REV. JOHN HOOPER, M. A. Late Classical Tutor of Hoxton Aca demy. It is our melancholy task to announce to the Christian public the very affecting death of this amiable and highly respectable minister of Christ. The distressing event took place on Friday evening, the 9th of December, after a season of painful exclusion from the duties of a laborious station. A few weeks ago Mr. H, was suddenly attacked with something like an apoplectie seizure, from which he never recovered. While the vigor of his faculties was preserved to him, his mind was stayed with enviable composure, upon the Rock of salvation. Many Christian ministers, and other friends who visited him, were greatly refreshed by the spirituality of mind and entire resignation to the divine will which he evinced. He has left an afflicted widow and son to mourn their irreparable loss; and both his Church, and the Academy in which he honourably sustained the office of Classical Tutor, will long cherish, with grateful remembrance, the memory of his pious and effective labors. His age was 45. He was interred with every mark of public respect, in the vault of his own-chapel, on Friday the 16th ult. Dr. Harris, and Messrs. Clayton, Redford, and Burder, conducted the devotional solemnities of his funeral. MRS. ELIZABETH DAVY, To eulogize the dead extravagantly, under any circumstances, is certainly injudicious; but when an individual, influenced by sovereign grace through a protracted term of years, even to a period when the snows of age adorn the temples, has maintained and displayed eminence in religious proficiency, and amidst difficulties, snares, and trials, surely it is the duty of survivors to examine the model, and copy its excellence, while they adore that Sacred Agent by whom it was formed and embellished. The memory of the just is blessed. On this account, without incurring the charge of servile adulation, it may be affirmed that the conduct of the late Mrs. ELIZABETH DAVY, of Fordton, near Crediton, Devon, exhibited a bright constellation of Christian excellencies. It presented a lovely epitome of real religion, diffusing its hallowed influence into the multiplied features of her experience, and giving a sacred tincture to all her secret, social, and relative duties, so that she was, indeed, a living epistle, seen and read of all who had the happiness of being acquainted with her; and furnishing a practical comment on the purity of that sublime system of truth, from which she derived her motives and excitements, her hopes and prospects. Early initiated into the service of the Saviour, while she leaned on his cross for absolution and acceptance, and found beneath its shade an asylum in every storm, she bowed to the sceptre of his authority, and interspersed her life with actions which indicated that His Spirit and image dwelt within. Those youthful risings of the soul to God, which marked the first part of her religious history, subsequently ripened into settled confidence, and solid enjoyment, By what means her attention was originally directed to eternal realities is unknown, but through the lengthened course of her earthly pilgrimage, extending to ninety years, she was enabled to adorn the doctrine of God the Saviour. Like that of others, her path was strewn with thorns, but with holy heroism she trampled them down, and under the mellowing influence of sanctified reverses, she advanced in personal holiness and Christian attainments. As years fled with rapidity, setting the Lord before her habitually, she attended conscientiously to her diversified engagements, mingling piety with them; holding daily intercourse with heaven in the closet, and exhibiting to all around a lovely and amiable symmetry of deportment. At length, by the wise and equitable arrangements of Providence, she was deprived of the desire of her eyes, and left alone with the ponderous cares of a large domestic circle. But as her day was so she found her strength to be. Nearly half her existence was connected with a state of widowhood, and hence a double share of relative duties devolved upor her; under the whole, however, the energy of pious principle was pre-eminently apparent. Anxious to initiate her numerous children into the know ledge of the great doctrines of Christianity, she gave an emphasis to her maternal instructions, by her own exemplary deportment. In her example they were privileged to witness the glowing beauties of holiness, the maturing influence of piety, and they have seen her descend to the grave laden with the fruits of righteousness, and resembling a shock of corn fully ripened for the great harvest; and though the latter part of her life has been enveloped in the shade of retirement, and secluded in the sick chamber; yet even there, from her bed of languishing, many precious fragments of instruction were gleaned; here she meekly bowed to the will of God, and experienced the rich supports of the gospel of Jesus. Previously religion had been her home, and amid weakness and infirmity she was sheltered in it as a refuge, calmly taking leave of earth, and gradually soaring to the realms of interminable blessedness, and there without a faltering accent, or the counteractions of anxious fear, amid the eternal hymns of heaven, she can emphatically utter the favourite lines which often cheered her before she resigned her earthly career: "When I can say my God is mine, Bending under the weight of years, this holy veteran had been long waiting to exchange the sandals and the staff for the robe and the crown, and at length the heavenly signal was given. Hardly had the day of earthly rest introduced its morn, hardly had imper fect saints commenced its worship and its praise, when lo! the fiery chariot arrived, and she speedily found her happy spirit in the world of Sabbath and of joy, where, with immortal youth, and with an intellect all energy and flame, she ministers before the eternal throne. Her blissful transition took place in the month of May, 1824. Her minister improved her death, from 2 Timothy iv. 7, 8, to a crowded and deeply affected auditory, in the large Unitarian Meeting at Crediton, which was kindly lent on the occasion. W. P. D. SAMUEL DAVY, ESQ. De DIED, July 28, 1824, SAMUEL DAVY, Esq., of Fordton, Deacon of the Independent Church at Crediton, Devon, son of the above-mentioned lady. scended from parents, in whose hearts piety reigned, his infant steps were early led to the sanctuary of God, while his opening intellect was directed to the sacred truths of the everlasting gospel; nor did he long remain a stranger to their vital power, for from his youth, like youthful Caleb, he followed the Lord fully. Accompanying him through the diversified scenes amidst which he walked, whether in his native land or in foreign climes, we discover the outlines of a character beautifully formed by the operative influence of mighty grace; since he devoted his life to extend and promote that great salvation made known to him by the teachings of the Eternal Spirit. Identifying himself with those magnificent and benevolent institutions, which are the glory of the age in which we live, for their prosperity he breathed his fervent prayers, to their interests he devoted his active exertions and extensive influence; thus equally demonstrating that he was as much the friend of man as the saint of God. Among these, pre-eminently appeared the glorious Bible Society. Powerfully feeling, himself, the value of the Sacred Volume, he was solicitous to disseminate its immortal contents, not only in his own immediate vicinity, but through the globe. The Bible Asse ciation, with which he was officially connected, at Crediton, by his removal has lost a valued, steady, constant, and efficient agent; under his fostering care it flourished, his presence formed its strength, his judgment constituted its guide. The London Missionary Society, and the Society established for the diffusion of Religious Tracts; Sabbath Schools in general, together with institutions of a similar kind, all shared largely in his regards, so that "Not friends alone his sorrowing death deplore, It makes mankind the mourner." Nor was the benighted villager forgotten. Often has he stimulated his minister in his rural excursions into the dark hamlets, in that part of Devon, while carrying to them the delightful message of salvation, and invariably did he sanction, in every possible way, those humble efforts to do good to the souls of men. Through varied difficulties he was enabled by divine grace to execute the office of a deacon well; and here he grasped at usefulness, though he shrunk from praise: but his record is on high, his witness is in heaven. When the congregation with which he was united, were without a pastor, he has actively and acceptably conducted the services of the temple himself, and it was his practice to read the sermons of the most evangelical divines, and his labour of love has been blessed to the conversion of many. Several, who have subsequently proved consistent members of Christian churches, ascribed their first religious impressions to the kind services of Mr. Davy. One instance deserves to be perpetuated, and his diffidence would not allow him to mention it, till within a few hours of his dissolution, and even then, on speaking of it to his pastor, he named it with extreme caution, and in the most modest strains. Travelling in Cornwall, a few years since, on entering a Bookseller's shop, he was accosted by a highly respectable lady, who, on being introduced to him, communicated the pleasing information that a sermon of Dr. Watts', on Death a blessing to the Saints," which he read in Credit n Independent Meeting, when she was merely a visitor in that town, was the means of her conversion. Long she remained an honourable member of the visible church, and afterwards died in the faith and hope of the gospel. Happy would it be if all our Christian societies had such an officer, such a counseller, such a friend. During the three years connexion, which the writer of this article had with him, never can he forget, while memory holds her place, his prudence and kindness, and not in a single instance was he ever grieved by his conduct as deacon. repectful demeanour to his friend and pastor, presented a delightful contrast to that repulsive dictation, to that selfimportance, which sullies the actions of some in office in our Christian societies. With what meekness did he consult his minister on all occasions, especially in difficult cases. His life exhibited a rare combination of moral excellencies, religion roused his soul to holy action. Among numerous other features which distinguished his character, he was pre-eminent for strict and 66 His unbending integrity. There was a sort of conscientiousness in all his transactions, as to the very minutiae of life, and this stamped a dignified and imperishable value on his conduct. He went from the closet of his retirement, where he had been communing with his God, to converse commercially and socially with men, and this induced him to act from principle. In every sense such an individual was a public and permanent blessing, and his removal has left an irreparable chasm in the circle in which he moved. What he was in a domestic capacity his surviving relatives can amply testify; they deemed it a privilege to reside with him, his conduct exhibited such a bright model of spiritual superiority, and the law of kindness was ever on his lips, and in his heart. To the eternal welfare of those over whom he was placed as a master, he was invariably alive, and this concern increased as he approached the tomb, and as an evidence of it, he gave each of the numerous persons employed in his extensive manufactory, a small religious volume as a solemn dying memorial, accompanied with a suitable hint respecting the magnitude and supreme excellence of vital godliness. The subject of this obituary ever evinced a peculiar circumspection as to the reputation of others. Literally he spoke evil of no man; in this respect he set a watch over his lips, never wantonly trifling with the character of his fellow men. But in the zenith of his activities and usefulness, he was summoned by unerring Providence to bear the discipline of the covenant, and this he endured with acquiescence and fortitude. Such was the nature of the disorder with which he was afflicted previously to his death, that he was precluded from conversing much on any subject; but still out of the abundance of his heart, he could not forbear speaking for God amid severe pain and continued debility. During wearisome days, repeated sleepless nights, and incessant anguish, he evinced the passive graces of the Christian temper; it was delightful to see him always so remarkably placid. On being questioned as to the state of his mind, he said, "I have" a good hope, through grace, "that all is well and safe in reference to eternity." He continued, "That Saviour whom I have feebly and imperfectly attempted to recommend to others all my life, will I am sure, afford me support at this try- "Come, ye angelic convoys, come, In his dying experience, there was nothing like rapturous exultation, it was rather characterized by dignified composure. Gradually he glided away from earth, and hardly had the sainted parent led the path to glory, when lo! the son followed, to unite with her and all the blessed spirits above, in their eternal adorations to the Supreme Godhead. On Lord's day morning, his pastor and friend attempted a solemn improvement of his lamented death, to a large congregation assembled in the Unitarian Meeting, (which was lent on the occasion,) from Psalm xxiii. 4.— "Yea, though I walk through the valley," &c. W. P. D. RECENT DEATH. On Tuesday, Dec. 6th, the Rev. E. P. Turner, reader at Orange-Street Chapel, died, after a very short illness. He fell asleep in joyful hope of eternal life, through Jesus Christ. |