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3. The Sunday-school Union Magazine. ducted by the Committee of the Sunday-school Union. Vol. III. 1846. 12mo. pp. 528. Sundayschool Union.

4. A Voice from China and India, relative to the Evils of the Cultivation and Smuggling of Opium. In Four Letters to the Right Hon. Lord John Russell, First Lord of Her Majesty's Treasury. By JAMES PEGGS, late Missionary at Cuttack, Orissa, author of "India's Cry to Humanity," &c., &c. 8vo. pp. 90. Harvey and Darton.

5. Orissa: its Geography, Statistics, History, Religion, and Antiquities. By ANDREW STIRLING, Esq., late Persian Secretary to the Bengal Government. To which is added, A History of the General Baptist Mission established in the Province. By JAMES PEGGS, late Missionary at Cuttack, Orissa, &c., &c. 8vo. pp. 416. John Snow.

6. A Brief Memorial of the late Mr. Joseph Trumper, of Thorney, Bucks. 12mo. pp. 60. Hamilton, Adams, and Co.

7. Congregational Calendar for 1847. Jackson and Walford.

8. Letters to the Right Hon. Lord John Russell, First Lord of the Treasury, on State Education. With an Appendix, containing Correspondence with W. Ewart, Esq., M.P.; a Letter to the Rev. Dr. Vaughan; and Replies to the Westminster and British Quarterly Reviews. By EDWARD BAINES, Jun., author of the "History of the Cotton Manufacture." 8vo. pp. 146. Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.

9. Popular Education in England. Reprinted from No. VIII. of The British Quarterly Review." With a Reply to the Letter of Mr. Edward Baines, Jun., on that article. By ROBERT VAUGHAN, D.D., Svo. pp. 84. Jackson and Walford.

10. Equity without Compromise; or, Hints for the Construction of a just System of National Education; (third edition;) with Remarks on Dr. Hook's Pamphlet, and the Letters of Edward Baines, Jun., Esq., to Lord John Russell. By EDWARD SWAINE, Member of the Congregational Board of Education. J. Snow.

Death-Bed Scenes.

MRS. BARRETT.

Mrs. Barrett was the widow of the Rev. William Barrett, pastor of the Independent chapel, Petersfield, in Hampshire. She was born at Basingstoke, May 31st, 1772, and was first awakened to religious anxiety, when about seventeen years of age, by means of a Tract, or Godly book, as it was then termed, which she bought of a travelling pedlar at her father's door, entitled "The Heavenly Messenger; or, the Child's plain Pathway to eternal Life." It was an account of a little girl under concern about her soul at nine years of age; it said she was afraid she should go to hell. "I read it," dear Mrs. Barrett says, 66 again and again, and was much affected by the thought if such a child was afraid of going to hell-how must it be with me, that was nearly as old again. I had such a dreadful idea of the wrath of God, that I thought there was no hope for me. I was a stranger to prayer, and the consolations the gospel imparted; what to do I did not know; I thought I would converse with a pious aunt, and she directed me to her minister, who gave me every encouragement to persevere, and said he trusted it was the first step to conversion; he begged me to keep close to God by prayer and supplication, that he would enable me to withstand the temptations of Satan; then should I know if I followed on to know the Lord. Soon after I left him, the thought came to my mind, it was time for me to think of religion, that I might pray and pray again, and the Lord would not hear me. This

led me into such terror of conscience, that for some time I was afraid Satan would fetch me away in the night. I thought I must make myself better before I could hope for pardon; and I began to read many prayers and meditations for the day-still it did not come from the heart-I knew not what to do. About this time Mr. Ridgway, our minister, preached from those words in Isaiah, xxvii. 13, And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish:' and under this discourse my hard heart was melted into a flood of tears. I felt, unless Christ interposed, I must perish for ever - I could then cry, with the poor publican, 'God be merciful to me, a sinner.' How earnestly did I cry to God, that I might see my interest in Jesus, when these words came to my mind with much power-Look unto me, and be ye saved.' I was sitting near a window in a flood of tears; when I looked up, I thought I saw Jesus, with open arms ready to receive me, and seemed to hear him say, 'Come, be of good courage, thy sins are forgiven thee.' I cannot describe my feelings; I cried out, Begone, Satan, begone, I have gained the victory; Christ is mine and I am his '-' Lord thou knowest all things, thou knowest I love thee,' I fell on my knees, and blessed God for such a manifestation of his covenant love. After this, I felt peace and joy in believing. Oh, what beauty and loveliness did I then see in the Bible, which I could see in no other book; the invitation of Christ to love him

touched my thoughtless and hard heart, that led me to think if I could love him I should be the happiest being in the world; for every amusement appeared dull, to what I felt when reading the Bible and in prayer; and the thought of being preserved from the temptations of Satan, and the allurements of a wicked world, and to have Christ for my friend in this life, and heaven beyond the grave, was a subject that afforded the greatest delight; and as I grew in knowledge of myself as a sinner, and Christ as an able and willing Saviour, to pardon all my transgressions, by suffering and bleeding on the cross to atone for my sins, melted me down into penitential tears, that God should so love the world as to give his only Son to die for sinners who hath broken the law of God, and who deserved to die themselves. Now I began to be concerned for the souls of all I loved, my young friends, that they might be brought to love and learn of Jesus, who was to me the chief among ten thousand and the altogether lovely; and I can say, under many persecutions and oppositions, and the greatest discouragements, I never repented having decided on the Lord's side; but could say with Moses, 'I would rather suffer affliction with the people of God, than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.' Having Christ for my friend, I was enabled to submit to the many trials and bereavements which I have been called to endure."

Dear Mrs. Barrett was much persecuted by her friends, her own mother having died when she was little more than four years of age, and her father, who was ungodly, having married again; but all her friends on her own mother's side, were remarkably eminent for their piety and prayer. Some time after this she lost two very pious sisters by death, which was a very heavy trial to her. In December 6, 1795, she married the Rev. William Barrett, with whom she lived most happily, until December 6, 1807; and in referring to this event, our beloved friend says, "I thought, under this most painful dispensation of Providence, Oh that I had the tongue of an angel, and opportunity, how I would declare to widows in particular, of the faithfulness of God to me, his compassionate tenderness and love was beyond conception.

"To those who had no God to go to under so pungent a trial, I earnestly entreated them to make God their friend, to seek him without delay; He was, indeed, a Father to the fatherless, a husband and friend to the widow-not one word of all he has promised has failed towards me. May it ever stand as an encouragement to my beloved children, and their children."

Since this her trials and bereavements

have been many, but she says there was a needs be for them all.

'Oh 'tis in mercy now I see

Each woe is sent that troubles me; "T is for some good, some gracious end; 'T is from my Father and my Friend.' "Yes, it is to bring me to the feet of Jesus, to depend entirely on him, as my all-sufficient and everlasting friend, and blessed be his name, he has never forsaken me, but with his compassionate arm upheld me under all my trials, or I must have sunk under them. But oh, how sweet have the promises been to my soul. It was, and I trust is to the present moment, my meditation, day and night; and my prayer is, that I may enjoy the power of them on my dying bed, and that every fear of the article of that trying hour may be removed, that I may feel the sting of death taken from me, and the rod and staff of my dear Saviour carrying me through the dark valley of the shadow of death, conducting me to the realms of bliss, to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb for ever, when sin, Satan, and unbelief, will have no more power over me.

'Oh to grace how great a debtor.'

"How good have I found it, to be under the discipline of my dear heavenly Father; not one trial, I trust, has been in vain, because they drove me nearer to my God. Oh that my mind may be continually staid upon Him. I can now,' "" dear Mrs. Barrett says, "enter into sweet intercourse with my dear heavenly Father: Yes, I can say, 'Abba, Father, my God, and my portion.'

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Her anxiety for her children will be seen by a note in her diary :-" Oh, how do I feel," she says, "for my beloved children, lest they should not be with me and their dear Father in heaven. What! banished from our God in the great day of the Lord(cutting thought)-I could say with the prophet, Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears,' if it would save them: I would weep and wrestle day and night for their salvation; but the 'Lord's arm is not shortened that it cannot save, nor his ear heavy that he cannot hear;' then while I have life I will pray and pray again, like the importunate widow; I will not let him go until the Lord has said thy prayers are heard, and thy request shall be granted. To my God, the omniscient God, I can appeal; the thousands of tears I have shed on my bed and in secret, because I did not see, for years, any evidence of a real change of heart in them; but now I hope, through Divine grace, I have a son and daughter travelling the road to God, and three beloved children with their Father in glory. Oh, that children, and children's children, may all be with me and

my precious Saviour for ever! If I were able, how would I declare for their encouragement of the faithfulness of my dear heavenly Father, to me, that they may confide in him under all their trials; for he will never forsake them if they put their trust in him." When speaking of some trial, she says, "I cried to God, and though he saw fit to delay for a time, yet he graciously answered. Oh, that my dear children may remember, that in a day of trouble their mother cryed to God in the midst of her distress, and was heard. We will approach the throne of grace, and make known all our wants; for God is full of compassion, and will bless the seeking soul. I trust I can say, no part of my experience has been more encouraging to me than the faithfulness of God in answering my prayers." Six or seven years ago, when dear Mrs. Barrett was suffering acutely under a severe-peculiarly severe-domestic trial, she was known to have spent-and that frequently, tooalmost whole nights agonizing in secret prayer, often, often, did she spend three, four, or five hours at a time, on her knees.

Nearly forty years of Mrs. Barrett's life was spent in widowhood; and of her it might truly be said, she was a widow indeed, who departed not from the temple, but served God with her prayers night and day. Her faith was strong and unwavering. Speaking to a friend one day, she said, "I have had many, many trials; but oh, what an unspeakable mercy I feel it to be, that I have never, for these many years, had one doubt of my Saviour's love to me, or of my interest in him; and I am determined to cling to him, to keep at his feet; I know he loves me, and will save me.

She had an integrity and simplicity of heart equalled by few. There are not many to whom the words of Jesus concerning Nathaniel are more applicable: "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." | Our beloved friend had a large heart full of love to the souls of men, and anxious to promote the Redeemer's cause both at home and abroad, to the utmost of her power. She was ever ready to contribute to every good work. She was a collector for the London Missionary Society from its very commencement; and the Bible, Tract, Jews', Sailors' Society, &c., &c., had likewise all a share of her labours and contributions. It has been often remarked that persons who, in early life, are generous and active, as they grow old, become more contracted, and desire to relax their energies; but old age brought no such evil influences with it to her; the power of godliness prevailed, and her generosity and activity continued unimpaired to the end of life.

As a visitor of the sick, she excelled; her very affectionate manner, earnest prayers,

and motherly acts of kindness, will not be soon forgotten by those who were privileged to receive her visits.

Her love to the house of God was very great. "I know not," she said, "which of the services may be most blessed to my soul, so I always try to attend them all." In the early part of her widowhood, when her time and thoughts were much occupied with the cares of a young family, she had made it a matter of earnest prayer, that, should the Lord spare her to old age, she might have a quiet home, and time for retirement, a situation near the house of God, and a heart to relish it. "And oh!" she would often say, "how good and faithful God has been to me: he has more than answered all my prayers, for I have all that I could desire, and an increasing relish to the house of God, and to all the means of grace. I cannot tell you how much I do enjoy dear Mr. Legg's sermons; they are sometimes made the very gate of heaven to my soul, and I have felt my heart at chapel so drawn out in prayer for His dear servant, that, while he is feeding others, the Lord may abundantly feed his own soul."

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Our friend might be said to live upon the word of God, so much did she delight in it. On a friend asking her how she liked such a book, Very well," she said, "but I do not seem, my dear, to enjoy any book but the blessed Bible. I love it more and more; it is becoming every day more precious to my heart. I cannot get enough of it; I wish to live and die by its truths, for not one word hath failed of all the Lord hath promised me."

She was truly one who served God by her prayers night and day. In this respect her family, her pastor, and the church have sustained no ordinary loss: she indeed wrestled with God in prayer for them all. Her minister's studying and preaching days were never forgotten by her at a throne of grace. She could not live without prayer and communion with her Saviour. While visiting from home, two or three years ago, where the family was large, she found she could not get that time and convenience for quiet and retirement which she would have liked, so, during her stay there, she was in the habit of getting up at five o'clock in the morning, and retiring into a place by herself, that she might enjoy a little time of secret prayer before the family arose. This, to one of her advanced years and delicate constitution, must have been no little sacrifice of bodily comfort.

Great humility and a very meek, forgiving disposition were striking traits in Mrs. Barrett's character. "Lord," she would say, never suffer my dear children to think more highly of me than they ought. I would not deceive them for millions of

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worlds, and if there should be the least thing in me that may be thought worthy of example, I trust they will be convinced it is of the grace of God I am what I am, and desire to be, in the sight of Him who knoweth all things."

A friend, whom she loved very dearly, whom she went to visit one day, took oecasion, from some very trifling, unjustifiable cause, to wound her feelings, and use her very unkindly. She replied not, her heart was full, and she quietly returned home, when her sensitive heart was somewhat relieved by a flood of tears. She thought, "Well, but I have often wounded my Saviour; yet he is still forgiving me, still giving me new proofs of his unchanging love. I must and will try to imitate him; my peace of mind and prayers shall not be hindered by any retaliation on my part," and immediately she purchased, and sent, with a kind note, such a present as she thought her friend would like, taking care at the same time to take no notice of the unkindness she had received.

As her life was holy, consistent, and exemplary, in a very eminent degree, so her latter end was peaceful and triumphant. When on her death bed, and conscious of increasing weakness, she said to her attendant, "Tell all my friends I am happy. It is all love! it is all mercy! Oh how my Saviour loves me. Would that I could tell all the world of Christ's love to me for nearly sixty years. Tell all my friends to seek the Lord, but they must do it earnestly; it will not do to seek him by halves, he must have the whole heart."

On May the 7th, the night before she died, her breath was distressing, but her mouth was full of the praises of God; and oh, with what raptures would she speak of the love of her dear heavenly Father, her eternal friend! "It is all love-all loveinfinite love-boundless mercy." A short time previous to her departure, she said to her son and daughter present, My dears, we must-we must-part; Jesus calls me; I must go. Keep near to God, and he will keep near to you."

The morning she died, she revived, and it was hoped by her friends she might continue a little longer; but about half-past twelve o'clock, at noon, she said she was thirsty, and wished for a little wine and water, which was given her; and immediately after taking it, she said, "Oh, dear !" and drew a gentle breath or two, then fell asleep in Jesus;" not lost, but gone before. Gone to realize the dearest hopes and holiest aspirations of her soul. Gone to see that bright world, and to be with that precious Saviour whose glories were the objects of her sweetest meditation. Gone to meet the welcome, which she had so often anticipated, and to

be for ever with him whom she so much loved, and so faithfully followed.

She died May the 8th, 1846, aged nearly 74 years. Her precious remains were deposited in the chapel-yard, Broad-street, Reading, when an affecting and affectionate address was delivered by her beloved pastor, the Rev. W. Legg, who, on the following Sabbath, improved her death from those words, in Luke ii. 37: "And she was a widow of about fourscore years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day."

If there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, how much greater joy when one ransomed redeemed sinner reaches her heavenly home. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints," he saw in our departed friend the travail of his soul, and was satisfied. She was "washed," "sanctified," 44 justified," completed," "ready," "made meet for her heavenly inheritance."

Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like hers.

REV. ISAAC BRIDGMAN.

(Continued from page 703.)

"He that gives bad nights can give good ones, or else songs in the night-oh, Lord, I will praise thee! We are first to live to Christ, then labour for Christ, then suffer for Christ, then sleep with Christ. I have no evil to anticipate; with Christ in my heart, and heaven in anticipation, I am happy! I have had a large measure of enjoyment in singing hymns:" and then said, "Support me, oh, God of my salvation, I lift up my heart to the Thee; guide me, ob, God of grace, and bring me safe to heaven; Lord, take me, take me to thyself. I want a guide now, to guide me in my thoughts, to guide me in my affections, to keep them where they ought to be." He was asked, "Have you been enabled to realise the beauty of Christ ?" he replied, "I have in measure by the power of faith, which God has given me; as he is my life, I breathe in him, as he is my light, I walk in him, and as he is my Saviour I shall live with him; and when the happy hour of death is come to set me free, help me to sing with parting breath, Dear Lord, remember me. My chief prayer ought to be that I may glorify God in the fires." He asked a friend to give out a hymn and sing it; he joined, as he was able, in singing it; it was the following hymn:

There is a land of pure delight,'

After which, he requested the same friend to pray, in which he joined.

June 27th. He said to his wife, "Some voice said, 'What dost thou want?' I answered, Two things; to love God more on earth, and to live with him in heaven for ever;' ;'" and then said, "This is the Lord's day, sweet day of rest!" He being very weak, and not able to lie down from his disease, and the large Bible being on the table, his wife said, "Lean on it, my dear." He replied, "I should like to lean on its contents, and I have; for had I not, I should be what the wise man calls a fool; but we are told not to lean to our own understanding."

To the daughter of a friend he said, "My desire to God is for your salvation; many are brought up in the ways of religion, but have not the love of God in their hearts; you have lost two brothers and a sister, and we trust they are gone to heaven; you are living in a world full of evil, you need God to be the guide of your youth; seek the Lord while he may be found; there is no other name whereby you can be saved, but the name of Jesus; may God bless these exhortations to you; may you go from this house of mourning seeking God; may you meet me in that better world. I love to see any of the congregation who love Jesus Christ, and can talk of him; Christ in his Deity made all worlds-they that trust in Jesus cannot perish-trust in Him, and do good; show your faith by your works, walk holily with God." To a medical student, he recommended religion as the truest and most divine philosophy, assuring him that the possession of it would aid him in his studies, preverve him from all evil, and admit him safely to heaven.

June 29th.-To a friend, "God has sent a fine morning, but there is a brighter day above. What can I say more to you than I have said from the pulpit-Satan has brought you low, but Christ has raised you up; Christ is God's great prophet and priest; we want the application of the Spirit day by day to lead us forth. I believe I shall meet you and your dear family in heaven; I am waiting for my heavenly Father's coming, listening for the carriage at the door, ready to step in; strength I have next to none, but Christ will do all for me; Christ is the pearl of great price, full of pity, love, and power, to every soul that wants him. Where is thy hope?' is the question that now comes to ine; it must be, and it is in the Lord alone. The doctrines of grace are good, we must draw out of them our experience, they are a structure to build upon for eternity." On this day he was seized, as all thought, for death, but recovered himself a little, when he exclaimed in the second verse of the hymn before mentioned:

"The place of John I covet,
More than a seraph's throne,
On Jesus my beloved,
To breathe my final moan;
On Thee alone relying,
To lose my sin and pain,
And on thy bosom dying,
My life eternal gain."

He continued, "Bless the Lord, oh! my soul, let me smile while entering an unseen world, because I am nigh to thee; I come, dear Lord, I come, but not perchance to day; the Lord has waked me up to higher and better things than these; he that hath begun a good work in me, will complete it." happy?" he replied, "Safe, sometimes joyHis wife said, "My dear, do you feel

ful; look up, look up, there he sits all glorious trust to Jesus, eat him as the bread of life, drink him as the living waters. I am happy in the Lord.

It

is good to find the Lord in trouble; I have found him many a day past, and up to the present moment; I know not, care not, where I go, if Jesus be with me there." Το his wife he said, "The best way, my dear, for you to look at it, is, as each day the change seems to be for the worse, be waiting, be looking for my departure to be with Christ, which is far better;" and added,

'Lend, lend your wings; I mount; I fly!

Oh, Grave! where is thy victory? Oh, Death!
Where is thy sting?"

The sting of death is a mere sensitive leaf, harmless as it is weak to the believer."

June 30th.-He again addressed his son John, as he supposed for the last time, exhorting him first, to seek salvation through Jesus; then to pursue those studies which would make him useful to his fellow-creatures, conjured him to be obedient and kind to his mother; and then in prayer committed him to God, expressing a good hope that through grace he should meet him in heaven. His wife said, "Do you feel happy to day?" "Yes, in the thought that I, who deserved God's great judgment, shall through Christ partake of his rich mercy." As a friend entered the room, he said, "Is he come to say the Master cometh and calleth for thee? if so I am willing; but as long as breath remains, let us praise the Lord; God has loved me, I need not tell you again; God has loved me, he has preserved me, he has sanctified me; and now he is just taking me to himself; I am getting up Jacob's ladder."

July 4th.-The day before his departure. Mrs. Bridgman (his wife) said to him, "Now, do you see Jesus?" "Yes, by faith." "Are you happy?" He replied, "Yes, in the full enjoyment of his love." Hearing a friend and a relative speaking together in his praise, he beckoned his wife to him, and said (with much difficulty,) "I do not like to hear the creature extolled

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