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in the said County; and Prebendary of Lincoln.

At Chichester, Captain JOHN BRIDGEWATER, in the 70th year of his age.

At the Archbishop's Palace, Canterbury, the Rev. WILLIAM GREGORY.

At Greenock, aged 83, Mr. ALEXANDER M'DONALD, who has been stiled the Father of the Fishery in that quarter.

At Maynooth College, Ireland, the Rev. PETER FLOOD, D. D. formerly Professor of Theology in the University of Paris, and Joint Superior of the Irish Seminary.

In the City Chambers, J. VAUGHAN, Esq. late Banker in Cornhill.

February 3. At Chester, aged 84, Mrs. CONWAY HOPE, Widow of the late George Hope, Esq.

Same day. At Goring Heath, in Oxfordshire, the Rev. J. LICHFIELD, B. D. Rector of Aston Tirrold and Tubney, Berkshire.

Lately, in Benson Street, near Gloucester, Lady ANN BENSON, Relict of Dr. Benson, late Chancellor of that Diocese.

Feb. 4. The Rev. SAMUEL GREAME MARSH, Vicar of Manuden, Essex.

At Bletchingdon, Oxfordshire, the Rev. Dr. BRACKEN, Rector of that Parish.

February 6. RALPH HARRISON, Esq. Durham. He was found dead in his bed, to which he had retired the preceding evening apparently in good health.

February 8. At Hodcott, Berkshire, in his 85th year, JOHN HEAD, Esq. many years one of the Deputy Lieutenants for that County.

At Bath, Captain Chilcot, of the Navy. He came from Windsor the preceding day in apparent good health.

Lately, suddenly, the Rev. JOHN DrRANT, of Hagley; a very active Magis'trate for the Counties of Worcester, Stafford, and Salop.

Lately, at Metz, ELIZABETH ADAM, aged 105 years. She was for 78 years the wife of Conrard Preis, who, at the age of 109 years, still survives her.

Lately, at Sidmouth, of a decline, the Rev. JOHN BARTON, Rector of Sunning, Berks, and of Chiddingfold, Surrey, and lately installed one of the Prebends of Canterbury.

Lately, after an illness of twenty-four hours, the Reverend JOHN SUCKLING, Rector of Ship-meadow, son of Robert Suckling, Esq. of Woodton-hall, in Norfolk.

February 22. In Greek-street, Soho, in his 84th year, General EDWARD MAXWELL BROWN, Colonel of the 67th regiment of foot.

February 23. At Lambeth, the Reverend Dr. PEARCE, Sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal.

February 10. At Longcroft-hall, in Staffordshire, the Reverend JOHN ARDEN, M. A.

Lately, at Mount-house, Glamorganshire, aged 74, WILLIAM HURST, Esq. one of the Deputy Lieutenants, and a Jus

tice of the Peace for the Counties of Monmouth and Glamorgan.

March 5. The Reverend Mr. PEACHY, Chaplain to the Duke of Cumberland.

March 7. At Bengeo-hall, Herts, aged 78 years, THOMAS PROCTOR, Esq. an emi nent Porter Brewer.

March 7. At his house in Clevelandsquare, his Grace the DUKE OF BRIDG+ WATER. He has left behind him an immense fortune. The Dukedom is ex, tinct.

Lately, in his 83d year, the Reverend GEORGE CARR, M. A. Rector of Swannington, in Norfolk, and formerly Tutor of Trinity-hall, Cambridge.

Lately, at Norwich, the Reverend SAMUEL BURROUGH, Rector of Heveningham, Horham, and Ashby, in Suffolk.

March 3. At Cortachy, in Scotland, the Right Honourable the EARL OF AIRLY.

March 4. After a lingering illness, the Reverend WILLIAM LARDNER, a Minor Canon of Canterbury Cathedral, and who had lately been presented to the Vicarage of Seasalter, and Curacy of Whitstaple.

Last week, at Islington, WILLIAM YOUNG, Esq. Brewer, His death sq deeply affected his father, John Young, Esq. of Clapton, that he survived him only three days.

March 9. Mrs. ANNA MARIA SHIPLEY, daughter of the Honourable George Mordaunt, and widow of Jonathan, Bishop of St. Asaph, in her 87th year,

Same day, in his 78th year, the Right Honourable General WARDE, Colonel of the 4th regiment of Dragoon Guards.

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Same day, aged 85, the Reverend Dr. CASBERD, fifty-seven years Vicar of St. Augustine's, Bristol.

March 15. At Old Brentford, in his 85th year, Mr. THOMAS TRUMP, who carried on the business of a Brewer for near sixty years,

At Clapton, aged 70, Miss D'AUGILAR, Daughter of Diego D'Augilar, Baron of the Holy Roman Empire.

At Reigate, Surry, Mr. GEORGE VAUX, in the 82d year of his age.

Mrs. ANNE BUTLER, Wife of the Reverend Weeden Butler, of Chelsea.

In George-street, Hanover-square, aged 73, Mrs. LoWTH, relict of the late Bishop of London.

Mr. G. VORE, of Sutton, Cheshire; he was walking up Cornhill, in perfect health, when he dropped down, and expired soon afterwards.

At Stoke Newington, the Reverend LEWIS DE LA CHAUMETTE, one of the Ministers of the French Church in Threadneedle-street.

At Groton, Miss MUMFORD, aged 23, Daughter of Mr. Mumford, of Bricet. The deceased, in a fit of laughter, broke a blood-vessel, and expired a few minutes after.

At York, Mrs. H. EGERTON, Widow of he Archdeacon Egerton.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Having been obliged to omit the Answers to Correspondents at the Close of last Month, we are greatly in Arrears with many of our Correspondents.

THE Communication of SINCERUS seems well intended; but a regard to his reputation, as well as to our own, forbids its insertion.

We must again refer T. B. for a solution of his doubts respecting the Third Article, to the Authors mentioned in our reply to his former Letter, (see Answers to Correspondents for December last), to whom may be added Bishop Burnet. T. B. calls Usher and Pearson" old and obsolete writers;" but they are not so old, of course not so obsolete, as the article in question: if they cannot satisfy him, we have no hope of succeeding.

We cannot with propriety engage in the undertaking proposed to us by STEPHEN; but we shall be ready to recommend the plan so far as it may appear to us to deserve, if entered into by others.

We beg to assure a Correspondent, whose name we again suppress, that he has mistaken delay for breach of promise.

We thank R. B. for his paper, but we must decline admitting it.

We have received from SECTARIUS PACIFICUS a Second Letter, still more angry than the first. We had some intention of inserting it with annotations, but one of our number more considerate than the rest, read to us, in an audible voice, the following authoritative sentence-" Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man thou shalt not go; lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul." His comment upon the passage was quite decisive. "If there be a danger of infection from contracting a friendship with an angry man," said he gravely; "the danger is increased in the case of those who debate with him."

JEVENIS ought to have translated his long quotation.

Would B. V. think himself justified in withholding Christian burial from adults who had been baptised by dissenters? His reply to this question will be an answer to his enquiry respecting children similarly circumstanced.

We are obliged to CLERICUS NORTHAMPTONIENSIS for his correction, and should we find him right, shall avail ourselves of it.

R's extracts from Cowper's Letters; T. on Evans's Sketch; PHILADELPHOS on the Monthly Review; C. on virtue and vice; AGNOSTIS, E.; H. N; C. R. C's remarks; S. K. S.; T. C. A. B.; AMICUs; and A S. have come to hand.

CLERICUS; A CURATE OF THE SOUTH; I. M's Geological Essay; W. R.; the answer of T. S. to a serious Enquirer; B. T.'s numerous and valuable Communications; and C. L. will obtain as early an insertion as possible.

We are sorry that K.,R's paper came too late for insertion in the present Number: it will appear in the next.

ZELOTES; O. U. I. on Dr. Paley; JOHN on BAPTISM; A. A's Criticism; CLERICUS JUVENIS on Rom. VII. will find admission.

R. I's Ode to Sleep and the Ode to Spring, will not suit our work.

We wish that ANTIPELAGIUS had pointed out the particular passage in Brewster's secular Essay on which he founds his remarks.

SIMON forgot to pay the postage of his letter.

The Letter of PETTICULUS on perfumes, does not smell of the lamp.

We thank C. O. T. for his hints, as well as for his paper which will appear.

We do not think that H. O's Critical Illustrations are satisfactory. His censure of a passage in our first Volume is just, and will be attended to.

J. G's paper is left at the Publisher's.

We feel ourselves called upon to apologize to many valuable Correspondents, for the delay which has occurred in the insertion of their pieces, and which, owing to the narrow limits of our work, has been absolutely unavoidable.

ERRATA.

Vol. II. page 15, line 2, from bottom, for Dr. read Mr.
page 34, line 14, for respect read respects.

CHRISTIAN OBSERVER.

No. 16.

APRIL, 1803.

[No. 4. VOL. II.

Religious Communications.

LETTER OF IGNATIUS TO THE CHURCH AT MAGNESIA BESIDE THE MEANDER.

IG

*

GNATIUS, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church which is at Magnesia beside the Mæander, wisheth salvation in God our Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ.

When I had learned the abundance of your charity according to God, I had great joy, and determined to address you in the faith of Jesus Christ. For having been accounted worthy of that namet, which bears in it the appellation of the divine majesty; in this chain which binds my body I severally commend the Churches, for whom I earnestly wish an union both of flesh and spirit with Jesus Christ our everlasting life, an union of faith and love towards Christ and the father, in whom, after having sustained the assaults of the prince of this world and overcome, we shall finally enjoy God.

Since, therefore, I have been accounted worthy to behold you in the person of Damas your bishop, of the presbyters Bassus and Apollonius, and my fellow servant Sotion the deacon, who is obedient to the bishop as to the grace of God, and to the presbyters as to the Apostles, I entreat you, brethren, not to despise the youth of your pastory, but reverence his person according to the divine authority which belongs to his office, as I know the holy presbyters already do, not regarding his want of age, but submitting themselves as wise men unto him, or rather indeed to the Father of Jesus Christ the universal bishop. You are bound, therefore, to obey, in honour of him who requires obedience at your hand, without hypocrisy: for it is not enough that we be Christians

*So called to distinguish it from Magnesia on Mount Sipylus,

+ Theophorus.

The word pastor is rarely applied in the writings of the Fathers to any but bishops.

CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 16.

in name but in deed, neither is it enough to name the name of a bishop, and to do every thing without his concurrence. Such persons have made shipwreck of conscience, because they assemble together against the commandment. Beloved, all things draw to an end: life and death are before us, and every one shall go to his own place; for as two pieces of coin bear different impressions, so also believers and unbelievers have different characters impressed upon them, the one of God the other of the world. Since, therefore, in the persons of your ministers I have conversed with your whole assembly, I exhort you to study to do every thing in a spirit of divine harmony, the bishop presiding in the place of God, the presbyters in that of the apostolical college, and lastly, the deacons, to whom is committed the ministrys of Christ, who was with the Father before the world began, and hath now appeared in the fulness of time. Imitating, therefore, the divine tem per which was in him, yield due reverence one to another, none regarding his brother according to the flesh, but loving one another in Christ.

As therefore the Lord Jesus did nothing without the Father, (being one with him) either in his own per son or by the Apostles, so also do ye, meeting together in one place, let there be among you one prayer, one supplication, one mind, one hope in charity and joy unreproved. be ye all united as in the same temple, before the same altar, through the same Jesus Christ, who coming from the same Father exists in, and returns to, the same. Be not seduced by strange doctrines nor old and useless fables; for if we shall continue to live accord

§ dianoviar-we have no single word which will convey this appropriate mean ing. Сс

ing to the law of Moses, we thereby acknowledge that we have not received grace; for even the inspired prophets of old lived according to Christ: for this cause they suffered persecution, in order to convince unbelievers that one God manifested himself by Jesus Christ his Son, who is the eternal word of the Father, not proceeding but of silence*, and in whom the Father is well pleased. If, therefore, they who lived under the old dispensation attained to the hope of the new, let us no longer observe the sabbath, but sanctify the Lord's Day; in which our life arose out of him and his death, through which mystery we have received faith, and for which we endure persecution through Jesus Christ the only teacher.

And if the prophets themselves were his disciples, if they waited for him as their teacher in the spirit, and if he, to whom they looked forward, hath by his coming raised them from the deadt, how should we live when separated from him? Let us not, therefore, be insensible of his goodness; for if he should follow our examplet, we should be undone for ever. Since therefore we have professed ourselves his disciples, let us walk according to his law: work off, therefore, the old and sour leaven, and be changed into the new leaven, which is Christ; be salted in him that ye be not corrupted in yourselves, for every one shall be known by his scent. It is absurd to name the name of Christ, and to Judaize; for Christianity hath not passed away into Judaism but Judaism into Christianity, that every language and people under heaven, by professing faith in Christ, might be gathered to God.

And this I say, brethren, not because I know or suspect that any of you are tinctured with a Judaizing spirit, but as your inferior§, I am anxious to put you upon your guard lest ye fall into the shares of false doctrines; and above all that ye may be fully as

Silence, one of the errors of the Valentinians, a sect of early heretics, whose fantastic genealogies were exposed by Ire

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sured of the nativity, passion, and resurrection, which things really, and not in appearance only, happened unto the Lord Jesus, from whom God forbid that any one should fall

away.

May I receive comfort from you in all things, if I am worthy; for, though bound¶¶, I deserve not to be compared to you who are at liberty. I know that in you no pride hath place, because Christ dwelleth in you. So that when I commend you, ye are covered with confusion as it is written-"The righteous accuseth himself **.”

Study, however, to be confirmed in the precepts of our Lord and his Apostles, that whatever ye do may prosper, in flesh and spirit, in faith and charity, in the beginning and the end, in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, with your worthy Bishop, with the spiritual crown++ of your Presbytery, and with your godly and faithful Deacons.

I know that ye are filled with God, and have therefore been the more brief in my exhortations. Be mindful of nie in your prayers, that I may attain unto God; and of the Church which is in Syria, from which I am not worthy to be called forth to witness the truth; for I want your united supplication and charity. May I be accounted worthy to be bedewed by your intercessions.

They of Ephesus salute you from Smyrna, whence I now write. Indeed they have greatly refreshed me, together with Polycarp Bishop of the Smyrnæans. The other Churches §§ also salute you in the reverence of Jesus Christ. Farewell in the peace of

Opposed to the heresy of the Docetæ. Perhaps an oblique hint at the merit of suffering for religion, an opinion too to be long excluded. flattering to the pride of the human heart

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** Prov. xviii. 17.

I have chosen to preserve the ambiguity of the original, which signifies both an ornamental chaplet for the head, and a circle or ring of men assembled for some particular purpose. In the latter sense, the Latin word corona is used by the best writers.

This is the original word, which I have been careful to preserve, though it might have been more properly applied to divine grace, descending like the dews of heaven upon the subject of those intercessions.

§§ Whose deputies were present with the writer,

God, and enjoy that inseparable spirit which is Christ!

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. THE presumptuous and daring manner in which Colonel Despard met his fate upon the scaffold has been an affecting subject of reflection to every serious Christian. It affords a melancholy specimen of the way in which infidels die, and except in the case of a very few profligate criminals of the lowest order, has not been a common spectacle in this kingdom. In France, where public executions were lately so very frequent, I have often heard of the indifference, and even gaiety, which were displayed by many of the victims of the revolution, in their way to the guillotine, but it has not been my lot to meet with any recorded instances (though there may, doubtless, have been some) of true fortitude and composure of mind in that awful hour upon principles truly Christian. I cannot but consider this as an effect of the baneful success of infidelity, and a proof of the general ignorance of vital Christianity in that land. In our own country, the scaffold has often been the scene of Christian edification. The crowds surrounding it have felt the force of religious impressions, their faith has been fortified, and their piety kindled by the tranquillity and resignation of the sufferer, by his affecting prayers, his penitent confessions, and his well-founded hopes of pardon with God. It may be interesting, perhaps, to some of your readers, to lay before them extracts from authentic accounts of the conversation and behaviour of some of our eminent men, who, in former times, perished on the scaffold. I purposely select my examples from the order of nobles, from the class of statesmen or soldiers, that it may appear that dignity of station, and the active occupations of life, have not been found incompatible with Christian duties. It will be interesting also to observe what were the religious doctrines usually held in the good old times, when religion, if not quite so rational as in the present refined period, certainly produced much more extensive and important effects.

N. D.

THE EARL OF STRAFFORD.

On Wednesday, May 12th, 1641, the Earl was brought to the scaffold on Tower-hill; as he passed near the lodgings of the Archbishop of Canterbury, (whom he had desired by a message to be at the window, and to bless him as he went to execution) he looked up, and bowing, said, My Lord, your prayers and your blessing. The Archbishop lifted up his hands for the sign of bestowing both, but was so overcome with grief, that he fell back in a swoon. The Earl bowed again, and said, Farewell, my Lord; God protect your innocency. Many of the spectators observed, that he walked more like a general at the head of an army than a condemned man. The lieutenant desired him to take coach, for fear the people should rush upon him and tear him to pieces. "No, said he, master lieutenant, I dare look death in the face, and I hope the people too; if that may give them better content, it is all one to me." Upon the scaffold, attended by the Archbishop of Armagh, the Earl of Cleveland, his brother Sir George Wentworth, and his own chaplain, he delivered the following speech with a very composed and courageous air:

My Lord Primate of Ireland, and my Lords, and the rest of these noble Gentlemen. It is a great comfort to me to have your Lordships by me this day, because I have been known to you a long time, and I now desire to be heard a few words.

"I come here, my Lords, to pay my last debt to sin, which is death; and through the mercies of God, to rise again to eternal glory.

66

My Lords, if I may use a few words, I shall take it as a great courtesy from you; I come here to submit to the judgment that is passed against me: I do it with a very quiet and contented mind. I do freely forgive all the world; à forgiveness not from the teeth outward (as they say), but from my heart. I speak in the presence of Almighty God, before whom I stand, that there is not a displeasing thought that ariseth in me against any man. I thank God, I say truly, my conscience bears me witness, that in all the honour I had to serve his majesty, I had not any intention in my heart,

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