JUVENILE OBITUARY. DIED, at Stoke-Newington, near London, June 21st, 1840, aged twenty-two, T. Sear, jun. Brought up under the care of parents who feared God, religious subjects very early occupied his thoughts, and affected his feelings. He was inquisitive and curious, even more than is ordinarily the case with children, and his thirst for useful knowledge increased with his years; and had the wise Disposer of all events been pleased to spare him, there is no doubt but that he would have been an intelligent and useful member of society. For two years he was an active Collector for the Wesleyan Missionary Society, and for a much longer period a Teacher in the Sunday-school at Stoke-Newington: but though he was moral, and a strict observer of the Sabbath, and not devoid of religious feeling, yet he had not that decision which resolves not to rest short of a clear conversion to God. In February, 1840, illness confined him to his room; and now, in the quiet and leisure which sickness occasioned, he began to feel the insecurity of his condition. He humbled himself before God for his past lukewarmness, and made immediate application to the Saviour of sinners, seeking earnestly the pearl of great price. On the evening of the 3d of March, the Lord was pleased to fill him with joy and peace in believing. For three hours he lay blessing and praising God in language that was truly astonishing; exclaiming, "I now believe Jesus died for me. O what peace I feel! Jesu, lover of my soul! Yes, my soul. Glory be to God, he has saved me, a vile sinner. O how precious! how merciful! Mother, read about Jesus, precious Jesus; read anything that speaks about Jesus." Thus he continued till nature appeared quite exhausted. Nor did he rest in present attainments. He was anxious to be entirely sanctified; and a few days after the manifestation of pardoning mercy just mentioned, he was enabled to testify that the blood of Jesus had cleansed him from all sin. He was truly grateful for every little kindness that was shown him; his faith in the promises of God shone conspicuously, he trusted God for everything, and praised him for all. One evening, being asked how he was, he replied, "Very weak, but very happy ;" and added, "God has given me three promises to rest upon: one is, 'My grace is sufficient for thee;' again, My strength is made perfect in thy weakness;' and, thirdly, 'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." On these, and indeed on all the promises, he rested with strong confidence, and thus was kept to the last in perfect and delightful peace. The blessed Bible was his delight: if his mother offered to give him a book that she thought would be useful, and if he had not previously read the Bible on that day, he would say, with a smile, "The Bible first, mother." As he drew near his end he was not able to converse much, but it was evident that he was ripening for heaven. His sufferings were great through the last week of his life; but not a murmuring word escaped his lips. About a quarter of an hour before his happy spirit took its flight, his mother said, "My dear, God is with you:" he gave a sweet expressive smile, and bowed his head. Shortly after he ceased to breathe. M. E. SEAR. POETRY. ON THE FLOWERS. HELIOTROPE. I TURN, from morning until night, And bless him for his glorious light, With vestal fire my face he warms, VIOLET. I love lone Solitude's retreat, With Innocence retired; And care not, if my smell be sweet, Let gayer flowers their charms parade, LILY. Thou lovely maid, as white as snow, The brightest beauty here below,- Ah! no though white may be thy skin, ROSE. Like me, the sainted Christian dies, Like me, again, he'll quit the tomb, And flourish in immortal bloom. TULIP. Not one alike, yet we agree, While man, for the same cause, PRIMROSE. All nature hails my early birth, That Spring is come, to bless the earth, I live, I die; my charms decay, BELLIS. Of humble birth, I'm with the poor, But He that form'd the fairest flower Is not to me less kind. E'en I in robes more beautiful am clad, Chester-House, near Alnwick. E. H. ABEL AND CHRIST. BY THE REV. C. WESLEY. "The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground." Gen. iv. 10. How loud the blood of Abel cries, Demanding vengeance, from the ground! But louder still throughout the skies, Thou hear'st the blood of Jesus sound: It pleads for the apostate race, That all his murderers may live; It asks for me thy sparing grace, And every drop cries out, "Forgive!" ENOCH. BY THE REV. C. WESLEY. O THAT I might walk with God! Lead me to thy blest abode, Through the fire, or through the sea: Join'd to thee by humble love Nothing I desire beside, Only let me never move, Never stir, without my Guide. Roche, Printer, 25, Hoxton-square, London. |