INTRODUCTION OF THE GOSPEL INTO BRITAIN. 507 the Latin historians, queen of the Brigantes, and the consequent gradual subjugation of the brave Britons to the Roman yoke, was an event of the most calamitous nature to the noble personage, his family, and to his subjects. He and his whole family, consisting of his father, Bran (or Branus) his wife, his children, and brothers, were carried to Rome as hostages, and remained there seven years. Whilst prisoners at Rome, they had an opportunity of attending the instruction of the Christian teachers in that great city. Bran, and others of the family, were added to the list of Christian converts. On their return, they introduced the Christian religion with them into their country. On account of this signal event, Bran, the son of Llyr-Llediaith, is called one of the three blessed sovereigns of the island of Britain, with Lleirwg and Cadwaladr; and his family was also ranked with those of Brychan and Cunedda, under the appellation of the three holy lineages of Britain. Cyllin, son of Caractacus, is called St. Cyllin, because, I suppose, he, with others of the family, embraced Christianity at that time. Eigen, the daughter of Caractacus, and sister of St. Cyllin, is recorded in the Bonedd y Saint (The Genealogy of the British Saints) as the first female saint among the Britons. She was married to Sarllog, who was Lord of Caer-Sarllog, or the present Old Sarum. This noble family, on their return from Rome, A. D. 70, brought over Ilid, a Jew Christian, and Cyndav, another Christian, to assist in propagating the knowledge of Christianity among the ancient Britons. Towards the close of the second century, Lleirwg, the son of Coel ab Cyllin Sant, called Lleuver Mawr, and Lles, or Lucius, prince of the Silures, formed the laudable design of diffusing the knowledge of the Christian faith generally over his dominions. In order to further the grand design, he sent over to Rome for the assistance of some able teachers; whereupon Eleutherius sent Dyvan, Fagan, Medwy, and Elvan for that purpose. The first Christian church was built by Lleirwg, at Llanday, "under national protection, right, and privilege." On this account, Lleirwg was ranked with Bran and Cadwaladr, under the appellation of the three blessed princes of the isle of Britain. The place where Elvan taught was Yanys y Vallon, or the present Glastonbury. Fagan has a church dedicated to him in Glamorganshire. The following wise saying of Fagan, is still preserved, "Lle taw Duw nid doeth yngan;" "Where God is silent, it is not wise to speak." Dyvan was great-grandson of Manawydan, son of Bran. Of Medwy we have no further particulars, but that he came over with the other three from Rome. This account is found in authentic documents still extant in the ancient British language, called, "Trioedd Ynys Prydain," the Welsh Triads; and "Bonedd y Saint," the Genealogy of the British Saints. It adds to the authenticity of these ancient records, that they were composed before the introduction of Popery among the Welsh, and were preserved incorrupted by being introduced into the popish legends in succeeding ages. See the above names in the Cambrian Biogra phy, by Mr. W. Owen, F. A, S. ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF RELIGIOUS BOOKS AMONG SEAMEN. Mr. Editor, No class of our countrymen deserves more of our attention than our seamen. Their lives are often exposed to danger in our defence. All descriptions of persons among us perceive their importance, and are grateful for their valuable services. Monuments are to be erected to the memory of a great naval hero; and a liberal supply has been contributed for the widows and orphans of sailors fallen in the defence of their country. While a grateful nation thus pays respect to the memory of their deceased heroes, those who still remain to fight our battles and carry on our commerce, ought to be the objects of our peculiar attention. Let us think of their situation. While their lives are in jeopardy in the deep places of the sea, the souls of many of them are ready to perish. The few among them who are disposed to attend the public ordinances of religion, are, for the greater part of the season, deprived of an opportunity. But the religious among us may use some means to promote their spiritual welfare. To disperse among them Bibles and Religious Tracts, would, under the blessing of God, be subservient to this purpose. Besides the Holy Scriptures, the writer of this article begs leave to name and recommend two books that seem well adapted to promote the spiritual benefit of seamen. The first is a tract entitled, An Address to Seamen.". It was published a long time ago by James Janeway; and has been republished in Scotland, with several improvements, by the Whitburn Tract Society. It has the peculiar advantage of being written in the language of mariners. The other is entitled, "The Traveller," by Mr. James Meikle, Surgeon, Carnwath; printed at Edin burgh, 1805. This work was written by the worthy author in the cock-pit of a man of war. Many of its meditations are dated from ports well known to our seamen. Many of the subjects of which it treats were suggested by events which often happen at sea; while, throughout the whole work, many allusions are made to the conduct of seamen. The well-written life of the author by the Rev. J. Peddie, prefixed to the work, cannot fail to entertain and instruct those who have been placed in similar circumstances with Mr. Meikle*. Next to the word of God, which has the exclusive excellence of being adapted to all descriptions of persons, it is humbly presumed that there are no books in the English language more directly adapted to the spiritual welfare of British Seamen than these above mentioned. It is, therefore, suggested and earnestly recommended to the reglious and affluent, to circulate gratis these works among sea-faring people as they have opportunity. By using this mean of conveying religious instruction, they will, in the best manner, express their gratitude to those who are engaged in our defence, and the blessing of many ready to perish will come upon them. W. C W. F. In addition to these works, we beg leave to recommend for the same purpose, Flavel's Navigation Spiritualized, and Ryther's Seaman's Preacher, originally recommended by Mr. Janeway, above mentioned, and since by the Rev. J. Newton, and several other ministers. Mr. Newton's Life also is a most suitable piece to be presented to a sailor. Among tracts we recollect No. 46, of the Publications of the Tract Society, and the Greenwich Pensioner, by Dr. Hawker. A HINT. THE various plans that have been laid before the public, through your very valuable publication, for the spread of religi ous knowledge, having generally succeeded, I beg leave to add one more, which has lately occurred to my mind. It is well known that the number of deaths greatly exceed those of the births in all our great cities and towns, but especially in London; and that the number of inhabitants is kept up by supplies from the villages and hamlets. The use I would make of this is, to recommend to these additional inhabitants, not to forget their country kindred and acquaintance, but to send to them some means of religious instruction. I have known the Evangelical Magazine thus to have been very gratefully received, and to have been productive of much good and religious books would doubtless be better received by our villagers, and more attentively read, were they the gift of a relative or friend, than if put into their hands by a mere stranger. W. I. QUERY. SEEKTRUTH will be extremely happy if some of your valuable and learned Correspondents will favour him with their thoughts on the 25th and following verses of the 18th Chapter of Ezekiel; also on the 4th, 5th, and 6th verses of the 6th Chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews. MR. WILLIAM SMITH, A well-known respectable printer, of King Street, Seven Dials, died without one hour's previous apprehension of his great change being at hand, on Thursday, August 21st, about eight o'clock in the evening. Mr. S. had been long known in the religious world as a serious, peaceable, and ornamental Christian. He told the writer of this, a few days. before his death, that it had pleased the Lord to impress his heart with the importance of eternal realities under the preaching of the gospel at Tottenham Court chapel, about forty-two years ago, when he was thirteen years of age. Thus brought, by the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit, to seek the Lord in early life, he found the religion of Jesus to be his daily support and consolation. He was remarkable for diligent attention to business; but was also fervent in spirit serving the Lord. His first religious connections were formed with the peopic of Tottenham Court chapel. From the commencement of that useful institution, called "The Sick Man's Friend," held at that place, he had not only been a member of the society, but, for many years, a steady, sympathizing visitor of the afflicted poor, for whose relief the society was formed. For several of the latter years of his life he was one of the managers of the Adelphi chapel, well known to all the ministers who havé occasionally supplied that place, and greatly beloved by many of them, as a generous friend, and a steady affectionate Christian. His whole conduct as a manager, was very satisfactory to his brethren who acted with him; and the congregation at large will readily bear witness to his integrity, disinterestedness, and assiduons altention to the continuance of the pare gospel among them. He exerted himself with laudable zeal and perseverance to obtain respect able evangelical preachers; and he enjoyed the exalted satisfaction of knowing that the Lord blessed their labours to the conversion of many sinners, and to the edification of them For who believed through grace. a long time Mr. S. had been subject at intervals, to violent spasms and palpitations of the heart. Those sensations naturally led him to think that he should not live long ; and that probably his death would be sudden. But little did he suppose, a few hours before his dissolution, that the solema moment of his departure was so near at hand. “In the midst of life we are in death." On the evening of the day of his death, he left his own house in Seven Dials, a little after seven o'clock, as well as usual. He walked to Camden Town to his lodgings, where he generally slept on account of his health. There he was taken ill; and being alone, left the house, and saw a person who was going to London in a single horse-chaise, whom he requested to take him to the Seven Dials, as he was very unwell. Having got into the chaise, he, a few minutes after, complained of being very hot and extremely ill. He then unbuttoned his waistcoat, leaned his head on the man's shoulder who was in the chaise, and instantly expired. How solemnly does this awful providence speak to all readers of the account, "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh." But his absence from the body was doubtless succeeded by immediate admission into the presence of the Lord. His mortal remains were committed to the dust in the presence of a numerous multitude of weeping spectators, at the buryingground of the chapel, in which his mind was first impressed with the necessity of attending to eternal realities. Mr. Slatterie, of Chatham, addressed the people who were present on the melancholy occasion, and on Lord's Day, August 31st, improved the solemn providence in a funeral sermon from 1 Thess. iv. 13, 14, to a crowded and attentive audience at the Adelphi chapel As the funeral procession moved along the streets, numbers of persons who witnessed the impressive scene, said, as he passed them, There goes a poor man's friend. OBITUARY MISS CATHERINE ANDERSON, The child informed her. KINGSLAND ROAD. A BEFORE this dear child was five she would frequently years of age, make enquiries of her parents about God, and assured them that she loved prayer; but said, as she was not able to pray aright, she wished her mother would teach her. short prayer was taught her, which she used with great earnestness; and soon began to add words to it of her own. About this time her grandmother was often visited in her last illaess by a pious minister, whom the child would follow unperceived into the room, and, kneeling down behind the curtain, there continue till prayer was ended; and then observe to her parents that she understood the prayers. When her grandmother died, she addressed an elder sister, who sorrowed much, in words of comfort, telling her it was wrong to grieve, for her grand mama was gone to Heaven to be with God, where she would sing praises and be happy for ever. She was particularly fond of hymns; and when five years old, could repeat a great number. From that time till she was seven, her friends were astonished at the rapid advancement she made in different kinds of knowledge; especially in the knowledge of divine things. She seized every opportunity for asking questions; and never seemed so happy as when engaged in religious duties. Some of the family laughing at her one day for being so attentive to religion, she said firmly, that she would pray seven times a day, because she read it was David's practice. When about six years old, her sister, talking about some who were in affliction, said, she wondered why God afflicted good people. She answered, God afflicts wicked people because he is angry with them; and good people he afflicts, to make them better. About the same time she was learning one of Dr. Watts's hymns about worshipping idols of wood and stone, and asking what that meant; on its being explained, she observed, with astonishment, "What! pray to them! how stupid!" A relation at this moment opening the door, asked her what was stupid? Indeed, said the relation, that was stupid. replied, How do you know that, She took great delight in reading Mr. R. Hill's little hymnbook she made her constant companion; often took it out of her pocket and read, and stored in her memory many of its hymns. Often in her chamber, when retiring to rest, she was found in a flood of tears; and though she would tell the reason to none bat her mother, to her she would say, it was because she felt herself so great a siuner; and then desired she would talk to her of spiritual things, tell her more of Jesus, and pray with her. In the spring of the year 1802, when she was just turned seven years of age, it pleased the Lord to visit her with a violent nervous So severe fever, so that her life, for some time, was despaired of. was this disorder, that, for the space of a fortnight, she took no nourishment but cold water. In this illness, when her friends thought they should lose her, her father said to her, one day as she was folding her arms round his neck, 0, Do you love your father?' dear papa," she replied, "I love you, and I love all my friends, but I love my God better." This fever so injured her memory, that, when she recovered, she had lost the power of recollecting every text and every hymn that she before had committed to memory; but she had not lost her desire for the best things. When she was about eight years old, her father bought a Bible, small enough for the pocket; and she never forgot to carry it about with her as long as her strength would permit. Her memory, after some time, was restored; and though she could never recal the kyns she had committed before her illness, yet she learned many others of Watts, Doddridge, and Newton. She |