DEATH OF THE REV. T. SPENCER. Ir is with much concern that we relate the particulars of this painful event, which has excited a sensation at Liverpool, and in the religious world in general, which has been seldom equalled. In January last Mr. S. took an af fectionate leave of Hoxton Academy, from these words: None of these things move me; neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy. Little, however, did his friends think that his Course would prove so short. - At Liverpool he cominenced his stated la bours on the first Sabbath in February; and so acceptable were his services, that crowds attended, and crowds went away who could not gain admittance within the walls. Never was such a Spirit of hearing (says a correspondent) in this great, wicked, place before.' In consequence of this, a considerable subscription was entered into for the erection of a New Chapel, on a large scale, 96 feet by 65; and Mr. S laid the first stone, April 15, in the presence of 5000 persons. June 12th he was ordained; Mr. Hordle, of Harwich (with whom Mr. S. had resided the year preceding his admission at Hoxton) gave the charge, and is said to have used the following expression, which has unhappily proved prophetic Your ordination service may be only a prelude to your funeral service.' On this occasion Messrs. Evans (of Stockport) Fletcher, Cockin of Hallifax, and Steil, engaged in the different parts of worship. The ser vice was performed in Mr. Medley's Chapel, as being larger than Mr. Spencer's. On August 4th, the Sabbath preceding his death, Mr. S. preached twice, and administered the Lord's supper. His discourse on this day made particular impression on his congregation; and we have been favoured with a few particulars. The morning service was founded ou these words: I have loved thee with an everlasting love, and therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.' He shewed that the people of God were drawn, 1. To his throne;-2, To his cross; 3, To his church and hat all was the effect of loving-kiotness. At the ordinance his address is said to have been uncom monly striking; and in the evening he Breached from One thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part, &c. Communion with Christ, and Mary's happy choice, were considered as the leading ideas of the text; and in his conclusion, he made a forcible apyoung friends, on the importance of peal to his auditors, particularly his immediate decision on the side of Christ. On this occasion, he said it might not be long before he should meet them at the bar of God; and that, if the salvation of Christ were not ac cepted by them, he must be constrained to bear witness against them.' effect (says one of his hearers) which this remark produced, was wonderful. The solemnity which impressed the minds of the audience was visible in their countenances; and the remem brance of it will, it is to be hoped, never be forgotten.' The unusually cheerful; and when the conAt supper the same evening, he was versation turned upon sudden death, he expatiated on the delightful change to the believer. These things are not mentioned however to intimate that he had any particular premonition of his lived as every Christian, and especially sudden death, but to shew that he every minister, ought to live, in the habitual sense of the uncertainty of huwa life. God On the Monday morning he recited Cowper's celebrated hymn, moves in a mysterious way,' &c.; and little more than half an hour before he left this world of sin and sorrow, in conversation with a young person but just admitted into his church, he resumed the subject of his discourse on happiness of communion with Jesus, the preceding evening, conversed on the and strongly recommended closetprayer. About eleven o'clock he left home, and went down to the beach, and talked with a person who had just left in the water, on the best place to bathe meeting another person, consulted him He walked in to his middle, and plunged to rise no more! It is diffi also; then walking in breast high, cult to account for the immediate cause of this catastrophe. It has been supposed that it might be occasioned by the declivity of a rock suddenly sinking about 18 inches; by this means it is supposed he lost his standing, and was not able to recover, though he could swim a little. The last person ance; and Mr. Smith of the Pottery, to whom he spoke, swam to his assistordered out two beats, and went with several of his servants to seek the body, which after a search of about 50 minutes, was found by a gentleman who plunged in for that purpose, but a few yards from the spot in which he first sunk. By the time he was brought to shore, two surgeous were waiting, another medical gentleman arrived at the moment, and three others soon after. All the water being first discharged from the body, it was then wrapped in fl Del, and removed to the house of Mr. Smith (above mentioned) where all possible means were used for its resuscitation, and persevered in till about five o'clock in the afternoon,—but alas! utterly in vain! Thus prematurely was this amiable youth removed from scenes which promised very extensive usefulness, and every earthly comfort, and consigned to the cold embrace of Death before he attained the age of art. It was not three months since he pronounced the funeral oration for his friend Mr. White, of Chester, formerly of Hertford, where Mr. S. used to attend his ministry, and where his parents survive to mingle the tears of parental affection with the public grief. The high esteem in which Mr. Spen. cer was held in Liverpool, may be seen in the following account of his funeral, received from one of the members of his church. Nothing in Liverpool (says he) ever excited so much public attention as the death of this excellent young minister This is confirmed by what took place at his funeral on Tuesday morning (August 13). All the streets, from his late residence, to the chapelyard were crowded with people; the windows of every house full; and when the procession arrived in sight, you might almost have walked on the people's heads. I can compare it to nothing but Lord Nelson's funeral in London. Seven medical gentlemen, and twelve ministers went first, four A on each side the corpse. Mr. Spencer's brother followed it; but he was so deeply affected, that he could not walk without assistance. All the gentlemen of the congregation followed *. solemn and impressive oration was deHivered by the Rev. Joseph Fletcher of Blackburn, who had preached on the preceding Sabbath to the afflicted congregation; and Messrs. Charrier, Stennett, Lister, and May, engaged in prayer, &c. On Thursday evening (August 5) this striking event brought together an immence congregation to Hoxton Chapel, London; where the Rev. Henry Burder, one of the tutors of the seminary, delivered an energetic discourse on the occasion, from Psalm xc. 12. • So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.' This discourse, including a narrative of Mr. Spencer's life, and a solemn address to the students, is printed by particular request. It was impossible, however, for this spacious chapel to contain the multitudes that came together; Mr. Buck, therefore, Secretary of the Academy, addressed a great congregation in the adjoining garden. These united testimonies of public esteem for eminent piety and talents, cannot but afford pleasure to reflecting minds. They shew that, however the ministry of the gospel may be despised by some and opposed by others, it is duly appre ciated by very many, who know the joyful sound, and esteem very highly in love, for their works sake,' those preachers of the word who, like Mr. Spencer, are burning and shining lights' in a benighted world. WICKHAM-MARKET, The King v. Churchyard and others, SUFFOLK ASSIZES. THE Criminal information granted by the Court of King's Bench against the persons engaged in the unprece dented and riotous proceedings outside of a Meeting-house for Protestant Dis senters, at Wickham-Market, in this county, in order to prevent their religious worship; and another prosecu tion under the Toleration Act, for dis turbances practised in the same Meeting, were expected to be tried at these assizes, and had excited just and universal interest. Public expectation was, however, happily disappointed; for we learn with pleasure that the persons who had been concerned in those disgraceful irregularities, being convinced of the impropriety of their conduct, apprehending the probability of their conviction, notwithstanding the delusive promises by which they had been stimulated and encouraged, and anticipating severe punishment, tendered their apologies to the Dissenting Gentlemen by whom they were prosecuted, and offered to withdraw their pleas of Not Guilty, to acknowledge their guilt on the Rolls of the Court, to enter into recognizances for their appearance to receive judgment whenever required, and for their intermediate good behaviour, and to present * Another letter says, his funeral was attended by 30 ministers, 400 laymen, and 20,000 spectators. them with two hundred guineas, to he appropriated at their discretion. Our pleasure was augmented when we learnt that the prosecutors, with a liberality worthy the religion they profess, disdaining to manifest any vindictive perseverance; and perceiving that all the legitimate objects of their interference would be thereby obtained, received the proposal with promptitude, and grunted the request. The Defendants having therefore confessed their guilt, entered into recognizances, and paid the penalty; no further proceedings will be adopted, unless interruptions of the devotions of the Dissenters should be renewed. We also understand, that the Prosecutors, on the recommendation of the New Society for the Protection of Religious Liberty, intend to present the fine they have received to two or more public charities in this or the adjoining county, as an additional demonstration that they have been totally uninfluenced by any mercenary or party motives; and they hope that even those who are most hostile to their principles will admit, that they have acted with that nationally characteristic magnanimity which would resist aggression with energetic firmness, but would disdain to offer molestation to any prostrate foe. POORS' RATES. It is well known to the public at large, that a serious design is entertained by many parishes, both in town and country, to levy the Poors' Rates on Chapels and Meeting Houses. An inhabitant of the parish of Christ Church, Surry, lately appealed against the rate made in that parish, because the rate did not include Surry Chapel. The appeal was heard at the Guildford Sessions, July 19. Mr. Spankie, counsel for the appellant, paid many compliments to the eloquence, diligence, and success of Mr. Hill; but these were only for the purpose of shewing how formi dable a thing Methodism is become: he was of opinion that the present prevailing and increasing system of Methodism existed for the ultimate and final destruction of the Church of England: he argued, therefore, that the broad and splendid river of Methodistical benevolence should not be allowed to overflow the country, by draining the little rivulets that should nourish and support the Established Church:' But the anti-methodistical eloquence of Mr. Spankie did not prove effectual in this instance; for the Court were of opinion that the property of Surry Chapel was not sufficiently vested in Mr. Hill, to enable the parish to make the rate on him. The appeal was therefore dismissed; but it is supposed it will be made on other persons concerned for the Chapel. Many other places of worship have already been assessed; and as the measure seems likely to oppress the Methodists and Dissenters, we doubt not that the persecuting spirit, roused by Lord Sidmouth's bill of restrictions, will avail itself of the utmost rigour of the law in all such cases. We hope, ere long, by the assistance of our legal friends, to state this subject fully to our readers. LICENCES. We hear with concern that a respectable preacher was lately refused a Licence, at Portsmouth, and that other preachers also, in different parts of the kingdom, have been rejected by the magistrates. We trust that the Socielies instituted for the Defence of our Religious Liberties will prove the utility of their establishment by taking up some of these cases, and prosecuting them with vigour. The Widows Donations in our next. MISSIONARY COLLECTIONS, &c. Collections by the Rev. D. Bogue, during a Tour in Scotland, &e. Edinburgh, Rev. Mr.Johnston's Chapel 12 0 0 Leith Mr. Thomson's ditto 26 10 1 560 19 Total, Collections, &c. by Rev. Mr. Bogue Kilmarnock, Rev. Mr. Jeffreys £10 Dumfries, Rev. Mr. Dunlop Ditto, Missionary Society there 12 0 0. 3 0 0. Legacy by late Mr. Gillespie, Farmer, near Down, Independent ditto 15 13 0 Donations 1 6 6 23 15 6- -30 2 2 Total Collections, &c. by Rev. Dr. Collyer 4 413 7 2 Northern Missionary Society, by the Rev. Mr. Angus M'Intosh 100 00 Rev. Charles Hyatt and Congregation, London A Friend, by Mrs. Hill Addition to Collection made at the Rev. Mr. Winton's, Chard A Friend, by the Rev. Mr. Fletcher, Blackburn An Uttoxeter Friend 21 0 0 100 600 110 200 20 Collected at Union Chapel, Islington, Mr. Lewis and Dr. Collyer 91: The names of Individual Donors and Subscribers are printed in the Annual Accounts of the Society; but not in this Magazine. — The Collections during Second Tour of Mr. Townsend, and the Contributions from Cumberland, &c. Aốc |