Anecdote of Dr. Watts. Dr. Watts being once in a Coffee-room with some friends, he overheard a Gentleinan asking, rather contemptuously, "What! is that the great Dr. Watts ?" When turning round suddenly, and in good humour, he repeated a Stanza from his Lyric Poems, which produced silent admiration. Were I so tall to reach the Pole, Or mete the ocean with my span, ELIZA DAVIS, Obituary. Eliza Davis, daughter of Mr. Richard Davis, Baptist Minister of Liverpool, died March 27, 1810, aged nearly 15 years. In the latter part of her short life, and in her death, this truly amiable and promising child was a remarkable instance of the infinite riches and efficacy of divine grace. From her early childhood she was convinced of the reality and importance of personal religion, but she discovered no satisfactory evidence of a change of heart till within a few weeks of her death. In the be ginning of the year 1809, she was seized with alarming symptoms of that sore scourge of humanity, a consumption. By change of air and the use of other suitable means, the progress of the complaint was so far arrested, and appearances of her recovery were so flattering, that the most pleasing hopes were entertained of her perfect restoration, These hopes, however, were soon disappointed; for in the latter end of the year, all the threatening symp toms of her with such violence that its termination in death was little less than absolutely certain. disease returned Hitherto she had discovered no particular concern about the state of her soul, but had conversed in very general terms when any thing was said to her on the subject. About ten months before her death, however, she told her mother that she was greatly distressed in her mind; when asked the cause of it, she replied, "I am fully convinced that I am a great sinner in the sight of God, and yet I feel as though something told me that I am good enough, and do no' need a Saviour, which is directly contrary to the dictates of my judgment and conscience, and greatly adds to my trouble." She then asked if that suggestion came from Satan. To which her mother answered that without doubt it did, in connection with the natural pride of the human heart; but that her convictions came from God. then took occasion to direct her views immediately to Christ, as revealed in the Scriptures, under She Mr. Davis has since removed to the Baptist Church at Trowbridge, Wilts, as successor to the late venerable Mr. Rawlins, the character of the all-sufficient and willing Saviour of perishing sinners. But her distress of soul continued for some time after this, insomuch that she could obtain scarcely any sleep for several nights, when her bodily pain was so far abated, as to have admitted of it. At length, however, it pleased the gracious Saviour to grant her deliverance by direct ing her mind to that condescending and compassionate language, Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt. xi, 8. That well known hymn, also, beginning Come ye sinners, poor and wretched, 115th Dr. Rippn's Selection, was the means of affording her great relief. To a truly kind and pious female friend who was almost constantly with her, the few last weeks of her life, she said, "That hymn exactly describes and suits my case, and it has given me much instruction and encouragement." Soon after this she was much perplexed about knowing her interest in Christ, and being assured of her salvation. This perplexity appeared to arise in a great measure from remaining indistinct and obscure notions about the nature of faith in Christ. When this was mentioned to her father, he reminded her of the declarations and promises of the gospel, such as John iii, 16, vi, 37, 1 Tim. i, 15, Heb. vii, 25, &c. &c. He then informed her that true faith, which is of the operation of God, consisted in believing these testimonies and promises, from the heart, and that the partakers of it, viewing themselves as guilty, helpless and perishing sinners, placed all their dependance for salvation on Christ, and on him alone. On his further remarking, that if she was conscious that this was her case, she might rest assured upon the word of God, that she would certainly be saved, she replied, "I am certain this is my case." This fully satisfied her mind, and in this way she found true and lasting peace of soul. Her subsequent conversation uniformly corresponded with this declaration of her faith and experience. She frequently mentioned those two remarkably expressive hymns, "How sad our state by nature is," 90th Hy. 2nd Bk. Dr. Watts, and "Father at thy rall I come," 270th Dr. R. S. as truly descriptive of her views and feelings. She was likewise favoured with divine teachings as to the great plan of salvation, in a very remarkable manner, so that her views of it became very clear and scriptural. Her father once remarked to her, "What an unspeakable mercy is it, that in the painful prospect of parting, we do not sorrow as those without hope of a joyful meeting hereafter;' at the same time observing, "We are indebted for this to sovereign, electing and efficacious grace; for there are many parents and children in similar circumstances with us, who have no such good hope." He spoke this with a view to ascertain what were her thoughts on this subject. To his unspeakable satisfaction, she immediately replied, "That is the only source from whence I look for salvation." In the course of her illness she often expressed great pleasure in reading the 8th chapter to the Romans. Thus led into the truth as it is in Jesus, she enjoyed, during the last four weeks of her life, an almost uninterrupted tranquility of mind, and hope of heaven. Herein divine mercy was wonderfully displayed, for she had a great weight of bodily pain to endure. Notwithstanding this, while she was enjoying in her soul, and discovering to those a bout her, the most satisfactory evidences of her own salvation, she was tenderly concerned for that of others. Her two eldest brothers leaving home for school, a short time before her death, she called them to her bedside, and took a most affecting leave of them, saying, "I am going to die, and shall never see you again in this world; remember that young as you both are, you are sinners, and need salvation, and the only way of obtaining it is to come as Sinners to Jesus Christ. Be sure to read your bibles, and you will find that what I say is true, and if you truly observe what is written therein, I shall at last meet you again in heaven." She then made them some small presents, and said, "Whenever you see these, think of the advice I have given you with my dying lips." When any of her young friends visited her, she exhorted them, in the most af fectionate and solemn manner, to read the scriptures, and to pay an immediate attention to the concerns of their souls: at the same time acknowledging, with deep regret, that she had lived almost to the last, in the neglect of them, while she thankfully expressed her obligations to divine grace, that she had not been cut off in her sin, and before she was brought to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. She particularly pressed these things on their minds from the considerations of the uncertainty of life, as exemplified in her own case, and from the infinite importance of real religion while they were yet youug, to fit them either for life or death. From her earliest childhood she had habitually discovered in the main a truly filial spirit toward her parents, but she now felt herself united to them by stronger ties, and while her affec tions were set upon her Father's house in heaven, she was tender. ly concerned that they should enjoy divine support and consolation. One day she said to them, "That passage has very forcibly occurred to my mind, Our light affliction, &c. 2 Cor. iv, 17, and I wish it to be my funeral text. She evidently mentioned this to console the afflicted minds of her parents, as well as to express her own hopes and prospects. At another time she said "My parents are dearer to me than ever, but I can cheerfully leave them now, in a full assurance that hereafter I shall meet them in heaven." Just before her death, observing them to weep, she remarked "You should not grieve, but think that ere long we shall meet to part no more for ever." As her afflictions abounded, her consolations did more abound. In a time of great pain she once said with reference to 2 Cor. iv. 17. "My afflictions are light indeed, for I can say that as death approaches the prospect of heaven is brighter and brighter." She also remarked, "What a consolation it is in my sufferings to think of the sufferings of him who came from heaven to earth to die for sinners;" and with a peculiar emphasis she added, "And I trust he died for me." Her mind was greatly supported likewise by those words Whom the Lord loveth, &c. Heb. xii, 6. At times her sufferings were so very great on the one hand, and on the other her desires to depart were so habitually and inexpressibly strong, that she sometimes feared they partook of impatience, and that she only wished to get free from pain; she therefore frequently Sin my worst enemy before, Soon after this it appeared as though the time of her departure was at hand, and she desired two bymus might be read to her, the 7th of the 1st book, "◇ for an overcoming faith, To cheer my dying hours, &c. and the 31st of the 2nd book, "Why should we start and fear to die? What timorous worms we mortals are She continued, however, several days after this. On one of those days she selected, with the utmost composure, the following hymus to be sung at her funeral; 270th Dr. Rippon's selection, 88th and 3rd 2nd book, Dr. Watts's. In reading the second of these hymns, "Salvation, O the joyful sound," &c. she remarked in the most emphatic manner, “It is a joyful sound indeed." On Lord's day morning, March 25th, such an alteration took place that her immediate dissolution was expected by herself and all about her. She expressed herself as perfectly hap py in the prospect. As she revived again, she intimated that it was a disappointment to her, for she said in the evening, "I hoped that before now I should have been singing the praises of God, and the Lamb, around the throne of glory." After a painful sleepless and wearisome night, which however she was enabled through grace to pass with great patience, she again changed apparently for death. When her parents rehappy in the prospect of dying? peated the inquiry if she was still she answered, "Yes, for I can say, When my heart and my flesh fail, God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.' cough continuing very violent, her father remarked he had hoped that it would have ceased before she came so near her end. On which she opened her dying eyes and said, "" Her "Twill cease before long, And then O how pleasant The conqueror's song. Soon after she enquired if her pulse was nearly gone, and whether she appeared to be immediately going home; adding "If I revive, I hope I shall not fret. but I shall be sorry." It pleased the Lord, however, to continue her life till the next day, March 27th when her difficulty of breathing and weakness were so great that she could but just say, "Lord Jesus." A kind friend, on whom she was leaning her head, added, "you meant to say, receive my spirit;" she replied, "Yes-that is what I want-but he stops-he tarries." This was nearly the last sentence she ut tered about the concerns of her soul; for tho' she continued some hours after this, and perfectly sensible to the last: her bodily sufferings were so acute as to prevent all further conversation with her. At length her gracious God and Saviour was pleased to put a period to them all, by giving her a dismission from mortality to life, about two o'clock in the afternoon. Such was this truly amiable and promising child in her life, and such was this monument of divine mercy in her death. As long as her afflicted parents are continued in this vale of tears, and an indulgent providence spares to them the powers of recollection, they hope to cherish her memory, with the mingled feelings of parental sorrow and christian resignation and grati tude. They know, and they trust, that in some measure they feel, that in this and in all their >ther trials, their heavenly father has not only done all things right, but he has likewise done all things well. Impressed with this truth her father preached on the sabbath day morning after her decease, on Ps. cxix, 75, and Mr. Palmer of Shrewsbury being then in Liverpool, preached her funeral sermon in the evening, from the words she had chosen, 2 Cor. iv, 17. Let those who are in childhood and youth learn from the experience and death of this young person, the great truth she so frequently inculcated, the infinite importance of personal and vital godliness in early life, and let them not be content with any thing short of this, however amiable they may be in their natural dispositions, or however regular in their general conduct. Let believing parents be satisfied. with nothing but this in their beloved children, while from such instances they are encoura ged to pray for it in their behalf. At the same time let them cherish a tender concern to be prepared to receive an answer to their prayers, in whatever way it may be granted by a wise, a righteous, and a gracious sovereign. Sometimes he answers by terrible things in righteousness, but in them all he is still the God of salvation. Ps. xlv, 5. Trowbridge. R. D. MARY ELLYETT. To the annals of christian life, we often languish with puerile ambition, to attach the wise, the mighty, the illustrious; and now and then, we find on these nobler records, those to whose station and talent the world has been tributary. Now and then we behold the pure emanations of the life divine, where the splendours of human fame have combined their lustre but to the obscurity of retirement, the valley of afflic tions, the lowly dwelling of poverty, we have generally to look for the heroes of the faith; and from our Cottages we select the objects of spiritual renown. Thus undistinguished by the honors of this world, thus remote from the advantages of wealth, the influ |