divine change, however, does not appear to have been wrought much more than a year before her decease. About that time, she saw a relation suddenly struck by death, and was much affected indeed. She hastened to her mother with this inquiry, "Do you think that she is happy?" This awful providence seems to have been blessed to her soul. When the wasting consumption, which brought her to the grave, began to prey upon her vitals, her father felt truly alarmed, lest she should be resting on something short of Jesus Christ. He was anxious to speak freely the hesitations of his own mind respecting her, but felt a difficulty in doing so, which difficulty the afflicted daughter felt also in unbosoming her soul to him. Is it not a matter of regret and humiliation, that we feel so much more easy in speaking of the affairs of a moment, than in introducing eternal realities? However, Ann resolved to introduce the subject, and did so, by asking, "Father, what is the salvation of the gospel?" He replied, "The salvation of Christ revealed therein as suited to poor selfruined sinners.' 66 66 66 his hand till he had faithfully promised to alter his conduct. He turned from her and said, "She has said more to me than to all the family!" On being asked, "If any part of the scripture was precious to her, and which she might wish to be improved in a funeral discourse?" she mentioned, Job, xiii. 15, and Isajah, xli. 10. One night after this, she was sorely harassed with fears lest she should be a hypocrite. In the morning she said to her father, "O, what a night of trouble and distress have I had!" He replied, "Can you appeal to the Lord, that you wish to be saved in his own way and time, that you wish to be searched and tried by him, and to be delivered from every false refuge?" She answered in the affirmative, adding, "A guilty, weak, and helpless worm, On thy kind arms I fall: 66 She was after this very comfortable during the day; but towards evening a dread of being deceived again harrowed up her very soul. Nor could she give vent to her feelThat beautiful hymn by Dr. Faw-ings before God, except by saying, cett, was yery sweet to her mind, Lord, help me!" She longed, if Religion is the chief concern," &c. she was deceived, that God would "If I must die," said she, "let me open her eyes and undeceive her. die the death of the righteous, and On the Lord's-day morning on let my last end be like his!" She which she expired, being much conviewed sin as her greatest enemy, vulsed, the family was called in. and longed to be delivered from it. Her father said, Are you happy" At one time it was observed, You if so, and you cannot speak, hold have need of patience.' "Yes," up your hand." She lifted up one was her reply, but God is all-hand, and then the other, and af sufficient." Her father observed, terwards, when a little better, said, that nature is binding, but still I Though heart and flesh fail, he is think that I can give you up to the strength of my heart, and Jesus." She rejoined, She rejoined, "Though portion for ever." Again Ann held he slay me, yet will I trust in him." out her dying hand to take a final About a fortnight before her death, farewel of the family. Her brother she divided her clothes, and pointed leaving the room, she held it out out the place where she would be till his return, and then reclined on buried, with the same composure as the pillow. Her father thought if going only a short journey. She that she might get a little sleep, also discovered great tenderness and and retired to pray for her safe and faithfulness towards others. A re- happy dismission in the Lord's own lation, about to take his leave of time. Soon after, she said, "Lord, her, said, "Trust in the Lord, and help me!-Receive my departing pray to him." She immediately re- spirit!-Lord, prepare me for thy plied, "Do you do so? your ways blissful presence, and take me to will not do." Nor would she let go thyself!" and, in a few minutes 66 my DIED, on the 12th of January, 1817, at the Cotton-works, near Newcastle, Staffordshire, Maria Thompson, wife of Thomas Thompson, of that place. She was born the 16th of August, 1777, of very respectable parents, at Burton-onTrent, where her mother stood a member of the Baptist church, of which the subject of this memoir also became a member. At Burslem, her attendance was regular and uniform; and although three miles from the place of worship, and a large family under her care, matters were so arranged on the preceding evening, that, frequently, eight or nine, sometimes eleven or twelve, but seldom less than six, of the family, were found in their pews on a Lord's-day morning, even in very unfavourable weather. After her return from Burslem on Lord's-day evenings, it was her general practice to retire with the younger branches of the family into the nursery, to teach them their Ca-' techism, &c. On taking a retrospect of her life, for nearly twenty-five years past, her surviving partner never recollects her to have uttered a vain or trifling sentence; her outward walk and conversation were such as became and adorned the gospel. In October last, she was brought to bed; when, after a fair prospect of a speedy recovery, she was seized with a rheumatic fever, which brought her very low. When this complaint was, in some measure, abated, she took a fresh cold, attendAt an early period she discovered ed with an acute cough, all combina growing thirst for divine know-ing to terminate her valuable life. ledge; to attain which, she applied to the chief source, the sacred scriptures, in which, at the age of 15, she was so well read, as to be able to turn to almost any text without the aid of a Concordance. She was baptized November 25, 1792, at 15 years of age, and united to the church at Burton. She was married to Thomas Thompson, in August, 1794, by whom she had ten children, eight of whom survive her. In 1797, Providence removed her and family to Newcastle. In 1806, it pleased the Lord to smile on some efforts made to extend the Redeemer's kingdom, at Burslem, a populous town, about three miles from Newcastle; where a new place of worship was opened, in September, 1806. And in November of the same year, a church was formed, consisting of nine persons, with whom Mrs. Thompson united; having, with her husband, obtained a recommendatory letter from the church at Burton, About the middle of her illness,' she once said, and but once, "If it were the will of God, I should like to live a little longer, for the children's sake." During the whole time of her severe afflictions, which continued about three months, she was never heard to make one single complaint, or utter a murmuring word. On the 10th of January, being asked, if she did not love Jesus Christ? she said, "I hope I do-but at times am afraid to say it." It was then observed to her, that she had often her Bible by her side during her illness, and if she had no love for Christ, why read there so much, seeing it spake so much concerning Christ? She answered, “It is food to my soul." About five o'clock on the 12th, her speech failed; her husband then bowed his ear close to her face, while he again inquired the state of her mind; but she was engaged in holding converse with God: he heard her say, with a faltering accent, but with great importunity and earnestness of soul," Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men." And then, closing her eyes, she added, "Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth;" and departed without a struggle or a sigh. As her life, so her end was peace. Her remains were interred in the Baptist burial-ground, Burslem, on Thursday, January 16; when the Rev. James Lister, from Liverpool, delivered an appropriate address on the occasion and on the following Lord's-day, he preached a very interesting discourse, to a crowded auditory, from 1 Thess. iv. 17, “ And so shall we ever be with the Lord." Newcastle, 20th Jan. 1817. MR. LEWIS HOPKINS. DIED, on the 12th of January, 1817, in his 44th year, Mr. Lewis Hopkins, of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, (eldest son of the late Rev. Lewis Hopkins, of Bromyard, in the county of Hereford,) a man univer sally esteemed: of a most amiable disposition, and exemplary conduct. Mr. Hopkins was never married; but, for many years, had been as a husband to his bereaved parent, (who now survives him,) and as father to his brothers and sisters. He was a diligent attendant on the means of grace, and a kind instructor of the young on the Sabbath. The last time he was under the word, was on the evening of the first Sabbath in January, when he heard a discourse founded on these words in Jeremiah, "This year, thou shalt die." The next day, about two o'clock, (having dined,) with his usual vivacity he stept out at his back door, fell down, (supposed in a fit,) and fractured his skull. He somewhat revived in the course of an hour, but knew nothing of his fall; continued, but little sensible, till the following Lord's-day morning, and was then removed; and on the succeeding Sabbath evening, (the 19th,) the solemn event was improved, in an address to a crowded and sympathizing audience, from Psalm xcv. 7, last clause, "To-day, if ye will hear his voice." Reader! Behold, now is the accepted time: behold! now is the day of salvation. Review. The Darkness of Superstition receding before the Light of Revelation: an authentic Narrative of the Convervion of twelve Roman Catholics, named Hart, in the Province of Connaught, through reading the Irish Testament. Gale & Fenner, and Button & Son. 6d. THE religious world are under great obligations to the author, who is a clergyman of the established church in Ireland, for this very interesting pamphlet. The Baptist Society for promoting the Gospel in Ireland, by establishing schools for teaching the native Irish, and for distributing Bibles and Tracts, is likely to prove a great blessing to that interesting part of our empire. This pamphlet affords great encouragement also to all the members of Bible Societies, as it proves how extensively useful the reading of the Bible alone may become, if attended by the power of the Holy Spirit; as we trust it has in those instances recorded. The account of the superstitious practices of Bartley Hart, the principal person in this converted family, is uncommonly affecting: "It was his custom yearly to spend performing stations and penances; and, nine days at Lough Derrig, in the North, for the same purpose, to attend twice in each year at Ball and Crogh Patrick: in short, there was no place in Ireland, remarkable for the performance of religious ceremonies, that he did not regu larly visit; being persuaded, that these self-denying austerities were the certain and infallible means of attaining to everlasting happiness! From what follows, we may partly understand the nature of these stations. The first and greatest station is Crogh Patrick; the point from whence Bartley commenced penance, when he visited it, was fifteen miles. He began this act of severe mortification by falling down on his bare knees, and repeating a certain number of prayers. Arriving at the foot of the mountain, though there is a way comparatively easy, superstition dictates the selection of that which is least of all accessible; thus, barefoot, he proceeded over rocks, every now and then falling down on his bare knees, at places marked for that purpose, until he gained the summit. By this time his knees, and the soles of his feet, were distressingly lacerated! This, however, was very far from terminating his sufferings! The mountain is surmounted by a circular crown of one hundred perches in circumference, not covered with grassy verdure, but with rough stones and gravel. Here, himself and other pilgrims, upon their wounded knees, go round the mountain, till their strength entirely failing, they can proceed no farther! On one occasion, at Ball, Bartley was seen offering similar violence to himself; when, lest the pressure of his body on his knees should not be sufficient, he endeavoured to increase the weight by clasping his hands, placing them on the crown of his head, and exerting his whole strength to press bis body to the earth. Since his conversion, alluding to the performance of one of these diabolical exercises, Bartley said to a friend," Had you been there the day after, you might have seen my blood, skin, and even my FLESH, on the stones." Also, during the time of his ignorance, Bartley wore a scapular round his neck, consecrated by the priest, which was to operate as a preservative against all temporal and spiritual enemies. To make his works still more acceptable, he was provided with the belt of St. Francis, the ring of St. Joseph, and the insignia of many other orders. Notwithstanding all this, he has since acknowledged, that he was at this period a stranger to peace, and often, from distress of mind, wept profusely. In this state of mind he met with a book, entitled, "The Lives of the Saints," a popish legend: on reading this, he exclaimed, "Hitherto I have done nothing." He now formed the design of forsaking his wife and family, abstaining almost entirely from food, and vexing his ema ciated body by a coarse sack, which he determined to wear next his skin during the rest of his life. Attention to these delusions occasioned neglect of business, and brought on great temporal embarrassment, in consequence of which, he resolved to sell his interest in a small portion of land which his father had allotted him." The description of his conversion is simple, instructive, and satisfactory; and we understand his conduct, during the whole period since, (about eight years,) has been such as has adorned the doctrine of God our Saviour. Notwithstanding all the oppositions he has met with, he goes on reading the New Testament to his neighbours; and is indeed shining as a light in a dark place." 66 The following short extract of a letter to a member of the Baptist Irish Society, will show the spirit of this useful man: "Blessed be the Lord God, who, of his infinite mercy, has preserved England as an instrument to bring light to the world, and to draw poor creatures out of darkness and the shadow of death; especially the poor benighted Irishmen, who are in gross darkness, of whom myself was one, who was going about to establish my own righteousness, by which means I was going headlong the broad way to destruction: but in the eleventh hour, I was called to know that the Lord is our righteousness and strength, who also blessed dent desire of being an instrument me with a willing mind, and an arin his hand to set forth the glory of the knowledge of God, as it shines in the face of Jesus Christ. I am anxious to show others, that they must degrade themselves, and exalt the Saviour." &c. We hail the institution, and the growing labours of this, and similar societies, as a new era in the history of our sister island; and trust, that religious light will be diffused in every part of it, and that superstiwill retire. This affords us unspeaktion, with all its baleful attendants, able pleasure, not only from the consideration that many thousands, we hope, will be rescued from everlasting destruction, but also on account of the civil and political advantages with which it will be attended: for Christians will never be rioters, murderers, and rebels. And even those who continue Roman Catholics will learn, from reading the New Testament, that under Pagan Rome, Christians were bound to be subject unto the higher powers, and that they who resisted, resisted the ordinance of God: will they not then infer, that it is their own duty to obey a Protestant king, and that his being what they call a heretic, will be no excuse for resistance? Should it be objected, that in England, which is a land of Bibles, there is a great deal of insubordination, disaffection to government, and discontent; let it be remembered, that there are many thousands, and scores of thousands, in this highlyfavoured country, who know but very little of the Bible, and who seldom go to any place of public worship. We hope that such a spirit is to be found among this class of Englishmen only. At least, we ear nestly exhort every one who reads his Bible, to study contentment, and not to despise dominion, nor to speak evil of diguities. Who is there that has not long deplored the barbarism of Ireland? This can no otherwise be remedied, than by giving them schools and Bibles. The Bible is the great engine for the civilization of the world, as well as the great instrument of its regeneration and sanctification. The Appendix contains affecting details of the misery to which the Roman Catholic religion subjects its deluded votaries. There is but little difference between the degradation of the Papists in Connaught, and the Fakeers in Hindoostan. third volume, we have the name of Sarah Renou. In the preface we were sorry to see the term pride used in a good sense." The author's pride will be abundantly gratified." We appre hend it ought always to be used in a bad sense; and this remark is made as much for the sake of good morals, as of propriety in speech. This accomplished, adventurous, female explores the regions of lite rature, of science, and of taste, with great freedom. In ethics, she dis sects all the passions, and delineates all the virtues: in mental philosophy, she expatiates on all the intellectual powers-examines causes physical and metaphysical-arranges all human minds in five classes pronounces judgment on the system of Drs. Gall and Spurzheim—and finally leads her young pupils to "the sovereign good, or the best interest of man." National education-female education-the influence of woman in the formation of character-philosophical necessity and free-agency-the tenets of the ancient philosophers-natural, civil, and political liberty-the origin of evil-and several other topics, of high importance, are here laid before the reader in the style of a free conversation between several young persons, who are taught to listen with profound attention to the opinions of the reverend “ vicar." As an elementary work in ethics and the philosophy of the mind, we think it is highly creditable to the ingenuity and the diligence of the writer. Its theology is not so unexceptionable as we could ardently wish, for the sake of the young female readers, and for the sake of the writer too. In vol. i. p. 28, the vicar says, "The man who can boldly claim his Master, his Maker, his God, as his friend, can have few Fire-side. Dedicated to Mrs. Han-is too bold: and we should like to sources of real sorrow," &c. This nah More. 3 vols. 12mo. 19s. 6d. Gale and Fenner. Village Conversations; or, the Vicar's The reader of this elaborate and eloquent work will soon find, that these " conversations" are not by villagers, though they may have been carried on in a "village," as the title indicates. Prefixed to the have the vicar placed at the feet of the venerable Hannah More, to whom the work is dedicated, that he might learn from her the way of God more perfectly. We felt a little alarm in vol. i. p. 36, where the vicar_says, "We are all travelling the same road, and |