and life. While for mercies recorded, and for thousands not recorded, I would be thankful, I would also lie at the footstool of divine mercy, pleading the righteousness of Christ as my only defence."The dying circumstances of such a man were such as might have been expected from his life. After a confinement of some weeks, his dissolution drew nigh; and, towards the close of his sufferings, it is easily imagined with what solicitude his friends marked his feelings and expressions relative to spiritual and eternal things. To Mr. H., who enquired of him about the state of his mind, he said, "I am stayed upon God:" and to another friend, "We must not fret. With Christ in the vessel, I smile at the storm;-I smile at such storms as these." To his brothers, who stood by him, he said, "Mind religion; I would not be without religion for ten millions of worlds." And to his mother, "I hate the Devil's drudgery; if I recover, I will warn my people more earnestly than ever I have done, and speak to them differently about Christ." One of his friends said to another, Where will Mr. Burton find rest? (alluding to the posture or place in which he might be most easy) he, overhearing, said, "In Jesus." He then repeated part of the Dying Christian's Ode,

"Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife," &c. and, scarcely able to utter more than a word or two distinctly at a time, sang two verses, beginning with the first lines,

"Wide as the world is thy command," &c.

And this:

"O glorious hour, O blest abode !" &c.

He requested that his beloved friend and late pastor, Mr. Laird, and his late tutor, Dr. Williams, would preach funeral sermon; the first at Pudsey, the other at Holmfirth, from Luke xv. 2. "This man receiveth sinners." On the day that Mr. Toothill, of Hopton, preached Mr. Galland's funeral sermon in the adjoining meeting-house, this dear servant of Christ quitted his tenement of clay, and ascended, in triumph, to his divine Lord, Jan. 25, 1801, in the 26th year of his age.

Though the judicious reader may be able to perceive much of Mr. Burton's temper and spirit, from the mode adopted in this Memoir, in which he has been frequently introduced expressing his views and feelings on various occasions, yet, we may add, that there was in him an upcom

mon

on mixture of gentleness and firmness, sincerity and feryour; he was plain, yet pleasing; unassuming, yet remarkably faithful in his private friendship as well as public ministry. Several of his letters, preserved by his friends, are striking specimens how much his mind was impressed with the evil of sin, the worth of a Saviour, and the immortal souls he has redeemed; the beauty of holiness, and the importance of improving privileges; the shortness of time, and the awful nature of an everlasting existence. His life was lovely, his death was glorious. To all that knew his distinguished worth, his memory is inexpressibly precious. May every reader of this account follow this eminently pious young man, as he followed Christ! Rotherham.

ON DECISION OF CHARACTER.

E. W.

And Moses said, Who is on the LORD's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. Exodus xxxii. 26.

IN

this day of awful apostacy from the practice and doctrines of the Gospel, it behoves every one seriously to consider, On whose side am I enlisted?-Whom do I follow? -and What are the motives of my profession?These are questions of infinite importance; for we are either believers in the Lord Jesus, or we are not. To receive the Gospel in the love of it, is to receive the earnest and assurance of eternal felicity; and the awful consequences of rejecting it, must be everlasting misery, and exclusion from happiness for ever.

But there is a class of people whose characters are so ambiguous, that it seems often doubtful on whose side they are. They attend, indeed, upon the faithful preaching of the Gospel; make a public profession of religion; and can probably discourse with ease and readiness concerning the doctrines and sentiments of the word of truth: but they often act so contray to the temper and spirit of Christ, conform so frequently to the sinful practices and customs of the world, and evidence so much duplicity in their dealings, that it is hardly possible to believe them sincere in their profession.-Sometimes we are inclined to hope the best, and indulge a favourable opinion of them; but at other times we are constrained to pause and say, "To their own master they stand or fall."

3M 2

Every

Every attentive observer of the religious world must ac◄ knowledge this is too frequently the case; and every true disciple of Jesus must lament that thus religion is wounded in the house of her friends. When the church has enjoyed outward prosperity, and been screened from public persecution, she has generally been disgraced with many hypocrites and false professors; persons who profess the truth merely for some sinister end, and have nothing but their own interest at heart. The Gospel strikes at the root of all sin; and condemns the least conformity to the sinful practices of the world; but they will endeavour, by every specious pretence they can frame, to join what God hath put asunder: to be accounted as Christians, and yet have some allowance for the indulgence of the innocent amusements of the day. Surely, this is a disposition of mind directly opposite to the plain and express coinmands of God, and contrary to the examples recommended to us in the Scriptures. These remarks are intended to shew the folly of an inconsistent character; as it tends to dishonour the grace of God, and causes the truth of Jesus to be evil spoken of. To such this short essay is chiefly addressed; and it is hoped the reader will redire for a moment from the world and its concerns, and seriously examine himself by the following requisites to a decided Christian character.

I. Supreme love to the Lord Jesus Christ.—This is an inseparable effect of faith in Christ. If we believe in him, as he is revealed in the word, in all his endearing characters and glorious relations, as the Prophet, Priest, and King of his church, we cannot but love and adore him. We shall esteem him as the "chiefest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely ;" and that love will be evidenced by willing obedience to his commands. "If you love me," says Jesus, keep my commandments;"-implying, that we cannot be said to love Jesus, if we are not obedient to the precepts inculcated in his word; and, indeed, the motives by which the believer is stimulated to obedience are so urgent, and the obligations he is under are so numerous and imposing, that he is sweetly compelled to walk in all the commands and ordinances of the Lord. There is one consideration superior to all others, which incites the believer to love and holiness, the inestimable blessing of redemption; when he reflects on the natural enmity of his heart, the rebellion, ingratitude, and neglect, with which he once treated the dear Redeemer, and the superabundant inercy and sovereign grace exercised in his behalf,

it

it stimulates him to press forward to the "Prize of his high calling."-"Lord! what wilt thou have me to do?" will be more or less the language of his heart; and he will be constrained by every motive, to adorn the doctrines of God his Saviour in all things.

II. Love to the people of God, his ways and ordinances, is the necessary consequence of love to God; and, whenever discovered, is a strong evidence of decision of character. Perhaps, there is no duty so frequently inculcated in the Scriptures as love to the brethren; and the true believer in Jesus cannot but feel a real, genuine affection for that person, upon whom he sees the image of Christ more or less enstamped in legible characters. And, if we love the people of God, we shall love the ways and appointments in which they delight: communion with the saints is one of the sweetest privileges of the people of God, and we shall esteem them as "the excellent of the earth, in whom the Lord delighteth." The language of one of old will be ours: "Where thou goest will I go, and where thou lodgest will I lodge; thy people.shall be my people, and thy God my God."

III. A sincere attachment to the doctrines of the gospel, and an increasing regard for the glory of God.-This was exemplified in the Apostle Paul. He was constantly jea lous for the honour of the Redeemer, and always evinced the warmest and most disinterested zeal, and an inflexible attachment to the peculiar and distinguishing doctrines of the Scriptures. In this he is a pattern for the imitation of believers, and particularly the ministers of Jesus. He did not temporize, or corrupt the gospel of Christ, to make it palatable to the proud inclination of nature: the reverse was his conduct; he knew the doctrines of grace have a direct tendency to glorify the Redeemer, and influence to holiness of life and conversation. But, though he was so warm and animated in defending these doctrines, his zeal was not rash, furious, or contrary to reason, but moderated with judgment, and tempered with love; he had the good of souls at heart; and in things of infinite moment he evidenced candour and moderation. The glory of God was the grand aim of his ministerial and private conduct; to this he had a single eye, and eminently followed his own injunction," Whatsoever ye do, whether ye eat or drink, do all to the glory of God."

These remarks are very defective, and must therefore leave the subject to the reflection of the reader; earnestly

praying,

praying, that we may more stedfastly and consistently follow those who through faith and patience have inherited the promises :"-Follow on to know the Lord, and act more decidedly for the cause and honour of the glorious Redeemer, and continue" immoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord."

JUVENIS,

To the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine.

SIR,

If you can permit me to obtrude a Personal Case on your Readers, the following is at your Service, for your very useful Miscellany." I am, respectfully, yours,

J. R.

THOUGHTS SUGGESTED BY THE DEATH OF A BELOVED PARENT.

WHEN HEN death dissolves a connexion so dear, the tribute of filial grief might be indulged; the parent might be extolled, his virtues enumerated, his loss deplored. Such a strain, however, might excite curious enquiry; it might provoke unhallowed censure. Having, therefore, a nobler aim, I drop the filial, and adopt the Christian style. I will then, Sir, direct the attention of your readers to a character, concerning which, I hope, none of them indulge the curious or unhallowed temper," My father's God,—and I will exalt him *."

Should you ask, What have you to say of your father's God, and why exalt him? I am ready to render a reason. And here, though ill qualified to follow the pulpit strain, perimit me to be a little methodical.

In reviewing the life of my father, particularly since it was devoted to religion, I see much to admire and extol in my father's God. For instance, if I reflect on the commencement of his Christian course, here I see my father's God displaying peculiar grace and tender mercy; I see the subject brought, in early life, to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus; the season when multitudes of youth are pursuing a wild and alarming career. Our Saviour assures us, a man can receive nothing, unless given him from above." Now, not doubting my father's early conversion, I am led to conclude, it was effected by supernatural aid, by something given him from above: if so, have

* Exod. xv. 2