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the press, they spread over the land with the rapidity of an inundation, which acquires additional force, from the efforts used, to obstruct its progress. He who undertook to prevent the dispersion of the books, once issued from the press, attempted a task no less arduous than the hydra. Resistance was vain, and religion was reformed: and we, who are chiefly interested in this happy revolution, must remember, amid the praises bestowed on Luther, that his endeavours had been ineffectual, unassisted by the invention of Faustus."

Besides, the important services which it has rendered to the arts and sciences, and to every species of useful knowledge, places it in the rank of an ally to the universal diffusion of improvements and happiness; so that, excepting the articles oratory and poetry, the last three centuries have witnessed improvements equal to three thousand years previous.

VACCINATION.

VACCINATION appears to have the next claim on universal admiration. The name of Dr. Jenner will be ranked, by the historian, amongst the greatest friends to humanity; and if a fair estimate could be made of the prevention of misery, and of the saving of human lives, to the end of time, though we could not strictly call him another Noah, the parent of a world, yet perhaps the majority of human beings would be found to have advanced to the full age of man, in consequence of the expulsion or eradication of the small pox.

tirely taken off, then universal tem perance, health, and longevity of mankind, will usher in the glorious appearing of the Son of God, to consummate the work of redemption in the midst of the paradise above.

EDUCATION OF THE POOR.

FINALLY, the modern invention of the popular Education of the Poor must be regarded as a blessing of the most extensive kind. Seeing that the poor form the great majority. of mankind, among whom a melancholy and shocking reign of ignorance has hitherto prevailed, and who, from their poverty and the bad state of political society in the world; generally speaking, misery, servility, and vice, are the deformities of history, from the earliest periods of authentic document. The only radical and legitimate way to make the political institutions and governments of all the nations of the earth good, is to make mankind good. Now, universal education, and equal access to the holy Scriptures, and that which we may fairly expect to accompany such a diffusion of divine knowledge, the gracious effusion of der his own word effectual, opens the Spirit of the living God, to rensuch prospects to our hopes, as have been reserved, by the Providence that rules the world, for our age. These are not the dreams of false

philosophy, nor the reveries of su-
It is a
perstition or enthusiasm.
fact, that we live in a middle state
and wretched state of human so-
of the world, between the ignorance
ciety, that is past, and passing away,
and the glorious and approaching
state of all that is good: the past, we

rolf

We are taught, in Holy Writ, to look forward to a state of things so up as the parchment of sad, but different from what the history of salutary history; the future, Providence is unrolling to us, partly in the world presents, that the various inventions, and important discove- the prophecies, and in the moral ries, which have been made in theo- change which the world is now unretical and practical science, appear dergoing and though we shall not to be approaching, in their mutual see more than the dawn of this day, and dependent operations, to contri- yet we will hail its approach; and, bute, as far as they go, to the hap-when our time of departure is come, piness of the world: and as it is leave the world, saying, We die, but probable, that in the latter ages of God will visit you. me, the curse will have been en

Leighton, Bedfordshire..

AWAKE.

THE

PARENTAL AND FILIAL

AFFECTION

OF

QUINTUS AND HIS SON.

A ROMAN STORY.

"AMONG the number of persons who were proscribed under the second triumvirate of Rome, were the celebrated orator Cicero, and his brother Quintus. When the news of the proscription was brought to them, they endeavoured to make their escape to Brutus, in Macedon. They travelled together some time, mutually condoling their bad fortune; but as their departure had been very precipitate, and they were not furnished with money, and other necessaries for the voyage, it was agreed that Cicero should make what haste he could to the sea-side, to secure their passage, and Quintus return home to make more ample provision. But, as in most houses, there were as many informers as domestics, his return was immediately known; and the house, of course, filled with soldiers and assassins. Quintus concealed himself so effectually, that the soldiers could not find him; enraged at their disappointment, they put his son to the torture, in order to make him discover the place of his father's concealment; but filial affection was proof, in the young Roman, against the most exquisite torments. An involuntary sigh, and sometimes a deep groan, was all that could be extorted from the generous youth. His agonies were increased, but, with amazing fortitude, he still persisted in the resolution not to betray his father, Quintus was not far off;

and the reader may imagine better than can be expressed, how the heart of a father must have been affected with the sighs and groans of a son expiring in torture to save his life. He could bear it no longer; but quitting the place of his concealment, he presented himself to the assassins, begging, with a flood of tears, to put him to death, and dismiss the innocent child, whose generous behaviour the triumvirs themselves, if informed of the fact, would judge worthy of the highest approbation and reward. But the inhuman monsters, without being the least affected with the tears of either the father or the son, answered, that they both must die; the father, because he was proscribed, and the son, because he had concealed his father.' Then a new contest of tenderness arose, who should die first; but this the assassins soon decided, by beheading them both at the same time."

6

From this short and affecting story, much may be learned:

When the Divine Spirit does not influence the heart, and the sacred oracles regulate the conduct of man, how covetous, ambitious, false, and savage, he becomes? Reader! fervently pray that the. Purifier may live in thy soul, and cease not to study the law of God.

How great are the wisdom and goodness of God, in planting the paternal and filial affections in the human breast! May parents and children cherish and exhibit these generous tempers!

God is the universal Creator, and, through the mediation of Jesus Christ, he adopts believing sinners into his family. Now, if a Roman youth would endure torture and death to express his love to an imperfect, earthly parent, what devotedness to the service and glory of God should not creatures and Christians be willing to manifest?

T. G.

390

Obituary.

MISS BUCKLEY.

As she

ELIZABETH BUCKLEY was born at Shetton, near Newcastle, in Staffordshire, February 23, 1798. From her earliest years she had a very delicate constitution, but more especially from the age of seven or eight she was severely afflicted with an asthma, which the best medical assistance failed to remove. advanced in years, she made many resolutions to serve God; which, but too frequently, were abandoned on a partial recovery from her disorder. On this account, she had afterwards much sorrow, and cast many bitter reproaches on herself during her last affliction, In the early stages of her affliction, her mind was much agitated and distressed; and the tears of holy contrition were frequently observed chasing each other down her pale cheeks. In the month of January, 1817, she caught a violent cold; from this she so far recovered as to be able to leave her room, and walk out a few times: but she soon relapsed, never more to return to health. Her distress of mind, however, in a little time, in a great measure, subsided. Her faith was directed to the Lamb of God; and, as a poor sinner, she sought and obtained mercy. Our adorable Redeemer has said, "Ask, and ye shall receive." He heard the sincere requests of her soul, and granted those happy assurances of his pardoning love, which alone can cheer the dying Christian, and afford those consolations to bereaved friends, which nothing else can be stow, The Rev. Mr. Newland, of the Tabernacle at Hanley, frequently waited on this dying Christian, to speak to her of the things of God, and to offer up prayer on her behalf. On one of these interesting visits, he asked her, "What she wished him to ask of her Lord?" She replied, “That I may depart, and be

with Christ, which is far better." Her eldest sister, who was truly endeared to her, by her most tender concern for her welfare, was also frequently employed in reading to her. The last verse of Hymn lxxv. Book ii. Dr. Watts's, was very precious to her:

147

"Haste, my beloved, fetch my soul
Up to thy blest abode;
Fly, for my spirit longs to see

My Saviour and my God."
The fifty-fifth chapter of Isaiah
also afforded much support to her
mind; but some papers found since
her removal will best describe the
state of her mind. On one of these
papers, without date, she thus
writes:-" I am just awoke from a
comfortable sleep, and feel myself
very much refreshed. I feel better
than I have done for some time past.
If it be the will of God, may I con-
tinue to get better; but not my
will, but thine be done.' How
thankful ought I to be that I am
still in the land ofthe living, that I am
still on praying ground! Had I been
dealt with as my sins deserve, L
should this night have been where
hope never comes. O distressing,
yet delightful thought! Distressing,
to think that I deserve to be lost for
ever; and yet delightful, to think
that God has been merciful to me,
and that there is a Saviour who says,

He will in no wise cast out him that comes unto him,' Oh! may I be enabled to humble myself in dust and ashes, relying entirely on the merits of a CRUCIFIED REDEEMER! My dear friend B*** has lent me the life of Mrs. Newell; 1 have read part of it this day. How meanly do 1 think of myself on reading the life of such a woman! When will the time come for me to put off this earthly tabernacle? May my merciful Father take me to himself, to join that immortal throng who sing praises to God and the Lamb for ever." In a paper, written afterwards, she thus speaks: “O, may

ley: the Rev. Mr. Newland officiated at her funeral. On the Lord's day following, Mr. Taylor addressed a funeral discourse, from Phil. i. 21, For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain," to a crowded congregation, in the Baptist meeting-house at Newcastle-under-Line.

66

Youthful reader! suffer the concerns of your immortal soul to arrest your attention in your early days. God commands you to remember him in the days of your youth, You must die: and you MAY DIE YOUNG! If your hearts are not renewed, if you possess not the grace of God, you are lost for ever. If you fear and love the Lord, if you trust in the Redeemer, and walk in his ways, whether you die young or old, your end will be everlasting peace. Shipley,

J. M.

my last affliction make a suitable impression on my mind! May I be enabled to see the hand of God, and with resignation submit to all his will. "Tis true, I have richly deserved all I endure. How ungrateful have I been to the Father of all mercies, for his great love towards me, when in his infinite mercy and goodness towards me, he raised me from a bed of affliction, and enabled me, in a great measure, to perform the common duties that fell to my lot! Did I then, as a creature dependent on his goodness and grace, fall down upon my knees, and return thanks to my great Preserver, for his unbounded goodness towards me? To my shame I confess, that instead of doing this, I went carelessly about, and never thought of the hand that preserved me, or the infinite goodness which raised me up. How often have I arose in the morning, spent the day in thoughtlessness, and returned in the evening to my rest, without returning thanks to the most high God. truly returned thanks with my lips, but how far was my heart from thee. Oh! what a vile creature have I been! I have, surely, been worse While, beneath the cypress shade, than any of my neighbours. I some- we mourn the loss of beloved friends, times look upon myself with horror, it must yield a kind of melancholy as one not fit to live: even the pleasure to trace the excellencies of very kindness of my friends to so their character, and those virtues unworthy a creature, is a source of which marked their path while passgrief to me. With what anxiety doing through this vale of tears and my ever-dear father and mother (and they seem more dear to me now than ever,) inquire more times a day than I can enumerate, Are you any better? And shall I say less of my dear sisters? By no means they are kind to me beyond all my desires." ***

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The paper above seems to be the last Miss Buckley ever wrote. Soon after this, her weakness became extreme, and death rapidly approached. Her resignation to the Divine will was entire, and her longings after the enjoyment of Christ were ardent. At length it pleased. God to release her spirit from its confinement in its house of clay, and receive it to himself, on the first day of August, 1817. Her mortal remains were laid in the grave-yard belonging to the tabernacle, at Han

MARY ANN JELLYMAN.

MRS. MARY ANN JELLYMAN, wife of Mr. Joseph Jellyman, of Downton, died October 9, 1817, aged 31 years.

may we not hope that the heart thus affected will receive the impress of their virtues. Mrs. Jellyman possessed, in no ordinary degree, the things which are lovely and of good report; the remembrance of which will be long cherished in the minds of her friends, for their own solace and profit. And may they not be spoken of for the benefit of others? I might be content to leave her virtues, to sink silently with her into the tomb, until they appear openly, when her Father and her Judge shall make up his jewels, were it not for the hope that the mention of those amiable graces which adorned her character may excite emulation in the mind.

However highly. I might extol her character, she stands still higher in the esteem of all who knew her. In

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