when she strongly felt the value of divine things. But these impres sions were, alas! like as the morning cloud, and the early dew, which passeth away. A weak and tender constitution, and frequent returns of ill health, co-operated with her spiritual privileges, to call her attention from this fleeting life to the one thing needful' yet no habitual effect appeared to be produced and although such convictions occasionally returned, yet she had, upon the whole, a remarkable distaste to spiritual concerns; and there were seasons when conscience upbraided her with the neglect of what she could not but know to be infinitely momentous. At length, however, the time of mercy arrived. In the afternoon of the Lord's Day, the 7th of October, 1810, she was unusually desirous of attending public worship in New Court; and it has since appeared, that she retired to her chamber, and, under a deep impression of the value of her soul and its eternal concerns, prayed, that what she might hear might be attended with saving benefit. It was so ordered in Providence, that the preacher was at that time enforcing the obligations arising from the engagements of a Christian profession, from those words of Jephtha, Judges xi. 35, I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back.' The plain representations of that discourse were the means of producing an effect which was not obliterated so long as she lived. . It was but a few weeks after this that she was visited with the disorder which terminated in her dis solution. The first attack was so violent, that she was not expected to survive many hours; but her intelleets were unclouded, and the induite value of the gospel was the predominant sentiment in her mind. She knew and felt herself to be a sinner; she saw the necessity of a Saviour's righteousness and atoneinent, and built on them all her dependence. She was equally sen Bible of the value of holiness, and of the necessity of the renewing grace of the iloly spirit. Suppos ing herself, and judged by all about her to be dying, she rejoiced in the hope of the glory of God.' All this was truly delightful; yet I confess that had she been then removed, I should not have possessed all that assured satisfaction relative to her state, which circumstances of a more recent date have tended to produce. It pleased God that, contrary to all expectation, she very much recovered. Even her medical attendants confessed themselves astonished. Both herself and her friends thought that the disorder was greatly removed, and that she was returning to health. These favourable appearances she received at first with considerable regret, as they appeared to disappoint her most exalted expectations. These feelings however subsided, and she anticipated returning health with an earnest hope that, if she should be spared, she might be eminently devoted to the service of the Redeemer, and attain a growing meetness for heaven, in this state she looked forward with pleasure to a public profession of religion, though with a humble fear, lest she should deceive herself and others. Now, although she was greatly mistaken as to her own real situation, so far as it respected the present world,—yet that very mistake served to evince the sincerity with which she was desirous of being devoted to God and the Redeemer: and when her hopes of recovery were indeed far brighter than even appearances warranted, still she invariably said, that if it was the Lord's will that she should go, she was ready, she was willing. One Sabbath, after her father had been reading to her a sermon on some of the rich glories of the gospel, she said, This is not new to ine; but I remember the time when I did not enjoy it as I now do.' She was frequently asked, If the fear of death gave her any uneasiness. Her reply was, No; it has lost its sting: I could welcome it at this moment. She once said, If any one were p come and tell me I had not three minutes to live, it would be extacy.' She fre quently spoke of the great advantage of having been taught the Scriptures from her youth; their language,' she said, was become familiar to her mind, and a continual feast to her.' She knew the promises, and could think on them when she could not read them. In a lingering illness, it is pleasing to observe that religious feelings are not merely of a personal nature; but there is also a concern for the salvation of others. It was so with her. One evening, when she thought herself drawing very near to an eternal world, she said to her brother, I think it probable that we shall never meet again on this side of eternity; but I hope we shall meet in heaven. Would you not like to be religious? Remember, religion heightens every pleasure, softens every pain. What should I now do, if I had not a God to go to? I would not but have an interest in Jesus for ten thousand worlds, were they at this noment within my grasp. The comfort I now enjoy in the prospect of death is unspeakable. Will you kneel down this night, and say, * God be merciful to me a sinner? He that hath pardoned and received me, is equally willing to pardon and receive you.The same even ing, when in much pain, she said, Lord, cut short thy work ! Her friend, who was sitting by young her, and who had been requested to take upon her the painful task of disclosing to her the opinion of her medical attendants. said, 'then. Maria, you are not afraid to die; you are willing to die.' She replied, "Oh, yes; I am willing to depart and be with Jesus; I love my Jesus above all! The motives which, in the first of my illness, made me wish for life were, to magnify the goodness of God.'Her friend then said to her, You will not feel alarmed at knowing the opinion of the doctors respecting you? she replied, Ch, no; pray tell me!' She was then informed, that they gave no hopes of her recovery. She then said, Thanks and praises be to his holy name, all that I have now to do the little time I linger here, is to devote my self entirely to him. I am willing, most willing to depart; and, in submission to the will of God, hope it will not be long first; but, my dear, why did you not tell me this before? you ought to have done it.' Her friend replied, That the general disposition of her mind either for life or death seemed so resigned, that she did not consider it of much importance. `She said, If I had been apprized of it before, I should not have thought so much of getting better; and I think my mind would have been occupied with things of more importance: however, I trust the great work is done, that Jesus is mine, and I am his; and that at last he will receive me to himself. 6 She lived some weeks after this; and constantly evinced by her conversation and deportment that a work of grace was carrying on with great power. For the most part, she enjoyed so much of the presence of God, that she used to say her weak frame could scarcely support it. At other times she was greatly harrassed by the enemy, when she would say, I refer him to the cross, and by that means gain the victory.' The day before. her death, coming out of a strong convulsion fit, she said, Hold out, faith and patience: a few struggles, and I shall be at home.' When one who was attending her repeated that verse of Dr. Watts, See the kind angels at the gate, &c. she with rapture replied, them, with Jesus at their head! A few hours before she departed, sung, with great sweetness, My Jesus shall be still my theme, she more • I see While in this world I stay, &c. She attempted to finish the verse; but her voice failed, when she said, I cannot sing, but shall in glory.' Not long before her departure she requested the window curtain might be drawn up: when her friend remarking it was a star-light night, she said, I shall soon be beyond those bright luminaries, and wear a starry crown in glory.' Shortly after, finding the convulsions returning, she said, Come Lord Jesus;' and soon after expired. REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. The Psalms Evangelized, in a continued Explanation; wherein are seen the Unity of Divine Truth, the Harmony of the Old and New: Testaments, and the Peculiar Doctrines of Christianity, in Agreement with the Experience of Believers in all Ages. By Richard Baker, D. D. Rector of Cawston, in Norfolk. 8vo, price 12s. THE book of Psalms has always been a favourite portion of Scripture in the esteem of pious persons, and holds, most deservedly, a conspicuous place in the daily service of the Established Church. There is no part of Scripture which is of more general use for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. It is peculiarly adapted to the purposes of devotion, and furnishes the believer with the most admirable expressions of prayer and praise. In the sacred words of the psalmist, millions of believers, in successive ages, have offered up to the Most High, the acceptable sacrifices of their hearts. Indeed, the Man Christ Jesus, honoured the Psalms with his constant attention, and used them as the vehicles of his holy aspirations, even when hanging on the accursed tree. The Psalms are justly esteemed by serious Christians as a compendium of Christian experience; they find the feelings of their hearts, their joys and sorrows, hopes and fears, inost admirably expressed, so that they are surprised to perceive, that as face answereth to face in a glass, so doth the heart of man to man. If there has been any deficiency in the esteem of good people for the Psalms, it has been occasioned by their not sufficiently considering their evangelical meaning. Our Lord, when walking with the disciples to Eminaus, expounded to them in all the Scriptures (in the Law, in the Prophets, and in the PSALMS) the things concerning himself-particularly, his sufferin and his glory. Luke xxiv. 26-44. 、 We also find the book of Psalms referred to by the New Testamentwriters, about fifty times; nor are the Psalms which prophetically rewe to suppose that they quoted all the Psalms they have quoted, which lated to him, nor all the passages in nished us with a key (as Dr. Allix refer to him; but they have furobserves) by which we may be enabled to apply to the same subjects the Psalms of the same composure: and expression With this view, Dr. Baker has composed this explanation of the Psalms in their evangelical sense. He has retained the present authorized version, as printed in our Bibles; but has subjoined in notes," at the bottom of the page, the dif ferent, and frequently the better rendering of many passages. The explanation follows each psalm, as a continued discourse. But his object was not to produce a critical, but a practical work, adapted to: the use of serious people, that they may read the Psal ns with understanding, as well as devotion. We shall express his design in his own words, which will also serve the purpose of a specimen of his style: The Psalms thus understood are a Treasury, from whence we may draw inexhaustible and ever durable riches;—a Mirror, where in is exhibited our natural defor mity; a delightful medicine, the true Balm of Gilead, for the healing of the nations ;--the sweetest conpanion in joy or in sorrow; and the truest friend in time and to eter nity consoling and rejoicing; bearing the soul through the trials and troubles of life; and elevating the thoughts to the highest prospect of everlasting glory. As such, are then these sheets humbly presented to the reader; and in a form which the author humbly hopes may, through the divine blessing, produce the desired effect; this ac tempt being, through an explanation, so to connect the suppossed train of thought in a continued series in cach psalm, and at the same time to justify it by similar 2 evangelical sentiments, as to put him in possession of the probable meaning of the writer; and to shew also, that from the beginning to the end of the canonical authors, the same account is given after the fall, Of man and his corruption, Of Christ and his salvation; and that this is confirmed by the experience of all people in every age and clime, be they either wicked or righteous.' The whole is written in a truly serious and experimental manner; and although every (critical) reader may not concur with the author, in his rather unusual application of some of the Psalms, yet we believe that the Explanation in general, as evangelical and experimental, will be found both pleasant and profitable to pious persons who peruse it for their edification. Village Sermons; or, Short and THE Village Sermons' are already too well known to most serious people of all denominations, to need any description from the writer of this article. They have found their way not only into the coltages of the poor, but into the mansions of the affluent. They have been introduced to rural congregations by pious laymen and by learned clerks; and they have been honoured with a very considerable measure of acceptance and success. The volume before us, making the sixth, contains thirteen Sermons on the divine perfections, to which the author was determined, from the conviction that no branch of religious knowledge can be of greater importance, on account of its inseparable connection with every part of practical religion. He was the raiher inclined to this decision, because he knew of no work whatever in which the attributes of God are treated plainly and briefly, in a manner adapted to the improvement of that class of people for whom he professedly writes.' The profound discourses of Charnock, in a ponderous folio, are not, in their present form at least, adapted to general reading. The eloquent discourses of Saurin (in the first volume of the translation) are too elevated, and often too metaphysical, for a rural audience. The discourses of Clarke and some others, are too cold and soporific for such hearers. They neither arouse the conscience nor interest the heart. Such a volume then, was therefore wanted. The Sermons are thus arranged: - The Importance of the Knowledge of God,The Power of God, The Wisdom of God, The Holiness of God, The Justice of God, The Omnipresence of God, The Patience of God, The Sovereignty of God,The Goodness of God,—The Mercy of God; The Love of God,- The Faithfulness of God,-God, with all his perfections, the Christian's God. - - -The author's connection with this Magazine forbids any encomium on : the merits of the volume. C. G. Memoir of the late Rev. Johannes MODERN times have produced few such men, few such Missionaries, as Dr. Vanderkemp. It is a rare thing indeed for a man of his endowments, and in his situation, to forsake his country, his friends, and his accommodations, to dwell among savages, and submit to their disgusting manners, that he might win their souls. The Memoir of such a man cannot fail to be interesting. His former manner of life, his dissipation, his infidelity, his conversion, his Missionary sufferings and labours are all extraordinary. They exhibit, in an uncommon degree, the power of divine grace, and the influence of evangelical principles. The Society, who had the honour of patronizing such a Missionary, have done well in gratifying the religious public with an early and authentic memorial, which presents, in one view, the substance of all that has appeared in the publications of the Society respecting him, together with the interesting account of his decease. It is not necessary for us to recommend this Memoir, which we doubt not will be read with avidity, by the accomplished, and partially in this friends of true religion, in all its de-country; but here, when the enemy nominations. The Christian Reader's Guide: a came in as a flood, the Spirit of the Lord has lifted up a standard against him. He then adds, nine cautionary canons, or rules, which our limits prevent us from even abridg which is prefixed an Essay on Reading. JOHNSON long ago observed, We are a nation of Readers;' and since that observation, the art of reading has become a more common acquisition, and consequently the power is more extended. Few readers, comparatively, have, however, had the advantage of a living tator possessed of a sufficient knowledge of books to direct their future choice. The advantage to persons who do not possess catensive biographical knowledge, of a characteristic catalogue of select books in different departments of useful knowledge, will always be gratefully acknowledged. The book before us offers itself as a friendly Guide to the Christian Reader. A student wishes to pursue a particular line of study, a parent desires to educate his child, one person wishes to form a private library, another a benevolent one, and a third desires to present a book, or a set of books, to a friend; in most of these cases, and in others which might be named, a Guide is desirable; and it is the object of this book to provide one. It may be expected, from its very title,that this Guide will guard those who follow its instructions, from those pestiferous sentiments too generally diffused in novels, plays, romances, &c. In an essay on the choice of books, prefixed to this Catalogue, be occupies the first section in directing his readers to reject bad. books. The folly of permitting licentions publications to lie in the way of our families, can only he compared to that of leaving sugared arsenic in the way of children.' It was a master-stroke of policy in the great enemy of mankind to poison all the sources of information, and all the repositaries of taste. lu France this was fully In the second section of this Prefatory Essay, our guide proceeds to give some pertinent advice as to the Use of Books, in nine or ten directions, after the manner, but by no means as a copyist of Dr. Watts's Improvement of the Mind. The work is to consist of three parts, which we hope the author will not exceed. The first now before us contains five chapters. 1, The History of the Bible and Cominon Prayer; with an account of the best editions. 8, Commentaries on the Bible and its separate Books. 3, Works on Biblical Criticism, with an Essay on that subject. 4, Complete Works of 29 Theological Writers, from Dr. Sibbes to Mr. Scott. 5, Accounts of 49 Authors on the Evidences of Religion, with an Essay on their comparative merits. Our readers will see that this work is confiued chiefly to English lite rature. To us, it appears the books are select; and, generally speaking, such as are neither of expensive purchase, nor of difficult acquisi tion; and though works of a higher character, and more expensive, are occasionally introduced, the reader is referred to others which may be substituted for them. In giving the characters of the books, the author has had recourse to the opinions of the most able writers and judicious critics. For this purpose, not only all the respectable Reviews have been consulted, but a great number of other works, many of them voluminous and costly; and to render the whole more interesting, a variety of anec dotes, biographical hints, and mis cellaneous remarks are interspersed. The extracts are fairly selected, the authorities named, and his own opinion, when given, generally delivered in the words of others. As a specimen of the author's manner, we give the following extract: |