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MEMOIR OF THE REV. A. BOOTH.

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scarlet fever into the family; wife and all were ill, except myself Her faculties were deranged; and the doctor said, "I fear, Sir, your wife is not likely to recover.' I attended them all as well as I could. The Bible was then sweeter to me than ever; yea, when I could only snatch a few verses; and I well remember one solemn transaction:-In the evening I retired for private prayer, and besought the Lord that I might find an entire resignation to his will. When I arose from my knees, I felt peculiar satisfaction in the perfections of God; and had such full persuasion of his righteousness, his justice, his mercy, and love, that I lifted up my eyes to Heaven, and said, "I give my wife, my children, my all, to thee, O God:" and, if ever I prayed in my life, I prayed at that time. Seeing, then, he has given her to me for twenty-three years, in answer to prayer, dare I murmur now?- God forbid!"

Through the chief part of his days he enjoyed good health; and for many years was seldom interrupted in his pastoral labours. But when sixty summers, or more, had passed over his head, the painful asthma increasingly afflicted him, year by year; till at length his winters, and especially the three last, were severe and threatening. But the frame of his mind corresponded to a life which had been devoted to God, and to an hope full of immortality.-Yes! of him it may surely be said, that he left a living testimony behind him; even if his long affliction and his concluding scenes had not furnished a dying one. Nevertheless, a dying testimony also, in honour of rich and sovereign grace, he was enabled to leave. *

Towards the end of January, 1805, in one of the visits of his affectionate assistant, Mr. Gray, he appeared very poorly, and not able to talk much; but what he said was of a spiritual kind: "Oh, that I may be submissive to the will of the Lord, whether for life or for death! What an unspeakable mercy it is, that Christ Jesus came into the world to die for poor sinners!" Then, breathing with great difficulty, he said, "Oh, that I may breathe after holiness, more and more after holiness; and be fitted for the great change whenever it shall come!"

A few weeks after, being very ill, he said, " But I am in good

* Here the introduction to his Will may not be unacceptable: → "I, Abraham Booth, Protestant Dissenting Minister, in the parish of St. Mary, Whitechapel, London, reflecting on the uncertainty of life, do make this my last Will and Testament, in manner following:

"Being firmly persuaded that those doctrines which have constituted the grand subject of my public ministry, for a long course of years, are divine Truths; being deeply sensible that all I have, and all I am, are the Lord's, and entirely at his disposal; and being completely satisfied that his dominion is perfectly wise and righteous,-1, in the anticipation of my departing moment, cheerfully commend my immortal spirit into his hands, in expectation of everlasting life, as the gift of sovereign grace, through the mediation of Jesus Christ; and my body I resign to the care of Providence in the silent grave, with a pleasing hope of its being raised again at the last day, in a state of perpetual vigour, beauty, and glory."

hands. I think I am more afraid of dishonouring God by impa tience, than I am afraid of death:" adding, "I must go to Christ as a poor sinner, a poor grey-headed sinner; I can go no other way." In this manner he generally talked with different persons; and they have left him, ashamed of themselves that they felt no more of the same spirit.

Some months since, he was taken ill in his way home from a meeting of his brethren. Mr. Gray went to see him; and asking him how he felt his mind, he instantly replied, with a firm tone, "I have no fear about my state." And this was his answer to the affectionate enquiries of several of his fellow-labourers. Indeed, through his whole affliction, he was graciously supported in his soul. He felt no raptures; nor have we any reason to believe that he even so much as wished for them. He was generally serene, breathing after Heaven, expressing his earnest desires after conformity to the image of Christ, and submission to the will of God; daily blessing him for a good hope through grace, and waiting for the coming of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

But though he was mostly laid aside from his public labours for several months before his death, he employed himself in revising and completing an Essay on the Love of God to his chosen People; and another, on a Conduct and Character formed under the Influence of Evangelical Truth; which, it is expected, will in due time make their appearance. Thus he continued better and worse in his health, generally according to the state of the weather. But even in the course of his last week, he wrote two letters to his brothers in the country: he also attended the Monthly Meeting at his own place the very Thursday before his death. He was worse on Friday, but said to two of his friends, "I now live upon what I have been teaching others;" and was capable of arranging many of his papers, which he did with perfect composure. Even on the Lord's Day he was sitting up in his study. But apprehensions being entertained that his dissolution was very near, several of his friends went to see him, as they supposed, for the last time. They found him in the sweet enjoyment of the Lord's presence, and Satan kept at a distance from him. To one, he said, "Ah! Jesus Christ is indeed a good master!" To another, "But a little while, and I shall be with your dear father and mother!" He also affectionately dropped a word to several of his young friends, who longed just to see him. To one, "I have often borne you on my heart before the Lord; now, you need to pray for me. Soon after, to a son of one of his most intimate friends, "Take care of your precious soul; take care that you be not merely half a Christian."

On a wish being expressed that, under his present circumstances, he might experience divine support, he said with considerable energy, "Amen." But it does not appear, that even then he thought his departure to be so near at hand as his family apprehended.

[To be concluded in our nex.]

E

THE CONVERSION OF SINNERS,
CAUSE OF THANKSGIVING TO GOD.

EXEMPLIFIED IN THE CASE OF ST. PAUL.

"And they (the Churches of Judea) glorified Gov in me."

Gal. i. 24.

I has sometimes been found, that where persons have been awakened to a serious concern about the pardon of their sins, and the rich grace of God in the forgiveness of St. Paul has been set before them, as an encouragement to believe in Jesus, their des ponding minds have refused consolation, from an apprehension, that the grace bestowed upon him was a singular favour, and not to be expected by sinners in after-ages. This is, however, a very great mistake, and one of the devices of Satan, to keep awakened sinners from fleeing for refuge to the hope set before them in the gospel. The circumstances which preceded and attended his conversion were indeed singular and extraordinary; as the great light from heaven, and the voice of Jesus which he heard. For any to expect these signs from heaven to attend the illumination and conversion of sinners in our days, would justly subject them to be considered as deluded enthusiasts.

But the rich and sovereign mercy which was bestowed on this notorious sinner, so far from being singular, or not to be repeated, is represented as a pattern of what Jesus would shew to multitudes of transgressors in subsequent ages. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy: that in me first (first-rate sinner) Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them who should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.' The following remarks may perhaps tend to set this truth in a scriptural light, and for the breaking asunder that snare by which the great enemy has held many awakened sinners in captivity.

I. The elect of God are by nature in the same state of guilt as the rest of the human race. We ourselves were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures." Electing love stamps no visible. mark upon the objects of it, nor doth it produce any change in their hearts, until the day of effectual calling. It is like a river running under ground, until it breaks forth, and renders itself visible in the day of conversion; and it is only by the gospel coming to our hearts in the Spirit, that our election of God can be ascertained. Until the gospel thus come with power to their hearts, they who belong to the election of grace are children of wrath, even as others. Do we see persons walking according to the course of this world, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; yea, do we hear men, like Saul of Tarsus, even blaspheming the adorable name of Jesus, we are warranted to say of such characters, that they are under the wrath of

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God, and every moment in danger of plunging into everlasting burnings; but we cannot say that they do not belong to the election of grace: nothing but dying in unbelief will warrant such an inference.

II. Many of the chosen of God have, before conversion, been notoriously wicked. In the character of Saul, the truth of this remark is clearly manifested: he himself tells us, that before he was brought to the knowledge of the Saviour, he was a blaspheiner, a persecutor, and an injurious person. The first account we have of him, was at a scene of blood, consenting to the death of that holy man, Stephen, and watching the raiment of those murderers who slew him. But, from a spectator, he soon became a distinguished actor in these tragedies; like a tyger in human shape, breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord Jesus. So detestable was that blessed name to him, that he impiously set his mouth against the heavens: nor was he satis fied to blaspheme it himself; but, being exceedingly mad, he compelled others to blaspheme it, as the condition of escaping his wrath.Is this the portrait of a human being? Is it not the very picture of a devil incarnate? Did we see in our days such an impious wretch, such a blood-thirsty persecutor, should not we be disposed to consider him as a reprobate, and fuel for everlasting burnings? But" be astonished, O Heavens! and wonder, O Earth !”— this detestable character was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. "Lord," said Ananias to Jesus, "I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name." But the Lord said unto him, "Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel." Acts ix, 13-16.

In scriptme-history we have the records of many, who, before their conversion, have been notoriously wicked; yea, who have been more daringly impious and profane than many who have gone down to Hell. Consider the character of Manasseh, who made innocent blood to run in the streets of Jerusalem. Consi der one of the two men who were crucified with Jesus. This man was a thief, and probably a murderer; condemned to death by the laws of his country. In the space of a few hours, he was in three different states: when he was fastened to the cross, under the curse of God's holy law; while on the cross, pardoned and restored to the favour of God; and before his body was taken down from the cross, his soul was with Jesus in Paradise. Behold, many of the impious wretches, who had exclaimed concerning Jesus, "Away with him! Crucify him! crucify him!" on the day of Pentecost called by grace; and lo! their eternal election made manifest. Suffice it only to add, some of the Corinthians, whose characters

* See 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10, 11.

CAUSE OF THANKSGIVING TO GOD.

299 were a reproach to human nature, and a scandal to the country in which they dwelt; these were effectually called by grace; "and thus it was manifested, that their names were written in the Lamb's book of life from the foundation of the world."— And what is the cause why all the elect have not proceeded to the same excess of iniquity? Not any innate good qualities in their hearts more than in others; but it is entirely owing to the restraining grace of God; for they are all " by nature children of wrath, even as others."

III. Though the chosen of God may have gone to great excess in iniquity, yet, in the time appointed, sovereign grace lays hold on them, changes their hearts, and turns them from the error of their ways. Surely, if rich and sovereign mercy had not interposed, Saul of Tarsus would have run on in his mad career, until he had plunged into the bottomless pit! When was he stopped in his course? On his journey to Damascus, at the very moment his thoughts were big with slaughter, and his heart thirsting after innocent blood. The omniscient eye of Jesus was upon him all the time. He knew that he was one of those given to him by the Father, and that the moment was come for the decree to bring forth, and he called him by his grace. In him was verified the words of Jesus; "I am found of them that sought me not." Had not the grace of God been almighty grace, surely, it could not have so instantly subdued such a flagrant rebel, and overcome such determined hostility to the name and character of Jesus. The moment before he heard the voice of Jesus, he had no co npunct.on of conscience for sin, no request for mercy. It is no less certain, that the whole countless number who were given to Christ from eternity, every one of them, shall, in their successive generations, be called into the fellowship of the Gospel. The unchanging purpose of God is the ground of our faith in this: "Whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified." For those who were given to him, Jesus prays in Heaven: and he prays not in vain; for him the Father heareth always. “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. The election of grace are to constitute the mystical body of Christ. In the book of God's eternal purposes, all the members were written, which in continuance are to be fashioned ; and if so much as one individual were left in sin, this body would not be "a perfect man, the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." And, in fine, the faithfulness of God is pledged in promises to the Redeemer for the eternal salvation of them all.—“ He shall see (the fruit) of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: he shall see his seed; he shall prolong his days; and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." In a confident faith in these promises, Jesus says, "All that the Father hath given me, shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise east out. For I came down from Heaven, not to do mine own

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