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Dbituary.

Remarkable Display of Divine Mercy in the Conversion of Mr. WM. BEARNS, who died in a Decline, Nov. 25, 1803, in the Thirty-ninth Year of his Age.

He was of a respectable family, who live at Linch Farm, near Minehead, in Somersetshire. The writer of this account, preaching frequently in that neighbourhood, obtained his information, partly from personal interviews, and partly from some of the family and some pious friends, who were witnesses of what the Lord had done for his soul. It appears he had convictions, at times, soon after he first found the symptoms of a decline. When he first went into the neigh bourhood of Bristol, for the benefit of his health, he felt a great inclination to hear the gospel; and frequently attended at different places in that city. But after a few months stay, finding that medical assistance did him no good, he returned, tho' with great reluctance, into the country; where, having a large business to manage, the cares of this world soon stifled his convictions. He does not appear to have been thoroughly awakened until about two months before his dissolution, when his convictions seemed to be very piercing indeed. He now began to see and feel himself in such a situation, that he was filled with distress; and his mind was greatly agitated with fear, that the Lord would have no mercy on him; and that he should become a cast-away. He was sometimes heard to say, That if the Lord should ever look upon him in mercy, and deliver his soul, it would be a miracle of grace. The first time I visited him, and had some conversation with him respecting the feelings of his mind, I had some fears lest his distress might arise more from a slavish fear of the torments of Hell, than from a proper sense of the evil of sinning against God: therefore, the next time I called, I took the

opportunity, when I was alone with him, of asking him, what was the ground of his distress of mind, Whether it was a fear of the pu

nishment attached to his crimes? or a sense of the evil of sinning against God? He answered immediately, That the dread of punishment scarcely ever entered his thoughts; but all his distress arose from a conviction that he had sinned against God, offended the Majesty of Heaven; and, for so many years, insulted Sparing Mer cy. From what he now said, and from other observations which he made, I had every reason to believe that his convictions were the genuine effect of the influences of the Holy Spirit; yet he found unbelief so powerful, that when I endeavoured to encourage him, by pointing out Christ Jesus as a suitable and all-sufficient Saviour, who refuseth none that come unto him as poor broken-hearted sinners, and whose blood cleanseth from all sin, &c. it seemed to be to no purpose; he could receive no sensible comfort. At the same time he said, He had no doubt but that Jesus Christ was both an able and willing Saviour for others; but not for him. Some pious friends, who called upon him, endeavoured to encourage him, by saying, That they thought he came under the character of those to whom exceeding great and precious promises were made, such as the brokenhearted, the weary and heavy laden, the poor and needy, and those who groan with being burdened, and hunger and thirst after righteousness, &c. But he said, The promises did not belong to him; he feared his convictions were not real. He often would complain that he did not feel like a penitent, his heart was so hard; and would repeat this complaint two or three times together, with peculiar emphasis. But while he thus expressed himself, "I cannot feel, my heart is so hard," he would weep, and appear to be all tho

for

time in the greatest agony of mind. When his friends came to see him, and he heard them talk of faith in Christ, and the happiness of those that were true believers, he would often say, "Ah, my friends, you can talk of these things; for you have faith, you can believe, you are happy, you can love God and delight in his ways; but I have no faith; my soul is filled with unbelief and darkness. I cannot love God, I cannot feel any thing as I ought; my heart is hard, and my soul barren." Sometimes he would ask, with great earnestness, "Do you think the Lord will ever have mercy upon such a rebel as I have been?" - About a fortnight before his death, he found a little encouragement from the conversation of his pious friends; but he said, it was of short duration, for the powers of darkness resumed their former station, to harrass and becloud his mind. At this time he was very fond of the Olney Hymns; and mentioned several to me, which he thought suited his case, particularly the ninety-fifth of the first

book:

"Could the creatures help or ease us,

Seldom should we think of prayer; Few, if any, come to Jesus

Till reduc'd to self-despair." Also the forty-fifth of book the first, which begins,

"In mercy, not in wrath, rebuke

:

Thy feeble worm, my God!" But still, instead of obtaining comfort, the distress of his mind seemed to increase; and the day before his soul was set at liberty,, he ap. peared more perplexed than ever, and just ready to give up all hope of finding mercy but man's extremity proved to be God's opportunity; and that same night he found relief. Falling into a dose, he had a dream; in which he thought he saw two grave. looking persons stand by his bedside, who asked him, what he wanted : to whom he replied, That he wanted faith, hope, and love; on which they looked at each other with a smile, and then went away. He awoke, and felt more

composed than before; and soon after was much impressed with that passage in Rev. ii. 25, "That which thou hast already, hold fast till I come ;" and thus the clouds of darkness began to part, and divine light shone in upon his soul. After this, Mrs. Bearns came to his bed-side, to whom he said, "O, my dear wife, I have found the Lord!

I am not now afraid to die, for the sting of death is taken away. I can now see that Jesus is an all-sufficient Saviour and Friend. I feel as though I were embraced in the arms of everlasting love." He then broke out, as in a kind of rapture, and said, "Now I feel the truth of what my good friends had used to tell me, That Jesus Christ is both an able and a willing Saviour; and that his blood cleanseth from all sin. Oh!" said he, "[ must cry aloud, I cannot contain myself; I must sing and praise God!" He then said to his wife, "Do, send for Mr. Barker (one that had often visited him in his distress) that he may come and rejoice with me!" As soon as his friend came to his bed-side, taking him by the hand, he said, "O my dear friend, come and rejoice with me, for I have found the Lord! Do

not weep, but rejoice; for I am going to glory!" Soon after this, another pious person of his acquaintance came in, who had just been raised up from a bed of afflic tion, to whom he said, " My friend, I shall get the start of you; for though I come in at the eleventh hour, yet I shall be home before you.' He particularly exhorted his wife to seek the Lord Jesus before it was too late; "for," said he, "your soul is exceedingly dear to me; and I feel much interested for your eternal welfare." He also spoke in a most affecting manner to his brother, sister, mother, and all about him, telling them the awful consequences of living without an interest in the blood and righteousness of Christ. He would be continually talking to those who came to see him, about their souls; and although his body was reduced almost to a skeleton, yet his soul was strong in the Lord; and he con

tinued praising God and exalting free grace as long as he lived; which was about four days from the time that his soul was set at liberty. A little before he died, he said, "Now all the promises of the gospel are mine; they all belong to me;" and afterwards he added, "I am a brand plucked from the burning: I think I shall sing one of the loudest in Heaven, as one of the greatest sinners saved." Just before he died, he said, "Fly, my soul, fly! Oh this body of mine, how heavy it hangs.” Then he cried out, "I am going into the arms of Jesus; I am going to my eternal home." Almost the last words he spoke were, " Happy! happy happy!" He then said to those around him, "When my soul is taking its flight, sing aloud."

His last words were, "Sweet, sweet," and then, with a pleasing smile upon his countenance, he yielded his soul into the hands of his Saviour. A funeral sermon was preached for him at Selworthy, by Mr. Humphrey, pastor of the Baptist church at Stogemer, from Ps. xxxiv. 6

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his trouble." R. H.

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before he died; when he said, once or twice, "I thought my Lord would have come sooner."

He also enjoyed much holy peace and tranquillity of mind. Indeed it appears to me that he expected, sometime before the commencement of his illness, that he should not live long for he would sometimes say to Mrs. Berry, who had been confined by affliction some months before him, and was just recovered when his began, "Perhaps we shall give the world a slip by coming to Newcastle." On the 11th of December he preached a funeral sermon, for one of his congregation, from the words, "What is your life" And upon his coming home, said to Mrs. Berry, "Well, I have preached one funeral sermon more; perhaps somebody may sɛon preach one for me." On the second day of his illness, to one of his friends who came to see him, and enquired after the state of his mind, he said, "Firmly built on the Rock of Ages, never to be moved." And to another friend, reaching him some medicine, “This is not like the pure wine which flows from the fountain, and heals the diseases of the mind.”

His entire resignation to the divine will was manifest to all who attended him: never one murmur, never any unpleasant anxiety was expressed. To his dear yake-fellow weeping over him, he often requested that she might give him up, as he had given up her and his children to his covenant God; assuring her that God would raise up

friends for her and his children. — When he saw her very sorrowful, he said, "Do not fret, my dear, I cannot give you directions about worldly things, but I have told you that our union was formed to be dissolved; but not so the union between Christ and his church that will never be dissolved." When she said, But what will become of me and my five children?' He replied, "The Lord will provide; adding, "I would have you tear one thing-fear to sin; but if you walk close with God, you need not fear : fear nothing but sin." He expressed sometimes his concern for his dear weeping little flock; and

prayed, and requested them to pray to God for a suitable pastor.

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His consolation was great; and his hope of life eternal, firm and elevated to the very last. His medical attendants could not help noticing this. To one of his physicians, who, on the Friday before he died, gave him to understand that his illness was now become very dangerous, yet he seemed to have hope which bore him up,- - he replied, "Yes, doctor, I have hope which bears me up under all this affliction." He then gave him some account of those precious truths expressed, or implied in my text; adding, how truly it was fulfilled, "In him shall the Gentiles trust!" He then asked the doctor, "Sir, do you love Jesus Christ? I love him; I feel him precious; he sweetens my bed of affliction; he brightens my prospects for eternity; I feel him precious."

When put into the warm bath, to which he cheerfully submitted, he repeated Dr. Watts's pathetic hymn, and the first verse, with a peculiar emphasis, in reference to his own complaint : →→

"With joy we meditate the grace

Of our High Priest above," &c. Some time afterwards, he spoke of the times as big with great events; and of his full persuasion of the triumphs of Christ in his gospel. Be then added, "Ride forth, glorious Saviour, in the gospel-chariot!" After a little sifence, he broke out in attempting to sing the following stanza, which he first repeated, and requested those present to join. He sung the bass. The words were,

Oh righteous Father, holy Lord, I prove Thee faithful to thy word ; Mercy, that great unbounded name, To endless ages still the same. "Yes," he added, "to endless ages still the same, for ever and ever." After a pause, he cried out," Praise him! praise him! prepare lays for him! crown him, crown him, crown him Lord of all. 1 have often spoken of the boundless mercy and love of God; but now I feel it! I prove it!" To two young ministers who called to see him, he spake with pleasure of their engagement in the Lord's

work; telling them o the suffici ency and perfection of the work of Christ; faithfully to report it; but never attempt to mend it.

The next day, Saturday morning, he sent for my son, and requested him, among other things, to assist Mrs. Berry in writing to his friends after his death; and par ticularly to give his love to Mr. Booth, Mr. Martin, and Mr. Faw cett; and requested one of them to preach a sermon from 2 Sam. xxiii. 5, for the benefit of his family.

To his friends present he then said, "I am now drawing near to my latter end : " But your prospects for eternity,' said one, yet unclouded?' "O yes;" and with much animation added,

are

"Nor life, nor death, shall make me faint, "Till vict'ry crown the suffering saint."

A little before his death he had some severe pains; but often said, "What little things are these, compared with the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ!

About five o'clock in the morn ing of New Year's Day, he started suddenly, and said, "Hark! hark! They are singing; I hear them shouting, Clory to God in the highest." He then shouted with a strong voice, I am coming! I am coming! Open the window." These were his last words. He lay in a calin, quiet, composed state, till half past six; when he expired without a groan, in the fortieth year of his age, Jan. 1, 1804.

The peculiarly affecting circumstances of Mr. Berry's family are expressed as follows, in a letter from the church at Newcastle: "Our sufferings do not end in the loss of a most valuable minister of Jesus Christ; but we feel, in the most acute and tender manner, for his poor widow and five children, the oldest not above ten years of age; they are without any resources, or situation to administer to their wants."

We hope a generous public will feel the distress of this case, as also ot that of the Widow of another. Baptist Minister, Mr. Newell, of Derby, whose situation is very si milar.

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A Charge delivered to the Clergy
of the Diocese of London, in the
year 1803. By the Right Reverend
Beilby, Lord Bishop of that Diocese.
820, 15.

WE are certainly much indebted to this respectable Prelate for his Labours in defence of revelation, and in particular for his lectures upon St. Matthew; but in this Charge his Lordship appears in a different character. of the church, he is not only conAs a guardian cerned to secure her from the attacks of infidelity, but also to prevent the desertion of her members; and "to restrain those unjustifiable schisms and separations from the established church which have of late been too much prevalent among us." To this end, his Lordship very properly exhorts his brethren to conscientious diligence in their various parochial duties; and then adds,

"It is, I believe, a fact which admits of little doubt, that when the itinerant preacher goes forth upon his mission, he commonly looks out for those parishes where either the shepherd has entirely deserted his flock, and is employing or amusing himself elsewhere; or where he unfortunately pays so little attention to it, is so indolent, so lukewarm, so indifferent to its welfare, as to make it an casy prey to every bold invader. There that invader finds an easy access, and a welcome reception; and soon collects together a large number of proselytes. But, in general, he very prudently keeps aloof from those parishes where he sees a resident minister conducting himself in the manner I have above describ. ed; watching over his people with unremitting care; grounding them early in the rudiments of sound religion; guarding them carefully against the false glosses and dan gerous delusions of illiterate and

unauthorized teachers; bringing them to a constant attendance on divine worship in their parishchurches;

and manifesting the same zeal, activity, and earnestness of England, which he sees others to retain his people in the church parishes so constituted the self-comexert to seduce them from it. Into missioned preacher seldom, if ever, enters; or, if he does, he rarely gains any permanent footing, any settled establishment in them."

doubt, thankfully acknowledge the The itinerant preacher will, no candour of his Lordship in stating, that they do not often interfere where the parish-minister acts the part of a good shepherd, in attending to his flock; but then, in cases where deserted his flock, and is employthe regular pastor" has entirely ing or amusing himself elsewhere," it may merit this worthy Prelate's consideration, Whether it be not thefe itinerant shepherds, than to better for the people to be fed by

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perish" totally and eternally indeed, the happy period shall ar "for lack of knowledge?" When, rive, wherein his Lordship's "re medy" shall be universally ap plied," and ten thousand parish-mimention the superior clergy) shall nisters, with their curates (not to be faithfully and diligently em ployed in attendance on their res pective charges, we doubt not but the itinerant preachers will gladly seek a more distant field of usefulat the close of the above passage, ness. As to the charge insinuated that the itinerant preachers endea established church, we believe his vour to seduce persons from the Lordship has been grossly deceiv ed.

As far as our information exstrict Dissenters; but persons very tends, the itinerants are by no means tics, or to the external forms of indifferent to the formation of parchurch-discipline; and whose sole object is to bring sinners to a saving "The reader will easily perceive, that some of these observations cannot, fer obvious reasons, be strictly applied to the very populous parishes of London and its immiediate valuity."

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