Bedford, a respectable farmer of Burlingham, near Pershore, Worcestershire, who departed this life about two years ago, leaving behind him a widow and eleven children. He had been a member of Pershore church upwards of 40 years, and was greatly esteemed for his piety, amiable temper, and exemplary life.

Mrs. Bedford had resided a few months in Dean street, Southwark; during which time she attended public worship, on the Lord's day, chiefly at Maze-pond. Since her residence in London, she had not been so well in her health as usual, but not confined to her bed till within about six weeks of her death.

Being sent for, at her request, the first time I visited her, in her last illness, I found her in a state of great debility, both of body and mind, and understood the physician had pronounced her case extremely dangerous. On my enquiring into her views and prospects, in reference to another world, her reply was, that she was very low, and fearful; I said to her, You have long heard and professed the gospel, (having been a member of the Baptist church at Pershore, for more than 20 years), have you not cordially approved of its discoveries, respecting the person and grace of the Redeemer, and the design of his undertaking and work? She answered in the affirmative, and said, she had been all her life in great doubt about her personal interest in the Saviour. I then endeavoured to exhibit the freeness of salvation, and the riches of divine mercy-how welcome all were to trust in the Saviour, who felt their need of him; and prayed with her.

and in the enjoyment of peace, which continued to the end.

In the course of the night, previous to her departure, she repeated two of Dr. Watts's hymns throughout, and correctly-one"When I can read my title clear," &c. the other" Firm as the earth the gospel stands," &c.

--

For some hours before her death, she was unable to speak, and at last expired without a struggle or a sigh, in the 62d year of her age, Feb. 11, 1815.

At her particular request; her remains were taken to Pershore, and deposited in the meeting house there, by the side of her hus band's; when the Rev. Mr. Belcher of Worcester, preached an appropriate discourse on the occasion. On the following Lord's day, the Rev. Mr. Hoby improved the affecting dispensation, at Mazepond, Southwark.

T. T.

NATHAN DAVIES, The eldest son of a respectable Baptist minister, in Wales, was a youth of wild and profligate conduct, and thereby occasioned much grief to his pious parents. Neither the mild nor severe methods used to reclaim him, had the desired cffect. At length the period arrived when the aged and venerable, father, like good old Jacob, must die, and like him, he desired that his numerous family of children should be called to his bedside, to receive his dying admonitions. Having addressed them all, one by one, except the profligate son; in a very affectionate and solemn manner, he concluded by warning them to shun the bad example, and wicked ways of their oldest brother, and advised them to act towards him At my next visit, I found her mind with caution and forbearance: addmore tranquil and happy, apparent-ing, that he feared they would exly fixed on the sure foundation, perience, from him, nothing but

sorrow and trouble. He then dismissed them, without saying anything to the eldest son, and soon after died.

The circumstance of the father's silence, made a deeper impression on the mind of Nathan, than all the reproofs and exhortations he had before received; and, to use his own expression, he thought at the time that his heart would have burst. He was then about 27 years of age and through the divine blessing, a great change was soon visible in him-he abandoned his former ways and companions became a serious hearer of the word, and in a short time, a member of his late father's church. A few years afterwards, he was called to the ministry and succeeded his father in the pastoral office, with eminent success, until the day of his death, which took place in the year 1726.

Thomas's History of the Welsh
Baptists.

MR. WM. VICE,
Died at Arnsby, April 8, 1814.
In his youth he was very gay,
and his mirth and vivacity made
him the life of every company.—
Reading Whitfields' works was the
first means of impressing his mind
with the important concerns of sal-
vation. For several years he con-
tinued in a very unpleasant state,
sometimes attending to religious
things, and occasionally overcome
by his attachment to improper as-
sociates. This occasioned him

much shame and sorrow.

After many conflicts, he was en-
abled ultimately to decide for God;
and about the year 1777, he was
admitted a member of the church,
then under the pastoral
al care of the
Rev. Robt. Hall. From that time,
he walked consistently, and the
sincerity of his christian character
was never called in question.

The decline of life was not em-
Vol. VII.

bittered by any severe affliction, his constitution was gradually bro ken up.

He loved to join in spiritual con versation, and his ardent feelings rendered tender by age, were eas sily moved. He loved the house of God, and would often say, that, though his memory failed him, so that he could not retain what he heard, yet the word of God did him good while hearing it; and on going home, would say, "Well, I shall soon go, where assemblies never break up; the sabbath never shall end.' During the whole of the winter, his mind was in a very comfortable state, and occasionally he was favoured with much spiritual joy. On hearing of the great numbers of aged persons that died about this time, he expressed his surprize that God continued to him. spare The return of mild weather revived him, and he began tolook forward to another summer; but he was taken ill, and after an illness of a few days, he was removed from this world. He was much supported in his affliction by the 23d psalm: but while he enjoyed the consolations of hope, he was much afraid of being deceived. About an hour before he expired, he wished his wife to retire, telling her, that he felt no pain, either in body or mind.

The experience of our friend shews the importance of decision in religion. While his mind and conduct were variable, he was unhappy; when he clave unto the Lord, with purpose of heart, he enjoyed the pleasures of godliness.

This experience affords consolation to those who may be undecided, The grace of God can fix their changeable minds. Let not such, when they have fallen into sin, sink in despair: rather, let them humble. themselves by true repentance before God; and feeling their own weakness, let them, with redoubled Y

REVIEW.

THE APOSTOLICAL METHOD As the foundation of this, be care

We most sincerely wish a copy of this sermon were in the hands of every student intended for the ministry.

THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, From this World to that which is to come delivered under the similitude of a Dream, by John Bunyan. The first part: rendered into familiar verse, with a close adherence to the original. by Isaac James. Button, &c. Dr. Towers, the writer of Mr. Bunyan's Life in the Biographia Britannica, says, " He was certainly a man of genius, and might have made a figure in the literary world, if he had received the advantages of a liberal education." And Mr. Granger, in his Biographical History of England, says, "that when he (Mr. Bunyan) arrived at the age of 60, which was the period of his life, he had written books equal to the number of

his years.' He adds, "his mas

ter piece is the Pilgrim's Progress, one of the most ingenious books in the English language-the allegory is admirably carried on, and the characters justly drawn, and uniformly supported:" To the above, we shall add the Rev. Mr. Scott's testimony, in the Life of Bunyan, prefixed to his edition of the Pilgrim's Progress.. "It is above all things wonderful, that Mr. Bunyan's imagination, fertile and vigorous in a very high degree, and wholly untutored by the rules of learning, should have been so disciplined by sound judgment, and deep acquaintance with the scriptures, as to produce, in the form of an allegory, one of the fairest, and most unexceptionable treatises, on the system of Calvinism, in the English language."

This treatise, it may be asserted, has passed through a greater

number of editions, and has appeared under a greater variety of forms than any other human book extant. In the preface, the author / of the present edition gives the fol lowing plain and artless account how the idea of rendering the work into verse first struck his mind, with the benevolent motive by which he was actuated in the attempt, together with the plan he has pursued.

Having, for many years, been in the habit of composing rhymes for my own amusement, aud that of my friends, an idea at length struck me, whether I

could not, or ought not, to turn my something which might, with the talent (such as it is) in that way, to blessing of the Almighty, prove permanently useful; and, therefore, on the 15th of March, 1811, I began to render the Pilgrim's Progress into familiar verse; hoping it might prove acceptable, not only to juvenile readers, but to others, in more advanced life. I have endeavoured to adhere, as closely as possible, to the text and/ spirit of the original, and have kept to. one measure in the narrative part, throughout, but in the dialogues, have varied from it, as it suited my inclination or the characters introduced; approve. I have made a considerable which I hope my readers will not disadvance in the second part, and should this attempt meet the patronage of the public, intend it shall speedily follow." The preface concludes in these words, "So many concise lives of Bunyan are extant, that I thought it needless to add to the number, but would recommend the Rev. Joseph Ivimey's more copious account, published in 1809.*

It is unnecessary that we should express an opinion of the merit of Mr. J's versification; one thing, however, is certain, that it must have cost him much labour; and we cannot think any candid criticism will injure its reputation. The perusal has afforded us much entertainment and pleasure. Let our readers procure the book, and

* A new Edition is just Published.