God deliver us from Self and Satan, the internal and external fiend! The Lord forbid we should fall into the snare of the Sadducees, with the former of those two famous men, or into that of the Pharisees with the latter !"

QUERIES.

1. Ir a professor of godliness be ever so moral in the world, and exemplary in his family, how can it with truth be that his heart and his treasure are in Heaven, when, year after year, from morning till night, he is immersed in the concerns of business, and his hands and heart are evidently engaged on earth, and earthly things?

II. Our Lord saith*, "What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shalf have them."From this passage, another correspondent enquires, "Whether the promise is not to be understood as referring to temporal as well as spiritual blessings? and whether I am not required to believe, that God will surely give me the blessing, I have asked, though I have waited long, and have yet no prospect of it, seeing my spiritual interests are concerned in it?"

Mark xi. 14.

THE BEST ELECTION.

A FRAGMENT OF AN ELECTION CONVERSATION, BETWEEN A CANDIDATE AND HIS CHRISTIAN FRIEND.

Candidate.

MY

y dear Sir, can you inform me how I may secure my election?

Friend. Yes, Sir, diligence to make it sure.

by diligence:- you must give all

Cand. That I have already done, Sir; I have fpared, I affure you, neither trouble nor expence. I have opened houfes for entertainment, I have canvaffed perfonally,I have employed agents to collect voters, I have set the printer to work on broadsides and handbills; and (to let you into a secret) I have got a clever fellow from London to draw them up; one who is used to write for the Newspapers, and can draw up an advertisement with spirit, and a little smart abuse of my antagonists.

Fr. Alas! Sir, that a gentleman and a Christian, as you no doubt profess to be, should stoop to such arts, to influence and corrupt the minds of the people. I heartily wish you would bestow as much pains to fecure your election for a better place!

Cand.

Cand. A better place, Sir! how do you mean? Is not this as respectable à borough as any in this part of the country?

Fr. True Sir; but I refer to a city, and even an heavenly one. The true Christian, Sir, is "a citizen of no mean city." My advice is, to "give all diligence to make your election sure" in the New Jerusalem.

Cand. O ho! I understand you now. But gentlemen of your sentiments, I believe, consider that business as already settled. Do not you, Sir, consider your election already fixed and unalterable?

Fr. Not more, Sir, than the business in which you are engaged.

Cand. How so? I wish my election were as sure as you represent.

Fr. And do you not think the event is known to God? Cand. Certainly.

Fr. Then the event is sure to him.

Cand. No doubt of it.

Fr. And must infallibly correspond with his fore-knowledge.

Cand. That it is certainly foreknown to the Supreme Being I have no doubt; but that does not make it sure to me. Fr. I admit that, and therefore your anxiety to make it sure to you. But why not employ the same diligence in a case of infinitely more importance?

Cand. O Sir, if I am to be saved, I shall be saved; and if not, you know I cannot help it.

Fr. And if you are to be elected for this Borough, you will be elected; why then all this trouble and expence?

Cand. Ah Sir! if I do not use the means, I know that I shall not be chosen.

Fr. And what reason have you to suppose you shall be saved without means?

Cand. That subject we will defer, if you please, to a more convenient season." I must wait on my electors. Fr. Alas! Sir, so said Felix, the Roman Governor, when Paul "reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come;" but that season never came; and 1 much fear it may be so with you. The world will always find you an excuse for neglecting religion; and the enemy of souls will represent every thing as more important than the one thing needful. The Lord awaken you from the delusion!

F.

OBITUARY.

OBITUARY.

HENRY WATKINS.

Mr. Henry Watkins, the subject of this memoir, at the age of twenty was totally inattentive to religious truths; when providentially passing through Moorfields, on a Sabbath morning, with a gun on his shoulder, about to make a shooting excursion, his attention was mercifully arrested' by a person who was preaching, as was then usual at an early hour, on the ground whereon Finsbury square is now built: his discours turned upon Matthew iii. 12. "Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thor ughly. purge his floor," &c. He waited till the sermon was over, and, by God's grace, some part of it made such an impression on his hear, that he' returned home, and, for the first time, sanctified the Sabbath, by seeking further information as to "what he should d to be saved!" Thus he, among thousands, answered to the Scriptural declaration, "I am found of them that sought me not; I am manifest to them that asked not after me:" and such a work of grace appears to have then commenced, as was carried on for forty-five years upon earth, and is now exchanged for eveta Tasting glory. In the prime of his life, his affections toward divine things were very lively; neither his time, trouble, nor expence were spared, whenever he discovered any prospect of usefulness. He frequently visited the prisoners under condemnation in Newgate, to tell of the loving-kindness of the Lord, and to direct them to Jesus as a Saviour to the uttermost. He was a very active agent, under Providence, in obtaining Mr. Romaine's election and establishment (after several contests) in the Rectory of Blackfriars; with whom he was intimate through life. About the beginning of the year 1800, his health appeared to be rapidly declining and in the month of August it was evident that his dropsical state was beyond the reach of medicine to counteract At the beginning of his confinement to his room, when his wife and children were standing round him, he said, "God bless you all! may he give you peace! I have not that joy which is often felt; but I hope I am on the Rock. To know how precious time is, a person must be in my state." Mentioning to his son his wish to go to his dwelling in London for a few hours, and the advice he had received from his physicians, not to attempt it, he added, "As I cannot go to-day, I am sure I shall never be better able; and pausing, he added, "Well, but physicians cannot hinder me from going to my heavenly home." On the 15th of August, when his family were around him, he said, "I have not indeed, great joy;" but I look to the mercies of my Saviour, and rest all my salvation on Him" adding, that, though his heart was not so happy as he desired it to be, yet God had made with him an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure, which, said he, "is all my salvation, and all my desire."-From that day, by water rapidly accumulating in his chest and head, his intellects were much impaired, and continued imperfect in their exercise, except at intervals of a few minutes. On Sunday, the 24th, in very broken accents, and with much apparent fatigue, he said, "In the Lord have I righteousness and strength; my hope and refuge is in him who came into the world to save sinners. My love to all my friends. May the God of all comfort, comfort you all! I wish you all happy -none know the value of time till they come to die."- Upon remarking that God was gracious in ameliorating his affliction, by the hope of a blessed immor. tahty, and that, in the midst of trouble, he manifests him.elf as a Father of mercies, he replied, "God is a Sovereign, who can in one moment withdraw the lively communications of his grace; but, nevertheless, the foundarien of God standah sure; the Lord knoweth them that are his. I shall suga be in Heaven; I long to be there!" At another time, when

speaking

speaking of his hope, and enquiring whether it were lively, he said, “ I was not so lively as he could wish, but that God was good and gracious: and he trusted in the multitude of his mercies." For three days previous to his death he appeared in a continued slumber; scarcely uttering any thing. During this period, the writer, taking the advantage of an interval of reflection, mentioned some of the promises of Scripture relating to a state of blessedness 'in Heaven; when he clearly and unexpectedly said, "Well, farewell; God Almighty bless you:"-and, shutting his eyes, he immediately recnued his head on the pillows placed before him; and the writer thus received, as the very last words of one of the best of fathers, his departing blessing! He scarcely spoke after this; and, in a state of tranquillity, without appearing to be sensible of any pains of death, his soul took its peaceful departure, that it might be present with the Lord. His death was much regretted with a numerous connection, who had received ample testimony of the integrity of his character in the protession of an appraiser and auctioneer, for more than thirty years. J. W. [The Obituary of Mrs. Watkins in our next.]

MARY FRANKLIN.

MARY FRANKLIN was known by her constant attendance on the public worship of God at Bethel Chapel, for near four years past. She was the mother of sixteen children, and the subject of great affliction and distress. I was sent for to visit her on Saturday, December 12th 1801, when I found her contined to her bed; appr aching fast to an eternal world, with a hope full of immortality. She re ated, with much grief, the sins of her past life, and spoke, with humble gratitude and joy, of the goodness and mercy of God towards such an unworthy sinner. The following remarks, among many others, dropt from her dying lips: "Before you, Sir, came to this place, I paid no regard to my soul. This tongue was employed in swearing, and the worst of language; but, blessed he God, for near four years, it has b.en employed in prayer and praise. Many Sabbaths after my return home from Bethel Chapel, I have not had even dry bread to eat; but I have read the text, recollected the sermon, and my s ul has fed upon the bread of life. O, Sir, I would not part with what I enjoy, for this room filled with gold. What is all the world without Christ? I am not afraid to die."-When I asked her the ground of her hope, she said, "Jesus Christ hath lived, and suffered, and died, and rose again, for me." After commending her by prayer, to the care and keeping of her Heavenly Father, I took my leave, not supposing her race şo nearly run.

The following day (the Sabbath) Mr. P. visited her, and found her happy in the enjoyment of a well-grounded hope of Heaven; and about four o'clock in the afternoon she fell asleep in Jesus.

JANE BARTLETT.

1. F.

Miss JANE BARTLETT died the 17th of December, 1801, having just entered her twenty first year. Her parents are valuable members of the Baptist church in Oxford. Whilst deeply lamenting the early death of a beloved child, they are constrained to rejoice that her life was "crowned with the loving-kindness of the Lord."

Miss B. was the eldest of a numerous family. Parental instructions and examples, together with the public ministry of the word, were sanctified to her early conversion. About her fifteenth year, she appeared to have very impressive views of her own character as a sinner; and, possessing just sentiments of Gospel truth, she never indulged a hope of reconciliation to God, but through the blood of the cross. As she appeared to give decided proofs of a work of grace on her heart, she was, at her own

request

request, baptized and admitted into church-fellowship; together with a brother, nearly her own age. in May, 1799. From this period, to the time of her death, she appeared to make great progress in a meetness for the heavenly world.

Her last illness was of several weeks continuance, and, till near its close, appeared dangerous to none but herself. She often said to her intimate friends, "You will not believe me; but I know I am going to leave you." This declaration was made, unaccompanied by terror. Death appeared to her disarmed of his sting; and, with the exception of some few intervals, her faith triumphed over his power.

Her frien s, indulging the illusions of hope, frequently spoke of the probability of her recovery. About a fortnight before her death, she replied to an intimation of this nature from her brother, " No, I shall not recover; I know I am going:"-and immediately added, with strong and joyful emotions,

"See the kind angels at the gates, Inviting ME to come;

"There Jesus, the Forerunner, waits To welcome trav'llers home!" A few days after this, she was confined to her bed. On finding herself unable to rise, she said, "A father never chastises a child but for some fault- I have been thinking what are my faults I have many faultsmany omissions of duty I have wanted spirituality-I have been too much conformed to the world." In the latter instance, a faithful and tender conscience discovered cause for self-censure, where others thought her conduct highly worthy of imitation. Under every discouragement, Christ was her refuge. At intervals, her hope was obscured by a temporary cloud, and she said, with much earnestness to her parents, "Pray that Satan may be bound.”

Three days before her death, an abatement of disorder allowed a conversation of nearly an hour with her minister. Her mind appeared perfectly calm and collected. With a voice and manner indicating a full appropriation of the sentiment, she said, "I go to God, the Judge of all; and to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, and to an innumerable company of angels; and to the spirits of the just made perfect." She laid peculiar emphasis on the words, "Je us, the Mediator of the new covenant." Repeat," ," said she, "those lines :

"To Jesus, our atoning Priest; To Jesus, our superior King." Immediately adding,

"He ever lives to intercede, Before his Father's face!

"Give him, my soul, thy cause to plead, Nor doubt the Father's grace!” The minister said, “ You do not doubt it, my dear friend?" She replied, "No, I do not — I did; but I do not now. It seemed hard, that when I looked to Jefus, he should hide his face! but I looked again, and he smiled! My doubts are gone."

The two succeeding days, her mind was happy. Her only concern was to console her sorrowing parents, for whom she prayed with strong affection, and lively ardour of devotion. On the day of her death she repeated often her favourite scripture: "I go to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant," &c. About a quarter of an hour before her departure, she said, "Call in my father and mother, I will take my leave of them; I am just going." As they entered the room, she said, in the most solemn manner, "I am going; the Lord be merciful to you, and support you both, and have mercy on me, and receive me, through Jesus Christ! Amen." Soon after, she was heard to whisper, “Lord Jesus receive my spirit!" Her last words were, "All is well." Having said this, she fell asleep, leaving the most full and certain hope, that she is one of those who sleep in Jesus," and whom "God will bring with him.”

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