PEOPLE. GOD'S POWER TO HELP HIS lost. The same is to be seen in St. Luke, how that, "the Son of man came not to damn, but to save." St. John the Evangelist saith, "His coming was to save the world." And St. Paul saith, "He would have all men to be saved.”—Hooper. 66 AN INTERESTING CONVERSION. "Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days." ANOTHER instance of the fruitfulness of the good seed sown in the heart, is the conversion of a schoolmaster, who has just left the Romish Church. Though a teacher, he was exceed fectly, and knowing nothing of grammar and geography. Yet he had such a thirst for knowledge, that though he Now to the first part, that God can help: this Scripture is to be marked, that saith God is omnipotent, that is to wit, able to do all things. So said he to Abraham, when he promised him the land of Canaan-"I am the God omnipotent; walk before me, and be perfect." The same said Jacob, when Benjamin, his young son, was so instantly desired by his brethren to go into Egypt, when they lacked cornMy God omnipotent," said Jacob, "can make the prince of Egypt favourable unto you." So did God tell Moses that he was the Lord that ap-ingly ignorant, reading very imper. peared unto Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, even the Almighty God. The like is in the same book, when God had drowned Pharaoh and his host-resided at a distance of twelve miles "Moses gave thanks, and said his name was Almighty." Thus in the word of God we may learn everywhere, as well by his name as by his most marvellous works, that he is omnipotent, and there is nothing impossible unto him. Even so doth the word of God declare that as he is omnipotent and can save, in like manner is he willing and will save. King David saith that, "He saveth both man and beast." In another psalm he saith, God saved him from all adversities." And again he saith he will save all that trust in him; and not only save, but also save for nothing. So God saith by the prophet Isaiah-"I will save thy children." And in the same book it is declared that God's hand is not weakened, but that he can save, and will save. willing nature of God to save is manifestly opened unto us in all the prophets. And in St. Matthew, Christ saith he came to save such as were 66 This from the Grande Ligne, and greatly feared the Protestants, he came and besought us to give him lessons during the winter evenings, in order to qualify him to fulfil his duties more acceptably. During the few moments that we were able to devote to him, Madame Feller endeavoured to speak to him of the Gospel, but his mind was so engrossed with grammar and geography that he could not listen to anything else. He was especially so ignorant of the Scriptures, that it was as though she had spoken Latin. However, some of the good passages of the Word of Life entered his heart, and were not lost. After separating from us, he commenced reading the New Testament assiduously; the truth penetrated his soul, and after several years of doubts and hesitations, he listened to the voice of the Saviour, and formed the resolution to follow him, in spite of all difficulties. The priests did all they could to injure him, expelling him from his school; and his wife, who is indifferent with regard to the Gospel, made this an occasion to grieve and persecute him. But he, without being shaken by any of these things, looked to Him from whom he had learnt to expect assistance and deliverance. He is a humble and sincere man, who has given himself to the Lord, and seeks to glorify him in the position in which he has placed him. Though not engaged as a missionary, he is always ready to do what he can towards spreading the knowledge of the Gospel. Biography. MRS. START. "Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season."-JOB V. 26. MRS. START was born at Reading, in Berkshire, in the year 1759. Her maiden name was Clarke. She was brought up by an uncle, her parents having died when she was very young. Her uncle was a moral, but not a pious man. He went to spend an evening with a party of friends a little time before his death, where he was taken very ill, and when brought home he was unable to speak, but his earnest look at his niece produced a deep impression on her mind. Soon after the death of her uncle, she went to London, where she was apprenticed to a dressmaker, to a Mrs. Mackenzie, at the West-end, who worked for the Royal Family. After she had served her time here, she returned to Reading, to keep the house of her sister's husband. Her sister had recently died, leaving behind her two children, a son and a daughter, whom she committed to the care of our departed friend, who was faithful to her trust. She made a promise to her sister, on her dying bed, that she would befriend her daughter, who continued to live with her until last November, when she died on the 28th of that month, aged sixty-seven. The nephew of Mrs. Start, and brother to Miss Smith, to whom we have just referred, was a clergyman, and died about fourteen years since. He was educated in the school of Dr. Valpy, at Reading, and afterwards at Oxford. He was for some time usher in Dr. Valpy's school, and afterwards became tutor to the Marquis of Blandford. Subsequent to this he was recommended by the Rev. C. Simeon, of Cambridge, as one of the chaplains to the East India Company. While Mrs. Start lived in Reading, she was invited by Miss Tudor, who kept the Crown Inn, to go to Broadstreet meeting, to hear the Rev. A. Douglas, who was then the pastor of the church assembling in that place of worship. She became attached to the ministry of Mr. Douglas, and joined the Christian Church under his pas toral care. There is no certain record of the means of her conversion to God, but the evidences of it were most satisfactory. She walked with God. Her heart was in heaven. She lived on the fulness of Jesus. The ministry of Mr. Douglas, no doubt, was very useful to her, and she entertained a high regard for his character; but she stated to a friend now living in Ashbourn, that her conversion, or her early experience, was remarkable. The ways of God, in bringing the vessels of his mercy to his feet, and to the knowledge and reception of his Gospel, are various. Manasseh, when taken among the thorns, was humbled, sought unto God, and found mercy. Matthew, the publican, when sitting at the receipt of custom, heard the voice of the incarnate God, saying, "Follow me," and he immediately arose, and obeyed the Divine command. The proud, bigoted, self-righteous Saul of Tarsus, when filled with rage against the name, cause, and disciples of Christ on his way to Damascus, heard the voice of the Son of God, and beheld his glory. He was at once subdued by incarnate love, and exclaimed, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" The Holy Spirit has the key which can open the heart at his pleasure, and let in the light, and power, and transforming influence of the truth as it is in Jesus. The conversion of our departed sister seems to have been very sudden and glorious in its immediate effects upon her soul. She has often stated in the presence of a friend, from whom the writer obtained his information, that the glory, fulness, and perfection of the Saviour's mediatorial work broke in upon her mind at once, and filled her with joy unspeakable and full of glory. The effects of this delightful change in her views and feelings she retained during her long pilgrimage on earth, and she would often exclaim in reference to this period, "What peaceful hours I then enjoy'd How sweet their memory still!" Like the ardent Rutherford, she saw the goal at the starting point, and felt the force of the Apostle's exhortation, “So run that ye may obtain." She has now reached the goal, obtained the prize, and has cast her bloodbought crown at the feet of Immanuel. During the first few years of her Christian course, she occasionally recorded some of her inward conflicts and longings after holiness, from which it will be seen that her experience was not all sunshine. Though the Sun of Righteousness arose so gloriously upon her soul at the commencement of her pilgrimage, with healing in his beams, yet her sky at times was overcast with clouds, and like other pilgrims to the heavenly city, she groaned being burdened. The following are a few brief extracts from her diary: "God be merciful to me a sinner! Gracious God! when shall I have done with sin? Surely I am the vilest sinner on earth. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cleanse the thoughts of my heart. Pardon mine iniquities, O my Lord and my God; they bear so heavy, I know not how to look up. Enter not into judgment with me. Work in me, to will and to do. Perfect thy strength in my perfect weakness. Lord, increase my faith. Stretch forth thine omnipotent arm, and bring me to thy footstool. slay me, yet will I trust in thee. Help me to apply to the blood of sprinkling. Surely there is efficacy here to cleanse my guilty and polluted conscience. Blessed God, I adore thee for thy corrections. They are sweeter than caresses from an earthly object. I am sure they are in love. Oh, astonishing that God, who could justly destroy me in a moment, should bear with me day Though thou after day, and year after year, and assure me that, after all, he will bring me to glory. Wonderful love! "O to grace how great a debtor!' To this alone I ascribe all my salvation, being assured there is a sufficiency to justify the most abominable sinner. This comfortable and cheering hope cannot fail to revive my drooping spirits. The knowledge of it, as taught by the Holy Spirit, is a gift of God beyond all estimation. My sins daily and hourly testify against me. Surely I am the most ungrateful of all whom the adorable Jesus has purchased, the truth of which I fear to doubt, having so often experienced the power of his grace on my conscience. O Lord my God! leave me not one moment. Suffer not the enemy of souls to harass. Suffer not the world, with all its vain and delusive charms, to keep me at a distance from thee, the fountain of all blessedness. Help me to find my happiness in thee alone. Grant me the grace of perseverance. Thou alone canst keep me steadfast in this dangerous wilder ness. "Nothing but sin, dejection and lespair arise in and from ourselves. Surely my besetting sins increase in strength every day. How deplorable and distressing the melancholy truth. Alas! when I would do good, evil is present with me. When I would trust in my God, unbelief is prevalent. When I would seek for happiness where I have so often found it, I look downwards instead of upwards. When I would be spiritually-minded, I am cleaving to the dust. When I would pray, my heart goes not with my lips. When I would repent, I fear my repentance is not genuine. O God my Saviour! surely thou art a God that hidest thyself. Mine iniquities have separated between me and my God. What shall I say? Oh, enter not into judgment with me! Do thou mercifully appear for me in this time of need. God be merciful unto me! Leave me not to these potent enemies. Suffer me not to have hard thoughts of thee, my adorable and all-gracious Lord. Make me, in deed and in truth, what thou wouldest have me to be. "August 20, 1803.-When I read of, observe, or consider the great attainments of the excellent of the earththe deadness they manifest to the world, with all its pleasures, trials, and cares-the love they express for their Beloved the spirituality of their minds, &c., &e,-I scarcely can believe that my worthless name is recorded in the Lamb's book of life-an humble hope which has often filled my heart with inexpressible joy. Great God! surely I must most awfully have grieved thy blessed Spirit, or my evidences would not be thus darkened. Lord! lift up the light of thy countenance upon me! Humble me at thy blessed feet. Search and try me. Break this rocky heart. Subdue everything that is offensive to thy holy nature. Teach me to honour thy holy Spirit. Bring every power of my soul into subjection to thy will. Suffer me not to have a desire but what is implanted by thyself. Leave me not, nor forsake me, though I deserve hell. All things are possible with thee. Thou canst and wilt prepare me and bring me to glory." These brief extracts from her diary show her habit of self-inspection, her humility before God, her godly sorrow for sin, her self-knowledge, and simple dependance upon Christ for her eter nal salvation. These views of herself and her Saviour expressed at the commencement of her pilgrimage, were her views at its close, when she had spent more than ninety years in the wilderness. Our departed sister was married to the Rev. A. Start, in the year 1807. She was married by her nephew, the Rev. Richard Smith, in St. Giles's church, Reading. Mr. and Mrs. Start resided in Hereford about four years, from which place they went to Folkstone, in Kent, where they continued about five or six years; and from thence they went to East Grinstead, in Sussex, where they remained seven years. They came to live in Ashbourn in the year 1820, where Mr. Start died on the 29th of April, 1843, leaving behind him an unblemished character. He was indeed a good minister of Jesus Christ, and his name is still fragrant in Ashbourn. Many cherish an affectionate remembrance of his kindness, liberality, and cheerfulness, his sympathizing and useful visits, and his holy walk and conversation. "He being dead, yet speaketh." of her sainted husband, and could reflect with pleasure on his long, holy, and useful life. He had finished his course with joy. He was present with the Lord. He had obtained mercy. "A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth." These thoughts were a cordial to her bleeding heart, and soothed her spirit under her painful bereavement. She rejoiced in hope of the glory of God. The infirmities of old age were borne with great patience and cheerfulness. She often longed to depart, but was willing to wait all the days of her appointed time. She would sometimes say, "I know not why I am kept here, but my dear Lord knows what is best." She is now gone to rest; and dying, which in years past she dreaded, she scarcely realised. She fell asleep in Jesus. On the night of Wednesday, May 19, 1852, she went to bed as usual, and was quite cheerful. Her son Ebenezer said, “Good night, mother." She replied playfully, "Good night, son." This was the last time her voice was heard in this world. The "Hear what the voice from heaven pro- next morning her redeemed spirit was claims, For all the pious dead; Sweet is the savour of their names, And soft their sleeping bed." The death of Mr. Start was a heavy trial to his aged partner, for they were fondly attached, but confidence in the wisdom and love of God, and a cheerful hope of a speedy re-union in the heavenly Paradise, sustained her mind and enabled the aged pilgrim to bear her loss with meek submission to the will of God. She mourned, but not as others who have no hope. She had perfect confidence in the glorification with Christ in glory, which is far better. When her son went into the room in the morning, she was perfectly quiet, and he thought she was asleep. He went in again, and found her the same. His fears were awakened. He began to feel uneasy respecting her. He went for a person who had waited upon her for the last five months, since the death of her niece. She came as soon as possible. She found Mrs. Start breathing, but very softly; so much so that she scarcely knew whether she was living or dead, until a little after she applied a looking-glass, and there |