those countries by the Directors of the Seminary of Foreign Missions at Paris, to be translated from the original French by an able writer. Our correspondent, who has perused the original in five or six duodecimo volumes, apprehends that the work will afford considerable gratification to many who are interested in Missionary exertions, as well as afford the best information of the present state of those extensive and important countries. We understand that the translation will appear in successive volumes 18mo, of at least 300 pages, at 3s. 6d. each; but that it will not be sent to the press till names of subscribers are collected, sufficient in number to insure half the expence of the impression. No money will be demanded till the books shall be delivered; but the names of subscribers are to be left with Keating and Co. Duke-street, Grosvenor-square; or with T. Williams, Stationers Court, Ludgate-street.

OBITUARY.

MRS. PROUT.

MRS. Prout, the subject of this narrative, lived at Morwelham, about four miles distance from the place of my residence. Her circumstances in life were not affluent, but comfortable. She possessed a degree of good sense and intelligence very superior to what might have been expected from one whose means of improvement had been circumscribed. I was not acquainted with her in the early part of her life: but am informed, that she had always borne arespectable moral character. A very few years ago, she first attended upon the ministry of the Gospel: upon which her con◄ victions, though not so brilliant and striking as in some instances, were as the morning light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day. She was taught the necessity of possessing a better righteousness than her own, upon which she had hitherto depended; and saw, that without vital godliness, neither religious forms, nor moral duties, would ever fit her for Heaven. But that our friend's experience did not consist of certain blind and unmeaning emotions, will be seen from the steady influence of her piety on her spirit and conduct.

She sincerely loved, and was very conscientious in the observance of the Sabbath. She scarcely ever failed to attend all its public solemnities, notwithstanding her distance from the house of God, or any severity of the weather. She was a remarkably devout worshipper; and so serious a hearer, that my heart has been often animated at seeing her fixed attention. Her intervals of divine service were profitably spent; and, at the close of the Sabbath, she sometimes wrote, with surprising correctness, the substance of the discourses which she had been hearing. For some time she kept a diary; which I have met with since her death, and made use of in compiling this account.

But her religion was not confined to the house or the day of the Lord. One who best knew her has informed us, that, instead of her morning and evening sacrifice only, like David, she would sometimes retire to her chamber seven times a day, to keep her heart alive to God amid the snares of the world. Her affectionate partner and female friends well knew her delight in social prayer. One of her pious acquaintance has told me, that the day before she was confined by her last illness, she joined with her in supplication at a throne of grace; and shall ever remember the affection, copiousness, and fervor with which, for nearly half an hour, she wrestled with God.

Her

Her habitual delight in spiritual things was apparent. Though her great modesty and prudence restrained her from obtruding religious subjects unseasonably, yet she often said something for God to the friends and enemies of religion; and on all occasions listened with much pleasure to the pious conversation of serious Christians. While she was at work, you might frequently see some religious book before her; but she chiefly delighted in reading the Scriptures; for which, of late she had discovered an increasing regard; and, next to the Scriptures, she was most pleased with Dr. Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul. In her pocket-book, designed for common occurrences, we meet with several hints written with a pencil, which shew the pious direction of her mind. In one place, for example, she says, "I do humbly hope the Spirit of the Lord has been with me this morning. May I enjoy his sacred presence all the day!" and in another, "This morning, I trust. I shed tears of sorrow for sin; and afresh resolved to devote myself to the Lord." Her letters to her friends breathe a hunible and heavenly spirit, while they manifest all the affection and faithfulness of genuine friendship.

Our friend experienced many of the conflicts to which the Christian soldier is liable "I sometimes fear," she says in one of her letters, “I am getting into the Slough of Despond. I feel myself clogged and weighed, as poor Christian did, with the mire of the pond. O that I may, like him, struggle to get fout at that side which leads to the wicket-gate! for I know, can I once be permitted to enter there, I shall never be left to turn back again, but be conducted safely through every difficulty and danger to the heavenly city." "It is now almost three years," she says to another friend," since the providence of God sweetly compelled me to join his people. And O! if you did but know the state I am sometimes in, fearing I am deceiving myself and the world !”

Amidst all these apprehensions, our friend had some experience of "that hope which maketh not ashamed, and that peace which passeth all understanding." In cne of her letters she says, "I hope, and trust I can through grace say with you, at least I wish to be enabled to say it, that Jesus is my all and all; and though, often through the corruptions of my desperately wicked heart, I can scarcely know whether I have any love for God and his people or not, yet I would not part with my hope, my faint glimmering hope, for twice ten thousand worlds!" Towards the close of her days, her hope and confidence considerably increased. Our worthy friend did not substitute religious services for a Christian. temper, moral duties, or a becoming regard to her worldly and domestic engagements. She was an "example of believers in word, charity, purity, and diligence." I have often admired her activity in business. and the easy, kind, and accommodating manner in which she conducted herself to every one about her; and, I am persuaded, that her amiable and consistent conduct was maintained from the sincerest love to God and man. She was intent upon glorifying God in the station in which his providence had placed her.

She possessed a very benevolent heart. Her hand was liberally opened, as far as her circomstances permitted, for the relief of the necessitous; and she was anxiously concerned for the spiritual welfare of all her connections. It was, I assure you, dear Sir, very affecting after her death, to hear one saying, with anguish in her countenance, "I have lost my best friend," and another, "I have lost my only friend; she was a friend to my body, she was a friend to my soul" and another, "We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company." Though

Though blessed with only a trembling faith herself, she was desirous of animating the confidence of others. She was always ready to sympathize with the distresses of her friends, and to assist with her advice in cases of any difficulty.

She had a grateful sense of the Divine goodness. Almost every page of her diary, and every letter to her friends, abounds with expressions of thankfulness. Her religion was not attended with a morose or censorious disposition. she did not indulge bitter reflections upon those who differed from her in their religious views; but spoke of them with tenderness. If at any time she mentioned the defects of others, it was with sensible regret; but you would see her delighted to relate or hear of the begin. ning or progress of piety in any. She did not aim at a forbidding preciseness of manner, under an idea that austerity was a garb becoming a pro fessor. But though habitually serious, she cultivated a cheerful temper. I remember that, on one occasion, with tears, she mentioned to me her painful apprehensions, lest the gloom, which at that particular time she Jay under, should prejudice her friends against religion. So that she encouraged cheerfulness, not only with a view to her own immediate comfort, but the glory of God and the benefit of others.

Thus devoted to God was our valuable friend; and so exemplary was her general conduct, that I believe none could find occasion against her, except they found it concerning the law of her God. But her humility gave an additional lustre to all her other excellencies. There was no ostentation in her piety; for her real worth was concealed from the nearest observer. She had very lowly thoughts of herself in the sight of God, and in comparison with others. "Alas!" says she in her diary, "how ought I to blush when I see others who have not enjoyed near fo many of the privileges and opportunities that I have, and yet have made so much greater attainments in religion !"

We could have wished that so useful and ornamental a life had been very long protracted. But the Lord had otherwise determined. He early ripened the fruit, with a design of taking it to himself. Her affections had not been weaned from earth by repeated disappointments, the lassitude of age, or long-continued illness: she was seized with her fatal disorder in the prime of life, yet she was willing to part with the world and all its endearments. She bore her affliction, which was very painful, with Christian patience; and, notwithstanding her pain and weakness, with remarkable energy and affection entreated her friends to be mindful of their souls. How much the glory of God lay upon her heart appears from this, among other expressions, "O that I could leave the world triumphing in my Redeemer, that others may bear witness to the efficacy of his grace!" But she was not favoured with so strong assurance. During her health, she manifested an anxious jealousy concerning her interest in Christ; and during her illness it did not entirely forsake her. She would sometimes say, Should I be mistaken, should I be mistaken!" When one was endeavouring to remove her doubts, she exclaimed, "O do not flatter me now! A death bed is no place for flattery. If you have seen any thing in me inconsistent with my hopes of salvation, do point it out to me. "Search me, O God! and know my heart," &c. But our friend had laid hold of God's covenant," and did hot let it go. She built upon a right foundation; and if she had not an assurance, she had a blessed hope of immortality. "I have never thought any thing," she said to me, "of my duties (meaning since her experimental acquaintance with religion); but I never saw so much of their nothing. ness as I do now. What could a guilty sinner do, if it were not for the VOL X. blessed

blessed Redeemer It is nothing but his righteousness and merits that we can place any dependence upon:" and she frequently expressed her own reliance upon them. As I was once standing by her bed, I heard her devoutly repeating those sweetly soothing words, " Jesus, lover of my soul," &c. Her voice then failed; but I saw her lips moving, and could distinguish a word or two, by which I perceived that she was re peating the following verse: and I'shall never forget with what earnestness she lifted up her dying eyes while she was saying, " Hide me, O my Saviour, hide," &c.

Frequently, with great solemnity and composure, she said, "Into thy hands, O God, I commit my body, soul, and spirit." She often men tioned the promises of Scripture; which appeared to refresh her: particu larly, "The Lord is my shepherd," "The name of the Lord is a strong tower," &c.-Once a friend said to her, I have heard you repeat with pleasure, these words, "Thou whom my soul admires above," &c. and cannot you say so now?" "Yes," she replied, "and, I hope, I can say, "Whom have I in Heaven but thee !" She frequently repeated verses from Dr. Watts's Hymus, which were more familiar to her than compositions of a similar description; and are so peculiarly suitable to a dying Christian's experience.

After her dissolution approached, she beheld it with composure; and ence calmly said to a friend that was near her, " The candle is quivering in the socket, and will soon be out." When the physician expressed a hope that his prescriptions would be serviceable to her, she replied, "I be lieve your medicines, Sir, will do me no good; but I have committed myself to the Head-Physician:" and on the morning of the day in which she died, she said, "Who knows but this day I may be with him in paradise, and fill some humble place with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of God!" She retained her faculties, with scarcely any intermission, to the last; and without a struggle fell asleep in Jesus, after a fortnight's illness. She died February 23, 1801, in the 39th year of her age. On the following Sabbath a funeral-sermon was preached, at her request, from Psalm xxiii. 4. to a very crowded and serious congregation. Devonshire. W. R.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE,

MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Collection received by the Treasurer.

Rev. Mr. Smalle and Friends, at Grimsby, Castor, and
Melton, Lincolnshire

6.5 70

The following Letters, written by a Soldier returned from Gibraltar, containing an Account of the Commencement and Progress of a Society of Religious Persons at that Place, and the Blessing of God on their Endeavours, were published last Month in the Missionary Magazine, a periodical Pamphlet of great respectability, in Scotland. The Perusai of them afforded us singular Satisfaction; and we doubt not but they will be equally gratifying to all our Readers.

LETTER I.

Sir, Edinburgh, Nov. 18, 1801. You requested me to write you some account of the rise and progress of the work of God in Gibraltar, but I find it somewhat difficult to give

you

you a particular account of every circumstance relative to it, as I left behind me a journal which I regularly kept. If I were at present possessed of it, I could have given you a satisfactory relation of every particular. But for your present satisfaction, I will give you a few of the outlines, as far as my memory will serve.

Jo March 1792, the 46th, 51st, and 61st regiments arrived at Gibraltar from Ireland. In them there were ten or eleven persons who feared God, one of whom preached, and two exhorted. They began to meet, first in a private room, not knowing whether they would be permitted to meet in public. But, when they began to sing, people flocked about the door, entreating to get in; to which they consented. Fearing, however, that they might incur the displeasure of the governor, they petitioned him for permission to meet together to worship God. Hearing they belonged to the Methodist connection, he readily consented, hoping they would not neglect their duty as soldiers. Immediately after this, a large room was taken; but we had it not one month, when it could not contain one half of the people; another, about twice as large, was immediately taken at one guinea per month, Many now began to be concerned about the salvation of their souls; and some of them did not rest till they knew, in their experience, that Christ had power on earth to forgive sins. Our number soon increased to about fifty or sixty. Before the war broke out, in 1793, our number increased to 120. I do not scruple to say, that I believe about fifty of these were truly converted to God; and some of them left a testimony of the truth of it to the world, in a short time after, when they expired, wallowing in their own gore.

All this time, however, the enemy was not idle; for he stirred up' much opposition from every quarter. Two or three gentlemen importuned the governor to put a stop to our meetings; but the Lord, in whose hands are the hearts of all men, soon overthrew their counsel. General O'Hara, the governor, is said to have replied, "Let them alone; I wish there were twenty for one of them, and we should have fewer court-martials in the garrison than we have." Nevertheless, the persecution did not cease; for they were reproached on every hand, and all manner of evil spoken against them falsely. This had one good effect; for such as did not receive the seed into good ground, soon withered away; but the hands of the faithful were strengthened, and their hearts united by the love of God, and we often found the Lord present in our little assemblies, particularly at our love-feasts: these, indeed, often proved times of refreshing. Our society seemed now well settled and set in order; but the war soon occasioned the removal of the troops, some to the West-Indies, some to Toulon, others to Corsica, by which, in about twelve months, our number was reduced to about twenty; yet we continued to meet regularly in a public manner, there always being some to give a word of exhortation to such as were inclined to come and hear. In this manner we went on, with very small increase, till August 1796, when the 28th regiment arrived from England; among them there where some who preached. At the same time, came also the young officer mentioned in the Missionary Magazine, vol. ii. p. 260. We now had preaching once more; and the novelty of an officer preaching, drew many to hear that would not have otherwise come. The Lord did not let his word return void; for to a number it was, I trust, the power of God to salvation. Our society increased, and our house became far too small for the congregations. We then took a larger room; but with this revival the enemy stirred up fresh persecutions. The commanding officer of a regiment gave out an order, that no man belonging to his regiment was to attend

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