"Then will he own my worthless name, Appoint my soul a place." In the afternoon, his pain became excruciating; but in the evening he slept, and hope revived. On Wednesday, the 28th, his son found him obviously worse; there was the progress of strong and agonizing pain. Yet his medical friends would not despond, till the evening, when all hope was relinquished. Through the day, he obviously thought that death was approaching. His sufferings, in the morning, and in the evening, were great; but yet greater was his Christian fortitude. Mr. James Parsons, in the morning, reminded him of that Scripture, "For. ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." He answered, "Ah! patience; I try to be patient." And when Mr. P.observed, "He is able tokeep that which you committed to him," he emphatically replied," Every whit." On the morning, he said to his son, "He will help you. He is able to supply all your need, according to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus! I want you to be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." To all he said, "Think of a covenant God;" but, he continued to say, with his practical mind, "Think too of the duties belonging to that covenant." To his house-keeper he addressed himself, "You have him for your God; cleave to him, confess him, glorify him, and rest on his promises, all his promises." She replied, "They are now your support." He whispered, "ALL." About noon, he directed a short chapter to be read; he chose the 62nd Psalm; after reading which his son prayed, and he faintly said, "Amen." His granddaughter enquired whether there was any thing that he would fancy to take? He said, "I cannot find any thing like Christ." His son being near by his side, he fixed his eye upon his countenance, and said, "Look to Christ.' When his Physician came, he was obviously prepared for death; and to Dr. Babington, who enquired with much sympathy of manner, how he felt, he answered, "I feel a disposition, doctor, to trust myself to God.' That he thought himself dying, appeared obvious, by the manner in which he said to his son, in an agony, "I can do nothing, but this God is my God, for ever and ever, my guide even unto death!" In the afternoon, he sweetly exclaimed, “Let no evil communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good." To his grand-daughter, who said to him, "I cannot bear to see you in such an agony,” he answered," HE will soon come, and he will heal all my sorrow." Afterwards, "O, the exertion of dying! but he makes my bed." Afterwards, "The Lord hath said, lift up your hearts in prayer." For what shall we pray? it was said: "Pray for? pray in the spirit, and you will be right." But he continued, "Do more than this; Walk in the spirit also." In the evening, even his son's voice could not awaken his notice. Through the night he was painfully agonized, but, on Thursday morning, he seemed more tranquil. He breathed more and more softly; till about seven o'clock, his beloved frame no longer breathed on earth, and his more beloved spirit went to heaven. This tranquil death has left his corpse serene, and even smiling; and thousands have been to weep over a face that they loved so tenderly, and will now see no more. POETRY. "Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?"-Zechariah i. 5. THE patriarchs, and where are they? Since, for its crimes, that world was drown'd, The world is somewhat chang'd since then, Are found to things terrestrial cleaving, But now, in ghostly shrouds array'd, When friends shall mourn our absence here; THE CATHOLIC CLAIMS. We cannot refrain from giving expression to the gratification which we have experienced, at witnessing the great progress which civil and religious liberty has made within the last twelve months. The result of the repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts has convinced his Majesty's counsellors, that dissenters from the Establishment may take their proper rank, as British subjects, without "shaking the constitution to the ground," and they have wisely resolved to rid the statute-book of the remain Were not the subject too grave to admit of merriment, we should say that the Brunswick prints are now furnishing matter for it in abundance. The MORNING JOURNAL, which prides itself upon being the organ of the high Church and State men, is abusing in good set terms, each and all of his Majesty's Ministers, for their conduct.-Charging the Duke of Wellington with “ gross dissimulation,' paltry tricking," and "disgraceful kidnapping." Instead of an extention of the blessings of civil and religious liberty, this truly "Protestant" journal raves most felicitously about the necessity-the absolute necessity-of" shooting the insolent Papists," of transporting certain priests and patriots to Botany Bay, and of elevating others in the most conspicuous and gratifying manner in front of Rilmainham jail." Nor has Majesty itself escaped the violence of these very LOYAL-only LOYAL-Subjects: the Sovereign is threatened, in very intelligible language, with the fate of JAMES, should he give his assent to the contemplated measures! But we have introduced the name of this journal, for the purpose of giving to our readers a specimen of its arguments against all concession, and one which lays bare the source of its hostilities to Dissenters and Catholics. Suppose that there are, in the two Houses of Parliament," says this writer, "150 bigotted Catholics, sent thither by the priests of Ireland and the Catholic noblemen of England. All is apparently smooth. The representatives of the Pope and the priests are as docile as possible. But the difficulties of the state increase the assessed taxes have been anticipated the customs and the excise are both on the decline, and it is necessary to demand from Parliament a property tax. What will the allies of his Holiness and the representatives of the Dissenters say to this? They will, to the utmost of their power, oppose additional taxes. They will rest their opposition on grounds so popular as to be irresistible. They will say to the Minister,— 'We are sufficiently taxed already; the national creditors are entitled to their interest; but, before we assess the people further, we demand that the revenues of the Church be, in the first instance, applied towards the satisfaction of their claims.' They will assert that their faith costs the nation nothing-that the Catholics, the Unitarians, the Quakers, and the seceders of every grade, maintain their own ministers, and that, under the pressing circumstances of the country, the adherents of the Church of England ought to support the church, the tenets of which they profess, and to the discipline of which they are attached.” These are awful" considerations; truly, and our readers will doubtless sympathise in the distress of the writer, 44 on the threshold of a dreadful commotion."" [After this article was set up in type, we received the following from a Correspondent.T SIR,-I looked into your last number, in the confident expectation of finding some notice of that most interesting portion of the King's late speech, which relates to the removal of Catholic disabilities; but was disappointed. However, as this is a speech, which, with the measures resulting from it, so far from losing their interest and importance in one week, will engross the public attention for a long period, and the record of which, will form one of the brightest pages in the history of our country. You will perhaps, even now, allow me, a Protestant Dissenter, to congratulate you, Sir, the rest of my dissenting brethren, and indeed the whole population, (for all are interested) upon the glorious prospects which are opening upon us. The last Session of Parliament witnessed the abolition of those parents of hypocrisy and persecution, the Test and Corporation acts, and now, their sister abominations, the penal laws against the Catholics, have received the sentence of death and are only waiting the forms of execution. Surely Sir, every lover of truth, and of his country, ought to rejoice, that his eyes are permitted to behold these things -they are indeed gigantic strides in the march of intellect. For my own part Sir, I confess that my heart leaps within me, when I reflect upon them, and most joyously, when I reflect, that great as these things are, they are but as the harbingers of greater, the welcome precursors of that mighty event, which shall for ever separate the church from the state and thereby relieve the genuine institutions of Christianity from the corrupting and deadly influences of Ecclesiastical Establishments, with which they have been cursed for so many ages. As there are many individuals, who, notwithstanding the incessant discussions which have taken place upon the Catholic question, are still concientiously opposed to granting their claims; I subjoin an extract from a letter upon the subject, by Mr. Hamilton, of Leeds, a protestant dissenting minister. To this extract I entreat the most careful attention as in my judgment, it contains a summary of the best things that can be said, not only upon the Catholic question, but also, upon Protestant dissent and Ecclesiastical Establishments; for it must be ever. remembered, that all these important subjects rest upon the same principles, and must be decided by a reference to the same standard. I have always thought that much of the misapprehen sion, which exists on the Catholic Question, arises from the circumstance of its being considered by those who so misapprehend it with reference to the conduct of Catholics-this would be correct, were the privileges asked by way of a boon-but they are more-they are demanded as a right, and only as a right. The question therefore is not, what the Catholics deserve, but what is our duty towards them, common with all other dissenters-I am really Sir, at a loss to know how it is possible for a man who urged the repeal of the 'Test and Corporation Acts, to oppose concessions to the Catholics, and retain his character for consistency. I protest, that to my mind, if there is any difference in the questions, that difference is in favour of the Catholics. But I will not detain you longer from the extract I have promised, which, I must repeat, is worthy of the closest examination. Mr Hamilton, addressing Protestant dissenters, says, "Our rule of judgment is plain, persecution can never suppress error, nor advance truth. If a man's civil situation is made better by the belief of certain dogmas, or is made worse upon their denial; you tempt him by a bribe, you intimidate him by a penalty. Both instances are of the very essence of persecution; nothing is left to evidence, nothing rested on conviction. The Catholic is politically deprived on the sole account of speculative religious opinions, he is wrong: allow it: endeavour to undeceive his fallacies, to rectify his mistakes. By what weapons? by depressing his secular condition? By pointing at him as unworthy of confidence? Truth has no alliance with force, with proscription, with scorn. It only calls the power of reason and persuasion to its aid. This is the first principle of Protestant dissent-not ignorant of such misery ourselves, we have learnt to rescue the miserable-let the sentiments of men be most fanatical, they owe their account for them to God. If meu do what is contrary to right, what is destructive to society, let the strong arm of the law punish them-but thoughts are not subjects, nor are theories crimes" -"Seek peace, shun faction, preserve charity, but remember that every atempt to resist the liberty of others, cannot be indifferent to you; must not find you_neutral, it is a threatning demonstration against your own. " Bablished by COWIE & STRANGE, Paternoster Row; (Where Communications may be addressed to the Editor, post paid.) Sold by all Booksellers throughout the Kingdom.--Printed by W. Buox, 12, Mansell Street, Goodman's Fields. A RELIGIOUS & LITERARY JOURNAL. 44 AS EVERY MAN HATH RECEIVED THE GIFT, SO MINISTER THE SAME ONE TO ANOTHER." No. 5.] THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1829. A FUNERAL ORATION [PRICE 3d. FOR THE LATE REV. MATTHEW WILKs, delivereD AT HIS INTERMENT, BY THE REV. ROWLAND HILL, A.M.* My dear friends, we are assembled dropping from my lips, unworthy as to perform the funeral ceremony over I am of such an honour, command my departed brother, and by his parti- some youthful minds to think of these cular desire here I stand to address things, and enkindle a flame within you upon this solemn occasion. "Help, them, that shall make them shine forth Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, the as bright and energetic preachers of the faithful faileth from among the children | word of everlasting life. Blessed be of men!" He can help, and he will God, "the residue of the Spirit is with help. "With him (blessed be God) is Him;" and how do we know how soon the residue of the Spirit;" and when that glorious day may approach, "when he cuts down one he can raise up a the Lord shall give the word, and great thousand. O for the out pouring of shall be the company of preachers the Spirit of God! O how deeply this thereof"? Thus it is, that at the time is wanted upon the Christian Church when young hands are deeply needed, at large! What signifies it whether the Lord begins in mercy to lay them with a silver trumpet or a plain ram's up, and after he has educated them he horn we sound the gospel of Christ? sends them forth to their labours. So it O, unless it come with the power of was with Mr. Wilks. He was educated at God, it is hut as "water spilt upon the Trevecca School, under the patronage ground," Thanks be to God, who made of the Countess of Huntingdon, soon regenerating grace to possess the heart after leaving which, he became conof him, who lived among you with such nected with this place. The worthy consistent and persevering regularity, hands of good Mr. Josse and others, and maintained such a Christian de- were here laid upon his head, when he portment! It seems that our good was solemnly dedicated to the work of brother was first called by the grace of the ministry. He is gone, and I am God, under the ministry of Mr. Piercy, very soon to go also. O that I may do at West Bromwich, in the year 1771. good while my Master spares me! O We are reminded here of another event, that God Almighty would but grant that it was in the year 1770 that that bright this very day some souls may feel the angel of God (I love his name), Whit-influence of that regenerating_grace field, took his flight from America to glory. Little did we then think that God was at work to convert the man who should stand in this place, to support the standard that had dropped from Whitfield's hands. And how do we know but that a gracious God may, under this last funeral exhortation which they never felt before. Would to God that it might be so! Old as I am, I yearn over souls in the bowels of Jesus Christ, and my only joy is to see sinners converted to God. Here our departed brother has laboured, and you know how he discharged the duties of his office. He came to this place in * We have, at the request of a great number of our readers, reprinted this from the WORLD Newspaper, with a few immaterial alterations. the year 1775, and well you know how he was convinced of sin, and endeavoured to God as well as to preach of God. Let us endeavour with all meekness, and holiness, and piety, and purity, and affection, to live to the glory of God, and be willing to spend and be spent, that we may promote that object. I begin now to think that it cannot be arrogant in me to mention these things to my brother ministers ;— few of you have lived to my years, and few of you ever will do so. There lies my junior in years, and my junior in grace; and when I visited him the other day, he said, "You will live to bury me yet, blessed be God for it!" Here is our hope, "Whosoever believeth in me shall never die." You and I could not bear a hundredth part of the sublime raptures he now feels, while his spirit is with God. My beloved friends, what sweet words these are "The Lord hath prepared for them that love him, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." This is our consolation; but still death is at all times an awful event, and we cannot rejoice over that which in itself is sent as a curse; but blessed be God, we can still stand on the rock of ages, and from thence can look down into the chambers of the grave with serenity. We are taught to sing, "O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law;" yet here is our victory, our song of praise; "Thanks be to him that giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ!" I was amazed to find how gloriously this was exemplified in the mind of our departed brother. In his latter days, he looked at death with a dignified calmness. He found the strong tyrant was soon to come with all the terrors belonging to him; but he at all times possessed a strong, yet not a presumptuos hope, that the Lord had saved a poor sinner by grace, and had given him that strong consolation that had enabled him to look with confidence at the approach of the last enemy, and to believe in Christ with a degree of joy unspeakable, and a hope full of glory. May we be enabled thus to reconcile ourselves to the lot appointed to all; for it is appointed unto men once to die, and the most profitable lesson that you and I can be taught, is to die daily, by living upon Christ constantly, and then we shall have within us a hope full of immortality; and while we know that worms will destroy this body, yet in our flesh, in an after-state, we shall see God, and then we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is, and know |