churches, to continue her serviceableness upon earth, to increase her glory in heaven, and to excite others to an imitation of them. - After all these, she thought herself an unprofitable servant; and when any person told her of some good work she had done, she would sometimes answer, with divine Mr. Herbert, Yes, if it were sprinkled with the blood of Christ.' She thought none had more need of the * The almshouse in Tanner Row, in this city, erected in 1700, and designed for ten old women, Dissenters, who have 10s. paid them every first Monday in the month, and coals allowed.-Drake, p.274. I believe their allowance is considerably more now. merits of a Saviour to justify and save her. Her finishing and most ardent breathings were into his bosom :- Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!' - and they are now met, never to part more. The loving Jesus and the humble believing soul, are now met in eternal embraces! Heaven had often heard of her before, by the multitudes of petitions that daily crowded thither; but now heaven has received her longing sanctified soul; and there she lives without pain and sickness, and without sin. There she sees, loves, adores, and enjoys her God and Saviour as she would.' HOW CAN WE RECONCILE THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION WITH THE STATEMENT WHICH SAYS, God is no Respecter of Persons ? It might be a sufficient answer to this question to say, 'That the statement has direct reference to quite other matters, and cannot interfere with the doctrine of Election, let that be regarded in whatever manner it may ;'- but as no person who could put the question thus, would be satisfied with such an answer to it, it may be proper to enter into the proof of its irrele vancy a little more minutely. 1. Let us first enquire into the meaning and use of the phrase in question, as we find it in Scripture. The Judge of all the earth, when appointing men to act as magistrates, and, in a sort, pronounce sentence in his stead, gives them this important rule (Lev.xix. 15) Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour." This is repeated in Deut. i. 17, Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great.' It appears again, Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout all thy tribes; and they shall judge the people with just judgment. Thou shalt not wrest judgment, thou shalt not respect persons.' The wisdom and the authority of this rule is acknowledged by the wisest of men (Prov. xxiv. 23): "It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment ;" and the same sentiment is introduced as a rule in Christian assemblies by James (ch. ii. 1-9): 'My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect to persons; and in ver. 9, If thou love thy neighbour as thyself, thou doest well; but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin.' Having given this important rule for judicial proceedings, he, in order to exalt his own character as a Judge, while he brings it to the level of our comprehension, condescends to profess the same impartiality. We find this repeatedly stated as a general truth, applicable to all his conduct with men, and marking him as a righteous Judge. Thus (Deut. x. 17) the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward; when he shall call all men before him, that he may render to every man according to his deeds done in the body (Rom. ii. 6-12); for there is no respect of persons with God (ver. 12); for as many as have sinned without law, shall also perish without law; and as many as have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law.' This quotation shows completely in what sense the sentiment is declared of God. Another instance occurs in Eph. vi. 8, 9, Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free; neither is there any respect of persons with him.' So again in Col. iii. 25, Whether masters or servants,' he that 6 Pe doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done; and there is no respect of persons. ter states the same truth, in 1 Pet. i. 17, Call on the Father, who, without respect of persons, judgeth according to every man's work.' When, therefore, the woman of Tekoah would reprove David, even the king, as one that was faulty in not fetching home his banished ones,' (2 Sam. xiv. 13.) she reminds him that God doth not respect any per- › son.' 6 Men indeed are apt to be partial in their adjudications. Some favour the rich, and some incline to the poor; great deference is paid to the wise, or pity for the ignorant gains them acquittal; the powerful command, and judges, trembling, give their award according to the mandate, however unjust; the beautiful are sure of excuse with some, or the outwardly moral are shielded from too close an inspection. Not so with the Judge of all the earth, he will do right: he does not fear the highest, he will not partially wink at the most honourable, he will never pervert justice in any of his dispensations on earth, or in his final award in the world to come. He will not favour iniquity, however royally splendid, fashionable, polished till it brilliantly glitters, or sordid in the tattered garb of indigence, ignorance, and habitual depravity. He will justify and honour the righteous, - he will abase and punish the wicked; great as the one may be, and despised as the other may seem. He will never swerve from what is upright, just, and true to his own holiness. This impartial acting is seen in an especial instance, quite contrary to all the prejudices of the Jews, both carnal and converted, as recorded in Acts x. 34. When Cor nelius was accepted, converted, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, to the great surprize of Peter, to whom an especial lesson was given for this purpose, and who intimates his as◄ tonishment, even in bearing his testimony to the fact: Of a truth, I perceive, that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righ. teousness, is accepted of him.' As the sentiment thus evidently refers to God in his glorious character as a righteous Judge, we might rest content, without endeavouring to force it into a rule for his sovereign goodness. We will, however, proceed to show, 2. That it cannot be imagined to oppose the doctrine of Election, unless it intended to assert (what no one will suppose it possibly could mean) that he makes no difference of any kind in his dispensations to It cannot be said that he makes no difference in his providential dispensations. He giveth to He giveth to some abundance, without power to eat thereof; to others he maketh every bitter thing to be sweet. Some find promotion; and this cometh not out of the dust, but from God, who setteth up one, and pulleth down another. He maketh some to be the heads of nations, while others dishonourably drag at the tail. Nor can it be maintained that he acts in all respects the same, as to opportunities and means for obtaining better blessings. There are heathen lands, like Tyre and Sidon, which have not known him; there are places like Bethsaida and Capernaum, whose opportunities have been great. Some have his word; but he hath not sent it to every nation: he calls upon those who en joy it, as bound to praise him' for this distinguishing mercy. Nor will any say that he gives equally to all of his spiritual grace. If some believe, and others remain in unbelief, the humiliating question recurs, Who maketh thee to differ? what hast thou that thou hast not received? If faith be the gift of God, and if it must be owned this gift is not universal, or if, in Paul's words, we state it, All men have not faith;'- if some ground, tho' often rained upon, still brings forth only thorns and briars, till it is nigh unto cursing, and whose inevitable end is to be burned; while other ground yields some thirtyfold, some sixty-fold, and some an hundred-fold, - here is an actual undeniable difference, and very much to the point, If we view religion from another side, see it as actuating man to pious services, we dare not say that God awards his favours equally to every worshipper. There are, whose sacrifices are an abomination to him. He had no respect to Cain, nor to his offering; but to Abel he had respect. Some we are told will find acceptance with him, to the great surprize of the superficial and prejudiced observer; as Cornelius, tho' no Jew, as already cited. Some shall come from the east and from the west, to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, while the children of the kingdom are thrust out.' Indeed, the whole system of revealed truth points to one great day, when, as the Judge of all the earth, he will award a difference, great, awful, and permanent; for some shall go into everlasting destruction, some into life eternal. Some he will drive into the lake of burning fire, along with the devil and his angels; while others shall rise with him in to heaven, and partake of an everlasting kingdom and glory. There does not seem to be any necessity for proving these several instances of the divine dispensation |