VERSES WRITTEN IN AFFLICTION. When pain and languor shake these prison walls, Fain would she soar; but, ah! too soon she falls, My Father, to fulfil his kind designs, Sees fit my darling treasure to remove : And ah! too oft this murm'ring heart repines, Rather than bless his kind chastising love. Altho' their emptiness I daily find, — How prone to cleave to earth's enjoyments still! How apt to think my heav'nly Friend unkind, Because his wisdom contradicts my will! But hark! my Saviour's gracious voice I hear; "Hush, ye rebellious murmurs; peace, be still! "O thou of little faith, why dost thou fear? "The souls I love, my chast ning love must feel. "I am thy promise-making, keeping Lord, "Firm and unmov'd my love, my truth abide. "Is there a promise in my holy word, "That, while on earth, no sorrow shall betide? "This lesson, oft I bid my saints to know, "That tribulation marks the heav'nly road: "That many a trial sore they must pass thro', "In pressing to the kingdom of their God. When I, thy Lord, sojourn'd awhile below, "My practice and example taught the same; "Those who would follow wheresoe'er I go, "Must pass thro' suff'ring, sorrow, pain, and shame! “I drain'd the nauseous draught thy soul to save ; "When I afflict thee, I design thy good; "Trust me, thou know'st I'm gracious, kind, and wise ; "Each med'cine sanctify'd by me is food, "And ev'ry cross a blessing in disguise! "I bid thee languish on the bed of pain, "To wean thy heart from sublunary joys; "To teach thee that terrestrial things are vain, "Mere painted baubles and delusive toys. "Affliction wafts thy thoughts o'er swelling seas, "To thy inheritance on Canaan's shore, "And wings thy longings for that land of bliss "Where the inhabitant is sick no more "Faithless, unkind, thy dearest earthly love, "Has caus'd thee many a bitter sigh and tear; "Each idol that my people trust, shall prove "A broken reed, perhaps a pointed spear. "Come, rest thyself, thy cares upon my arm ; "I'll help thee when all other helpers fail: "Death of his dreaded sting I will disarm, “And bear thee safely thro' the dreary vale! "Strength shall be equal to each day of need, "And glory sure will conterbalance all! "What here thou canst but faintly, feebly see, "And e'en the roughest was the best for thee." Thy gracious words new life and strength impart. And be resign'd, submissive to his will; Now I can kiss his kind correcting rod, And bless him for each painful stroke I feel! Awhile, a few more trials to pass through: To seats prepar'd for me ere time was known, And my unworthy head with glory crown. His praise employ my last, low, lab'ring breath! Oh may I singing to my crown remove, And sink with smiles serene into the arms of death? EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE. SEPTEMBER, 1805. MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. HENRY TANNER, OF EXETER. MR. TANNER, the subject of this brief Memoir, was born at Exeter, March 8, 1719 His parents, Henry and Dorothy Tanner, were persons possessed of the comforts, though not of the superfluities of life: they were moral in their conduct, but unacquainted with the distinguishing truths of the gospel. Henry being their only surviving child, his mother took peculiar care of his education; in which she fourd much encouragement, from the docility of his disposition. It pleased God to visit him, at the early age of eight years, with a severe fever, which threatened his life. During this affliction he first became sensible of religious impressions; his conscience was much alarmed; his convictions of sin were strong, and Death appeared to him "the King of Terrors." In this state of mind, as is usual with persons in similar circumstances, he made many solemn vows; but when health returned, he relapsed into a state of religious indifference: nevertheless, amidst all his youthful follies, occasional apprehensions of death and judgment forced themselves upon him, even till the time of his conversion to God. At the age of thirteen, he obtained permission of his parents to accompany his uncle on a voyage to Oporto; in which he' experienced a remarkable interposition of the providence of God; for, being thrown overboard by the stroke of a rope, he' was enabled to catch hold of it, and was thus preserved from being drowned. The same good providence kept him from destruction in his return to England, for the passage was remarkably dangerous; but he who has the winds and waves at his controul, reserved the youth for eminent service in his church. His mother, perceiving the sad degree of immorality that 3 C |