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afterwards, some professing that commons' house of parliament,

opinion were called from their private employments, and preferred to commands at sea. | Among others, Captain Mildmay, to command the admiral flagship, under the late Duke of Albemarle, when he was one of the generals at sea; Captain Pack, to command the flag-ship under Sir George Ascue, rear-admiral; Sir John Harman to command the admiral flag-ship under His Royal Highness the Duke of York. "But notwithstanding some of this sect had that countenance given them which I have mentioned by such as had the principal management of affairs, yet this sect in general, as they have published in their apologies, were the least of any sort of people concerned in any vicissitudes of government that happened among

us.

and both these did in that year, and in the life-time of King Charles I, as I have been credibly informed, voluntarily depart from that parliament, as not approving their proceedings against the person of the king, and sat no more in it, but lived privately until six years afterwards. A new form of government being then formed and in appearance settled, Mr. Lawrence was again called into public employment.

My station within the before-mentioned ten years gave me opportunity to know most persons and actions of note, in reference as well to civil as martial | affairs, and particularly those of this sect. And although in and after the year 1649 their numbers did increase, insomuch that the principal officers in divers regiments of horse and foot became Anabaptists, particularly in Oliver Cromwell's own regiment of horse when he was captain-general of all the parliament's forces, and in the Duke of Albemarle's own regiment of foot when he was general of all the English forces in Scotland; yet by the best information I could have, there were not at any time before the year 1649 twenty Anabaptists in any sort of command in the whole army; and until after the year 1648 there were no more than two, viz. Mr. Lawrence, and Mr. John Fiennes, one of the Lord Say's sons, who made profession of this opinion, chosen into the

"I confess to your lordship, I never heard of any Anabaptist in the king's army during the contest between his majesty and the parliament: and perhaps, because there were some in the parliament's army and none in the king's army, some persons have from thence taken occasion to affirm that the opinion of Anabaptism in the church is opposite to monarchy in the state. It is true, as before is mentioned, that this opinion was no general bar to the continuance of such as did embrace it in public employments, though I have cause to believe that one special reason of disbanding one entire regiment in the Earl of Essex's army was because the colonel entertained and gave countenance to separatists, and some Anabaptists. And that which occasioned Oliver Cromwell, after he usurped the government as Lord Protector, to discharge at once all the principal officers of his own regiments upon other pretences, was for that they were all Anabaptists." I have no doubt, should this extract meet the eye of the respectable biographer of the incomparable Dr. Owen, that be will in the next edition of his work expunge the term Baptist from his specification of "All monstrous, all prodigious things." May, 1821. A BAPTIST.

Obituary.

DR. JAMES WATT.

Extract of a Letter from Dr. Charles Stuart, dated Edinburgh, March 12, 1821.

"DR. James Watt, physician in Glasgow, and one of the pastors of a Baptist church there for many years, died last week, leaving a widow and one child wholly unprovided for. Ill-health and great modesty disqualified Dr. Watt from obtaining much practice, though no man possessed more information, or better abilities for it. His talents as a public teacher, and his constant and self-denied labours as such, were as highly esteemed by the church, and by others with

whom he was not in fellowship, in and out of the established church, as his character and temper were by the world at large. His life has been one scene of disinterestedness, humility, and christian conduct. The church did all they could for him, and would endeavour to assist his widow, but are unable, such are the difficulties and losses they have sustained by the state of commerce, and by want of employment.

"I think there are more notices, than one of Dr. Watt in the Life of Mr. Fuller. There should have been many; for to my certain knowledge he was a man whom Mr. Fuller highly esteemed, and whose publications have very extensively promoted divine truth on many sub◄ jects besides Baptism."

Review.

Woman in India; a Poem; Part I.

Female Influence. By John Law-able Denmark, through honest son, Missionary at Calcutta. Foolscap. 8vo. 18. 6d. Lawson.

THE subject of this poem is calculated to excite a deeper and more intense interest than perhaps any other. To us, woman is associated with every thing that is lovely; and in relation to our temporal concerns, regarded as the happiest boon of heaven. It has been justly remarked by the celebrated Ledyard, that women, in all countries, are civil and obliging; that they are ever inclined to be gay and cheerful, timorous and modest. They do not hesitate, like men, to perform a generous action. "To a woman, (he observes,) whether civilized or savage, I never addressed myself in language of decency and friendship, without receiving a decent and friendly answer. In wandering

VOL. XIII.

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over the barren plains of inhospit Sweden, and frozen Lapland, rude and churlish Finland, unprincipled Russia, and the wide-spread regions of the wandering Tartar, if hungry, dry, cold, wet, or sick, the women have ever been friendly to me, and uniformly so."

We

Indian women, whose degraded state has long outraged every feeling of humanity, are not less susceptible of these amiable qualities. could easily mention numerous instances of the most exemplary piety and devoted affection of these unhappy women; and it would be difficult to select from ancient or modern history, a more striking instance of genuine piety and heroic bravery than is narrated of a Hindoo woman, of the vilest description, in our Periodical Accounts, Vol. IV. pp. 232, 3.

The poem before us, our respect

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able Author informs us, was undertaken in behalf of this most interesting but degraded portion of the female sex; and it is his ultimate design

"to exhibit woman with respect to the influence she possesses, (to which the part published is devoted); the excellency to which she may attain; the state of degradation in which she is sometimes found; and the obligations, especially of the christian female, to lift the voice of pity against the revolting miseries of her sex in these heathen lands."

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66

During the progress of this poem, our amiable Author was visited with a heavy domestic affliction in the death of his child, which, as he observes, unexpectedly furnished him with a mournful exemplification of some of the principles advanced.” To those of our readers who have This poem, like "Orient Harping," is very desultory; but is not on that lost a darling child, the following account less interesting. A mind beautiful apostrophe must be touchstrongly imbued with the most ami-ingly and exquisitely affecting. able qualities, and earnestly engaged for the best interests of mankind, is most conspicuous throughout. The minstrel attuning his lyre in the scorching regions of the East, and every where surrounded by the most abominable and revolting scenes of idolatry, cruelty, and lust, pays a tribute to his native country, retracing the scenes of infancy, and recollections of former times, in such a manner as must excite the sympathy of every feeling mind.

66

Dr. Johnson observes, as every man's performance, to be rightly estimated, must be compared with the opportunities and objects with which he is surrounded, curiosity will ever be excited to discover how much must be ascribed to original powers, and how much to casual and adventitious help." It has been said, that some of our most popular poets of the present day have repaired to the lakes, that their delineations might exhibit the vivid freshness and reality of the scenery with which they were surrounded. Whatever effect they may have produced by these advantages, we think the following "Farewell to England" (of which we can only extract a part) will yield to none in pathos and accurate description.

"O not for me, Far-distant England, do thy proud trees

lift

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"O she is gone!

The cherub hasted to its native home.
All-wasting death hath triumphed o'er

my child.

Sweet withered lily! thou wast riven,
and flung

Across my shaking knees, a lovely wreck
Of innocence and beauty. Long I saw,
Long,long, the fearful presage hang about
Her beauteous features, darkening
round her eyes-

But

they would smile with gladdening love upon me.

To me thou wast a plaything beyond price.

Health in thy countenance, and
sprightliness

In all thy motions, made thee like a being
Of fancy sporting in a pleasant dream.
O 'twas too like a dream! Thy yellowish
locks

Of shining hair, parted with infant grace
Upon thy snowy forehead, and thy
smilings,

Pleading expressively when thou wouldst play

With my fair sea-shells, tinged with blushing stains

Like thy own ruby lips, and thy clear

voice

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are vigorously and happily expressed; his delineations are correct, and he adjusts his pictures in the finest light. But what is of much greater importance, his powers are uniformly and scrupulously consecrated to the cross. We therefore feel much pleasure in recommending this poem to our fair readers, not only on account of its intrinsic merit, but with a view to stimulate them to that exertion commensurate to the importance of the subject. Many of our most valuable institutions owe their origin to FEMALE INFLUENCE, and to that source must be attributed the principal blessings of domestic life; and as Mr. Lawson happily expresses

"Where she dwells,

The angel of our homes in sovereign meekness,

A woman as she should be, guiding still The immortal mind committed to her trust,

The commonwealth is at her beck, and nations

Rise proudly o'er the wastes of savage being."

Mr. Lawson informs us, "that the accomplishment of his design will much depend on the doubtful circumstances of health and public opinion." Of the latter we entertain but little doubt; and we ardently hope that he will enjoy the former to a distant period, and be eminently blessed in the discharge of the arduous duties to which his life is devoted, and for which his versatile and important talents so peculiarly qualify him.

Memoirs of the Rev. John Taylor, late Pastor of the General Baptist Church at Queenshead, near Halifax, Yorkshire: chiefly compiled from a Manuscript written by himself. By Adam Taylor. 1821.

WE have read this narrative with great pleasure. It is pathetic and interesting to a very high degree, and reflects no small credit on the filial affection of the worthy editor, Some few particulars, perhaps, would not have appeared, if the lat ter had not been the son of the deceased minister. On the whole,

however, we think it was wisely | lor, in native talent, and in high de

determined to let the venerable old man tell his own tale in his own way; and he has told it with such indications of a cool mind and a warm heart, that we cannot but wish these "Memoirs" may often be republished. There is but little said that relates to the distinguishing tenet of the General Baptist community. And we cannot feel any painful apprehensions for our readers relating to that article, when the writer is honestly saying, “I was well assured that the first Christians and their divine Master were all General Baptists." P. 25.

The late Mr. John Taylor was evidently a man of powerful mind, and of zeal unquenchable. He cut his way through difficulties that would have overwhelmed many. His love to Christ and to the souls of men, his patience, self-denial, and faborious perseverance, shine in every page. He had imbibed much of the spirit of Christ, and showed this in his resemblance to the old Puritans and Nonconformists. Two or three short extracts will show the reader what manner of spirit he

was of.

I have for many of my last years, ever since the neighbours began to call rue Old John,' considered it my duty to set an example. This I thought in cumbent on me, both as an aged man and a minister. I have therefore paid no regard to the customs, fashions, manners, and methods of the neighbourhood, to imitate them, either in common life, or in religious matters. Where our sacred Directory has been decided, I have conceived it right to follow it. When things have been indifferent, I have taken the liberty of judging for myself.

"I have done some real good in the neighbourhood: particularly in teaching very many children, and many grown persons also, to read. When I have had wages, my invariable terms were ten lessons for a penny: but I have taught many poor children and apprentices gratis. For a number of years it has been my practice to teach married people for nothing; and I have given it out that I would teach all such on the same terms." P. 121.

He was, perhaps, fully equal to his brother, the late Rev. Dan Tay

votional feelings and habits; but, from circumstances, he remained in a state of illiteracy, while his brother Dan, whom he most affectionately regarded, was justly entitled to the character of a learned man. He mentions this with his usual simplicity in page 124:

"As I never had any thing of what I suppose they call learning, for I always have been so destitute of it that I hardly know what is meant by it, my preaching has always exhibited the disadvantage of the want of it. But to compensate to my hearers for this disadvantage, I have endeavoured to keep close to the plain scripture."

A compendious View of the Nature and Importance of Christian Baptism; for the Use of plain Christians. By D. Taylor. The Eighth Edition, corrected. Price 3d.

THIS small cheap tract was written by the late Rev. Dan Taylor, a venerable man, whose memory is dear to us. If it be compendious, it is comprehensive, and admirably fitted to answer its end. It is characterized by that simplicity of style in which the Author excelled. The

former editions have been extensively useful, and we hope this also will contribute more than many a bulky volume to the right understanding and due observance of a divine precept, which is even now in a most lamentably corrupted state through the far greater part of the Christian world. Without

pledging ourselves to every word,

we believe it would be difficult to say in what other tract so much instruction may be found in so small a number of pages, on the nature, the importance, the subjects, the mode, the perpetuity, and the design of Baptism.

A practical Discourse concerning Baptism: a new Edition. To which is added, never before published, A Fragment on Christian Communion. By William Foot.

THIS is not a controversial publi

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