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ness she had in hand, and she was punctual in its execution. She did not forget her errands, tho' they might be numerous; and was remarkably exact in all her reckonings. Honesty marked all her conduct; integrity, regard to truth, and the interest of those she served, with general and universal kindness. She was grateful, and moderate in her expectations, possessing a contented thankful mind. About seven weeks before she died, when the physician had just left her, she asked what he thought of her case. When she was tenderly, but plainly told, what her state was, she evidently felt her eircumstances; but with renewed firmness and composure said, "Well, not my will, but thine be done." She was then reminded of the Apostle's state of mind, who desired to depart and be with Christ;" and assured that the same grace was able to fill her mind not only with composure but with holy longing to be with Christ; and advised to look to God by special prayer. She then reclined upon the sofa, and ap. peared composed and cheerful thro' the evening. The next day she re. quested that she might be buried in the chapel-yard, as all her "best friends," as she called them, came there, and then said, "If my master should like to say any thing about me when I am dead, I should wish it to be from "Having a de. sire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better;" but modestly added, "perhaps he will not think it right to say any thing about me when I am dead." She was then asked if she really felt the sentiment to be her own; when she replied, "I hope I do." She frequently spoke of her own sinfulness and unworthy. ness before God, and that her only hope was in pardoning mercy, thro' the death and merits of the Redeemer. Not long after this she said, "I did not sleep much last night; but I had such a pleasant night as I cannot de-cribe to you, in thinking of those two lines of a hymn,

"Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee."

They filled my mind before I was well awake from my first sleep, and followed me all the night very sweetly." Upon being questioned, in order to try if she entered into the sentiment they conveyed, it was evident she did fully, and with great enjoyment. At another time, when speaking of the general state of her mind, and of having occasion. ally been in the way of hearing fool. ish songs sung, she said, "Some times I could hear them without re garding them, but at others I have felt my mind carried away by them; but one thing I am sure of, I have not one line of any I have ever heard in my memory: 1 don't re member one." Divine Songs she could have repeated many. A friend who visited her asked her once, what she thought of the Trinity, and if she had any difficulty upon her mind respecting it: she immediately replied," I have often heard my master speak of it as three persons in one essence; and I believe that this is the truth." She frequently spoke with gratitude of the privileges of her situation, and of being preserved from the tempta tion to which many were exposed. On Saturday (being the day before she died) she said repeatedly, "Oh what a blessed day shall I have tomorrow if the Lord should gracious ly take me to himself!" Being ask ed if she should rejoice if she knew it would be so, she replied, “Yes, with great joy." Thro' Saturday night she appeared to sink very fast; and on Sabbath morning being ask ed if she had any thing she wished to say to a sister, who was sitting by, she replied, "No, I cannot speak;" but immediately appeared thoughtful, and in a few minutes spoke with strength of voice, and, looking earnestly at her sister, said, "Remember thy Creator' in the days of thy youth." She then re. covered her breath, and with a sweet composure and smiling countenance added,

There's nothing here deserves my care; There's nothing like my God!

Soon after, being asked if her master should pray with her a few minutes,

she said, she should have great pleasure in it, if he had time: it was then about nine o'clock. Upon his coming to her, and reminding her that it was the Lord's Day, and asking her if she thought she should be happy in God if he should take her hence, she with placid confidence replied,“ I hope I shall." Shortly after this, about a quarter past ten o'clock, she quietly. resigned her breath, and entered we trust upon that blessedness which, she had hoped to enjoy. As she was a good deal noticed by the female-servants and children in the neighbourhood, her master thought it a favourable opportunity to improve her death with a special regard to that class of persons. Their attendance on the occasion was very numerous, and the audience appeared inuch affected. E. W.

BILETTA PEARS.

GOD, who in all things designs to glorify himself, bestows the gifts and graces of his Holy Spirit in the way which is best calculated to dis. play his sovereignty and goodness, and humble the pride of man. The glory of the gospel is frequently hidden from the wise and prudent, and revealed to babes.-The follow. ing remarkable death, if it do not convince the sceptic, will certainly excite in the Christian's bosom sensations of astonishment and praise.

Biletta Pears, who exchanged the miseries of this life for the glories of a better, at the early age of six years and nine months, was the daughter of poor parents, in Birmingham. She was afflicted with the scrofula for nearly two years, and almost confined to her bed for five months prior to her descease; deprived of the use of her limbs, and covered with sores and ulcers.

When sewed up in plaster and poultice, her mother asked her if she was tired: she said, "No; we must not be tired with what the Lord sends; it is he who has afflicted me; and when he sees fit, he'll

ease me.

They are not the Lord's children who are tired of what he sends."

She was very fond of reading; and frequently requested her mother to read to her. One day her mother asked her where she should read: she said, "where it was sweet;" her mother enquired where that was? she replied, "Where there is most of Christ." She did not like reading, where there was little about Christ. Her mother asked her if she should like to be prayed for? she answered, "Yes;" What do you wish should be prayed for? "Either that the Lord would restore me, or take me to himself; which he pleases!" As she wanted to be frequently turned in bed; she often prayed, "O Lord, give my mother patience! O Lord, pardon my sins and take me!" Her mother asked her one day, to try her (she was a very loving child) whether she would rather go to the Lord, or get well and remain with her? she replied, "The Lord is better than a thousand mothers!"

She desired her mother not to grieve when she died, but to go down on her knees, and return the Lord thanks. She frequently lay singing hymns, and praying for herself and the whole family. She used to say to her mother, when the Lord takes me you will be better off, for then you can work. (She is a burnisher).

A little before she died, being in great agony, her mother told her of the love of Christ, and that she would soon be with him; she smiled, and seemed to forget her pain. Having lain speechless for some time, her mother asked her if she thought she should be better; she feebly replied, "Yes, when Í get with the Lord."

This extraordinary death was im. proved on Sunday Jan. 13th 1805, in a discourse addressed by Mr. W. to a large and attentive auditory, chiefly composed of young people, founded on these words of our Lord, "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise." W. W.

Helps to Composition, or 500 Skeletons of Sermons, several being the Substance of Sermons preached before the University. By the Rev. Charles Simeon, M. A. Fellow of King's Col lege, Cambridge. Two Vols. large 8vo, Two Parts each. 17. 168.

Much has been written on the subject of Preaching, and many rules have been laid down and exemplified for as sisting young ministers, and preserving them from adopting a vicious mode of discussion; amongst which, Mr. Simeon's Helps to Composition are, we think, exceedingly well calculated to promote that purpose, and therefore deserving of a much earlier attention than we have bestowed on them. They comprehend the whole range of the subjects of Christian Divinity which are proper to the pulpit; comprizing, in the first volume, the Types, with respect to persons, institutions, and events:

The Prophecies, relating to Christ in a general and particular view, and to the gospel - kingdom; under which general head are fourteen excellent and entire sermons, on Isaiah ii. 13 to Isaiah liii. 12: the Parables, the Miracles, and an Appendix, containing Fast and Thanksgiving Sermons,The Second Volume comprizes, Warnings, general and particular, respecting our faith and hope, our spirit and conduct; Exhortations, inviting, preceptive, monitory, eucharistic; Promises, general and particular; Examples of Christ, of saints, in respect of Christian duty and Christian experience; and an Appendix, containing ten additional and entire sermons on the Christian's Armour.

every discourse," unity in the design, perspicuity in the arrangement, and simplicity in the diction." (See the Preface to Claude's Essay on the Compo sition of a Sermon, which Mr. Simeon published in 1796, together with 100 Skeletons before).

The exordiams to the Skeletons are evidently the productions of great care and judgment. They chiefly consist of two or three ideas, suggested by the context, or by the nature of the passage to be discussed; so that we are not detained by a tedious and irrele vant introduction from the important matter of the text. They are directly introductory to the subject; and the author has used great caution in composing them, in order to avoid forestalling, in any measure, the matter ne cessary to the elucidation of the text. They form, we observe, when read together with the grand outlines only, whole, as well as when they are read with the subordinate ideas; and it would be of great service to a young minister, who might wish to profit by, the assistance here afforded, to obtain, first, a full view of the outlines, which are printed in a larger type, before he considers the other parts that are in troduced as necessary to the complete discussion of the text, as by that means he would more easily acquire a compre bensive view of the whole subject. The author, we may also notice, has in these felps carefully attended to the true meaning of each passage; and, without betraying a slavish regard to system, has endeavoured to display its full force, at the same time interweav ing every circumstance appearing in the context that has any bearing on the subject of the text, or that is necessary to its fuller illustration.

That our readers may form sonte idea of the author's manner, we select the following skeleton, on a very seasonable, and lately popular, subject:

"Against Conformity to the World." Rom. xii. 2. The exhortation in the text Mr. Simeon explains under the following outlines:

mark out these limits we may observe, that we should not be conformed to, rst, Its company and conduct; 2dly, Its maxims and principles; 3dly, Its spirit and temper.

"Further light will be reflected on this subject by considering,

II, Wherein consists that transfor mation of soul that is opposed to it, The Christian is a new creature: old things are passed away, and all things are become new." According to the proficiency he has made, he conforms himself to, 1st, Other principles; 2dly, Other rules; 3dly, Other ends.

Thus is the Christian transformed, not in respect of his life only, but in the spirit of his mind; and, therefore, can declare from experience,

"III. Whatellects this progressive renovation will produce. There are many objections raised by the world against the sanctity that has been before described and there is much opposition to it in the heart of every unrenewed person: but the experience of it will most effectually discover it to be, 1st, Good in itself; 2dly, Acceptable to God; 3dly, Beneficial to man.

"Address, Ist, Those who are yet conformed to the world; 2d, Those who profess to have experienced a transformation of soul."

We cannot close our review of this work without adding, that the applications and improvements of the subjects discussed are judiciously managed. They are diversified according to the nature of the subject, and the mode in which it is opened. The important

truths contained in the Skeletons are incalcated in the most energetic manner for alarming and awakening the careless and secure, for engaging the heart and affections in the cause of true religion and virtue;-and for edis fying the members of Christ.

la short, Mr.Simeon has never failed to keep in view, in every part of his Jaborious publication, the great objects for which the pages of inspiration are profitable, viz. "For doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works,"

We have but one thing to add, which is, Our ardent wish that the respectable author, who is known to live under the influence of the most benevolent principles, would oblige his poorer brethren in the ministry with a cheap edition, or rather selection; for it is not every curate in this country who is able to purchase these expensive volumes;

and we certainly wish the most extensive circulation to his labours.

A Summary View and Explanation of the Writings of the Prophets. By. J. Smith, D. D. of Cambelton. Sc cond Edition,

THIS admirable work contains," rst, Preliminary Observations and General' Rules for Understanding the Prophetic Style; 2d, A particular Account of Order; in which the style of each proeach Book and Chapter as they lie in phet is characterized, the beauty and sublimity of particular passages respeakers, the transition from one part marked, the change of persons or

of the subject to another, and the con nection and scope of the whole pointed out; improvements on the translation, where they seem to be of most couse-> quence, taken notice of; with illustrations of the customs, manners, and circumstances to which the sacred writers occasionally allude, and the application of their prophecies to those events to which they are supposed to refer."-Such is the author's account of his own work, which was originally compiled to accompany a Gaelic translation of the Prophetic Writings; and was afterwards translated into English by the author himself; in which we conceive he has rendered an essential service to those who cannot purchase, or perhaps fully understand the learned and expensive volumes of Bishops Lowth, Blayney, Newcombe, Newton, Dr. Kennicott, and others, to which he freely acknowledges his obligations, and of which the small volume before us may be considered as a judicious and valuable compendium. In this light we cordially recommend it, particularly to such as cannot procure access to the originals. We have only one wish to express on the subject of the work, namely, That it had been more extensive. Our readers will observe, that this is a second edition, which we are glad to see, as the first escaped our notice, and it has been some years out of print.

Letters of St. Paul, by Lavater.

[Continued from p. 273.]