LIVING CHARACTERS. A LETTER TO THE EDITOR. Sir, WE often derive great pleasure and satisfaction from hear ing accounts of the pious poor, who are happy amidst their af flictions and difficulties;-to see their minds stayed on that Power who says to the winds and waves, Be still, assured that all things are working together for their good. It has been much upon my mind to state a few particulars relative to a godly man and his wife, who have long walked toge ther in the fear of the Lord. J. S. and his wife resides in a popu lous village; - they are members of an Independent Church in the neighbourhood, highly esteemed by their minister; they adorn their profession by their life and conversation, promoting, as much as in them lies, the prosperity of Sion, and glory of God. It was much upon their minds to obtain a house in which the gospel might occasionally be preached; and, of course, prayed that God would direct their way. In this village there used to be an Arian meeting, which, a few years ago, was converted into dwelling-houses. Opposite this place, a piece of land was at liberty. They purchased the land, with a view to build a house, to be so constructed, as that two rooms might, by remov ing a slight partition, be thrown into one. As the times were then flourishing, in regard to trade, they thought they could save, out of their weekly labour, as much as would, in time, clear the building; and they would borrow some money, and pay interest for it, until this could be accomplished. The good woman made up her mind to apply to an old friend. She had to walk about 26 miles for this purpose. A day or two before she set out, a person called, requesting her to carry £50 for him, for that very person to whom she was going to apply. This afforded her great encouragement. When she arrived at her journey's end, she informed the gentleman of her plan, and told him she had brought him £50 from a person who had intrusted it to her care. 66 Pray, Sir," said she, "Do you want this money?" His answer was, 'No; you shall have it.' "What security do you require for the money?" said she. 'John's word,' he replied. She then informed him that she should want about 100 more. He recommended her to a friend, to obtain another £50. She returned home with the money, praising God for her prosperous journey. This house has been erected some years; and there God has owned and blessed his word in the conversion of sinners. When the times were good, they cleared off part of this debt; and, at that time, pious John generously subscribed two guineas towards the erection of a new chapel in a large neighbouring town, where there has been much persecution; but no weapon formed against the cause hath prospered; and the hand of God has evidently been displayed in the conversion of sinners, particularly Arians and Catholics. My daughter, now at school there, writes as follows:- The poor of this town are in great distress, on account of the times; but liberal subscriptions are entered into for their relief.' She adds, I fear John and Peggy are suffering much, as he is again out of work; and yet Peggy appears as happy and cheerful as if she had lived upon the best.' I once visited them, under similar circumstances. I then pressed her to inform me how she managed. Her answer was, I always let my children be fed 'I first, and have myself often dined upon an halfpenny worth of apples, and have found myself greatly refreshed thereby. I dread being in debt, and would do every thing in my power to avoid it. The Lord knows what is best for me, therefore I commit all to him who careth for me, both for tine and eternity!' These people are no common professors; their conversation would do credit to the Bench of Bishops. I have often been edified thereby, and my heart warmed, as they have conversed on spiritual subjects. May the same Spirit dwell with me, to animate me in my pilgrimage through life! B. 6 There In looking at a newspaper the other day, I observed an advertisement of a song, called The Scots Lullaby, as sung at the dinner of a Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge *." seems to me, Sir, a strange degree of incongruity between the professed object of a number of divines and gentlemen, assembled to propagate the holy gospel of Jesus Christ, and the worldly custom of singing songs. I know that this is done by some other societies, which meet to support Charity-Schools, and other religious institutions; but, to me, it appears inconsistent with that decorum and gravity which become Christians, and especially the 'ministers of Christ; and borders, at least, on that conformity to the vain customs of mankind, from which Jesus Christ died to redeem us. I sincerely hope that the managers of pious institutions will guard against that assimilation with the men of the world which, I fear, is encreasing among us; and labour to preserve that distinction between the disciples of Christ and those who know him not, in which much of the beauty and safety of the former consists. I am, Sir, yours, &c. SEMNOS. * In the same advertisement, I observed The Lord's Prayer,' which is also set to music, for the amusement, I suppose, of merry Christians! THE AFRICAN STRANGER. A Society exists in London, known by the name of The Society for the Benefit of Poor Natives of Africa and Asia, and their Descendants resi dent in London.' A few months ago, a Sermon was preached before them, entitled The African Stranger;' in the Appendix to which the following pathetic Tale is related : row. A WOMAN (Mrs. R.) had been married to a man nearly of her own coloar. A daughter was the fruit of their marriage; and, the husband going to sea, that child was the solace and idol of the mother. The poor woman could read the Bible, but was a total stranger to the way of salvation, careless about the state of her soul, never attended any place of worship, and never bowed the knee to God. He was pleased to afflict and to remove the desire of her eyes; and her heart was overwhelmed with sorHer husband afar off on the sea !-the object of her fondest delight a breathless corpse! Unacquainted with the Fountain of living waters, now that the cistern was broken, she sat down in despair, and refused to be comforted!-Mrs. R. then lodged at the west end of the town; and, some of her country women informing her that many Africans were interred in a buryingground near the New Road, Whitechapel, she deposited the remains of her child there. The burying-ground is connected with a place of worship; and as the door of the former is generally open on the Sabbath-day, the bereaved and agonized mother travelled, many a Sabbath, from her distant lodging to that ground, sat on the grave, and watered it with her tears. This periodical course of hopeless mourning continued for several months. When her husband came home, he sensibly felt their common bereavement; but, being equally a stranger to the only source of consolation, he merely endeavoured to dissuade his wife from visiting the spot which harrowed up her soul. His endeavours were ineffectual. A few weeks afterwards, he again went to sea, and perished. This event made her cling to the grave of the infant with more poignant sorrow. For three long years, week by week, she went, and she wailed. But the days of her desperate grief were ended, through occasion of a circumstance, apparently accidental, and in itself trivial, yet important in its issue, and wisely ordered by the Supreme Disposer of events. One Sabbath, the door of the burying-ground was shut, and Mrs. R. ashamed to go through the chapel, took her station on the opposite terrace, which commanded a view of the grave; there she stood, pensive and silent; there she looked, and there she also wept. On the following Sabbath the door was agaia shut; and Mrs. R. esked leave of the vestry-woman to pass through the Chapel :- a request which was instantly granted. Having sat on the grave and wept, as usual, she returned through the Chapel, towards the end of the serison; and, stopping a few minutes in the passage, her attention was rouzed and arrested by some sentences from the paipit, addressed to sinners. Her conscience was awakened; and grief for the loss of her child gave place to the "What shall I do to be saved ?”cry, Mrs. K. being sober, honest, and industries, had hitherto reck oned herself a good moralist, and free from heinous guilt and deep depravity; but now she obtained a sight and sense of both. She went home, extremely agitated, and filled with the terrors of the Lord. On reading the Bible, the arrow of conviction struck deeper, and her agony of soul was increased. She read, and pondered, and prayed; but found no relief. Without a guide, without a spiritual friend and comforter, she continued for wecks nearly in a state of distraction.-Here Mrs. R. overcome with the remembrance of painful sorrows, and more painful convictions, made a pause, while she related the story to the writer, and the tears trickled down her cheeks.-Recovering fortitude, "it was the shadow of death," said she, with a smile; "but the shadow of death was turned into the morn ing."-The dawn appeared in the following manner :-Mrs. R. opened her case to one of her own country women, who was somewhat serious, but ignorant; and who advised her to consult a pious lady of considerable rank. Mrs. R. took the advice, waited on the lady, communicated the state of her mind, and was heard with the most patient and condescending attention. The lady counselled her to read the Bible, to persevere in prayer, and to attend the dispensation of the gospel; and, thinking that she saw the commencement of a good work, took this African Stranger by the hand, and said, when they parted, "Farewell, Sister." These words pierced her inmost soul; excited a variety of emotions; stopt utterance, except by flood of tears; and produced the reflection," If such be the kindness of this good lady to me, what must be the power of divine grace on the heart! and what the love of Christ to sinners! Mrs. R. returned to her lodging, fell on her knees, implored mercy through Jesus Christ, and was enabled to be lieve and apply the soul-reviving words, "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions, for mine own sake." "Healing oil," to use her own emphatic expression, "was poured all over her wounded and torn soul." Going, next Lord's Day, to the Chapel where she had been first convinced, the Minister was directed to preach on a similar subject, if not on the same com fortable passage; and the spiritual cure was greatly promoted. Mrs. R. added, while her dusky features beamed serenity, and her eyes were suffused with tears of joy, "I went to weep over a dead child, and I found a living Saviour P This excellent woman has been, for fifteen years, in full com munion with the Church of Christ; and has given clear and satisfying evidence, by purity of life, that she is washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. Evangelicana. ABDALLAH AND SABAT, INDIAN CONVERTS. 6 An Intercsting Narrative, taken from The Star in the East : ABDALLAH and SABAT were intimate friends; and being young men of family in Arabia, they agreed to travel together, and to visit foreign countries. They were both zealous Mahometans. Sabat is son of Ibrahim Sabat, a noble family of the line of Beni-Sabat, who trace their pedigree to Mahomet. The two friends left Arabia, after paying their adorations at the tomb of their prophet at Mecca, and travelled through Persia, and thence to Cabul. Abdallah was appointed to an office of state under Zemana Shah, King of Cabut; and Sabat left him there, and proceeded on a tour through artary. While Abdallah remained at Cabul, he was converted to the Christian faith by the perusal of a Bible, belonging (as is supposed) to a Christian from Armenia, then residing at Cabul *. Ia the Mahometan states, it is death for a man of rank to become a Christian. Abdallah endeavoured for a time to conceal his conversion; but finding it no longer possible, he determined to flee to some of the Christian churches near the Caspian Sea. He, accordingly, left Cabul in disguise; and had gained the great city of Bochara in Tartary, when he was met in the streets of that cily by his friend Sabat, who immediately recognized him. Sabat had heard of his conversion and flight, and was filled with indignation at nis conduct. Abdalian knew his danger, and threw himself at the feet of Sabat. He confessed that he was a Christian; and implored him, by the sacred tief their former friendship, to let him escape with his life. But, Sir,' said Sabat, when relating the story himself, I had no pity. I caused my servants to seize him; and i del vered him up to Morad Shaw, King of Bochara. He was sentenced to dic; and a herald went through the city of Bochara, announcing the time of his execution. An immense multitude attended, and the chief men of the city. I also went, and stood near to Abdallah. He was offered his life if he would abjure Christ,-the executioner standing by him with his sword in his hand. No!' said he, as if the proposition was impossible to be complied with, I cannot abjure Then one of his hands was cut off at the wrist he stood firm, his arm hanging by his side with but little motion. A physician, by the desire of the King, offered to heal the wound if he would recant. He made no answer, but looked up stedfastly towards Heaven (like Stephen, the first martyr) his eyes streaming with tears. He did not look with anger towards me he looked at me, but it was benignly, and with the countepance of forgiveness. His other hand was then cut off. But, Sir,' said Christ! : *The Armenian Christians in Persia, have among them a few copies of the Arabic Bible. |