We have now the pleasure to tra ing goodness of Him that heareth one individual branch of the Baron His daughter, Mrs. Sharpe, Mrs. Ca ther, had been ten years a resident i Indies; during the whole of which she has often since observed with s

The worthy and benevolent baronet, who received by inheritance his plantations abroad, cherished an honourable solicitude for the comfort and education of his negroes. In consequence of an unequivocal expression of his sentiments, made to the managers of his estates, the Missionaries of our Society were permitted a ready access to them, for the religious instruc-gret, she had never read the Bibl tion of the slaves: and the results of that per- gone to church but once! It is in mission were highly gratifying. It reflects deplored, that the state of European honour on the parties concerned, that the ex- the western world, at that time, r ample of Sir Gillies Payne was followed by possible for a person to move for so other slave-proprietors among his relatives and in its most respectable ranks with acquaintance; and that from the earliest esta- Christianity. But though we may blishment of our Missions in the western world, in many of our foreign possessions s converted Africans on their several estates have derable improvement in regard to re been in Christian communion with us. taken place, since that time; yet th son to fear that, in some few of our cases are still to be found approaching ly to a parallel with this.

Such a case presents a distressing of a propensity to live without God common to our nature. And this, ho volting it may appear to a devout

It is now considered an undoubted fact, that Christianity, properly received by the negroslave, elevates him in the scale of being. And the experience of many years has taught the world, that, when the natural depravity of the African is made to yield to the force of religious principle, his character frequently presents very valuable and amiable qualities. At-regulated mind, is precisely what wo tachment to the ordinances of religion, and state and practice of every human be gratitude to their benefactors, are virtues very to follow the bias of the unrenewed commonly displayed by the converted children is felt that this is not the place to e of Ham; and from feelings of such a descrip- argument on this point; and yet it w tion it may easily be supposed that the pious sible not incidentally to notice so slaves on the Baronet's estate would persevere confirmation of what the Holy Scrip in offering fervent prayer to God in behalf of variably teach us, in relation to this so him and his family, through whose immediate melancholy fact. We should scarce interference and direction they were privileged that one in such a state of mind wo to hear the word of truth, the Gospel of imagined herself to be religious; and their salvation;" and were brought to the en- Sharpe at that time considered hers joyment of a spiritual and moral freedom, sufficiently so; and when she was af which sanctified and sweeetened their cup of brought under a general conviction of bondage. Of negro gratitude one of our Mis- fulness, she was actually at a loss to sionaries has related the following anecdote, for the feeling, by charging herself which is deserving of record:-After preach- particular sin: so great is the reactio ing one day on an estate belonging to the Ba- ral evil, so blinding and hardening is ronet, a slave of the congregation presented especially that species of sin which h her infant child for baptism, requesting that it mighty for its immediate and only obj might be named "Sir Gillies Payne;" and on being given to understand that the whole could not be adopted as a Christian name, the grateful negress evinced a painful disappointment, at being unable thus to perpetuate the memory of her valued owner by having his entire name and title attached to her beloved child.

Those who have themselves proved the efficacy of devout prayer, will not think it improbable that the grateful supplications of pious and holy negroes may often have produced favourable effects on the temporal and eternal welfare of their proprietors. Inspiration assures us that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." That such prayers are sometimes answered in blessings upon those for whom they have been presented to God, may at least be inferred from such narratives as the present. The reader will feel a sacred satisfaction in knowing, that several individuals belonging to the family of Sir Gillies Payne, even in circumstances apparently unfavourable for such a result, have been made partakers of true religion; have been, in life, faithful to their Christian profession; and have borne to the last a satisfactory testimony to the ability and willingness of Christ to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.

Happily the case assumes a more and gratifying aspect. The respecte ferred to was, by the mercy of God, bly in some measure in answer to th of some of those sable and degraded b had been accustomed to despise, bro better state of mind. In allusion to th she was led to experience, it may be t that the blind received sight, the raised, and, by a train of circumstan may be briefly noticed with interest a tage, the sheep which had been lo astray was ultimately turned to the and Bishop of souls.

The acts of a gracious and super Providence are perhaps never more certainly never more pleasing and in than when they are sometimes behe chain of circumstances, by which fi individuals are brought under the in real religion. The Son of God, as has received all power, both in heave earth, that he may render it subservi designs of love to our fallen race. to his providential dispensations, there in which we may hear him, in effect, us, as in another sense he did to hi Peter, "What I do thou knowest no

thou shalt know hereafter." Like Job, we look for him on our "right hand where he doth work," yet we "behold him not." With a'general conviction that he is managing all things for our good, we are nevertheless sometimes unable to trace out the exact course of his proceeding. On all these points we shall know hereafter; either by some elucidating circumstance in the present world, or after our entrance on that more perfect state which awaits us in heaven, "where that which is in part shall be done away,” and we "shall know even as we are known." But many of the dark and distressing dispensations of Providence towards men before their conversion, are divested of much of their mystery by that single event, and by it are made to appear most prominently in a character of divine compassion, which secures to God in Christ their gratitude and love and devotion to all eternity.

Though Sir Gillies Payne did not range himself among those who make an especial profession of religion, yet he was a decided and public friend to religious liberty, almost to latitudinarianism, and truly respected the Christian profession in others, when accompanied by a holy and consistent life and temper. It is supposed that one of the principal reasons inducing him thus to sanction and forward the introduction of our Preachers into the village of Tempsford, was the conduct of his coachman; who, by divine grace, had honourably sustained a Christian character in the eyes of his master for many years; and by whom, as an expression of his good opinion, he was placed, after The situation in which we have seen Mrs. so respectable a servitude, in a small farm beSharpe placed, as a West Indian resident, was longing to the family. As the preaching-cotnot one in which her conversion to God would tage did not form a part of his farm, the good have been deemed an event of probable occur- man applied to his landlord to have it so atrence. And had she remained in that part of the tached, for the purpose of giving a character world, it is more than possible her little family of greater permanency to their religious serwould have risen up deeply marked by all the fa-vices; but the venerable Baronet gave him his shionable Atheism of their prayerless parents, and would have entailed a curse upon souls unborn, by extending the baleful influence over the succeeding generations. But a mournful event was permitted to alter the probable current of their affairs. Mr. Sharpe, with the intention of bringing his family home to England for education, went on board a ship lying in the harbour of Grenada, to examine her accommodations; when he was attacked by an infectious fever which had raged in the vessel, and in a very few days died, leaving his disconsolate widow and five children to pursue alone their voyage to this country. On their arrival in England they were affectionately received and cherished by Mrs. Sharpe's own father, at Tempsford-Hall, in the vicinity of which the following circumstance had previously occurred.

In the village of Tempsford resided a genewal Baptist, who was one of the Baronet's temants, and who was accustomed (such was the fervour of his religious feeling) to travel twenty miles on the Lord's Day to join in divine worship, with a congregation of his own Communion. On one occasion, in conversation with a Christian friend, this pious Baptist observed, that since he had been in Bedfordshire God had so greatly blessed him, that he knew not what grateful return to make for His goodness to him. His friend, in reply, said, "Go home, and take the Methodist Preachers into your house." He immediately rejoined, "By the help of God I will:" and on his return home, he embraced an early opportunity of inviting

promise that they should never experience any molestation in their possession of the house for that pious purpose; and his word gave the friends all the security of a lease.

The few who enjoyed the advantages of worshipping God in the cottage, were doubtless strongly attached to their estimable landlord; to whose tolerant and liberal principles, under the divine blessing, they were indebted for access to those means of life and salvation. But it was probably much more than they ever expected, that the saving influence of the truth they felt would extend from the cottage to the hall, or that any of the members of the Baronet's family should be associated with them as fellow-worshippers. Yet it is well often for us to be reminded that the ways of God are not our ways, nor his thoughts our thoughts. It was to a company of comparatively poor but pious individuals, who for some time afterwards were in the habit of conducting their worship in an upper room, that the Son of God once said, "Ye are the light of the world!" Where there is a decided consistency of character in those who worship God, how humble soever their outward condition, they may possibly become the objects of observation, as well as the medium of usefulness, to an extent far beyond their own hopes and expectations. This was the case with the praying villagers of Tempsford.

Some time after the death of Sir Gillies Payne, Mrs. Sharpe and another lady were passing the cottage; and being attracted by the singing, at the suggestion of her friend she

64

chiefly necessary for the poor and the unculti-
vated. But her sentiments soon experienced a
change; for while another of these humble and
devout Christians was engaged in fervent pray-
er to God, Mrs. Sharpe was led to discover
that they were animated by a spirit of fervent
piety, to which she was herself a total stranger.
The importance of possessing such a pious con-
cern, to be approved of God, impressed her as
it had never done before. She saw and felt it
desirable, above all things, to pursue with be-
coming solicitude this chief end of mortal ex-
istence. Under the immediate workings of the
Holy Spirit, her conscience, awaking from its
slumbers, pronounced a verdict of condemna-
tion against her for her long-continued negli-
gence of God, and of her soul. She was deep-
ly smitten to the heart with the fearful appre-
hension of the sentence of a higher tribunal;
and from a painful sense of her lost state as a
sinner, she never rested, from that time, until,
by a penitent faith in the atoning blood of
Christ, she received the knowledge of salva-
tion by the remission of sins, through the ten-
der mercy of our God.

cerns of the soul, and of the eternal
Nor was she so far left to the resourc
fallen nature, as to be suffered, by a reg
human favour, to receive the grace of
vain. That was indeed a memorable
the family history. It is not improbal
in that one incident the eternal well-b
many will hereafter be found to have b
volved. And there are individuals now
is not to be doubted t
ven, (of whom
valued friend, the late Mrs. Calder,
who for that single event will ascribe
ing praise and glory to God and the La
In her subsequent intercourse with t
gious cottagers, amongst whom she ha
the pearl of great price, Mrs. Sharpe
on the one hand, much Christian prude
by a careless degree of familiarity ne
to shock the feelings of her own fan
friends; and on the other, the cultivat
temper of conscientious fidelity to Go
be ashamed of the humble instrumenta
had been pleased to sanction to her so
vation. By simply looking for divine di
ever fearful of leaning to our own und
ing, we may at all times be enabled to
the happy medium, even when surrou
the most perplexing difficulties. And
Christians should ever in this way se
preserved from extremes; as well fro
regard to the honour of religion, as
own comfort, and the eternal benefit
immediate connexions; to whom it is

should prove, not a candle put under a but one set in a candlestick, that it m light to all that are in the house. It lamentable to see persons with the be tions, obscuring the light of which th been made partakers, and casting awa bability of acquiring a useful influe their unconverted friends, by an impet untempered disregard of the way of this respect.

It was natural that Mrs. Sharpe should repeat her visit to the place, however uninviting its exterior appearance, in which her mind had undergone so mighty an alteration, and where she had become the subject of impressions evincing their heavenly origin by their heavenly tendency. And this was her justification for what by some of her family was viewed as an indecorum. They thought of the preach-order of God that every converted ing-cottage, not only with the same contempt which she herself had formerly felt, but also with warm displeasure. No opprobrium was in their estimation too great to mark the place in which they considered their relative had so grossly degraded herself and them, by worshipping God with those who were so greatly her inferiors. But it had been one tendency of genuine repentance in its effects on a spirit naturally haughty and imperious, to relax the energies of the native pride, and to reverse the feeling of self-exaltation. She could cordially adopt the language of the Apostle Paul, "I am less than the least of all saints." And so often had her soul been blessed beneath the lowly roof where they were accustomed to assemble, that she could speak of it as the Patriarch Jacob did of his less commodious praying-place at Bethel: "This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."

Mrs. Sharpe, being of a decided and independent constitution of mind, was not so much exposed, at the commencement of her religious life, as some have been, to a timid and temporising policy. And though her decision caused her to suffer under some forms of persecution from a few of her family and social circles, yet she was, by divine grace, enabled to remain steadfast and unmoveable. At that time, she had been bereaved of her benevolent and affectionate father, and was living in the vicinity of her brother, Sir John Payne, who had succeeded to the title and estates. She could not have forgotten that she was a widow, with a rising family, whose interests it devolved on herself to guard and promote. But no temporal consideration was allowed to outweigh, in the scale of importance, the momentous con.

Individuals in subordinate life, can ral form but an imperfect idea of the ties which attend a religious professio part of those who are found in a high tion than themselves. There is a ha dium also for them to learn; and wh should conscientiously observe, in poin meanour towards such persons. By t Society in Tempsford, Mrs. Sharpe approached with a modest respect. humble dwellings, to which she was a ed to pay short visits, as a learner in t of Christ, she always met with an aff welcome, and acquired the knowledge a useful lesson. Nor did she entirely portunities of rendering herself helpfu of them with whose unobtruding tem cessities she thus became acquainte delightful thus to behold the rich and meet together, under the smile, and cution of the great and universal pla Lord who is the Maker of them all! to the house of the good man already ed, as having so honourably served in the capacity of coachman, were peculiarly profitable to her; and course, to him and his family, a grati cumstance to observe the devout d

riousness; and was truly conscientious and attentive to the observance of religion. Yet it was not until some time afterward, that she was brought to an experience of the power of godliness upon her soul. It was a gratifying permission of Divine Providence, that the valuable servant and Minister of Christ, who was afterwards her affectionate and admiring husband, and who now mourns her loss, should have the happiness to have been the means of her conversion. Under a sermon of Mr. Calder, on the subject of St. Paul's preaching before Felix, which was divinely owned to the conversion of several other persons at the same time, Miss Sharpe was awakened to an earnest concern for her soul's salvation; and on her ex

In her religious commencement, Mrs. Sharpe experienced candour and liberality from her brother Sir John Payne. A certain Nobleman (whose name Christian feeling prevents us from exhibiting to its merited odium) advised the Baronet to put away the farmer whom they had discovered to have been conversing with his sister on the subject of religion; but instead of following the ungenerous advice, he kindly accommodated her and another sister with the use of his carriage to attend a Love-Feast at St. Neot's; which ordinance was rendered an essential service to her. By a gentleman more noble, who became acquainted with that act of his brotherly kindness, the Baronet was after-pressing a desire to flee from the wrath to come, wards very warmly commended: the individual, though not himself a decidedly serious man, expressing his opinion that on so solemn a subject as religion, every person ought to be left at the most entire liberty to choose and decide for himself. About the same time, Mrs. Sharpe and her sister were much encouraged by the occasional conversation of the celebrated Dr. Haweis, of Aldwinkle, who had married Miss Norton, a niece of Sir Gillies Payne, and who in his visits at Tempsford, was accustomed to speak to them on divine subjects.

From that period Mrs. Sharpe was intent on promoting the salvation of her children. With a vigour of mind, and sincerity of conviction, which raised her above every fastidious feeling, she regularly conducted them to attend the mistry of the Gospel in the cottage; and by those means she continued herself to receive those religious aids which added stability to her Christian character, and enabled her to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Among the first-fruits of her parental endeavours was the manifestation of a serious disposition on the part of her eldest daughter. This concern, which was evinced at a very tender age, terminated, by the grace of God, in a sound conversion, and great fixedness of character.

When her mother was first brought under the influence of the fear of God, Miss Sharpe was at school in London; but as soon as the information reached her, she was so affected by it, that she instantly resolved to follow the same blessed course. Without any hesitation, she determined to renounce the fashionable evils of dancing, and the amusements of the theatre; and when invited to dance on the following Sabbath-day, uncountenanced as she was by any religious companion, she absolutely refused. This promptness and determination of mind, seemed to be in her case in some degree a constitutional endowment of the God of nature. It was by his grace she was prevented from disregarding and neglecting to improve this talent, so important and so truly ennobling to the character: and the due improvement of

she was received as a member of our Society. It was not a little singular, that the same sermon was made the instrument of the conversion of two of the sons of the excellent and pious farmer, to whom occasional reference has been already made. This was in the year 1812.

It is pleasing to record, as another beneficial consequence of Mrs. Sharpe's Christian decision, the conversion of a beloved son, E. M. Sharpe, Esq., of Elstow, near Bedford, and of whom a more particular account has appeared in the Methodist Magazine for October, 1815. At the age of eleven years he had been convinced of sin, and led by the Divine Spirit to seek the mercy of God through Christ Jesus. He also could set to his seal that God is true. Of the pardoning mercy he thus sought in the way of God's gracious appointment, he was made a humble and joyful partaker, according to the word of promise. This gentleman married, in 1813, a pious daughter of the Rev. Dr. Moore, Chaplain to His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, and died happy in God in the course of the year 1815. Nor is this the only instance in which Mrs. Sharpe cherishes Christian hope of her children departed this life.

Miss Sharpe's marriage with Mr. Calder, which took place soon after she had been admitted into Society, was rendered a considerable blessing to her; and among the advantages she derived from a union, which was honoured with many other happy and memorable circumstances, she numbered it that she was brought more fully to possess the privileges of religious fellowship than she could have enjoyed in her previous and more secluded situation in life. Her residence at Brighton was always remembered by her with peculiar gratitude to God, as being the place where, through the ministry of the Rev. John Smith, her husband's fellowlabourer on that station, she was brought to a more intimate acquaintance with God, and closely walked in the light of His countenance. By the same means she was led more than ever to see both the desirableness and attainableness

to which Mr. Calder was appointed, she left behind her many who highly valued her; and it is not too much to say, that her most familiar acquaintances were of that description. Her last removal was to the Margate Circuit, which took place in August, 1824; and where, after a very debilitating indisposition, she fell asleep in Jesus in the month of June following.

Endued with a superior mind, duly cultivated by education, and thoroughly imbued with real religion, Mrs. Calder was well qualified for extensive usefulness. But the retiring habits of her early life, united with a constant undervaluing of herself in point of Christian experience, limited the exercise of her talents chiefly within the compass of her own family. She sometimes, however, did violence to her own very susceptible feelings; and especially whenever she had a conviction of imperative duty. At Canterbury, she became a Collector for the Bible Society; and would cheerfully go to the bedside of the aged and dying, in order to read and pray with them. In promiscuous company she was not forward to converse. Nor has she left any writings by the aid of which we might have been able to trace her steps in that more secret path in which she daily aimed to walk with God. It seemed to have been her desire that, in this respect, her only record should remain with the Most High. Her native diffidence was such that the circumstance of having to speak in her ClassMeeting was oftentimes a cause of agonizing suffering to her; yet a conviction of duty, and a sense of the high advantages of that means of induced her invariable attendance at grace,

the appointed hour, excepting when unavoidably detained; and her absence was a case of very rare occurrence. Those who were members of the same Class with herself, were edi

fied by the unassuming piety and simplicity

which marked her attention to that invaluable exercise of Christian communion; and the valued company at Margate, with whom she was thus associated during her residence at that place, often speak of their religious intercourse with her in terms of sincere respect and ardent attachment.

on the character of its individual memb in their remoter effects on others to wh a family becomes a more than ordinar of observation, and possibly of influen this point, therefore, it was one of N der's virtues, by divine grace, to be ju and resolutely attentive to duty: an management of her children, unobs the public eye, one of the most valua of her character was seen.

The family of a Minister, and, perh cially a Minister of the Methodist Co derives much of its character from tress of the house. Though it is on qualifications justly required of those tain the sacred office, that they sh well their own house,-and all who the name of Christian will ever aim scientious discharge of that importan their personal duty,-yet such are fi the unavoidable occupations of a M the Gospel, that his family will ha most awfully to suffer, should his wi justified to act as the subordinate go the household. But a brief outline i can be attempted of this part of the of our departed friend; yet, imperf will be, it may be of some advantage to preserve a memorial of an exampl thy of imitation by persons in simila

stances.

In the firmness and decision with w

governed her children, Mrs. Calder co most effectually to the efficiency o plans, and the benefit of those com her charge. Where her children obey, she never entreated. Her pr commanding was to avoid presenting with a temptation to demur. Adm recommendation of Dr. Witherspoon will of a child should be subdued sho it arrives at the age of fifteen mo adopted it as her own rule; and in steadily adhered to it. When any o necessity was presented for attem conquest of one of her children, she n up the point until either she had h complished the important object, or But while the tenderness of her natural dis- by rendered her best assistance to her position prevented her from appearing much in until the child submitted. This be public, and thus caused her real character to effectually done, it was seldom found be less generally known than would have been that the question of submission should truly desirable, and highly beneficial, yet it contested; and thus at the first offer operated to produce several important advan-siderable saving of pain to all parti tages to her interesting family of six children, fected. Mrs. Calder often deplored -four sons and two daughters,-to whose wel- of this decision in parents, both on a fare all the powers of an ardent mind were la- its ill effects on the children, as well boriously and unremittingly devoted; and who cessant trouble it entails upon the will, it is to be hoped, long be spared to present Cheerful submission to legitimate au an evidence of the genuine worth of such a the only practicable theory of happin parent. community, whether political or dom

It was a maxim with Mrs. Calder, that whilst the wife of a Minister is certainly bound to aim at usefulness among the people of her husband's charge; yet that this duty, important as it may easily be made to appear, should not be pursued at the expense of others of a more domestic description. It will be admitted, that the latter class of obligations are of great importance to all families; but especially to that

Associated with the firmness and d Mrs. Calder's mind, was the most ter tion for each of her children; her r equally directed toward them all, h might be variously called into actio varying ages and circumstances. stained by the folly of favouritism, or one child in preference to another; riable mark of a feeble or ungener

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