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RHYMING DICK.

On the 1st of August, 1802, died Richard Nancollas, of St. Austell, in Cornwall, commonly known by the name of Rhyming Dick, when out on his rambles; which were frequently repeated, during a long course of years, thro' the western counties of England. His most general practice was to excite sinful merriment among the drunkards, &c. by extempore versification. In this wretched employment he possessed a marvellously fruitful genius; and, if his abilities had been properly employed, he would have made a considerable figure as a poetical character. He was, however, frequently brought home, to the parish of St. Austell, in rags, infected with disease, and covered with vermin. But, concerning this man, we have an opportunity of extolling the marvellous efficacy of Sovereign grace in his conversion. For the space of three or four years previous to the time of his death, he became an example of virtuous conversation and self-denial. His whole delight was to hear gospelsermons, and join with the religious in prayer, &c.; and he was never better pleased than when any of God's people would converse with him about the unsearchable riches of Christ, and the perpetuity of his love. His faith was strong in the Redeemer; and, by divine grace, he lived to the praise and glory of God. He manifested a bitter hatred against all sin; and especially against those sins which did so easily beset him before his conversion. In his departing moments he was exercised in breathing out

prayer to God; but it is not to be understood, or indeed expected, that he was without imperfections in his natural temper. Upon the whole, from this man's example, who is now gone into the joy of his Lord, we have an evidence of these glorious truths, mentioned in the sacred oracles, namely, "That the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin; and that whosoever will, may come and take of the waters of life treely." It is only final impenitency and unbelief that will damn any of the human race. But it must always be remembered, to prevent mistakes in religion,-that where there is true repentance and faith, it will be accompanied with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God. W. P. St. Austell.

HENRY HITCHCOCK,

(A STROLLING PLAYER) THE subject of this obituary, was a native of Lisbon. His parents gave him a liberal education; but, through giving his mind up to the pomps and vanities of this transitory life, the same, until a few months before his death, appeared to profit him but little. Early in life he commenced a strollingplayer; and continued in that dan gerous and contemptible profession, until God, who is rich in mercy, visited him with the fatal com plaint which terminated in his death. This was a cancer in his right side; with which he was afAlicted for upwards of two years; and which baffled the skill of the medical gentlemen who, with unremitting diligence, attended him in the various stages of his disorder. About four months before his death the compiler of this account was, by a neighbour of the de ceased, requested to visit hin when a patient in the London Hospital, where he was found very danger ously ill, and a total stranger to those things that make for a poor sinner's eternal welfare; but being of a teachable disposition, these friends, by his earnest desire, continued to visit him, and had the

unspeakable pleasure of seeing him athirst for the knowledge of God until a few hours before his death. After he came out of the hospital to his own house, he was recommended to the Willow Walk Society, Shoreditch, instituted for visiting the sick at their own habitations; and, during the same time, was also visited by the Lazarus Society. Their joint labours of love concurred, under the divine blessing, to prove to him his state, and caused him to cry mightily to God to have mercy upon him a miserable sinner! His ideas, as to the spiritual meaning of God's holy word, were, at this period, very dark; but he was very importunate in his enquiries, and earnestly desired an interest in the petitions of God's people. He repeatedly desired to know how God could be just, and yet the justifier of those who were born in sin and shapen in iniquity. Upon being informed from the Scriptures, he was enabled to ask of God to impart that measure of faith that should enable him to behold his interest in the blood of Christ; and would frequently request his wife to read those parts of Scripture, especially the New Testament, where the promises were recorded. He frequently expressed a fear of being delivered from his affliction, lest he should be permitted to resume his former evil practices. In the last stages of his disorder, he would

frequently observe, That it would not profit him to hear of Christ having made a satisfaction for sin, unless he had an interest in his love, and was enabled to bear his afflic tion with much patience and resig nation to the sovereign will of God.

On the Friday evening before his death (which was on the Lord's Day) he put one of his arms out of bed, and said to a person that stood by, "See, this arm is mouldering away; but dust it is, and unto dust it will soon return." A few hours before his death, the compiler of this obituary, and a Christian woman, called to visit him, and found him with longing desires to be gone, that he might land on the shore of everlasting bliss. He expressed a fear, however, lest where death should cut the slender thread of life, his bodily pain should be so great as to deprive him of those sweet foretastes of God's love he then enjoyed. About nine o'clock in the evening he breathed his last; -sensibly departing without a sigh or a groan; and, we trust, is now among the redeemed. This was on Nov. 14, 1802, being only twen ty-five years old.

It is hoped this Obituary will en• courage many that have the love of God in their hearts, to visit sick and dying persons; and that others, in affluent circumstances, may be encouraged to assist Societies formed for this laudable purpose.

E. H.

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The last volume, some of our readers may recollect, left good Henry Littleworth on a visit of mercy to the unhappy Mr. Chipman. In the interval of his ab. sence, the present volume begins, with relating the character and history of Mr. Merryman, who is now supposed on a visit at Mr. Worthy's house; and this naturally in troduces the conversion and experience of Mr. Lovegood. This Dialogue (which is numbered the 18th) is properly entitled, "The Character and Experience of the Christian Minister exemplified.". The next Dialogue continues the subject, and gives the character of three sorts of ministers, under the names of Mr. Slapdash, Mr. Slopdash, and Mr. Taplash. This concludes with a farther account of Mr. Lovegood and Mr. Merryman. Dialogue XX. is entitled, "The Contrast" (being a contrast to the unfortunate History of Mr. Chipinan) or Conjugal Happiness, founded on Chastity, Fidelity, and Affection, in the History of Mr. Lovely, and his Marriage with Miss Commerce, now Mrs. Lovely, whose conversion forms the subject of the following Dialogue. In Dialogue XXII, Mr. Lovely defends, with great zeal, the doctrine of justification by works, at least in part; but is at length constrained to give it up. Dialogue XXIII, re. sumes the Story of Mrs. Chipman, with an Account of the Return of Henry Littleworth, and the Conversion and Death of Mr. Chipman; on hearing of which, poor Mrs. Chipman goes out of her mind, and remains so to the end of this volume. Dialogue XXIV is between the Lovelys, the Worthys, and Mr. Considerate, on the Doctrine of Justification, with Dr. Orderly's Sentiments upon that point. Dialogue XXV, between Mr. Worthy and Mr. Free, gives the miserable Character of old Alderman Greedy, of Grediton. The last Dialogue relates the Departure of the Lovelys for Brookfeld Hall; which concludes the volume, and leads us to expect that another will complete the whole.

Upon a careful perusal of this

volume, we hesitate not to say. the spirit of the Dialogues is well supported, the new characters in troduced are sketched with the hand of a muster,—and the reader's attention is kept alive throughout, by the judicious introduction of new and affecting incidents. Од the subject of Justification, we have a good deal of sound divinity, well supported by arguments, and seasonably relieved by touches of hu mour or of pathos peculiar to Mr. Hill's writings.

Apples of Gold for Young Men and Young Women, and a Crown of Glory for. Old Men and Old Women, on the Happiness of being good Betimes, and the Honour of teing an Old Disciple, clearly and fully discovered, and closely and faithfully applied. By the Rev. T. Brooks, Author of the Mute Christian, &c. A new Edition, 18mo. 25.

THIS little volume contains nine

chapters; the contents of which are as follow: - Chap. I. That it is a very desirable and commend able thing, for Young Men to be. good Betimes; II. The Honour of an Old Disciple; - III. The several Evils that most properly at, tend Youth; - IV. Exhortation to Young Persons, with Motives to excite them to Early Piety;V. Whether, in the great Day of Account, the Sins of Saints shall be

brought into the Judgment of Discussion and Discovery, or no? The Negative proved by divers Arguments; VI and VII. Di rections to such as would be good Betimes; VIII. Objections ans wered; IX. The Old Man's Doubts resolved.

This is an instructive and entertaining volume, abounding with many just and striking remarks, calculated to impress the heart and lead the mind to the contemplation of divine things. The author, in his usual style, quotes much from history, and intersperses through the whole a variety of pleasing and appropriate anecdotes. This renders it a suitable work to be put into the hands of young persons, who generally love entertainmer

blended with instruction. We give
the following as a specimen:
« Beza, in his last will and testa
ment, gave God thanks for this;
that, at the age of sixteen years,
he was called to the knowlege of
the truth,, and so many sins and
sorrows were prevented, that other-
wise would have overtaken him,
and have made his life less happy
and more iniserable. Young saints
often prove old angels; but old sin
ners seldom prove good saints.
The ancients pictured Youth like a
young man naked, with a veil over
his face, his right hand bound be-
hind him, his left hand loose; and
Time behind him, pulling one
thread out of his veil every day;
intimating, that young men are void
of knowledge and blind, unfit to
do good, ready to do evil, — till
Time, by little and little, makes
them wiser. It was a wise and
christian speech of Charles V. to
the Duke of Venice, who, when he
had shewn him the glory of his
princely palace and earthly para-
dise, instead of admiring it, or him
for it, only returned him this grave
and serious memento, "These are
the things which make us unwilling
to die!" It was a good saying of
one to a great Lord, upon his shew-

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THE Author of the first Catechism, takes the most simple and important questions in religion, and gives the answers in verse; many of which are avowedly borrowed from Doddridge's Principles of Religion, and some from Dr. Watts. Of the original lines it is but justice to say, they harmonize well with the selections.

The answers given by Mr. Whitehouse, are a paraphrase of some of the most important parts of the Formulary composed by the Assembly of Divines. Both these authors claim the merit of smoothing, and so shortening the road to religious knowledge.

SELECT LIST OF NEW
Village Dialogues, by Rowland
Hill, A.M. Vol. III, 1s.6d. sewed,
as. bound.

Theological Dictionary, by Rev.
C. Buck. Two vols. 8vo, 19s.bds.

An Ecclesiastical History, Ancient and Modern, from the Birth of Christ to the Beginning of the Eighteenth Century. By the late Learned J. L. Mosheim, D.D. &c. Translated from the Latin, and aecompanied with Notes, Chronological Tables, and an accurate Index, by Arch. Maclaine, D. D. Six Volumes, 8vo, 11. 10s. boards.

Dissertations on the Prophecies. By Thomas Newton, D. D. Lord Bishop of Bristol. A new Edit. Two Vols. 8vo, 12s. boards.

Miscellaneous Papers, by the late Geo. Griffiths, of Bristol; also a short Account of his last Days, and his Funeral-Sermon. By S. Lowell, 12mo, 2s. 6d.

PUBLICATIONS.

The Divine Inspiration of the Jewish Scriptures, asserted by St. Paul; and Dr. Geddes's Objections Examined. By R. Findlay, D.D. 35.

The Reasonableness of an Ecclesiastical Establishment, preached at Lambeth Chapel, by W. Foster, D. D. F.A.S. Is. 6d.

Remarkable Passages in the Life of W. Howard. By J. Milner, A.M. Third Edition, 8vo.

Dr. Doddridge's Sermons on the Power and Grace of Christ. A new Edition, 18mo, 1s. 3d. boards, or is. 6d. bound.

The Use of Sacred History, espe cially as illustrating and confirming the Doctrines of Revelation. By John Jamieson, D.D. F.A.S.S. Two Vols. 80. 145.

The Sum and Substance of the Prophecies relating to the Last Times, or Gleaning from the cele❤ brated Mr. Mede, &c. 12mo, 3d,

New Publications, continued.

First Ripe Fruits; including Two Sermons, with Essays, Memoir, and Portrait. By J. M. Mason, of New York. 4s. 6d. bds.

LITERARY

We are concerned to hear, that the General History of Missions, by Mr. Greatheed and Mr. Burder, is obliged to be postponed, if not given up, on account of the names of subscribers coming in so slowly.

But the Missionary Society have determined on immediately publishing the Journals of the Missionaries at Otaheite, Tongataboo, and South Africa; which will nake two vols. in 8vo, and form an introduction to their future Accounts, which are intended to be published periodically, beside the outline of their proceedings in our Magazine. See the Missionary Intelligence, and Advertisements on our Cover.

We are glad to hear that Mr. Burder is engaged in preparing for

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the press a Fifth Volume of that useful work, The Village Sermons.

Two handsome editions, 8vo and 12mo, of Bunyan's Holy War, divided into chapters, with notes, explanatory and practical, by Mr. Burder, are now printing, and may be expected in May next.

But we understand, Mr. Burder has resigned to Dr. Williams and Mr. Parsons, the publication of a new and complete edition of all the Works of DR. OWEN; as he found it formed a part of their extensive plan, previously concerted, of printing an uniform standard edition of our best British Divines; in consequence of which, Dr. Watts's Works, and the first volume of Dr. Doddridge's have already appeared, N. B. Two First Volumes.

QUERIES.

1.-E. E. professes himself inuch puzzled with that article in the Apostle's Creed, that Christ "descended into Hell;" and as to the true meaning of these Scriptures, Ps. xvi. 10. and Acts ii. 27.

II. A Young Pilgrim earnestly inquires, What line of conduct a child ought to pursue, who beholds his parents indulging in sensual gratifications, and devoting themselves to the world; and either des- . pising or disregarding all religious exercises?

AWFUL EVENT.

Extract of a Leller from a Minister in a small Sea-port Town in Scotland.
One, for many

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"I HAVE just now heard of a dreadful scene: years master of a coasting-vessel, an inhabitant of this place, had, in his younger days, made a distinguished profession of religion, and, among the Small but respectable body to which he belonged, he was deemned an eminent Christian. Many years ago, this man became a Deist; nay, an avowed Atheist and inade the Being of Deity and a future state the subjects of his ridicule and profane mockery. For horrid swearing and lewedness he had perhaps few equals in Scotland. Last night, in a public-house, when in a rage of swearing, he dropped into eternity in a moment, by the rupture of a blood-vessel.-How awful, to be hurried before the tribunal of God in the very act of blasphemy !"

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