in the year 1771, went into that of the late Mr. Welch, upon his separating from Mr. Fuller and establishing the house in Cornhill, into which Mr. Olding was sometime after received as a partner, and continued so till his death. His remains were interred in the family burying-place under the Dissenters' Meeting-house in Butt-Lane, Deptford; on which occasion an appropriate funeralservice was given with much affection by his long-esteemed friend the Rev. Samuel Palmer, of Hackney. He was three times married, and has left a widow; also four surviving children by his second wife. Whilst they cherish their father's memory with filial reverence and affection, may they copy his example, and enjoy an equal portion of the esteem in which he was held by the wise and good of every denomination! MARY PLENTY DIED, at Southampton, Feb. 25, 1804, aged 77. Forty-three years of her life were spent in ignorance and unbelief. She was married when young, and carried on a profitable trade in smuggled goods; and was much addicted to common swearing, Sabbath-breaking, &c. Occasionally, however, she attended divine service at her parish church; and thought herself a good Christian and a sound believer. Having been confined many weeks by domestic afliction, she intended to revisit her church, and return to her duty; but finding an article in her dress out of repair, she was ashamed to make her appearance; but, as she had not been to any place of wors ip for a long time, she was induced to attend evening lecture at the meeting, hoping that her dress would not be observed. We hearing the minister, she found her prejudices against Dissenters, strong and voient as they had always been, give way she approved, but knew not why. She attended again, and again. At length, however, a sentence, conceruing unbelief, as the greatest of all sins, made such an impression on her mind, as never to be forgotten. She began immediately to pray in secret; S and a total alteration in her character and conduct became evident from that day. Her fierce and daring temper was tamed, and her hard heart was melted with the love of God. Seldom, perhaps, has that passage, Jer. xxiii. 9, been more signally verified, " is not my word like as a fire, saith the Lord, and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" By reading the Scripture, she was soon convinced of the unlawfulness of her dealing in smuggled goods; and, though it was a lucrative trade, without any hesitalion she laid it aside, and took up the laborious business of washing, in which she continued indefatigable, amidst increasing infirmities, to the conclusion of her life. Her husband, though no friend to religious people, was constrained to acknowledge, that she was certainly much better than ever she was before; and the minister of the parish, who was an open-hearted man, also declared, that" Mr. had done more, in reforming that woman in a little time, than he had been able "to do in many years." She imbibed the great truths of the gospel with surprizing facility and delight; she was very soon enabled clearly to discriminate the doctrines of free and sovereign grace from those cloudy mixtures of error with which some serious persons obscure them; and though she most sincerely loved all serious people, yet she bore her testimony against every sentiment that tended to exalt the pride of man, and to degrade the riches of divine mercy; at the same time she was a strong advocate for genuine and universal holiness, as the natural fruit and evidence of a living faith. Though naturally of a very high, stubborn spirit, she was made humble, gente, compassionate; and endured distress.ng family afflictions, and most bitter persecutions, with wonderful serenity. While she feared not the face of any person in the cause of truth and righteousness, superiors were always treated with suitabic respect: but she flattered no one; she spoke her mind with simplicity and freedom; and rebuked what she thought amiss, with such plain fidelity and such evident kind OBITUARY. ness, as seldom or never to give any Her attendance on public worship Mrs. Plenty was much respected by her superiors, and looked up to by her equals as a mother in Israel. She took great pains to bring her children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Her eldest daughter greatly profied by her tuition, and became in early life a member of the church. She died in the Lord, many years ago. When Mrs. Plenty was seized with her last illness, she expressed her fears lest she should again recover; though, with humble resignation to the will of God, she used every means for the restoration of her health. During her confinement for three months, she constantly expressed her assured hope in Christ; and though enduring severe pains, increasing debility, and wearisome nights, yet never uttered a murmuring word, but generally maintained her wonted vivacity of spirit. For many years she had been harrassed by a very peculiar domestic trouble, which of fate prevented her enjoyment of meetings for prayer, and visiting her friends. This also, for a long season, she bore with signal fortitude. At length, however, her enfeebled frame sunk under the weight, and she fell under the dreadful influence of a nervous fever, which occasioned sleepless nights, and those terrifying feelings, which some have justly called "the Horrors." She, who before was longing for the arrival of Death, now trembled at the thoughts of his approach. In the midst of all this distress, and still enduring, in a degree more aggravated than ever, the domestic trouble before alluded to, she told her minis 77 ter, she doubted not that all these bringing down of her high spirit and things were intended for the thorough self-will; and, indeed, her soul bechild. Her confidence in Christ was came quiet and submissive as a weaned assuredly believed, that "him that never permitted to fail; she still clave to the Lord with purpose of heart, and cometh unto Christ, he will in nowise cast out." This emboldened her to say to her minister, in his last visit, "Sir, it is against the whole scope of "divine revelation, that my soul "should be lost.' Many of her dying sayings might they were all tinctured with the hube recorded; but let it suffice to say, mility, patience, resignation, and confidence of the ripened Christian, ready to be gathered into the Lord's garner. A friend, who visited her, said, believed.' You still know in whom you have "Yes," she answered; "I can say, Come, Lord Jesus." This tered; soon after which she fell into was one of the last sentences she utobserved by her daughter to be ena state of extreme debility, but was gaged in secret acts of fervent prayer and praise. After taking the last potion, she fell into gentle slumber, and continued in it for several hours; til, at 'ength, notwithstanding all her former distressing fears about the agonies of dying, her spirit was dismissed in peace, and "received the "end of her faith, the salvation of of her funeral sermon. "her soul;" which was the subject RECENT DEATH. departed this life, the Rev. John REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. A Charge at the Primary Visitation of the Rev. Archdeacon of Sarum, July 1805. By the Rev. C. Daubeny. 8vo, Is. We review with pleasure the Charge of Mr. Archdeacon Daubeny; and should rejoice if every clergyman in his deanry were roused up by it to the diligence and fidelity which he recommends; and by their life, labours, and evangelical teaching, prevent the blue-aproned men from making inroads on their congregations. He may rest assured, that it is not by bitterness and abuse against Methodists and Calvinists that the awful defections he complains of can be prevented; but, contrariwise, they will be greatly promoted. Common people have as good common sense as their betters. All ranks of life, the inferior as well as superior, have much advanced in intellectual improvement, have been led to read the Scriptures with greater diligence, and to examine the appeals made to the established system of doctrines. Till these are changed, it is impossible, in manifold instances, but they must decide who preach the Articles in their literal and obvious sense; and it will be still more evident to the most superficial observer, whose lives appear most holy and heavenly,-their own pastors, or the preachers whom they abuse; and whose labours display the greatest zeal and diligence for the good of mens' souls. What is the doctrine of all the reformed churches, as well as our own, the delegates of the Clarendon press have shewn in the Sylloge Confessionum, just published; and well wor. thy of the attention of such clergymaen, and of the Archdeacon himself. Hle will find that Mr. Overton, the presbyter, and their fellows are not singular. The Helvetic, the Augsburgh, the Saxon, the Belgic Confession, the Heidelbergh Catechism, the Canons of Dort, thus brought into observation, as the genuine interpreters of the doctrine of the reformed churches, will furnish Mr. Daubeny, Dr. Kipling, and the Bishop of Lincoln, &c. with fresh testimonies to refute, and high authorities to reject. But, assuming the pleasing task of commendation, let Mr. Daubeny have deserved praise for what he hath said (P. 24, 25): - If the clergy expect to "receive credit for nothing but the real intrinsic value" of their discourses, considered in an evangelical sense, according to the Articles, Homilies, and Liturgy, with due combination of doctrine and practice, considered as essentially connected with each other," in order" to raise the character of the Christian professor to that standard which constitutes the perfection of the gospel system," assuredly they will he heard with reverence and attention, and the dangers apprehended be averted; for (p. 18) the "candlestick of the Lord, we may rest assured, will never be removed from any country, whilst it continues to furnish its proper degree of light." "The present growing separation from the communion of the Church of England will cease, when (p. 26.) the savour of true piety and spiritual mindedness, a zeal for God, and for the good of souls," are (as they ought to be) the distinguishing characteristics of an evangelical ministry." Euge! Live them down, and preach thein down; there will soon be fewer Separatists, and need for fewer new places of public worship to be erected. Our Wherever we may differ from the Archdeacon, so far happily we are agreed; and, if in love and the spirit of meekness we meet in points most essential, less stress may be laid on external modes and forms. That "our venerable church exhibits the most perfect specimen of primitive discipline, in reformed Christendom," seems a somewhat hasty assertion, when reformers, in the Commination Service, lament the inability to exercise primtive discipline. The very multiplied instances everywhere existing, of open and notorious immorality, unchecked and unpunished in ministers as well as their people, is truly lamentable, and manifests that we have really no discipline at all. The most avowed profigate or infidel, even he who comes to the table of the Lord only to qualify for an office, can neither be censured nor refused without inconvenience, such as few dare expose themselves to; and the presentations made, or rather never made, by the appointed wardens of the church, shew the hopeless state of the correction of immorality, and the general abhorrence of spiritual courts. However, take the church as it is, whilst her Articles, Homilies, and Li REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. turgy are truly enforced in their genuine sense, we may look far without finding a better. 79 ed satyr upon the conduct of the great majority of mankind, who live as if they were without souls; or, in the quaint language of an old divine, “ As if they had no souls to mind, or no mind to save their souls." M. a Christian veteran, observing that his young ward, Gustavus, is astonished at the assertion of a Spanish writer, "that the Americans have no souls," proposes to leave their residence of St. Foy, in Switzerland, and travel to see the great city of O which is said to be inhabited by men without souls. Our English readers will suspect this city to be not very far off, when they see the account of their voyage. "They had no sooner lost one shore, than the giant cliffs of the other met their eye." As a Sabbath in a World without Souls must be a curiosity, we shall indulge our readers with a Sunday's excursion (p. 19-24.) "It was on the morning of Sunday, that Gustavus first opened his eyes in O. He had some difficulty in convincing himself that the elements were not convulsed. The darkness to him, who had never quitted Switzerland, was at most supernatural; and the sound of coaches seemed like subterraneous thunder. The footsteps around him were loud and incessant. "This people seem to have bodies," he said. If the perilous times were to be apprehended as come" when the number of Christians without the walls of the church shall exceed, in any degree, that of those assembled within them," the Archdeacon is certainly fallen into those unhappy days. We do not know the extent of his information; but ours is fully conclusive on the subject. We presume, by Christians, at least he means those who constantly attend divine worship, and conscientiously assemble at the Lord's Table. All the magnificent churches in London, we fear, contain not, habitu-sight of the fat and lazy plains, on the ally, a number equal to those who assemble in Methodistic or Dissenting chapels and meeting-houses; and in the number and frequency of communicants, the disproportion is still greater; and it is the same in all the populous and manufacturing towns in the kingdom; and we are assured, through all the principality of Wales the disproportion is inumense. There must be some deep radical cause; and he will deserve highly of the Church of England, who shall candidly, and with as little prejudice as possible, investigate the evil, and prescribe the most lenient and effectual methods of cure. As things at present seem proceeding, we have every reason to apprehend the defection will increase, through the ill-applied severities and discouragements shown to some of the most active in the church, who labour in the word and doctrine, and maintain a numerous congregation in their churches, which is often imputed to them as a crime; and, in a multitude of well-known instances, they have been driven from their cures ; and their congregations irritated to forsake the walls where Ichabod is written. Would to God our Church-rulers would deeply and seriously consider this matter before the consequences follow which the Archdeacon apprehends. They would, no doubt, ere this have begun, if a generous toleration, which no wise ruler will infringe, had not afforded a peaceful asylum. A World without Souls. Price 2s. 6d. THIS is the production of no ordinary pen. The title, intentionally enigmatical, at first suggested the idea of an attack upon the system of Materialism; but we were soon undeceived. The public will here and a keen point "It was some consolation to him to hear the note of a distant bell, which hailed the dawning of the Sabbath. I know not whether sounds move in lines or circles; but those who would know the way to the heart would do well to follow them. Gustavus was transported in a moment to St. Foy, and in a moment forgot 0. its noises and its bells, in her rocks, in that small and single bell to which they echoed, and in her whom his memory ever summoned when he thought of any thing he loved. He saw her with her circle of little mountaineers around her, teaching them how praise might be perfected, even from lips such as theirs. It was a moment favourable to the sex; such a mood there is even a prodigality in our good humour. They have souls," said be," though he of Mecca might not know it." 66 in "In the course of the morning their inclinations and habits forced them into a church, whose door stood open to allure the unwary passenger. The person which occupied the pulpit was a shadow: the voice was delicate, the articulation acute. This is Nature's doing," said Gustavus. Perhaps his own,' replied M. He "Fashion would have dressed herself in this mirror, that is, if Taste bad not taught her to abhor excess. preached languidly for eleven minutes, prayed more languidly for two, and then dismissed his audience with a cold eye, and whispered benediction. "The sermons of St. Foy," said Gustavus," are longer." Eleven minutes,' answered M. would ill satisfy ears greedy of intelligence from Heaven. Such sermons are a kind of spiritual apparition: they do not touch the heart, but glide thro' the chambers of it. Such galloping divinity would not be endured at St. Foy. But then its inhabitants have souls: the preacher of to-day knows his audience have none. them like creatures who have nothing more than instincts; who can perch, He but cannot settle upon a subject. wounds them flying, as he does his game.' "Did he intend then, do you imagine, to wound at all ?" He treats Nothing was To be idle them un Why, that is true. farther from 'his thoughts. himself, he must keep awakened.' "His gown," said G. "possibly conceals his tail." But,' said M. as they paced the street, the sermon is worthy of examination, in order to ascertain the point for which we travel. But we must lower our tones in conversing on this subject; for this people have the same superstitious foible with some of the most renowned Greeks, that of conceiving all grave discourse to be omiThe philosophy of Athens banished even the word Sleep from polite society, because they conceived sleep to be an image of Death.' nous. "But the Greeks had souls." They thought they had none; and the reality and the supposition render The Greeks osmen equally absurd. tracised the word sleep from their territory: this people draw a circle between themselves and the whole vocabulary of religion; and for the same reason, it seems to hint at palls and coffins.' "Are these people then afraid of death?" Even those who think it, as some do (grafting upon the Grecian stock) an eternal sleep, have still their fears of awaking.' "These tailed philosophers," said G. "have strange concerts. A machine for rubbing would scarce reduce such shapes to manhood." But to return,' continued M.: 1f either the preacher or his, andience had souls, these consequences would follow: The soul is more important than the body; we should, therefore, hear nore of it The soul is eterna!; he would have spoken of eterni y. For the soul's eye there bas heen lighted a star in the east; Would he not have pointed to it? Write the history of such a people, my Gustavus ; What could you say of them?' "I must copy the Spaniard." "As, in the course of conversation, they had returned to the door of the church they had quitted, accident threw in their way the late tenant of the pulpit. G. expressed a strong desire to converse with the first of this race, whom he had seen in canonicals; and M. was equally desirous of gratifying it. They accordingly joined him. And here let me pause to do him justice. He was not the contemptible creature my reader may have figured to himself. If weighed in the balance, by most of the casuists in O. he would not, in their eyes, have been found wanting. G. indeed, from his singular education, measured ecclesiastical qualifications by a very high standard. "They are the ambassadors," he said, "from Heaven to Earth; and must not disgrace the God whom they repreOur divine, however, had sent." passed the university with credit; in other words, he had never been expelled: and, jam demissa rude, he had obtained, and could produce the Bishop's own testimony, printed, signed, and sealed, that he could translate the first verse of the chapter beginning * Βίβλος γενέσεως.” He had, moreover (such are the colossal steps of a Chris tian divine of these latter centuries) laid up in his memory all the texts with which the world are usually acquainted; and the exact manner in which they never fail to apply them. Such a personage could not but wear the laurel, and be pronounced worthy of the high preferment he enjoyed. "He received the address of our travellers with a bow and a smile, which concealed much astonisment. The nil admirari is the property of a great man: the appearance of it, that of a polite one. M. conducted him insensibly to the point on which they wished to converse; and it was then that the hoarded texts of which we spoke, and which had long struggled for birth, were produced. Your principal object then,' said M. in your discourse, is to restrain |