In the evening, the same rules were observed as in the morning. Public disputations were held once a week, when each class had a question.for discussion. On particular occasions, Orations were made, and Poetry recited, in Latin and English. We have seen how Mr. Owen lived; how diligently, how honorably, how faithfully, he improved, for the benefit of man, and to the glory of his Great Master, the various talents with which he was entrusted. It remains only to notice his latter end; and in it Solomon's observation was fully realised-The path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day. In this lower world he had, indeed, shone brightly, his genial influence had imparted warmth and light to many; but at the meridian his sun suddenly went down, to rise and break forth amid the splendor of a glorious immortality; to our lower world, however, this occasioned a gloomy scene. Unceasing exertions, and sedentary habits, brought on the stone, which, for thirty years, had afflicted him, and thereby injured his constitution, so that he became an easy prey to the last enemy. The fatal attack commenced while preparing to go to preach a short distance from Shrewsbury, and prevented the journey. Dr. Hollings, an eminent Physician, attended him, but all means proved ineffectual. Neither the tears of mourning relatives, nor the earnest desires of multitudes, by whom his life was valued, nor the fervent prayers of his afflicted congregation, could obtain a longer reprieve. He met the King of Terrors with dignified fortitude, and meek composure. Having assembled his weeping family, he affectionately addressed them-I would not for ten thousand worlds but have lived as I did; now I have the blessed comfort of it, and would not, for a world, be without those divine joys, which refresh my soul. On his beloved children, he tenderly urged the study of the Scriptures, and prayer. Speak nothing, he added, to the Supreme Being without serious premeditation, and take heed you do not pour out any crude and indigested expressions before him. He recommended Humility to the students, as their brightest ornament. One of them who had behaved improperly, coming near to him, said, Sir, will you forgive me? He took him by the hand, and, with a smiling aspect, said, Forgive thee, child? Aye, and pray for thee. Be not as Esau, the bad son of a good father. Be holy, humble, and diligent. His pain was severe, but the conflict was short. He anticipated the heavenly reward, and died in peace, April 8th, 1706, aged 52. -"His pilgrimage of trial o'er, He reach'd the rest which sin can break no more." Many did him honor at his death, and, with great lamentation, witnessed his interment, April 11th, in St. Chad's church. Mrs. Savage's Diary thus records the event. "Monday, April 8th. This day died my worthy friend Mr. Owen, of Shrewsbury. He was minister of the dissenting congregation there as assistant to Mr. Tallents. He was a great scholar, and a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He had only a small handful of people at Oswestry: There, between high Conformists on one side, and high Dissenters on the other, he had a difficult post. He was often buffeted on each side, yet enabled, by God, so to weather the point as to keep a good conscience; he so approved himself in the sight of God and man. He was one who preached upon the occasion of my dear father's death. His text was-My Father, my Father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof! and he saw him no more, &c. Now we may say so of him. We have the treasure in earthen vessels-but Jesus Christ is still the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever. "On Thursday he was buried. The dear remains (still united to Christ) were laid up in the grave, as in a safe repository, till the great gathering, when not one particle shall be lost. My brother preached the funeral sermon from Acts xx, 38.” Mr. Owen was the author of several publications, but the most considerable seem to have been "A Plea for Scripture Ordination," and "The History of the Consecration of Altars, &c." After his death, was published his "History of Images and Image Worship," a work of considerable labor and research. A painting of Mr. Owen is in the author's possession. NOTE E. PAGE 80. MEMOIRS OF MRS. RADFORD, BY HER HENRY. [From a copy in Mrs. Savage's hand-writing.] ELEANOR, the third daughter of Mr. Philip Henry, was born at Broad Oak, July 23d, 1667, being Tuesday. Her father writes in his memorandum of it, "Blessed be God, who was present in the time of need." She was baptised privately July 27th, by Mr. Jonathan Edwards, of Jesus College, in Oxford. Her natural temper, from a child, was timorous. While she was young, she had frequent illness, which the Lord graciously brought her through. She was of a very tender, loving, and towardly dis position, and became acquainted betimes with the things of God, of which, through her great modesty and self-diffidence, she was not very forward to express herself, but very sincere and industrious in her converse with them. She began early to write sermons, and the daily family Expositions of the Scripture, and what she wrote she made use of; for while she lived in her daily reading of the Scriptures, in her closet, she read along with them the Expositions she had written. She gathered, in writing, what she thought observable in the books she read, or in the papers communicated to her, and kept it together. as, She was married to Mr. Samuel Radford, a tradesman in Chester, January 1st, 1689, and by the grace of God, she was enabled to do the duty of, so she had abundance of comfort in, that relation. What account we can find among her papers since her death, concerning her spiritual state, and her communion with God, is only a constant register which she kept of all her approaches to the Lord's Supper. She made her first approach in the 17th year of her age, and then writes thus: "I was advised by my father to put these three questions to myself, for my help in preparation, and to examine myself upon them. What am I? What have I done? and what do I want? And by these three questions I did search and try myself, according to my weak ability, and what was amiss therein I humbly beg of God to pardon. Question 1st. WHAT AM I? Am I in a state of sin, or in a state of grace, a child of God, or a child of the Devil? Have I renounced all for Christ? Answer. I hope I can say, in the truth and uprightness of my soul, that I have renounced all my sins, and taken Jesus Christ to be mine, and given up myself to him to be his. Question 2d. WHAT HAVE I DONE? Answer. God knows, and my own conscience knows, how greatly I have sinned against, and provoked, the pure eyes of his glory. 1. The sin of my nature testifies against me, and I desire to testify against it. Lord, forgive the sinfulness of my nature. 2. The numberless number of actual transgressions which I have been guilty of. In thought: Which of the commandments have I not broken? Who can understand my heart sins? In word: telling untruths-some, since I have known to do better. I am convinced that my vain and idle words must come into judgment, and my idle, unprofitable letters too. In deed: omitting known duties. I have not been so frequent and constant as I should have been, in the duty of secret prayer; in reading God's word, and singing his praises alone. Committing known sins. I have not carried it aright towards my relations, superiors, inferiors, and equals. I have not been diligent to use my uttermost endeavors, as I should have done, for the salvation of the souls of those with whom I have conversed. I have always had too good an opinion of myself. Lord, humble me for my pride. I have enjoyed great means of knowledge, and yet am very ignorant of what I might, and should, have known. I have often quenched the motions of the Spirit, and not hearkened to the voice of my own conscience. Lord, who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. My sins have been more aggravated than the sins of others, having been committed against light and conviction.~ Having drawn up this bill of indictment against myself, next comes in Question 3d. WHAT DO I WANT? 1. I want pardon for these, and all my sins. 2. An interest in Christ, as my Redeemer and Savior. |