may, and must, disappoint its votaries; its grandeur must fade; the hand of death must obliterate all its glories; its highest hopes and prospects must be soon bounded by those confines which none can pass to return again, and which the present solemn event proves may be infinitely nearer than in the gayety of youth and health we are apt to suspect. But, amidst all, it is a blessed consideration, and in fact it is the only legitimate source of true satisfaction and repose, that "the kingdom of heaven is opened to all believers ;"-a kingdom accessible to all, and beyond the power of those uncertainties which disturb earthly successions, and oftentimes in a moment snatch the crown from the expecting wearer.

It is this contrast of earth with heaven; of change and disappointment and mortality, with "glory, and honour, and immortality, and eternal life; and the consequent necessity and importance of making a right choice, amidst the daily and hourly seductions to a wrong one, that we wish to impress upon our own hearts and those of our readers. We feel unwilling to leave a theme so fraught with awful monition; we would reiterate again and again, the momentous warning, Prepare to meet thy God!" a warning the importance of which every thing in life impresses more

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deeply each succeeding hour upon our hearts; and which at this moment sounds from the royal tomb in accents which have reached the remotest corners of the land. And shall it be heard in vain? Shall we part with what was so lovely and pleasant to us as a nation-shall the voice of providence speak so forcibly at once to our understandings and our hearts— and all in vain ? Sincerely do we trust otherwise devoutly do we hope, that He who has afflicted us, for reasons infinitely wise and merciful, may dispose our hearts to receive the solemn warning; and that every family and individual which have mourned at the tomb of our beloved and lamented Princess, may be induced to inquire more seriously than ever into the necessary preparation for an eternal change, and receive, through the death and merits of a gracious Redeemer, "an abundant entrance" into that heavenly world where "mortality shall be swallowed up of life."

There were two or three other subjects of public intelligence, which we had intended to notice; but the length to which we have extended our remarks upon the present mournful topic forbids us to enter upon them in the present Number.

REV. PHILIP GURDON. SOME account of so great and eminently good a character as the late Rev. Philip Gurdon, of Assington Hall in the county of Suffolk, seems due to the Christian world. He was descended from a very ancient and respectable family in the county of Suffolk, being the

eldest son of the Rev. Philip Gurdon, vicar of Bures St. Mary and rector of Mount Bures, in that county. He received his classical education at St. Paul's School, and was afterwards fellow of Magdalen College, in the University of Oxford. It was during his residence in this seat of learning that he first imbibed those religious views which

formed his future character, and were the constant topics of his ministerial labours, as well as of his private conversation.

About the end of the year 1766, or the beginning of 1767, he began to be deeply anxious on the subject of religion, the salvation of his soul, and the things of another world. To this result, by the blessing of God, his conversation and correspondence with several young men of the university of a religious description, and the perusal of authors recommended by them, greatly contributed. That which, however, was more effectual than all the rest, as he himself remarked, was the study of the Scriptures, which he read with much attention. By these means he was gradually brought to discover the truth as it is in Jesus, and to make Him, in his person and offices, his work and salvation, the ground of all his own hopes and expectations here and hereafter, as well as the only foundation of his endeavours for the good of others.

He possessed a mind well stored with classical literature; was well versed in Hebrew and the languages of ancient Greece and Rome; had a competent knowledge of history, philosophy, and general science; and was blessed with such powers of address and expression as formed and qualified him to shine in the first circles of society. But what things were once gain to him, those, with the apostle Paul, he now counted loss for Christ. He valued none of these accomplishments or attainments further than as they might contribute to his usefulness, and the more successful diffusion of the Gospel which it was his joy and glory to preach. Possessed of an ample fortune, derived to him by the double title of bequest and subsequent right of inheritance, and placed thereby above the necessity of exercising his profession for any pecuniary advantages, he generously and gratui

tously volunteered his services in the ministry, and for nearly forty years disinterestedly preached the Gospel in the church of the parish of which he was the patron, and where he lived and died. In him the parishioners have truly lost their best friend, the church of God at large one of its faithful members and ministers, and the Church of England one of its bright ornaments and supporters. He was well affected and strongly attached to that church; not merely to her external appearance, but to her Articles, Homilies, and Liturgy-to her doctrine, discipline, and worship. He was a

true friend to the constitution in church and state; knew well the inseparable connexion between religion and loyalty; and because he feared God, he honoured the king. But, though thus attached upon principle to the Church of England, and giving the preference to her communion, her constitution, and her order, above every other Protestant church, he was yet candid in his sentiments and catholic in his spirit towards those who differed from him. He indulged a spirit of charity and forbearance towards his fellow men, and was ever ready to attend to their wants and to relieve their necessities both spiritual and temporal. He was a liberal subscriber to a great variety of public charitable institutions, and his own parish and neighbourhood will long have reason to bewail their loss by his removal.

It is not surprising-indeed it was to be expected-that the life of so eminent a servant of God should be followed by a peaceful end and a tranquil "deliverance out of the miseries of this sinful world." "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace. "He had long been weaned from earth, and indifferent to its concerns, and the bitterness of death was past when he was called to submit to its power. The nature of his disorder, in

his last illness, was such as to induce a partial drowsiness and stupor, so as to preclude his saying much about his state and feelings, in the prospect of his departure. But enough was said abundantly to demonstrate his enjoyment of complete victory over the last enemy," and his possession of "a hope full of immortality." From the time of his first seizure he seemed to have but little expectation of recovering. He said to his afflicted wife, "I know my condition: we must part. I shall die; and I am content-I am willing to go." He was quite resigned to his Heavenly Father's will, and not a murmur escaped his lips. To one of his medical attendants he said, "I am like Job: wearisome nights are appointed to me: but I know who has appointed them, and I am satisfied.” His mind was quite abstracted from all worldly things; and on being repeatedly asked if he had any thing particuJar to say, he replied, "I have no earthly care-every thing is settled." So that he seemed, like his old friend, Mr. Cadogan, in similar

circumstances, to have all his affairs temporal and spiritual settledevery thing, for both worlds—and to have nothing to do but to die. He was much employed in prayer during his illness; and on the morning of the day on which he died be repeated the Lord's Prayer very audibly and distinctly, especially these petitions, "Thy kingdom come-thy will be done,' which he uttered several times,` with the greatest fervency. "The Lord's will be done," said he. "The Lord doth all things well. He is good, and doth good, and only good. All is good from him. Whether I live, I hope to live to the Lord; and if I die, I am sure I shall die unto the Lord. I am in the hands of an all-sufficient God." Whenever he was awake, and not engaged in prayer, he kept repeating some part or other of the precious word of God; showing thereby where his heart was, and where his hopes and expectations were fixed-till, on the 7th of May, after only a week's serious illness, his happy spirit took its flight to the mansions of eternal rest.

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No. 192.]

EXTRACTS FROM UNPUBLISHED LETTERS OF THE LATE REV. JOHN NEWTON.

(Continued from p. 694.) "THE promise of the Lord to Abraham, (Gen. xv. 1.) is equally meant and equally sure to all who are partakers of Abraham's faith. He says, Fear not, I am thy shield.' What, indeed, have they to fear, to whom the power of the Almighty is engaged for a defence? He says likewise, I am thy exceeding great reward;-a portion which cannot be alienated or exhausted, and of which we cannot be defrauded. With his wisdom to guide, his arm to support and defend, his consolations to cheer, his grace to sanctify, you are well provided for. I trust he will enable you simply to yield yourself to him as his, and encourage you to claim and rejoice in him as your own. Then He will dwell in you as in his temple, and you will dwell in him as in a castle. If the Lord be your dwelling-place, your resting-place, and your biding-place, you will be every where safe, every where happy. It is true your bappiness will not be absolute and complete, while in this state of warfare; but you will be comparatively happy, in a prevailing peace passing all understanding, such as the world can neither give nor take away. Your successive conflicts, (for you are called to be a soldier,) will end in victory; and in the last you will be made more than conqueror, and receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to them that love him. What can I wish you more?"

CHRIST. OBSERV, No. 192.

"It is a mercy to be resigned to the will of God. Our hearts are so proud, stubborn, and changeable, that without his special grace, we should continually murmur and repine, even in the possession of our own wishes. But I hope your case will call upon you for more than submission. When you have passed through the present difficulties, have twitched yourself away from your English friends, and recovered from the pain of the last parting;-when you are on board the pacquet, and see the white cliffs of Dover astern of you, and lessening to the view;-then you will be as if entering upon a new world: for a little space you will be surrounded with water, without a spot of earth to fix your eye upon. But while you are increasing your distance from one shore, you will be drawing nearer to another. In a while you will see itat first a remote and indistinct prospect, but improving as you advance ;--at first a mere coast; but when you draw nearer it will appear cultivated and adorned. Thus I hope your prospect of happiness will every day enlarge to your mind, and that every step you advance in life will add to the comfort of the view, and show you new causes, not only for submission to the Lord's will, but for thankfulness to his bounty and goodness.

"Mrs. Newton is much as usual, upon the whole; sometimes pretty well, sometimes quite ill. A chequered life is this-but we have reason to be thankful that it is not all black and uncomfortable. We certainly have no right to the in5 G

numerable comforts and blessings with which the Lord sweetens and alleviates our crosses: for we are sinners: we are unthankful for much good, and unfaithful in the improvement of every talent. We have deserved to forfeit all. But the Lord is gracious: it is of his mercy that we are not consumed. But surely

we can have no reason to com

plain. O that gracious Saviour, who died that we may live, and now lives to save to the uttermost! Let us trust ourselves to him. Let us pray that we may love him more. A fervent love to him will teach us to do every thing right, and will make every thing we do and suffer acceptable to bin. May he shine upon you at P

and upon us at Olney; then all shall be well. If you should set off, or embark, on the 4th of August, it will be a convenient epocha for me to count your absence from; for it will be my birthday. I shall then be fifty-four years old. Ab! how many of these years have been wasted! It is high time for me to have my loins girded up, and my lamp burning: pray for me that it may be so. May the Lord God of the sea and the dry land be with you! And wherever you go, remember there are some at Olney often thinking of you."

"I was upon the point of writing when I received your very accepta ble favour of the 5th October. Some time before, Mr. B- showed me a letter from you to him, containing an account of P--, and of your situation there, which was highly entertaining but as it contained nothing more, the love I bear you awakened a thousand anxious jealousies on your behalf; and I was, as I said, preparing to ask you, Where is that blessedness you once spoke of? But now I am relieved. I praise the Lord for the assurances you give me, that he still keeps alive in your heart a sense of your dependence upon himself, and a conviction, in the midst of

a multiplicity of objects and engagements, that One thing eminently is needful and important. I was not so much afraid of your being greatly engrossed by the gewgaws and parade of what is called the world: but methought I saw you surrounded with savans and philosophes. P, I suppose, is one residence of the bel esprit, with which, in these modern days, the esprit fort is too frequently connected. There I thought your principal danger would be. Ah! these wise men ! so polite, so entertaining, so insinuating, so shrewd, such masters in the miserable science of skepticism! Indeed my heart has been in pain for you; and I bave prayed our gracious Lord to preserve you from being spoiled, or even hurt, by the philosophy and vain deceit of the age. You will perhaps think, that after the many conversations we have had, and the satisfactory proofs you have given of the attachment of your heart to the Saviour of sinners, I ought not to have indulged such suspicions. But as, on the one hand, I was persuaded you would appear to them a very valuable acquisition, if they could gain you; so I apprehended, on the other, the turn of your mind for disquisition and inquiry would probably put you much in their way, and likewise render you more impressible to their attacks. But the Lord has been your keeper. praise him, and congratulate you. Believe me, you live upon enchanted ground, and breathe infected air. May he maintain in you the fervour of faith, the spirit of prayer, and a close attention to his written word! Then you will see through and despise the illusions by which multitudes are deceived, and possess an antidote which will preserve from the general contagion of evil around you. And though many fall on your right hand and on your left, the plague shall not come near you while you wait upon the Lord in

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