MRS. RACHAEL LADE. DEPARTED this life, July 21, 1824, aged eighty-three years, Rachael Lade, relict of the late Mr. John Lade, of Great Mongeham, near Deal, Kent. She was first brought under concern about her soul by hearing the late Mr. Knott, of Eythorn, when under twenty years of age. She was on a visit at Little Mongeham, with a Miss Chitty and a Miss Atkinson, daughter of the late Lieut. Atkinson, of Sandwich. While there, these pious females used, every day, to retire for prayer and religious conversation. "Mr. Knott," said she, "encouraged me to join the Baptist church, at Eythorn. This place has ever been my religious home, and there I will continue to go as long as 1 am able. Jesus Christ was, and is, at times, very precious to my soul: and, when at home on the Lord's days, in reading and prayer, I find sweet communion with him. All my dependance, so far as I know my own heart, is entirely on Christ for salvation. I trust he will never leave me, although I am such a poor doubting creature. She vas baptized, and joined the church, at the age of twenty-one: she died, at the age of eighty-three, and was a member sixty-two years: she was a Martha and a Mary. If she had not the wisdom of the serpent, she certainly bad the harmlessness of the dove. She lived a humble, peaceful, holy life; and requested her funeral text might be Psalm xxvi. 8, "Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth."

MRS. MARY BELSEY.

MRS. Mary Belsey was born at Upper Eythorne. She was brought up under the sound of the gospel: but, she said, "I was thoughtless about my soul until thirty years of age, when I dreamed of the Day of Judgment; I

* See Baptist Magazine, 1817.

was compelled to appear; I wanted to be excused, but was not; I saw I had many sins to answer for, but I could not answer for one of a thousand. The Judge seemed to frown on me: I awoke, and found it to be a dream. However, a broken law, a sense of sin, and great distress of mind, attended me for some time. At length I obtained relief, 'by prayer; I was fully persuaded that Je sus Christ was able and willing to save me." She was baptized; and joined the Eythorne church, at the age of thirty-three; died, aged seventy, having been an honourable member thirtyseven years. She was very conversant with her Bible. In the last week of her life, the writer found her calm, and resigned to her Lord's will. She was asked, if she still loved Jesus Christ? she said, "I repent not that I followed him, but that I did not follow him sooner, and walk closer; I want more communion with him; I want to feel Christ more precious to my soul; I can give up my husband and children for Christ: I have a desire to depart, and be with Christ. I am not afraid to die, I have committed my soul into the hands of Christ; he will not let me pe rish. I want you to pray with me." The evening before her departure, one of her daughters wished me to ask, if she had chosen her funeral text; and, although nearly past speaking, she said,

66

Yes," and mentioned every word of it in perfect order, 2 Corinthians xiii. 11. The writer prayed, shook her hand and said, Farewell. She held his hand some time, but could not speak. Thus the Lord has been speaking three times by the removal of three pious females, on the 2nd of June, 21st of July, and on the 31st of July, whose faith may we follow, considering the end of their conversation.

RECENT DEATH.

December 10, 1824, died, in the thirtieth year of his age, the Rev. R. ROGERS, pastor of the Baptist church at Monmouth: he was much beloved by all classes of people, and, in the views of man, eminently useful as

an instrument to raise the infant cause lately established in that benighted town: but "the Lord's thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways his ways:"Be ye therefore ready also; for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not."

The Book of the Church. By Robert Southey, Esq. LL. D. Poet Laureate. Sve. Two Volumes, pp. 394, 528. price £1 4s. London, 1824. ECCLESIASTICAL historians have been more evidently influenced by passion and prejudice, than historians of any other class. We shall not stop to inquire into the reasons of this, but the fact cannot be doubted. Hence, it has become necessary, if we would form a right judgment of characters and events, to compare the accounts given by different writers, and to weigh well the circumstances under which they were written; and the prejudices by which the historians would probably be affected. But this is too laborious a process for the greatest part of readers, and, consequently those who have not time, inclination, or opportunity, to examine the multifarious and conflicting evidence that is brought before them; are obliged to content themselves with exparte statements, or to draw their information from insufficient or corrupt sources. It is not, therefore, surprising, that much misconception prevails on the subject of church history. This remark is particularly applicable to the ecclesiastical records of our own country. The violence with which our controversies have been carried on, and the deplorable results that have attended the conjunction of religious disputes and political quarrels,have generated strong party feelings on all sides. The nonconformists have learned to connect bigotry and intolerance with the very mention of the church of England; while the jaundiced eye of the episcopalian can see nothing in dissent but heresy, schism, and rebellion. The historian is continually, and powerfully tempted, either to exaggerate or exense persecution; to censure or applaud the measures of the dominant sect, and to culogize, or misrepresent the characters of those who sufferedf or their opinions, according to his own particular bias.

An accurate and impartial view of the progress of religion and religious liberty in Great Britain, suited to ge

neral readers and the young, is still a desideratum. To supply this is Dr. Southey's object in publishing the volumes that are now before us. Thus

be introduces the subject:

"Manifold as are the blessings for which Englishmen are beholden to the institutions of their country, there is no part of those institutions from which they derive more important advantages than from its church establishment; none by which, the temporal condition of all ranks has been so materially improved. So many of our countrymen would not be ungrateful for those benefits, if they knew how numerous and how great they are, and at how dear a price they were purchased for our inheritance: by what religious exertions, what heroic devotion, what precious lives consumed in pious labours, wasted away in dungeons, or offered up amid the flames. This is a knowledge, which, if early inculcated, might arm the young heart against the times." Vol. I. p. 1, 2. pestilent errors of these distempered

The preceding extract will not, we imagine, produce a very favourable impression on the minds of our readers, as to the qualifications of the Poet Laureate for his work. So pompous and ill-natured a commencement, has an ominous appearance. And, indeed, those who will take the trouble to wade through these volumes, as we have done, though with no little weariness and self-denial, will have abundant evidence that Dr. S. has engaged in an employment, for which he is by no means fitted. We mean no disrespect to his talents by this observation; but the gifts, (to use a theological phrase) which form the poet, are entirely distinct and different from those which are necessary to constitute a man a good historian. Dr. S. may be a very suitable person, for aught we know, to fill the office of Poet Laureate, but he is not qualified to write ecclesiastical history.

An historian, and especially an ecclesiastical historian, should be well furnished with these two qualifications, truth and charity. It is our painful duty to affirm, that Dr. S. is miserably destitute of both. His work, as far

as regards nonconformists, is a complete tissue of misrepresentation and calumny. Lest we should be thought unjustifiably severe, we will produce proof of the truth of this assertion.

An individual whose knowledge of this subject should be derived solely from the "book of the church', would inevitably come to these conclusions, that, on the one hand, the nonconformists have ever been a discontented, "factious people," a set of ignorant, wild, and enthusiastic religionists, turbulent as subjects, and tyrannical when in authority; and that, on the contrary, the established clergy have been patterns of meekness, purity, and diligence: mild in their tempers, most exemplary in their lives, the promoters of every good work, at once the ornament and glory of the land. Our readers need not be told that all this is mere fiction.

Dr. S. asserts, that the principles of the old puritans were "hostile to monarchy;" that they "attached as much importance to sermons, as the Romanists to what they deemed the sacrifice of the altar;" and that the "monstrous doctrine of the Supra-lapsarians" was their “distinguishing tenet:" Vol. II. p. 335, 338, 350. He assures us, that the ejectment of the two thousand ministers, on Bartholomew-day, 1662, was "fully justified by the circumstances of the times;" and the only censure he passes on the five-mile act, and other persecuting measures, is, that they were "impolitic;" Vol. 11. p. 483, 487. When the violence of the Presbyterians, during the Commonwealth, is the theme of narration; he studiously notices every aggravating circumstance, and labours to excite our pity and indignation. But, on the other hand, the sufferings endured by the nonconformists during the calamitous times that succeeded the Restoration, are either artfully palliated, or disingenuously suppressed. Surely, to use Dr. S.'s own words, "Next to the guilt of those who commit wicked actions, is that of the historian who glosses them over, or excuses them," Vol. I. p. 183.

Our limits will not permit us to notice the many calumniating statements contained in these volumes; nor is it necessary, as they have been again and again triumphantly refuted. Indeed, the man who can say of Neal

that he was "the most prejudiced and dishonest of all historians," Vol. II. p. 309. and who can unblushingly assert that "the martyrdom of Cranmer is not more inexpiably disgraceful to the Roman Catholic, than that of Laud to the puritan persecutors," ibid. p. 453, deserves little regard.

Dr. S. most feelingly deplores the suppression of the monasteries, and imagines that "reformed convents would be a great blessing to the country;" Vol. II. p. 55. He thinks that the use of images "in itself might be good," and that the pilgrimages to Jerusalem arose out of a "pardonable, if not a meritorious feeling of devotion;" Vol. I. p. 16. Vol. II. p. 110. The reunion of the Church of England with the Romish communion, he looks upon as a measure 16 devoutly to be wished;" ibid. p. 357. Really, all this smells of popery. Is Dr. S. ambitious of a cardinal's hat?

Most cordially do we concur in the following remarks:

"It behoves us ever to bear in mind, that while actions are always to be judged by the immutable standard of right and wrong, the judgments which we pass upon men, must be qualified by considerations of age, country, situation, and other incidental circumstances; and it will then be found, that he who is most charitable in his judgment, is generally the least unjust." Vol. II. p. 25.

Had Dr. S. acted on these principles, we should have been spared the necessity of animadverting so severely on his production. Most seriously do we wish that these sentiments may be récognized by all future ecclesiastical historians.

It is much to be regretted, that the celebrity of the author will probably procure an extensive circulation of this work among a certain class of readers, and that it will be the only source from which many will derive their knowledge of the ecclesiastical history of their own country. Thus error and uncharitableness will be propagated. How lamentable is it, that splendid talents should be so prostituted and perverted!

We beg leave to recommend that subsequent editions bear the following title;-A Plea for the Clergy, and an Apology for Persecution; by the author of "Wat Tyler," the "Vision of Judgment," and "the Life of Wesley."

The Christian Gleaner; or, Domestic Magazine for 1824. Vol. I. pp. 294. Holdsworth.

We are very glad to see this cheap periodical, admirably adapted, as we think, to be extensively useful in that department of society whose interests it is intended to subserve. That numerous and important class of persons, whose cultivation and improvement are so commendably attempted in this work, has been too much neglected; but, as their services can never be regarded with indifference, and as encouragement should be given to every effort which is calculated to render them more agreeable to themselves, and more beneficial to others, we can

do no less than sincerely wish that this small publication may obtain universal circulation among them.

The Redeemer's Tears wept over lost Souls: and two Discourses on Self-dedicution, and on yielding ourselves to God. By the Rev. John Howe, A.M. with an Introductory Essay, by Robert Gordon, D. D. Edinburgh. Second Edition, Glasgow, 1824.

THE old nonconformists were by nothing more distinguished, than by their deep and intimate acquaintance with the human heart. And the writer of this book, the great John Howe, excelled among the excellent. His sentiments are the emanations of a rich and highly-gifted mind. Many of his writings are far too profound and abstruse for popular reading; and his style is often so inverted and involved, and sometimes so abrupt, as to become obscure. In this volume, however, there is one of the most pathetic expostulations with a sinner that our language can furnish; and the diction is, in general, as plain, as it was intended to be powerful and pungent. The two smaller tracts are admirable, breathing throughout the spirit of a man pre-eminently holy, and heavenly

minded.

The essay prefixed by Dr. Gordon, is evangelical and elegantly written. We extract a few lines from the last page of it.

"Of the sublimity of conception, the ardour of feeling, and energy of language

which distinguish the following treatises, it is unnecessary for us to speak: but we would entreat those, into whose hands they may come, not to lay them aside with a single reading; for we may venture to assure them, that however much of their excellence they may discover on a first perusal, every subsequent one will more than confirm the estimate."

Fully concurring in this statement, we cannot but anticipate much good resulting from the publication of theso treatises, and we, therefore, wish them the widest possible circulation.

The Ordination Services of the Rev. T. Price, at Devonshire-square. Price 2s. The Mirven Family; or Christian Principle developed in Early Life. 12mo. Gs.

Four Editions of the New Testament, beautifully Printed in the Pocket Size. I. Greek, having the English on the opposite Page.

II. Greek, with the Latin opposite. III. Latin, with the English opposite. IV. French, with the English opposite. Part II. Scripture Natural History of Birds and Insects, with Reflections designed for the Young, by H. Althans: containing the Pelican, Owl, Crane, Hawk, Dove, Swallow, Peacock, and Part III. will be Sparrow. Price 4d.

Published on the 1st of March.

The Record of Friendship; a Memoir of Mr. William Howden, who died May 21, 1823. Aged 23. 38. 6d. Bds.

Pascal's Thoughts on Religion, and other important Subjects; translated by the Rev. Edward Craig, A. M. with a biographical Memoir. Foolscap 8vo.

It will be the only complete and faithful Translation ever published.

A new Edition of Doddridge's Family Expositor, in one very large Volume, super royal octavo, with a beautiful

Portrait on Steel.