him; still he could not see how it was possible for a child of God to be tempted as he was. He went the next week to bear Mr. Joss again, when the good old man preached from Heb. iv. 15, "But was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." These two sermons were so much blessed to his soul, that he seemed to retain the savour of them to his dying day; they were frequently the subject of conversation, and seldom without tears. Our friend was baptized by Mr. Tomas in October, 1781, was received into communion with the Pithay church, and for about seven years walked with that people in the exercise of the warmest love, and happiest fellowship. The gourd was pleasant, he was delighted to sit under it, but soon found there was a worm at the root of it. Such were the arrangements of a divine Providence, that he must leave his native city and his beloved friends to reside in the metropolis; this was a trial indeed, and so unsettled his mind that he did not unite with any church in London for several years; he chiefly attended and broke bread at Devonshire Square, but for years hoped the Lord would lead him back to Bristol again. At length his mind settled upon uniting with Little Alie Street. It is singular he happened to go to hear the late Mr. Shenston, on the first Lord's day of his pastorate in that place, February, 1798, and there he continued the rest of his life. He was received a member of Little Alie Street, June 3, 1798, and through the long period of fifty-one years his conduct was such as adorned the Christian character. On the 29th of September, 1806, he was chosen to the office of deacon, and during the space of forty-three years, sustained that office with great credit to himself and satisfaction to his fellow members. A brother deacon, who was intimately acquainted with him, and who travelled with him for nearly fifty years in the ways of God, says, "Our deceased friend feared God above many, and it might with some degree of limitation be said of him, he was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith." He was a warm admirer of the truth as it is in Jesus: the sovereign, electing love, grace, and mercy of a triune God, were the delightful themes on which he loved to dwell. He always esteemed a ministry that embraced doctrine, experience, and practice, with all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, as once delivered to the saints and practised by the apostles. He loved and promoted the peace and welfare of Zion, preferring the prosperity of the cause of God above his chief joy. The writer feels pleasure in stating that, during their long acquaintance, nothing has occurred in the least degree to diminish affection: no angry word or unkind expression having ever been uttered by one towards the other for the period of fifty years. The last several years of his life he passed under trying circumstances; he could not see to read, and his

hearing was so affected that he could seldom hear a sermon, but his mind was well stored with the word of God, and his memory wa so retentive, that he was seldom without a subject for meditation. The prayer-meeting at nine o'clock on the Lord's day morning wa his delight, and there he was able to be the last sabbath he spent upon earth, and, as had been his practice for many years, did not leave the sanctuary till the close of the evening service. On the Monday he was taken ill, and sank apace till his departure. During the four or five days of his dying illness, his mind was blessedly stayed upon the "Rock of ages."

Our aged and honourable friend calmly breathed his last on Friday afternoon, about half-past five o'clock, August 24, 1849, having been in church fellowship nearly sixtyeight years. Peace be to his memory! and may we who are left be helped to imitate him in all that is lovely, live as honourably and usefully, and die as peacefully as he did.

MRS. SCROXTON.

Ann Scroxton, the wife of Mr. Scroxton, formerly pastor of the baptist church, Bromsgrove, was born in the year 1778, baptized in 1800, and received her dismission from the church below to the church above, July 17th, 1849.

Her life was a life of humble usefulness. When able, few were more attentive to the claims of sick beds than she was, and what she was able to give few were more willing than herself to give. She was a baptist, and she loved her denomination; she was more, she was a Christian philanthropist, and loved the whole family of God. Whoever bore Christ's image she looked upon as her bro ther; wherever Christ was preached she could feel at home; whatever section of Christ's church prospered, she rejoiced; whatever section suffered, she mourned. For fortynine years she has been enabled through good report and through evil report, grace strengthening her, to maintain a good profession. For forty-nine years she has stood a pillar in the sanctuary of God, and been a mother in Israel, nursing the young, tending the sick, encouraging the diffident, holding up her minister's hands by her constant prayers and exertions, cheering their hearts by her constant attendance, and setting before all an example worthy of imitation.

Death, though he came to her heralded by messengers of severe bodily anguish, she welcomed as a friend. No murmur escaped her lips. The language of her heart was, "If it is God's will that I should endure sufferings, let God's will be done; all I ask for is patience to keep me from complaining, and grace to sustain me. Then let the furnace burn, it will only consume what wants consuming, and prepare me for those blessed

employments above for which I need preparation. Do with me, Lord, as seemeth good in thy sight. What have I suffered, what can I suffer, compared with what my precious Jesus suffered for a guilty rebel like me?"

The most minute arrangements for the last struggle the laying out of the forsaken tabernacle, the coffin, shroud, bearers, and all the sad accompaniments of death-she made with as much composure as if she had been arranging for a change of earthly residence.

"Oh what," said she at one time, "should I be without religion? What would earthly helpers be now if I had only these to look to? What should I do had I nothing but this world, now this world is passing away? How could I bear my sufferings if I had not my precious Saviour to stand by me and help me, if I had not exceeding great and precious promises to lay hold of? These save me from sinking in deep waters, and these sustain my fainting spirit. Christ has been very good to me all my life; he has caused me to lie down in green pastures, he has fed me with the finest of the wheat. Oh, what a privilege have I enjoyed under the ministry of my dear affectionate pastor (Mr. Sneath) ! Oh, what edification and consolation have I derived from it! I feed upon it, and extract comfort from it now. Truly' have the lines fallen to me in pleasant places.' And oh, how good is my heavenly Father to me now! How many comforts have I? how many helpers? how many kind friends? These I might have been destitute of, as multitudes are. I deserve nothing more than others, though God has given me more."

At another time, addressing her aged husband, she said, "Should my dear minister think that anything ought to be said, when I am gone, of such a poor, unworthy creature as I am, it has long been my wish that the same text which my dear mother chose for her funeral sermon, should be used on the occasion of my death- For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.' These words have afforded me consolation for a very long period in the prospect of death. They do so still, amidst all my sufferings. Oh, I long to leave this poor, worn out body of sin and death, and to rise to the possession of that inheritance which my Father has in reserve for me. I long to leave these fetters, and to enjoy the liberty-the sweet liberty-of the children of light. I long to see the heavenly Canaan, the home of the saints; but more, far more, do I long to see my dear, my precious Saviour. If I have any wish towards earth, it is that my guardian spirit may be permitted to hover about you, poor old creature! to cheer your tottering footsteps, to minister to your wants, and to watch over and protect the forms of my dear children."

VOL. XII.-FOURTH SERIES.

She felt a peculiar concern for the eternal welfare of her youngest son-residing at a distance-who she feared was so immersed in the cares and anxieties of this world's business, as to render him regardless of those far greater and more momentous concerns which relate to the soul and eternity. Her constant prayer was, "Oh, that Ishmael might live!" On the morning of the day on which he came down to pay his last visit to his beloved mother, she had been pouring out her soul to God for him, and exclaiming, "Oh that these arms could once more embrace my dear boy!" On telling her of his arrival, she cried out, "Bless the lad; let me see him." When he came to her she put forth all her strength, raised her poor, wasted arms, and fixing her eyes earnestly upon him, with deep solemnity and maternal affection, said, "Oh, my son, shall we meet again?" "Yes, mother," said he, "I hope there is no doubt of it." "Ah!" said the dear, anxious mother, "my dear child, there is no doubt of it, if you love and fear God with all your heart. But, oh, if you do not?-here, here is the doubt. Í hope we shall, God grant we may."

During the last fortnight of her illness, her strength was so prostrated, and her pains so severe, that she expressed her desire that none of her dear friends, and no more of her dear family than were absolutely necessary to wait upon her, should visit her. If she saw them she should want, and, perhaps, be expected to say something to them, which would be extremely painful to her to attempt to do. Then, she said, it would bring down her thoughts and affections again from heavenly to earthly things, and trouble her to see them troubled. Her aged husband was permitted to see her twice a-day; though the sight of him-unable to hide the grief which filled his heart, as he beheld the anguish of one he had loved so long and so ardently-sufferings which baffled the tenderness of friends, and the power of medicine to alleviate,-touched her heart. She watched, with almost eager gaze as far as her eyes could follow, his retiring footsteps, and would then break out,-" Bless those dear white locks! Oh, who will tend those tottering footsteps when I am gone? Lord, do thou be his helper, comforter, rod, and staff."

At length the last cord that held the dear captive down to earth was, by the mandate of her Sovereign, snapped asunder. Earth mingled with its kindred earth, and the enfranchised spirit

"Stretched its glad wings and soared away,

To seats prepared above."

Her sufferings were excruciating; but not a murmur escaped her lips. She had a rough road to pass down to the river; but shining ones were there, and she could say— "His way was much rougher and darker than mine, Did Christ, my Lord, suffer, and shall I repine?" 4 x

MRS. ANDERSON.

Died at Birkby, near Maryport, Cumberland, on the 17th August last, in the 31st year of her age, Sarah Abigail, the wife of Hugh Anderson, baptist minister, late of Maryport, now of Bratton, Wilts. Noiseless but useful was that short and rapid course she was destined to run. Called by divine grace while entering upon and beginning to enjoy the gaieties of this world, she bid them adieu without regret, took up the cross, and meekly followed him who called her. While on a visit to a family in the neighbourhood, of which the mother and one son, now a missionary in India, were under the influence of religion, she had the opportunity of witnessing the power of true piety to elevate the character and impart a habitual serenity to the mind. This awakened impressions which a dying mother's prayers had early made, but which had long gone to sleep amid the vanities with which childhood and youth are beset. The truth once received, produced so entire a change of feeling and pursuits, and the love of God, in bringing her out of darkness into marvellous light, was SO habitually present to her mind, that never after did she feel a doubt of her interest in Christ, though often humbled to self-loathing by a sense of her own unworthiness, and the power of indwelling sin. With this assurance of her acceptance with God, her Christian character was every way consistent. One who knew her well, a pious lady, and member of the established church, writes thus on hearing of her death:-" Her simple, affectionate demeanour, her single eye and unworldly Christian disposition, greatly attached me to her; one felt improved in her society, and wished for more of it. She always appeared to know less and care less about what was passing in the world than almost any other woman, the duties of a Christian wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend, engaging her whole concern."

It was shortly after her conversion to God that her attention was turned to the subject of Christian baptism. In this the New Testament was her only guide, but that was enough. She soon saw the path of duty, and though to enter it threatened to break up some cherished associations, with her to know was to do the will of God. She was baptized, and joined the church in Maryport in February, 1840.

Her health began to decline in the autumn of last year; but it was not till the following spring that apprehensions of danger were fully awakened by indications of that insidious malady which cuts off so many in the bloom of youth or prime of life. She was early sensible of her approaching decay; and "when the leaf falls," said she, "I shall fall too." But there was nothing gloomy in her prospects of the future; not one expression

of regret ever dropped from her lips, nor did one look that indicated fear ever shade her countenance. Her lamp was trimmed, and the midnight call found her in the quiet discharge of every domestic duty, and in the exercise of every Christian grace. One cloud was permitted, for a few hours, to darken her mind, and she complained, with tears-the only tears she had shed for many a daythat a thick veil spread before her when she looked to Christ; but this was soon removed, and she enjoyed the light of His countenance till she entered on the inheritance of the saints in everlasting light. As the last change drew on, and breathing was laborious, "This is hard work," said she, "but it will soon be over." Then a sweet smile having passed over her face, she was asked if the Lord was now with her? "He is, he is," she hastily replied. Observing the ill-suppressed emotion of her partner, she said, with great difficulty, "Cast down? Not at all, not at all." A few minutes more, and her ransomed spirit had passed into the presence of Him whose grace was the spring of all her excellence.

The following extract from one of the many letters received from Christian friends on the occasion of her death, though intended only for the eye of friendship, is kindly permitted to be added here. It is from the pen of one who is well known to, and esteemed by most of the readers of the Baptist Magazine.

"To know your dear wife was to love her. From the first day I saw her I have cherished for her the warmest fraternal affection, and the respect which her character then inspired was increased and confirmed in every succeeding visit to your house. I never knew a more beautiful example of quiet, unassuming piety. There was in it no approach to tameness. In her it was a rare and finely proportioned combination of Christian gentle ness and earnestness, each heightening the charm and attractiveness of the other. I have often, very often, after I have left Maryport, dwelt with pleasure on a picture of her which memory placed before my

mind's eye,' realizing to me her looks and attitude when listening to God's word in his house, and in the family. On these occasions she always seemed to me a living personification of our Lord's command, Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.' When I last saw her, I was painfully struck with her weakness and languor, against which her kind heart and devout spirit, nevertheless, successfully struggled in the cheerful discharge of every service of love, social and religious. The impression left on my mind by her whole asspect, demeanour, and state of feeling, was, that God was preparing her for a speedy departure to her heavenly home. The tidings of her death did not, therefore, surprise me,

and yet few events of the kind have more powerfully affected me. I need hardly assure you that I have remembered you and the dear children where remembrance is most availing."

W. ADAMS, ESQ.

Died, August 7th, aged 74, W. Adams, Esq., for many years deacon of the church in St. Andrew's Street, Cambridge. A brief memoir of this excellent individual, from the pen of his pastor the Rev. Robert Roff, may be expected to appear in our number for December.

MISS WICKENDEN.

Died, at Birmingham, on Lord's day, September 2nd, 1849, in her 76th year, Miss Mary Burt Wickenden. It was her high privilege to be, from a very early age, the subject of religious impressions, which she always delighted to ascribe instrumentally to the care and tender culture of parents preeminent for piety, who had the satisfaction of witnessing the whole of their children, seven in number, united to the church of Christ.

In the year 1796, the subject of this brief notice was baptized and united to the church assembling in Carter Lane, London, under the pastoral care of Dr. Rippon. From this period to that of her decease the consistency of her Christian character, and the amiability of her disposition, endeared her to society and to the church. As her life was one of unruffled tranquillity, so her end was that of perfect peace. She was interred at the cemetery, by her pastor, the Rev. T. Swan. She rests in Jesus.

MISCELLANEA.

POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS.

At the beginning of October the religious portion of the public in the metropolis were surprised and grieved to learn that the clerks and letter-sorters in the Central Post Office had received orders to be there on Lord's day, the 14th of the month, as a new arrangement was to take effect on that day for the transmission of letters through London to the country. It was known that, of the seven or eight hundred persons employed at St. Martin's le Grand, large numbers valued their sabbaths highly; and it was soon found that these were smitten with dismay. An energetic determination to oppose the measure soon showed itself in various quarters. A meeting of merchants and bankers was held in the Commercial Hall, at which the Lord Mayor presided. At Willis's Rooms a meeting took place, at which the Bishop of London took the chair. The Committee of the Sunday School Union summoned a

meeting of teachers, who assembled in sufficient numbers, on Monday evening, the 8th, to fill the large room in Exeter Hall. On the 9th instant, the ministers of the Baptist Board assembled and agreed to the following resolutions :

"Resolved unanimously,

"I. That, in the opinion of this Board, the arrangements announced by the Postmaster-General for the sabbath day are earnestly to be deprecated;transmission of letters through London on the

"1. As, in relation to the persons who may be employed under them, a pernicions infringement of the divinely-appointed day of rest, and a grievous disqualification for the important duties of religion.

"2. As bearing with especial severity on those servants of the public in this department, who, in addition to attendance on divine service, are accustomed to employ themselves as Sunday-school teachers, or otherwise, in modes of benevolent, Christian activity.

"3. As tending to repel all religious and conscientious men from the service of the Post-Office,-a

service in which, more than in any other depart

ment of the government, the interest of the public demands the constant exercise of a scrupulous integrity.

sion of Sunday labour in the General Post-Office, "4. As too probably leading to a further extento which, when once begun for 'public convenience," no fixed or visible limit can be assigned.

"II. That the foregoing resolution be advertised in the Patriot and the Nonconformist, and that a copy of it, signed by the chairman and the secretary, be forwarded to the Postmaster-General and the First Lord of the Treasury."

In the morning of the same day, a meeting of the General Body of Dissenting Ministers residing in and near the cities of London and Westminster was held, at which the following memorial to the sovereign was unanimously adopted :

To the Queen's most Gracious Majesty.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, "We, your majesty's loyal and dutiful subjects, constituting the General Body of Dissenting Ministers of the Three Denominations residing in and about the cities of London and Westminster, approach your majesty with renewed assurances of our unfeigned attachment and devotedness.

66

Deeply interested in the moral and religious welfare of this great metropolis, and in some measure alive, as we ought to be, to the changes of various kinds by which it may be affected, we have been constrained to view with the gravest anxiety and apprehension the order issued by your majesty's Postmaster-General, providing for the transmission of letters through the General Post-Office on the sabbath day.

"We feel the most confident assurance that it is your majesty's wish that every agent of your government should have the fullest possible enjoyment of the hallowed day of rest, for the sake both of its temporal and its spiritual benefits.

"We respectfully declare to your majesty our belief, however, that the change now