19 6 6 14 0 Clipston, Collections by Rev. Joshua Tinson Penny Society.. Loughton, Missionary Association, by Rev. Samuel Brawn West Glendale, Society for the Diffusion of Christianity, by Mr. Flinn Mr. David Thomas Thomas Jones Miss Sarah Morgan Morris Bevan .... ... Master E. Morgan's Missionary Box 20 10 6 4 18 0 3 0 0 Tewkesbury, Collection and Subscriptions, by Mr. L. Winterbotham, (includ ............ ing Translations 31. 1s. Female Education 157. 11s.) Mr. Day,..... Suffolk, Collected by Rev. Richard Davis: Barton Mills, Collection Potter-street ... Aberdeen, Society for Female Education, by Mrs. Duncan A Lady, 16 5 8 by Rev. T. Price.. by ditto Do. by ditto by ditto by Mr. Haddon Mr. Ludlow, Bristol, by Mr. J. G. Fuller, for Tracts for Jamaica Do. A Friend, by Mrs. Bailey Do. 011 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 Mr. Anderson,.. A Lady, .... .... 911122 TO CORRESPONDENTS. Magazines have been received from Mr. Bowler, by Rev. Thomas Griffin; "a few old Magazines and some other trifles from the Ladies of Sobam ;" various articles of needlework for the Kingston school, from the Sunday school at Mr. Freeman's Chapel, Woolwich. Our friendly Correspondent from Montgomeryshire is assured that his valuable suggestion will not be overlooked. The subject to which it refers has indeed already occupied considerable attention. The subject brought before the notice of the Editor, in an anonymous communication from York, is of considerable local importance. The letter has been submitted to the perusal of an esteemed friend well acquainted with the city to which it refers, but there appears to be no other method of attaining the desired object than such as is usually adopted in similar cases. We have been apprized of the following omissions, which have occurred in transcribing the cash documents for the Appendix to the last Report: Hull, Legacy by the late Mrs. Cooke, less duty and expences. ........ 4 8 2 1 1 0 44 13 6 10 10 0 Mr. Legg, Bristol, by Mr. Ludlow, Life Subscription, 1825 At the time when the Contributions from Suffolk for 1828 were acknowledged in the Herald (February last), and for several months afterwards, the particulars of that part of the journey kindly undertaken by Mr. Hargreaves were mislaid. We have lately recovered the account, and subjoin a copy : The proposed engagements of Mr. Carey for the present month are as follow: Nov. 1. Bristol. 3. Newbury. 8. Alcester. 15. Sheffield. Nov. 17. Chesterfield. 22. Hitchin. Printed by Littlewood and Co. Old Bailey. BAPTIST MAGAZINE. DECEMBER, 1829. MEMOIR OF MR. JOHN JOSEPH STE- on my little progress in likeness to VENSON. (Continued from p. 452.) His piety was of a high order. Grafted on an increasing acquaintance with the Scriptures, it was flourishing and fervent. It involved a deep acquaintance with his own heart, and earnest endeavours after that holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. A few extracts from some of his papers will best illustrate this state ment. writes on one occasion, "is it to the image of my dear Saviour, after so many years' profession. I hope a humble confession has flowed from my heart, and an inface. Oh what a change must be genuous confusion has covered my effected ere I can enjoy God as a There must be an holy God. agreement between my soul and his moral perfections. Oh! what who love the Saviour-grant me O a dwarf am I if I be one of those Lord to grow in faith, in love, in What a dreadful thing," he hope, and every Christian grace. I am not straitened in thee; thy be retiring from God! We dare words do good to him that walketh not run away; there is, however, uprightly. I am straitened in mysuch a thing as retiring from God, self; O Lord raise me higher, and without turning our grant that my love may be set suhim. He ought to have niy heart, Premely on thyself. The good that is found in God is unchangeable my whole heart. When I consider and certain, it has a fulness in it, this, I begin to suspect the sincerity of my religion, and to say, and a perpetuity that crowns all." If the New Testament describes back upon the religion of Christians, surely I "A guilty, weak, and helpless worm, On another occasion he says, "My thoughts have been much occupied The true idea, perhaps, of backsliding from God. VOL. IV. 3d Series. On another occasion he writes, self and sinful self, and filled with "Oh to be emptied of righteous the God of holiness. I shall be satisfied when I awake in his like ness. all my thoughts; how is it that I O why does not this engross can live a day without endearing thoughts of that blessed world to which I hasten! Ignoble soul! can nothing raise thee from the dust; can nothing awaken thy ambition! An heir of immortality, yet a slave of earth! Lord, raise my affections higher, Oh let me fly to thee!" It would be easy to multiply extracts of this kind. The history of our friend affords an additional illustration to the multitudes be Y Y fore given of the truth-Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. word with power, and I must feel and kiss the rod. O, for a submissive soul, to bear all thy will! I have discovered such rebellion, such dissatisfaction with the divine government, such disquietude and questionings, that I am filled with dismay and astonishment. O God forgive my secret thoughts; pity thy repenting child, and do with me and mine as seemeth good in thy sight!" His last illness was very short; scarcely ten days of severe affliction preceded the departure of his happy spirit to its everlasting rest. During that time, however, he suffered very much. Between the paroxysms of pain, it was evident that his mind was sustained by the hopes of the Gospel. On being asked whether he had any fear of death, he answered, "No, my fear has been taken away long since; sin gives to death its power, but, blessed be God, sin is taken away by the He was on many occasions deeply afflicted; but his resignation and patience shone with meek and beautiful lustre under the cloud that enveloped him. A beloved daughter (his eldest child) was taken from him by a sudden stroke. His beloved wife also was removed almost as suddenly, and his only remaining daughter appeared to him, not long after, to be fast declining. On this occasion he writes" I am touched in one of the tenderest strings that twine about my heart; she is very pleasant to me as a daughter. What whipping such a froward child as I need. Could I but feel the whip as I ought, I should perhaps be spared these frequent loving chastisements. It is my great privilege, however, that my heavenly Father does not say, Let him alone.' What a worthless crea- blood of Christ." Putting his ture am I, to have such notice hand upon his breast, he said emtaken of my disease of sin, that phatically, "All is right heremy dear Saviour takes so much matters are right between God and trouble to prescribe for me :- my soul; I have nothing to do but through the frowardness of the to die." He took even yet a patient, how often have these prescriptions failed! I think I hear him say, 'How shall I give thee up Ephraim-how shall I deliver thee Israel? How shall I make thee as Admah-how shall I set thee as Zeboim? Mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim, for I am God, and not man.' O what tender, affecting, softening language is this! I sometimes think I am made of such hell-hardened steel that even mer-purpose at the specified time now, cy cannot move. O, speak the See this Magazine for August, 1826. most lively interest in all that pertained to the church of Christ. A friend read to him, at his desire, some very cheering accounts from the Magazines of the progress of the cause of God in Wales; and after hearing them, he said, "A revival! O pray for a revival of religion here, and labour for it too! We have engaged to be very earnest in prayer to God for a revival of his work among us, (alluding to an engagement of this kind between some of his Christian brethren,) I cannot retire for this but my heart is with you. O do not neglect it!" A reference was made to the approaching anuual address to the young of the congregation, in whose welfare he had always been deeply interested; on which he turned to his pastor and said, "Tell them, my dear Sir, tell them from me, a dying man, that they will never repent seeking the Lord too early. Thirtythree years ago I gave myself to the service of God; never has he forsaken me or disappointed me-never have I for a moment regretted devoting myself to Him then. What I weep over is, that I did not sooner engage in his service, and that since, I have served him so little." To his beloved wife, with whom he had not long been united-to his friends who visited him-especially to his brethren in office, and to the young of the congregation, after expressing his thanks for their interest in his behalf, he spoke with all the seriousness and fidelity inspired by the consciousness that eternity was very near; pathetically exhorting to that zeal and diligence in the service of God, which would prove that they were really his children. On one occasion, being asked if he had any doubt, or was harassed by any temptation, he said, "I have no doubt it is merciful that I have not. I have no rapture, like some Christians; my hope is steady, and rests upon the sacrifice of Christ." This led to an observation on the infinite power of Christ as the Saviour. O," said he, with great emphasis, "were he not almighty, I should have no hope-but he is an infinite Saviour, God in human flesh-all-sufficient. O, Sir," he added, addressing his pastor"preach Christ-Christ alone, as the hope of the guilty. This is the doctrine God will bless." cannot now be repeated. The last night of his life was a painful one. Two or three friends sat up with him, among whom was his pastor. The intervals of convulsive struggles were occupied in anticipating his victory and eternal reward. We felt as at the gate of heaven, while we heard him repeatedly say— "Cease, fond nature, cease thy strife, And let me languish into life." Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!" After an interval of great distress, occasioned by the sufferings of our beloved friend, I leaned over him, and said in a whisper, "You feel Christ precious to you now." "Yes," said he, with astonishing fervour, though he could scarcely articulate, "he is precious-he is precious." I began the line of Watts, "If sin be pardoned"-here he stopped me.-"I'm secure," said he, securesecure ;" and then repeated the remainder of the verse, laying great stress on the last line 66 Christ my ransom died." Towards the middle of Saturday (Jan. 3, 1829), which was his last day, I saw him again, and took an opportunity of saying to him, "It has been a pleasure to you to serve the Redeemer on earth, and now he is about to give you à reward." "Yes," said he, "I have tried to serve him a little imperfectly, and now I am looking for a reward of grace-of graceall of grace." An hour or two previously to the last convulsive effort of expiring nature, a Christian friend, desirous of obtaining his dying testimony, said to him, "When I pass through the valley of the shadow of death" he caught up the passage, "I will fear no evil,"-" thou art with me-with me- -with me"-dwelling upon it with the most intense and sacred interest. These were Very much that was similar to this passed in conversation with different Christian friends, which his last words. |
