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of man, but as it is in truth the work of God;" for "neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth, it is God that giveth the increase!" We may collect from different funds, but we bring to the same Exchequer; and have no greater joy than in the accumulation of the revenue of that relative glory of the Divine character, which redounds from the salvation of men, "through Christ Jesus, unto the glory and praise of God the Father!"

But abstracting from general views of the mighty work of missions, I regard the branch to which you are attached with peculiar pleasure on this occasion. You know that from the beginning of our existence in the religious world, Methodism has always been a "history of missions;" its venerable founder, considering that this was the first character of the Christian Church, and believing it would be the last, even at that day, when "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge be increased," wisely instituted a ministry which should be a standing monument of what God could do by this means. "And what has God wrought?" Some there are, whom the frost of many winters has not chilled to death, to whom our father's words may still be spoken,

"Saw ye not the cloud arise

Little as a human hand?"

Its present state we ourselves have lived to see ;

"Now it spreads along the skies—

Hangs o'er all the thirsty land!
When He first the work begun

Small and feeble was His day;
Now the Word doth swiftly run,
Now it wins its widening way!

More and more it spreads and grows;
Ever mighty to prevail,

Sin's strong holds it now o'erthrows,

Shakes the trembling gates of hell ""

Indeed there are seasons wherein the overwhelming influence of these reflections so rests upon the mind, that unless we heard the warning voice, "what doest thou here, Elijah?" we should stand at the base of this mighty structure, and wholly spend our time for nought, in admiring the symmetry and proportion of all its parts, beholding "what manner of stones and buildings are here!" But thus warned, we too "arise and build!" Thus "instead of the fathers are the children, and the children's children shall yet add thereto, till the topstone be raised, shouting grace, grace unto it!"

My dear brethren, if there is a scene within the universe of God, calculated to lift our minds to heaven; if there is a scene calculated to bring down the heavenly host to earth, it is that which portrays in anticipation the final triumph of the "Gospel of the grace of God:" yes, the Gospel must ultimately and universally triumph! Well may we exclaim, what an object is this! It is the fairest scene that the pencil of heaven, dipt in the colours of its own rainbow, can delineate; and even the great voice issuing from the eternal throne, can utter nothing more exhilarating and sublime than the consummation of this event, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men." Yes, my brethren,

"Jesus shall reign where'er the sun,

Does his successive courses run."

The glow which pervaded the Apostle's mighty mind, did not cause his pen to aberrate; the spirit of inspiration sat upon him when he declared that Jesus "must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet! That day will come! Do we expect to swell the number who shall grace his triumph? Do we burn with seraphic ardour to be among his train, "when he shall be revealed from heaven with power and great glory ?" Then "gird" up the loins of your mind; be sober, and hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ!" Wherefore "comfort one another with these words," for truly "'tis with the same comfort wherewith I myself am comforted of God."

You, my dear brethren of this auxiliary, who are the managers of its concerns, I hail!-I am also one of you. "I write unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you." Early separated from the world, and ardently employed in seeking the interests of "a better country, that is, a heavenly God is not ashamed to be called your God, for he has prepared for you a city." "Walk therefore by the same rule, mind the same thing." not the world, neither the things that are in the world." "Set your affections on

"Love

things above, and not on things upon the earth!" Soon you shall hear it sounded, "because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!"

The friends and subscribers of this auxiliary are entitled to your thanks; they have merited them well; by means of the numerous little streams which have been directed to our reservoir by the friends of Missions, our 66 water-pots," if not always full, have never become dry: on this occasion, however, you look to have them "filled even to the brim ;" and may He who can convert our base material to subserve his glorious purpose of saving men, "draw forth" therefrom that "wine of the kingdom which cheers the heart of God and man."

I remain, my dear brethren, your fellow-labourer and servant,

J. SUMMERFIELD.

The balance in the hands of the treasurer, at the disposal of the Parent Society, is $380 83.

American Bible Society-The seventh anniversary of this Society was held, May 8, in the City-Hotel, which was numerously attended, and the whole of the exercises were lively and highly interesting, and well calculated to enlist the feelings of the Christian community in favour of Bible Societies. Who that witnessed that sweet overflowing of soul, that intermingling of spirit, and that sweeping down of sectarian partialities, could refrain from participating in the general joy, and of hailing, with the most pleasurable gratitude, an institution which unites in its counsels and energies so many of all parties!

From the Treasurer's Report, it appears that the receipts during the past year amounted to upwards of fifty-four thousand dollars, and the expenditures to about fifty-three thousand dollars, leaving a balance in the Treasury of about one thousand dollars. The annual Report gave an encouraging view of the Bible cause in various parts of the world.

Society for ameliorating the condition of the Jews-This Society held its second anniversary, May 9, in the City-Hotel; and among other speeches delivered on the occasion, all of which were calculated to awaken the mind to serious concern for the afflicted descendants of Abraham, was one by Mr. JADOWNISKY, a converted Israelite from Poland, in which he detailed some of the sufferings of his brethren according to the flesh, and concluded with a very pathetic appeal to American Christians, in behalf of the Jews. So affected was this interesting young stranger, that, towards the conclusion of his address, his utterance was choked by the rising sighs, and he sat down suffused with tears.

United Foreign Missionary Society-On the evening of the 7th of May, this Society held its sixth anniversary at the City-Hotel. From the annual Report, it appears that the receipts into the Treasury, during the past year, amount to 12409 dollars, and the expenditures, 15372 dollars.

DEAR BRETHREN,

Obituary.

To the Editors of the Methodist Magazine.

Having been recently called to mourn the departure of two of my much respected sisters, I think it a tribute due to their memory, to make a short record of their virtues, thereby to exalt the grace of God which conquered the depravity of their natures, and enabled them to triumph in death. I therefore send to you the account of one of them, that, if you think proper, it may be inserted in the Magazine. By giving it a place, you will oblige your unworthy brother, Utica, April 15. 1823,

MISS MARY PECK, the subject of this memoir, was the daughter of Luther and Annis Peck, and was born in Middlefield, Otsego county, New-York, in the year 1801. Through a religious education she was early made sensible of the necessity of a religious life; and often, almost in infancy, showed signs of a concern for the welfare of her soul. But the vanity of her youthful mind in general frustrated her good purposes, and continued to lead ber astray till the

GEORGE PECK.

age of ten, when she was made a subject of converting grace. The circumstances of her conversion were as follows:-That distinguished servant of God, Ebenezer White, being appointed to the Otsego circuit that year, commenced his labours in the spirit of reformation. In visiting and instructing families, he dwelt particularly on the subject of family religion. His discourse was very moving, and what seemed in particular to affect Mary was, on his

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inquiring of her parents whether their children had been baptized, he was told that several of them had never been dedicated to God in that ordinance, and that some of them had grown up in sin and vanity, and so rendered themselves unfit subjects of it without repentance. As Mary was one of them, this conversation set her to reflecting upon her condition. She entered more deeply into the investigation of her case than ever before. She found that she was not only unfit for the ordinances of God's house, but altogether unfit for heaShe now began to mourn heartily before God for her sins. She read the bible, prayed in secret, and wept bitter ly. In the course of a few days at a prayer-meeting, she was observed by some to be on her knees weeping, and on being asked if she wanted religion, she answered in the affirmative. The people of God prayed for her, and encouraged her to believe in the efficacy of the blood of Jesus Christ to save her soul from sin, till at length she was enabled to testify with joy, that God had power on earth to forgive sin. She soon put herself under the watch-care of the church, and continued to maintain a life of sobriety and devotion, to watch against the evils of her heart, the temptations of the devil, and the allurements of the world, through the subsequent part of her life.

As to her mental improvement, it may be proper to state, that as she advanced in years, she gave signs of a capacity of mind above the ordinary class. She possessed a taste for reading, and a talent to improve by it. Possessing a tenacious memory, she was enabled to prosecute her studies in the different branches which she entered upon, with uncommon facility, and to store up things which she learned from reading and observation that would be useful in practical life. Her zeal to learn was unconquerable, and her success in acquiring, gave to her friends the most flattering prospects of her future usefulness. But alas! how soon were all their prospects blasted, when God, in his wise providence, summoned her into the invisible world. With respect to spiritual things, it was evident to her acquaintances, that she increased both in gifts and graces. Though she had her particular besetments, yet it was her desire that she might overcome through Christ. Being naturally of a cheerful disposition, she was sometimes betrayed into levity, which always furnished her occasion for remorse and self-reproach. She had her low times in religion, and often complained of coldness in the service of

God; but it cannot be said that she ever wholly backslid or lost her relish for the sublime pleasures of divine worship. Immediately before her last illness, she seemed to be impressed with a belief, that she had not long to continue on earth. She would frequently remark that she should soon have to part with her dear friends, that she thought she was doing her last summer's work, and the like, She had taught school several summers, and seemed to be well pleased with the employment, and to be contented to stay from home except the last summer, when she had visited her friends she parted with them with the greatest reluctance. Often on these occasions, she would embrace her sisters with tears, saying, "we must soon part to meet no more on earth."-She attended a campmeeting in September, which proved a great blessing to her soul; after which she was more than ever engaged after holiness of heart, without which she more clearly saw she could not see the Lord in peace The state of her mind is particularly expressed in two of her letters written to her brother Andrew, now in my possession, from which I have copied the following extracts.The first is dated June 9th, 1822.

"But let us turn our meditations for a few mo

ments on the vanity of earthly things. Our situ ation in life is such that we are exposed to afflic

tions and calamities on every hand. And what resource can this world afford us? It presents a dark and dreary waste where no consolation is to be found. But there is a balm which can soothe the troubled mind, and that balm is religion.

"She points me beyond the dark tomb,
To suns ever blooming and fair;

Where wreaths of bright glory eternally

bloom,

And whispers I soon shall be there." "This, my brother, is my comfort a id satisfacwithin me, and I am constrained to lay aside my tion. This alone is my hope. My eart glows pen and give vent to the feelings of my mind."

The second is dated Sept. 22.

"Very dear brother,-Though an interview with you would be far more agreeable to me, yet I feel in a measure thankful that we are blessed with means of any kind whereby we can communicate to each other the various afflictions and blessings which we meet with in our pilgrimage my brother, that the Lord is visiting this land through this vale of tears. And must I tell you, with his afflicting providence? Numbers of people of our acquaintance are sickening and dying. Last Tuesday we attended the funeral of one of our neighbours. She had been about eight months married, and died with twelve hours sickness. Oh! how alarming to see a fellow creature enjoying health and laying plans for long life one day, and the next a lifeless corpse. Does it not speak loudly to us," be ye also ready?" The subject of religion of late has occupied my mind more than ever. While the bells of mortality to make it my greatest business to prepare to are sounding through the land, I feel determined meet death whenever it is the will of the Lord to release my spirit from this cumbrous clay. We where the Lord manifested his presence in a attended a camp-meeting the 5th of this month, wonderful manner. The preachers insisted o

the necessity of holiness of heart. The members drank into the spirit, and Sabbath morning several professed to experience the blessing, some of whom are our acquaintance, and my prayer to God is that the same spirit of holiness may revive and flourish through the connexion."

Nov. 1st, she was attacked with the illness which terminated her mortal existence. She soon signified that she believed this sickness was unto death. On one of her sisters saying to her, “Mary, I think you are not dangerously sick-I hope you will soon recover." She replied, "I shall not recover. No! I shall die. The warrant is signed, and the angel is commissioned to summon me away.' This was not a flight of a distracted mind. It was a fixed principle which had a powerful influence on her feelings and actions. She now looked back upon her past life, and saw that in many instances she had come short of her duty and privilege, that she had never experienced that entire sanctification which is indispensably necessary to qualify the soul for heaven, and that nothing short of this would prepare her for the important' change that awaited her. She anxiously solicited the prayers of the people of God, and for about twenty-four hours groaned and agonized with all her powers for liberty.

For two or three hours she cried aloud for mercy, and at length experienced relief while pouring out her heart to God in these plaintive strains. "Oh! that I could believe that Jesus would go with me through the dark valley." She immediately added, "I do believe!" Oh! he will go with me, glory! glory! glory! She then repeated the sublime lines which end, O grave where is thy victory! O death where is thy sting! and would repeat, at intervals, with peculiar emphasis, Oh death where is thy sting. Her disorder (which was a putrid typhus fever) soon assumed an aspect exceedingly threatening, which caused great alarm to the family, and finally baffled every effort of the physician. After she experienced liberty from sin and fear, she spent her time in prayer, praise and exhorting every one who visited her to prepare by a life of holiness to follow her. On being visited and conversed with by some Christian friends, she with great solemnity repeated the following lines:

"Then come, thou king of terrors;

And with thy weapons lay me low; I soon shall reach that region, Where everlasting pleasures flow. Now Christians, I must leave you, A few more days to suffer here; Through grace I soon shall meet you, My soul exults, I'm almost there." She said to one of her younger sisters, "do warn sinners for me. I shall not be able to do it but a short time longer. Follow not the fashions of the world,

nor go into rude company. Do not for get what I say to you now." Her sister told her that she desired her recovery. "Oh no," said she, "soon my happy spirit will leave this world of sorrow.

"I see a world of spirits bright,
Who taste the pleasures there;

They all are rob'd in spotless white, And conquering palms they bear." Though her pain was sometimes extreme she did not complain. She endured it all with the utmost patience and fortitude.

The law of kindness was written upon her heart. She desired the happiness of all. "Oh!" said she, "how I love Christians. I love every body." She now longed for the period of her deliverance, and would often express a degree of anxiety to be gone. When visited by one of the preachers of the circuit, through whose prayers and instructions she received great comfort, she clasped her hands, raised her eyes towards heaven and exclaimed, "Oh! how I want to die." As it was now evident to her friends and to herself that she was rapidly verging towards eternity, she called the family together and gave them her dying advice, exhorted them to faithfulness and perseverance and charged them to meet her in heaven. She sent particular word to her brothers who are labouring in the ministry. Thus tell George and Andrew to be faithful to the charge committed to them, and prepare to meet me in glory. The following lines she very frequently repeated.

"Cease my heart this mourning, crying; Death will break this sullen gloomSoon my spirit, fluttering, flying, Will be borne beyond the tomb." But the time at length had arrived when they looked for the hour of her departure. She now prayed most fervently that her friends might have grace to support them under the trials which awaited them, and exhorted them not to mourn immoderately for her. On observing her sister Betsey weeping over her, she raised her trembling hand, and wiped off her tears, saying, "hush, hush, my dear, I am but going to fall asleep." While she was fast sinking down into the sleep of death, being scarcely able to speak so as to be heard, she repeated these lines:

"On the cold cheek of death, smiles and roses are blending,

And beauty immortal awakes from the tomb."

Soon after she added, "I shall soon be at rest;" and then quietly left the world without a struggle or a groan. Thus died our dear sister Mary on the 14th of Nov. 1822, in the twenty-second year of her age, after spending eleven years of her short life in the service of God. Let me die the death of the righte ous, and let my last end be like his,

Methodist Magazine,

FOR JULY, 1893.

Divinity.

A DISCOURSE ON FUTURE PUNISHMENT.

Delivered (by appointment) before the New-England Conference, holden in Bath, Maine, June, 1822.

BY THE REV. TIMOTHY MERRITT.

(Continued from page 210.)

BEFORE I give our author's views of atonement, I would remark that here, as in other parts of his work, he takes great pains to confute a system as absurd, and but little less dangerous than his own. With that system I have nothing to do at present.

I now proceed to notice the views of atonement which are given in the Treatise before us. And here the commonly received doctrine is misrepresented, when it is exhibited "by the likeness of debt and credit." (p. 58.) It is worthy of remark, that this writer has in several instances exhibited the same views, and raised the same objections to Christianity with the deist. Mr. Paine has said that the Christian doctrine of atonement has for its basis, an "idea of pecuniary and not moral justice." The author of the Treatise says the same. But a greater man than either has observed, "That sin is called a debt, and the death of Christ a price, a ransom, &c., is true; but it is no uncommon thing for moral obligations and deliverances to be expressed in language borrowed from pecuniary transaction. The obligations of a son to a father, are commonly expressed by such terms as owing and paying: he owes a debt of obedience, and in yielding he pays a debt of gratitude. The same may be said of an obligation to punishment. A murderer owes his life to the justice of his country; and when he suffers, he is said to pay the awful debt. So also if a great character by suffering death could deliver his country, such deliverance would be spoken of as obtained by the price of blood. No one mistakes these things by understanding them of VOL. VI

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