I am going to glory!" She faid, "I am full of words, but want breath to utter the half of what I feel!" What debtors are we, my dear brother, to free grace, for the confolations and divine fupports our very dear Lifter was favoured with in the moft trying circumstances on this fide the grave! A few days before her death, the propofed a queftion to me, which both pleafed and improved me: "Do you think," fays fhe, "brother, departed faints know what is done upon earth?" I asked her why the inquired? She cheerfully replied, "Because it would give me pleasure to know that my friends went on well in the ways of God." Herein her love to us was like that of her dying Matter to his difciples, whofe fteps The followed; of whom it is recorded, that, “ having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them to the end." I left my fifter on Saturday in the afternoon; and on Sunday, about one o'clock, I received the account of her death, about half an hour paft five, that morning. It made fuch an impreffion on my dear wife and me, as I truft will abide with us unto death, and be fanctified to each of our fouls.

To part with fo amiable a fifter, from whom I received much inftruction and many other favours, was very grievous to the flesh. But the confideration of her being releafed from a life of pain and forrow, difpofed my heart to blefs God, and praife him for his goodness to her. On Satur day evening, being informed that next day was the Sabbath, "I trust," fays fhe, "I fhall then begin to fpend an eternal Sabbath!" My fifter was buried in Berwick-Chapel, clofe by the remains of my dear father; and the fight of both coffins called aloud," Be ye alfo ready; for at an hour you think not, the Son of man cometh." All who knew my fifter's exemplary life and conversation, lament her death as loss to them, though gain to her. Let it be our care, my dear brother, fo to follow her as fe followed Chrift; that with her we may be partakers of the inheritance of the faints in light. Through mercy, my mother, fifter, and felf, are greatly supported; and we truft and pray you may find the fame fuccour. We have reason to praise God for his admitting my dear sister to the everJafting enjoyment of him in glory!

I am, my

Salop.

dear brother, with my mother's bleffing, and fifter's love, Your's affectionately, in a loving Saviour.

Comfortable Departure of Mrs. Susannah Dunkerton.

ON Thursday, July 9th, 1795, died, of a confumption, at Chefham, in Buckinghamshire, in the thirty-first year of her age, Mrs. Sufanna Dun. kerton. Although her home was at Bath, it was to ordered by a fuperintending Providence, that the died there under her father's roof, in the midft of her nearest relations. Upwards of five years ago, while fhe was Mifs Rumfey, it pleafed God to afflict her with a long and dangerous illnefs; which being fanctified, produced in her mind a serious and abiding fenfe of experimental religion. For though he had, previous to this afAction, been an obferver of the customary forms of religion, yet the looked upon vital godlinefs as the effect of an enthufiaftic imagination. She now spent much time in examining the Scriptures; and being detained at Bath on account of ill health, the frequented all the different places of worship there, before the entered into communion with any particular church. At length, finding the preaching at Mr. Welley's chapel moft profitable to her, the conftantly attended there, and about the clofe of the fummer, 1791, became a member of that society.

Immediately after, her physician having advised her to go to the fea- fide, he went from Bath to the neighbourhood of Tinmouth, in Devon; where

where the experienced fuch confolation under the miniftry of Mr. Wadfworth, a preacher in Mr. Wefley's connexion, that the called him her fpiritual father. His fermons had fuch a powerful effect upon her mind, that, to a lift of texts found among her papers, this remark was fubjoined: "Would to God every fentence of the above difcourfes were engraven upon my remembrance!" From her very childhood the manifefted a ftrong attachment to truth and fincerity, and an utter averfion to every fpecies of hypocrify and deceit. She likewife poffeffed a firmness of mind, which led her to a very decifive line of conduct, from the commencement of her chriftian courfe. Though expofed, as new converts generally are, to the ridicule and oppofition of the world; yet, from the time the made a serious profeffion of religion, the never deliberately deviated from what appeared to her the path of duty. Her ideas of improper conformity to the world, might not, perhaps, in all refpects, exactly coincide with those of many valuable Chriftians; yet the fincerity of her intentions always commanded their refpect and esteem. The reality of her religion was fufficiently proved by the comfort it afforded her when the flood in most need of its fupport.

As to her religious fentiments, they of courfe accorded, in general, with thofe of the fociety with which he was connected. Her mind, however, was fuperior to bigotry; for while fhe thought for herfif on the important fabjects of religion, he recollected that others had the fame right, and was a fincere lover of real Chriftians, by whatever name diftinguished. Though the continued, to the end of her life, in the fociety of the Method its, whofe preaching God had made the means of her converfion, yet the never diffented from the church of England, but lived and died in her communion.

During the latter part of her tedious illness, her mind was oppreffed with great heavinefs. She complained of not enjoying thofe confolations The had formerly experienced. Her evidence of an intereft in Chrift not being now fufficiently clear to render her mind comfortable, the defired to be as much as poffible by herself, and was not disposed to hear any thing read but the Scriptures.

About eight or nine days before she died, (when the Minifter, to whom The complaine of this uncomfortable state of her mind, fpoke of the provilion made for believers in Chrift), the replied, "But I am tempted to believe I have neither part nor lot in the matter." In this ftate of darknefs and painful fufpenfe the continued till the 6th of July, when, after earnest prayer had been offered by her aged father and neareft relations, (who beheld, with deep concern, the anguifh of her foul), "the Sun of righteoufaefs arofe with healing in his wings;" and difpelled, with the brightness of his heavenly rays, the cloud in which her mind had been' long enveloped. She now repeated many confolatory paffages of Scripture, which were brought to her mind with fuch power, that, notwithstanding her bodily fufferings, he could praise God with a cheerful countenance. While her friends were finging, at her requeft, a hymn of Dr. Watts's, "There is a land of pure delight, &c." the feemed to be very full of heavenly joy, and, with the utmoft cheerfulness, exclaimed, "I fee a vacant feat for me!" She defired Mr. and Mrs. L (two friends, who had visited er a few days before, and witneffed the uncomfortable ftate her mind was in), might be fent for, and join with us in the pleasure and thankfulnefs we all felt in this remarkable and happy change. Some little time after, her husband's parents, brother, and fifter, being around the bed, The addreffed them feparately, in the most pathetic manner, and praved that she might meet them all in heaven. To her husband she said, “ My dear Mr. Dunkerton, may you be blessed!" To her brother, (from whose

communi

communication this fhort account is extracted) "Keep close to God !TM But to her parents, dropping the admonitory mode of address, the faid, with an affectionate concern, "As to my dear father and mother, I shall fully expect to fee them above: As to my children, I must leave them "Here her feelings were fo acutely fenfible, that he could utter but few words. She prayed that the Lord would bless them ; and, looking earneftly at her brother, added, "I hope they will be kept from the vanities of the world!" In the course of the evening, a young gentleman, who was educated under the late Rev. Mr. Clarke, rector of Chefham Bois, ftepping in, and asking her how he did? the replied, "I am very ill; but I fhall foon fee your old friend, and then I fhall be well. May you attend to the advice he gave you, and be preserved from the fnares of a world full of wickednefs !"

Through the night her mind continued very comfortable. When her brother was giving her a little fuftenance, the remarked, "We fhall not want thefe recruits in the land above." Her bodily ftrength declined fast. and her fufferings, from cough, difficulty of breathing, and extreme inquietude, were great; yet she continued perfectly fenfible, and heavenly minded. Her prayer was, "God be merciful to me a finner!" In the evening, the faid to her brother, "I am not deftroyed; God is the fame to-day as he was yefterday, and will be for ever!"

Being bleffed with the full enjoyment of her fenfes, fhe often defired portions of Scripture to be read to her; particularly the 14th of St. John, which he heard with great pleasure more than once: It seemed to be a favourite part of the facred writings. On the morning of the day in which fhe departed, as her brother entered the room, fhe said, “I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God!" She then, as The had frequently done before, repeated thefe words, (which were the first that brought her comfort, and afterwards afforded her fresh fupplies of it), "Fear not, for I am with thee!" She again defired the 14th of St. John to be read; but fome hours after, (being funk too low to converfe much at a time) when her brother asked, if he fhould read any part of the Scrip-, ture to her? he was obliged to decline the offer, faying, "I am very comfortable, but,- my bodily weakness is jo great !" Observing her husband in great affliction, the faid to him," May God be your portion, and fupport you; he fupports me, and bleffed be his holy name!" Her youngest child being at nurfe, the defied the other to be brought to her, that she might take her laft farewel of this lovely infant. This muft have been a great trial to an affectionate mother; but, by divine grace, the was enabled to fubmit to it without murmuring. Her anxiety, however, for the best intereft of her children, was obfervable, in the manner in which The prayed for them a few hours before her death. Soon after, with the utmost composure of mind, though panting for breath, "What a com, fortable thing it is," faid fhe, "to have nothing to do but to die!" Look ing at her filter, with great carneftnefs, the faid," May you come after; there is room for you, and all your bleffed children!" With a cheerful countenance the faid to her father, "The Devil is a liar alluding to the temptation above recited. While labouring for breath, the faid to her brother, "I fhall foon fee my old neighbour!" meaning Mr. Clarke, She then endeavoured to repeat part of one of Dr. Watts's hymns, but was too low to utter the words diftin&ly. Her friends, perceiving that her end was rapidly approaching, food prepared for the important change. "Nobody," fays fhe, "can with these conflicts to last long-not my will, but thine be done; yet come quickly!" She now defied to kiss her hofband, and all her relations in the room; and, in about an hour after, her happy fpirit was delivered from the burden of mortality,

ON

ON Dec. 10, 1795, the Rev. James Bartle, Minifter of a fmall congregation of Diffenters, at Marple-bridge, in the chapelry of Meltor, Derbyshire, after a few days' illnefs, entered into his eternal reft. The lofs of him is regretted, not only by the ferious part of his own flock; but alfo by the established Minifter of the place, who fincerely respected him for his virtues, living in habits of friendship with him, and who wishes that his people may meet with a fucceffor equally upright, godly, peaceable, and inoffenfive.

ON Tuesday, Jan. 12, died, at Walworth, of a confumption, the Rev. Philipps Mills, of whom we hope we shall foon be able to give a biographical sketch, together with a very accurate engraving.

REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

Sacred History, in familiar Dialogues, for the Instruction of Children and Youth; with an Appendix, containing the History of the Jews, from the time of Nehemiah to the Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, under Titus Vespasian, in sixteen Letters. By a Lady. With a recommendatory Preface, by the Rev. John Ryland. 4vols12mo. Pages 964. Price 10s. 6d. bound. Gardiner, Chapman Mathews, &c. London, 1796.

SCRIPTURE history is admirably adapted for the instruction of

youthful minds, both as to its matter and its manner. Dr. Ryland illustrates this assertion in a very suitable preface to this work, and observes, that "we need not scruple to believe, that HE who condescends to address such particular admonitions, invitations, and promises to the young, had a special regard to their interest, in this pleasing method of instruction." He adds, that "his knowledge of the author fully satisfies him, that her great end, in this attempt, has been to glorify God, by promoting the interests of young people, both within the circle of his acquaintance, and bebeyond its extent." We have the pleasure to be able to unite our testimony with Dr. Ryland's, and are fully of his sentiment, that"the perusal of the work will induce every candid mind to indulge the same opinion."

In a short introductory address to her young friends, the author remarks, that "her first intention in forming the sacred history into conversations, was for the purpose of instructing three dear children, nearly related to her, without any design of submitting them to public inspection: But a friend, on perusing a few of the dialogues, intreated that the work might be carried on with a view to more general instruction; and this request was accompanied with arguments which induced a compliance."

We have perused these volumes with much pleasure; and have no doubt of their extensive usefulness to the rising generation, if they meet with that attention from the public which they deserve. VOL. IV.

N

The

The first two contain a judicious selection of facts, from the history of the Old Testament; and the third volume affords a concise but perspicuous view of the historical part of the New Testament. The inquiries and reflections that might occur to juvenile readers are advantageously assigned to children, whose ages and tempers are supposed to differ. Illustrations and practical remarks, well suited to their apprehensions and advantage, are occasionally given by their kind instructor, with a brevity that does not infringe upon the connection of the history, and with a degree of natural ease, which, we conceive, the author must have owed to her experience. We should hardly have imagined the form of dialogues capable of being so well adjusted to the subject and design of the work. We think that some parts of it, and especially the prophetical and apostolical histories, might admit of improvements, and we shall willingly suggest them upon occasion. The only remark of this kind which we think it necessary to make at present, is upon a geographical error, in the nineteenth page of the third volume: Galilee was not governed by Philip (whose tetrarchy laid on the other side of the lake Gennesareth) but by his brother Herod, who also ruled the country eastward of the river Jordan.

The fourth volume consists of the Jewish history, from the close of the Old Testament to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. In this part, which is not only interesting by itself, but reflects much light on the New Testament, the form of letters is, with very great propriety, substituted for that of dialogues. Although, for obvious and just reasons, it concludes the work, it may be read, perhaps to the greatest advantage, in the natural order of time. Many persons of mature age may derive useful information from this volume, as it contains a clear and familiar summary of the writings of Josephus. The general strain, however, as well as some particular circumstances of this narrative, will probably appear to many readers, essentially unlike those of the sacred wri ings. Josephus, though entitled to higher credit and more attention than the historians of Greece or of Rome, wrote like a Jew, or at best like a citizen of this world. But, while the historical books of the Old Testament seem only to require or admit a kind of inspiration inferior to that of the other sacred writings, a comparison of them with the best of compositions merely human, clearly demonstrates that the writers had their citizenship in heaven.

Maps of the journies of the Israelites through the wilderness, of the land of Canaan, of the travels of Paul, and of the countries referred to in the Jewish history, are prefixed to the several volumes. They are neatly executed, and sufficiently correct for their purpose.

We most cordially and earnestly recommend this work to all who have the important care, of forming the minds of children and youth. Its intrinsic merit and useful tendency call for genéral attention and approbation. We hope also, that some additional circulation will accrue to it, from the information we have the

pleasure