a day of sacred rest, and appropriated to the solemn and profitable employments of public and domestic worship. If Mr. Allder was not in his place in the house of God on all occasions, it was a proof that he was confined by afiliction, which, through the goodness of God, was very seldom the case; and he was early in his attendance. As a Deacon of a Society of Protestant Dissenters, with whom he worshipped, he discharged the important office in a serious and useful manner, and his death is felt as a peculiar loss; for he was much interested in the purity of Gospelorder, and the advancement of the cause of Christ. Mr. Allder of late years had been subject to a dangerous affliction in the winter; from which, by the blessing of God on medical assistance, he recovered in the spring. The last winter, however, left him consid rably weaker in body; but he was gradually growing stronger in faith, and ripening for a better world. His last illness was only a fortnight, during which period he was affected with frequent drowsiness. At times, however, he was relieved from it, and frequently expressed his faith in Christ, and his submission to the will of God. The love of Christ in dying for sinners was what he admired, and it almost overwhelmed his soul with joy. It was a sadly-pleasing language to hear this declining pilgrim, when he became unable, through weakness, to engage any more in family prayer, expressing his uncasiness with tears that he was now to omit his beloved employment. (What a reproof does this convey to those, who, in time of health, neglect prayer in their families!) But he was submissive to the will of his God, who was now about to translate him to the perfect worship and family of heaven, where weakness and tears are known no more. If we follow our afflicted friend to his chamber, and draw the curtain of his dying bed, there we hear a departing saint, like a patriarch of old, giving his farewel and solemn instructions to his weeping relatives collected round him.— There we hear him, with feeble voice, but with strong faith, expressing his hope and patience in language like this-" Dear Jesus"-" Haste, my beloved, come away""Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." And when his minister had encouraged him still to "fear no evil, when walking through the valley of the shadow of death," since he hoped that the Shepherd would be with him; and when grief just permitted him to thank his dying friend for all his kindness towards him, he returned his thanks also for the benefit he had received by his preaching; adding, "O glorious hour! O blest abode !-- I shall be near, and like my God." These were some of the last words which he could utter, the latter line being scarcely distinct; though he lived, gradually weakening, without apparent pain, till the night of the next day, when, with the most perfect composure and ease, the writer of this paper, having committed him to God in prayer, saw him breathe his soul into the hands of his Redeemer! Thus we see how a Christian can die! Who can be present at such a scene as this, and not be almost ready to say with another Thomas, "Let us also go, that we may die with him!" Here we perceive the reality of poetic description, "The chamber, where the good man meets his fate, Of virtuous life-quite in the verge of heaven." DR. YOUNG. Here too we may see what are the doctrines that can support the mind in affliction, and enable us to triumph in the views of death. Not Socinianism, nor mere morality, but the doctrines of salvation by free grace, the Saviour of men is their God! It is no matter, though we may be ridiculed by such as falsely call themselves rationalists, for preaching the doctrines of Christ crucified, if we have the testimony and thanks of such a dying man as this-while God shall have all the glory, On the sabbath evening following, a funeral discourse was preached on the occasion, from Isa. lvii. 1, 2, by the Rev. Mr. Jefferson, to a numerous auditory, as many of the inhabitants of the town honoured the memory of the deceased by their respectful attendance. MRS. HANNAH COGGING. ON November 6th died Mrs. Hannah Cogging, aged 96. This venerable saint had been a member of the church, now under the pastoral care of Dr. Stafford, fifty-nine years. She was a woman of exemplary piety, and remarkable for a constant attendance at the house of God, even to the end of her days. On Friday morning, the 4th of November, she was going as usual from her habitation, an alms-house in Hoxton, to the lecture in Camomile-street. On her way thither an over-drove bullock suddenly darted upon her, and, teing from extreme age unable to escape, she received a wound, of which she died the sabbath following. After this catastrophe happened, she was taken to the London Hospital, where she was visited by several respectable persons. One of them, a lady who was a particular friend to her, rather reflected upon her for going out so far by herself. She replied, "Why do you reflect upon me? you know, as I cannot see to read, I must hear the word of God: And the very same accident might have happened in crossing the street by my own door. My heavenly Father knew where I was going, and he permitted the beast to come against me. He sent it as the messenger of death, to take me to himself, with whom I have long desired to be. Blessed be God! I am going home to my heavenly Father." To another, who was speaking to her on the pain she felt, she replied, "The pain which I feel is infinitely less than I deserve; I submit to it as the way which my God has seen fit to take me out of this world to himself. It is all well, it is all well!" MR. CHARLES WILSON. ON Tuesday, November 29, died, at New-Malton, in Yorkshire, in the 36th year of his age, Mr. Charles Wilson, glazier. He was one who had served God from early youth. Many years he had been a diligent attendant upon the public preaching of the Gospel, both at the Wesleian and the Dissenting chapels in that town; and he was not only a hearer, but a doer of the word. To his infirm and aged parents he was a very dutiful son, in every respect endeavouring to strengthen their hands, and rejoice their hearts. As a Christian, he was remarkably lively and cheerful. By means of his zealous conduct he drew several young persons to a liking of religion. On Wednesday evening, the 23d of November, he attended, with several of his companions, the weekly lecture at the Dissenting chapel, and after service called on the Minister, the Rev. Mr. Bartlett, with whom he conversed in a very pleasant manner, and discovered a strong desire to see the cause of Christ flourish in the ungodly place of his residence; and, to encourage the Minister, he not only verbally expressed his desire that the interest might there be carried on, but entered his name as a subscriber to the pecuniary support of the Gospel in that place of worship. The day following he became rather unwell; and his disorder becoming gradually more violent, on the Monday he began to be apprehensive that his sickness was unto death. Previous to this he expressed himself to his friends who were about him, that if it should please God to restore him, he would devote himself more fully and unreservedly to his service and glory. Though much affected with a sense of his own unworthiness, he thanked God that he found Christ to be a satisfying portion. As to himself he did not doubt but 123 but sudden death would be sudden glory. His parents, sisters, and other relations, he severally addressed in the most lively, pathetic, and impressive manner, as one who was deeply impressed with the vast importance of eternal things. Those whom he thought ignorant and careless, he endeavoured to awaken; those he thought to be better informed, and yet supine, he exhorted to seek to possess the power of region. He assured them that there was a reality in inward religion; that he then happily felt it, and was sure it was not a cunningly-devised fable. On the morning of the day in which he died, he dressed himself, came down stairs, and said he could not lie in his bed, as his will was not signed; and further added, "This day I shall die." After some time, hearing his friends express a wish to have him removed to his chamber, he rose up from his chair with much agility; attempting to ascend the stairs, but failing in the attempt, he was carried by them, and placed in a chair, where in a few minutes he sweetly breathed his last. Suitable discourses were preached on the occasion of his death, both at the Wesleian and the Dissenting Chapels, to very attentive and crowded congres gations. MRS. SIZER. ON Wednesday, February 1, died, at Woodbridge, in the 27th year of her age, Mrs. Sizer, wife of Mr. William Sizer, linen-draper. The peaceful departure of this amiable woman afforded a happy comment upon the important truths of Christianity. The propriety and circumspection of her conduct through life would have given her a stronger claim to a distinguished place amongst the moral and the virtuous than can be assumed by most. excellencies every one seemed sensible except herself. Her mind being effectuOf these ally humbled by divine grace, a deep consciousness of sin was productive of every self-abasing expression. Her penitent language did not proceed from babit, but was uttered with that tender emotion which evidently declared it-the genuine effusion of a contrite spirit. Her views of the Gospel yielded a source of consolation, which proved an effectual reply to all that fear could suggest. The very name of the Saviour filled her with joy and gladness. She had many of those tender ties which twine about the human heart; and, if life had been spared, had a fair prospect of worldly felicity. After enumerating present enjoyments, and adding thereto the high probability of future temporal happiness, she came to this deliberate conclusion: "I can now resign them all for the superior love I bear to my dear Saviour." Though her affliction was long and painful, she was a stranger to the language of impatience; and there is great reason for believing that, from first to last, her lips never uttered a sentence of complaint. The burden of her theme was, "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever." She, however, experienced intervals of gloom and comparative darkness; but the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness again penetrated and dispelled the clouds, and she rejoiced in the light of the countenance of the. Lord. As she approached the last scene, her fears declined, and every spring of hope was sweetly invigorated. It would occupy a considerable space to record even a small proportion of what she uttered, as expressive of the glorious prospect by which her mind was animated. Amongst many, the following things were pronounced in a manner which will not soon be forgotten: "I have a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better." Upon hearing several carriages pass in their way to the assembly, she said, "How much happier am I upon this bed of affliction, than they can possibly be in the pursuit of vanity!" before her departure, upon her sisters entering the room, perceiving the tenTwo or three days derness of their affection, she said, Why do you come to me with weeping eyes? I am sure you ought to come with joyful countenances and gladness of heart." With Mr. Sizer she expostulated, saying, "Why all this gloom, when when my heavenly Father is welcoming me to my everlasting rest?" She possessed great sensibility of mind and delicacy of affection; but before she expired she calmly declared, "If I could obtain all the pleasures of this world, and secure a continuance of life with my dear relatives, I would not forego the prospect which now presents itself, for them all!" When unable any longer to converse, her broken sentences, and the weak, expiring efforts of departing nature bespoke the tranquillity and holy triumph of her mind. At length the final moment arrived-she quietly slept-and entered into the joy of her Lord. The writer of this article made her repeated visits during her affliction, and her conversation was always productive of those lively impressions upon his mind which form so important a part of serious devotion. He sincerely sympathizes with her surviving relatives, and earnestly prays, that their latter end may be like her's. On the Lord's day after her interment, a funeral sermon was delivered by the Rev Mr. Lowell, before a numerous auditory, with every mark of seriousness and sympathetic affection. The subject was the Nature and Importance of Resignation, from those memorable words of Jesus Christ, " Not my will, but thine be done." LATELY died the Rev. Mr. Carver, Minister of an Independent congregation at Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. February 7th died, after a few hours' illness, the Rev. William Shrubsole, of Sheerness, author of Christian Memoirs, &c. He had preached on the Lord's day, the 5th. On the 11th died, after a lingering illness, Mrs. Thomas, wife of the Rev. Timothy Thomas, of Devonshire-square, and sister of the late Rev. Dr. Evans, of Bristol. REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. A Compendious Dictionary of the Holy Bible: Containing a Biographical History of the Persons; a Geographico-Historical Account of the Places; a literal, critical, and systematical Description of other objects, whether natural, artificial, civil, religious, or military; and an Explanation of the appellative Terms mentioned in the Writings of the Old and New Testaments and the Apocrypha; including the Significations of the Hebrew and other Words occurring therein. Likewise a brief View of the Figures and Metaphors of Holy Writ, 12mo. Price 6s, boards. Button. SUCH a work as this might be rendered of great use to common readers, who certainly need much assistance, in order to form proper notions of the customs, manners, ceremonies, laws, civil institutions, and various other things, mentioned in the Holy Scrip tures, together with the names of places, persons, offices, and brief, but just representations of remarkable events, as also geographical descriptions. This writer merits the thanks of the public for the present effort, which, though defective, may yet be made more ex tensively tensively useful to that part of the community, whose instruction has been too much neglected. But great care as well as skill are requisite in giving short explanations for the benefit of the unlearned, lest unfounded opinions should be countenanced, and vulgar ideas strengthened. On this view, we think the following instances somewhat censurable: Under the word Jewel, he says, "A fair woman is compared to a jewel of gold in a swine's snout.' By no means -A fair woman, without discretion, is indeed so compared. This perhaps was the result of negligence-not so the following: Under the word Flood, he says, "The water employed for this purpose Moses derives from two sources, namely, the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven opened." This writer should have diligently inquired, what Moses meant by the windows of heaven, or whether indeed Moses ever made use of such a phrase, as the windows of heaven. He brings in this as an objection of others, against the universality of the deluge: "The world was then but new, and the people not very many, the Holy Scriptures making only eight generations from Adam to Noah." This objection he never attempts to answer, but rests the universality of the Flood on the express testimony of Moses: Herein he was right; but he should not have mentioned objections, which he knew not how to answer, nor have left the unlearned without information. Besides, we are not to count the probable numbers of inhabitants, at that time on the globe, from the number of lives between Adam and Noah, but from the number of years between the creation and the deluge, which was 1656. Now the fewer successive lives found in that space of time, the greater would the number of inhabitants be at the Flood. Instead of eight, let us suppose sixteen successive lives between the Creation and the Flood, then the number of inhabitants would be one half less; because there could not be above one half of the number of persons, at one time, on the earth, since the lives of all must be shortened one half, in order to make sixteen successive lives equal to no more of time than eight successive lives. Or, let us suppose, that there were only four successive lives between the Creation and the Flood, then the number of persons would be double to the first statement of eight successive lives. Now then let us state it still nearer to the truth: Methuselah lived along with Adam 243 years; and yet Methuselah died not before the year of the Flood, so that we have 243 years to spare out of two successive lives between the Creation and the Flood. What then must the number of inhabitants have been on the globe at the time of the Flood? Under the word Grove, our author, in explaining the term, says, "The Israelites worshipped their idols in groves; and in all those passages where this word is connected with idolatrous worship, he considers it as denoting a grove of trees, and gives this for an example, "They forgat the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves." If we suppose them, on any occasion, to have worshipped in groves, yet it by no means follows that they served the VOL. V. groves |