self bound in duty to observe them, | religious orders, the Dominican and exemplifying that admirable maxim, Franciscan. that "it is no excuse for a breach of promise to say the observance of it would be attended with injury to ourselves, for that should have been considered before the promise was made."

During the disorders of this unhappy reign, three material advantages accrued to the people: the abolition of the trial by ordeal; the real origin of the British House of Commons-boroughs first being al

To close the absurdities and calami-lowed to return representatives; and ties of this reign, a new crusade was permission being granted to the inundertaken to the Holy Land, pro- habitants to dig coal. Circumstances ductive of no real advantage to like these have occasionally led the England, but merely affording an friends of popery to plead for its beopportunity to the magnanimous nefits in a political point of view,* Edward of displaying his military forgetting that such advantages retalents, and renewing the impres-sulted in moments of partial protession of British valour, not yet effaced since the days of Richard.

tantism, because, in periods of dissatisfaction with the infallible government, it was policy in a pope to grant a little, lest the people should take a great deal.

Spirit, the infallible author of them, condescend to enlighten his understanding, and interest his heart, that he may comprehend their meaning, and regard their demands!

The occasional manifestations of resistance, even among the clergy themselves, were observed with anxiety at Rome, and a variety of May a sincere love of truth acexpedients were invented that company the inquiries of the youthshould amuse the people, and, at ful reader; may he be enabled to lay the same time, if possible, invigo- aside every prejudice forming his rate and increase the papal power. sentiments of religion from the HoGregory IX. published a long cata-ly Scriptures; and may the Divine logue of decrees of this nature, pretending that they were those of his distinguished predecessors in the first ages of Christianity, nor could there be a greater proof of the darkness of the age, than that those decrees should be regarded as authentic, which were at variance with the history, the chronology, and language of the ages to which they purported to refer. Besides these gentle measures, the pontiff may be said to have augmented his regular troops, by the institution of two new

H. S. A.

ber, 1818, is a curious article, endeavourable than protestantism to civil liberty, ing to prove, that popery is more favourevidently occasioned by the admirable lecture of the Rev. J. Ivimey, previously delivered at Bristol for the benefit of the Baptist Irish Society.

* In the Orthodox Journal for Octo

Obituary.

MR. JOHN THANG,
Needingworth, Hunts.

MR. JOHN THANG was among the early fruits of the ministerial labours of that venerable man of God, Mr. Coxe Feary, whose preaching was made so useful at Bluntisham, for

about thirty-three years, but who is now laid aside from the work of the ministry.

From his youth he was sober and steady, but he had no right knowledge of the gospel till he was more than twenty years of age. At the request of a servant he went to

hear Mr. Feary; the preaching was that his time would be very short, blessed to his conversion; and he But the approach of death did net joined the church. Did all believers terrify him: he viewed it with a digproperly consider this part of Chris-nity and composure of mind, which religion only can inspire.

tian duty, the church of God would receive an accession of wisdom and strength, that might be useful in the promotion of true religion. The contrary practice goes to annihilate the order of Christian churches, and is prejudicial to the happiness of the individuals themselves; it is only, as we observe to do the will of God, that we can expect to enjoy a sense of his favour. "If any man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

July 30, speaking of death, he said, "I should like to recover my health, and live a little longer, if the Lord please: if not, I submit to his will-he knows what is best." No material alteration took place till August 19, when his death seemed very near; still he was resigned, and had great confidence in the mercy of God.

He hoped he should not be left to murmur at the divine conduct towards him; which, however painful, he knew must be right. He lamented his proneness to depart from the Lord, prayed he might be comfortably supported through his af fliction, and repeated, with much emphasis, the promise," As thy day, so shall thy strength be." He had, he said, found it true hitherto, and hoped he should to the end, On the 22d, he experienced some darkness of mind, yet he was enabled to trust in the Lord, and found his word precious to his soul. When it was observed that his disorder was painful, he replied;

"It is painful at present,
But will cease before long."

Mr. Thang had not a speculative mind; be meddled not with things too high for him. He read his Bible, not merely to increase his knowledge, or to furnish proof of a favourite opinion, but to behold the glory of the Lord, that he might be changed into the same image. He never gave his pastor any cause of grief by disorderly conduct, nor is it remembered, that he was ever so offended with any of his fellow members, as on their account to absent himself from the Lord's table. Being planted in the house of the Lord, he flourished in the courts of our God. While many who are strenuous advocates for the peculiar doctrines of the gospel, which, however, they very imperfectly understand, being totally unacquainted with their sanctifying inOn the 23d, his mind was quite fluence, are only withering branches, he took root and brought forth happy. To one who inquired how the fruits of righteousness. There he was, he said, "The Lord has was nothing about him in the least returned to me again." assuming. He kept the even tenour dressed his friends very affectionateof his way; quietly pressing to-y; spake of the comfort he enwards the kingdom of heaven. He joyed, and said, with great pleanever imposed his opinion as deci- sure, sive; but was swift to hear, and slow to speak. Through the instrumentality of his devotional family exercises, several of his servants were brought to know and to love God. Thus like David, he blessed his house, and like Abraham, he was made a blessing.

About six months before his death a disease of the liver attacked him, and his friends were apprehensive

Adding, "The Lord has been hope he will not leave me at the very good to me for many years; I

last."

He ad

"I would not change my blissful state, For all that earth calls good or great."

In the evening he spoke of death with great serenity, and gave particular direction respecting his burial, his funeral sermon, and the hymns for the occasion.

His mind was so happy, that dying seemed to him but as going home. He was sensible to the last,

MR. JOHN CLARKE, late of Monkwell Street, was born of respectable parents in London, 1766. As an apprentice, he conducted himself with great propriety. About eighteen, he was made acquainted with the power of divine truth, under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Foster. After the expiration of his apprenticeship, it was proposed to him to embark in business on his own account: this he declined; assigning as a principal reason, the hindrance it might prove to him in those spiritual pursuits on which his affections were supremely placed.

A complaint in the head, with which he was visited in early life, prevented his continuance in his calling. This disease terminated in epilepsy; with frequent returns of which the remainder of his life was attended. But though he was often overtaken by these fits without any intimation of their approach, at home and abroad, in the night | and in the day, he was providentially preserved from personal injury, and from loss.

can. Wednesday morning, Blackfriars; evening, Tabernacle. Thursday morning, St. Peter's, Cornhill; evening, Keppel-street. Friday morning, Surrey Chapel; evening, St. Antholin's. Saturday evening, Tabernacle.

His principles were truly evangelical; and, while he revered the instrument through whom he received spiritual advantage, he was deeply sensible of the importance of supernatural influence to render the word efficacious. Thus he pursued "the even tenor of his way," till the first of December, 1819; on which day, the last of his detention in this mortal state, he rose in the morning with his usual health and cheerfulness. In his way to public worship, he visited and relieved a necessitous individual; and, on his return, he called on another who had received substantial support from his liberality. According to his ordinary practice, after he had dined, he retired; and, there is reason to conclude, that, while exercised in devotion, "he was not, for God took him." Not appearing at the usual time in the family, he was repeatedly called, and, nó answer being obtained, his chamber door was forced open, when he was discovered prostrate on the ground, his Bible open at no great distance. Medical assistance was speedily obtained, but the spirit had forsaken its earthly abode. "Be ye also ready."

G. P.

REV. JABEZ BROWN.

His benevolence extended to the utmost limits of his means. Though not affluent, he contributed to three or four and twenty charitable institutions.* But that feature in NOVEMBER 28, 1819, after a few his character which we shall chiefly days illness, died the Rev. Jabez notice is, the constant and uniform Brown, Stow-market, Suffolk, in attention which he paid to the the 84th year of his age. He was means of grace. The following interred in the Baptist Buryingstatement presents the reader with ground there, December 7. A Futhe weekly course which, with but neral Sermon was preached by the few deviations, he maintained for Rev. Wm. Hoddy of Bilderstone, many years. Lord's-day morning, to a numerous congregation, from Blackfriars; afternoon, Bow-lane; 2 Tim. i. 12. The oration was deevening, Spitalfields. Monday livered by the Rev. W. Ward, Indeevening, Tabernacle. Tuesday morn-pendent minister in the same town. ing, Broad-street; evening, Barbi

See the Times, December 4, 1819. VOL. XII.

The whole service was solemn and impressive. Mr. Brown was twentyeight years Pastor of the Baptis

Borough Green, Kent, to whom she had been married 45 years. She was very patient and resigned, and Mr. Morris preached her Funeral Sermon from 2 Sam. xii. 23.

REV. JOHN SIBREE.

DIED, on the 13th of February, the Rev. John Sibree of Frome, thirty years the respected and useful Pastor of the Independent church in that town.

Church at Yarmouth. The last | twenty-two years of his valuable life, he was the useful and beloved pastor of the church of the same denomination in the town where he died. He was friendly and cheerful in his conversation, a man of peace, and of the most unassuming manners. At the same time that he was firm to his principles as a Dissenter, and as a particular Baptist, he cordially loved all Christians for Christ's sake. His ministerial ta lents were useful and respectable. He firmly and constantly maintained the scripture doctrine of distin guishing, free, and efficacious grace in the salvation of sinners, enforcDIED, Feb. 11, at Bath, aged 88, ing their practical tendency, and the Rev. Thomas Haweis, M. D. maintaining that the law of God and LL. B. the oldest Calvinistic is the rule of conduct. He was clergyman in England. He was in greatly respected by a large circle of the ministry more than 60 years. friends of different denominations, He held the Rectory of Aldwinckle and much endeared to the people 56 years. His last public Address of his charge by his pious and usewas in the Spring of 1819, at the ful labours. "Mark the perfect man, Monthly Missionary Prayer Meetand behold the upright, for the ending at Bath. Till within a few days of that man is peacc."

REV. THOMAS HAWEIS.

of his decease, he devoted six or eight hours a day to reading and study.

SAMUEL ROWLES.

LATELY died at Colnbrook, the Rev. Samuel Rowles, formerly of Chard, an aged and respectable minister of the Baptist denomination.

A Voice from Royal Sepulchres .
A Sermon preached at Heston-green
Chapel, Thames Ditton, Surrey.
By the Rev. James Churchill, pp.
32. Cox.

vereign's presence. He relates, that | for the reign of the late king, nor in being on one occasion in His Majesty's sentiments of veneration for his dressing room alone, he had the opportu- | memory. nity of particularly noticing the Monarch's Bible and Prayer Book, which lay upon the table: he observed that the Bible had the appearance of having been much read; and, on examining the Prayer Book, found those places in which the King was spoken of as Our Most Gracious Sovereign,' had been erased, and the words, thy unworthy servant,' substituted in their stead. The second anecdote I would mention, is related by a pious domestic, formerly in the service of her late Royal Highness the Princess Amelia; and was communicated by her relative friend, who informed me she had become the object of the royal attention, and was elevated from a subordinate situation, to wait on the Princess during her protracted illness. Being thus circumstanced, it was frequently her privilege to be in the room with the late King and her royal Mistress, when no other individual was present, On such occa. sions she has heard his Majesty address his afflicted daughter in the most free and impressive manner, on subjects of infinite importance; and she repeatedly united in the extemporary prayers which the Sovereign presented; and which she describes as peculiarly excellent,”

to

This is a very respectable Sermon, and deserves our recommendation.

a

Divine Dominion; a Funeral Sermon for the late King. By William Chapman, at Greenwich, pp. 40.

THIS Sermon is dedicated, but whether with, or without permisSion, is not said, "To her Serene Highness the Princess Victoria Maria Louisa, widow of the late Duke of Kent, and Strathearn, and to his Royal Highness Prince Leopold." Among many nations was there no | hing like him.

Mr. Churchill has said many good things to justify the application of his text to the character of the late king,

The Double Bereavement. Tuo Sermons occasioned by the Death of his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, and of his late most gracious Majesty George the Third : delivered, the first, January 30, at Hanover Chapel, Peckham, and at Salters' Hall, London; the second, Feb. 6, 1820, at Hanover Chapel, Peck ham, and at Sion Chape', London. By William Bengo Collyer, D.D. F.R, S. &e. 40 pages, Westley, &c,

FROM the long-continued friend

If there are any persons in the kingdom who entertain doubts re-ship, which was so honourable to specting the loyalty of Protestant them both, between the late Duke Dissenters of every class, we should of Kent and the author of these say, "Come and see." Let them Sermons, and from the brilliant taperuse the numerous sermons which lents of the latter, and the attachhave been delivered by their minis- ment which, as a Protestant Disters upon the death of the late Mo-senter,he feels for the House of Brunsnarch, and recollect that their numerous congregations have encouraged their publications, and then ask, whether such a simultaneous expression of their affectionate sentiments towards the Royal Family could arise from any otherfeeling than constitutional loyalty. Mr. Chapman has discoursed from Daniel ii. "He removeth kings." Nor is he behind any of his brethren in expressions of his gratitude to God

26.

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wick, we expected every thing that could interest the feelings and affect the heart. Nor have we been disappointed. The former of these discourses resembles the lamenta tion of David for Jonathan, The latter, and indeed all the Sermons preached upon the same melan choly occasion, remind us of the honour which all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did good king Hezekiah at his death.