nister in Cardigan, and who was also one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, wrote a letter of complaint to the Bishop of St. David's, and received an answer by the first opportunity; and as we have a correct copy of the bishop's letter now before us, we present the reader with some of the more important extracts. Abergwili, Oct. 8, 1782. Sir, I received a letter from you of the 13th ult. Mr. Jones, the curate of Langoedmor, had called upon me a few days before, when he gave me an account of the matter complained of in your letter. I was extremely sorry to find that Mr. Jones had been guilty of such a mistake; and I soon convinced him that he had acted very improperly; and lest he should again fall into such an error, I wrote him a letter on the subject, immediately after the receipt of yours. It has been intimated to me that something of the kind happened in this bishoprick about twenty years ago, and that there are still some young priests in Dyfed and Cheredegion, who hesitate about the lawfulness of marrying persons unbaptized. The week be fore last I wrote to some of the senior priests in these counties, requiring them to inform their younger brethren, that when persous apply for marriage, the minister is to make no inquiry about the religious sentiments of the parties; and if there be no obstacle arising from relation or consanguinity, and all things required in the act of the 26th of the late king, be fulfilled, he is to go forward to administer the marriage; and if he refuse to do so, under these circumstances, he will subject himself to the ut most rigour of the law... "I shall always be ready to take due notice of every complaint like this, that you, or any other Protestant Dissenter, may find it necessary to bring before me; and I hope, from the care I have taken on this occasion, no cause will be given you to com plain in future. "I entreat you to convey my respectful compliments to the gentlemen who met on this occa sion, and be pleased to accept the same yourself, from, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, JOHN ST. DAVID'S." that Mr. Jones married the young It is scarcely necessary to add, couple without saying any thing more about baptizing the female, Seven Gomer, Oct. 1822. young friend, to whose conversation and example he attributed his first serious impressions of his lost state and condition by nature, which terminated in his repairing to the cross of Christ for salvation. religious services, whenever his health and circumstances would admit, till his death. The writer has been favoured with an intimate acquaintance with him of more than fifty years, and can with justice say, that his character has been untarnished as it respects the church, his family, and the world, except the infirmities of human nature, from which the best of men cannot claim an exemption. He placed all his hopes for life and salvation upon the Rock of eternal ages, that permanent forndation, which never fails in a trying hour, and against which the gates of hell shall never prevail: he lived About this time the pious lady of the late Lord Robert Manners of Bloxham introduced the ministry of the gospel into that neighbourhood in the establishment, and settled one of the six young students who were expelled from the University of Oxford for reading, praying, and expounding the scriptures, (the Rev. Benjamin Kay,) as the officiating minister of Bloxham and Digby; and hither, at the distance of about five miles, he and his friend travel-near to his God, and often enjoyed led together to hear the precious sound of salvation, which is the only salutary balm for a sin-wounded and sin-burdened conscience. About 1767 he removed to Sleaford, and, shortly after, to Boston; but Providence opening a door for his removal and final settlement at Swineshead, he removed thither, where he spent the remainder of his life. the consolations of the gospel. He was a highly respected and honourable member of the church about fifty-three years, to which he gave a strong testimony of his attachment by walking nine miles, whilst he was able to continue his attendance, as well as by a donation of one hundred pounds prior to his death, toward liquidating a debt upon the chapel. He manifested his attachWhilst at Boston, and after his ment to the cause of Christ, by removal to Swineshead, he became cheerfully contributing his assista hearer of the Rev. Wm. Watts, ance in promoting it, under whatpastor of the Particular Baptist ever name or denomination the apchurch at Donnington and Boston, peal might be brought. He was a where he preached every alternate decided Calvinist; but of a catholie Sabbath; after whose death, in about spirit, possessing the warmest at1768, the Rev. Wm. Coates accept-tachment to all who love our Lord ed of the pastoral office. In 1769 our friend, being convinced of the propriety of believers' baptism, and desirous to become a decided follower of Christ, offered himself as a candidate, and was baptized; and from that time he continued a constant and persevering attendant upon the public means of grace, as well as upon more private and social * Since we received the above, we have been informed by the Rev. John Hinmers of Boston, that Mr. Brand was afterwards the instrument of great spiritual good to his friend's son, who is now a respectable deacon of Mr. Hinmers's church; upon which Mr. H. very properly remarks, "We not only see a remarkable correspondence between sin and its punishment, but also between good done and recompense bestowed." Jesus Christ in sincerity, by whatever name distinguished amongst men. He was visited several times in his last illness by an intimate friend, who mentioned the divine consolation and enjoyment with which a young female friend was supported on her death-bed. Mr. Brand said, that it was a matter of great thankfulness to witness such pleasing scenes, but that it was not the case with himself: be hoped, however, he should be supported in passing through the dark valley of the sha dow of death. He added, that the coldness and supineness of his heart and affections might be the cause of the Lord's withholding those com * Mary Clarke. See Baptist Magazine, 1822, page 473. fortable manifestations of his presence and support which he in merey imparts to many others. and cheerfully co-operated in the plans formed for its welfare. From Portsea she went, six months. July 30, he was very poorly, and before her death, to reside with a for several days past had been much lady at Devizes, having undertaken afflicted both in body and mind, the office of governess in the family. suffering much mental depression There she was taken ill, and finishthrough the severe buffetings of the ed her course. The state of her enemy; but he expressed a deep-mind will appear by an extract from felt sense of the goodness of God in the preservation, protection, and to support he had found in the divine a letter from the lady above referred promises during his pilgrimage, and "I cannot attempt to give you a re trusted that the Lord would sup-gular account of dear E. W.'s expeport him through the waters of Jor-rience during her last illness, but from dan till he reached the promised inheritance. He dropped the fetters of mortality Sept. 8, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, to join the church triumphant, and was interred on the following Wednesday; and on Lord's-day, the 22nd, an appropriate sermon was delivered by the Rev. J. Hinmers his pastor to a numérous and deeply affected congregation, from Phil. i. 21. May the unchangeable promises of Jehovah, and the provision made in his everlasting covenant for the security and salvation of his people, which so eminently supported our departed friend, be the happy lot of the writer and readers. Nov. 19, 1822. } AGRICOLA. her general calmness and resignation throughout the trying period, I have reason to believe her mind was influenced by the best principles, and by the consolations of religion. Her illness, which was attended with pain, continued nearly eleven weeks; but during the whole time I never witnessed a single expression of discontent or repining. She felt, I believe, much uneasiness at being incapable of discharging the duties of her situation, and disappointed at being so long deprived of the privileges of public worship; and, on one occasion, wept as mily going as usual to the place where she had enjoyed so much pleasure. she observed from the window the fa "Though her last illness was of an alarming nature, hopes were entertained of her recovery, and immediate danger was not apprehended till a few days previous to her dissolution, when the friend who attended her became more anxious to learn the MISS ELIZABETH WHITMARSH. state of her mind under the trying DEC. 15, 1822, died Miss Eliza- dispensation. It being observed to beth Whitmarsh, aged nineteen. her that this painful relapse was a Her parents reside near Lymington, great disappointment to her expecbut Divine Providence brought Miss tations, and very trying to her spirits, W. to Portsea about five years since. Yes, but it is all right, and I hope she replied, with much calmness, After a long residence in this place, patience and resignation will be granther conversion became apparented me, to bear all that my heavenly from the seriousness of her behaviour, from her assiduity, and from her diligent attendance on the'means of grace under the ministry of Mr. Hawkins, from, which she received great benefit. In October, 1820, she was united to the church in White's-row, and she diligently performed the duties of that connexion. She was very useful as a teacher in a Sunday-school, and much beloved by her fellow-teachers. She was punctual in her attendance, observant of the regulations of the school, Father may see fit to lay upon me." These christian graces were, indeed, evidently in exercise throughout her illness. She experienced much pleasure at hearing the scriptures read, and felt the value and support of the sacred promises they contain. On the morning of the day on which she died, having passed a painful night, her what was the state of her mind; she friend inquired, with much anxiety, replied, Very tranquil; I awoke this morning in a sweet frame of mind, with only one wish, to be entirely resigned to the will of the Almighty.' Her 6 friend said, 'You now feel the comfort and advantage of having attended to religion in the season of health and youth.' She replied, ( Yes, I do but I have shamefully abused my privileges.' 'This is what we all have to accuse ourselves of,' replied her friend; but what a mercy that there is a gracious Saviour to apply to for pardon, whose precious blood speaketh better things than that of Abel!' She replied, Yes, it is; I have put my trust in Him, and hope I shall not be disappointed at last. None that ever trusted in Him were disappointed,' her friend answered, and observing that she appeared much exhausted, she discontinued the conversation; but a short time after, going to her bedside, she heard her repeat, with sweet serenity, that delightful passage Unto Him that hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood;'-and she appeared to be deriving from it the support and consolation it is calculated to impart in the most trying circumstances. Her weak ness and exhaustion from this time increased, till, with scarcely a groan or a struggle, her gentle spirit took its flight to the realms of eternal peace and rest. Her general sweetness of temper and propriety of behaviour have left an impression of regret and sorrow, that will not for a long time be effaced; and I now feel as if we had not sufficiently prized her character." Her death was improved at White's-row Chapel, Dec. 29, by her pastor, from Song vi. 2; after which he read some very interesting extracts from her letters to a young friend, and which discovered her piety to have been of no ordinary kind. It death was a convincing evidence of its divine reality. "The memory of the just is blessed." Her coustitution being naturally weak and delicate, she was subject to affliction from her childhood, which appears to have been sanctified by the Lord in a very eminent degree, in promoting her spiritual interests, and eternal salvation. Very early in life she manifested serious thoughtfulness on the importance of religion, and began to attend on the means of grace, in the connexion of the Wesleyan Methodists, with whom she was subsequently united, and continued for several years. pleased the Lord by the teachings of his Spirit, and the leadings of his providence and grace, to give her such discoveries of the evil of sin, the depravity of human nature, and her own unworthiness, that she became very much distressed and cast down concerning the real state of her soul. While she was in this exercised state of mind, she was induced to go and hear Mr. S. at the Baptist meeting, and the Lord was pleased to bless the word to her soul, by which means she obtained a little relief and comfort. She continued to attend occasionally, and found increasing comfort, and a more settled peace in ber mind than she had ever enjoyed before. At length she came and heard Mr. S. constantly, and having truth and consistency of the docexpressed her real conviction of the vinists,) and cordially embraced trines of grace, (as held by the Calthem, she united with the Baptist church, of which she continued an honourable and highly respected member till her death. From the time of her union with the Baptist friends, the Lord greatly blessed her in the use of the means of grace, so that it was clearly demonstrated, that she grew in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 66 The humbling views she had of herself led her often to express her self as a brand plucked out of the fire;" and the exhalted views she had of the glory of the person and work of Jesus, excited her to glory in Christ and him crucified. She | Christ. Oh the blessedness of an lived under such an abiding sense | have believed, or even conceived." of the great obligations she was She frequently cried out, "I am under to the sovereign, distinguish-happy; I have great consolation in ing, efficacious grace and mercy of God in Christ Jesus, that she often exclaimed in the hearing of the writer, “If I get safe to heaven, it will be a wonder indeed." The affliction which terminated in her death, began with a very painful swelling in her neck and throat, supposed to be the effect of taking | cold, under which she suffered extremely nearly twelve months, from | its commencement till the time of her dissolution. For seven months out of the twelve, her pain was so great, that she was unable to lie down in her bed, for fear of being suffocated, and great apprehensions were excited, lest, by the continued swelling, the means of her taking food might be so impeded, as that she might die of starvation. It might be said of her, as it was of that great human example of patience, Job," In all this she sinned Bot, neither charged God foolishly." She would frequently say, "What is this to what my Saviour suffered? it is infinitely less than I deserve, The evening before the day on and what is still better, it will soon which she died, in attempting to be over." The exercise of those rise from her couch, she ruptured a blessed graces, faith and hope, was blood vessel, at the sight of which wonderfully illustrated in her life the family were alarmed; when with and death. Resting with unshaken that dignified composure which she confidence on the finished work of had so greatly enjoyed, she said, the Rock of ages, she was filled with that her Redeemer was at hand, a glorious hope of a blissful immor- and had disarmed death of its sting. tality, which inspired her with sin-She continued in that calm waiting gular patience in waiting for that frame till the next day about oue blessed object. When the writer o'clock, when she said, It is all was conversing with her on the right," and then bid a final adieu to nature of her affliction, she said, pain, sin, and sorrow, experiencing "I should be happy to have the (no doubt) an abundant entrance same afflictiou repeated, if the Lord into the kingdom of our Lord Jesus would be pleased to indulge me Christ. Her death was improved with the same comfort." At one by her pastor the following Lord'stime, when speaking of the God- day, from Rev. xiv. 13. to a crowddishonouring nature of unbelief, she ed and affected auditory, in whose said, "Sometimes when I have felt remembrauce she will long live. exceedingly happy in my dear Redeemer under the word, some such suggestions as these have crossed my mind." "Is all this real? would you be so happy if you were in great affliction, or near death? blessed be his dear name, I have proved his faithful word to be my support and Comfort, and to exceed all I could VOL. XV. 66 The few following remarks will give the reader a general idea of her character as a christian, and also as a member of a christian church. Humility was a prominent feature in her. When she heard any thing of a painful nature respecting the faults or sins of professors, she said, "They should excite our pity and |