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air, and prayer their native language! It was heavenly wisdom that taught them to secure the first hours of the day for eommunion with their God. In those early hours of retirement, they fed much upon that heavenly manna, which it was their business to prepare for their flock. I have sometimes thought, that too much preaching, and too much hearing, have robbed the closet of its choicest hours, and deprived the mind of its best exercises, exercises that prepare both preacher and hearer for the services of the sanctuary, and for the duties of life and godliness. Is not the young preacher, who is hurried from sermon to sermon, in danger of neglecting his closet, and, with that, his own best interest?of forgetting what manner of man he is, and of losing that spiritual feeling, without which, religious ser vices must become a lifeless form and a tiresome burden? Upon this subject we have the experience of the pious Dr. Doddridge, as follows:-" There must be an enlargement of soul, previous to any remarkable success; and great diligence in prayer, and strict watchfulness over my own soul, previous to any great and habitual enlargement; and deep humiliation of soul must precede both. When the ground is thus prepared, great and good fruit may arise from small seeds. I find it never well in family-worship, when it is not so in secret; never well abroad, when it is not so at home. The better I pray, the better I study; and when I pray and meditate most, I work most." He reckoned a serious, diligent care in the performance of secret prayer, an evidence and support of real religion; and strongly recommended it to others, as a most powerful incentive to every duty, and the best relief under the fatigues and afflictions of life. Thus he addressed one of his brethren :-" That minister has great reason to suspect the integrity of his own heart, who can pray with some copiousness, affection, and pleasure with others, and in secret can only find in his heart to run over a few hasty words in such a manner as he would be ashamed to do, if any one of his fellow-creatures were present. Guard against this, especially in the evening; when the fatigue arising from the labours of the day may expose you to particu Jar danger of it. As prayer is the food and breath of all practical religion, so secret prayer, in particular, is of vast importance: insomuch that I verily believe, that if a man were to keep a particular and accurate journal of his own heart but for one inonth, he would find as real and exact a correspondence between the temper of his soul, at the seasons of secret devotion, and in other parts of his life, as we find between the changes of the barometer and the weather.

If the exercises of the closet were so necessary to a Doddridge, shall the younger and less experienced Christian think himself strong enough to live without this heavenly food? These men of God expected not the seal of the Spirit to their sloth: they rested on his promised aid, and they found it in the

way of duty. To our young friends, who are just entering on the ministerial work, we would recommend this subject for serious consideration with it is connected your own spiritual improvement, as well as the growth or decay of the spirit of devotion in our churches. Let us, my friends, have more than the name of free prayer: let our souls be fed with what we have ourselves tasted of the word of life. Perhaps no part of our ministerial exercises requires more self-denial, more firmness of mind, than the regular and serious discharge of the duties of the closet. The hours of retirement must often be taken from the social circle of the evening, and from the repose of the morning. The flesh will find many an excuse for putting it off till a more convenient season. But the Christian will be well rewarded that perseveres. He that says "enter into your closet," will meet you there; and many are the ways in which he can reward you openly. Will not the minister be well rewarded who comes out of his closet with a double portion of the Spirit of God, strengthened thereby with all might in the inward man, and while his soul takes wing to Heaven, the souls of many shall ascend with him? Will you not be rewarded openly when the sacred fire that has been kindled in the closet shall spread from heart to heart in our assemblies, melt the heart of stone, and awaken the dead sinner in his frozen tomb? Will it not be a reviving cordial to you, to find that the broken heart has been comforted with the consolations wherewith you have been comforted of God? If there is au estrangement between God and your soul, is it likely that those that are afar off should be brought nigh? If a Saviour's love is not warm in your heart, is it likely that it should kindle ours? It is high time for us all to awake! we have slumbered too long our closets and the house of prayer testify against us; even our most crouded congregations are not free from these alarming symptoms. Is it not too evident, that while the sermon is heard with attention, the prayer is by too many treated with indifference? Does not this call for the serious attention of those who lead our devotions? Have they not been tempted to give more of their mind and feelings to the sermon than to the prayer? It is indeed far easier to preach with warmth, than to pray with fervour; to strike the ear than to spiritualize the affections. Are our public prayers so devotional as to lead the young to prefer them to a written form? How seldom is the spirit of prayer cultivated in our families! how few even in the pulpit exhibit it in all its excellencies! Let us unite in praying the great Head of the Church, that he would pour out upon ministers and people a spirit of prayer and of supplication. Wilt thou not revive us again that our souls may rejoice in thee? Ia a future paper I sbali take the liberty to offer a few thoughts upon the mode of conducting our religious services, so far only as connected with its devotional effects. ANONYMOUS.

FOR THE

MORE EXTENSIVE CIRCULATION OF THE SCRIPTURES.

SEVERAL Societies have been formed, for the purpose of distributing Bibles amongst the poor; yet all the exertions of the rich are insufficient to supply the prodigious demand which is made for them, and which is becoming larger every day. Many congregations increase greatly, many new ones are formed, and the great majority of hearers are always poor. Many pious, but poor parents, are anxious to procure Bibles for their children, yet are unable to buy them, especially if their families be large. When children are dismissed from Sunday-Schools, they are sometimes presented with a Bible; but this is not the case generally, for the finances of SundaySchools are seldom able to bear such an expence. Of the lower orders of society, some are so wretchedly poor that they cannot procure themselves the necessaries of life, and can only become possessors of Bibles through the liberality of the affluent; yet great numbers can supply themselves. Though they cannot spare four or five shillings at once out of their weekly earnings, yet they can spare a penny or two-pence a week, without suffering any inconvenience. I therefore gest to ministers and deacons the propriety of establishing Societies in their respective churches, congregations, and neighbourhoods, for the purpose of supplying the poor with Bibles at low prices, to be paid for by small weekly installments: and I suppose, that in every congregation a few individuals may be found, able and willing to subscribe a trifle for those who are unable to subscribe for themselves. By this means, many thousands of Bibles may be distributed to persons who would read them with attention, without burthening unuecessarily the Societies which are established in London for circulating the Holy Scriptures. The same method might be. adopted for the purchase of Hymn Books, and other religious works, if necessary. Birmingham.

Mr. Editor,

QUERIES.

sug

W.W.

IN Exodus xxxiii. 19, the Great Jehovah is pleased to declare He will have mercy on whom he will have mercy; and in Romans i. 1, it is written that God is no respecter of Persons. As these passages of Scripture have, of late, exercised the mind of one of your readers, will thank some of your kind Correspondents for an explanation. J. W. B.

CAN a person be considered as having an interest in Christ, who rejects the atonement he has made? And if not, Is it more criminal or dangerous to reject the atonement of Christ, than it is to reject his justifying righteousness ? EPSILON..

To the Editor.

Dbituary.

Sir, The living witnesses, and dying testimonies for the Lord, which form so much of the pleasurable and profitable part of your Magazine, as well as glorify God, by shewing his faithfulness to his people, and inviting sinners to partake of his mercy in Christ, has induced the writer to send you the following facts, which may not, I hope, be thought an improper article for your Obituary.

MRS. MARY JACOB.

DIED, Nov. 24, 1804, Mrs. Mary Jacob, of Birmingham, who had walked in the fear of God for many years. She was brought to the knowledge of the truth, under the ministry of the Rev. John Riland; and has regularly attended St. Mary's Chapel ever since, as long as she was able. Onc of her complaints, which was a cancer, had a long time before been her dread, from the death of a sister, on whom (as Mr. Hervey describes it) this relentless disorder had fastened its envenomed teeth, and in the midst of bodily vigour and pitying friends, had brought gradually to death. But when the appointed time of her affliction came, she found that patient resignation to the will of God, at which her friends were astonished, and thought truly the Lord was with her. A friend conversing with her (a month or more before her death) about the state of her mind, under her very afflicted state of body, she said she wanted an abiding sense of the Spirit; meaning that comfortable sense of the Divine Presence she at times enjoyed, to be always with her; but she was told few were favoured with that strong, full, and constant assurance she wished to enjoy; though the Lord has engaged as a covenant God in Christ Jesus to save believers, and has

promised grace to help in every time of need.

tions, and of having our wills resign. Speaking to her of sanctified aflic. ed to the will of God, she answered, I would rather be in my present situation than any other ;" meaning, if it be the will of God she should be so. At another time, being much oppre-sed with pain and lowness of spirits (whilst her daughter was with her) said, "O that I had but the wings of a dove, then would I flee away and be at rest, and leave this filthy body behind me." Notwithstanding she was at times, either from weakness of body or the temptations of Satan, much har rassed in her mind, and so much so, as even to doubt her interest in the redemption of Jesus. A few days before her death she asked a friend who had been reading to her, "Do you think Jesus will save me?"

Yes,' said he, I am sure he will, if you have experienced in your heart what I have heard from your lips. You do not say now, with the world, I never did any one any harm, I have been my own greatest enemy, I have a good heart, I believe God is mercital? "No, No," said she, "I have long done with that." Well then, says her friend, be persuaded it is the enemy to your soul tempting you to disbelieve. It is very common when the body becomes weak, the enemy seems strong; but remember, Christ was tempted, the greatest saints may be tempted,—there is no sin in temptation if the enemy be resisted, "I cannot pray -you must pray. nor read," said she, "having some thing before my eyes like a mist; and the pains of my body are great; pray for me." We do, and so do all God's people, for they pray for all that are in affliction, sorrow, or distress." "It has often been a comfort and consolation to my mind, when I could not pray for myself, to think I had an interest in the prayers of others." She was then re minded what a happy thing it was

for her that she had read and pray. ed before the body came into that weak state, incapable of performing those holy exercises. If you cannot use words, lift up your heart, and after darkness there may be a great light. Two days after (being the day previous to her death) her soul seemed much in the exercise of prayer; and on the day of her death, one of her daugh. ters sitting by her bed side, she was heard to say, 66 False accusers! vain deceivers !" and, in an extacy, added, Christ appears," and soon after she said," This will take me to Heaven. I have many things to say, but I cannot say much. Children, live in love, be kind to your father, and the God of love shall be with you." This sweet composure of mind continued till the Lord Jesus was pleased to take her to himself, a little before three in the afternoon, without a struggle or a groan, and even with a smile upon her countenance, at the age of sixty years.

Surely here is encouragement for the weak, and comfort for the strong, that we should believe his truths, live on his promises. and rely on his power from day to day. May we not say, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours."

MR. DAVID NIVEN, Or King Street, Soho, was born March 4, 1722, at Kilwinning, in Scotland, of pious parents, who brought him up in the fear of God. When he was five years of age, he heard a child take God's name in vain; which so affected him that he shed tears. His father's sudden death made so deep an impression en his mind as seriously to hurt his constitution; of which, his uncle, in London, hearing, requested him to come up to him; and this he did in Jan. 1750. He then attended the ministry of Dr. Cruickshanks, in Swallow Street. Sometime after he went to Paris, where he pursued his business for two years and a half; during which period there, his strong convictions for sin began.

He returned to London in March 1756, married, and settled in the house in which he died, out of which he never slept, until he slept in death. He was ordained an Elder of the Church in Swallow Street in March 1764; which office he faithfully discharged until the 9th of April 1804, when, through the infirmities of age, he was obliged to re. He was frequently very se. sign. riously attacked with bodily disor. ders, and at times, the thoughts of dying were exercising to his mind, but were removed through the whole of his last illness, during which he was confined to his chamber; and three weeks and two days

to his bed.

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He was visited by Dr. Trotter, Dr. Duncan, and Mr. Nicol, du ring his confinement, much to their satisfaction. The night before he died, he desired his wife and ne phew to sing the 7th Psalm and pray with him; and he joined cheerfully with them in every part of the exercise. A friend taking leave of him, added, she should see him again to-morrow :' he said, "Tomorrow I shall be in glory;" and so he was Through the night, he expressed much delight in the love of God, and rejoiced in the know. ledge of Christ his Saviour; and de. sired his relations "not to sorrow for him as one without hope." A little before he died, he said, “Into thy hands, O God,I commend my spirit." He continued to speak of the love and mercy of God for some time, but could not be understood; he died Dec. 23d 1804, aged 82. He was buried in Bunhill Fields on Jan. 4, 1805. Dr. Trotter, his old and intimate friend, delivered the Oration, and dropt the friendly tear: Mr. Nicol finished the solemnity in prayer. On the Sabbath follow ing, Dr. Duncan preached the fu. neral-sermon from Psalm xxiii. 6, which was concluded with the fol lowing paper, written and left by himself, for the satisfaction of his relations :

"While I was in Paris, in the years 1753, 1754, and 1755, God was pleased to begin a work of grace in my soul, by shewing me my lost and undone state by nature.

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