had much the appearance of a divine judgment. That is said to have been remarkably the case with several of the principal adversaries of Henry Williams. Two of them were justices of the peace. One of these died suddenly one day, as he was eating his dinner; the other, as he was returning home drunk from Newtown, fell into the Severn, and was drowned. A third, (it was I think the high sheriff, or his deputy,) who had been active in seizing, and taking away the cattle and goods of our pious sufferer, fell off his horse, sometime after, within sight of the injured man's house, and broke his neck. Similar instances were then observ ed as not unfrequently occurring, and they would sometimes have a considerable effect upon the surviving persecutors, and the public, as indications of a particular providence, and of the displeasure of God against the enemies of religious liberty, and the violators of the rights of conscience. Too often, however, such ideas were disregarded, and such occurrences thought nothing of, as if it had been beneath the Almighty, to notice the atrocious deeds of his rational creatures, or to sustain the character of the moral Governor of the world, and the Judge of all the earth. Thomas's Hist. of the Welsh Baptists. RUTH JACKSON. Obituary. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. Dear Sir, The happy death of a pious young woman, about three months ago, at Weldon, in Northamptonshire, seems to have made a considerable impression on the minds of of those about her in favour of religion. Her name was Ruth Jack son, a daughter of one of the dea cons of the Baptist Church at Gretton. A funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Sumpter, at Gretton, and another by Mr. Pickering, the Independent minister of Brig stock, at Weldon. The account given of her, partly by Mr. Sumpter, at the close of his sermon, and partly by her father, in a letter to me, was in substance as follows: She was born on Sept. 26, 1795. When about ten years old, she had very serious thoughts on her accountableness for the sermons she had heard, and the awfulness of dying without an interest in Christ, These thoughts, however, wore off, and for some years she seemed to live without that good hope through grace, which so distinguished her latter end. But, in the early stages' of her affliction, it pleased God to renew her convictions, and to deepen them. Mr. Sumpter one day' visiting her, asked her whether she could sing "Sweet Affliction."* She made little or no answer, being at that time much depressed. After Mr. S. was gone, she wept bitterly, and said to her mother, “Mr. S. will see what a poor creature I am. I can say nothing about the things of God, and my interest in them." About three days after this, while engaged in prayer, by * Hymn of Mr. Pearce, composed under his last affliction. joy herself, light broke in upon her mind in a surprising manner. She lost all her fears, and was filled with in a believing view of Christ. I am thine,' said she, and thou art mine! Now I can sing "Sweet affliction, sweet affliction, that brings Jesus to my soul!" Speaking of this change from darkness and dejection to light and peace, she said afterwards, I cried unto the Lord, and he delivered me!' From this time to the close of her life she possessed almost uninterrupted peace and serenity of mind; and, on many occasions, a very high degree of enjoyment. During the last half year of her Sumpter,) she has often expressed to me the pleasure she enjoyed in communion with the ever blessed God. On my asking her if she had no fear of her own heart deceiving her, she answered to this effect, I know that the heart is deceitful above all things, but the enjoyment that I, have had in thinking of Christ cannot be delusion. I feel religion to be a solemn reality. What should I do if I had a Saviour to seek? I feel that sin is a great evil, or the Son of God would not have come into the world and suffered as he did, to make atonement for it. I know God would have been just if he had cut me off in my sins and sent me to hell. I often think it a great mercy that I was born of religious parents. I have often had pleasing anticipations of heaven, longing to be with Christ-Christ has been very precious to me.' life, (says Ms : To the same purport her father writes in the summer of 1814"She was heavily afflicted, but very happy never repining under it. 'I would not change my situation,' she would say, with any one. The sense I have had of the love of Jesus has made this affliction more pleasurable than painful. Come, my Jesus-Come death, for thou hast lost thy sting-Welcome death, to take me home-Pray that I may have patience!" Her views of the divine character and the way of salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus, were very clear and consistent: Her joy on some occasions was unutterable. When she has been so very ill that we have thought her just expiring, she has revived, and said with a pleasant smile, Happy! happy! I thought I was going, but must stay a little longer-it will not be long-a few more fits, and I shall be where there is no affliction-Pray that I may have patience. I am so happy, that it bears me quite above my pains-O, the mercy and goodness of God! I know not how to express my thankfulness-I long to be gone, that I may praise him as I would I cannot mourn at parting with you, my dear friends-I hope we shall meet again in heaven. She would repeat with delight the 550th hymn of the selection, “Ah, I shall soon be dying, The sabbath morning before she died, the sun shining into her room, she said, 'I am spared to see the light of another sabbath morning this I did not expect I hope it will not be long ere I begin an eternal sabbath-The Lord hath hitherto been my support, and I believe he will guide me safely through-He will not leave me--I cannot doubt his love and kindness! In the evening I returned from worship. Looking at her, I said, 'my Ruth, we shall be sorry to part with you.' Why, father,' said she, it will be well for you, and well for me.' Between two and three o'clock, on Lord's day morning, October 9th, she breathed her last, without a groan, or hardly a sigh to be perceived." GAIUS. MR. W. STOCKELL, Was born at Hunmanby in the east riding of Yorkshire, in November, 1741. At an early period of life, the Lord was pleased to call him by his grace, and reveal his Son in him. In the course of divine providence he was brought to converse with a pious man, (a member of the Baptist church, at Bridlington,) who had gone to reside at Hunmanby for a few years, and was made the mean both of leading him, and several other young people, sincerely to ask the way to Zion, who became burning and shining lights in their day. The subject of this memoir, being much attached to reading, his friend put into his hands Dr. Watts's Miscellaneous Thoughts, which were read by him with peculiar pleasure. After this circumstance, as Hunmanby was not at this time favored with the light of the Gospel, he regularly attended at the Baptist chapel at Bridlington, about eight miles distant, and grew in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. At about the age of 22 years, he made a public profession of his faith in the Redeemer by baptism, and was received a member in that church. He soon afterwards went to Lon don, for improvement in his business, and regularly attended and communicated with the Lord's people at Dr. Stennett's. About two years after, he returned to Bridlington, and settled there, marrying a member of the same religious community. Here our late departed friend continued, much esteemed by his Christian brethren, and by almost all that knew him, until his decease being upwards of 50 years from his Baptism. He was a man of strong natural powers, of deep penetration, and had considerably improved his mind by reading, me ditation, and observation. In his business he was diligent; in all his transactions in life, just and honest; in conversation with his friends, cheerful and instructive; in his family, orderly and regular: in all his religious exercises there was a happy mixture of reverence and zeal, but in prayer, and (to judge by the effects) particularly in family prayer, very prevalent: for, though his heavenly Father visited him with many severe and afflictive chastisements, three of his children out of four, being all taken away in the very prime of their days, yet he had the consolation of sufficient evidence being previously given by each of them, of a divine change in their hearts, so as to cause him not to sorrow, as those without hope. In the church he was peaceful, ornamental, and highly useful: for many years he officiated in the capacity of clerk, without receiving any reward, also occasionally acting as Deacon, and was one of the last surviving Trustees of the place. He was well read in the scriptures, the word of God dwelt in him richly in all wisdom, and he was firmly established in the leading doctrines of the Gospel: He was a daily admirer of the sovereignty and freeness of divine grace; and, while he sighed under the workings of indwelling sin; he was modest and humble: conscious of many imper fections, he saw the necessity of daily becoming a mourning penitent at the foot of the cross. He ardently longed for the prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom universally, but that branch of Zion with which he was more immediately connected, lay near to his heart, and he was a constant attendant in the courts of the Lord's house as long as health would permit; also a principal leader and promoter of prayer meetings, and, as it were, an oracle for youthful inquirers towards zion. It had long been the language of his heart, as it was of his lips, a day or two previous to his departure, one thing have I desired, and that have I sought after, that I might dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to see the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his holy temple." In general he enjoyed a tolerable degree of health, until about a year before his death, but during the last two months previous thereto, he rapidly declined; yet under his afflictions he was patient and resigned. The power and faithfulness of his Redeemer, the oath and promise of his God, supported him in the swellings of Jordan, "the Lord (he said) a few hours prior to his decease, is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever." Little more than an hour before he yielded up the ghost, he was devoutly engaged in prayer, as though praying with his family, for several minutes. He spake little after; and desiring to be let alone that he might go to sleep, he calmly, and, as it were, literally, without a struggle or a groan, fell asleep in the arms of death, while his immortal spirit took its flight to join the company of the Redeemer and the church triumphant, on the morning of the 25th of December, -1813, aged 72 years. Bridlington. H. hovah hath singularly blessed him in calling sinners, comforting and building up in faith and holiness, those who have through grace believed. An almost unparalleled scene of grief and lamentation pervaded the parish and its vicinity. He has left behind him an affectionate and pious widow, and seven children. I saw him on Friday previous to his death; upon entering the room, he said, "O! what a mercy it is for me to have a God in my affliction." To his wife sometime before, he said, "the principles maintained by me, now support me." In the course of the night, I asked how he felt himself, as it respected bis best interest. He replied "Quite comfortable, not one single doubt." His difficulty of breathing prevented us saying much to him. On the Lord's day morning, after the doctor had been with him, he asked me what the doctor thought of him, I told him he was considered dangerous; but I trust, said I, you know in whom you have believed; he replied, "Yes, all is well, blessed be God, glory he to his name." About half an hour afterwards, he sweetly fell asleep in Jesus. His mortal remains were deposited in the silent tomb, October 1st, and his departure was improved by several funeral sermons, by his Rector, the Rev. Mr. Budd, and several dissenting ministers in the neighbourhood. Potters Street. J. B.. REV. J. G. THOMSON, On Lord's day the 25th of Sept. 1814, died much lamented, the Rev. J. G. Thomson, Curate of White Roothing, Essex, after an illness of ten days, which terminated in an ulcerated sore throat. For six years past, the triune Je Vol. VII. QUERY. What cause will justify a Church of Christ, in excluding a Memberis it the magnitude of the crime committed, or the impenitent state of the mind of that Member? Ꮮ The Principles and Prospects of a Servant of Christ. A sermon delivered at the funeral of the late Rev. J. Sutcliff, A.M. of Olney, June 28th, 1814, with a brief Memoir of the deceased; by Andrew Fuller. Gardiner and Son. The long and close intimacy that had subsisted between the preacher of the above sermon, and the highly respected friend, whose departure it was intended to improve, must have rendered the occasion peculiarly solemn and affecting. "I feel a difficulty," says Mr. F. "in speaking on this occasion. A long and intimate friendship, cemented by a similarity of views, and a co-operation in ministerial and missionary labours, produces a feeling somewhat resembling that of a near relation; who, on such an occasion, instead of speaking, must wish to be indulged in silent grief. But the request of my deceased brother cannot be refused." The text, selected by Mr. Sut cliff, we are informed, as expressive of his last sentiments, and his future prospects, is Jude xx. 21. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faitli, praying in the holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto eternal life." In unison with the views of the deceased, Mr. F. after adverting to the occasion on which the passage is introduced, considers it as suggesting principles constituting true religion, and the prospects which those principles furnish, as to a blessed hereafter. Under the first general division we meet with the following Remarks. True evange lical religion is here represented as a building, the foundation of which is laid in the faith of Christ-Re 66 ligion which has its foundation in the faith of Christ, will increase by "praying in the Holy Ghost"-By means of building ou our most holy faith, and praying in the Holy Ghost, we keep ourselves in the love of God.'-When we have done all, in looking for eternal life, we must keep our eye singly and solely on "the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ." The Under the second division, viz. The prospects which these principles furnish, as to a blessed hereafter, the following remarks occur. first exercise of mercy, which the Scriptures direct us to look for, on diate reception into the presence of our leaving the body, is—an immeChrist, and the society of the spirits of just men mude perfect-Another stream of mercy for which we are directed to look, will attend the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and consist in the dead being raised, and the living changedAnother pertains to the last judg ment-and after that, eternal life. These remarks, which are illustrated and applied in the author's impressive manner, are followed by a short and affectionate address to the auditory, suited to the occasion of a separation of a pastor and peo ple; and to the whole is subjoined the interesting memoir of the deceased, which will be found in the beginning of this number, We cannor forbear making one extract, referring the reader to the sermon itself for a very high gratification, which the perusal has, in no small degree, afforded us. "One of the sentences uttered by your deceased pastor, when drawing near his end, was, I wish I had prayed more. This was one of those weighty sayings, which are not unfrequently ut |