held or made known. In this way, even a poor slave is not precluded from great usefulness in his station: and, in this view of the case, "Little Jane" may have been, and may yet be a more successful teacher than many excellent men, who have devoted their lives to the propagation of the Gospel. In short, as her experience is likely to be circulated, for ages to come, it is impossible to assign any limits to the benefits that may accrue from the life of that one humble indi joiced. For our Lord has said, "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sin ner that repenteth." And when "Little Jane" had come to the close of her short pilgrimage, death came, not with the awful commission of an evil angel, but with delightful news, like that once announced by the Angel of the Lord," Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy." Then was her happy spirit carried by angels to the abodes of bliss, where "the days of mourn ing shall be ended, and the peo-vidual. ple shall be all righteous." Moreover, in the history of "Little Jane," another striking truth presents itself; namely, the extensive usefulness of Christian experience. Paul informs us, that his experience had its use. Thus, in 1 Tim. i. 16, he says, FOR THIS CAUSE I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, FOR A PATTERN to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." In like manner, the experience of "Little Jane" has, by Providence, been recorded for a PATTERN to the children and youth of the present generation, and such a pattern will it continue to be to millions yet unborn. In "Little Jane" our young friends may see too, by contrast, the danger of not seeking, at an early age, the Saviour she sought: for, at whatever age faith anticipates a blessing, the want of faith must forebode a curse. Thus there are two modes in which Divine truth is presented to the mind; namely, in its abstract character, as preached by faithful ministers, and in its efficacious character, as imbodied in Christian experience, and, thus proclaimed, wherever that experience is be On the following day, (July 16, 1823,) we visited the cottage where "the Dairyman's Daughter" had resided, and where she closed the days of her pilgrimage. Her mother, we were informed, did not long survive her affectionate daughter; and the aged Dairyman, we learned, had been dead a few years. The cottage is now occupied by her brother and his wife, both of whom we saw: and, among other interesting particulars, we were highly gratified with a sight of Elizabeth's Bible; On inspecting which we saw, not only her own hand-writing, but also that of a succession of ancestors for more than a century before her death. Here we saw ground for great encouragement to our Bible Societies; for many of the Bibles. we now disseminate, may, like that of Elizabeth Wallbridge, pass through the hands of successive generations; and thus our efforts may conduce to the spiritual benefit of many a Dairyman's Daughter, a hundred years hence. When Xerxes, king of Persia, beheld the millions of his army, in the plains of Asia, and reflected that, in a hundred years, those warlike hosts would be no more, the thought filled him with anguish, and made him weep. | But the faithful Christian, who advances in serious contemplation from 1824 to 1924, sees no thing to make him weep with anguish, as the heathen monarch did: for, with regard to himself, he expects to have arrived at the full enjoyment of all his wishes long before that time; and, as to his labours, he knows that they will not be in vain in the Lord. Gave her, His truth and faithfulness to prove , The choicest treasures of His boundless love. tomb, Peace, that not Hell's dark legions could And love, that fill'd the soul with heav'nly joy.) In the preceding Epitaph, there is a slight mistake in the date. For, though the writer has here given it as expressed on the stone, yet he well recollects that the brother's wife stated, that she was present when her sister-in-law died, and that her death happened about sunset on a SUNDAY: and since that time, the writer has ascertained that Elizabeth Wallbridge died on Sunday, the 3d of May, 1801, and not on Saturday, the 30th. In passing on to the remainder of the account, it is proper to state next, that, proceeding over the same ground as the funeral procession had done, we arrived at Arreton Churchyard, where we found, without difficulty, the grave we sought. Indeed, every child seemed perfectly familiar | with the spot. But it may be | necessary to observe, that there are two separate graves, one of which is that of Hannah Wall-| bridge, who died January 14th, 1800, in the 27th year of her age: and the Reader is requested to bear in mind, that Hannah was the sister of that pious individual, who is emphatically call-"Little Jane" and "The Dairyed "The Dairyman's Daughter;" man's Daughter" were visited and it will also be recollected, during their last affliction, and to that the death of Hannah occa- whom also the world is indebted sioned the first application to the for a record of their religious exRev. Leigh Richmond, whose ex- | perience. In the Epitaph, howemplary visits were so amply re-ever, for " The Dairyman's warded, by seeing so much of | Daughter," the lines were comheaven in an earthly cottage. The writer of this account must, however, proceed to the Epitaph of Hannah's sister, and which is as follows: "To the Memory of ELIZABETH WALLBRIDGE, 'The Dairyman's Daughter,' who died She being dead, yet speaketh.' With respect to the poetry of the inscriptions, the writer has been informed, from good authority, that the lines on the stone erected for "Little Jane," were composed by that faithful and affectionate minister of the Established Church, by whom both posed by a lady, who is the author of " Elijah, and other Poems." To those who know not the gospel, nor the power of God, the experience of "Little Jane," and "the Dairyman's Daughter," may appear to be the effects of enthusiasm and such did the experience of the Apostle Paul appear to be; for, after relating the principal points of his religious life," Festus said, (with aloud voice, Paul, thou art beside thy our Lord, preached the baptisnr of repentance. The Son of God, the great prophet of the church, preached that men should repent, and believe the gospel. The apostles of our Lord preached repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. self," (Acts xxvi. 24.) Thus, "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor. ii. 14.) But, when the grace of God is contemplated by those who have A pious minister expressed a felt it, how different are their wish that, if he died in the pulfeelings! Hence we read, that pit, he might be preaching rewhen Barnabas had come to An-pentance; or, if he died out of tioch, "and had seen the grace it, he might be found practising of God, he was glad, and ex-it. Repentance and faith are horted them all, that with pur- graces that should be exercised pose of heart they would cleave every day. unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith." (Acts xi. 1 23, 24.) Bromley, Middlesex. J. F. On Evangelical Repentance. THE Bible, it should never be forgotten, is the religion of sinners, and it follows, as a necessary consequence, that repentance is an essential part of vital godliness. Without repentance, we must perish, in body and soul eternally. Repentance is founded in conviction of the evil nature, and awful consequences, of sin. In some, it is more pungent than in others, yet it is essentially the same in all who believe in Christ, and turn to God. Till we are the subjects of evangelical repentance, we shall never seek pardon through the blood of Christ, nor live to the glory of God. The body without the soul is dead, whatever be the position in which you may place it. 4 Repentance constitutes a leading feature, in a truly evangelical ministry. John, the harbinger of How much more desirable is it for a Christian professor, to go to heaven penitent, and be received, than to go presumptuously to the gates of heaven, and be finally rejected.-Yes, solemn thought," there is a way to hell, even from the gates of heaven, as well as from the city of destruction." A few brief remarks on the nature, obligations, origin, and effects of repentance, will serve to illustrate our views of this initiatory part of religion. I. The nature of evangelical repentance. What is repentance? There is such a thing as a specious resemblance, without the thing itself. Judas repented, but died in his sins, and went to his own place. Repentance is sorrow for sin; having the heart broken and contrite on account of it. There is much in sin that calls for sorrow, the majesty of the Being it insults; the goodness. and equity of the law it violates, the value of the soul it ruins, and the deep wound it inflicts on the best interests of society. When the crucifixion of the Lord of life and glory was charged home on the consciences of Peter's hearers, on the day of Pentecost, they were pricked to the heart. They were filled with grief and confusion. Divine truth, like an arrow, penetrated their hearts, and left a wound behind, which nothing but the gospel could heal. All must be convinced of sin, and be saved from it, or perish. the only period in which repentance is available. In the grave there is no repentance, and in bell the obduracy of sinners will be complete and everlasting. Go to the deathbed of sinners, witness their horrors, and listen to their dying regrets; that you may learn the necessity and importance of repentance. They mourn at last, when their body and their flesh are consumed, and say, "How have we hated instruction, and our hearts despised reproof.” The consequences of impenitence are not confined to this life, but will go with us into eternity, and spread themselves through everlasting ages. The wrath of God will come upon the finally wicked, to the uttermost, and abide for ever. Hope, the sweetner and comforter of this life, will not enter hell, but leave the miserable victims of insulted justice, bound in the chains of despair for ever and ever. Manasseh humbled himself before God. The publican smote on his breast, and said, "God be merciful to me a sinner."-Sin is felt by the penitent as an evil and bitter thing." Instead of approaching the avenue of temptations, he avoids the occasions of sin. Have you, my reader, ever felt the weight of your iniquities? Do you confess and forsake your sins? Do you implore the illuminating and sanctifying influences of the Spirit of God? Have you ever loathed yourselves, and repented, as in dust and ashes, before the throne of God? All such mourners shall soon be comforted. The Son of God pronounces them blessed, and will give them "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garments of praise for the spirit of hea-pentance. God in Christ, under viness." The mercy of God, through Christ Jesus, the Mediator, forms a powerful and constraining motive to contrition and genuine re the gospel dispensation, is reThe conscience being purified, conciling sinners, of every deand pacified by faith in the atone- scription, to himself, not imputing ment of Christ, a new song is put their trespasses unto them. Ininto the mouth of the penitent; vitations of the freest grace, and "Though thou wast angry with richest mercy, are addressed in me, thine anger is turned away, the word of God, to sinners of and thou comfortest me. every nation and every clime. II. The obligations to repent-"Ho! every one that thirsteth, ance are numerous and powerful. come ye to the waters, and he Having offended God, the best that hath no money; come ye, of beings; having violated the buy and eat; yea, come, buy law of our creation, and come wine and milk without money short of the glory of God, we and without price." If any man ought to repent and forsake our thirst, said the blessed Jesus, at sins. The faithful and true wit- one of the jewish festivals, let ness hath said, except we repent, him come unto me and drink. we must all likewise perish. Hu-He that cannot repent, and will man life is short, and yet it is not deny himself, hath said, “ He 1 that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." O may the marvellous loving-kindness of God, lead the reader of this article to genuine repentance, that needeth not to be repented of! Jesus, is the only effectual source of relief to fallen perishing man. The love of God provided and sent the Saviour into our world; to seek and save the lost. Repentance and remission of sins are preached in his name. All that receive the atonement are justified from all things, and shall be saved from wrath to come. III. The origin or source of repentance, like every blessing of the gospel covenant, must be traced up to the grace of God, and derived to sinners, through Sinners must know, and bethe atoning death of Jesus. By lieve, that the gospel is the migrace ye are saved, to the utter nistration of the Spirit. By his exclusion of all works, and hu- powerful, but gracious, influence, man worthiness. The sinner men are convinced of sin, enmust feel himself impoverished lightened, renewed, and made and ruined, before he will under- holy. "This grace of God, that stand or relish the gospel. In bringeth salvation to lost, dying consequence of the Redeemer's man, teaches him to deny ungodhumiliation unto death, he is now liness and worldly lust, that he exalted to give repentance unto may live righteously and godly all that come unto God in his in this present world." The balm of the gospel, while it gives peace to the conscience, quickens its sensibility and spiritual tender name. | While it removes the terrors of guilt, excites loathing of heart for sin, and promotes spiritual, impartial, and persevering obedience, The usual means employed by our Lord and Saviour, in producing repentance, is the preach-ness. ing of his own word. "When they heard this;"-a plain statement of the word of God, by Peter, on the day of Pentecost,"they were pricked to the heart." IV. The effects and blessings Though none are now charged connected with evangelical rewith the immediate act of the Sa-pentance, correspond with the viour's death, yet all have slighted grace of God, and the inand neglected his great salvation.fluence of the Holy Spirit. All have lived in ignorance of the nature of his mission, and at variance with the design of his death. Such persons must clearly understand, that, by the works of the law, no flesh can be saved. The law is holy, and demands perfect obedience. The soul that sinneth shall die. All have broken this law, and come short of the glory of God. Some by open vice, and others by pride and secret love of pleasure. By the law is the knowledge of sin, and of death, as its natural and necessary consequence. The free unmerited grace of God, in Christ Guilt and confusion will fill the heart of the once rebellious, but now contrite, humbled, abased: sinner. Prejudice, that formidable barrier to the entrance of truth, will now be broken down and removed. Shame and remorse will fill the heart. The returning sinner will stand self-condemned, before the tribunal of God, and his own conscience. Instead of objecting to the purity and strictness of God's law, his mouth is stopped, and he stands confounded, and without excuse before God. He sees no way of escape from anticipated. |