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added, “any more than with any | avoidably occur, What is meant by their being sprinkled with Christ's blood? In the former hymn, the influence of the Spirit is described as effective; What does the SAME SPIRIT effect in the case of baptized infants?

other mere means of grace." Infant baptism, according to them, is a means of grace; of what grace then, is it the means? Still the question returns, (and, after all, it is the pressing point,) on these principles, how is Dr.This is the point which ought to Watts's language to be explained? have been explained ;-but it is Would the Editors, or would Se- NOT explained, it is avoided. lah, in order to convey their sentiments respecting the advantages of infant baptism, quote this hymn of Dr. Watts, and say, there our views are clearly and precisely exhibited ?

For the purpose of convicting me, the Editors say, that my giving Dr. Watts full credit for the excellent evangelical sentiments expressed in Hymn 95, 1st Book, "though elicited by a cross-examination, must satisfy an impartial jury that the poet is not guilty of intending to ascribe regeneration to the baptismal ceremony."

I am represented as having undergone a cross-examination; I was not aware of it. But, if that part of SELAH's letter, to which the Editors refer, be a cross-examination, I wonder they do not feel it. The 95th Hymn, 1st Book, was, by Selah, object-cellent ed against me, and copied.

There we find these words,

"The Spirit, like some heavenly wind,
Blows on the sons of flesh,
New models all the carnal mind,
And forms the man afresh."

Here the words are plain, and the exposition easy; the Spirit is the agent, the sons of flesh are the subjects of his operation, and the new-modelling of the carnal

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Without any cross-examination, I acknowledged Dr. Watts's exevangelical sentiments, and I also added, that a "6 very good and useful man, which Dr. Watts eminently was, may not albe consistent with himself." ways Since the Editors have taken the affair out of SELAH's hands, they consistency, or acknowledged his should either have proved his inconsistency in the present case: for there was no question concerning his general sentiments;but they have done neither.

mind, and the renewal of the One thing, however, they have whole man, is the effect. All done; they end as they began ; this is intelligible. Compare putting the word intending under these expressions with the follow-inverted commas, as if it was a ing lines from Hymn 127, Book 2. "Their seed is sprinkled with his blood, His Spirit on their offspring shed, Like water pour'd upon the head."

quotation of a word I used, they apply it to propositions of their own forming. Let the reader keep in mind the manner in which I used the word intended, and then let him draw his own conclusions. Had these Editors

Here, as in the former hymn, the Spirit is the agent, but, in this case, infants are the sub-proved that the controverted exjects; and they are said to be pressions in the Hymn were "NOT sprinkled with the blood of intended to favour the idea that Christ. The questions then un- some spiritual blessing was con

VOL. XVI.

U

veyed by baptism," I would retract | forward interpretation of Dr. what I have said; but, till that is Watts's expressions, in opposition done, it shall remain;-what I to my question, they would have have written, I have written: and done so. I cannot help suspecting, from their whole manner, that the Editors feel the difficulty in which they are placed; for, had they been able to give a clear, straight

I am, Sir,

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Yours, &c. JOSEPH KINGHORN.

Norwich, April 7, 1824.

Miscellanea.

A NONCONFORMIST HERO.

THE name of Mr. Francis Smith might be seen on the title-page of many of the Dissenters' Publications at the period referred to. One of his trials for selling these proscribed works is preserved in that Constitutional work, "The State Trials." He was a Baptist of the General Denomination. Mr. Cox, one of his descendants, who restored the stone, was a deacon of the church in Eagle-street. The descendants of Mr. Smith are still found among the Baptists, who think of their progenitor with more respect than if he had been the monarch, at the time when his persecutions were sanctioned by the Crown, and ordered by a corrupt Bench.

MR. FRANCIS SMITH,

Late of London, Bookseller,

(Whose grateful Memory may this Stone perpetuate)
During the Reign of Tyranny and Oppression,
In the 17th Century,

for

Urging the Frequency of Parliaments,
and

Publishing the Sentiments of Freemen.
Suffered much

By Fines, corporal Punishments,
and

Forty-one Imprisonments:
Unremitted Severity

Necessarily much impaired his Constitution;
yet

This Spot did not receive him,
Till Heaven, by the Hand of
The Glorious King William,

Had restored to his (almost ruined) Country
The Rights of Men, of Christians, and of Britons.

He died

Keeper of the Custom House to that great Prince,
22nd December, 1691.

This Tomb was restored by his Descendant, Thomas Cox, Citizen of

London, 1761.

Who hopes to rest with his Family in the same Place.

Anecdote of Dr. John Owen.

Anecdote of the venerable Eliot of America.

IN Cotton Mather's Life of the venerable Eliot, (the apostle to the Indians,) there is an extract from a His Biographer says, "He liked letter to Mr. Eliot, from Dr. Owen, no preaching but what had been which gives a higher display of his well studied for; and he would very truly Christian spirit, than any much commend a sermon which he thing I remember to have seen could perceive had required some respecting him. Some expressions good thinking and reading in the in his "Excercitations on the author of it. I have heard him thus Lord's-day," had given offence to express himself: Brother, there Mr. Eliot, to whom he thus replied: was oil required for the service of -"I suppose there is scarce any the sanctuary; but it was to be one alive in the world, who hath beaten oil; I praise God that I saw more reproaches cast upon him than your oil so well beaten to-day: the I have; though hitherto God has Lord help us always, by good study, been pleased, in some measure, to to beat our oil, that there may be support my spirit under them. I no knots in our sermons left undisstill relieved myself by this, that my solved, and that there may be a poor endeavours have found accept- clear light thereby given to the ance with the churches of Christ; house of God!' He likewise looked that my holy, wise, and gracious for something in a sermon beside, Father sees it meet to try me in this and beyond the mere study of man; matter also; and what I have re- he was for having the Spirit of God ceived from you, (which, it may be, breathing in it, and with it; and he contains not your sense alone,) hath was for speaking those things from printed deeper, and left a greater those impressions, and with those impression upon my mind, than all affections, which might compel the the virulent revilings, and false ac-hearer to say, The Spirit of God was cusations, I have met withal from here! I have heard him complain, my professed adversaries. I do ac- It is a sad thing when a sermon knowledge unto you, that I have a shall have this one thing, the Spirit dry and barren spirit, and I do of God, wanting in it.'" heartily beg your prayers, that the Holy One would, notwithstanding all my sinful provocations, water me from above; but that I should now be apprehended to have given a wound unto holiness in the churches,

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Life of Eliot, by Cotton Mather, 3rd Edition, London, 1694.

'tis one of the saddest frowns in the A Christian's Necessary Guides. cloudy brows of Divine Providence.

"The doctrine of the Sabbath I have asserted, though not as it should be done, yet as well as I could. The observation of it, in holy duties, unto the utmost of the strength for them, which God should be pleased to give us, I have pleaded for; the necessity also of a serious preparation for it, in sundry previous duties, I have declared. But now, to meet with severe expressions-it may be 'tis the will of God, that vigour should be given to my former discouragements, and that there is a call in it, to surcease from these kind of la

bours."

Is not this an exposition of what Paul calls" the meekness and genileness of Christ?"

1.

“A CHRISTIAN, in all his ways, must have three guides: truth, chahim: charity and wisdom on either rity, wisdom. Truth to go before hand. If any of the three be absent, he walks amiss. I have seen some ritably. And others, while they do hurt by following a truth unchawould salve up an error with love, have failed in their wisdom, and offended against justice. A charitable untruth, and an uncharitable

truth, and an unwise managing of truth or love, are all to be carefully avoided of him that would go with a right foot in the narrow way."

Bishop Hall.

204

Obituary and Recent Deaths.

MR. W. KINGSLEY.

most cheering proof of devotedness to God. Partakers of the same precious faith, these two brothers became an example to all around, in their pious conversation, strict inte

NOVEMBER 6, 1823, died at Boardscroft, near Tring, Herts, Mr. W. Kingsley, aged thirty-four years.grity, and ardent zeal for the proHe was born at Purton, near Hit- motion of the gospel in the adjacent chin, and lived a stranger to the villages. Their attention to the power of religion till about five spiritual welfare of their servants years since, when he was seized and labourers is worthy of Imitawith a dangerous illness, and be- tion; when the weather was unfacame much alarmed. A pious vourable, during hay-time, they young relative visited him in his af- would assemble them in a barn, fliction, and proposed prayer, to and read the sacred scriptures, and which he assented, and eagerly in- | other religious books to them; ofquired at the close" where he had ten, too, might they be seen sitting learned to pray thus ?"—which gave under a hedge, reading the message rise to serious conversation, and left of mercy to the poor, but grateful, him thoughtful. With returning labourer. A career, so honourable health, he, however, again became and useful, was but short; the brocareless, till it pleased the Father thers, "lovely and pleasant in their of Spirits to repeat the stroke of lives," in death were not long to affliction; at which period the agony | be divided. Mr. G. Kingsley was of mind he suffered, from conviction taken ill of typhus fever, and died of sin, was dreadful, and frequently in a few days," calling upon God;" caused the perspiration to roll from his brother, though poorly, was with his face, as he sat encircled by bis him in his illness, and at his death; family. At length he obtained from which painful scene he retired peace of mind, through a believing to his own home, where he immeview of him, who" came to seek diately became confined to his room, and to save that which was lost." and, after a fortnight's severe sufReligion now took possession of his fering, also expired. The state of soul, and be seemed to live only to his mind, under affliction, was reglorify God. He attended the mi-markably happy; when visited by nistry of the word at New Mill, and was baptized in May, 1820. He continued an eminently useful and honourable member of that church till his deccase. Concern for his own welfare induced him to feel for the salvation of others; and seldom had he an opportunity of conversing with a fellow-creature on divine subjects, without embracing it. The writer of this will never forget with what pious pleasure he used to relate to him the success attending any of these attempts to do good. Mr. G. Kingsley, an elder-there Jesus is." When reminded brother, resident at the adjoining farm, was induced, by him, to become a constant attendant on the means of grace, and to give the

his pastor, he found him engaged in
spiritual conversation, and his soul
apparently absorbed in divine sub-
jects. On receiving a little refresh-
ment, he raised himself from ́ ́his
pillow, and, with fervour, entreated
that whether he ate, or drank, or
whatsoever he did, might be done
to the glory of God. When asked
if willing to die, he replied, "Oh
yes! I cry, Come, Lord Jesus,
come quickly! I long to be going—
there will be no sin-there will be
such blessed and glorious company

of the Lord's goodness to him, “O
yes," said he, "I deserved the hot-
test hell, but the Lord had mercy
on me.'
." On being visited again, his

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conversation proved that he had sustained a severe conflict with the enemy of souls, of whose " fiery darts" he complained; yet his confidence was strong-he adverted with strong feeling to the cheering invitation, Look unto me, and be ye saved," &c. as a peculiar source of consolation to him. He requested that the 8th Chapter of Romans might be read, and at the 14th verse, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God," &c. he exclaimed with energy-"Yes; they are so. I know that I am not a hypocrite." His pastor now commended him, and his beloved wife and children, to God; at the close of which, perceiving the emotions of sorrow, which marked every countenance, he endeavoured to remove it, by directing them to Jesus, as the "friend, the better friend, whom they would still have left." His regard for others' eternal interests was strong in death; on being asked if there were any passage he would choose as his funeral text, "Yes," said he, "And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men every where to repent."-Asking for the Bible, that he might point out to his minister portions that had been consolatory to him, on receiving it, "Oh! how cold it is!" said he; and clapping his hand to bis forehead, seemed to feel his mental powers giving way. After this there were but few lucid intervals, in each of which he seemed engaged in sacred intercourse with God, till at length he fell asleep in Jesus. Each of the brothers left a widow and five children to mourn their loss. Numbers were collected to hear the funeral sermons of these amiable men. May the impression then made never be effaced! May the widows and fatherless find help in God, and the numerous relatives, together with every reader of the above, "become followers of them, who through faith and patience now inberit the promises."

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MRS. MARY PORTER.

MRS. Mary Porter died February 9, 1824. It appears that, about fifteen years ago, she was in company with a very pious friend, (a deacon of the church then meeting in Founders' Hall,) who proposed to her this important question, "Do you love the Saviour of sinners?" It pleased the Lord, in infinite mercy, to impress this inquiry with power upon her mind. She resolved, from that time, to hear some minister who preached Jesus Christ. Under the direction of Divine Providence, she was led to hear the Rev. Dr. Rippon. She has recorded one or two passages of the sacred word of God, which were peculiarly precious to her at that season; which came to her not in word only, but with power. Isa. i. 18, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Also Matt. xi. 28, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” She was led to see the absolute necessity of a true knowledge of the Saviour, as he is revealed in the sacred scriptures, before there can be any genuine love to him, according to the language of the Psalmist: "They that know thy name, will put their trust in thee." Thus, by the influence and teaching of the Spirit of truth, she was led to see, that it was not only the duty, but the privilege, of those who really love the Saviour, to keep his commandments. Under these serious and delightful impressions, she made a public profession of her faith in the Lord Jesus, and was received into fellowship with the church of Christ meeting in Carterlane, in 1812, in the twenty-third year of her age, where she continued a member about seven years. After her marriage she was dismissed to Church-street, Blackfriars - road, where she continued to attend about five years. She has left a most pleasing and satisfactory testimony, that she has beard the precious truths of the gospel from Sabbath to

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