a doctrine, referring any, that may wish for information upon this head, to the Books and Tracts written professedly on the fubject, I go on to obferve, that if our Lord fhould ever be confidered as intimating, here, the neceflity of being baptized in order to Salvation, in cafe there be opportunity for it; yet it cannot be 'underflood, as making it necellary for any converts to receive baptifin from the very fame perfons that were inftrumental in bringing them to repentance. If they be but baptized in the Name of the Lord Jefus, it seems a matter of little moment, by whom the ceremony is performed. St. Paul, it is certain, was an inftrument in the hands of God, of bringing hundreds to repentance in the city of Corinth, but according to the account he gives us, he only baptized two perfons there, and the houfehold of a third. From this, it appears, both that he confidered it as a matter of much greater importance to preach the Gospel, than to baptize; and alfo, that he judged many perfons to be fufficiently qualifed to perform the latter office, who were not called to be extenfively useful in the execution of the former. And no wonder, for, by preaching the Gofpel, the feed of Faith is fown, which as, in adults, it must precede baptifm, so it is of much greater neceffity and importance than it.

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4. This is implied in the next claufe, "He that believeth not, fhall be damned." Our Lord does not fay, He that believeth not, and is not baptized, but fimply, "He that believeth not, fhall be damned." "If a perfon believe the Golpel, with fuch a faith as is above defèribed, he shall be saved, even if, through want of opportunity, or his own involuntary preju dices, he flould be prevented from receiving the wathing of baptifmal water. But although he may have had this, whe ther in his infancy or in his adult age, yet if he do not believe with a right faith, "he fhall be damned," or condemned, as the original word is. Indeed, as St. John teftifies, chap. iii, 18, he is condemned already." Not receiving the Gospel, as to the Truth, Privileges, and Precepts of it, with a " faith working by love," he remains in that ftate of ignorance and fin, of depravity and weakness, in which all are by nature; having contracted an increafed guilt, and being, of courfe, expofed to greater punishment, for rejecting the Grace of God offered in the Gofpel. For this, adds the fame Apostle in the next verfe," is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil." And, living and dying in this ftate, he cannot escape condemnation at the Day of Judgment. For, on the one hand, being in a state of fpiritual dark nefs and death, he has neither title to, nor meetnefs for the vifion and enjoy. ment of God in glory; and, on the other hand, having rejected the means of illumination, juftification, and renovation,

afforded

afforded him in the Gofpel, he has merited, and from a holy and just God, muft meet with condemnation and mifery, pro portioned to his guilt. For, if the word spoken by Angels," viz. the Law delivered on Sinai by the miniftry of Angels,. "was ftedfaft, and every tranfgreffion and act of difobedience, received a juft recompence of reward, how fhall we escape if: we neglect fo great falvation; which at the first began to be fpoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by those that: heard him; God alfo bearing witnefs, both with, figns and: wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghoft according to his own will."

"Examine yourselves," therefore, my brethren, "whether ye be in the faith, prove your own felves, know ye not your own felves, how that Jefus Chrift is in you," in all his offices and characters, as your light and life, your wifdom, righte oufnefs, fanctification, and redemption, "except ye be repro bates?" See that you do not deceive yourselves in a matter of fuch moment, a matter on which your everlafting falvation depends; and take care you do not refl; till that Gofpel, which has come to you in word, come alfo in power, and in much affurance," and you find your mind enlightened by its truths, your heart enriched and comforted with its priví leges, and your life regulated by, and conformed to its pre cepts. Thus will you find it the Power of God to your falvation from fin here, and from all its confequences here

after.

i

And as to us, my brethreu, who are employed in the dif penfation of this Gofpel of the Grace of God, let us examine ourfelves narrowly, as to our call to, and qualifications for the important office in which we are engaged; and when we are fatisfied, in fome meafure, as to thefe, let us make it our care to execute our trust faithfully. "Let us ftudy to fhew ourfelves approved unto God, workmen that need not to be afhamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Let us make ourfelves thoroughly acquainted with the Gofpel of Christ, with refpect to all the doctrines, promifes, and commands of it; and let us take care, that we inculcate every part of it, keeping back from our people nothing that would be profitable to them. Like the great Apoftle of the Gentiles, while we inftruct them publicly, and from houfe to houfe, let us efpecially teftify repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jefus Chrift, with the genuine fruit thereof, univerfal holinefs of heart and life. Of these things, let us take care to be ourselves living witneffes; that fpeaking from experi ence, we may speak with demonftration of the Spirit and of power. Let us recommend our doctrine by our practice, and XVII. Feb. 1794

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while

while we ferve the Lord with all humility of mind, anď fimplicity of heart, let us be examples to believers, in converfation, in behaviour, in love, in faith, in purity; and let us take heed to ourfelves, as well as to the fundry flocks over which the Holy Ghoft hath made us overfeers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchafed with his own blood. In order hereto, let us give diligent attendance, to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine; and follow after godlinefs, righteoufnefs, faith, hope, love, patience, meeknefs. Let us watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of Evangelifts, and make full proof of our miniftry. Let us meditate on thefe things, and give ourselves wholly to them, that our profiting may appear unto all." In fine, "Let us take heed to ourselves, and to our doctrine," and continue fo to do, for in this way, "we fhall both fave ourfelves, and thofe that hear us."

A fhort Account of the Experience and Death of

BARBARY STYAN.

[By Mr. SAMUEL HODGSON.]

SHE HE was born at Wixley, in Yorkshire, in the year 1776. From a child fhe was remarkable for her ferious and fteady behaviour. The divine Spirit' powerfully influenced her mind, from the time fhe could remember any thing; and The made many promifes of dedicating herfelf to the LORD; but did not fulfil her engagements till the twelfth year of her age. About that time, Mr. Brackenbury being at her father's houfe, at Newton-upon-Oufe, and perceiving her feriousness, took an opportunity of converfing with her. The divine blefling accompanied the Word; the was deeply awakened, and began to feek the LORD in good earnest. She retired to private devotion fix or seven times every day; indeed, as the expreßled herself, "I prayed almoft continually." In 1787, while Mr. Dunn was meeting the Ctafs, after he had been preaching at her Father's houfe, the LORD poured out his bleffing upon her. Thefe words were applied to her heart, "I will, be thou clean." Her foul was now fo filled with divine Love, that the rejoiced with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.

About ten days after, being at a Love-feaft at York, while Mr. Spence was faying, "He could fpeak his experience in. one word, "My beloved is mine, and I am his;" thefe words were greatly bleffed to her. In that moment the faw the neceffity of loving GoD with an undivided heart, and began inceffantly to plead the promifes, and intreat him to

cleanfe

cleanfe her from all filthinefs of flesh and fpirit. Next even ing the LORD graciously anfwered her requeft, and brought her foul into perfect Liberty. She cried out, "Now, I am fit to die;" and made the whole houfe ring with the praises of her great Deliverer. For fix months he enjoyed that glorious Liberty without intermiffion, being faved from every unhappy temper, and filled with the divine confolations. She was the adiniration of all her friends and religious acquaintance, and whenever the related her experience, either in public or private, it was made a particular bleffing.

During the remaining period of her life, fhe walked as became the Gofpel of Chrift, and was fuch a pattern of mecknefs, as charmed all that knew her. Nevertheless, the lamented her fhort comings, and bewailed herself that fhe had not lived more entirely devoted to GOD; though no one could fee any defect in her life and converfation.

About twelve months before her deceafe, fhe lived with an aunt at Sheffield And all the friends, with whom the contracted intimacy there, can teftify how unblameable and holy her conduct was amongst them. The following para graph, in one of her letters to her parents, describes the state of her mind at that time:

"I feel an increafe of divine light. A little while ago, I was ready to conclude that every thing made against me. But now I fee better, and can reflect with pleasure upon what is paft, and look forward with comfort on what is to come. It has been a trying time to me of late; but in the midft of all, Religion affords me firm fupport, adminifters the moft reviving cordials, and fets before me the most animating profpects. We must not expect to pafs thro' this uncertain ftate, without encountering fome of its ftorms. It is well indeed, that they are not perpetual; but that we have fometimes a calm. I blefs God for his Goodness to wards me; for I feel him drawing out my mind after him. I can fay; Abba, Father! My LORD and my God!"

Laft Autumn fhe began to be poorly, and was obliged to leave Sheffield. The change of air had a good effect upon her, for fome time; but about Christmas, her case was alarm! ing, and he was brought to York, in order to obtain the beft advice, which proved ineffectual. As her father was returning home with her, he enquired into the ftate of her mind, and received the following anfwer: "The LORD has

enabled me, through Grace, to give up all things of "worldly nature for fome weeks paft, I have experienced "much of the LORD's prefence, fo that I can give him my "whole heart. When I confider the Goodness of God, in opening your heart to receive his Mellengers into your K 2

houfe,

"houfe, I am loft in wonder, love, and praife: Had it not "been for that, I might have gone out of the World as ig"norant, (it is to be feared) as many others." Soon after this converfation, the horse fell with them; fhe was a little hurt by the fall, and fainted away. As foon as the recovered, fhe faid to her father, "Let us praise the LORD." So conftantly was her mind recollected, and intent upon the divine Goodness.

When the got home, her diforder continued to increase, and confined her to the bed. Her fufferings, fometimes, were very great; yet fhe never complained; but in the midft of them would fay;

་

Jefu, Lover of my Soul,

Let me to thy Bofom fly;

While the nearer waters roll,

While the tempeft ftill is high, &c.

One time in particular, after a fevere fit of coughing, the cried out, 66 LORD, though thou flay me, yet will I trust in "Thee.' Indeed, her general expreffion was, "What are "these fufferings to thofe my LORD endured for me ?" On Feb. 26, I faw her for the first time after her confinement. She faid to me, with great fweetnefs, "Glory be to Cop, I feel myself happy; and have not had a doubt upon my mind fince the last time you preached here." I afked, if the found a willingness to die, fuppofing it was the LORD's Will? She answered, "At the beginning of this affliction I befought the LORD to purify my foul, and make me fit for his kingdom; and, glory be to his Name, he heard my prayer; and I am now ready to live or die, juft as it fhall feem good to him. But if I were to chufe, I would rather die, to be with Christ and escape the evil to come." She then related to me a particular account of the LORD's dealings with her Soul. During the time we were engaged in converfation and prayer, I was filled with fuch happiness, as I am unable to express.

In this bleffed frame of mind fhe was generally, from the beginning of the affliction to its happy conclufion. One morning, her father afking, how he did, "Laft night (fhe "faid) I had fuch a glorious fight, as I cannot defcribe. "I thought I faw Jefus ; and his holy angels ftanding "round me, to carry my foul into Paradife." After clafs-meeting, one evening, moft of the people came into the room, to fee her. Obferving fome of them weeping over her, fhe faid, Weep not for me, for Jefus is here. I am happy! O, I am happy!"

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April 23.