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which means, at the age of about seventeen years, began to produce those saving effects upon her mind which ever after distinguished her as an humble follower of the meek and lowly Saviour. Although she was thus blest with early religious privileges, which must never be underrated, yet it was not by any saving efficacy in mere sacramentalism that she became a new creature, but by that saving work of conviction and regeneration of the Holy Spirit, whose province alone it is to beget us by the word of Truth, which liveth and abideth for ever. The time of her conversion was one of great religious awakening, under the ministry of the Rev. Robert Aitkin, who, about thirty-five years since, came from the Isle of Man, held religious services in Cook-street Rooms, and afterwards in what is now known as Hope Hall, which place was built to accommodate the large audiences who flocked from all parts of the town to hear his eloquent and soul-stirring appeals, which were blest to the enlightening and saving of many souls. From that period she enjoyed a saving knowledge of Divine grace, which developed itself in a growing regard for all the ordinances of true religion, secret communion, and walking with God, and that practical obedience to the requirements of Christian precepts which constitute the best evidence both of the reality of a saving change and also of our meetness for the inheritance of the saints in light. As a mother, she was passionately fond of her offspring, and always endeavoured to manifest, both in word and deed, that example which it will be well if her children will imitate, and of which they need never to be ashamed; and also that deep concern for their welfare, both in a physical and spiritual point of view, which, it is feared, in no small degree tended to weaken her frail body, which was for many years the subject of the insidious workings of a disease which ultimately brought her to a comparatively premature grave.

As a wife, she was ever faithful, affectionate, and true. For thirty years she manifested that deep-seated regard, growing respect, and unchanging love to her husband that appeared to strengthen in proportion as the tide of disappointment, affliction, and change of trying circumstances rolled in upon her. Was he at any time apparently harsh in tone or unkind in manner, no murmur escaped from her sealed lips. Did a word of anger ever drop upon her ear, arising from either a want of information or misapprehension, no retaliation, either in word or look, was ever expressed by her. She possessed, to a wonderful degree, the grace of much forbearance, deep-rooted humility, and abounded in a "meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price."

HER LAST ILLNESS.

For many years she was affected with deafness, which was a great disadvantage; and also, more or less, at intervals, with asthma, shortness of breath, and excessive weakness. These, it would now appear, were only symptoms of a deep-seated complaint in the region of the heart, of which complaint the doctors for years have evidently been ignorant, and have, as a result, only been doing battle with the effects without ever reaching the cause. For several summers she has been in the habit of visiting New Brighton for three weeks or a month, which invariably for a time tended to recruit her diminished strength, and afforded her a quiet retreat from the busy scenes of the every-day domestic duties; for it must not be understood that, although she was thus afflicted, she was entirely laid aside. Instead of that, she was most active and industrious, and it is feared that often beyond her strength she has toiled to keep her childrer respectable, and her home clean and comfortable. Having much faith in her annual retreat, she left home for New Brighton on the 24th June, with a view of remaining a month, but the weather was so cold that her cough returned, and in a week the doctor advised her to return home, and come again when the weather became warmer. From the time of her return, additional means were obtained to relieve her, but all appeared to be in vain. The unmistakable symptoms of

heart disease were patent, and her strength daily was evidently diminishing. Conscious of this, she bore all with Christian resignation, and was enabled to say, "Father, not my will, but thine be done." On the Monday evening before she died, she expressed a wish to see all her children, so that she might, before becoming too weak, give each a dying word of advice. Upon their appearance, she held each by the hand for about ten minutes and addressed each according to his or her peculiar temperament, pointing out their little failings and growing habits, and the necessity of giving the heart unreservedly to Christ, attending the means of grace, and so living that she might have the happiness of meeting all in Heaven. This was followed by a separate prayer for each son and daughter, and, having obtained a promise from each, she again engaged in prayer, the burden of which was "Lord, save all my children! Do, Lord. Thou knowest that I have long prayed for them. O Lord, grant me my request;" and then, as if an assurance had been given, she said, "Thou wilt save them; we shall all meet in Heaven." This done, she appeared to be inspired with a spirit of zeal, and began to give a word of earnest counsel to several adult relatives, to give all diligence, that she might meet them in Heaven. Children and friends were a 11 deeply affected, and it is questionable whether the affecting scene and seasonable a dvice will ever be erased from the mind and memory of all present. From that evening until she died, her mind was in a most tranquil and hopeful state. When her pain was great, and the waters of death appeared to be rising, her prayer was not to be restored, but for patience to bear all that her Heavenly Father saw fit to allow. At twenty minutes to one, on Saturday, July 15th, she calmly fell asleep in Jesus.

Correspondence.

A work of God was

THE CHURCH AT TENBY.-Sir,-There is a little watering-place not 200 miles from Tenby, where Ritualism prevails, and the Gospel is not preached in the church. A godly layman visited the place some few years back; he saw the state of things, and he considered what was to be done. An additional clergyman was required just then to take charge of a portion of the parish. The good man went to the incumbent, he offered to find the stipend of the additional curate if the incumbent would allow him to appoint his own man, at the same time stating frankly and openly that he would appoint a sound Evangelical man. The incumbent hesitated; in the meantime, he allowed this good layman to have services, in a room that was fitted up for the purpose, for some Sundays by his own clerical friends. The people, thirsting for the Word of Life, crowded to this room. begun. The incumbent now interfered; he stopped the clerical friends of this layman from officiating; he refused his offer of a curate. What was to be done in this emergency? This godly man, a sound Churchman, a strong Conservative, felt "Here is a work I have been permitted to begin. I cannot let it drop. I must see what I can do." He heard of an organization called "The Free Church of England." He applied to that body. He obtained the services of a good, earnest, faithful, prudent man. And to this present date the work of God is carried on there. The room is crowded by earnest worshippers. The service is strictly in accordance with the Liturgy of the Church of England. I have known of dignitaries of our Church worshipping there, and expressing the very great satisfaction that they felt in the service, and the profit with which they listened to the faithful and able ministry of the Word. I would say to all interested in the

Church at Tenby, let a temporary Free Church of England be established at Tenby. Brighter days may come for the Church there. The Free Church, though in the eye of the law Dissent, is not so really. Many through it will be saved from the Dissenting chapel, a light will be given to the place, ‘and though (as I have heard the above-mentioned godly layman, since called to his rest, say) we love the Church of England dearly, we love the truth of God more. For about 2001. per annum the Free Church could be maintained in Tenby. This surely could easily be procured from the hundreds of residents and visitors named by "Protestant."-ONE WHO HAS OFTEN OFFICIATED IN TENBY CHURCH.-The Rock.

Reviews.

Short Family Prayers for the Mornings and Evenings of Seven Days.-Arranged by A Layman. Cambridge: W. Metcalfe and Sons. Twelve Copies post free for 1s.

Sound in doctrine-experimental and practical.

Free Church of England Central Fund.

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Lecture by Rev. J. Dunning... 203

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THE FREE CHURCH OF ENGLAND MAGAZINE,

NOVEMBER, 1871.

Free but False.

THE Word of God, the criterion of truth and the rule of Divine judgment, enjoins upon us, "So speak ye and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty," James ii. 12. The first right which God has given to man is to think for himself, and to express his thoughts. Happily for us, we live in a country where these and other rights are recognised. Thought, speech, and action are free as air. So long as a man respects himself and does no wrong to his neighbour or to society at large, he is at liberty in England to think, speak, write, and work to his heart's content. May it ever be so; and if the machinery of our liberty is capable of improvement, may it be amended!

Christianity is the genius of liberty. Christ came to make men free, in the best sense and in the widest acceptation of the word. Genuine liberty, however, goes hand in hand with truth and honesty. When she abandons these companions her nature is changed, and she becomes licentiousness. History is full of illustrations of this sad metamorphosis. Never more than at the present day did the world need to study the character and deportment of those who aspire to be guides of its thought, especially of its religious thought. It is scarcely possible-and, if it were possible, it would be undesirable-to separate a man's teaching from his life. The antecedents and conduct of a teacher form and give tone to his instructions. The man is in his lesson.

The Rev. Charles Voysey is the ex-Vicar of Healaugh, in Yorkshire. Yorkshire Churchism could not endure him. In the person of her Archbishop she cited him before the Ecclesiastical tribunals, and after repeated and patient trials, he has justly been deposed from his cure of souls by a decision of the final Court of Appeal. He has come up to London, and has opened his gymnasium in Langham-place. There is no objection to Mr. Voysey's introduction to the metropolis. It is desirable, however,

that the recent history of this new apostle of free-thinkers should be borne in mind; especially should it be remembered that he has fought to the very last moment to retain his foothold in the Protestant Episcopal Church established by law in this country. On taking orders in that Church, it is presumed that he made a solemn declaration of his unfeigned assent and consent to the contents of the Book of Common Prayer; further, that he deliberately signed the Thirty-nine Articles as embodying his sincere belief, including, of course, the three creeds, with all the damnatory clauses of that called the Athanasian. It is presumed also that he repeated some of these solemn acts on accepting his benefice and cure of souls at Healaugh. Moreover, this modern free-thinker, till very lately, admitted by implication an intellectual sympathy with the rubrics, canons, and homilies, and purging himself from all the spirit of Free Churchism, fought with the obstinacy of an English Jack-tar for the social status and the possible advancement of a beneficed clergyman. He fought to the very last for the privileges of a position which he evidently and confessedly did not occupy, in foro conscientia. In fact, the Rev. Charles Voysey left the Church whose dogmas he did not believe, and whose discipline he did not obey, because he could not help it. He did not go out, but waited to be kicked out. He has nothing at all of the martyr in his constitution, but stands scenically, like an actor behind a chafing-dish with coloured fire, and would have the world think and believe him a martyr.

To sum up the case in few words, we must either consider the Vicar of Healaugh and the Rev. Charles Voysey to have been two distinct individuals, or we must conclude that he is self-convicted of hypocrisy or dishonesty, or both. On the solemn and repeated avowal of his faith the doctrines of the Trinity, the inspiration and authority of the Bible, the fall of man, the atoning sacrifice of Christ, justification by faith, and eternal judgment, he held his office. If he did not believe, he was dissembling in remaining within the Church; if he did believe, he was untruthful and dishonest in his utterances and avowals through the pulpit, the press, and the courts. He cannot escape from the dilemma. He is selfimpaled. The professors of free thought are not much to be congratulated on their priesthood, and least of all on the accession of this last apostle. It may have required no little effrontery for a man whose past life has been a lie to conscience, who must have long tolerated and cultivated insincerity, and whose last days have been spent in vain attempts at dodging truth, honour, and law, to set himself up as the advocate par excellence of "God's truth," "God's honour," and of "the welfare of man." We confess sorrowfully that we have no respect for Mr. Voysey. We cannot believe that he respects himself. He would have given the world an Apologia, if he could by any possibility have explained his all-comprehending, contradictory faith, and his transparent insincerity. We pity his deluded followers-perhaps we ought to say masters, for one is an ex

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