nity of seeing that beautiful poem which contains them, it will be necessary for me to relate to you something concerning my past unfortunate life; which, if you will for a while sit down beside me, I shall do in as brief a manner as possible." According to the old man's request, I seated myself on his wallet, when he thus addressed me: 66 Young man, the individual now seated beside you, clad in wretchedness, was born of parents possessing property to the amount of several hundreds per annum, and was by them destined to fill an honourable situation in life. But, unfortunately for me, the very day which completed my eighth year, deprived me of my affectionate mother; and a few weeks afterwards, as if heaven at once intended to complete my misfortunes, my father was taken suddenly ill, and before he had time to arrange his worldly affairs, expired, leaving both me and my property to the keeping of a dissipated uncle, the whole of which, by his intemperate mode of living, in a very short time he was obliged to sell, in order to keep him from being immured in a prison; so that when I had reached my fourteenth year, I, who had been intended to fill an honourable and lucrative situation, was put an apprentice to a shoemaker residing in the village. Here I served out my apprenticeship as in duty bound, but as soon as it expired, I quitted the occupation in disgust, and entered his Majesty's service in the capacity of a common soldier. Thirty-one years I served him, without ever having been raised to a higher post than that of a sergeant; and during that time was present at several engagements, in one of which I lost two fingers, and in the last in which I risked my life was severely wounded in the breast. (Here the veteran tore aside the tattered garment which covered him, and unfolded to me the scars he had received in the cause of his country.) "I now expected to be sent home and pensioned; but, alas, alas! as if hard fate intended to follow me until my dying day, before I could get off the field, I was taken prisoner by the enemy, and treated in a most shameful manner. As soon, however, as I recovered from my wounds, I contrived to escape, and once more I had the happiness of visiting my native country. As soon as I had reached Old England's shores, I applied for a reward for my long services, but could obtain nothing; and since that time, being now nearly five years, I, who have both fought and bled in the cause of my country, have been obliged to beg from door to door. "It was in one of my excursions, when I called at the house of a very respectable person with whom I had been intimately acquainted in the days of my youth, that I saw Montgomery's Poems lying on the table, which I took up, and was so charmed with the piece entitled "The Grave," that I committed the whole to memory. This is the way I came to be acquainted with that beautiful poetry." Here the old man ceased, whilst the tears trickled down his furrowed cheeks. As soon as he was again able to speak, he exclaimed, "But I bless God I am convinced that this life will not last long; I hope shortly to close my eyes on wretchedness and misery, and enjoy that calm repose in the silent grave, which the poor seek for in vain in this world." Having requested the old man to accompany me to my dwelling, he did so, and on the ensuing morning again commenced his wandering life, which for a few years he followed, and then left this transitory world, and now he lies where- "The storms that wreck the winter's sky JOSEPH L JUN. REMARKS ON THE STATE OF THE (Continued from col.75.) Secondly. I am to shew, that, by introducing the gospel among the heathen, we change their dispensation, and render their salvation more probable; but, at the same time, we increase their responsibility, and augment their guilt and condemnation, in case of disobedience. That we change the dispensation of the heathen by sending them the gospel, is a fact too obvious to be denied: for, although it is true that they live in gospel times, yet it cannot be said that they enjoy a gospel dispensation; they are, indeed, utter strangers to the gospel, and as they have nothing to do with its requirements, so they enjoy none of its benefits, any farther than what they derive from that Saviour, of whom they have no knowledge by any written revelation. But by giving them the gospel, we place them at once under a new and a better dispensation. Theirs is a dispen- | sation of ignorance, of darkness, and of misery: the gospel is a dispensation of light, of holiness, and felicity. By the gospel they may be led to see the absurdity and wickedness of that system which for so long a time has held them in bondage; and by the gospel they may be properly instructed in all those important truths which relate to God, to themselves, and to a future state; in a word, the gospel is able to make them wise unto salvation. Hence, I affirm that, by sending them the gospel, we render their salvation more probable; for the greater degree of light any people enjoy, the more likely are they to arrive at a correct knowledge of God, of themselves, and of the plan of salvation; and this knowledge, if rightly improved, will necessarily lead to a compliance with the requisitions of the gospel. Where Jesus Christ is faithfully and zealously preached as the only Saviour of sinners, and where the conditions of salvation are explicitly stated, we have better ground to expect that greater numbers will be finally saved, than when a people are left in the dark with regard to the true and general method by which God saves sinners; and have nothing to guide them in the performance of certain obscure duties, but the light which they derive from the works of creation, or from secret impulses of the mind, both of which are liable to be obscured and resisted by that gloomy and deceitful system into which they have been disciplined; and by a desire to gratify those unruly passions, which for so long a time have gained the ascendency over them. But while we render the salvation of the heathen more probable by supplying them with the gospel, on the other hand we increase their responsibility, and augment their guilt and condemnation in case of disobedience. These are facts, that may be support ed by various passages of scripture; for where much is given, much will be required, and vice versa; for God is not an hard master, reaping where he hath not sown, and gathering where he hath not strewed. Jesus Christ said, in reference to the Jews who rejected him, and treated him as an impostor, “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin, but now they have no cloak for their sin." That is, if I rightly un derstand his meaning, their sin would not have been so great, they would not have had the sin of rejecting him ; "but now," said he, "they have both seen and hated both me and my Father." circum As soon as God has sent his gospel among a people, he expects that they should believe and obey that gospel. They no longer stand on the same footing on which they stood previously to the introduction of the gospel among them; but as their dispensation is improved, so their obligation is increased; and he requires more of them than he could have required under less advantageous stances. Before they were favoured with the gospel, it could be no sin in them to disobey the gospel; but after it has been preached among them, they are bound to adhere to its precepts. Before they heard of Christ, they were not required to believe in him, and therefore their unbelief could be no crime; but after they have heard of him, their unbelief will be the cause of their damnation: for, "he that believeth not shall be damned." So that if the heathen reject the gospel, and indulge in the commission of their former sins, they will not only have to account for those sins, of which they would have been guilty had they remained without the gospel; but those very sins, by having been committed under a better dispensation, will be rendered far more aggravated; and, in addition to these, they will be accountable for that sin, of which, without the gospel, they could not have been guilty-the sin of unbelief. Is not this, sir, a proper and scriptural view of the subject? Did not our Lord declare, that it would be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha, in the day of judgment, than for those among whom he had done so many mighty works, because they believed not? And will not the same mode of reasoning apply to the heathen? If, then, the heathen be damned after having heard the gospel, their punishment in a future state will be far more severe than it would have been, had they been damned without the gospel; for sin committed under circumstances the most conducive and binding to obedience, is stamped with a turpitude which it could not otherwise have had. Thirdly. I am to shew that, notwithstanding this, it is our duty to furnish them with the ordinary means of salvation, that we may free ourselves from all culpability on their account; and that they may be left entirely without excuse before God. sight he performed his stupendous miracles; and it was not until they had "judged themselves unworthy of eternal life," that the apostles said, "Lo! we turn to the Gentiles." It is not for us to hesitate, then, in such a case as this; all that we have to do, is, to discharge our duty, and to leave the event to God. It is probable that many of the heathen will reject the gospel, but we have no right to withhold it from them on this presumption; for it is also probable that many of them will receive and obey the gospel; and many of them will doubtless be saved with the gospel, who would have been lost without it. Besides, sir, our expectation is not altogether founded on probability, we have the promise of God that he will give his Son the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession; and it is our duty to endeavour to promote this grand object, by sending the gospel to the very ends of the earth. There are some persons to be met with, who are ready to charge the Almighty with injustice, in withholding the gospel from so large a portion of the human race. But, sir, there is no unrighteousness with God; and, therefore, if there be any injustice in the case, the charge belongs to us, and But another motive should excite not to God. We are favoured with us to this, namely, that the heathen the light of divine revelation; we may be left entirely without excuse enjoy the blessings of the gospel of before God. I do not, of course, peace; but are we to keep those mean to insinuate that they would blessings to ourselves? Surely not: have an excuse, should they perish we are bound by obligation, and a without the gospel, but their inexpositive command, to send the gospel cusableness would not be so visible. to those who are destitute of it. God Why was it that our Lord furnished has committed to us the word of re- the Jews with such undeniable eviconciliation; he has entrusted us with dence of his Divinity and Messiahthe gospel of the Son of God, not ship, but that they might have "no merely for our own use, but also for cloak for their sin;" that they might the benefit of others; and if we omit not have to complain of any deficiency to send the gospel to the heathen, we of evidence; but that they might shall be guilty of disobedience to stand self-accused, and self-condemnGod, and injustice to our fellow-crea- ed. And why are ministers commandtures; and should any of the heathened to go into all the world, and preach be damned through our criminal neglect, their blood will be required at our hands. 66 But some, perhaps, will say, 1 may be, the heathen will reject the gospel; and by sending it among them, we shall only increase their condemnation." To this I reply, The principle of justice requires that we should do all in our power to lessen the miseries, and to increase the happiness, of mankind. Our Lord did not refuse to make an offer of sálvation to the Jews, because it was likely that they would make light of it; on the contrary, it was offered to them in the first place: it was among them he made his appearance, and in their the gospel to every creature, but that every creature may be furnished with the ordinary means of salvation; and that God and his ministers may be clear of their blood, so that should they finally perish, they may have no excuse, nor even the appearance of an excuse, to offer for their unbelief and impenitency? for God will be clear when we are judged, and every lost soul will be speechless before him. Thus, sir, I have gone through this important subject; much more might have been said on each head, but I have endeavoured to condense my matter as much as possible, knowing that the length of an article, designed for a periodical work, is sometimes a barrier to its publicity. Should the above remarks meet your approbation, an early insertion in your useful and extensively circulated magazine, will much oblige, your's respectfully, J. BECKWITH. Ripon, Dec. 15, 1824. THE WILL DESTROYED TOO SOON. (A melancholy Fact.) MR. EDITOR. SIR,-Perceiving that you would rather deal in fact than fiction, I send you the following account, which I relate from my personal knowledge of the parties and circumstances, hoping that it may induce every man who has property, to keep a will always by him; and, in case a change in his affairs should render an alteration necessary, to make a new will before he destroys the old one. I conceal the real names out of respect to the relatives of the parties, who are still living. Mr. H., a young man of amiable manners and superior talents, a native of the west of England, through a train of circumstances and family connexions, became acquainted with a young lady of strong personal attractions; and such was their intimacy, that it was generally understood by all their friends, that a matrimonial engagement had taken place, which would speedily receive its consummation. Pecuniary circumstances, however, occasioned some delay, and the young lady unhappily became a mother without being a wife. Unable to sustain her rank in society, and to look her former companions in the face, she repaired to London, leaving Mr. H. to take charge of their infant daughter, which, without hesitation, he most cheerfully undertook. Procuring for her a suitable nurse, he most readily defrayed every expense; and, as she grew up, he provided for her support and education with parental solicitude, and found himself amply remunerated in beholding the development of intellect, and the moral excellencies which her mind displayed. Engaging in business, and being fortunate, he soon accumulated a respectable portion of wealth, which, as he was never married, he designed for his daughter, whose illegitimacy he had so far forgotten, as to study 74.-VOL. VII. her welfare, and to consider her as entitled to all the property that he might acquire. Advancing to maturity, on being removed from a boarding-school, she was taken to his habitation, and became at once his housekeeper, his companion, and his friend. He was not ignorant, however, that Anna, for that was her name, could claim nothing by law, and therefore, at an early period, he made his will, bequeathing nearly every thing to his beloved daughter. Circumstanced as Anna was, she did not long remain without admirers, among whom was a young tradesman, on whom she seemed to have set her affections, though unhappily her father did not approve her choice. At first he endeavoured to dissuade her from a connexion, which he seemed assured would be followed by repentance; and when this was found unavailing, he had recourse to his friends, whose expostulations he hoped would prove more efficacious than his own. But these ere alike unsuccessful: she could no longer control her affections, which had led her judgment into captivity. On finding all his endeavours to divert her attention ineffectual, her father next turned to the young tradesman, whom he suspected of courting his daughter because her prospects were flattering. To bring the sincerity of his attachment to the test, Mr. H. candidly informed him, that, "in case his daughter married him, he would give her no fortune, nor should any portion of the property she had been taught to expect, ever fall into his hands." The young man, with the utmost frankness, declared his abhorrence of all mercenary views, and avowed his intention to marry her, even though satisfactorily assured that he never should receive with her one shilling. Affairs having reached this crisis, Mr. H. found himself obliged to relinquish his opposition, and patiently submit to a measure which he could neither sanction nor prevent. The period of their marriage now drew on apace, and Mr. H., though resolved that his property should never fall into the hands of one he so much disliked, made some local provision for his daughter, by ordering many articles of household furniture, for which he engaged to pay, and by making her L appearance respectable in the eyes of her intended husband. Having proceeded thus far, his next step was to destroy his will, and to make another, securing all his property at his decease to his daughter, and children, should she have any, but in such a manner as to place it beyond the reach and control of her husband, whom he still viewed in a suspicious light. Some time in the month of November, 1810, he accordingly destroyed his will, and on some scraps of paper drew detached outlines of another, but having other engagements on that day, he postponed its completion until the next. The husband elect had now a fair opportunity of evincing the strength of his attachment, and the sincerity of his former professions; but, alas! he soon gave evidence that the suspicions of Mr. H. were but too well founded. Anna was without a home, and he at once manifested indifference, and wished for delay, that things might be properly provided. In her turn she was now obliged to court the man, who had thus detached her from her father's arms, and to have recourse to the intercession and influence of friends, to prevent her faithful lover from abandoning her. In this they succeeded; and at length shamed him to church, where she became his wife. Her situation, however, was far from being enviable. She had lost her expectation of pro pathy which fortune-hunters know, his ardent affection was sadly wounded with its departure. The nearest of kin to her father, on finding that he had died intestate, availed themselves of the decisions of law, and divided among them what property Mr. H. had left, after paying for the furniture which had been ordered by him against the wedding. One among them, however, having received his dividend, generously returned it to Anna on her marriage, being fully convinced that such was the intention of her father, although accident had robbed her of the legal right to claim it. Anna lived about nine years, became the mother of several children, suffered much, and then found a refuge in the grave. During the night the rain fell in torrents, and continued with scarcely any intermission throughout the following day; in consequence of which, a neighbouring river having overflow-perty, and, through a peculiar symed its banks, the house, being in a low situation, was completely surrounded by water. The inundation increasing, Mr. H. observing some hogs in an adjoining sty in danger, ventured out to liberate them from their confinement, that they might have an opportunity of providing for their own safety. Having accomplished this, he was about to return to his now insulated habitation, but on attempting to turn round the corner of the house, the current became too strong; he was carried off his feet, and precipitated into the body of the river, in which he called in vain for assistance; for though many spectators beheld his condition, no one could afford him any help. For some time his voice was heard while floundering in the liquid element, and, among other expressions, he was heard to say,"Ah, my dear Anna! what will become of my dear Anna? my death seems inevitable, and no provision is made for her. My dear Anna, farewell." The torrent soon choked his utterance, and he sunk to rise no more. The distraction of Anna, who, from the window of the house, was partially an eye-witness of her father's fate, may be more easily conceived than described. For some time she became inconsolable, being conscious of her situation, and aware that through her stern resolution she had brought the impending pecuniary embarrassment upon herself, which no repentance could now avert. Reader, if thou hast not made thy will, do it at once, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. In the midst of life we are in death; and it may be justly said respecting the commands of Deity, "That when obedient nature knows his will, D. |