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who would resolve all religion into a mere system of dry and cold reason. His too was a religion of reason, but it was also a religion of the heart. It was a religion of warm attachment, and reverence, and gratitude, and trust. It was a religion that commanded him to love God with all his strength, and his neighbour as himself; a religion that enjoined him to rejoice in the Lord alway; a religion that told him of consolations in Christ, of the fellowship of the Spirit; a religion that persuaded by fear, that constrained by love, that saved by hope, that provoked by example, that wrought by charity.

I mention this as a very observable peculiarity, in a person so eminently distinguished for thought, sedateness, and cool judgment, and who had adopted his religious principles, not from impulse or passion or the mere force of education, but on the soundest reflection and fullest inquiry. And what shall we say, then, to those, who without any such reflection or inquiry, who, with intellects of not half his depth or comprehension or solidity, and perhaps with minds evidently led away by passion after passion, and vanity after vanity, the victims of impulse or the slaves of fancy, yet venture to condemn all warm and earnest piety as irrational and enthusiastic? If any such should be present, let me implore them to re-consider their opinions, or rather their impressions, at the grave of him, whom we are mourning: to contrast his character with their own, and at least not to censure the principles which he professed, as wild, or rash, or visionary, until they have given the subject the same cautious, sober, and heedful attention.

The second peculiarity, which I would mention in his religious character, is this: that although he was of a very speculative, or (if I may use the word) philosophical turn of mind, his religion was wholly practical. He could indeed,

when there was proper occasion, discuss the more speculative points of theology with great judgment, and he always did it with exemplary caution and humility. He well knew also, that Christianity has its mysteries-the deep things of God which man in his present state must be content to see darkly: but he was extremely jealous of any thing that tended to convert religion into a mere matter of speculative research, or a system of Mysti cism. In his eyes, it was something far higher: he saw that it is intended to regulate the heart, the temper, and the practice; that it is the armour to fortify us against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritualwickednesses in high places; that it is the renewal not of our intellectual, but of our moral and spiritual nature; that it is the conformation of man to the image of God, not in knowledge, but in holiness.Prayer, submission, deep humility, strict self-examination, a diligent use of religious ordinances, a careful reference of every action and feeling to the light of Scripture, a constant reliance on the influences of the Spirit, an union with Christ;these were in his view the essentials of religion. He therefore so ran, not as uncertainly; he so fought, not as one that beateth the air; but he strove in all things, by the grace of God, to apply the great truths of the Gospel to his own conscience and life. "He feared the Lord, and thought upon his Name," not as an object of curiosity or scientific research, but as on the name of his Maker, his Preserver, his Redeemer, his Intercessor, his Sanctifier, and his Judge. That name he held above every other: it was the object of his trust: it was to him a strong tower, in which he might take refuge, and be safe.

But it is time that I finish the sketch which I have so feebly attempted. I cannot, however, dismiss it without observing, that in

endeavouring to hold up this character to your affectionate esteem, I am far from forgetting the imperfections that must attach to our depraved nature even in its best mortal state. There is none good but one, that is God; and no man could be more sensible of this truth than he who is no longer with us. If, therefore, he attained to uncommon excellence, it was not because he was exempt from the corruption that cleaves to man, but because, with humble dependence on Divine help, he earnestly struggled against it. Many, no doubt, were the secret conflicts that he waged with evil inclinations, with the love of self, and the seductions of the world; and if in all these he was, through grace, more than conquer or, he would still have been content to throw himself on the mercies of his Saviour, as an unprofitable servant. This, however, seems to me only a stronger reason for contemplating his character, in order that we may see to what heights this frail nature, in which we all partake, may be refined by pureness, by knowledge, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God.

These were the helps, these the principles, these the influences which supported our brother, when, after a life expended in the service of his Lord, he approached the dark valley, where the rich and the poor meet together.-His end was produced by a long and consuming illness; but an illness so deceitful in its operation, that till his last mortal day, his friends could scarcely persuade themselves to renounce hope. Yet it was a disorder, painful, and peculiarly harrassing, especially to one of such diligent habits and so active a cast of mind. But it is impossible to represent adequately, the manner in which it was endured. Incessant restlessness and suffering; days of pain and irritation, and nights of watching and weariness; the perpetual glimpse of amendment as

perpetually proving delusive;--none of these things moved him. There was not a gesture, or a look of impatience; but his voice, his words, his countenance, his manner, all bespoke unaffected humility and resignation, and even seemed to improve in suavity and amenity, as the malady gained ground.

In the earlier stages of his illness, he had little or no reason to appre hend danger; but the long though painful leisure to which he was reduced, and the formed habit of his mind, threw him much on a contemplation of the important topics connected with an eternal state. It was indeed a ground which he had often explored with care; nor was it surprising to his friends to hear him observe, that his views on these awful subjects remained unchanged.

The malady, however, advanced though slowly, and still the irritation and the weakness, and the weariness increased; and still there appeared no mortal symptom; and still his friends hoped. But there is little doubt, that the patient himself now felt that his complaint had inflicted an incurable wound. Although his understanding was totally unclouded, weakness now disqualified him for continued thought; and this incapacity for his favourite employment of mental exertion pressed on him sorely. But he knew whom he had believed: not a murmur passed his lips ; benevolence and submission reigned on his countenance, and his languid eye still sparkled at any intelligence favourable to the cause of religion.

I purposely abstain from entering into particular anecdote; yet I cannot but think this a fitting occasion to mention one circumstance, which passed in the last conscious interview between this good man and the minister of the church which he usually attended.

After joining with the clergyman in devotion, as far as his enfeebled condition would permit, he took

leave of him with fervently imploring the blessing of God upon his ministerial labours. O my brethren, beloved in the Lord, while we contemplate scenes like these, shall we not bless God for all his servants departed this life in his faith and fear? And shall we not, with one consent, cast in our lot, for time and for eternity, among those that "fear the Lord, and that think upon his name?" Have we stood together at the tombs of the dead in Christ, and shall we never share their triumphs, never sing with them the new song of victory in the kingdom of God? When we bade them farewell, was it for eternity? Was all over when we watched the painful bed, and mixed in the melancholy train; and must we be driven from their side, when the Lord of Hosts makes up his jewels? To whom should we fly, under the pressure of these awful questions, except to Him who alone has the issues of life and death? And therefore, "O merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life, in whom whosoever believeth shall live though he die, we meekly beseech thee, O Father, to raise us from the death of sin, unto the life of righteousness, that when we shall depart this life, we may rest in Thee as our hope, as this our brother doth; and that at the ge

neral resurrection, in the last day, we may receive that blessing which thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear thee, saying, Come ye blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world."

MR. RICHARD BARLOW. On the 11th March, 1814, died, in the 86th year of his age, Mr. RICHARD BARLOW, of Princess Street, Manchester; long known and highly honoured in the world, as a man of the most unblemished reputation and exemplary piety. In his religious sentiments he was strictly orthodox, and in all his conduct prudently benevolent. He was a friend and a warm supporter of every charitable and useful institution, for several of which, in the populous town of Manchester, he was, from a knowledge of his great worth and ability, chosen a trustee, and for the discharge of the duties of which, his uncommon wisdom, judgment, and natural. activity, so admirably qualified him. Though firmly attached, from principle, to the Established Church, on whose services he regularly attended, as long as his health would permit, he ever exercised the greatest liberality towards those who differed from him in modes of worship, being a lover of good men of every denomination.

He departed this life in the faith and peace of a Christian, renouncing his own righteousness, and relying solely on the merit of his Saviour, as the only hope of fallen man.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

SEVERAL Articles which have been transmitted for insertion in our Obituary, and which we had fully intended to insert, we must now necessarily omit in consequence of their having appeared in other publications. We do not enter into any specification, as this general notice will be sufficiently intelligible to all whom it concerns.

A Paper on Independence of Mind; F.; PHILALETHES; I. D. L.; R. B. P.; J. S-, H.; will be inserted.

JOHN; I. S. H.; I. O. Z.; ADOLESCENS; PER MARE ET TERRAM; Ouders; KęEITTWY; W.; EUSEBIA; silomaticwv; Xngos; G. C. G.; VOX; A CONSTANT READER ; B. H.; FILIUS CHRISTIANUS; ANNA; A. B.; C. W.; have been received. JOHN's Sermon las also been received. We have not had time to peruse it; but if it should prove suitable, it will appear. Many of the papers stated in the preceding paragraph to have been received, stand in the same predicament. We have often stated the impossibility of our making any use of Literary Intelligence not sent to us before the 20th of the month.

THE

CHRISTIAN OBSERVER.

No. 159.]

MARCH, 1815.

[No. 3. Vol. XIV.

THE

RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. HE author of the following paper was perfectly unknown to the individual whose death has been one principal cause of his composing it. He alludes to the late H. Thornton, Esq., whose loss was announced in your Number for January. He deems this event a public loss; in which sentiment he feels assured of the full concurrence of many others, whose opinions are far more entitled to consideration than his own. Mr. Thornton was a character who appeared to display the rare union of piety, talents, activity, moderation, and the most expansive benevolence. This observation relates of course to his public character, as a Member of Parliament and a religious man; and the writer doubts not that his private life was equally amiable and useful, though he has not the same means and facilities for appreciating its excellence.

But this paper is not intended for a panegyric, which, if necessary, would come with far more propriety from other hands. It is only designed to communicate a few cursory observations on the dealings of Providence, in the sudden and premature removal of individuals distinguished for their useful and excellent qualities as men and as Christians. This is a subject not unsuitable, I apprehend, to the design of the Christian Observer at any time, and one which appears more especially congenial with the feelings of the friends and supporters of that work at the present moment, when the writer believes he may address many of them, with CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 159.

respect to the death of Mr. Thorn-
ton, in the words of the poet,
quoted with a slight alteration:

Multis ille bonis flebilis, occidit:
Nullis flebilior quam vobis*.

sustain the premature loss of other
Society has also lately had to
valuable men, who have been cut
off in the midst of their occupa-
tions for promoting the best inte-
rests of their fellow-creatures.

There is nothing which appears more calculated to try the faith and resignation of a true Christian, than the consideration of several events of this nature taking place together within a short interval. When he beholds the most amiable, excellent, and useful characters cut off in the vigour of their age, and in the full flow of their activity, long before the evil days come, and the years wherein, comparatively speaking, they can find no pleasure;-particularly, when he obpiety and talents, which seem to serves the young-adorned with qualify them for the most important stations in society, and to hold forth the fairest promise of future excellence-snatched away prematurely, and almost suddenly, from their country and the world, he feels disposed for the moment to cherish desponding views concerning the state of human things in general. And when, in addition to this, he reflects upon the great number of vicious, selfish, and useless beings, who are permitted to and in the undisturbed enjoyment pass a long life in perfect health, of their base or trivial pursuits;→

T

*Hor. lib. i. Ode 21.

when he observes individuals who, be slighted and abused, we have at with respect to the visible profit least no cause to envy the condiof their lives, appear to be only tion of the culprits, however prosborn to eat and to drink, spending perous and desirable it may seem their days in idle tranquillity, and in a mere worldly point of view. long outliving others, whose con- How infinitely preferable is the lot tinuance in the world seems of the of the youngest Christian, who has greatest importance to the best been snatched away in the very interests of society;-he is some- blossom of his prospects of usefultimes almost ready to murmur at ness, compared with the final state the dispensations of an all-wise of the sinner who, being an hunProvidence. He is in danger from dred years old, shall be accursed! a temptation, similar to that which prevailed for a time against the holy Psalmist, when his feet had almost gone, and his steps had well nigh slipped; because he was envious at the foolish, when he saw the prosperity of the wicked. When he attempts to know this-to comprehend the reason of this dispensation-it appears at first too painful for him.

But these presumptuous feelings of discontent the Psalmist felt it to be his bounden duty to oppose; and it is ours likewise, whenever we are in danger of being overcome by them.-Perhaps the following considerations may prove of some use in assisting us to combat them with success.

2. To calm our discontent, let us reflect upon those tokens of general obscurity and mysteriousness which pervade all our views of God's moral government of the world.This mysteriousness is observable in a variety of particulars; in the permission of so much evil, physical and moral, inseparable from our present existence; in the rise and fall of governments; in the apparently partial nature of some of the Divine dispensations with respect to the moral and religious improvement of mankind; in those unavoidable obstructions and impediments, arising often from the unforeseen course of events, which either defeat or retard the best-laid plans for the advancement of human happiness; in the untoward distribution of wealth, power, and influence, whereby those born to the highest stations in society are too com

And, 1. We should begin with rectifying our temper and views with respect to that numerous part of society whose vice, selfishness, or indolence we cannot but deplore.—monly the worst qualified for perAs Christians, we must ever feel it our duty to wish well to all men-to pray for all men. Instead of repining, therefore, at the protracted existence of worthless or useless characters, we may safely and quietly leave them in the hands of their Creator and Judge. We are entitled to hope, generally, that they are spared by a gracious Providence for the purpose of being addressed with farther calls to repentance and amendment; and we ought to rejoice in the long-suffering which affords them these continued opportunities of salvation. And if, on the other hand, we cannot but fear that such opportunities will continue, in numerous instances, to

forming the duties of those stations. These appearances, together with others which might be noticed, are doubtless very mysterious, and evidently belong to a system of Divine government of which we have a very imperfect knowledge. Why should we wonder, therefore, that, to this catalogue of the arcana of Providence, another circumstance must be added; namely, the sudden or premature removal of individuals eminent for their piety, talents, and usefulness? What is there in this particular dispensation which should greatly surprise us? Does it not accord exactly with the rest of the Divine phenomena, which must ever remain in a

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