vert were conspicuous. She fell asleep in Jesus, March 5th, 1811, having been married only six months.

Mr. Editor, I visited Mrs. R. Jerment occasionally during her illness, and saw the dawn of the day of grace; I spoke over her grave; and have no doubt that she died in the Lord.

Her young and bereaved husband felt greatly; but was wonderfully supported under this heavy trial. It was much alleviated by the hope of the felicity of a tenderly-beloved spouse: nor was the trial single. A few weeks before the afflictive bereavement, Mr. J. through the failure of several respectable houses, was obliged to suspend his payments; while all to whom he was indebted, were convinced of his integrity, and acknowledged it. But for the comforts of religion and the help of grace, he must have sunk under the weight of accumulated sorrows.

The workings of his pious and feeling mind, when he was thus tried, are expressed in a Diary, of which his own father knew nothing till after the removal of this dutiful and most affectionate son.

The following extracts relate to his failure in business, and to a painful visit to his wife's grave;

June 5, 1811. I often propose the question in my own thoughts, What opinion has some of my creditors of me? Rather than wrong a fellow creature of a single shilling, I would die of want. O! the folly of trusting to men. O my soul, commit thy way to God; trust in him, and thou shalt never be ashamed of thy hope.'

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June 6, 1811. Last evening I visited the grave of my be loved wife, whose memory will be ever dear to me. proaching the place of interment, what were my feelings on seeing the grave opened, and the lid of the coffin distinctly visible! I feel a melancholy satisfaction in the prospect of my earthly remains being interred beside those of my lovely wife. O that I experienced, as she did, the sanctifying and comforting influences of God's holy Spirit! Lord enable me, in the full assurance of faith, to approach the throne of grace! Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like HERS!

Having been advised by some friends to go to America, for the purpose partly of changing the scene, and partly of increasing mercantile knowledge, he left England towards the end of July 1811. His feelings on leaving his relations, partieularly his father, and his temper during the voyage, will ap pear from the following extracts. It may be proper to remark, that he was disappointed of the ship on board of which he had taken his passage.

Deal, July 21, 1811.

I am thus far in the prosecution of my plan of crossing the Atlantic; but, how short-sighted are the schemes of mor

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tals! I have no reason, however, to repine. Whether or no I shall now have an opportunity of going to America, seems to be uncertain; but the Lord, in whom I desire to trust, doth all things well. The parting with my dear friends, particularly my valuable father, has unhinged my whole frame; and should I have to undergo the pangs of a second separation, it will cause heart-wounds to bleed afresh. May I be enabled to say, in the full confidence of faith, The will of the Lord be done!'

Bay of Biscay, Monday, 12 Aug. 1811.

'Yesterday I read two of Mr. Walker's sermons to the captain and passengers; who heard attentively. It imparted a pleasant sensation to my breast, when I reflected that, while was in the midst of my little congregation, you were preaching the glad tidings of salvation to the worthy people at Oxendon Chapel.'-This practice he continued while at sea.

Mr. J. was very fond of the sermons of the late excellent Robert Walker, of Edinburgh. Wise and prudent in the choice of his companions, he was equally so in the choice of books. The following, with some others, were selected by him in the view of going to America: -Walker's Sermons, 3 vols. Parental Duty and Early Piety, Dr. Black's Sermons on Death, Hervey's Works, Milton's Paradise Lost, Young's Night Thoughts, Cumberland's Calvary, Cowper's Poems, Goldsmith's Poetical Works, Grahame's Sabbath, Gilpin's Monument of Parental Affection, a Guide to Domestic Happiness, Guthrie's Geographical Grammar, and Morse's History of America.

Mr. J. wrote long letters to his father by every opportu nity; and every letter breathes a warm spirit of religion and of filial regard. While he remained in America, the same abstinence from sinful pleasures, the same observance of the Lord's Day, the same caution in the choice of associates, and the same cheerful recommendation of piety marked his conduct. Even at a season when thoughtless levity is too general, the close of the year, he communed with his own heart; as the following extract from his Diary will shew :

Philadelphia, Dec. 31, 1811.

'Eleven o'clock at night. I have been mercifully spared to see almost the close of another year. Have I properly considered the course of an all-wise Providence towards me during the present year? O! my soul, stay thyself on thy God.Am I separated from those dear to me as my own soul; from an indulgent, a tender father, a worthy mother, affectionate sisters, kind relations, sympathizing trends? Let me cultivate acquaintance with that FRIEND who sticketh closer than a brother, than a father, than a wife! Perhaps the hand which now writes, will moulder into its primitive dust ere the close of the ensuing year. The decree may have gone forth, 'The

year, Thou shalt die !' Lord, prepare me for doing and suffering thy will! If I am never again to behold those countenances, the expression of which is so deeply engraven in my memory and heart, let me bow.with submission to the Divine Will; and let me cherish the hope, that they may experience divine consolation! No monumental inscription perpetuates the memory of my beloved wife; but it is engraved in the heart of him who now writes, as with a pen of iron in the rock for ever.'

Though Mr. J. soon obtained a comfortable situation m Philadelphia, and was treated with uncommon kindness by several friends, yet the general stagnation of trade there, and the prospect of war with Britain, induced him to return to this country, after an absence of twelve months; and he returned with the same pious principles and agreeable tempers. When on the eve of being employed permanently by his faithful friend Mr. Ikin, the Sovereign Disposer of all things was pleased to remove him, and with a gentle hand, from his father's house to his heavenly and eternal home.

The Lord's Supper was dispensed in Oxendon Chapel on the second Sabbath of October. The dear youth had complained of a head-ache for two or three days; but, thirsting after God, attended divine worship during the whole of the Sacrament-Sabbath. He heard his father, for the last time,' address the communicants and the audience from Heb. x. 37, Yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, aud will not tarry. In the evening he heard the assisting minister, the Rev. Mr. Muter, of Glasgow, preach a sweet discourse from Matt. xxvi. 29,' I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine,' &c.

On Monday Mr. J. was confined to bed; and on Tuesday, a medical gentleman of eminent skill being consulted, pronounced the complaint to be a nervous fever; but said that there was no alarming sympton whatever. The pulse was good; the pain of the head abated, through the application of blisters; there was only the want of refreshing sleep, accompanied with great debility. In the course of a few days the mind occasionally wavered; and on Saturday, October 17, there was strong delirium for several hours. A skilful physician being called, saw no danger; and his prescription was blessed for removing the delirium." On Sabbath afternoon appearances were highly favourable; and both the medical gentlemen pronounced the patient to be much better. short, there were symptoms of recovery till within four hours of his dissolution. During his illness, and even when the brain was affected, he felt and spoke as a child of God, prayed for submission to the Divine Will, called Heaven the best place, recited the 42d Psalm; repeated, with a joyful voice, various passages of the sacred volume, and particularly, again and again, the sublime doxology, 'Unto him who loved us,

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and washed us from our sins in his own blood,' &c. adding several times, Amen, Amen. On Tuesday, and especially on Wednesday, he was quite collected, - knew his relations and 'friends; and, tho' unable to say little besides 'yes' or 'no,' was quiet and placid as a weaned child. In the forenoon of Wednesday, his father, whose hope was gaining ground every hour, said to him,' My dear Richard, the Lord hath dealt mercifully with you." Yes; O yes," was the answer. - You trust in the Lord as your God?" Yes, I do.”—You love the Saviour?'"I hope so. Yes, I do."-There was no unfavourable symptom till about six o'clock in the evening, when the dear youth became suddenly weaker; and though his eyes indicated a sensible, composed mind, he could very seldom speak. A short time before the last change, his father knelt by the side of the bed, took hold of his hand (which kindly pressed his father's) and committed him to his God, and to the Saviour whom he trusted and loved. The countenance of the dying saint beamed serenity and joy; and soon, without a groan or a struggle, mortality was swallowed up of life a few minutes. before 10 at night, Oct. 21, 1812, six weeks after the completion of his 24th year.

From earliest youth, and throughout life, his attention to cleanliness of person, neatness of dress, and order in all his affairs, was scrupulously, not finically, minute. His person was tall and well-formed, his countenance was manly, his eye and air bespoke a superior mind, decision of character, keen sensibility, and singular goodness; his manners were polished, dignified, and easy; and a warmer and more generous heart never glowed in a human bosom. For the least favour he was always grateful; and any injury he was ready to forgive, from magnanimity and from Christian principles.

His remains were interred in Bunhill Fields, on Tuesday the 27th of October; and the writer of this article spoke and prayed at the grave. He likewise improved the trying dispensation at Swallow Street on the next Sabbath evening, before a crowded and sympathizing audience. The text was chosen from Rev. i. 5, 6, Unto Him who loved us,' &c. -the words so precious to the dear departed youth on his deathbed, and formerly.

The substance of the present account was then delivered. It may be proper to add, that the above-mentioned passage was particularly marked in Mr. Jerment's Bible, with other passages; and among the rest, the following: Psa. xlii.; Psa. Ixviii. 13; Eccles. i. 11; Eccles. xii. 1; Isa. xxxii. 1,2; Isa. xxxv. 4; Jer. iii. 5; Luke xviii. 41; 1 Thess. iv. 14; Jude 14.

In the conclusion of this memoir, I would most earnestly beseech every parent who may read it, to give his children proper instruction, caution, and encouragement; and to set before them a Christian example. Mr. Jerment enjoyed allthese means, and the Lord richly blessed them.

The following remarkable Interpositions of Divine Providence in Behalf of a Family in Distress, have been communicated to us (with the Names of the Parties) and are inserted for the Encouragement of such of our Readers as may be in trying Circumstances.

About the year 1794 I was in great distress, being afflicted with a disorder in my head, the pain of which was so great as almost to deprive me of sense, and rendered me unable to work for many months. At that time my family, of seven children, was deprived of the means of support; our last sixpence had been expended for bread, and that consumed. In this distress we remained one night, Cast down, but not destroyed.' The morning came: our fears and anxiety for our little ones increased with the dawning day. In vain I endeavoured to console my desponding wife, by reminding her of past deliverances, of the many precious promises left on record for our support, and said, if we had faith to realize our interest in them, we might glory in this tribulation also. She replied, 'I know that what you say is true, and that it is sinful to doubt of the goodness of God, after being so long the subjects of his providential care; but to hear the children crying for bread, and have none to give them, is a distress I cannot support myself under!' so saying, she burst into a flood of tears. At this instant a knock at the door called our attention; it was a messenger from Mr. R-, merchant, of who delivered his errand of mercy as follows: "This morning, at breakfast, Mr. R. said to Mrs. R. I had many uneasy thoughts to-night concerning poor Simon and his family; I fear they are in want.' Then he said to me, 'Take this halfcrown to him directly, and iet me know how he is.' Mrs. R. added And take him the like sum from me; and here are the five shillings for you.' Thus, our necessity was God's opportunity; and we found relief from our distress.

In the winter of 180% my former complaint returned, and with it my former distress. On a certain day, in the midst of our necessities, one of my children went to the sea-side to gather the bits of sticks that might be washed on shore; and, as she stood there, she remarked a bit of paper floating on the waves, and blown to and fro' by the wind, which was very high. After observing it some time, it was driven on shore exactly to the spot where she stood.-It was a pound-note! And, surprizing to say, was scarcely wet. This was a wonderful relief, as we were reduced to the utmost extremity of want.From the above narrative, trivial as it may appear, I am led to admire the care of Jehovah toward his people; and though I now stand at the head of a family of ten children, I can say, that Goodness and Mercy have followed me all the days of my life.? Yours, &c. S.G.