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mare fell lame, or rest required it, he was glad to avail himself of a carriage. This was the case in March, 1765, when Miss Lewen took him in a post-chaise from Birmingham to Derby, where the new preaching-house was to be opened. On April 18th, from Newcastle, he says, "I went with her to Durham, and spent an hour with her father, who told me I had done his daughter more good than all the Physicians could do; and that he should be glad if she would go to London again at the approach of winter." December 18th, "Riding through the Borough," he says, 66 my mare fell with my leg under her. After resting a few minutes, I took a coach; but when I was cold, found myself much worse; being bruised on my right arm, my breast, my knee, leg, and ankle, which swelled exceedingly."

Eight days subsequently, he says, "My lameness mended, though but slowly." In a letter to his brother a few months afterwards, he says, "Miss Lewen gave me a chaise and a pair of horses." +

Mr. Christopher Hopper, who was stationed at Newcastle during these two years, 1765-6, seems to have communicated the further intelligence, that, by a will made in his favour, she had bequeathed him a legacy of £1,000;§ suggesting the application of the whole or part to the OrphanHouse at Newcastle, as Mr. Whitefield had, in a similar case, acted in reference to the Orphan-House in Georgia. Three days prior to Miss Lewen's death, he says, in reply to Mr. Hopper, "Miss Lewen's Will, probably, will be a nine days' wonder. Mr. Whitefield acted according to the light he had; but I durst not have done so, because I am God's steward for the poor." ||

Tuesday, November 31st, 1766, he says in his Journal, “I found it needful to hasten to Leytonstone; but I came too late. Miss Lewen died the day before, witnessing that good confession,

Nature's last agony is o'er,

And cruel sin subsists no more.'

So died Margaret Lewen! a pattern to all young women of fortune in England ; a real Bible Christian. So she rests from her labours, and her works do follow her." T

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The legacy was received the following year, and very speedily expended. "Hundreds and thousands," says Thomas Olivers, are for ever draining Mr. Wesley's pocket to the last shilling, as those about him are eye-witnesses; those in particular who a few years ago saw and expe

fifty miles in a chaise; but without riding near as much as I do now, I must never look for health. (Wesley's Works, vol. xii., p. 176.)

* Vol. iii., pp. 205, 207, 239.

+ Vol. iii., p. 240.

July 9th, 1766. See Works, vol. xii., p. 121.

§ It is related of the Rev. William Law, author of the "Serious Call," that he was once standing at the door of a shop in London, when a person unknown to him inquired his name, and whether he were born at King's-Cliffe, in Northamptonshire. Having received a satisfactory answer, he delivered a sealed paper directed to him, which contained a bank-note for £1,000. With this he founded an almshouse at Cliffe in 1727, and a school for the instruction and clothing of fourteen girls. "There is no proof," says Chalmers, "that this was given him in trust; he is therefore fully entitled to the merit of having employed it in the service of the poor." (Chalmers's Biographical Dictionary, vol. xx., p. 92.)

H Wesley's Works, vol. xii., p. 292.

Works, vol. iii., p. 268.

rienced his generosity in giving away, by fifties and hundreds, the £1,000 left him by Miss Lewen." *

Among those who were too late to share in the benefit of this legacy, was his sister, Mrs. Hall, as the following unpublished letter will prove, dated

"Kingswood, Oct. 6th, 1768.

"DEAR PATTY,-You do not consider, money never stays with me: it would burn me if it did. I throw it out of my hands as soon as possible, lest it should find a way into my heart. Therefore you should have spoken to me while I was in London, and before Miss Lewen's money flew away. However, I know not but I may still spare you £5, provided you will not say, 'I will never ask you again,' because this is more than you can tell; and you must not promise more than you can perform.

"O how busy are mankind! and about what trifles! Things that pass away as a dream. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, but to love and serve God.

"I am, dear Patty,

"Your ever affectionate

"J. WESLEY.

"To Mrs. Martha Hall, at the chapel-house in West-street, Seven-Dials, London."

In closing this paper it may not be irrelevant to remark, that though Mr. Wesley had lost £200 by the printing and sale of his Christian Library, he did not balance the account by a similar amount of profit on the sale of his History of England; for Olivers says, in 1777, "We heard him declare, about twelve months ago, I have now paid for the paper and printing of the History of England; and I find that I am about £200 in pocket by the sale of that work; but as life is uncertain, I will take care to dispose of it before the end of the week;' which he accordingly did. And a few days ago Mr. John Atlay told me, 'We must stop printing for a while; for Mr. Wesley gives away his money so fast, that I have none left for printing or paper. Indeed, the nation in general has long ago been fully satisfied on this head." +

City-Road, September 12th, 1845.

THOMAS MARRIOTT.

THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY OF THE SWEDISH LUTHERAN

CHURCH.

TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL BY THE REV. GEORGE SCOTT.

As no law requires the ceremony to be performed in the church, but few comparatively resort thither; and some regard it rather as a domestic matter, than anything belonging to the public congregation. Banns are always published, licences being unknown in the land.

The bridal pair standing before the Minister, surrounded, at some distance, by the friends, the service begins with this exhortation :— “In the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. "Beloved Christians! Matrimony is instituted by God himself, for the

* Olivers's "Rod for a Reviler," pp. 19, 20.

"A Rod for a Reviler," by T. Olivers. Ed. 1777, p. 20.

continuance of the community, the mutual aid of united partners, to lighten the burdens of life, alleviate its afflictions, and, by a careful training, promote the happiness of descendants. This institution is holy, holy are its obligations, holy its designs. The duty of the husband is to love and honour his wife, and, by good judgment and good-will, seek more and more to secure her confidence. So ought the wife also to respond to her husband with love and attachment, tenderly participating with him in the cares of their house, and so conducting herself that she may please the husband, to whom she is given as a help-meet for him. Both husband and wife ought to consider well that they have entered into an estate in which their common happiness requires that they on either side keep inviolable their marriage-covenant, by pains-taking attention to themselves and their duties endeavour to merit each other's esteem and love, and constantly exhibit to each other a true godly fear. It is of great weight to pray to God for such a partner, whose heart, open for truth and virtue, feels its duties, and the blessedness of practising them. Then matrimony is begun and continued according to God's will. Then is promoted, by this union, the highest social happiness on earth; and thereunto we, over this bridal pair, supplicate the Almighty's grace and blessing."

The Minister, then addressing the bridegroom, asks,

"Before God, who knows all things, and in presence of this congregation, I ask thee, A. B., if thou wilt have this C. D. to be thy wedded wife, and love her in adversity and prosperity?"

Answer.-"Yes."

The Minister repeats the question to the bride; and then takes the ring from the bridegroom, and prays,

"Lord, Almighty God! whose designs in the institution of matrimony are holy, wise, and beneficent, we beseech thee, behold graciously the union which these thy servants, with this token, ratify before thee. And let the promise be fulfilled on them which thou hast made known to all those who live purely according to thy word, and faithfully keep the engagement which thou, for the good of man, hast established. Amen."

The bridegroom resumes possession of the ring; and, both he and the bride holding it, he says,

"I, A. B., take thee, C. D., now as my wedded wife, to love thee in adversity and prosperity; and as a token give thee this ring."

The bride responds,

"I, C. D., take thee, A. B., now as my wedded husband, to love thee in adversity and prosperity; and as a token I receive this ring."

The bridegroom then places the ring on the fourth finger of the bride's left hand, the Minister saying,

"In the name of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen."

The Minister then declares :

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Seeing you have now taken each other into wedlock, and publicly, before God and this Christian congregation, acknowledge the same, therefore I, as God's servant, confirm this your marriage-covenant, in the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen."

The Lord's Prayer is then repeated, after which the Minister says, "That marriage is a sacred engagement, which cannot by the mere pleasure of man be dissolved, our Saviour teaches us in the Gospel by St. Matthew, nineteenth chapter, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth verses," (the passage is read,) the Minister adding :

"Consider these words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Never forget that your

marriage-covenant is irrevocable, and receive with patience and thanksgiving all that, in God's providence, may befall you. The Lord be with you, and lead you in his truth and fear now and for ever. Amen.

"Let us pray:

"Almighty, eternal God, unchangeable in grace and mercy, we pray thee that thou wouldest be pleased to fill the hearts of these thy servants with thy Holy Spirit, and graciously surround them with every spiritual and temporal blessing. Bless the engagement into which they have this day before thee entered. Give grace, that happiness and faithfulness may always meet in their house, unity and love render their toils delightful, and the virtues of descendants to the third and fourth generation gladden their old age. Hear, gracious God, their prayers, and be their refuge when they call upon thee. Guide them by thy counsel, that they, when their wanderings are ended, may be gathered into the everlasting habitations of the blessed, through thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Then, addressing the bridal pair, he says,

"God Almighty send his light and truth to preserve you all the days of your life. God's hand guard you. His holy angels conduct you. God, Father, and Son, and the Holy Spirit, cause his grace to be mighty over you. Amen.

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you everlasting peace; in the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

DR. THOMAS GOODWIN ON REV. XIII.*

THE state of the church, and her conflicts with Satan, the first four hundred years, being thus described, chap. xii., in the following chapters is set forth the state of the church from that period during the times of Antichrist; all which time there was, and is, both his false antichristian Church, and the true church, under him, running along together.

First, for Antichrist and his Church in chap. xiii.: and this sets forth unto us under the vision of a twofold beast, which points at the Pope, according to his double pretended claim of power and headship in the church.........

I take it, therefore, that this "number of his name" must be found in Europe, in some of these ten kingdoms, where the company are that pour out the vials.

Now, take the times of Popery before the Reformation; (that is, afore the time the Protestant kingdoms did first begin to cast off the Pope ;) and there were none that were suffered to have such a remiss (no, nor any lesser) kind of owning the beast; but must all (as they did) receive his mark, or his name, and be professed Papists, coming to mass, acknowledging the Pope, and worshipping his image; or they might not buy and sell, they might not live quietly as others did.

* We make no apology for inserting the following article from the pen of one of our old Divines. It occurs in Dr. Thomas Goodwin's Exposition of the Apocalypse, and refers to that unprotestantizing and antichristian spirit which at the present time works so painfully around us. Though written almost predictively, when compared with the late Tractarian doings, these sentiments appear like unto the narrations of history.-EDIT.

Therefore these that receive the "number of his name," must be some generation of men risen up since, and that also within those kingdoms (some of them) that have renounced the Pope. For within the Popish dominions, unto this day, either the Inquisition suffers none to profess less than the receiving his name at least, or in others, those that are of Papists the most moderate, yet receive the name of the beast at least, and so more than the "number of his name." But this "number of his name" seems to be a company that proceed not so far as to receive his character, professing themselves to be Priests of Rome, nor to receive his name; for they do not profess themselves to be Papists, and yet are of the "number of his name;" that is, do hold and bring in such doctrines and opinions, and such rites in worship, as shall make all men reckon, account, or number them among Papists in heart and affection; and so they are of the "number of his name ;" that is, in account such; they behave themselves so as they are, and deserve to be, accounted and esteemed Papists, and to aim at Popery, in the judgment of all orthodox and Reformed Protestants; and that justly: for although their profession deny it, yet, when their actions, and their corrupting of doctrine and worship, shall speak it to all men's consciences, they cannot but judge that the Pope, and the fear of him, is before their eyes; as David speaks of wicked men. And as those in Titus, that profess they know God, yet in their works deny him, are justly accounted atheists; so those that shall profess the Reformed religion, yet in all their practices and underhand policies depress it, and advance the Popish party, are justly to be accounted Papists, and to have received the "number of his name."

The phrase, “number of his name," is not only taken for a name consisting of numeral letters, and so not only for number arithmetical, but the word "number" is in many languages put for the account, reckoning, or esteem that is commonly had of men; as in Latin we say, he is one nullius numeri, "of no number or account.".

So, then, "number of a name " is a common esteem or account to be such or such an one; and so the number of the beast's name here is, the common repute or esteem to be a Papist, procured through underhand advancing of the Popish cause. It being therefore spoken in a distinct and lower degree from receiving his name or his mark, (which note out an open profession,) doth yet necessarily import so much inclining and cleaving to him (though secretly) as shall deserve that account and repute to be so numbered, as being indeed tacitly, and in heart, as truly of his company as those that receive his name. Now, if in opening the meaning of the Holy Ghost in the phrase here, this description shall seem to the life to picture out a generation of such kind of Popish persons as these in any, even the most famous, of the Reformed Churches, certainly there will not want good ground for it for though they, with an impudent forehead, renounce the Pope's character, and the name of Papists, and will by no means be called Priests of Baal, (though Priests they affect to be called,) but boast themselves to be of the Reformation, and opposites to the Papal faction; yet with as much impudence do they bring in an image of Popish worship and ceremonies, adding to some old limbs, never cast out, other substantial parts, of altars, crucifixes, second service, and the like, so to make up a full likeness in the public service to that of the Popish Church; they bring in the carcase first, which may afterwards be inspired with the same opinions. And all this not as Popery, or with the annexion of Popish, idolatrous opinions; but upon such grounds only as upon which Protestants themselves have continued some other ceremonies.

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