ing to appointment, and prefented a plan for carrying the defigu of the body into execution. This they have published, with the names of this Committee, accompanied with a spirited addrefs to the Friends of Religion. WESTMORELAND. A fuccessful attempt has been made to fpread the Gospel in the neighbouring towns and villages of Ravenftonedale. The Minifters have preached at Kirbyfteven, Rookby, Caber, and Crofly; and fo great is the Bumber of hearers, that they have been obliged frequently to preach out of doors. The utmost attention is paid to the word, and many are enquiring the way to Zion with their face thitherward. OPENING OF A CHAPEL. ON Wednesday, Auguft 16, a place was opened for the worship of God, at Coldhorne, Wilts. Mr. Honeywell, of Melkfham, began the fervice by prayer, and afterwards read the 132d pfalm; Mr. Jackion, of Warminster, prayed, and Mr. Mantell, of Weltbury, preached from 1 Kings viii. 29; the morning fervice was concluded by Mr. Ward, of Melkfham, and Mr. Bur, of Bath. In the afternoon the Congregation being very large, it was judged expedient that the Meeting fhould be held under a large tree, which stands in the center of the village. Mr. Wefton, of Corsham; Mr. Cottam, of the Hope Chapel, and Mr. Fowler, of Bath, engaged in the fervice; and an animated difcourfe was delivered by Mr. Carter, of Bath, from Iaian xi. 10; Mr. Bagnell, of Bath, and Mr. Ball, of Weltbury, concluded this opportunity. In the evening the Congregation again affembled under the tree, when Mr Porter and Mr. Green, of Bath, feverally engaged; Mr. Hey, of Bristol, delivered a short but excellent discourse from the latter clause of 2 Cor. vi. 2. Behold now, &c." The fervices of the day were concluded by Mr. Stevenfon, of Trowbridge. The above village has for fome time engaged the attention of a fincere friend to the Gofpel of Jefus, who beholding the inhabitants in a state of darkness, and being defirous to have the truth preached among them, he communicated his wishes to the Minifters affembled at the last Anniversary held at Trowbridge, when many prefent with great readiness gave in their names to go alternately and preach under the tree. Mr. Jay, of Bath, first proclaimed Salvation under its fpreading branches, and the fame has been occupied by fome Minister of the Gospel every Sabbath, without interruption, either from the elements, or men, until the place was ⚫pened. ORDINATIONS. THE REV. W. MOORE. ON June 14, 1797, the fettlement of the Rev. W. Moore, late of Rederofs-ftreet, London, over the Congregations of Tilbury and Birdbush, was publicly folemnized. Reading and prayer by Mr. Morley, of Tif bury. Introduction, by Mr. Adams, of Sarum; Mr. Jackfon, of Warminster Warminster, prayed; Mr. Jay, of Bath, preached from Matt. xxii. 39: "And the fecond, &c." Mr. Loader, of Fording-bridge, concluded.In the afternoon the fervice was refumed, when Mr. Hopkins, of ChriftChurch, read and prayed; Mr. Hughs, of Nunny, gave a difcription of a Gospel Church, and required the recognition; Dr. Duncan, of Winbourn, prayed; Mr. Edwards, of Wilton, preached from Peter ii. vi. "Chrift a foundation," and Mr. Sibrec, of Frome, concluded. The whole fervice was conducted with great folemnity. THE REV. JOHN ROGERS. WEDNESDAY, July 12th, the Rev. John Rogers was ordained Paftor of the Church of Chrift, at Beaminster, Dorfet. The Rev. Mr. Underwood, of Dorchefter, introduced the fervice with a fhort, expreffive prayer, and read Ezek. xxxiii, 1-9. 1 Tim. 3. with great folemnity. Rev. Mr. Small, of Axminster, delivered an excellent difcourfe on the nature of Ordination, and of a Gospel Church; and received the confeffion of Faith. Rev. Mr. Harvey, of Cerne, engaged in the ordination prayer, with impofition of hands. Rev. Mr. Herdfman, of South Petherton, delivered an affectionate charge, 2 Tim. ii. 7. "Confider what I fay, &c." Rev. Mr. Bifhop, of Axminster, offered up the interceffory prayer. Rev. Mr. Harvey, of Sherborne, preached a ferious difcourfe to the people, on the important duty of praying for Minifters-1 Theff. v. 25. Brethren, pray for us ;" and the Rev. Mr. Wilkins, of Weymouth, clofed the opportunity in prayer. 66 In the evening, the Rev. Meffrs. Lambe, of Weymouth, and Morrin, of Yeovil, engaged in prayer; the Rev. Mr. Sedcole, of Swanage, preached an ingenious difcourfe on the parable of the Labourers of the Vineyard. Matt. xx. which he confidered, as intended to illuftrate the hiftory of chap. xix. 16. and following. Minifters and people departed from the folemnity, realizing, in a meafure, the bleffing of Naphthali," fatisfied with favour, and full with the bieffing of the Lord." Deut. xxxiii. 23. THE REV. GEORGE COOKE. ON July 20th, the Rev. George Cooke was ordained Paftor over the Independent Church in Reeth, Yorkshire. The Rev. John Hill, of Ravenstonedale, in Weftmoreland, began the fervice with prayer and reading; the Rev. George Wilfon, Leeds, delivered the introdu&tory difcourfe, afked the ufual queftions, and requested Mr. Cooke to make confeffion of his faith, which he accordingly did; the Rev. Edward Parfons, Leeds, prayed the ordination prayer, and gave the charge to Mr. Cooke, from 1 Tim. iv. 16; the Reverend Lewis Jones, Durham, preached to the people from Eph. v. 15; the Reverend Mr. Simpson, Swaldale, concluded the fervice with prayer; fuitable pfalms and hymns were given out by the Rev. William Norris, Itinerant Preacher at Stokelley, in Yorkshire. Two Sermons were preached in the evening, by Mr. Norris and Mr. Hill. THE REV. MR. SUCH. THE little newly raised independent church at Ingatestone, Effex, on Tuesday, July 25th, recognized their call of Mr. Such, of Brentwood, 10 to the paftoral office among them. The fervice was conducted by the foł.. lowing reverend gentlemen; prayer, and reading appofite portions of fcripture, by Mr. Churchill, Ongar. Introduction of the fervice by Mr. Corbishley, Abbots-rooding. The churches call was fignified by one of the members, and accepted by Mr. Such; ordination prayer by Mr. Strachen, Romford; charge by Mr. Towers, Barbican, London, 1 Tim. iy. 18. Sermon to the church by Mr. Cracherode, of Gravesend, Kent. En courage him." The church, at Ingatestone, with gratitude mentions her obligation to London friends, for enabling them to fit up a place for divine worship. May their little one become a thousand! THE REV. WM. HOPKINS. " ON Wednesday the 2d of Auguft, 1797, William Hopkins, late a ftudent at the Evangelical Academy, at Hoxton, was (in the presence of a large and attentive Congregation) ordained to the patioral office of an independent church at Chrift Church, in Hampshire The Rev. Mr. Warlow, of Wincanton, began with prayer and reading fuitable portions of Scripture; the Rev. J. Adams, of Salisbury, delivered an introductory discourse; the Rev. J Lewis, of Ringwood, asked the questions and received Mr. Hopkins's confeffion of faith; the Rev. Mr. Sloper, of Devizes, prayed the ordination prayer, with the laying on of the hands of the Prefbytery." The Rev. E. Afhburner, of Poole, gave a folemn charge from 2 Tim. iv. 5. "Do the work of an Evangelist.' The Rev. E. D. Jackfon, of Warminster, prayed the interceffory prayer; the Rev. W. Kingsbury, of Southampton, preached to the people from the 1ft Peter ch. v. and part of the 5th verte." Likewife ye younger fubmit yourfelves unto the elder: yea, all of you be subject one to another.” The Rev. B. Cracknell, of Wareham, concluded with prayer; the Rev. J. Bennett, of Romfey, gave out fuitable hymns. Every part of the fervice was conducted with great ferioufnefs and folemnity, which created pleafure, fatisfaction and profit. So that," it was good to be there." The Rev. J. Adams, preached a truly excellent fermon in the evening from 6th Galatians 14; the Rev. W. Sedcole, of Swanage, and the Rev. J. Bennett, engaged in prayer. The preceding evening the Rev. E. D. Jackfon, preached a very ferious and profitable difcourfe from the 63d of Ifaiah, part of the 9th verfe. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his pretence faved them." The Rev. Dr. Duncan, of Wimbourne, and the Rev. Mr. M'Gibbon engaged in prayer. OBITUARY. ELIZABETH BOOTH. THE peaceful departure of Elizabeth Booth, who died January 31, 1796, at Rochetter, in the fixteenth year of her age. The mother of this young perfon met with a fright, which occafioned her premature birth at feven months. At twenty months old, a fervant quickedly turned her up in a bed, where he must have been fmothered, had not Providence directed the mistress of the houfe, to go into the room where he found the child almoft breathless, and fhe laid five hours afterwards with little She had a strong antipathy to the child. appearance of life. Oh the unfathomable depths of God's providential goodness in preferving his people in Chrift Jefus! She appeared to have a great concern for her foul at the age of eleven, and took delight in reading good books, particularly the verles made on poor Jofeph, and would, after the line, Who knows but Jefus died for Jofeph too," repeat, "Who knows but Jefus died for (Betly) too." After the family removed to Rochester, the was at times in great diftrefs of foul, particularly how it was poffible for the Lord to fet his love on fo finful and vile à creature as fhe was, and fometimes found comfort under the word, which the diligently attended, complaining of the badnefs of her memory fometimes to her mother. On Saturday morning the 28th of January fhe was taken ill, and was poorly all that day, the following night her mother flept with her, fhe had a reflefs night, but expreffed herself to be very comfortable in her mind. On the Sabbath day, the afked for her bible and hymn book, and turned down feveral passages, and fome hymns, including two funeral ones. On Sabbath day night her foul rejoiced in the Lord, and the spoke of the great things he had done for her, finging and praying the whole night. She faid to her mother with great chearfulness, "Should the Lord pleafe to take me now, I should wish to be buried in my grandfather's grave, because he is gone to glory, and I fhall be with him there; and defired the might have a plain funeral. On feeing her mother weeping, the faid, "My dear mama do not weep, I am going to my dear Lord, I have prayed him to take me first, you will foon follow, then we fhall never part more, forrow and all tears he will wipe away, and we thall be ever with the Lord. You have had a thorny dark paffage thro' a perishing world; but the Lord has brought you thro', and has promised as your day is, fo fhall your strength be; and the Lord is the fame yesterday, to day, and for ever; a friend who fticketh clofer than a brother, and knows what is beft for us. She then called for her father, and faid, come my dear father, and kifs your dear Betfy, the Lord is very good to your dear child," and then talked very comfortably to her father, mother, and fifter, then prayed for them, and afterwards continued to talk of the great love of God to his people. O how good is God my Lord to his lanibs, he carries them in his bofom; fuch a poor weak one as I am, dear Lord, will it be thy pleasure to take me to night or to-morrow morning? and then fung, "Sweet was the hour I ficedom felt, "To call my Jefus mine, "To fee his fmiling face, and melt And afterwards again. "Oh! to mount away, "And leave this clog of heavy clay, "That I may join the fongs on high.' She wished much to fee Chriftian friends, to tell them what the Lord had done for her. One of these friends having called, fhe heard his voice, and defired he might come up ftairs, and then related to him her experi- . ence, what diftrefs fhe had been in, and how the Lord had fet her at liberty, and what comfort the received from the word of God and in private converfation; and then faid, Sir, what do you think of my fate? He replied, you have a better witness than that of man. Yes, the replied, for what great things has the Lord done for fuch a poor creature as I am, for in my flesh is no good thing, but all fin from the crown of my head, to the fole of my foot. She then converfed very chearfully about a future ftate, and faid, O Sir, to be for ever with the Lord! what joy! and concluded with prayer for Chriftian friends. In the afternoon of this day, feveral friends came to fee her, but he grew worfe, and at times was delirious. Her mother obferving her lips to move, asked her what the faid, to whom the replied, I am not speaking to you but to my dear Lord. She faid feveral excellent things after fhe was delirious. On Tuesday morning the 31st of January, her fpeech altered, and about nine she was unable to utter any thing. The laft notice fhe took of any thing, was, her mother faid, my dear, you will foon be in glory. She lifted her eyes up with a fmile, and at nine in the afternoon fell asleep in Jefus. May the Lord enable all young perfons who read this account, to confider that the fame work which was wrought on the fpirit of this young lady, and which enabled her to die comfortably, is equally neceffary for them. And let us adore the fovereign goodness of God, who continues to afford striking examples of his grace in many young perfons, fome of whom are thus early taken to Heaven, others left to replenish the church on earth, and fo bear the burden and heat of the day. May the Lord increase their number. Amen. POOR WOMAN AT PLYMOUTH. Some circumstances relating to the dying teftimony of a poor unfortunate who departed this life in the Work-House at Plymouth Dock, January 18, 1797.- --[Transmitted by the Rev. Dr. Hawker.] woman, SHE was very ill when the came into the work-house, and expreffed 3 defire that the Lord would pardon her, take her to himfelf, and not fuffer her to go out into the world again; and wifhed to converfe with a ferious perfon who vifited the work-houfe. He talked with her on the subject of falvation, and prayed with her. She feemed to be seriously imprest with a fenfe of her manifold tranfgreffions, and to have an encreafing defire after the knowledge of falvation. She obferved to a pious woman, who was speaking to her of what Jefus Chrift had done for poor finners; that he had heard there was a Saviour, but never knew that he had died for finners. Being worse than ufual, her nurfe thinking her to be near her end, afked a pious neighbour to bring a book, and read to her; fhe did, and read Ruffel's Confeffion of a Penitent, in which are thefe words, "the gate of mercy is not yet hut." She clafped her hands together and faid," then, I hope not fhut against me, but I have been a very great finner.” About a fortnight before the died, a person asked her the state of her foul; the faid fhe had been crying to Jefus Chrift for mercy in the night, and had felt the hardness depart from her heart, and felt a love towards him. About a week before he died, being afked if he had any hope, the faid, "Yes." Is it upon a good foundation? the perfon faid. "It is upon a good foundation." Being very weak fhe could fcarcely fpeak more. On Sunday the 15th of January, it was whispered in her ear, hold faft the Lord Jefus Chrift, He is God, able to fave you, hold him faft, and you cannot fink. He will fupport you in the hour of death; his blood cleanfeth from all fin. By her look fhe was too weak to make any reply, but feemed to exprefs much fatisfaction at hearing an hymn fung, which he had defired, the evening before, might be fung. Monday the 16th, being asked how fhe was, the replied, tho' fearce able to speak," very comfortable!" Is Chrift precious to you?"He is my Saviour, I have got him, I will hold him faft." Upon hearing one fay the beds they lay on were coarse, the faid, "any thing is good enough for me." She now defired fomebody would pray with |