ANECDOTE. of cards wrapped up therein, the knave of clubs being faced upperTo the Editors of the Baptist Magazine. most. The Doctor coming up to Dr. A. Maclaine, in a note in his chamber, suspecting nothing of what had been done, put up the Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History, box as formerly. The next day relates the following authentic anecdote, which, as it illustrates the going to the water side, wind and weather serving him, he sails toward gracious providence of God in frustrating the designs of the wicked, Ireland, and landed on the 7th of October, 1558, at Dublin. Then may be acceptable to those of your readers who have not before seen it. coming to the castle, the lord Fitz"Queen Mary having dealt sewalters, being lord-deputy, sent for him to come before him and the verely with the Protestants in England, about the latter end of her privy council: who, coming in, after he had made a speech relating upon reign, signed a commission, for to take the same course with them in what account he was come over, he presents the box to the lord-deputy, Ireland; and to execute the same with greater force, she nominates who, causing it to be opened, that Dr. Cole one of the commissioners. the secretary might read the comThis Doctor coming with the com- mission, there was nothing save a mission to Chester, on his journey, pack of cards, with the knave of the mayor of that city, hearing that clubs uppermost; which not only startled the lord-deputy and counher majesty was sending a mescil, but the Doctor, who assured senger into Ireland, and he being a churchman, waited on the Doctor; knew not how it was gone: then them he had a commission, but who, in discourse with the mayor, the lord-deputy made answer, Let taketh out of a cloak bag a leather us have another commission, and we box, saying unto him, Here is a commission that shall lash the here- will shuffle the cards in the mean tics of Ireland.' (Calling the Pro-while.' The Doctor, being troubled testants by that name.) The good in his mind, went away, and returned woman of the house, being well af- into England; and coming to the fected to the Protestant religion, and court, obtained another commisalso having a brother, named Johnsion: but staying for a wind on the Edmonds, of the same mind, then a citizen in Dublin, was much troubled at the Doctor's words; but watching her convenient time, while the mayor took his leave, and the Doctor complimented him down the stairs, she opens the box, takes the commission out, and places in lieu thereof a sheet of paper, with a pack 6 water side, news came to him that the queen was dead; and thus God preserved the Protestants of Ireland." This anecdote is said to have been copied from the papers of Richard earl of Corke, and is to be found among the MSS. of sir James Ware. T. T. Obituary. ESTHER GREEN, ing been baptized, with several other persons, Dec. 24, 1795. She had suffered much for many years by rheumatic pains and efDIED, on Lord's-day, October 20, fects; and it was frequently with 1816, at Bromley, Middlesex, Esther much difficulty she attended to her Green. She was a member of the business and domestic concerns, church at Bow, under the pastoral and the stated returns of public care of the Rev. W. Newman; hav-worship: but notwithstanding that, she was active and diligent in business, and her place at meeting was very seldom vacant. She was not constitutionally of an even and tranquil temper; but though troubled about many things, she did not neglect the one thing needful. She had been accustomed to write in a book a considerable part of the texts she had heard preached from, by Mr. Booth and Mr. Newman, and occasionally by Messrs. Swain, Pearce, Fuller, &c. remarking how useful some of their sermons had been to her. Many were her doubts and fears with respect to her state and final safety; and she often expressed her anxiety and desire in the language of Mr. Newton's hymn on the subject, which she copied. In one place she had written, "I am afflicted in body, and uncomfortable in mind; but, Why should the children of a King nor express a desire, of recovery, nor discover the least reluctance at the thought of dissolution. She ac knowledged herself a great sinner— was alive to her imperfections: "You know much of them," said she, "but I more; and under a conviction of them, I have no hope but in divine mercy through Christ-no hope but in his merits, blood, and righteousness." I said, If so, your sentiments, feelings, and desires, are expressed by those lines of Dr. Watts, "A guilty, weak, and helpless worm, She lifted up her hands, and said, 66 Yes, that is it, that is it." On the Thursday preceding her death, she was heard to say, ‹ Death! 'tis a melancholy day, To those who have no God:' But not so to the Christian:" She noticed, with grateful emo to my soul." She had been in busi-tion, the kindness of friends; addness forty years, and no one transact-ing, in an elevated tone, more ed it with more care and punctuality, nor answered obligations promptly. In domestic affairs there was good economy: "She looked well to the ways of her household." Suffice it to observe, she was a good and tender, but alas! in one instance, a grieved and sorrowful mother; which, probably, accelerated her death. Her last experience, however, was eminently tranquil and comfortable. On the first day of her confinement she said to me, “I am perfectly calm, and I do not think this is the effect of stupor. This tabernacle will very shortly be dissolved, and in expectation of that event, I wish to mention a few things for you to attend to, as soon as my change has taken place." On mentioning them, I said, her request should be duly attended to and fulfilled. Her cough became very violent, and the difficulty of breathing did not immediately subside; afterward she was very composed and collected, and made every settlement arrangement and in which she was at all concerned. She did not once entertain a hope, "Streams of mercy ever flowing, Call for songs of loudest praise." "Surely goodness and mercy are following me all the days of my life." On her daughter asking her if she was asleep, she said, "No; but I shall very soon sleep in Jesus." Often would she exclaim, " Why are thy chariot wheels so long in coming? Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly." One day she asked a friend if she thought it were possible for her present happy state of mind to be a delusion? She was answered, that such a suggestion must come from the grand enemy. She said, "Yes, but he has been a liar from the beginning." After a severe fit of coughing, she exclaimed, with much feeling, "It is hard work, but it will be harder yet." And added, "I have fought a good fight-I have finished my course: I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me at that day; and not to me only-" the nurse interrupted by saying, I hope we shall all follow. "Ah!" she said, "it is prepared for those who love his appearing." On ment respecting the leading truths of the gospel, and their influence felt, and exemplified, persons should agree to differ on subjects of minor importance. In her, religion was an her years, and discovered itself in all the stages and conditions of a long and useful life. Her exemplary prudence, forbearance, and strict the day before her death, she desired, that her grandaughter might be brought to her; on her approaching the bed, she said, "Mary, remember your poor grandmamma; but, above all, be sure you remem-abiding principle. It grew with ber your Creator in the days of your youth." On the morning of her death, I read a chapter, and spent some time in prayer, to which she closely attended, and appeared en-adherence to the letter of scripture, gaged in, often adding her Amen. might appear to some persons as an A few minutes after, the important unnecessary scrupulosity; but she change she expected and waited for, often repeated the apostle's words, arrived, and her happy spirit took" And be found in him, not having its flight to spend an eternal sabbath, "Where low before his glorious throne, Adoring saints and angels fall; And with delightful worship own, His smile their bliss, their heaven their all. "Dear Saviour let thy spirit seal Her funeral was on Friday, the 25th day of October; and her remains were interred in the new burying ground adjoining the meeting-house in Old Ford; and on the Lord's-day following, the Rev. W. Newman preached a funeral ser'mon, from 1 Samuel, ii. 1," Mine horn is exalted in the Lord." Bromley. G. MRS. JANE RICHARDS. mine own righteousness." Her obserlast were very accurate, and her mevations on persons and things, to the mory retentive. When a child, at the recommendation of her pastor,, she had committed several parts of scripture to memory; particularly the ninety-first Psalm. Seldom a day passed but she recited it, and deriving from the practice a most salutary influence, recommended it to her children, and her children's children, whose spiritual interest lay near her heart, and which she made her principal concern to promote. Several of them can recollect her solicitude to impress on their minds, as soon as they were capable of thinking, the importance of the fear of God, which will never be wholly effaeed. Mrs. Richards, confined to her bed through extreme weakness, five weeks only before her death, improved every opportunity of speaking a suitable word, as from a dying person, to her numerous friends who were daily calling to see her. Her death-bed was made solemnly cheer DIED, at Caerleon, April 18, 1816, aged ninety-four, Mrs. Jane Ri-ful to all her friends, by the placid chards. She was baptized at the age of fifteen, by the late Rev. Mr. Miles Harris, of Pontypool, at Castleton, Monmouthshire; and her future life evinced the sincerity of her profession. Some years afterwards, on her marriage, she became a member of the church at Pontypool, where she resided till the removal of her family to Caerleon, at which place she lived forty-nine years. resignation and heavenly temper she manifested; by her continually noticing the mercies of God to herself and family; and her fervent prayers that she might meet them all at the right hand of the Judge on the last day. She would frequently say, "Oh! what is all the world without an interest in Christ. He is all and in all." She died in the act of praying. "My dear heavenly FaMrs. R. was well known to religi- ther," were the last words that could ous persons of every denomination, be understood. "He, having guided and highly esteemed. She consi- her by his counsel, afterwards redered that where there is an agree-ceived her into glory." Review. Christian Baptism; or an Attempt to ascertain the Design, Nature, and Subjects of the Ordinance; being the substance of a Sermon preached May 12, 1816, at the Baptism of nine Persons, on a Profession of Faith, at the Baptist Meetinghouse, Ely-place, Wisbeach. By Joseph Jarrom. Sold by Mann, Commercial-road; Button and Son, Paternoster-row, &c. 66 In a short preface, the author modestly disclaims, on the score of novelty," any recommendation of his sermon to the religious public; the subject having been so frequently discussed, and, in many instances, by persons of erudition and eloquence, that any addition or improvement are not ordinarily to be expected. "His aim," to use his own words, "has been to furnish his friends, especially those of his own congregation, in whose instruction and edification he feels a peculiar interest, with some of the principal reasons on which their own practice, as Baptists, is founded, and with answers to some of the most plausible objections urged against it." "that We feel no inclination to agitate this controversy, much less to assume the tone of boasting, we expect not that any thing that deserves the name of an answer to this discourse, will soon appear." We scruple not, however, to say, that whoever will be at the pains of perusing it, will perceive that the author has shown himself to be a man of reading and reflection, and that he has comprised within a short compass the substance of the arguments in favour of believers' baptism, together with an answer to objections; and while he writes with the manly firmness of one conscious of having truth on his side, he has indulged in no expression, that we have perceived, indicative of bigotry and uncharitableness. The following paragraph, while it "1st. There is no precept in the scrip. ture for it, nor any plain account that it was ever practised by our Lord, or the apostles. An express command from Christ, or an evident instance of its be→ ing performed by the apostles, would be sufficient authority for the practice, and remove all doubts concerning it; but there is neither one nor the other in all the Bible. We read of men and women being baptized, but nothing about the baptism of infants. Those scriptures which are adduced by Pædobaptists, as implying it, we shall afterwards consider; at present we only say, what all must admit, that in the scripture there is no express mention of it. Now, on the supposition that it is to be practised, this is a most extraordinary circumstance. Our blessed Lord must have been remiss in the revelation which he has made. There is a practice of a positive nature to be observed by his followers, and yet it cannot be proved, by any thing which he hath said or done, or by any thing said or done by his apostles, that he has instituted it. Surely he would not leave his appointments in an uncertain state. The sacred historians had the best opportunity for mentioning the baptism of children, had it existed; and considering they have related other particulars concerning them, of much less importance, it cannot rationally be doubted,' that had it been practised, they would, on some occasion or other, have mentioned it. Their silence respecting it cannot be accounted for, but on the supposition, that in their time it did not exist. Pedobaptist missionaries, in relating their proceedings among the heathen in modern times, mention the baptism of children, as well as of adults. What other reason can be imagined for this difference between the accounts respecting them, and those which regard the apostles, than this, that the latter were not Pædobaptists?" Other extracts, equally in point, might be adduced. The facts will remain facts and the evidences will remain evidences-not easily controverted, and certainly not easily confuted." ed heads, is given a variety of authentic instances of inhumanity and suffering, enough to shake the firmest nerves, and melt the hardest heart. As the melancholy result, it is observed, påge 84, "From the latest and most moderate calculation, a calculation believed by competent actual number, FIVE THOUSAND WIDOWS are destroyed annually on the funeral pile in Hindoostan. The whole number computed to perish annually by these destructive practices, generally, is TEN A Collection of Facts and Opinions re-judges to be very far short of the lative to the Burning of Widows with the dead Bodies of their Husbands, and to other destructive Customs prevalent in British India. By William Johns, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, London. Gale and Fenner. 1816. 2s. 6d. THE subject, and many of the incidents of this pamphlet, are not altogether new to the British public; but we are not aware that such an accumulation of evidence, and variety of authentic detail, were ever before exhibited in a form so convenient and desirable; and we trust that this book will be instrumental in removing the evils which it describes. The reading of it gave us so much pain, that it would have afforded us some consolation to have been able to persuade ourselves the whole was feigned, or even exaggerated: but, alas! it is a tale too true. Every one who reads this work, will be moved by its heartrending narratives; but very different from the effect of tales of fictitious wo, the excitement of painful feeling in this case cannot but be salutary. We sincerely wish that this work may find its way to the hearts of those, who possess the power of changing their own painful feelings into pleasurable sensations of the noblest kind, by extinguishing at once, and for ever, these horrid practices. The information which Mr. Johns furnishes, is included under the following heads, viz. :-~ Burning of widows-Widows and others buried alive-Suicide by drowning, &c.-Infanticide-Exposing the sick and aged-Swinging festival-Juggernaut-Human crifices. To which is added, a collection of opinions, both in and out of Parliament, on these abominations and cruelties. sa Under each of the above-mention VOL. IX. THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED." If it could be supposed, that any one possessed sufficient effrontery to deny the existence of these enormities, or to extenuate their magnitude and prevalence, the evidence accumulated in the work before us, must put him to silence. Nothing can be more clear than that they do exist, and to a horrible extent. This does not now rest upon the validity of antiquated, and almost obselete books of travels, but is affirmed by the undeniable testimony of living witnesses. The authorities quoted by Mr. Johns, are numerous and indisputable. In addition to some of the most eminent travellers, are the names of Buchanan, Carey, Ward, Marshman, Chamberlain, Moore, Lawson, and others. The numbers given above, will enable our readers to form some idea of the magnitude of the evil. With respect to the desirableness of putting an immediate end to these abominations, we would suppose there could not be two opinions. If any thing could be offered against this, the fallacy and absurdity of which would not be so immediately evident and glaring, as to render it incapable of further exposure, it is the assertion, that these sufferings are voluntary, and desired by the victims themselves. Admitting this, surely it forms no reason why it is not desirable that these cruelties should cease to be practised; but the opinion that these things are voluntary, is the result of Brahmanical imposture. In point of fact, these poor creatures are, for the most part, impelled and goaded on in a manner shocking to humanity. K |