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which she had heard him preach (and which must have been near forty years before), from Rev. i. 7: "Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him: even so, amen;" and she then expressed in strong terms her affection for him, and her sense of his and of Mr. Riland's kind attentions to her. She joined with lively faith and enlarged affection in receiving the tokens of her Saviour's dying love, and this holy communion will long be remembered by those survivors who were privileged to partake of it.

During the last three days of her life she suffered great pain; but as afflictions abounded, consolations abounded also. When compelled to express the severe anguish she felt, she would add," But what are all my sufferings to what my Saviour underwent for me, even for such a poor sinner as I am? To see him hanging on the cross-his tender limbs nailed to the cruel wood; his tender side pierced with the spear; to see him there, bleeding, and dying, and all this for such a poor sinner as I! O what can I render! How can I love him enough! I will love him! I will praise him! I will glorify him!"

satisfaction to what had taken place; and in converse with her daughter, said, "Was not the Lord here yesterday? and is he not here now? O yes, he is! the Lord is here! All tears will soon be wiped away for ever!"

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In this delightful frame, Mrs. M. continued to the very moment of her departure. To recount all the gracious words and heavenly expressions which proceeded from her lips, would far exceed the limits of this memoir, even could they be recollected. There was a joyful anticipation of heavenly felicity; a longing to depart and be with Jesus; a patient submission under severe and grievous trials; a thankful acknowledgment of the kind attentions of ministers, and relatives, and friends; an earnest recommendation of the Saviour to others, and at length a quiet and peaceful dismission. "After a few more severe struggles of expiring nature," says her daughter, "she said, with a faltering voice, will praise thee, my God, for thou art my salvation! All is safe! O praise him for his mighty acts! Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! When unable longer to speak, she lay sweetly composed; and at length, without sigh or groan, fell asleep, on March 9, On another occasion, when Mr. 1822, in the eighty-first year of her R. had been praying with her, she age. Her death was improved by seemed almost overwhelmed with a her faithful and affectionate pastor, sense of the divine presence, and the Rev. E. Burn, in an impresof that glory which should shortly sive sermon from Rev. vii.ˆ13 : be revealed in her. Those who "These are they which came out were then present will not soon of great tribulation, and have cease to remember the scene. It washed their robes, and made seemed as if her happy spirit was them white in the blood of the even then taking its flight to the Lamb." May we be followers of mansions of bliss. On the follow them who, through faith and paing day she referred with delightful tience, inherit the promises!

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TO THE YOUTHFUL READERS OF THE
CHRISTIAN GUARDIAN.

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS,

SEVERAL months have now elapsed since I presented you with

my simple narrative*: and as my only object in offering that to the

*See vol. xiii. p. 271.

public eye was a hope, that, by the divine blessing, some young persons might be constrained to devote themselves more decidedly to the service of God; so now, the same love to immortal souls, and zeal for the glory of my divine Master, again constrain me to address you on a subject of the highest importance both to you and myself.

And now, my dear readers, permit me to urge upon you with earnestness and affection (as one who will soon be called to give an account of the talents committed to her charge), the duty of living close to God. Believe me, we are not sent into this world to find our happiness in it, or to live to ourselves alone. Ah no! its fading joys and frequent disappointments must convince every reflecting mind, that mankind were created for more sublime pursuits and enjoyments of a higher nature than this poor perishing world is capable of affording; and the sincere believer in Jesus experiences greater delights or pleasures, even in this present state of existence, than it is possible for the worldly mind to conceive of, while his prospect beyond the grave is glorious indeed.

But what is the sinner's present happiness? or, what is his future expectation? I will suppose that you are in the full enjoyment of every earthly gratification: well, have you it in your power to retain your present comforts? Alas! no. You are young and healthy; but "sudden destruction" may come upon or overtake you; for " is crushed before the moth," and "he passeth away as a tale that is told." You may be surrounded with affectionate friends; but they

may

man

be taken from you one by one, until you are left friendless and forlorn. You may possess riches, and may say to yourself, These will procure me all things; but we are enjoined in the New Testament not "to trust in uncertain riches;" and

in the Old Testament it is asserted, that "riches certainly make themselves wings and flee away." See also the threatenings denounced against the rich in this world in the three first verses of the fifth chapter of the Epistle of James.

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O be assured that there is nothing in this dying world worth seeking after, compared with the unfading joys of heaven. All, all is vain beside!" Tell me now, candidly, were you ever thoroughly satisfied with any one pleasure of which you have partaken of a worldly nature? (for I never was.) Has there been no disappointment? no pang of remorse succeeding? Can you retire from your various amusements with an easy conscience, and think that you are fit to go to heaven? Depend on it, if you can, you are in the very gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity, and Satan will take care to hold you fast, unless you forsake your evil ways, and seek the Lord with true repentance; for it is impossible to hope for mercy and salvation while we are living in the practice of sin. Perhaps you are ashamed of the cross of Christ; or, being young, may be thinking it is time enough yet to become religious, it is too gloomy and melancholy for young people; and you may consider, that when you have enjoyed yourself a few years you will begin to think about it. Such arguments are vain, for thou knowest not but this very night thy soul may be required of thee."

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Having endeavoured to point out the unsatisfying nature of earthly pursuits, it is time I should lay before you a few of the comforts and unspeakable pleasures which believers in Jesus enjoy. I have said, you may have health; but if not suddenly snatched out of time into eternity, lingering disease may overtake you, and then what will support your mind if destitute of religion? Worldly

friends may for a while endeavour to comfort you, but they will soon get tired of attending a sick bed, and you may be left a prey to darkness and despair without one ray of hope to cheer you in passing through the dark valley of the shadow of death, and your prospect beyond the will be miserable indeed, grave "a fearful looking for of judgment and of fiery indignation, which devoureth the adversary." On the other hand, the Christian who has devoted his health to God, will be sweetly refreshed, whilst lying on a bed of sickness, in reflecting on his heavenly Father's love in sending his only Son into the world for our redemption. He will be enabled, through faith, to apply all the precious promises of the Gospel to his own peculiar case, knowing in whom he hath believed, and being assured that our very affliction worketh out for us an exceeding weight of glory; "while we look not at the things which are seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal." He longs to have his earthly tabernacle dissolved, feeling assured, that he hath a habitation prepared in heaven, where he will be for ever with the Lord. Is he in the enjoyment of health? it is his delight to devote it to the service of his Lord and Master, and to the benefit of his fellow immortals. To this end Christians visit and instruct the poor, and comfort the afflicted and needy. And how does it rejoice their hearts to be in any way instrumental in the salvation of their fellow sinners! Having been themselves convinced of the evil of sin, and its hatefulness in the sight of a just and holy God, and being redeemed by the blood of Jesus, they delight to lead sinners in the way of holiness, and to promote by every possible means the glory of their great Redeemer. Has the believer friends? he is labouring diligently for their conver

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sion, and is constantly pleading for them at the throne of grace. he enemies? he prays that they also may be partakers of that salvation which is to him so precious. Has he riches? he assists the poor and needy, and lays up for himself "treasures in heaven,where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal;" and where his treasure is, there his heart is also. He lives in habitual preparation for death, knowing that it will be the gate of eternal life; for Jesus, when he was extended on the cross, removed the sting of death; "the sting of death is sin, but thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.” It is true that the Christian is not exempt from trials any more than other men; nay, the Scriptures affirm, that" in the world ye shall have tribulation;" but our Saviour bids us "be of good cheer," saying, "I have overcome the world.” Indeed it is good for us, to keep us humble. The royal Psalmist found it so; for he says, Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept thy word"-" It is good for me to be afflicted," &c. Believers, therefore, welcome the cross, while they still keep the crown in view. Satan, indeed, leaves no effort untried to shake our confidence in Christ. Our divine Master was himself tempted, and his disciples therefore cannot expect to escape; but, blessed be his holy name, "he knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation when he crieth unto him ;" and

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he will not permit Satan to buffet us more than we are able to bear, but will with the temptation also make a way for our escape;" and in a few short years at most we shall be carried far beyond the reach of every sorrow into Abraham's bosom.

"See the kind angels at the gates Inviting us to come;

There Jesus our forerunner waits
To welcome trav'lers home."

O be persuaded, my dear young friends, to cast in your lot among us; for indeed we wish to do you good. You must shortly quit this vain world, whether you will or not. Then discover your wisdom by immediately bidding it adieu: so will you escape the awful judgments denounced against the im

penitent and unbelieving sinner;
and by becoming a humble fol-
lower of the meek and lowly Jesus,
you will be enabled to look for-
ward to an incorruptible crown of
glory, that fadeth not away. That
you and I may partake of that hea-
venly inheritance, is the earnest
prayer of
Yours faithfully,

MARY. S.

THE SPIRITUAL MARINER.

EMBARK'D upon a wide and trackless sea,

Where the rough winds raise high the roaring wave,
Where dark'ning tempests rage tumultuously,
And loudly threaten with a billowy grave;

On this tempestuous sea, in youthful might,

Secure I launch'd, buoy'd up by nature's springs;
Hope view'd her solid anchor with delight;

And Peace, methought, had spread her halcyon wings.
The bursting thunders roll! th' Eternal frown'd!
Avenging Heaven soon mocks at human pride;
The rock-like surges heave and dash around;
And black'ning clouds the glimm'ring daylight hide.
Peace now affrighted fled, and Hope cast down
Her languid eye on guilty Nature's woe;

Life scarce sustain'd th' Almighty's kindling frown,
Yet tears and prayers in falt'ring accents flow.
Here was my Rock-my tear-my prayer,
And humbled Nature's penitential sighs;

A flood of light illum'd the ambient air,

And streams of radiant glory fill'd the skies.
The swelling waves retir'd, the sable gloom
Dispers'd, unfolding a mysterious form;
Whose bleeding side the "Man of sorrows" soon
Disclos'd; but now, a Refuge from the storm."
"Twas one far mightier than the raging main,

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Whose voice obeying, storms and tempests cease;
Whose words, ""Tis I, fear not!" soothe ev'ry pain,
And calm the troubled mariner with " peace."
Peace, heavenly peace! and hope of growth divine,
Shall now conspire to gild each sorrowing scene;
And truth and light at once unclouded shine,
To mark my passage o'er the deep serene.
Now blow ye winds, ye furious waves arise,
Ye fiery tempests now remorseless roll;
Th' immortal Pilot steers me to the skies-

The Day-star guides me to the destin'd goal.

Whate'er my course, that proves thy wisdom's choice;
Through toils or dangers, if with thee, I'm blest;

Let me but listen to thy sacred voice,

Thus safely anchor'd in thine haven rest.

Αδελφος.

A SUNDAY AT EDINBURGH.

IN the latter end of last May, it fell to my lot (which was no small grafification) to spend three days in the metropolis of North Britain; one of which was the Sabbath. I was not a little amused and pleased with the delightful view from the Castle hill, and other romantic eminences in the vicinity of that ancient city; from whence are beheld, all at once, the lofty and crowded buildings of the Old Town; the beautiful and magnificent modern erections of the New Town, with the high and elegant spire of St. Andrew's Church; the Royal Palace of Holyrood House; the rich and highly-cultivated surrounding country, with distant mountains; the town and harbour of Leith; the Frith of Forth, and its opposite shores, &c.

But what I chiefly purpose is, to give an account of the manner in which I spent the Lord's day, with a few remarks on what I saw and heard. Betwixt eight o'clock in the morning and seven at night, I was favoured with four opportunities of attending the public worship of the Almighty. Though I am a member of, and steadily at tached to, the Church of England, yet being inimical to that wanton and inconsiderate propensity to schism and division, which discovers itself in the present age, and having long observed its malignant effects, I judged it to be my duty, as it certainly was my inclination, while in Scotland, to join myself to the Established Church of that country. For, though I disapprove its presbyterian form of government, I nevertheless consider it as a reformed national church, professing all the saving and essential truths of Christianity, and containing many faithful preachers of the Gospel, and living members of Christ's mystical body, with whom if through grace I can be a par

DECEMBER 1822.

taker of the common salvation, I shall spend a glorious eternity.

For a peculiar reason, in the afternoon of the Lord's day, I attended an episcopal chapel, where, the worship was performed nearly, in the way of the Church of England, and the sermon was perfectly sound and evangelical, though I should have been better satisfied, if the officiating clergyman had possessed a greater degree of zeal and fervour.

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At the other three opportunities, I attended the Scotch Established churches. The morning sermon at eight o'clock was the meanest, though it contained nothing inconsistent with evangelical truth. The other two (both of which were attended by very crowded audiences) were evangelical and practical, sound and useful discourses; delivered with becoming zeal and earnestness, yet without extravagant and indecent action.

Upon the whole, however, I must acknowledge, that the services of the day did not tend to put me out of conceit with our own mode of public worship, or prevail with me to admire or prefer the method adopted by the sister church.

In particular:

1. I could not much admire the long extemporary prayers (though I am no enemy to this kind of prayer on proper occasions), which contained various repetitions, as appeared to me, for the sake of protracting them to the usual extent of time. I could not but give the preference to our own excellent Liturgy, when used with suitable reverence and devotion. Indeed I have heard it asserted, that even some of the more pious and sensible of the Scotch clergy have privately owned their conviction, that a suitable pre-composed liturgy would be very useful, if not prefer

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