years ago, when I first became acquainted with the Methodists, they would not have tolerated such a profanation of the Lord's day. I think it my duty to present this matter to the Conference for their most serious consideration, fully persuaded, that the benefit or injury of thousands of our fellowcreatures will depend upon their determinations. "I remain, with sincere regard to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, "Your friend and servant, We are not aware whether any alteration on the point alluded to in the above paper has taken place at Leeds, &c. since 1807; but we are authorized to state, that writing is not taught in any of the Methodist Sunday schools in town, and that the practice of teaching writing on the Lord's day is generally disapproved of by the members of that society. At the same time, many of the scholars are taught to write at some convenient hour in the week.-ED. ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING DECIDED IN RELIGION. Ir is a lamentable truth, that in the visible Church of Christ there are to be found not a few, who, by an unsteady walk and conversation, bring a reproach upon his sacred name, and wound the cause they profess to espouse. Others, again, are halting between two opinions, unmindful of our Saviour's express declaration, "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Daily experience proves the fallacy of attempting to unite what God, in his word, has for ever separated. "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." It is only by coming out from an ungodly world, that we can reasonably hope to receive the divine blessing; for, though in this state of existence sin and imperfection still attach to all; though "there is none righteous, no not one;" all have sinned, and come short of his glory; yet is it equally true, that no real Christian will ever indulge in allowed sin, or habitually walk contrary to the commands of his hea venly Father. The renewed heart is opposed to sin; and in whatever shape temptation comes, the child of God will, through divine grace, strive to overcome it. If we look into the state of religious society in the present day, alas! how many are there entangled with worldly connexions, who, against their conscience and better judgment, too readily comply with the sinful customs of a vain world; thereby grieving the Holy Spirit, and depriving themselves of that inward peace which the more decided Christian so richly enjoys. Such characters are often subject to great depressions, particularly during the period of sickness, or any other adversity. The children of God will ever find, that sin brings sorrow; and that, if they depart from his ways, sooner or later their transgressions will be visited with the rod, and their iniquities with stripes. It is not enough that we are almost Christians; we must be altogether such, or it will avail us nothing. Many who have set out well in a religious course have made shipwreck of faith; others, again, have begun without counting the cost; and the snares of the world and their own corrupt inclinations have kept them at an awful distance from Him who could alone enable them to maintain their ground. It is a solemn truth, that many are passing daily into an unseen world, whose dying evidences have been so beclouded, that the surviving friends are compelled to conclude, that if they are saved it is so as by fire. This is indeed most painful. It might have been otherwise, had they lived nearer to God, and been more circumspect and consistent in their outward walk. These hints are not intended to discourage the doubtful, timid Christian, who may be just setting out with his face Zionwards, but rather to stimulate him to press forward in the divine life, and to give up all that would impede his progress to the heavenly Canaan. Satan is ever on the alert to destroy souls; he goeth about like a roaring lion, and where he cannot devour he will harass and perplex. It is his delight to rob the children of God of their comfort and privileges, and it requires their utmost vigilance to resist his attacks, and a constant reliance on divine strength to enable them to persevere to the end. How thankful ought those Christians to be, who, by the power of divine grace, have been kept in the narrow way that leads to everlasting life! An almighty arm has sustained them hitherto; they have been upheld through many snares and temptations; their constant prayer has been, "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." It may that their path has been beset by many outward trials; one wave of affliction after another has rolled over their heads; but still the loving kindness of the Lord has been their song, and they can attest from their own happy experience the truth of the Apostle's declaration, be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing:" they have much of heaven in their souls here, and thus are they living in the joyful anticipation of a perpetuity of bliss. Ere long the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon their head. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. ANNA. A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE LATE MISS FANNY FENCOTT, OF ALMELEY, IN HEREFORDSHIRE. THE pen of inspiration declares the memory of the just to be blessed; and the experience of persons in all ages of the Church, bears witness that sacred is the recollection of departed worth. Often have the remarks of dying Christians been engraven, by the finger of God, on the hearts and consciences of unawakened men, and not less often have they proved the means of encouraging persons of timid, yet inquiring minds, "to follow them who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises." While the Christian of full stature scruples not to acknowledge, that SEPTEMBER 1822. precious has been the death of the saints to his soul, the belief and experience of such things induces the writer to hope, that this account of the expiring moments of a sister in the faith (connected with a few circumstances of her early years) will be accompanied by the like blessed effects. As the period of infancy affords but little subject of interest, no mention will be made of the character of Miss Fanny Fencott previously to her entrance on her sixteenth She was then (like the generality of youth) fond of the world, and though she had never drunk deeply X X year. into its promised (but unsatisfying) pleasures, she yet hoped at some future day to do so. Truly "God's ways are not as ours;" for, just as she was proposing to herself many schemes of earthly happiness, the voice of the Gospel arrested her attention, and she no longer inquired, "Who will show us any good?" but rather imbibed the spirit of David, saying, "Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me." Godly sorrow, not worldly pleasure, now filled her heart; for "the word of the Lord was quick and powerful," convincing her of her miserable condition as à sinner. At length, that voice which echoed so loudly as to break up the fallow ground of the heart, now resounded in milder accents, proceeding not from Sinai but from Calvary. Having the eye of faith directed to that memorable mount, she saw that a full satisfaction had been made for her transgressions by the sufferings of a crucified Redeemer, and thankfully did she receive the offer of eternal life. From this moment she resolved (in dependence on divine help) to forsake those vanities from which her Saviour died to redeem her; and steadily continued "to follow her Lord through evil and good report." Miss F. was little known to any beyond her immediate circle; for, of her it may be said, she was not the public but the closet Christian. The rising sun has often found her prostrated before a throne of grace, as she usually rose to engage in the exercises of devotion at the dawning of the day. The Bible was her companion, and prayer and meditation the elements in which she breathed. But this plant of holiness was not to continue in the present blighting atmosphere: O, no! she has already been transplanted by the Great Husbandman into the paradise above. In the autumn of 1820, symptoms of pulmonary consumption appeared in this young person, 66 and threatened a speedy removal from earth; but, contrary to the forebodings of her anxious friends, she at length grew better. This, however, did not continue long; for, in the September of 1821, the messenger of death arrived in a still more gigantic form, and Miss F.'s tender frame sunk under the pressure of accumulated disease; but in proportion as "the outward man decayed the inward man was renewed day by day." On the 7th of October, she attended for the last time the services of the sanctuary, and there renewed the dedication of herself to God at the sacramental table. On her return home, she sweetly said, My prayers are more than answered. I shall no more drink of the fruit of the vine, till I drink it new in my Father's kingdom,' for the pins of my earthly tabernacle are fast taking out." Such was her joy in participating of this sacred ordinance, "she scarcely knew whether she was worshipping in the church above or the church below." On the Tuesday following, the expectoration of blood returned with increased violence, and her frame was greatly reduced. Witnessing the distress of her family, on this occasion, she calmly spoke to them of the mercies of God to her soul, saying, "His love in times past Forbids me to think He'll leave me at last, In trouble to sink." "What a mercy it is that I was taught so early to flee to Jesus for refuge!" On her elder sister's exclaiming, "O! this spitting of blood will never cease," Fanny replied, "If it never does, my dear, I am happy. O! eternity, eternity! I have not one doubt upon my mind of entering it." Though naturally possessed of a very irritable temper, she was now enabled to set forth an example of suffering patience; and often did she exclaim, "My Father, not my will but thine be done.-These walls," 'The more we toil and suffer here, Besides, I shall have rest enough for my body in the grave." On a friend's remarking tha. "her body was about to be sown in weakness, and raised in power," Miss F. replied, "Yes! my very flesh shall rest in hope. We the Оп 'Where should the dying members rest But with their dying Head?' shall walk in white." night of her death, she was enabled, in a very astonishing manner, to engage aloud in prayer for she exclaimed, "What should I a quarter of an hour; after which do now if I had a Saviour to seek? 'tis this hope that has borne my I have sought him, and I am saved: spirits up." On her being asked if she were easy; she answered, "No! I want to die, and go to Jesus." She then fell into a sweet sleep, and gently breathed her soul 23d of October 1821, in the twentyinto the bosom of her God, on the first year of her age. In the faint sketch which has racter we may see, ""Tis religion that can give fade as a leaf; what a call is it for you to be watchful," looking steadfastly on her surrounding friends, since you know not in what hour your Lord will come. Oh! prepare to meet thy God. How those awful words are sounding in my ears!” Yet never did this dear Christian express a fear at the prospect of death. After been taken of this interesting chataking a view of past mercies, she (in the language of gratitude) exclaimed, "How good my heavenly Father is! O that I had the tongue of angels to speak his praise! What a privilege, to die and be called to an early crown! Had I the wings of a dove, then would I flee away and be at rest.' During the last few days of her life (being much afflicted with spasm) she was prevented praying with any degree of fervour. This much distressed her; 66 But,” added she, "my God knows I cannot: my prayer is almost over; it will soon be turned to praise." In the time of sharp suffering, she was heard "When I get above, I shall find I have not had one pain too much. to say, Had our departed friend continued to seek her happiness from the transitory possessions of earth, how bitterly would she have been disappointed when they all at once receded from her view! O! may Fanny's example prove a means of exciting other young persons to seek the Saviour whom she found, that so they may die the death of the righteous, and their last end may be like hers;" for such is the prayer of their affectionate friend and well-wisher, March 16, 1822. AMELIA. SIR, ORIGINAL LETTER OF THE REV. RICHARD BAXTER. IT hath pleased the Lord, whose I am, to give me a sharp and plain summons to come forth of his vineyard, and leave his work. I confess I understood not that voice of the rod a while: but it hath now spoke louder. Little cause have I to murmur as most men breathing, so long and frequent have his warnings for preparation been; so long and frequent mine opportunities of doing and receiving good, and all this ten years ago so unexpected, that I may conclude I have had a competent share. And, indeed, though unwillingness to die have all this while been my sin, my great sin; yet God hath made me somewhat more willing, though, alas! but somewhat. I confess, when I think upon poor Kidderminster, my heart bleeds, and I could gladly yet live. But the Lord must dispose. It hath been long my observation, when men, after trouble and unfittedness, begin to think of quiet and rest, they are near death; yet did not I promise my soul much ease in settling. O that you could help to quiet and comfort my dear friends of Kidderminster! I pray you, Sir, write one word to that purpose to my father, who, I fear, will bear with too little patience. O Sir! if you would die comfortably, be much with God; suffer not estranging easily; have promises at hand; be daily in heaven; bring faith, by daily exercise, to try all affecting apprehensions; be industrious, privately as well as publicly, for the recovery of souls; let slip no opportunity; let nothing silence you, but let Christ when he comes find you so doing. Be tender of the godly that differ in questionable things, without favouring their sin, or countenancing a toleration of open evil. In all these, I have too much failed. All my friends have left me, and here I am worse than alone, but that God is with me. I had so much sudden ease on the fast-day, that I was sensible of the benefit of prayers. I pray set one day apart privately for me with your godly friends. There is no other hope left. Physicians, nature, flesh, blood, spirit, heart, friends, all fail! But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Yet I know the God whom I serve is able to deliver, and hath delivered. But if he will not deliver, though he kill me yet will I trust in him, and I know whom I have trusted. I confess I was never yet near so low but I trust in Him who raiseth the dead. I know my Redeemer liveth, and that he hath not died in vain; for neither have I run or laboured in vain. Though mine iniquities sometime lie heavy on me, yet I have fought a good fight, &c. If I see your faces no more in the flesh, farewell till eternity; and the spirit and grace of Christ Jesus our Lord preserve your souls to himself for ever! Your languishing, decaying, yet believing, hoping friend, RICHARD BAXTER. This interesting relic is without date of time or place. It was probably written in 1657, when Mr. Baxter was seized with a bleeding at the nose, in so violent a manner, that he lost the quantity of a gallon at once, which obliged him to retire from the Parliament army, in which he had been chaplain, to Sir Thomas Rouse's, where he continued for a long time in a very languishing state of health. He afterwards returned to Kidderminster, and resumed the work of his ministry. |