He was na

for heaven, when he was only 7 years and 5 months old. turally of a mild and good temper, and as foon as he could walk was very attentive to family prayer. In January 1798, his health began vifibly to decay, and when his mother learned that his disorder in all human probabihty would terminate in death, the fpake clofely to him about dying, and he feemed amazingly chearful in the profpect of death; frequently faying that he knew he fhould die, that he fhould go to heaven, and there have a white robe, a crown on his head, a harp in his hand, and be finging hallelujah's for ever and ever." When his mother asked him whether he had not rather recover and live with her, he answered with great compofure, that he loved her much, but he would rather die and go to heaven." His diforder kept him within doors and greatly debilitated him; but he was happily fubmiffive, though naturally of a very lively turn. When well,

he was conftant in the private addreffes which he had been taught to put up at a throne of grace, and in his illness he spent the greater part of his time in reading fome pious and good books.

In the month of August 1798, his hope of heaven was damped, and he fell under ftrong convictions of fin, frequently crying out, that he was fearful God would firk him to heil for his fins. Being interrogated by Mrs. Burchett what fin it was that troubled him fo much, as it was not known that he had ever used bad words, or told a falfhood which might be supposed to have occafioned fuch painful fenfations in a child, he told his parent that when at school he had been taught to ule fuch words and tell lies, and the remembrance thereof diftreffed him; but he hoped God would forgive him, and that if he recovered he fhould be concerned to fin no more. This dear child for fome time mourned fo deeply for fin, that his mother who was his nurfe, was pierced to the heart at hearing and feeing his diftrefs, and though many attempts were made to comfort him, for a time they were in vain. His mother recommended prayer to him; but he faid, "Mamma, how fhall I pray? I can fay nothing but foolishness." Being informed that God would hear prayer however fimple, if it came from the heart, he then faid he would pray as well as he could, and wept bitterly. Some time after a friend fpake to him of the love of Jesus to children, went to prayer with him, and repeated the hymn, "Gentle Jefus, lovely Lamb," &c. and he then feemed to derive fome comfort, and expreffed a wish to die, if God would but forgive him his fins.

On a particular day his friends were fpeaking of his affliction, but he faid, "I must not complain, it is the Lord's doing, he can make me well if he pleafe, but I don't with it; I had rather die and go to heaven." He bore the whole of his fufferings with a degree of patience that excited adiniration. His kind mother was very anxious to have fome ftrong evidence of his future happinefs, and the Lord granted her defire; for he at length began to fpeak delightfully of heavenly things, difcourfed of angels meeting him and welcoming him to glory; he said "through much tribulation he should enter the kingdom of God." Speaking of death he faid, "In heaven there was no more pain, nor ficknefs, nor forrowing,” adding, in great spirits, and there all tears fhall be wiped away from my eyes. At one time, about a month before he entered into his much defred reft, he feemed loft in thought, but fuddenly breaking forth said, as if he had known the anxiety of his mother, "Mamma, when I die I know I fhall go to heaven." He was much pleased to hear of the happy death of other children, faying, heaven was the best place for them. That fcripture appeared to be very comfortable to him, "Suffer little children to come unto me," &c. Several of the hymns of Dr. Watts for children ftruck hima

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very forcibly; he often afked how he fhould fpend his time in heaven, what he fhould fay and fing there, for faid he, "I do not know how to fing." A day or two before he died, as if he felt his diffolution near, he expreffed a very grateful acknowledgment for both his pious parents' kind attention to him, efpecially that of his mother; and thus continued waiting for his difmiflion 'till the morning after Christmas day 1798, when his happy foul was releafed from his tenement of clay, and in a mott eafy and mei ciful manner taken from the evil to come, to be for ever with the Lord, Barbican.

MRS. JACKSON.

J. T.

MRS. JACKSON, wife of the Rev. Edward Dudley Jackson, of .Warminster, Wilts, was the daughter of Mr. Brett, of Yeovil, Somerset, a reputable and pious man, a great friend and fupporter of vital religion. She was early brought to a ferious concern about her foul, which was gradually carried on by the continued drawings and influences of the Spirit of God on her foul. She was, however, much enlivened, and brought to fee the method of falvation more clear, and to experience the work of grace more powerfully, by the miniftry of Mr. Vawn, during his fupply at the Half-way Houfe, between Sherbourn and Yeovil, where the prefent congregation of Yeovil then worshipped previous to the building their new chapel. The miniftey of Mr. Jack on, who fucceeded M.. Vawn, at Yeovil, was much bleffed to her, but he foon removed to Warminster, and was ordained there, 1794, and foon after they were married. In a fhort time the became a member of the church, and was both ufeful and ornamental; vifiting and affifting the poor was her delight, and a Chriftian deportment appeared in all her vifits. From her prudence, good temper, and peaceable difpofition, she was obferved to be happily calculated for a minifter's wife. From the time of her pregnancy it was frongly imprefed on her mind that the thould not furvive; but as thefe ideas are not uncommon in fuch circumftances, little attention was paid them. Upon the 15th of December the was delivered of a fon, and had a good time; but on the Wedneflay preceding her death, not having had any fleep fince her delivery, a violent pain in her head, to which the had been fubject for fome months paft, now returned with double violence. The enemy of fouls watching the opportunity, injected many ftrong, and blafphemous thoughts into her mind to an uncommon degree; that he fell into great horror of foul; fo much fo as to think all her experience was delufion; her hopes groundless, and her destruction inevitable. So clofely did Satan befet her at this time, that he tempted her to think, that none of God's people had ever been in circumstances like herfelf. Her hufband reminded her of the infinite mercy of God, through Jefus Chrift, and particularly of that gracious promite," All manner of fins and blafphemies, fhail be forgiven unto men," which he was enabled to lay hold of, and received with comfort. After this, notwithstanding her exceffive timidity, he was wonderfully fupported, although under an unalterable perfuafion that she was going into an eternal world; and frequently obferved what a mercy it was to be thus fupported in the immediate profpect of death.

On the morning of her diffolution, after fhe had been feveral hours in convulfions, fo as to require more than one to hold her, the found herself fufficiently well and collected to expreís her faith and confidence in God, and in a moft energetic prayer recommended herself to her God and Saviour, ardently, and repeatedly praying for an eafy paffage. She declared her hope of a free and full falvation; frequently acknowledging herself

the

the very chief of finners; but rejoiced that Jefus Chrift came into the world to fave fuch poor unworthy fioners as the was, and that he was able to fave to the uttermoft. She then prayed earnestly and repeatedly, that the Lord would preferve her youngest fitter from the vanities of the world. She begged of the apothecary who attended her with the folicitude of a parent, to endeavour to meet her in Heaven. She earnestly exhorted the fervants not to rest short of an intereft in Chrift. She then wished to fing a hymn; but who could fing except herself? Her husband therefore repeated those two verfes in Dr. Watts's Hymes, "A guilty weak and helplefs worm, &c. and, "To the dear fountain of this blood, &c."

The laft words the, was heard to repeat were, "Dear Jefus, I do love thee from my foul." She lay lumbering after this feveral hours, when the Lord aufwered her pravers for an ealy death, fo remarkably, that her countenance never poffeffeu a greater ferenity than when the breathed her laft, on the 24th of December, 1798, in the thirty second year of her age. Having been married three years and feven months. On the Lord's day following, at the united request of the congregation, he was interred in a vault, under the pulpit of their new and elegant Meeting-houfe, being the first perfon who was buried out of confecrated ground in that town. The funeral fermon was delivered by Dr. Duncan, of Winborn, from Ezekiel xxiv. 16. "Son of man, behold I take away from thee the defice of thine eyes with a stroke;" and the Rev. Mr. Sibree delivered the funeral oration. Very few dry eyes were in the congregation; may the event be fanctified to the whole town, for it may be faid with truth, all were concerned and affected with the ftroke.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

AT a very large Meeting of the Directors of the Miffionary Society, it

was, after folemn deliberation, determined, in conformity with the refolution of the laft General Meeting, that a Million to the San wich Ilands and other parts of the Pacific Ocean, fhall be carried into effect as fpcedily as poffible: But not judging it expedient at the prefent high price of thipping to purchate a veffel of their own, a committee of mercantile men was appointed to confider by what means a commodious conveyance for the Miffionaries could be beft obtained. The cominittee of examination alfo is employed with the greatest activity in the enquiry after pens properly qualified for this bleffed but arduous work. Several have been long accepted, many more have offered, and it is expected that their numbers will rapidly increase, as the intentions of the Society become more extensively known. All the Directors and Brethren in the country are requested to announce to their feveral congregations and others, the immediate preffing call for faithful Miffionaries. Befide the effential qualifications or foundnefs in the faith, genuine experience, exemplary condue, and aptness to teach, it is needful that fome of the Miffionaries fhould poffels akill in medicine or furgery; and others in mechanic arts. Some will be wanting who are expert in iron and steel work; who can handle the hammer and file, and manage a forge. Alfo carpenters, joiners, and wheelwrights, filed in the ufe of the faw, the ax and the plane. Some good husbandmen and gardeners, boatbuilders, brickmakers, mafons, potters, weavers; a schoolmaster and mistress, who have been in the habit of teaching writing and VOL. VII,

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reading; and it is defirable he should have fome knowledge of mathematics, trigonometry, and navigation.

It is hoped that a great number of serious persons of the above defcriptions will readily offer themfelves. As many as can be taken will be embarked on the prefent expedition, and the reft accepted and prepared against the return of the Duff, if it hall pleafe God, to revifit and reinforce the Brethren m all the different places of their abode.

The Sandwich Islands are among the largest and most populous yet vifited in the Pacific Ocean. The Chiefs are fo friendly to the English, that they even defired Captain Vancouver, as the reprefentative of the King of Great Britain, to receive a formal førrender of their islands to his Majesty's government and protection. From enquiries made of thole whỏ have often, and for a confiderable time been there, the fulleft aflurances have been received that a hearty welcome will be given to the Miflionaries, that their perfonal fafety will be nearly as great as in our own country, and that the natives are very eager that the English fhould come and settle among them. Two very well behaved Elifhmen, named Young and Davis, are in high favour with the Chiefs, and in great authority at Owhyhee, which is much the largest island. A brother of that Mr. Stuart, who is mentioned in the Miffionary voyage as one of the perfons in the Bounty, who married and left a child at Oraheite, is fettled with a family at Karakakooa, and is a man of refpectability. Thcfe, the Directors have been affured, would receive the Millionaries with cordiality; and it is probable they may chufe the fpot of their fettlem nt, and entering among them with peculiar advantages, proceed happily in the civilization of the inhabitants, and their intruction in the knowledge of the Gospel of Christ.

The Society, therefore, calls upon all the faithful every where, by the zeal which animates them, by the bowels of Jefus Chrift yearning over the poor Heathen; by the bleiings which have already accompanied their efforts, and by the brighter profpects which the great Head of the Church is now opening in the heathen world, to arife to their help, and furnish without delay the means of accomplishing this great work. Applications may be made to the Secretary, containing recommendations and teftimonials from the feveral minifters or congregations where the Brethren, fingle or married, who feel a miffionary fpirit may be fituated. Thefe will be immediately answered, and fub-committees appointed for their examination in the country. By order of the Directors,

Hackney, June 19, 1799.

JOHN EYRE, Secretary.

GERMANY.

LETTER I.

Extract from a Letter of the Rev. Dr. Muller, General Superintendent at Aurich, in Eaf-Frigland, to Dr. Burckwardt, in London.

Dear Friend and B other in the Lord,

HAVING received the Addrefs of the Directors of the Miffionary Society of Great-Britain to their German Brethren; together with your letter and preface, I invited the Rev. Mr. Stracke, Secretary of the Society for promoting pure doctrine and true picty, in order to confult with him about publishing thefe valuable accounts and papers. A printer at Oldenberg has been engaged to print 5000 copies of them, of which 1000 will be fent to you, by way of Lee: Emden or Norden.

We

We all greatly admire the establishing a Miffion to the South-Sea Islands, during the prefent apoftacy, which is inundating Germany both on this and the other fide of the Rhine. Public baptifin, we are informed, is to be abolished, and it is to be administered only in private houfes. The Lord however is carrying on his work ftill from above; not permitting the old fyftem entirely to fall, but bringing forth imperceptibly fomething new, that the Church of Chrift and truth may have martyrs alfo in future, and in other parts of the world, to feal it with their blood.

With high regard I recommend myself to the venerable Society in London, and wish them further fupport from the grace of Jefus Chrift.

LETTER IT.

Extract from a Letter of the Rev. Mr. Stracke to Dr. Burckhardt. Rev, and Dear Brother,

THE effect of the Addrefs from London you will fee in the inclosed plan of a Millionary Society in Eaft-Frielland, which I beg to prefent to the refpected and beloved Directors, with the most hearty falutations of all our Brethren. Two of the Minifters who have figned it, are of the Calvinilt denomination, and we expect that the number of Minifters approving the plan in this country will increase to thirty. We have fent copies to Altona, where Mr. Vander Smiffen will fign and forward the plan to Flensburg, Cleves, Ofnaburg, &c. fo that we foon fall form a confiderable Society in the northern parts of Germany, which will be happy to unite with your Society in London.

We beg the favour of your communicating to us a continuation of the accounts of the Miffion at Otaheite; and we could with particularly a plain narrative of the reception and work of the Miffionaries there in a imail pamphlet of a few fhects, for the ufe of the middling clais of readers in town and villages, whereby they might be stirred up to take a more particular and active intereft in the Millionary work.

May the venerable Directors of your Society be pleafed to look upon our feeble efforts with approbation, and receive our Plan as a return and anfwer to their excellent Address! We would efteem it a favour, if these dear men of God would send us a few lines to encourage us in the steps we have taken, which probably would have a good effect to confirm those Brethren, who are timid in their refolution to accede to our union.

May you write me often fomething of this new and glorious work, in order to communicate the glad tidings to the Brethren near nie, and at a diftance, and to build up our infant inititution!

Mr. Jung, Counsellor and Professor of Civil Law at Marburg, a member of our Society, writes me in his lat letter: " Long ago have I had a prefage of the Lord's coming being near; but the certainty of it never rofe in my mind to fuch a degree, as when I heard of the aftonishing Miffionary Inftitutions of the prefent times!" May the grace of our Lord be with you, and with Your Brother and fellow-fervant of Chrift, GEORGE SIEGMUND STRACKE.

Hatbufen, near

Aurich, March 11th, 1799.

LETTER III.

NEW GERMAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY IN EASTFRIEZLAND,

Decafioned by the Addrefs of the British Society to their German Brethren. The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a grain of mußard feed. Mat. xiii. 31. 32. A Miffionary Society for the converfion of the Heathen, though fall in the

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