THE subject of this brief notice was for many years a distinguished member and deacon of the G. B. church at March, in Cambridgeshire. He expired March 26th, 1847, in the eighty-third year of his age.

The removal by death of an individual from time into eternity, is an event most important to himself, and interesting in different degrees, according to various circumstances, to surviving friends. If such an event fail to make a deep impression on our minds, it must be owing partly to the frequency of such visitations, but chiefly to our want of due consideration of all its circumstances. By such consideration, the frequency of the event, and the uncertainty of the time when it may occur to us, who are all assured that we are born to die, might reasonably exercise a salutary influence on our habitual preparation for it. But the lamentable indifference of the world to this subject justifies the reflection, All men think all men mortal, but themselves.'

If, then, death itself, occurring to any one, might reasonably engage our thoughtful attention, it ought much VOL. 9.-N. S.

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more when it takes away one from our midst, that from age and sound experience, had long been useful in his neighbourhood. Such an one had been the subject of this brief memoir.

Mr. Booth had lived without true piety more than thirty years, when by divine grace he was arrested in his career of carnal pleasure. This merciful event occurred under the ministry of the late Mr. Burgess, of Fleet, when on one occasion he preached at March, from Rev. iii. 20., Behold, I stand at the door, and knock,' &c. The preacher so particularly pointed out many sins which bar the door against the heavenly guest, that as our friend said, 'I thought he was describing me, and preaching especially to me. The arrow of conviction was so strongly fixed that I could not rest night or day. I had been passionately fond of cards, company, and skating, but now I could find no pleasure in any of them; and to cards my antipathy was so strong and decided that I would not remain in the room when they were introduced. This conviction of sin I endured without any

decided relief for two or three years, nor did I ever receive relief so suddenly and decidedly as the conviction came. My mind became enlightened by degrees in the knowledge of the plan of salvation, but more especially by a consideration of Gal. ii. 16.'

It is of great importance for the subsequent experience of the christian, that the soul convinced of sin should not rest satisfied in anything short of a distinct view of the gracious method of justification before God, that is revealed in the scriptures, especially in such passages as that just referred to. Mr. Booth's clear apprehension of this gave him a well founded hope, and even assurance, that he was accepted in the Beloved, and saved not by his own works of righteousness, but by the mercy of God through the Saviour's obedience unto death. In his conception of the way in which sinful man is justified through faith in the sacrifice of Christ, there was great clearness; and in consequence of this he had habitual peace through believing. This was his uniform experience for many years, and a short time before his departure he said, I have a good hope that I shall soon enter into the rest that remains for the people of God; only, only, through faith in the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. You see

'Jesus can make a dying bed

Feel soft as downy pillows are;
And on his breast I lean my head,

And breathe my life out sweetly there. Mr. B. had eminently experienced the power of truth as revealed in the scriptures, to enlighten and comfort the mind darkened and distressed by sin; and this may perhaps account for his remarkable attachment to the Bible, and his intimate and extensive acquaintance with it. He had read many books on the doctrines and practice of religion, but with none was he so delighted and familiar as with the inspired volume. This, especially during many of the latter

years of his life, when he was freed from the anxieties of business, was his daily and almost continual study. The fruit of this was evident in the readiness with which he referred to any part of the scriptures, and his ability to repeat most of the inspired epistles, and almost any other part of the New Testament, from memory. In him was eminently exemplified the practice of the blessed man, whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.' Often did he say the scriptures were a great comfort to him while lying awake for hours in the night. His attainment of scriptural knowledge was not an exercise only of memory, but also of reflection and judgment; hence he had always at hand a passage of scripture appropriate to the circumstances of persons with whom he conversed. This was several times observed in his apt quotations of scripture to persons who visited him, during the confinement of his last illness. This commenced in January, with no particular disease, except perhaps a slight fever, but with great prostration of strength. In this state our friend continued for about nine weeks, alternately reviving and declining, till the weary wheels of nature quite stood still. To the last hour of life his reason continued unaffected by disease, and he was enabled to converse freely and in a very edifying manner with his family and visiters. He was sensible that his end was approaching, and he looked steadily towards it with the composure of unwavering faith, that it would be to him the entrance to a better life. While waiting for this great change, he freely conversed about it, and deliberately bade, adieu to earthly things, like one familliar with the world unseen. As indicating the frame of his mind, and the strain of his remarks for several successive weeks, it may be recorded that on one occasion he said, 'The

There from the bosom of my God,
Oceans of endless pleasures roll;
There would I fix my last abode,

And drown the sorrows of my soul.' Thus he continued to cheer the darksome hours in passing through the valley of the shadow of death, until the messenger oft desired by him came, and he peacefully slept in Jesus.

'The chamber where the good man meets his fate,

Is privileged beyond the common walks
Of virtuous life, quite on the verge of heaven.'

Let us not quit this chamber without a passing reflection or two, that may aid our preparation to realize it. From the scene here presented we

1. Deduce confirmation of our faith in a future state of happiness, and of the value of a pious preparation for it.

The sincere christian, notwithstanding numerous imperfections which cleave to him in this mortal state, is the most elevated example of conscientiousness and piety that this sinful world can present; and is it conceivable that the holy and gracious God should allow one that habitually lives in his fear, and desires above all things to honour and serve him, to be the victim of a vain and delusive hope. Is it reasonable to suppose that such a person, amidst the various changes of a long life, should anticipate a future state of bliss, with an animation and joy increasing with his years, and in the full and evident

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possession of rationality, maintain this glorious hope to the very verge of life, from which he almost looks into eternity, and yet conclude that there is no future state-that his hope, and the hope of many such, is all a delusion ? In the face of such evidence the assertions of infidelity must appear very bold and presumptuous. Far more reasonable is it to conclude, that in the regeneration of the spirit, a life of holiness is commenced in the christian believer, which death does not interrupt, but consummate. The dying christian merely pursues his career into a future state of happiness. His sun sets here to rise with renewed glory in heaven.

2. How appropriate to the close of the christian life is the habitual study of the Scriptures.

Oh! it is delightful to see an old christian with the Bible continually before him. This seems to intimate that his taste is becoming too spiritual and celestial to feed on anything inferior to the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. While all other books gradually lose their savour as the soul approaches the celestial region, this as the bread of heaven becomes sweeter and more nutritious. This is the pure fountain of the water of life, that oft refreshes the weary pilgrim in his journey through the world, and which becomes more congenial to his taste as he approaches the source whence it issues. When the scriptures become thus increasingly endeared to the soul, it indicates that they are congenial to each other, and that the departing soul is hastening to heaven, the origin and the termination of the scriptures. While a love of the newspaper indicates an interest in the present world, which, as the christian advances through it, should be gradually diminishing-the increasing love of the Bible shows that the soul is advancing in meetness for communion with the spirits of just men made perfect. J. JONES.

IV. Increased attention to family religion will exert a blessed influence in promoting a revival of religion amongst us. The importance of exemplifying the gospel in our daily conduct and conversation before our families, must commend itself to the judgment and conscience of all. A holy life silently but very powerfully recommends the truth; and many who have slighted the faithful warnings of the pulpit, have thus been savingly won. A striking instance of this is furnished in the recorded experience of Mahendra―a heathen who was converted to Christ by the instrumentality of the Free Church missionaries, and who is now, it is trusted, with the Lord. On being questioned as to what it was that first affected his mind, he replied, It was not anything which I had read or heard which led me to serious reflection: it was the example of the missionary his patient, persevering, pains-taking example, amid so much to cross, harass, and oppose him, which first struck me, and led me to inquire what could be the secret cause and motive of it." On the other hand, who can tell the baneful influence that one inconsistent professor, or even one sinful act, may exert ? 'A single defect or slip, of which we may think but little at the time, may be copied by our children, servants, neighbours, or friends, over and over again; yea, it may be transmitted to posterity, and pleaded as a precedent for evil when we are no more! Thus it may kindle a fire which if we ourselves are saved from it, may nevertheless burn to the lowest hell, and aggravate the everlasting misery of many around us, who are flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone.""* The due observance of family prayer,

* Fuller.

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V. Faithfully discharge all the duties you owe to the respective churches with which you are nected.-Our remarks have already extended to a greater length than we had anticipated, and we cannot enlarge on this as its importance demands: still we cannot forbear entreating you to pray much for your pastors; and, in every possible way, to help them in the work of the Lord. Every faithful minister sets a high value on the prayers of his flock. How often the apostle Paul entreated the prayers of his christian friends, and with what earnestness and pathos was the request presented! See Rom. xv. 30, 2 Cor. i. 11, Eph. vi. 18-20, Col. iv. 3, 4, 1 Thess. v. 25, 2 Thess. iii. 1, Heb. xiii. 18. Surely if an apostle of the Lord who enjoyed supernatural endowments, so greatly needed the prayers of christians, your ministers, who have only received the ordinary gifts of the Spirit, must, to say the least, equally need yours. Consider, brethren, their work is great-its responsibilities are weighty-its difficul ties and discouragements are manyits issues are everlasting; therefore, you should pray for them. an ordained connection between praying for a minister and profiting by his ministrations; therefore you should pray for them. They are the men of your choice; no lorldly patron, or arbitrary conference forced them upon you; your preference raised them to the position they occupy, and they

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highly value that preference; therefore you should pray for them. They often pray for you: let the closet, the family, the pulpit, witness for them how they 'always labour fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God; therefore you should pray for them. And have you not engaged thus to remember them in your prayers? When they were solemnly appointed to the oversight of you in the Lord, did they not say with faltering lips and a full heart, that they undertook the weighty charge, relying on your prayers and co-operation? Did you not give the customary sign, that those prayers should be offered, and that co-operation should not be withheld? and will you disappoint the righteous expectation of holy men of God? Shall any minister in the General Baptist denomination have to complain as a minister once did, that he had lost his prayer-book;' or in other words, the warm and earnest supplications of his flock, which once gladdened his heart and stimulated to duty, had ceased to be offered, or were offered with considerable abatement of fervour. Help your ministers in maintaining scriptural discipline. Let the law of love reign in your midst. Let the deacons and leading members be to the minister what Aaron and Hur were to Moses-let them hold up his hands. Let those who are employed in the Sabbathschool, or in tract distribution, or in any other department of usefulnesss, remember that the one object for which each is to labour is the furtherance of the cause of Christ; and let each one exert himself as if the prosperity of the church depended on his individual exertions.

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der a particle of what we honestly believe to be the truth as it is in Jesus.' Precious as peace and love are, the truth of God is still more precious. The doctrine that the Lord Jesus is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world,' is one which it is important to maintain, as it furnishes the only ground on which the great commission of our Lord, 'preach the gospel to every creature,' can be consistently carried into effect.

VI. Vigorously exert yourselves for the salvation of the heathen.—It is one of the characteristics of our holy religion, that those who enjoy its precious blessings care for the souls of others; and it is one of the gracious principles of the Divine administration, that those who seek to bless others shall enjoy a larger blessing themselves. Your own prosperity as a denomination furnishes pleasing proof of the truth of this latter remark. When your first missionaries went forth, you numbered 8,000 members, and now you number more than 18,000. Besides the fruit which God has given you in India, which is probably more abundant than any of you anticipated when the mission was established, every church that has admitted its claims, and from love to Christ contributed to its funds, has been blessed and prospered in consequence. We rejoice that the Lord has disposed your hearts to extend your operations in our own field of labour, and also that the spiritual woes of China's millions have excited your sympathies and called forth your exertions. Our younger sister, the China mission, shares largely in our affections, and is often remembered in our prayers. Continue, dear brethren, to pray for us, and our two dear brethren there. Continue to support the cause to which we and they are devoted; and many from this land of dire superstition, as well as from that immense empire, shall everlastingly call you blessed. You will be encouraged to know that the prospects of the mis