The persons and graces of the children are preserved in and by Jesus Christ. They are so many parts of his own body, which is his fulness; and so long as he lives, they will live also; and their graces are of the same quality with those that reside in his person, and were discovered by him in a state of debasement and humiliation, in which he redeemed them to God. They are the beauty and ornament of their souls, for they can never die. The Holy Spirit, who is the efficient cause of their existence, dwells in the saints as in his own temple; and by the principle of life in which they are all comprehended, he works upon the mind to accomplish the will of God. The life of the saint is hidden with Christ in God, and the possession of it, through the sanctification of the Spirit, is not divided from its original source; for he creates them anew in Christ, and they are, with all their present possessions, still comprehended in his person, and sheltered beneath the cross on which he accomplished their everlasting redemption. So long, therefore, as the purpose of God remains the same, the salvation of Christ is unchanging, and the sanctification of the Spirit is imperishable, the heirs of grace will be preserved in a state of faith and holiness, and will be finally conducted to the kingdom of heaven to be with and like to Christ for ever and ever. (For the Spiritual Magazine.) OBITUARY OF MRS. HANNAH WEST. IT becomes my lot, by the solicitation of a friend, to particularize, in some small degree, upon the life and death of Mrs. HANNAH WEST. Had I been aware that my pen would at a future period have found employment in this respect, I might have greatly facilitated my task by committing to paper several circumstances at the time of their occurrence, many of which are now obliterated from my recollection. I am, however, willing and wishful to furnish as correct a statement as I can, notwithstanding the attending disadvantages. Of the early portion of her life, little is known by the writer; nor is it necessary that it should be detailed in the few observations that may be attempted. It appears that she was brought up in connection with the Wesleyan Methodists, in the country; and was from the days of her juvenility impressed with the evil nature and tendency of iniquity, and her exposure to the penalty of God's inexorable law, on account thereof: nevertheless, her mind continued involved in native darkness, and it was evident (as she herself confessed) that the Holy Ghost had not then taken a residence in her heart, or imbued it with that sanctity and heavenly seed, which she was afterward favoured to be assured was graciously implanted. It pleased the great Disposer of events, who orders the affairs of the earth with unperplexed perspicuity, to direct her steps in his providence to this great metropolis. Here the glorifier of Jesus was pleased to instruct her respecting the spirituality of God's law; here he was merciful in the inculcation of divine principles; here he was regardful of his engagement in the covenant of grace, by removing the obduracy of the heart, and thus making room for the affectionate embracement of the person of Christ in an acceptation of the holy influences of his Sonship, Headship, and intrinsecal priesthood. Now the depths of her depravity seemed to cause a despondency; a small perception of her sable heart occasioned feelings of painful remorse and dejection, yet retaining a happy sensibility of the purity, perfection, and peace-sealing blood of the Lamb, she herein found a sufficiency to uphold her feeble frame amidst the seasons of clouded and conflicting feeling. Being brought under the ministry of the Rev. John Stevens, she was happily illuminated by his instrumentality; and realizing a clear understanding and an experimental enjoyment of the doctrines of the gospel, was baptized upon a public expression of her faith in Christ, and approbation of the ordinances he enjoined, about five years and a half prior to her decease. Shortly after she was thus favoured to follow the steps of her Redeemer, and to commemorate his dying love at the table of the supper, disease seemed to extend its infection amongst the intestine particles of the animal system, and her external features pourtrayed she was consumptively inclined. This was the harbinger of other disorders, connected with much bodily lassitude, and great difficulty of respiration, secluding her from the enjoyment of the ordinances of the Lord in his public sanctuary, yet not diminishing her fervent attachment thereto, as was daily expressed by her private and sacred occupations. Disease has worn out many a fine person, but the christian is polished by the sorrows which he endures. Her disorder was tardy in its progressions, yet severe in its ravages; and during the hours of its severity, her dissolution might be momentarily expected: but as a candle will burn long below the socket of a candlestick, so the deceased lingered in her sufferings, to the amazement of all who were witnesses to a scene so peculiar. 'The sorrows of the true christian are numbered, and so are those of the wicked, but the duration of them is limited, (as regards the former character) for a child of God will leave his grievances behind him in death, and his pleasures are measured by eternity.' Times of trial are at the disposal of the Lord: the trying circumstances to which the church of God is subjected in this life, are to be endured on the ground of divine authority. For some months prior to her demise, she became incapacitated to discharge the necessary duties of life; and her mother having just witnessed the last of a younger daughter, was hurried to London to attend upon the elder in similar circumstances as to the nature of her complaint. She was mostly to be found reclining upon a couch, with a bible, hymn-book, and magazine by her side; the two latter I observed during the last few weeks of her life were removed, and the former seemned wholly to engross her attention. In this respect, she might be compared to a vessel about to land upon its destined shore; the nearer it approaches, the more ballast it ejects; and the departing saint about to join the celestial band in a chorus of praise to the Lamb that was slain, thus dispensed with every earthly production; holding fastly the inspired volume, prizing its doctrines, and beholding in its sacred pages the joyful salutation of justice and compassion meeting in the righteous life and sacrificial death of the dignified Messiah. The throne of grace was her resort; and her regard for it was practically exemplified in her requesting the prayers of those who kindly attended her in a sick chamber. Spiritual prayer is the desire of the heart breathed to God, which cannot be destroyed. It is a fire kindled at the foot of the cross, and fed by the virtues of it; so that it will never be extinguished to the saints' disappointment.' No one that is thus truly blessed, can be afterwards accursed. Her The cares and sorrows which she sustained from circumstances which it may be well to bury in oblivion, seemed to be alleviated and forgotten as she approached the conclusion of her pilgrimage; and, notwithstanding the persecutions she experienced from the irreligious, she never sacrificed her principles; but was, through the grace of God, enabled to exemplify them in a course of sanctified deportment. If the church of God were to sink into destruction, the public character of her Redeemer would be sacrificed.' last days were unquestionably the best and brightest; and she used to remark, that although most persons considered the days of their youth their golden days, she found none till she knew a God in Christ. She was of a retiring disposition, only known by a small circle, these loved her; she passed her days (as many before her) in a sequestered state, and in great seclusion from the affairs of a transitory world. I feel persuaded she was of the greatest assistance to the church to which she belonged; it may be enquired, how so? since she was almost entirely shut apart from it. I answer, because she was a fervent and a private praying member. And I am of opinion, that the prayers of a member of a christian society, are more valuable than either purses, presence, or speeches. Nevertheless, let these be duly esteemed, they are desirable and creditable in all respects. About a fortnight before her death, her pains rapidly increased, and she became so debilitated as to be scarcely able to articulate; a few sentences would now and then escape her lips, solid though short, and replete with the importance of an interest in Christ. I reminded her of the words of Allen- Death is only the forerunner to waft us over the river Jordan to the promised Canaan. She replied, sweet thought; thus it is that I am enabled to prize, welcome, and desire it; pray with me, that I may wait patiently, for I fear I am very cross-I am not half so patient as I used to be.' Being then reminded of the apostle's words, "Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ," and telling her it was no sin to be wishful to reach the promised land—‹ Ah!' said she, but do I wish to go to heaven to glorify God and his Christ, or is it my chief desire to escape this present state of suffering?—we are so very selfish.' I replied both, I hope.' She answered, through grace, I know it; Oh, the love of Christ to me! to leave his glory for me, to die for me! to be crucified for me! how can I suffer enough for him! Oh, 6 6 for patience!" Rock of ages, cleft for me." She then repeated with a little assistance, that beautiful hymn of Dr. Watts's," When survey the wondrous cross;" coming to these lines, I "Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small,” She exclaimed, Oh yes! what would it now be worth to me? what but Christ can satisfy me now ? be steadily that pray mind may my fixed upon him, his complete salvation and promises; then repeating, "He is a God of sovereign love, That promised heaven to me; And taught my thoughts to soar above, Reason and faith are distinct in their nature, operations, and end. named pastor, from the words, "my times are in thy hands;" a passage selected by herself, as having greatly consoled her amid all troubles from mental and bodily affliction. The sermon was impressively delivered to an attentive congregation. May some hitherto inattentive soul have reason to bless the Lord for the offered occasion, finding it the means of rivetting upon his mind the certainty, solemnity, and also eternity of death, without union to Christ, or a concern in his important and mediatory actings. And what shall the sanctified children of Jehovah say? Shall they in the death of a sister read a lecture for all but themselves? God forbid! Here they are reminded of facts too numerous to be enumerated; of the universality of death; of the benefit of true religion, as the only infallible support therein; and of sure responsibility hereafter as intelligent agents. Respectability this side the grave does not remove responsibility on the other. May the Spirit of all truth revive our hearts in granting us fresh manifestations of the all-sufficiency of Jesus! May the youthful remember, that their stay in this world is not measured by the number of their years, (the deceased was only twenty-eight); may the aged consider that they must very soon put off the mortal coil; and the middle-aged find pleasure in the fact, that since all their times are in the hand of their covenant God, the times of exit from this world, and entrance within a better are therein included. Thus have I in felt weakness attempted to give some faint description of the life and comfortable death of a saint and sister in the everlasting covenant of mercy, and to eulogize the grace of heaven through her pilgrimage. The Lord pardon the imperfections, and receive the rest to the praise of his distinguishing favour. J. M. D. Marylebone. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. On Wednesday, the 7th December, a Public Meeting was held at Exeter Hall, for the purpose of forming a Society to be designated the TRINITARIAN BIBLE SOCIETY; the object of which is, to preclude all the impugners of the doctrine of a Trinity in Unity from its operations. SPENCER Percival, Esq. M. P. took the Chair. The Meeting was addressed among others by CAPTAIN GORDON, Rev. G. W. PHILLIPS, A. PRINGLE, Esq. G. SICKLEMORE, Esq. and the Rev. HENRY MELVILLE, who each strenuously defended this Society on the importance of separating from that amalgamation which exists in the "British and Foreign Bible Society." We most cordially wish success to this Society, convinced that the present time peculiarly calls for decision from all who bear the Christian name. Just Published, THE SHAKING OF THE NATIONS, WITH THE CORRESPONDING DUTIES OF CHRISTIANS. A Sermon, preached at Craven Chapel, Regent Street, on November 13th, 1831. By J. LEIFCHILD. To which is added, AN APPENDIX, containing an account of some extraordinary cases of Enthusiasm and Fanaticism in various ages of the world. Also, THE NOISOME PESTILENCE; by JOHN Cox. A Tract peculiarly appropriate for distribution at the present time. In the Press, THOUGHTS ON THE COMING ANd Kingdom of our Lord JESUS CHRIST. By JOHN Cox. VOL. VIII.—No. 93.] 2 I |