who would wish any further information how he conducted himself herein, will receive a better account from the trustees and inhabitants of those houses, than it is in the power of the writer of this, by any words he can use to convey. But as brevity is studied, I shall only further notice the state of his mind in the short illness he experienced previous to his dissolution. -During this period he observed, he had not a wish to live or to die, but as it pleased God.' He once said, I shall behold his face in righteousness; and ، are they not all (the angels) ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation ? - The night before he died, a friend said to him, My dear friend, that prayer of our Lord to his Father is applicable to you, “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent, me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me; Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me; for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." Then looking at his friend, with a smile, he replied, I cannot go beyond that! There is all in it that I could wish.' Then he attempted to speak of the perfection of God's wisdom in his conduct towards him; but his voice. became so low that he could not be fully understood. Another friend, who was at his bed-side in his last moments, asked him if he was comfortable in his mind. He replied, Yes, very comfortable, and observed, that he had served God for more than 30 years in his poor imperfect way; adding, but I strove to keep close to Christ; and now I am going to be with him! The Lord's hidden mysteries have not troubled myself about, but kept close to Christ; thiat was enough for me ! This he said with a smile, and almost im mediately expired. MRS. FISHER Was born at Bolton, near Lancaster, Dec. 23, 1726. Her father, Mr. Robert Hesketh, was a Dissenting Minister. From Bolton, near Lancaster, Mr. Hesketh removed to Bolton - le - Moors; thence to Eastwood, and thence to Northouram, in Yorkshire, where he ended his labours, and finished his mortal course. The following is a copy of the inscription of a stone erected to his memory in Northouram chapel, which may give the reader some idea of him. In memory of the Rev. Robert Hesketh, late of the University of Glasgow, who was an eminent Minister of the Gospel 52 years, and Pastor of this Church 29; whose learning and moral chiaracter entitled him to the esteem of all his acquaintance. He departed this life on Jan. 19th, 1774, aged 77.- - Likewise to Ellen, his beloved wife, of sacred memory, aud of a character worthy the husband she enjoyed. She died December 27, 1759, aged 52. Mrs. Fisher left her father in the 24th year of her age, and went to live with her aunt at Bispham, a small town in the north-west of Lancaster. When she had been about three years at Bispham, she married Mr. Robert Fisher, of Marton, by whom she had six children. He died many years ago; and two of his children have since his death been called to the world of spirits. They gave good evidence that they were truly converted to God, and died in the comfortable hope that they should be received to the joy of their Lord. Though Mrs. Fisher enjoyed the advantages of a religious educ: tion, she remained a stranger to the method of salvation till after she was married. ، When I lived with my aunt (she used to say) I thought well of myself, and imagined that my own righteousness would recommend me to the fa vour of God; but this, she said, she found to be a deception: yet it is a deception common to all in a natural state.' The writer of this paper is unable derstand the word of truth, - I am your well-wisher, March 13, 1762. the to state exactly the time of her conversion to God. Upwards of fifty years ago some preachers, in connection with Mr. Ingham, came to preach in the neighbourhood of Marton, where Mrs. Fisher lived, from the time of her marriage till her death. They were zealous for the cause of Christ, and more liberal in their sentiments than since. Foring at Marten, some Independent. some time they had to preach out of doors. Mrs. Fisher's husband bearing that no one would take them in, proposed to her, that they should have the use of their barn; to which she was very agreeable. They therefore got the place licenced; the date of which is Oct. 8, in the second year of the reign of George the Third. I shall here insert a letter from Mr. Ingham*, directed to her husband, which appears to be an answer to one that he had received from him. It is most likely it was written soon after Mrs. F.'s conversion. 'Dear Friends, tho' unknown, I have received your kind and loving letter, wherein you express your thanks to God, and also to unworthy me, for the benefit you have received by the preaching and conversation of my brethren and fellow - labourers, who have been amongst you. All thanks are due to God alone; because all the good that is done upon earth the Lord doth it himself.-Whoever planteth, or whoever watereth in the gospel ministry, yet God alone giveth the increase-To him alone is due all glory, blessing, and praise; yet it is well to esteem Christ's servants for their Master's sake and I am glad to hear of your respect and esteem to my brethren on that account. To love any one for the truth's sake, or because he belongs to Christ, is a mark of some grace; and to receive such on that account is a good work. See third epist. John, ver. 6. I wish that you may know and un : ham's connection resigned preachAfter the preachers in Mr. Ing ministers supplied it. Mrs. Fisher expressed much satisfaction in the change. About six years ago she and two of her sons joined the church at Elswick. Old age, together with the distance, prevented her from attending; but she was favoured with an opportunity of hearing the gospel, once twice every week, in her own house till her death. or Mrs. Fisher was more eminently distinguished as a Christian in her life than in her death; yet she was not without hope, nor did she die without leaving a pleasing testi. mony behind her. Like most Christians she enjoyed more of the comforts of religion in the beginning of her profession than what she did towards the latter end of it. she compared her present enjoyment with what she once had, she used to say, 'Oh! that it were with me as in days that are past!' When During her last illness, which continued 13 days, she could speak but little. When sensible, she was desirous to have the Scriptures read, and prayer made with her; which exercises were cheerfully attended to by the family. When hardly able to articulate, she whispered that Christ was precious! that none but he could save!-and that he was able and willing! She became weaker and weaker till Sabbath morning, when she fell asleep in Christ, about eight o'clock, on the 19th of April, 1812, in the 86th year of her age. Her death was improved to a large congregation from these words, An old disciple." Kirkham. - J. M. * We should be glad to receive any authentic memorials of this excellent man, and of his first associates, whose labours were, for a time, most remarkably useful in Yorkshire and Lancashire. EDITOR. ** In the Obituary of our last Magazine, page 395, for Mrs. Smith, of Billericay, read of Bromley. REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. The Legislative Authority of Revealed Grace: an Essay on the Gospel Dispensation, considered in Connection with God's Morul Government of Men. 2d ed. cr. 8vo, 78. THE appearance of a second edition of this valuable work, `affords us an opportunity, which we are happy to embrace, of again recommending it to the serious at tention of our readers. The subjects on which it treats are of the very highest importance, and are peculiarly interesting to the mind, when viewed in their proper order and mutual dependence. Of this nature is the view which Mr. Bennet gives of the Gospel Dispensation. He shews, with clearness of statement and strength of reasoning, its admirable adaptation to the circumstances of men as fallen, yet as rational and accountable creatures. He presents a very judicious and satisfactory solution of the difficulties which may seem to attach to the exercise of the Christian ministry; and he points out the manner in which it may be rationally, consistently, and scripturally conducted. The approbation we expressed of the original Essay, is due, in a still higher degree, to the edition before us. It abundantly justifies the intimation in the title-page, that it is carefully revised and enlarged.' The arrangement of the chapters is materially improved, so as to present a more evident appearance of unity of design and continuity of thought. An Appendix is also added; containing Strictures on the Moral Necessity of the Atonement, and on the Nature of Regeneration. The remarks on the latter of these subjects are particularly deserving of consideration, and are intended to shew the instrumentality of the truth, in connection with the agency of the Holy Spirit, in regeneration. The whole of the Essay is evidently the result of serious reflection and profound investigation, under the conduct of a judgment matured by vigorous exercise, and submissive to scriptural authority. We cannot refrain from expressing our gratification, in which, we doubt not, our readers will participate, in receiving so valuable a production from the pen of a minister, who has long been prevented, by the state of his health, from advocating the cause of truth in the pulpit. May his life be spared for a continuation of his useful labours, and for the fulfilment of those intimations which his Preface conveys! An Explanation of the Causes why Vaccination has sometimes failed to prevent the Small Pox; and also a Description of a Method, confirmed by Expérience, of obviating such Cases. By Edward Leese, of the Royal College of Surgeons, &c. London, 1812. 2s. 6d. THIS pamphlet is written by a gentleman who has had large opportunities for practice and observation, being inoculator at the Mary-le-bone station of the National Vaccine Establishment. He has given a considérable degree of attention to the means of rendering the vaccine practice perfectly successful; and recommends the following method: Virus having been inserted into one arm, and having taken effect, a small vesicle will be seen on the fifth or sixth day, from which lymph is then to be taken and inserted into the other arm. If the first vesicle should happen to be only local in its effect, the second will proceed slowly, and be surrounded with an areola about the ninth day; but if the first act on the constitution, the second will be so accelerated in progress as to overtake the former; and will be surrounded by an areola in three or four days; that is to say,-both will have this distinguishing mark on the ninth day, counting from the first inoculation; but the secondary vesicle and areola will be only a third, or half the size of the pri mary. A test so simple in itself, and yet, as a means of diagnosis so important, cannot be otherwise than particularly deserving of the notice of the vaccine practitioner.' The author confidently asserts the truth of these conclusions: 1. That many persons have had the small-pox more than once. 2. That many die of the small pox by inoculation, and many more by the infection which it produces and disseminates. 3. That vaccination never destroys the person who experiences it; and that it is incapable of infecting others by way of contagion. 4. That small-pox, either casual or inoculated, when not fatal, frequently produces extreme danger, and always suffering to the patient. 5. That vaccination docs not produce either danger or suffering. 6. That smallpox leaves behind it deformity, blindness, and other disfigurement, as well as disease. 7. That vaccination never produces disease, deformity, loss of sight, or disfigurement. 8. That the deaths by the inoculated are three if not four times as numerous as the failures in the preventive efficacy of vaccination; 9. And that a person, having undergone the suffering and danger of small pox inoculation, is not more secure from future attacks of that disease, than if he had passed through the safe and mild process of vaccination. The Distressed and Destitute 'State of the Inhabitants of Spain and Portugal, respecting Moral and Religious Instruction, from the most recent Investigation. By an Old Officer, lately returned from the Army in Spain: submitted, particularly, to the British and Foreign Bible Society. 8vo, 18. WHEN a benevolent Christian beholds, with an aching heart, the desolations that war is making in the earth, his chief consolation is derived from a humble hope, that the great Ruler of the world will cause the wrath of man to praise him; and that the revolutions of nations will prepare the way for the introduction of the gospel of peace. Every fact, therefore, which strengthens such a hope, will be truly welcome. This pamphlet, written by an officer lately returned from Spain and Portugal, will afford the reader no small encouragement in this matter. In the course of his movements he became acquainted with Antonio Joaquin Cordoza, a priest, who often told him, with great concern, that unless he became a Roman Catholic he could not be saved; but after Antonio had read some religi ous tracts in the Portugueze language, which the author put into his hands, he changed his tone, and became a zealous friend of the author; and he procured from him a valuable edition of the Portugueze Bible, in 23 volumes, since presented to the British and Foreign Bible Society. In another place he met with a priest of the name of Marcelina, a man of profound learning, who also told him, that he could not be saved unless he changed his religion. By our author's advice, he read the Bible and some Tracts from England; from which he obtained much light, After reading a tract, in which a number of questions are proposed to a catholic, he exclaimed, 0, God bless you, my dear captain!' and threw his arms about me, and embraced me with tears of joy: observing, that he always had a presentiment that the English nation would be the first to open the eyes of his ignorant countrymen, and lead them into the way of truth. He then commenced the translation of that tract, which had been so useful to himself, into the Spanish language, and became a zealous opposer of some of the mummeries of Popery. On Christmas-day, our officer invited the family where he was quartered, to dine with him; and, in the evening, the relatives of the family paid a visit to the house, and found him reading the account of our Lord's Nativity, from the 2d chapter of St. Mark. The poor ignorant people were so surprized, on being told it was the Scripture he was reading, that they would not believe it, till assured by the priest that it was so. They then exclaimed, 'What! are the English Chris tians? We have been told they are Heretics. O! how shamefully have we been deceived! - The author says, ، I found, from all the inhabitants of Spain and Portugal, on whom I was quartered, that they would gladly receive the Bible, or any other good books we might chuse to put into their hands; and I am certain that the generality of the people are disgusted with the fanaticism of the priests; for whenever I discoursed on the subject of the Bible, and described the blessings the English enjoyed by their unrestrained perusal of it in their mother tongue, some of them declared that they would spare no expence or trouble in endeavouring to obtain it. As I foresaw the advantages which must necessarily result from these coaversations, I made it a rule, the moment I entered a house, to commence the topic, which in no'instance ever gave offence.' In one instance, an opulent person 'de clared he would go the next day to Coimbra, a considerable distance, to purchase a Bible *. The priests, he observes, have in many places lost their influence; and the morals of the people, especially of the females, have been so bad, in consequence of their intercourse with the French, that many of the parents are driven almost to distraction, and would gladly receive the Bible into their families, or, indeed, any other good books, to save their children from infamy. And I am certain,' the author adds, that the Bible might be distributed throughout Spain and Portugal without the least danger from the governments, as the Inquisition is not known in Portugal; and in Spain is so fallen into contempt, that it has now only the name.'In a word, the author is satisfied that the present is the proper time to pour Bibles into Spain and Por tugal, and that all the Protestant soldiers will gladly act as agents in this important work. Were the English soldiers provided with our own Bibles (as they certainly ought .. to be the knowledge of the Portuguese and Spanish languages, which, by the length of the canpaign they have acquired, would enable them to undeceive many of the inhabitants; and beneficial effects might be produced beyond Our most sanguine expectations. We rejoice to learn, that several pious soldiers of the Guards, who very recently embarked for Spain, applied for Foreign Tracts, and were largely supplied with them;. and as there is no charge for postage in Spain and Portugal for officers or soldiers, many more may readily be sent; and we hope the pious friends of our brave countryimen in the army, will not fail to embrace the opportunity. The short account we have given of this pamphlet will, we hope, recommend the whole to the perusal of our readers. Biblia Hebraica: by the Rev. Mr. Frey. Paris IV, V, and VI, each 53. 3d..; royal, 78. 6d. WE noticed, with approbation, the three preceding numbers of this well-executed work, in our Magazine for February last; and have only to add, that we believe the same assiduous attention has been paid to the succeeding parts, so as to render it a fac simile of Vander Hooght's favourite edition of the Hebrew Bible; of which the first volume is now completed; and the second will be in six numbers more. We are informed by the title on the cover of Part 5, that the work will be accompanied by a Lexicon, containing all the Roots in the Hebrew language (upwards of 2000) with a Latin and English translation; *The author found the Spanish Bible so scarce, that he could hardly obtain a copy at any price. There was but one edition in print, and that so scarce, as not at all to be obtained by the lower order of people. He would willingly have paid 151. for one ; — and as for a Portugueze Bible, he gave Al. 10s. for a secondhand copy. He found many of the Priests without a Latin Bible, consequently very ignorant. |