house may be furnished with this celestial guest, the cabin of the mariner is suffered to escape our notice; and he is passed by without an exertion made to lay before him this chart to the haven of eternal felicity.

I am well aware that there is already a society established for the express purpose of distributing Bibles to our Sailors and Soldiers; and that its efforts have been great, and much good done. But as this Society is confined to the supply of the wants of those serving on board his Majesty's ships, to the exclusion of those in the merchants' service; and as, in consequence of the peace, thousands are discharged from the navy, who will seek employment in the merchants vessels, I think the attention of the religious public, and the friends of the Bible Society, ought to be speedily directed to this class of persons.

much benefit would be the result. The trifling expense of waterman's fares would be no consideration to the magnitude of that benefit; while a fresh stimulus would be given to persevere in the scattering of the seed of the word of God. And I trust the anticipation of the many delightful instances of good to be recorded at our anniversaries, produced by this plan, will animate every heart, fill every bosom with benevolent joy, and cause its immediate adoption throughout our societies. Should there, however, appear insuperable obstacles to the general adoption of this plan; yet, where it is practicable, I hope the hint will be received with attention, and the attempt made.

Incalculable would be the good derived from the conversion of every sailor: he would display the influence of the doctrines of the Bible wherever he went. A pious sailor is a missionary; we may consider him as a preacher of righteousness in every country he sails to.

And this may be done, I apprehend, without the formation of another Society for this express object. It may be accomplished by the dif It is related of Colonel Gardiner, ferent Bible Associations and So- that whenever he reviewed his recieties formed to aid the Parent giment, he caused every man on Society, by a reservation of part of presenting his arms for inspection their funds to meet this new and, to hold up his Bible; and was careif persevered in, encreasing de- ful also to know whether they read mands. For instance, the South- it.-Alas, how many masters of veswark Society is divided into seve- sels put to sea without one! I have ral associations. Some of these in- thought that, patronized as is the clude the Banks of the Thames; and Bible Society, and encouraged by as doubtless many of its ardent the government of the country in friends' occupations call them fre- the free circulation of the Scripquently on the river, they would tures, an order might be obtained have an opportunity of ascertaining that no vessel should be allowed to the wants of the vessels lying off clear out at the Custom-House, their district, and obtaining the without producing the Ship's Bible captain's, mate's, or seamen's sub- to the clearing officer. scription for a Bible. The River need only be taken from London Bridge to Woolwich; the space in which ships unload and take on board their cargoes. On each side of the river there are Bible Societies established; and were committees formed among those socie- are thereby bound by the strongest ties for this express purpose (call- ties of gratitude, ing themselves the Ships' Commit

In the humble hope that these feeble hints may excite the zeal of Christians to extend the Redeemer's kingdom among a class of persons who have long kept a haughty and inveterate foe from invading our peaceful shores, and to whom we

tee, or otherwise) I feel persuaded Bermondsey.

I remain, &c.

C. L.

MRS. VINCENT.

In a Letter from the Rev, Mr. Vincent, her Husband, to the Rev. Mr. Young, of Margate, who preached her Funeral Sermon.]

My dear Brother,

Deal, Dec. 19, 1815.

WITH much esteem I read your friendly letter, and feel grateful for your kindness in so readily complying with the wishes of my dear departed wife, connected with my own. You will keep in mind that she desired not any encomiums to be passed upon her. She had in contemplation the spiritual benefit of others, in requesting that a funeral sermon might be preached. With regard to materials, I have already stated the text which she chose (Phil. i. 23.) Perhaps, the most eligible method I can adopt in furnishing you with materials, will be to give you a few of her own words, at different times, during her affliction; which will enable you to judge of the state of her mind.

She was confined to her chamber almost 23 weeks, and nearly as long to her bed. About 16 years ago, it pleased God to commence a work of grace upon her heart, which gradually appeared in her walk and conversation. From the commencement of her last affliction her mind was calm and peaceful, manifesting no anxiety to live, nor any distressing fears of death. Natural ties," she said, "make me rather wish to live than die." With regard to her hope of eternal life, Christ was the sole ground thereof. She saw herself a ruined sinner, and looked to the great Redeemer alone for salva

when her eyes were closed in sleep.
Instead of murmuring, she reflected
on the sufferings of Christ, and
thought her own not worthy to be
named. After perspiring very pro-
fusely, she said,-" I sweat,-but not
What must Christ
drops of blood.
have suffered when he sweat drops
of blood!" Sometimes she expressed
her fears lest she should be a hypo-
crite;

66

"Yet, surely," said she, now that I consider myself to be near death, I cannot be acting the hypocrite.' 'Search me, O God, and try me,' &c. As her affliction was protracted, she gained a deeper sense of sin, and of her own sinfulness, than at any former period of her life. Upon this subject she said, "I see myself a great sinner :--1 am full of sin." I once heard her, in my study, singing; I stepped to her, and asked what was the subject of her song: she answered, with tears,—

66

My grief and burden long have been, Because I could not cease from sin.”

At an after-period I observed, her in a most fervent prayer to God,wrestling, with tears. I asked her for what she'so earnestly prayed; she said, That I may be entirely resigned to the will of God, and be kept from murmuring.

When extremely weak and low, her mind was fixed upon the things of God; looking forward to the hour of death, and contemplating Heaven as a glorious state into which she should enter. She exclaimed,

"Then shall I see, and hear, and know All I desir'd and wish'd below," &c.

It is impossible to describe what appeared to be the feelings of her soul while she dwelt upon the word tion. Under her affliction she clave ETERNAL; which, I suppose, she reto him; and her thoughts were fre- peated twenty or thirty times. When quently employed about him. A full of pain, she said, "To whom short period after she was confined, can I go but unto Thee; the world I entered her chamber, found her is nothing; the things thereof are strength nearly exhausted, and, to nothing to me.-Lord, make me more appearance, not far from the gates of holy! May Christ be unto me righDeath. When able to speak, she ex- teousness, and sanctification, and reclaimed,demption.-Lord, I am afflicted; yet I hope I can say Thy will be done;' -here I am,-do with me as seemeth good to thee.-May God be glorified! I see myself a sinner, plucked

"Jesus, lover of my soul,

Let me to thy bosom fly," &c. On Jesus she meditated by day and night; and was heard to sing of him

6

as a brand from the fire!-0 what a
mercy!-The Lord," she added, “is
my Shepherd, I shall not want," &c.
When greatly afflicted, she said,
"It is good to be afflicted; therefore
it is good to have this pain in my
body. When undressed (about to
go to bed) and extremely feeble,
her words were, "None can do me
good but Christ, my Father, - my
Friend, my everlasting All: Oh,
that is a mercy!"-When in much
pain, she said, "If it be thy will,
take me to thyself; yet I would not
have a will of my own: I would say
Not my will, but thine be done.

With regard to gratitude, she was sensible that it was not in her power to praise God as she ought for his goodness. "I cannot,' said she, "praise Thee as I would.-Oh, He is a gracious God!" Speaking of her withered limbs (she was at this time almost a skeleton): "I would not," said she, "exchange them."

‹ Poor, weak, and worthless, though I am,

I have a rich Almighty friend; (Jesus the Saviour is his name) He freely loves, and without end.' "I want to love him more; want to be swallowed up in him."

ner.

I

To her dear children she spake in a most affecting manner; and a time of weeping indeed it was.→ Pray," said she to them, "that God would take the stony heart out of your flesh, and give you an heart of flesh; —say, God be merciful to me a sinShe spoke to them of her own experience when she first sought the Lord,-how fervently she then prayand ed,the pleasure she found, the relief she thereby gained. When speaking to me of her affliction, and of the circumstances which led to it, so far was she from murmuring, or uttering an impatient word, that she adored God for his goodness, in making her an heir of eternal glory. "be God for Blessed," said she, his renewing grace, his abundant mercy, and his everlasting love."

66

But, my dear brother, I must not go on with a statement of words which proceeded from her lips, which are now for ever closed. Her happiHess seemed great ;-she would break forth into singing and praising God. Early in the morning she would sit up in her bed, and speak of the

things of Christ. She was remark-
ably attentive to the providence of
God toward me, as well as toward her-
self in the time of her affliction;
and such friends as were particularly
attentive (they were not few) became
much endeared to her; but she did
not, in surveying human kindness,
lose sight of Him who rendered
friends friendly. She viewed God as
the Donor of all good; and remarked,
that he does all things well. Speak-
ing to me, and of me, she said,-
"What a mercy is it that you are
Could I make the
not weary of me.
congregation, or even the whole
world, hear me, I would tell them of
your kindness; but," she added,
can give you up for Christ."

During the last day she spent upon earth she spoke but little. In the morning, she said to one of her sisters that she was comfortable; and being asked, in the afternoon, how she did, she said again that she was comfortable. About half an hour before she died, I asked her how she found her mind; to which she answered, " Tolerable." She spoke to

me no more.

In it I

I can truly say, the chamber in which she was afflicted and expired, and in which I spent much of the last twenty weeks, appeared soinething like a little heaven. shed many tears; some of which were tears of joy. God was gracious to her, to me, and to all my family. Indeed I told Brother Chapman, of Greenwich, who came to see us, that Mrs. V. and myself had never been more happy than during her affliction. The last days we spent togebest days; and I ther were our think we lived more to the glory of Him, to whom we were indebted for our many mercies.

I am, &c. JOHN VINCENT.

JUVENILE DEPARTMENT.

ELIZABETH HEAKES

Appeared much indisposed, and complained of a pain in her head on the first Sabbath in May, 1811; continued much the same until the Monday føllowing, when she had some comfortable sleep. When she awoke, she said "I am going to die. I will pray to

19

God Almighty. I am going to Heaven." Seeing her mother weep, she said "Don't cry; kneel down and pray I love to hear my mother pray." She would often express her love to her parents; and when asked if she did not love Jesus Christ, she would reply, "I love Him better." At one time she was asked why she lowed him; she said, Because he will take me to Heaven." Thus it appeared that she loved him because he first loved her, and was pleased to favour her with a manifestation of it before he took her to himself. She was very patient, and perfectly sensible to the last. She would at times say, My head pains me: I am very weak" and in general add. "Pray with me, mother." In this painful, though happy state, she continued three weeks. Aud when told of the love of the Saviour to poor sinners and to little children when upon earth, the tears would flow, and her countenance express that she felt what she was unable to explain. Her father, who was watching the last convulsive struggles, observed them cease; and with a sweet heavenly smile she expired. It may, indeed, be said of her, that with a smile upon her face she passed the important hour of death, aged two years and seven months. Out of the mouth of this babe, O God, thou hast perfected praise.

S. H.

She

kept from sinking under the severe
trial, and from utter despair.
prayed often, and frequently read the
Bible, sometimes aloud; while the
youngest child, then little above two
years of age, listened, enquired, and
endeavoured to sooth her mother;
expressing a desire to supply the
place of Katharine. Being of a de-
licate constitution, and frequently
ailing; blessed with a ready mind
and docile temper, Anne was much
with her mother, and solicited in-
struction as to the important truths
which were read to her; and it was
cheerfully given. Though treated
with indulgence, she was obedient
and submissive to her parents. She
delighted in prayer, and in religious
conversation; and could repeat many
psalms and hymns. It was her cus-
tom to repeat a psalm or hymn
every morning and evening at the
end of her prayers. She usually ex-
pressed the last verse of the 23d
Psalm thus:-"And in God's house
for evermore, Anne's dwelling-place
shall be." In the evening she fro
quently repeated the hymn,—

Or

"Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,
Look on me a little child," &c.
the hymn,——

"And, now another day is past,

;

I'll sing my Maker's praise," &c. soul; and she began it with singing The Lord's Day was delightful to her the hymn," Blest morning," &c. This little child frequently spoke of sin and the Saviour;-of Heaven; of God's omniscience, purity, and kindness; and of the Resurrection. She acknowledged the depravity of her heart, yet modestly avowed her love to Jesus; and scores of times took leave of her mother at night, with these words:-"Christ came to give his life a ransom for many.blessed news, mother, blessed news!" She often said, that Katharine was gone to God; and that her father, and mother, and herself would soon be with her sister, and with God. On the 2d of January, Anne was indisposed; and it was discovered, on the 3d, that she had the measles. Medical aid was procured, and no feverish symptoms appeared till the morning of the 5th. She died that

ANNE WEDDERSPOON WAS the only surviving child of Mr. and Mrs. Wedderspoon, Castle Street, Leicester Square, who are members of the Rev. Mr. Jerment's congregation, Oxendon Chapel. About two years and a half ago, they were deprived of another and elder girl, Katharine, at the early age of five years and seven months. She enjoyed a religious education, and had good satisfying evidence of saving acquaintance with Jesus Christ. Her amiable temper and sudden death made the trial very heavy to the parents; especially to Mrs. Wedderspoon, whose maternal feelings are uncommonly acute and warm. The sore bereavement occasioned serious self-examination and harassing evening with placidity, and fell doubts with respect to the state of asleep, we trust, in Jesus, at the age her own soul; but was mercifully of four years and eight months.

Mr. Editor,

FRENCH PROTESTANTS.

THE Edict of Nantes, given in favour of the Reformed Churches by Henry IV. on the 2d of May, 1598, though frequently infringed, was, on the whole, tolerably well oberved during the life and reign of Henry. -But no sooner was he sent out of the world, by the paricidical hand of a disciple of the Jesuits, but the Reformed found their urgent want of him. Though they had now and then some sprinklings of court holy-water, yet the old implacable malice of the Popish Clergy broke out against them, and, at their instigation, Louis XIII. took away their cautionary towns, deprived them of their franchises, and of those salaries, for which the churches had compounded with his father. The time of their total ruin was not yet come. God gave them mercy in the midst of judgment; and the foreign political designs of Louis inducing him to calm and soothe his oppressed subjects at home, he issued a proclamation of grace and pardon to them, from Nismes, July, 1629. This Edict, as all others given by former kings, was observed no farther than it pleased them. Many complaints were made by the deputies of the Reformed, and now and then small favours were granted to stop their mouths. In this state of depression they remained during the life of Louis XIII. but on his death, in 1642, and the commencing Regency, brighter prospects opened to their view. In July, 1643, the queenmother and council, published a declaration in their favour.

In those difficult times, when the Prince of Condé aspired to the crown, the Reformed stood by the interests of

XXIV.

Louis XIV. and rendered very material service in placing the crown on his head. This important service be acknowledged in an Edict, dated May, 1652. In this Edict, he ratified all foriner Edicts in their favour; and declared, We will and déclare, that it is our pleasure that our subjects of the said pretended Reformed religion shall be maintained, especially in the free and public worship and exercise of their religion; and we will that transgressors of this Edict be punished as disturbers of the public peace.'

Every where the deserts of the Reformed were proclaimed. The q queenmother herself acknowledged, that they had preserved the government for herself and her young son: but the enemies of the Reformed, with an incredible wickedness, made this great service of theirs in saving the king and the kingdom, the precise and proper cause of their ruin, and of all those evils which have since befallen them. Their adversaries and the Popish Clergy, constantly instilling into the mind of the king and the court, that venomous doctrine,That if upon one occasion the Reformed could save the state, on another they might overthrow it-that, therefore, the party must be suppressed, and the good they had done only be regarded as an indication of the mischief they were capable of effecting.' This diabolical policy took with the ungrateful court; and as soon as the kingdom was settled in peace, the design was set on foot of destroying the reformed churches; and that it might be clearly understood that it was their zeal and loyalty for the king which had ruined them, those cities which had given the noblest instances, were first assaulted. Rochel was exhausted by proscriptions, and her best ministers and citizens were driven into exile. Montauban and Milhand, were sacked by soldiers.

It would be difficult to give an exact account of the various methods used for their destruction, till at length the Edict of Nantes was publicly and faithlessly revoked. The malice of their enemies was exceedingly fruitful in plotting and contriving mischiefs for twenty years together. I shall mention but a few.

[To be concluded in our next.]
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