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furnished a continual supply to the necessities of the sick and the poor. She objected to a very saving servant, that she was too careful of her interests to be sufficiently attentive to the claims of the poor: "I cannot endure," she would say, "to have my house in such a state that I cannot instantly relieve the wants of those around me." She lived for others. The poor, the guilty, the unfortunate, from whatever source their misery proceeded, found a sympathy in her enlarged and compassionate heart, and obtained assistance to the utmost of her power, and often indeed so far be yond it as to occasion great sacrifice of her own ease and comfort. Were it proper, or possible, to unfold the extent of her charities, and then to mention the income upon which they were performed, it would appear almost impossible, except to those who are aware of what may be saved by the retrenchment of common, allowed, and what are often considered as necessary expenses, among those who are blest with comparative affluence. In that day when all things will be shewn in their true light, the wisdom of that choice will be conspicuous, which preferred using the talent of fortune committed to her trust in “ lending to the Lord," rather than in yielding to the force of example or of opinion, as respects fashionable gratifications,—short-lived at best, and incapable of yielding real satisfaction even while they are possessed.

the society of Christians suited to those views of religion which she had previously been taught by the Holy Spirit in retirement. It was frequent with her to express the deepest sense of her own unworthiness. She would speak of herself in terms of extreme self-abasement; yet in so artless and feeling a manner, that it could not for an instant be doubted that she felt what she expressed. Decidedly attached to what are currently, and she thought justly, denominated "evangelical” sentiments, selecting her favourite companions and chosen friends from among those who held similar opinions,reading the authors who inculcated them, and delighting in the ministers who taught them, she was yet exempt from all party spirit: she judged none, spake ill of none, wished well to all, and rejoiced to hear that good had been done by any. She avoided all controversia! points, and loved to associate with religious persons of whatever party in the Church: yet, while partial and firm to the Establishment, she honoured and assisted sincere Christians of every denomination. Being incapable of bodily exertion, she would often lament her incapacity to do any thing for the glory or her Saviour or for the exten. sion of the Gospel. Her liberal subscriptions to religious charitable societies did not satisfy this desire; she determined upon laying down her carriage, that she might be enabled to distribute a larger number of religious books and tracts suited to promote the object so dear to her heart. Of these useful publications she had always a large stock by her, and as largely distributed them wherever she found a suitable opening. She was particularly desirous of supplying clergymen of small income with books, to assist in the formation of parish libraries, and for prizes to the children of their schools, and for distribution in their parishes. Many instances of the blessing of God upon these pious en. deavours are already known, and many more will doubtless appear in that great day when God shall" bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil."

Lady Eleanor was further distin guished by a simple, unaffected elegance. Every thing bespake the pure spirit which actuated her. Her politeness was perfect, because it was Christian. She never thought of herself in great or little things, but was ever attentive to the wishes, the feelings, the claims, and the wants of others. Her conversation was remarkably artless. She conversed on the doctrines of religion without any peculiar phraseology. This happy exemption from what is often a cause of offence, may perhaps in part be accounted for from her religious opinions having been formed in the seclusion of a sick room; for her knowledge of Divine things was acquired, not from the public ministry of the word of God, or even from private intercourse with religious friends, but by prayer and the study of her Bible. It was not till the latter part of her life that she was able to enjoy the gratification of the public means of grace and fever. But it was a life of unwearied

An invalid for nearly fifty years, her life was a scene of constant suffering, both from such a state of debility as seldom permitted her to sit up for more. than two hours at a time, and from frequent violent attacks of asthma and

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patience. Upon her couch, in retire. ment, in meditation and prayer, those ́ graces were matured which enabled her to be eminently "blameless and harmless in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation," and ever to main tain that "conversation which be cometh the Gospel of Christ." slept but little, and some hours before the rest of the family were awake were frequently devoted to her God. She experienced the greatest pleasure in meeting the family at the times of morning and evening prayers, and allowed nothing but extreme illness to prevent her being present; and she was equally regular in her attendance twice a day at public worship on the Sabbath, though, from her great weakness, she was obliged to partake of only a part of the Morning Service. When unable to attend any of the public means of grace, the few domestics necessarily left at home were assembled in her room for devotional exercises..

A few months before her death her complaint considerably increased. During this period she suffered much, especially from nervous irritability, which was at times so great as to be visible in her whole frame; yet none of her attendants ever heard a hasty expression or peevish remark from her lips. On the contrary, when not always suffi

ciently in possession of her mind even to`know the time of day, she was solicitous about others, fearful that the assistance they were rendering her interfered with their meals or any of their comforts. Her physician said to her," I perceive your Ladyship has a foible not very common, of thinking: of every body more than yourself.” Upon a violent seizure, not long before her death, she said to the friend who writes this account, "Glory for one so unworthy!" adding, in reply to a remark made by that friend, "Yes; purchased for one who deserves nothing!" Her delight in the Scriptures increased as her health declined. Three evenings before her death she entreated to be permitted to join her family at evening prayers, and did so, being laid in great debility on a sofa. The day preceding her death was spent in pray er, chiefly in ejaculatory sentences, and these always in the plural. "The Lord preserve us; the Lord bless us!" and her last words were, "The Lord will.".She had probably lost all care for herself in the near approach to glory, and her solicitude was directed to those she was on the point of leaving behind; and she seems to have expressed an assur ance that her intercessions at the Throne of Grace had prevailed.'

W. S.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

A READER; B. B.; R. S.; X. Y.; and L. L.; are under consideration. The work which C. R. blames us for not reviewing, has not only been reviewed, but otherwise frequently noticed with approbation in our pages.

A TRADESMAN Wishes us to remind our readers of the evils of pleasure-fairs, which abound in and near the metropolis at this season of the year. He recommends sermons to be preached, tracts to be circulated, and persuasion and authority to be used to counteract them.

We refer J. G. B. H. C. to our Number for March 1820.

We are sorry we cannot undertake to find the paper signed E. G.-It is requested, especially with such very short papers, that Correspondents who prize their productions would keep copies. E. G. must still excuse our assigning our reasons, which are entirely of a literary kind, for declining to insert his remarks. He will find the subject of Wills already touched upon in our Volumes for 1811 and 1814.

CHRISTIAN OBSERVER.

No. 249.]

SEPTEMBER, 1822. [No.9. Vol. XXII.

RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

proper course, or interfering with the business of others in matters unconnected with their own profession and duty. On the contrary, their conduct would certain

For the Christian Observer. PRESBYTER'S APPEAL TO HIS BRETHREN THE CLERGY, ON SOME OF THE PREVAILING INIQUITIES OF THE TIMES, WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR THEIR ly approve itself to the feelings of

SUPPRESSION.

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(Concluded from p. 465.) FOURTH means which I would venture to suggest to my brethren the Clergy, for the suppression of the open and notorious vices which abound among us, is by direct petitions to Parliament, to urge the Legislature, in its wisdom and piety, to supply whatever deficiencies may exist in our present laws.-Indeed, the feelings and practices of men have long run in such a channel, that some even of the laws which do exist, defective as they are, have come to be considered almost obsolete: so that both those individuals who would appeal to them, and the magistrates who would enforce their execution, are exposed to a very unfair and discouraging measure of difficulty and odium. This circumstance strongly proves the need of a revision of our statutes. Nor should the consideration that the privilege of petitioning Parliament has of late years been in some instances disgracefully abused, cause loyal men to stand aloof from joining in such a measure as I have proposed, for effecting that desirable purpose, since the evil arising from the abuse of a privilege is no legitimate argument against its proper use. The clergy, in such a pious and patriotic procedure, could not be justly considered as stepping out of their

CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 249.

all their well-disposed countrymen, and command general respect. Secular affairs are not usually resigned solely to the chance of the spontaneous consideration of the legislative or executive power. No one blames the agriculturist, the manufacturer, or the merchant, for legally and temperately availing himself of the privilege of petitioning parliament on subjects relative to his particular interests. No one censures corporate bodies for seeking parliamentary aid towards the attainment of any useful objects for which they were chartered. What blame, then, can attach to the clergy, whose circumstances render them peculiarly conversant with any imperfections in the existing laws connected with religion and morals, if they calmly impart to the lawgivers of the land a knowledge of those defects, with which their facilities for obtaining information have made them acquainted. It is clear, that, but for the information thus obtained from practical men, the legislature must oftentimes remain long in ignorance of the efficacy or deficiency of their own enactments. To leave the business of thinking, as well as of legislating, in every instance to parliament and government alone, withholding from them all statements of the effects produced by the actual trial of laws, would be to impose on them a task which it would be

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unreasonable to expect them to fulfil with the same advantageous and beneficial effect as if deriving information from persons conversant with the operation of particular statutes more immediately affecting themselves. Indeed, every session of parliament manifests the imperfection of the prospective enactments even of the wisest senators, by the alterations and amendments continually proposed and carried, on observing the actual bearing and operation of the acts of former sessions. Thus our laws relative to prison discipline, to insolvent debtors, to the importation of grain, and the regulation of commerce, are continually undergoing revision, and that in very many instances at the instigation of petitions. But in the laws expressly relating to the maintenance of morality and religion, and for the suppression of vice, less alteration has been made, where much was required, than perhaps in those of almost any other kind whatever; and it is a remarkable circumstance, and it is certainly not very honourable to our own age, that those who would resort to legal measures for the suppression of Sabbath-breaking, and some other immoralities highly baneful to the best interests of individuals and of the state, must, for the most part, avail themselves of acts passed in one of the most flagitious and immoral periods of our history, and that as far back as the reign of the Second Charles. Yet all the acts now in existence, some of which have become obsolete, in point of operation at least, are insufficient for the object in view. That it behoves the legislature, therefore, to make a revision, there can be no doubt. But parliament and government have much upon their hands; and objects of present interest are constantly presenting themselves, and demanding immediate attention. We should therefore not be hasty in casting our censure upon any particular administration or parlia

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ment, for the imperfections still adhering to our laws; nor should we consider it wonderful if a matter long quiescent should still continue so, unless the attention of our legislators is especially invited to an examination of its bearings. Now, who should call the attention of parliament to the particular points in question rather than the clergy of the land, who are, as it were, the censores morum, the appointed guardians of the morals of the nation, and who must be particularly sensible of the present deficiency of some of our existing laws, and, if they be allowed to take any interest in the objects of their profession, must deeply deplore the grievous effects which result from their defects? Such an appeal would be honourable to themselves, and would demand, and we may hope would obtain, the attention and respect of those towhom it would be made. It surely could not but be felt and allowed, by the people, the government, and the legislature, that the petitioners were acting consistently with their high and holy calling; that they were treading in the footsteps of the most faithful of the prophets of old; and that they had at heart the good of their country and the honour of their God. It would be a case in which other than honourable motives could scarcely be attributed to them, except by those whose approbation no well-disposed person would wish to enjoy. It must be manifest that they could be actuated by no mercenary views of self-interest, or personal benefit; much less with a view to perplex government, to clog the wheels of administration, or to cast odium upon the legislature. We may hope that a strong conviction would fasten itself upon men's minds that such an appeal ought to be listened to and obeyed; and this conviction, kept alive by a repetition of those representations and appeals which first produced it, would acquire strength and fervour, till the legis

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lature would find themselves assisted in adopting measures which attendant difficulties alone have, I would trust, hitherto retarded. And though some abridgement might be experienced in certain items of the revenue, whenever the required amendments should be made as, for instance, in the income flowing from the sale of lottery tickets, spirits, and some other articles of excise, the stamps of Sunday newspapers, and the taxes on public stages on that day-yet the elevation of the moral tone of the nation would surely induce the public to acquiesce in the transfer (if such transfer were proved needful) of these imposts to other articles.

5. Preaching is the last means I would mention for attaining the objects under consideration.-And, after all, this is our main stay, and on this must be our chief dependence. Preaching is the minister's peculiar province. When speaking ex cathedrá, he speaks with an authority he can exert no where else, and is warranted in looking for an effect he can hope to produce in no other way. The ministration of the word and sacraments is his great business; to this he is especially commissioned. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," was the last injunction of the great Head of the Church to his Apostles and to every individual of the,suc. cession of Christian ministers to the end of time. Preaching is the chief means which God has been pleased to institute, for turning the sinner from the error of his ways, drawing him to himself, and establishing the kingdom of his Son upon earth. "It hath pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." And though this honourable office is committed to fallible and sinful men, yet the power which accompanies their ministrations is of God; according to the gracious declara

tion of our blessed Lord: "Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world." Thus St. Paul speaks to the Thessalonian Christians: "Our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance."

If, then, we would roll back the torrent of iniquity which inundates our land; if we would raise the tone of moral feeling of our countrymen; if we would lay siege to the strong-holds of Satan; if we would aim to promote the temporal happiness and eternal salvation of our perishing fellow-creatures, and to advance the honour of God; we must avail ourselves strenuously of this great constituted instrument of usefulness. Hither should be di

rected all the energies of our souls. In preparing for the pulpit, we should employ every talent which God has given us. And while we look, in the execution of our arduous office, for help from above, we should diligently employ every auxiliary within our reach: we should put into requisition all the thought and study, all the eloquence and learning, all the powers of persuasion and argument, all the fulness of meditation, and fervour of zeal, and efficacy of prayer, which we can command; and in every sermon should "preach as though we ne'er should preach again."

But what shall a minister deeply grieved at the iniquities of the land, and warmly zealous for their suppression, make the subject of his discourses? He wishes to promote morality: shall he then, thinking to bring all his strength to bear on this point, confine himself to moral discourses? By no means; for by such a procedure he would lamentably fail of his end. This, indeed, might be to lop off some of the branches; but they would shoot forth again with undiminished luxuriance. It might serve for the excision of some deformities, but it would fail of "laying the axe to the root of the tree." To preach

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