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WE frequently receive Pieces from our Correspondents which we cannot insert at length, but which contain useful hints that may be improved to general good. We purpose, therefore, occasionally, to select the

most material.

STEPHANAS laments the condition of the poor boys in the metropolis who are employed in sweeping chimnies, most of whom are deplorably ignorant, and who can scarcely be admitted into Sunday-Schools. He observes, that too frequently they are found making depredations on the Public, having nothing to do in the evening, and being unable to employ their time in reading. He therefore proposes EVENING SCHOOLS for their instruction, which may be readily supported by pious young men of leisure, at a very small expence. We should be happy to see some institutions of this kind established.

CAUTION AGAINST FIRE.

Humanity induces us to inert the following Article of information, which may happily preserve the lives of some of our readers:

THAT many ladies have been burnt, in consequence of the inflam mability of their muslin dresses, is well known. We are informed that this danger may be prevented by rincing them out in alum-water; which may be made by dissolving a piece of alum, about the size of a hen's egg, or less, in a quart of water. An experiment may be made by burning a rag of muslin so rinced and dried, and then another rag unprepared: the first will burn gradually, and with difficulty; the second will blaze in stantly, and be consumed.

TO PREVENT INFECTION IN SICK ROOMS.

In compliance with the earnest request of a Correspondent, we insert the following Method, published at Philadelphia, by order of the College of Physicians:

PUT half an ounce of powdered saltpetre into a china or glass vessel, and pour upon it half an ounce of oil of vitriol: the fume will be found beneficial in preventing persons from catching the infection.

QUERIES.

1. Y. R. desires to know "What constitutes an idol" or, “How he may know when his love to any created good exceeds its proper bounds ?"

11. Another Correspondent proposes the following Query : — “Can a Christian be justified (considering the immoral tendency of Plays, Novels, &c.) in keeping a circulating library?"

III. Suppose a minister to have been in a backsliding state, and by sovereign grace having been recovered, and giving evident proofs of his repentance and conversion, ought this to prevent the future exercise of his ministerial functions? And are persons who witnessed his backslidings justifiable in endeavouring to blast his present respectability, and consequently destroy his future usefulness?

IV. Can that person who is continually offering up secret prayer to God for mercy, and desiring deliverance from the guilt and power of sin, be destitute of saving grace? PHILANTHROPUS.

MRS. VERNON.

Dbituary.

Mrs. Elizabeth Vernon, of Dray. ton, in Shropshire, was the descendant of respectable ancestors, but moved in a humble sphere. When she came to Drayton, about thirty years ago, the gospel began to be preached in a private house, amidst a furious opposition from abandoned men. A minister was one evening expected to preach; but his horse falling lame on the road, he was prevented. It is probable that he thus escaped being murdered, as it appeared afterwards to have been the determination of the mob to kill him. The person who then received the preachers was so intimidated, that he advised the people to depart, as the minister was not come. Mrs. Vernon, who was then

almost unknown to the serious people as friendly to their cause, stood up, and invited them to her own house." The invitation was accepted; but the few praying people were followed by the mob with clubs and staves; and, on their beginning the worship of God, the windows of the house were broken, and a violent riot ensued. Mrs. Vernon and her friends, however, resolutely persevered; and the preachers occupied her house for many years before the chapel was erected. She walked on foot to Shrewsbury to obtain a licence; and wherever her business led her, she endeavoured to introduce the preaching of the gospel.

The Rev. Mr. Scott (formerly Capt. Scott) was the principal in strument of the work of God in this place; at Wollerton, where he then resided; and at many other places in Shropshire and Staffordshire; where, by his zealous and gratuitous labours, many were brought to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. At length a chapel was built, to which Mrs. Vernon contributed to the utmost of her power; as also to the erection of a convenient dwelling-house for the minister some years after.

Her hand was always open to relieve the necessitics of the poor, and to support the cause of religion, in a manner uncommonly liberal for her situation in life, the whole being derived from the profits of a little trade.

In her early days her mind was devoted to gaiety and vanity; but when she received the gospel in its power, her whole soul seemed to be engaged in the work of the Lord. She was invariably attentive to the public preaching, and to meetings for prayer; from which scarcely any considerations could detain her. Her constant study and prayer was to be conformed to the holy Jesus; to extol him was her daily delight; and, by every means, to engage sinners to forsake their evil ways, was her continual employment. Lang before a Tract Society was thought of, she entered into the spirit of that design, and would cause little Tracts to be printed, and sent to her customers, and others, with the little parcels of tea, &c., which she sold.

For many years before her departure, she sustained repeated attacks of violent diseases; but always seemed resigned to the will of God, and ready for the summons of her Lord. Death was her familiar theme. She endeavoured always to improve the funerals of her neighbours, and (like the Rev. Mr. Jenks, author of the Prayers) to keep her coffin by her, which was reared up in her bed-room, having this motto on the lid, “ Prepare to meet thy God !”

Having acquired, notwithstand. ing her liberality, a little competency, and being tar advanced in years, without the encumbrance of a family, she retired from business to a quiet abode, where she adjusted all her temporal concerns, and calmly waited for her dismission. This she received after a short iil. ness, which deprived her of the power of articulation; but her last hours were apparently full of pea.e

and composure; and she gently slept in the Lord on Tuesday the 26th of April, 1303. The Rev. Mr. Wilson, now the pastor of the church, preached to a crowded congregation on the occasion from Rev. xiv, 13, a text well adapted to the case, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord," &c.

MARY TRUMBLE. MARY TRUMBLE was born at Hull, of religious parents, and was favoured with a religious education; but for a considerable time manifested no inclination to bear the yoke of Christ. Her religious instructions, however, were not entirely void of effect; she always manifested a degree of respect to the followers of Christ, and pretty regularly attended the public means of grace.

On the first Sabbath afternoon in September 1803, being indisposed, she staid at home, and entertained herself with reading. The 273d hymn, in Dr. Rippon's selection, was made remarkably useful to her; and, under the sweet influences of the Holy Spirit, became instrumental in her conversion. This day she began to pour out her soul before the Lord in prayer. Very soon after, she became much troubled about her state, and asked her mother how she thought she should then appear before the tribunal of God, if called to it. "Oh mother," said she," should I go to Hell?" Her relative gave her much encouragement; and these words afforded her much immediate relief:

deemer. Her afflictions daily in creased. When she experienced any alleviation of pain, she fre quently expressed her thankfulness, and lamented that the afflictions of her body so bowed her mind to the earth, that she could not devote herself to her Lord in prayer and praise as she wished to do; but expressed a confidence of going to glory, and of praising him there in a perfect manner.

A

The first Sabbath in March was a day of great sorrow to her, though. not without many privileges. friend called in the evening, and, finding her much worse, said to her, My friend, you are going fast to Heaven! It will not be long ere you will be before the throne! you will soon exchange the land of sor. row for the land of songs!" She then repeated these lines : —

"That blissful interview! how sweet To fall transported at his feet!? Rais'd in his arms to view his face, In the full beamings of his grace!”? and concluded, "I long to depart, and be with Christ, which is far better." "I love," said she, "my parents and dear husband, but I love Christ far better."

After service, the same evening, she was visited by Mr. M-—, à respectable minister in the town. "Oh, Sir," said she, "you find me very weak in body, but strong in Christ! This has been a day of great privileges to you (it had been sacrament-day), but I hope to sit at Christ's table, and see his divine face without a veil between! - Oh, what goodness! what kindness! to such a wretch as I am 1"

"The deep-fetch'd sigh, the inward groan, afternoon, she seemed to enjoy a On the Monday after, toward the Rises accepted to the throne."

From this time she became a

praying soul! The week after this she was subject to the continual assaults of Satan. The busy enemy brought a long roll of charges against her. Prayer, however, soon overcame the enemy, and put him to flight. She would often repeat those words of the apostie, My grace is sufficient for thee." A perfect calm succeeded the tempest; and she frequently expressed her confidence in the Re

bright prospect of the promised land; and, quite in an ecstasy, cried out, "O blessed Jesus! Precious Jesus! See the kind angels!" and then sang, in a loud tone of voice, "Lend, lend your wings; I mount, I dy! O grave where is thy victory!"

On the Wednesday after, a visible change took place about six o'clock in the morning, and at half past nine, March 14, 1804, with serenity and composure, she fell asleep in Jesus!

MRS. ALICE JOULE. On the 14th of April, 1804, died Mrs. Alice Joule, of New Windsor, near Manchester During many years, after she had begun to hear the gospel, she manifested a strong enmity against its distinguishing doctrines. The impressions which she received, under a sermon preach ed in the open air by the Rev. Cornelius Winter, subdued her preju. dices, but the mean of her effectual conversion appears to have been a discourse delivered at Delph, by the Rev. Mr. Hunt, from John viii. 24. "If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." Ever after this, she was eminently distinguished by an ardent attachment to the gospel, and by a high respect for its ministers. Concerning the latter, it was her habitual practice either to speak well, or to be silent. In religious opinion, she was what is generally termed a High Calvinist; but she was far from abusing the doctrines of grace, as too many do;-while they administered comfort to her soul, they excited her to diligence in duty. Her attendance at the house of God was remark ably punctual. When indisposition rendered it almost imprudent tb stir out of doors, she could not be persuaded to neglect the means of grace. During upwards of twenty years, though her family was very numerous, she never suffered a daughter or a servant to stay at home to prepare a dinner on the Lord's Day, but left her own oven, or the pot, to perform the office of a cook; remarking, that such dinners on the Sabbath afforded the most satisfaction. Her regular attention to the season of family. prayer deserves to be noticed. If a stranger or friend happened to visit them in the evening, she would bring the Bible to her husband at the usual time, apologizing by say. ing, “The children must go to bed; and it would be improper to let them go before prayer." On such occasions as these, she would frequently remark, that parental example might produce some happy effect on the children in future; and that, if they derived no benefit from it, they should not have to say their parents lived without prayer.

XII.

She was favoured, almost habitually, with an extraordinary degree of confidence in God. One instance of this may be mentioned :After a long season of heavy rain, a large body of water, just opposite the house in which the family then lived, burst its bounds in the middle of the night, and carried away hedges, trees, walls, &c. in its im petuous course. It beat violently against the house, filled all the lower rooms; and the family expected every moment that the walls would give way, unable to resist the force of the torrent. Whilst the other members of the family were distracted by alarming appre hensions, she enjoyed a calm composure; a delightful confidence in her covenant God. She was exercised with many and very severe attacks of bodily sickness; but in these trying seasons she was indulg ed with such strong consolations, that her afflictions appeared unto her only as a dream. Her last at tack was of such a nature as to prevent any particular expressions of confidence or comfort; but her end was evidently peace. On the Friday morning she was seized with a violent pain in her right side and breast: it was so excruciating, that she could not rest in the saine posture for one minute till six o'clock in the evening. During these ago. nies, she was asked how she felt in her mind. Her reply was, "I have no more feeling than a stone, 'except of my bodily pain" When this was a little abated, the question was repeated; and she replied, "Oh! I am very comfortable!The Lord is very kind and good to me, His goodness is above all praise." Her husband then asked her if the family should unice in helping her to praise the Lord. "O yes," said she, "praise him, praise him, praise him, for his goodness to me!" After this she was scarcely able to articulate, and was only heard to say, occasionally, "Very comfortable! very comfortable!"

About one o'clock on the Saturday morning she became insensible, and died about eight in the evening. Those who were acquainted with her will testify, that she was truly "a mother in Israel." 3 H W. R.

REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

Four Sermons preached in London, at the Tenth General Meeting of the Missionary Society, &c.

[Continued from our last.]

THE third of these Discourses was delivered at Tottenham Court Chapel on Thursday evening. Mr. Dickson entitles his Sermon "The principal subject, joyful import, and glorious extent of gospel tid. ings." These topics are derived from Luke xi. 10, 11, "Behold, I bring you good tidings, &c." In considering the principal subject of these tidings, he notices the character and work of Jesus as a Saviour; his appointment and qualifications as Christ; his dignity and dominion as the Lord. The joyful import of these tidings is considered in the following views:- Because the subject of them had long been the matter of desire and expectation, because peculiarly interesting in their nature, and because of their im. portant consequences. The preacher then proceeds to notice their glorious extent; these good tidings "shall be to all people,". to people of all descriptions, and of all nations. This is argued from "the determinate, immutable purpose of God; from his numerous promises to his Son, and to his people;

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from the many express predic. tions of his prophets, and of Christ himself from the particular, though yet partial fulfilment of both, as a pledge that all the rest shall in due time be accomplished; from the extent of Christ's mediation, the efficacy of his atonement, and the prevalence of his intercession; from his unchangeable faithfulness;

and, finally, from the power of which he is possessed, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself; to raise up proper instruments for carrying forward his own work; to remove every obstacle out of the way; to restrain his enemies; to conquer the pride and prejudices of depraved men; and to give such abundant testimony to the word of his grace, that a whole nation may be born at once."

From the whole, the preacher in fers the excellence and truth of the gospel, our obligations to the dis tinguished goodness of God; and the duty of giving a cordial acceptance to the gospel. The sermon concludes with a suitable applica tion to the Missionary Society.

The Fourth and last Sermon was preached at St. Saviour's Church, Southwark, on Friday morning, by the Rev. Thomas Scott, Rector of Aston-Sandford (formerly Morning Preacher of the Lock Chapel.) The subject of this discourse is, "A call to prayer for the sending forth of labourers," founded on Luke x. 2." The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few," &c.

The preacher, apprehensive that men of narrow minds might blame him, having acted as the Secre tary of a similar Society, for affording his assistance to this, commences his discourse with an apology for his conduct. "It has been asked," saith he, "Why I preach for both Societies? To which I answer,-For the same reason that I would preach for both the Westminster Infirmary and for Saint George's Hospital (contiguous charities, both for the same purpose); because both are needful and useful, and are entitled to support." He afterwards observes, that the several Societies, established in the metropolis for Missions, may seem to crowd and interfere with each other in London; but there is no fear that their Missionaries will impede each other's usefulness abroad.

Thus the ships, by which our extensive commerce, is carried on, are greatly crowded together in the river, but not so on the vast seas and oceans which they severally navi gate. Nay (the case of war ex. cepted) the sight of a sail is generally refreshing to seamen. When vessels, even of different nations, meet a great distance from home, they relieve each other's wants, &c. so, different Societies, if mutually aiding each other, will be found more useful than any one which could be formed out of them all."

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