Father has given me one stripe too many.' On January the 12th, just before her departure, she was tempted to think that it would have been better for her to have destroyed herself, than to endure such pain and sufferings; but, said she, "I know that the temptation comes from Satan and Christ has conquered Satan; and I long to be-I shall be with Christ soon." Her desires were speedily fulfilled; and her spirit fled to the enjoyment of that precious Saviour, whom on earth she so ardently loved. Can we forbear exclaiming, "Here is the faith and patience of the saints. Let me die the death of the righteous!" Her funeral sermon was preached on the Sabbath week following, at the Independent chapel, Queenstreet, by Mr. Ebenezer White, from Psalm xcvii. 12. "Light is found for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.” Chester. E. W. MISS ELIZABETH CULLIS. On Monday, the 7th of February, died, aged fourteen years, Miss Elizabeth Cullis, daughter of Mr. John Cullis, ship-broker, on the Broad Quay, Bristol. She had enjoyed the privilege of hearing the gospel, and of receiving religious instruction from her parents, which, through the blessing of God, produced a happy effect on her mind, and rendered her a truly amiable, tender-hearted, and dutiful child. Before the commencement of her last illness, she appeared to be considerably impressed with a sense of divine things, and especially of the day of judgment, and the future state. While lying upon her deathbed, being, at her own request, visited by the Rev. Mr. Wait, se. veral times during her confinement, the grace of God wrought in her a complete resignation to his sovereign will. She shewed a willingness to die, rather than live in this miserable sinful world, because she loved Jesus Christ, and was satisfied she should be with him in glo. ry; but at all times desired that his will, not hers, might be done. On the Thursday preceding her dis - solution, she recovered her senses and speech, after having lost the use of them for thirty hours; and almost immediately exclaimed,“The Lord help me! what poor miserable wretches are we!" She requested a hymn-bcok; and, after reading a little therein, she sung, in a very strong manner, the first verse of the hymn beginning "Day of judgment, day of wonders," &c. which she was very fond of: and then exclaimed, "Christ's precious blood cleanseth from all sin;" and to her mother, she said, "Watch and pray!" In the evening she begged her mother to forgive her; to which her mother answered, "You have not offended me; beg of God, my dear, to forgive you.' When she quickly replied, "God has forgiven me !" Several times in the night she was observed to lift up her hands and eyes, and to say, "My God, my God!" after which she sung the first part of the 77th Ps. new version. On Friday morning her mother asked her if she was afraid to die; to which she answered, "No, I had much rather be gone than stay here;" and then sung part of that hymn, "Ahl lovely appearance of death!" &c. In the eveuing, it was observed to her, Christ says, Him that cometh,' Aye," said she, interrupting the speaker, "Him that cometh to me I will in nowise cast out!" The whole of Saturday and Sunday she was very weak; yet still repeated many broken sentences, which could not be perfectly understood. On Monday morning early, she sung the first verse of Dr. Watts's hymn, "Why do we mourn departed friends?" &c. and at half past six fell asleep in Jesus.-On the Sabbath following, at her particular request, the solemn provi. dence was improved over her, at St. Mary le Port church, by the Rev. Mr. Wait, from Plal. iii. 25 and 21st verses, selected by herself; alter which she was inferred in the same church. The pall was borne by six young ladies, near her own age, dressed in uniform white. The hymns, above cited, were sung at intervals during the service. REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. Theological Dictionary, &c. By thodists were the instruments of stemming WHEN We reviewed the first volume of this work in our Maga zine for October last, we explained the plan and nature of it, and gave a favourable opinion on its execution, which we have scen no reason to retract. For the further information of our readers, we shall now give some extracts from the article Methodism, in the second volume: "This denomination was founded in the year 1729, by one Mr. Morgan and Mr. J. Wesley. In the month of Novem ber that year, the latter being then fellow of Lincola College, began to spend some evenings in reading the Greek Testament, with Charles Wesley, student; Mr. Morgan, commoner of Christ Church; and Mr. Kirkman, of Merton College. Not long afterwards, two or three of the pupils of Mr. John Wesley, and one pupil of Mr. Charles Wesley, obtained leave to attend these meetings. They then began to visit the sick in different parts of the town, and the prisoners also, who were confined in the castle. Two years after, they were joined by Mr. Ingram, of Queen's College, Mr. Broughton, and Mr. Hervey; and, in 1735, by the celebrated Mr. Whitefield, then in his eighteenth year. At this time their number in Oxford amounted to about fourteen. They obtained their name from the exact regularity of their lives, which gave occasion to a young gentleman of Christ Church to say, "Here is a new sect of Methodists sprung up;" alluding to a sect of ancient phylicians who were called Methodists, because they reduced the whole healing art to a few common principles, and brought it into some method and order. "At the time this Society was formed, it is said that the whole kingdom of Eng land was tending fast to infidelity. "It is come," says Bishop Butler, “I know not how, to be taken for granted by many persons, that Christianity is not so much as a subject of enquiry; but that it is now at length discovered to be fictitious; and accordingly they treat it as if, in the present age, this were an agreement among all people of discernment, and nothing remained but to set it up as a principal subject of mirth and ridicule, as it were, by way of reprisals for its having so long interrupted the pleasures of the world." There is every reason to believe that the Me volence: Mr. Wesley abridged himself of for the relief of the indigent; and so prosall his superfluities, and proposed a fund perous was the scheme, that they quickly increased their fund to eighty pounds per annum This, which one should have thought would have been attended with praise instead of censure, quickly drew upon them a kind of persecution: some of the seniors of the university began to interfere; and it was reported, "that the college-censors were going to blow up the Godly Club." They found themselves, however, patronized and encouraged by some men eminent for their learning and virtue; so that the Society still continued, though they had suffered a severe loss, in 1730, by the death of Mr. Morgan, who, it is said, was the founder of it. In Oct. 1735, John and Charles Wesley, Mr. Ingrain, and Mr. Delamotte, son of a mer chant in London, embarked for Georgia, in order to preach the gospel to the Indians. After their arrival they were at first favourably received; but in a short time lost the affection of the people; and, on account of some differences with the storekeeper, Mr. Wesley was obliged to return to England. Mr.Wesley, however, was soon succeeded by Mr. Whitefield, whose repeated labours in that part of the world are well known. "Their tenets. - After Mr. Whitefield returned from America, in 1741, he declared his full assent to the doctrines of Calvin. Mr. Wesley, on the contrary, professed the Arminian doctrine, and had printed in favour of perfection and universal redemption, and very strongly against election: a doctrine which Mr.Whitefield believed to be scriptural. The difference, therefore, of sentiments between these two great men caused a separatfon. Mr.Wesley preached in a place called the Foundry, where Mr Whitefield preached but once, and no more. Mr. Whitefield then preached to very large congregations out of doors; and soon after, in connection with Mr. Cennick, and one or two more, began a new house, in Kingswood, Gloucester. shire; and established a school that favoured Calvinistical preachers. The Methodists, therefore, were now divided; one part following Mr. Wesley, and the other Mr. Whitefield." The author here explains at large the opinions of Mr. Wesley, in his own words. He then enters into the LI £58 By W. ex discipline of the Methodists; "Notwithstanding the general contempt that has been thrown upon them, and the opposition they have met with, yet their numbers are very considerable. In Mr. Wesley's connection there are upwards of 400 preachers, and about 170,000 members. In 1786, they sent Missionaries to the West Indies. Secieties were formed in Barbadoes, St. Vincent's, Dominica, St. Christopher's, Nevis, Antigua, St.Lustatia, Tortola, and St Croix. These Societies are now.very numerous; among whom, it is said, there are not less than 11,000 blacks. They have also 250 preachers employed on the continent of North America, and their Societies there consist of 60,000 members. Among the Calvinistic Methodists there are also a considerable it is almost number of preachers, whose congregations they; nor have they rested there: they and eternal interests. A people in the obligations of Christianity, and have called more from gross vice to J The Last Days of a Person who had THIS Memoir presents us with another proof of the general truth of the adage, "Men may live fools, but fools they cannot die." Mr.B. the subject of this Memoir, came to Bristol, for the benefit of the water, cease; but finding he was not likely &c. about a month before his de to recover, sent for a clergyman; one who, happily for him, was able to instruct him in the way of life. He frankly owned he had been an admirer of Thomas Paine; but observed, that no man, having em braced his notions, could calmly look death in the face. In token of his detestation of that mischievous flames. At this time he was ig book, he had committed it to the norant of the gospel-method of salA retrospect of his misconvation; but was desirous of knowing it. duct, especially in laying aside the Bible, and in profaning the Lord's Day, created a high degree of anguish. He was oppressed with a he must shortly appear before the heavy burden of guilt; knew that tribunal of God; and demanded, in a quiet but impressive manner, what was to be done, in order to his salvation. Mr. Wait preached to him the free salvation of the gosHe also put pel, which his mind seemed divinely prepared to receive. into his hands Mr. Biddulph's Short Sermons, and Mr. Serle's Christian Remembrancer, which means of instruction seemed emiBut it nently blessed to his soul. was not till within a very few days of his dissolution, that he enjoyed any reviving hope of acceptance in the beloved. At length, however, he attained a sweet degree of peace, humbly trusting that God our Redeemer had "received his soul to arm of the mistress of the house, a mercy." Reclining his head on the few minutes before his departure, he observed, with great composure, that he believed he was going; and inquired, whether she was not of the same opinion? Being answered, that in all probability he was going, and, as it was hoped, to a precious Sa After We are glad to perceive that this The Inconsistency of Conformity to THE highly respectable author of profitable substitution for trifling The second Dialogue enters into L12 Infant Salvation: an Essay, to prove An Essay on the Inspiration of the IN Our Magazine for Feb. 1801, with a brief analysis of this work, we gave it our decided approbation, as a comprehensive and masterly defence of the doctrine of inspiration; which has of late years been much opposed, not only by avowed enemies, but by professed friends to revelation. The present edition be. ing corrected and enlarged, has still eater claims to public patronage; and we know not of any books of the same extent more suitable for young and wavering minds, than this and Mr. Bogue's celebrated Essay: the one generally establishing the divine origin of Christianity; and the other particularly proving the claim of its sacred writers to inspiration from above. Miscellaneous Papers, chiefly in the Form of Sermons; written by the late George Griffiths, of Bristol a pious youth, who died at the Age of Sixteen Years: also, a short Account of his last Days, To which is added, the Funeral Discourse which his Death occasioned. By S. Lowell. 12mo. 144 pp. 25. 6d. GEORGE GRIFFITHS was a re markable instance, not only of early piety, but of amiable disposition and promising talents. Before, however, those talents were matured for public usefulness, it pleased the Lord to call him to himself. His active mind anticipating the work upon which his heart was set, composed the outlines of several discourses, which are here presented to the public, and which, considering the age of the writer, may teach us to regret his loss. By these, being dead, he yet speaketh; and unites his voice with the servants of God of every age, to call upon us to repent and believe the gospel." These short discourses are not only pious, but animated, and generally judicious. The short exordium to the third discourse, appeared to us particularly striking. The seventh sermon, on affliction, is very experimental; and the Discourse on the Love of God, written in his illness, is sweet and pious. The Funeral Discourse, by Mr. Lowell, on the example of Jusiah, is judicious and pathetic; the benefits of early piety, and the evils of procrastination in religion, are represented with much energy and force of argument. We were surprized, however, that this sermon, which is said to be added,' is prefixed to those of Griffiths; and that his discourses, which (p. 29) are called preceding,' actually follow. But this confusion of arrangement is probably owing to the error of either the printer or the binder. |