and dying experience, that they are now altogether safe and happy in the house. not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. I may perhaps, by some, be thought, to be here venturing upon the office of the worthy rector of a neighbouring church, whose parishioners they were. But I am sure that reverend brother will not deny me the gratification of embracing this opportunity of passing my feeble tribute of respect and affection to the memory of his honoured predecessor, and revered father. It was to that father, I mean to the late excellent and venerable Mr. Abdy, that our departed sisters were indebted for their first and earliest impressions of religion. As that faithful servant of Christ was spared to a good old age, many of his spiritual children arrived before him in the realms of glory and immortality. These, however, were some of those who followed after him. And I doubt not that many such are still on earth, walking in the way of God's commandments, who, together with those already departed, shall be his crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus. To his ministry then our deceased friends were indebted for those scriptural views of sin, and holiness, and Christ, which eventually terminated in their giving themselves decidedly to the Lord. One prejudice after another gave way, and though of dispositions naturally amiable and cheerful, they were led to feel the burden of their sins, and thankfully to embrace that salvation which is in Christ Jesus. The dying charge given by one of them to her nearest and dearest relative, will not soon be forgotten. It deserves to be remembered, and by it, she, being dead, yet speaketh; Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near. It is not too much to say of them both that they were instant in season and out of season, embracing every opportunity to alleviate human woe. According to their ability, wherever they could comfort a weeping widow, or clothe a fatherless orphan, there were they seen doing what they could, and wishing they had it in their power to do more. And yet through divine grace, they were enabled to renounce all self-dependence on human merit, and to cast themselves as poor helpless sinners before the cross of Jesus for pardon and salvation. Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, together with portions of Scripture, all expressive of man's guilt and helplessness, and of God's mercy through Christ, these were constantly on their lips, and evidently affected their hearts. The pious daughter had been incessant in her attentions to her dying mo-, ther. She had watched over her, and fervently prayed that her endeared relative might witness a good confession, and leave a satisfactory testimony behind her. Her wishes were gratified to the utmost. She beheld her mother, in death triumphant over death; and declaring to the last that she had no refuge, no hope, but in Christ. It pleased God however, that she should have a still higher gratification. He saw good to permit her to survive her mother only a few short days, and then herself to fall asleep in Jesus. Thus was she spared the pain of attending a mother's funeral. Truly united were they in their lives, and in their graves they were not divided. We might say much of this pious daughter's praise, but her Christian modesty and humility. left this embargo on her friends, "If ever you hear any one speaking in my praise, do what you can to prevent them going on." Nor will we violate her wish. The praise shall not be given to our departed friends, but to their Saviour and ours, who called them to the knowledge of his grace, and prepared them for his heavenly kingdom. On Tuesday last they were conveyed to the silent vault, where they rest in peace, nearly opposite the mortal remains of their late affectionate and endeared minister. The faithful shepherd and many of his faithful flock, sleeping peacefully together until the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised. May their sudden removal teach us all the shortness of time, and the importance of being always ready. This dispensation has a voice:-it says to every careless sinner, Prepare to meet thy God. It says to this assembled congregation, Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh. 159 REGISTER OF EVENTS. A considerable impression was produced on the public mind about the middle of March, in consequence of his Majesty being seriously indisposed. He is however, we are happy to say, much better, and we trust before this is published, will be perfectly recovered. The attention of Parliament has during the last month been occupied with a series of important measures, which have produced long and interesting debates. We regret to state that the adoption of any decisive measures on the subject of Slavery, appears to be postponed for another year, though the House of Lords have formally concurred in the Resolutions adopted by the Commons in 1823. Hopes appear to be entertained in some quarters that the Colonial Legislatures may be prevailed upon to carry into effect these Resolutions, but to us we confess, these hopes appear very unfounded. No material improvement has yet been adopted by any of the thirteen Colonies which have legislatures of their own. In three or four of these, a few very partial improvements have taken place. In the others, though there has been much discussion on the reforms recommended by his Majesty, and though bills have at different times been proposed for carrying them more or less partially into effect, yet as late as the end of November last, there appears no evidence of any disposition to adopt the meliorating provisions of the Trinidad Order in Council. That Order has not yet been promulgated in any of the Colonies subject to the direct legislative power of the Crown, with the exception of Demerara, where indeed it has appeared in a defective shape. It is however understood that these Orders will shortly be transmitted to Berbice, St. Lucia, Honduras, the Mauritius, and the Cape of Good Hope. Little therefore has yet been done for securing the repose of the Sabbath, or the property of the Slave; for admitting his evidence, or legalizing his marriage; for enabling him to purchase his freedom, or for modifying the severity of his arbitrary punishment; for preventing the detachment of Slaves from the estate, or the separation of families by sale; or for abolishing the driving whip, or the flogging of females and consequently the friends of humanity must not remit their efforts, but should endeavour to petition Parliament from every quarter, and forward such petitions to London, on or before the 20th of April. Government appear disposed to sanction the plan of education recommended by the Commissioners of Irish Inquiry. This will we fear, increase the power and influence of the Popish Clergy, and thus materially interfere with the tranquillity and improvement of Ireland. We therefore earnestly call on the friends of scriptural education, to increase their efforts in support of the Hibernian, the Sunday School, or any other societies which are actively employed in teaching the Irish peasantry to read and receive the Sacred Volume as the foundation of their hopes and the rule of their lives. A Bill, of thirty-two pages, has been introduced into the House of Commons by Mr. Peel, consolidating and simplifying all the enactments contained in ninety-two different statutes, relating to theft, embezzlement, receiving stolen goods, &c. This measure is highly approved of by all the leading members on both sides. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. The book of Genesis considered and illustrated, in a series of Historical Discourses. By the Rev. Francis Close, A. M. Hints on the Duty and Importance of keeping holy the Sabbath Day. By Thomas Webster, M.A. New Edition. Price Two pence, or 12s. per hundred. Sermons on the Lord's Supper. By the Rev. Charles Davy, M. A. In the Press. A few further Remarks on the Subject of the Turkish Version of the New Testament, printed at Paris in 1819, in reply to certain Positions advanced by Dr. Henderson, in Defence of his Appeal to the Bible Society. A Letter addressed to Robert Haldane, Esq. containing some remarks on his Strictures relating to the Continent, and to Continental Bible Societies. By the Rev. Dr. Steinkopff. 160 Notices and Acknowledgments. Received and under consideration,-N. R.-On CHRISTIAN BENEFICENCE,— MARY ANNE, REV. R. MARKS. The discussion of the questions proposed by L. M. O. would not be generally interesting to our readers; we must therefore decline engaging in it. It would be very easy for us to reply to the observations of a LOVER OF JUSTICE; but we have too much real attachment to the Society whose cause he is desirous of advancing, to provoke enquiry into past mistakes. The omission of that class which he has underlined, was not accidental. The employment of such agents has been the source of very great evil, and will require unceasing vigilance and attention on the part of the conductors of the Society for many years to come. We have no objection to transmit to our correspondent a private letter, containing more explicit information on the whole subject than we can with propriety communicate to the public at large. He has only to drop us a line containing an anonymous direction where such letter may be left, and he shall receive it in a few days. The Letter on the Madras System appeared to us rather calculated to revive a former controversy, and was therefore laid aside. Its not being noticed in our answer to correspondents was entirely accidental. ANNIVERSARIES IN THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY. As the first day of May falls this year on Monday, our friends in the country will not receive the notices of the earlier religious meetings in time to make the necessary arrangements for attending them. We therefore insert the following list in our present Number; and call upon all our readers earnestly to pray that a Spirit of love, and peace, and holy wisdom, and christian forbearance, may be largely poured out upon every assembly, and that the result of each Meeting may be an increasing degree of devotion to our adorable Redeemer, and of more holy, zealous, and disinterested endeavours to advance the knowledge of his cause and truth, and the salvation of perishing sinners throughout the world. CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. May 1, Monday. Sermon at St. Bride's Church, Fleet Street, by the Rev. E. Cooper, at Half past Six. May 2, Tuesday. Meeting at Free Mason's Hall, at Eleven. BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. May 3, Wednesday. Meeting at Free Mason's Hall, at Eleven. PRAYER BOOK AND HOMILY SOCIETY. May 3, Wednesday. Sermon at Christ Church, Newgate Street, by the Rev. C. S. Hawtrey, M. A. at Half past Six. May 4, Thursday. Meeting at London Coffee House, Ludgate Hill, at Twelve o'clock. LONDON SOCIETY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE JEWS. May 4, Thursday. Sermon at St. Paul's, Covent Garden, by Rev. Hugh McNeile, at Half past Six. May 5, Friday. Meeting at Free Mason's Hall, at Twelve. LONDON HIBERNIAN SOCIETY. May 6, Saturday. Meeting at Free Mason's Hall, at Twelve. |