fame place, who faid, on the day of Mr. Taylor's death, "Now, if I had died to-day, and had gone together with Mr. T. I fhould have accompa nied him to the brink of hell, and then I would have kicked him into hell, and fo run off myself." Being spoken to about his fearful conduct, he replied, "I am refolved to go on in the fame way till I am fixty years old, and then I will repent for ten years; and, if that will not do, by God, I will go to hell and be damned." Many other fearful expresfions were uttered by him, too horrid to be repeated. But there is a God who judgeth the earth. On the next day, a few minutes after he had abundantly employed the language of hell, he was found lying on the ground a ghaftly figure; he never spoke again, but languifhed a few hours, and made the dreadful experiment of entering upon an eternal world. The wicked is driven away in his wickedness. JANE SHEPPARD. J. B. IN September, 1800, died Jane Sheppard, of Down-Froome, Dorfet. She was born in Maiden Newton, and lived in a diffenting family in Down-Froome. She was always a fober and moral perfon, but remained ignorant of real and experimental religion until God, in his providence, fent Mr. Denny as an itinerant for the county. By means of his converfation and difcourfes fhe was convinced of fin; her convictions increased almost under every fermon; and she told a friend that the used every mean in her power to ftifle and fhake them off. But, in March, 800, Mr. D. having been led to preach from Heb. iv. 16, under this fermon fhe was fully convinced of her loft ftate, was led to fee Jefus exactly fuch a Saviour as the wanted, and to rejoice in the privileges of a throne of grace. Being of a referved temper, he did not open her mind until within the laft three months before her death: at this time he was much reduced by a deep decline; when the told a friend what the Lord had done in and for her foul. This friend, afking her if the Lord thought fit to take her, where was her dependence? the replied, "Alone in what Chrift hath done and fuffered for finners: I have no other." One day, converfing with a friend, the faid that she felt fuch a load of guilt, that he thought hell was open to receive her, and that all her former hopes were delufions. Being referred to what David faid when he cried out, 66 Deep calleth unto deep at the noife of thy water fpouts; all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me,"fhe faid, "That is my cafe. After being exercifed with many doubts and fears, fhe was relieved by an application of that promife to her mind, "Fear not, for I am with thee.” Being afked afterwards how the found her mind, fhe replied, "I am confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in me, will perform it until the day of Jefus. About a week before her death, after lying, to all appearance, in a dying pofture for fome time, at length the recovered her ftrength, and repeated thefe words of Dr. Watts, "His name is all my truft." The following lines being thus repeated to her, "Nor will he put my foul to flame, At another time the faid, "That is enough both for time and eternity." the exclaimed, "O! name divinely fweet! I love my Jefus above every object or fubject. There is nothing fo dear to me as my Jelu: I can -part with all my friends for my dear Jefus." Her fifter obferving to her how much the suffered, the faid, that what the fuffered was not worth a thought, when compared with what her Jefus had fuffered for her." He fuffered a hell for me! and I deferve to fuffer ten thousand times more than I can I can in time." Being asked, if she would give up her hope? fhe exclaimed, **O no! not for ten thousand worlds! It is worth mountains of gold.” On the Lord's Day before her death, fhe was fo weak, that he could fay but little a friend came to fee her, who engaged in prayer with her, and then left her. And being afked on the Monday, how the found her mind? the aid, "That in anfwer to prayer, fhe had been much compofed in the night, and had found her foul much drawn out to God. Thefe words, "I will never leave thee, nor forfake thee," were her chief fupport. "He never! never will !" Her deportment, through all her affliction, was expreffive of the greatest patience and refignation to the will of God. Her language was, " Not my will, O Lord, but thine be done! May my will be fwallowed up.in thine, my God!" She never murmured, although the fuffered much from the nature of her diforder, being confident that God would not take her home until he had completed the work of fanctification in her foul. 66 On the morning preceding her diffolution, being afked how the found herfelf? fhe faid, in regard to her body, that he was as well as the could expect, and that he was very comfortable in her foul, being enabled to exercise strong faith in that promife, "I will never leave thee, nor forfake thee:" and fhe was enabled also to say, with David, " In the mul titude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my foul." When the found that she was dying, the cried out, " Dear Jesus receive my fpirit," and triumphingly fung, "Jefus can make a dying-bed "Feel foft as downy pillows are !" Then the faid, " My dear Jefus, I must die to know thee fully dear Jefus, I come to be with thee, and then I shall behold thy head, once crowned with thorns." She dwelt much upon the laft claufe of that text, "Death is swallowed up in victory !-victory!-victory!" (which The made choice of for her funeral fermon) After a fhort paufe, fhe faid, Dear Jefus, receive my fpirit!" and then fell asleep in him, without a figh, groan, or struggle, on Wednesday. September 24, after knowing the Lord about eight months, in the twenty-fecond year of her age. B. Ç, RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. QUR Intelligence for the prefent month is collected from a variety of quarters, and affords us the pleasure to obferve, that the Lord hath not forfaken the earth, but that in many parts he accompanies the word of his fervants with the blethings of his grace. The Letter from Denmark will be highly interefting to the friends of the Millionary Society; and the other articles will thew the progrefs of the work of God, and the zeal of his fervants in the different countries. Letter from the Danish Society for Propagating the Gospel, (Tranflated from the Latin.) Moft dearly beloved Brethren u. Chrift, the venerable GRACE and peace be with you from God our Father, and Jefus our we read with deepest emotions of heart your molt welcome letter of May 26th. Glory be to God, who fo mightily ftrengthened and exhilerated our hearts with the confidence given of your love and interceffion for us, and by that blessed union of Spirt, in which we are truly one with you. The German Society of Bafil hath alfo communicated to us your very animating epiftle to them, which hath ftimulated them to perfift, by the grace of Jefus, in the race fo happily and profperoufly begun. In your letters, fo full of momentous intelligence, deareft brethren, we under ftand they have been accompanied with papers informing us, among other things, what you have been attempting abroad and at home, and what you farther purpose. But thefe papers have never reached us; why, we know not. What refreshment, inftruction, and caufe of prayer and thanksgivings would they not have afforded us! The lofs of them is truly grievous to us; having kindly defigned them for us, we cannot, deareft brethren, but apprize you of our difappointment. Fully perfcaded of your cordial participations in our bleffings, we with delight (thanks be to God our Saviour) can inform you, that he continues, in the most blessed manner, to be kind and favourable to us; and manifefted his prefence and benediction in our last annual affembly. The Lord was indeed in the midst of us: we broke up with fresh courage and inclination for the work. We are at prefent engaged in executing the defigns entered upon at this meeting, from which, as far as it regards our great object, we entertain much hope, God the Saviour fupporting and giving his benediction. We can alfo inform you, that we hope to form an affociation with fome faithful witneffes for the truth in Sweden. There our little pamphlets, especially our Evangelical Magazine, are read with pleasure. In Norway, a peafant, whofe name is Hans Houge, with feveral likeminded affiftants, travels about, far and wide, preaching the Gospel with great earnestness and efficacy, as we are informed. During the two years paft, they have awakened a great concern on the minds of many, fo that the number of thofe who have by his means been led to a deep concern for their fouls, is faid to amount to 1800. Some of them, and Hans Houge himself in the number, have been together, and repeatedly feized and imprisoned; but when examined before the magistrates, no criminal charge could be proved against them, and they have been difcharged. We fully purpose to gain a more explicit knowledge of, and acquaint ance with, thefe men, and wish to be able to help them in the work. In Jutland, the beginning of a fimilar work of God appears, the iffue of which we wait. We rejoice greatly in your fraternal participation with us, dearest brethren, and are affured we fhall fhare in your fervent prayers to God for us. Since the edict published by our government refpecting the bounds of the liberty of the prefs, and the obedience due to magiftracy, the libels which very lately fwarmed against the Bible and Chriftianity, have been fomewhat repreffed, but the fatal principles of the new philofophy have long been diffeminated, and extend their influence daily. Nevertheless, Jefus Chrift, the great Head of his Church, doth not forget the congregation of his own upon earth. He laid the foundations of his church; and the gates of hell can never prevail against it! This fure and happy hope, your letters, moft diftinguithed brethren, tend ftrongly to confirm. With your kind leave, we beg to teftify our fervent defire to hear fome farther intelligence from you, and particularly refpecting the papers you were fo kind to fend, but have not reached us. May God the Saviour, for ever adorable, profper you and your Miffion ary ary Society, deeply lying on our hearts, with all the defigns you plan and the labours you are engaged in for the glory of his holy name. Η φιλαδέλφια μενεία Let brotherly love continue. For the Danish Society for propagating the Gofpel, Faaborg, 6th Aug. 1801, Wm. Odenfee. GERMANY. U. E BOESEN. Tranflation of a Letter from the Minifters Conference at Herrnhut, to the Union of Chriftians formed at Bedford; which was read at their Fifth General Meeting, 6th May, 1801. Brethren, united with us in the Lord, highly efteemed and beloved in Chrift, YOUR Addrefs of 16th of April, 1799, fent to the Minifters affembled for conference at Herrnhut, arrived fome days too late for the meeting held that year; and was therefore deferred to our last annual affembly. Though we much regretted this delay, yet it appears to have been favourably appointed by the Lord. At the former meeting, we had been greatly rejoiced by the perufal of a letter from the Miffionary Society of London; and the late arrival of your addrefs, fimilar in its purport, has this year renewed our pleasure. Our affembly confifted of fifty-seven stated minifters, and fifteen candidates for the facred office; all of whom were fixed in attention while we heard your letter; and the effufion of your hearts filled ours with furprize, contemplation, and joy. Accept our most cordial and respect. ful thanks on the account. Bleffed be God that, in this age of infidelity, he has provided fo many and fo various inftitutions for the enlargement of his kingdom! We rejoice that he has difpofed your hearts not only to join with others to commiferate the Heathen world, but likewife to look with pity on your neglected neighbours; thus contributing to the falvation of both defcriptions, by imparting or enforcing the Gospel among them,directing their faith to Jefus Chrift, and the atonement made by his blood, as the only price of our own and of their redemption. Our acquaintance and frequent communication with the members of the brethren's church, could not leave us ignorant of the religious tranfactions in your island. It is indeed, at prefent, eminent in various refpects; and, like a city fet on a hill, or a light which the Lord has kindled, it cannot remain unobferved. Yet your affectionate letter, explaining the occafion, inftitution, arrangement, and early confequences of your union, adapted to the univerfal attention of real chriftians, afforded us fuch clear information, as to excite our admiration of the Lord's dealings with your nation. That the various denominations in religion, by which your country has been distinguished, almost as much as by its worldly riches, should fo readily agree together, and fo effectually co-operate in the fame caufe, this prefents a living illuftration of our Saviour's words (John x. 16.)" There shall be one fold and one thepherd;" and an additional proof that he has the difpofal of the hearts and hands of all. Though the beginning of your labours, dear brethren, may appear trifling to short-fighted men, and may excite their contempt, we are perfuaded that the work you have undertaken, with reliance upon God, and committed to him by prayer, will make a happy progrefs, in fpite of every difficulty, and attract more and more the refpect of pious people, both in England and in Germany. The path is now open. May the the great ones of the earth, who cannot remain unaware of what paffes in the church of God, be difpofed to encourage its advancement in every quarter!" Awake, O north wind, and come thou fouth; blow upon my garden !" (Cant. iv. 16.) While you, and many others, have the honour to concur in promoting various inftitutions for the convertion of the Heathen,-we, Proteftant minifters in Germany, can claim no fhare in that great work, except as connected with the Danish Eaft India Miffion; and this alfo principally belongs to the brethren's church. The propagation of the Gospel feems for the prefent to be referved to the English chiefly, and in the next place to the Dutch, rather than to the German nation. Thofe of us who are ftated minifters, are bound by indiffoluble ties to our congregations and families; and among our candidates for the miniftry, few difcover an inclination for Miffionary labours. Yet we may venture confidently to affert, that the example and the exhortations of English chriftians, have already excited among us an intereft for miffions. We hope for an approaching period, when circumftances in Germany may tend, as they now do in your country, and in fome others, to promote fimilar exertions, under the influence of the Holy Spirit. The greater your alacrity in the Lord's work, the more refolutely your German brethren will follow your fteps. The brethren's church faithfully purfue their Miffionary plans; and are intent, amidst many conflicts, upon the acquifition of genuine witneffes of the truth, in order to promote their numerous eftablishments. We can testify the cordiality with which, at their last meeting, 5th June, they rejoiced in the progrefs of foreign exertions to fpread the Gospel, and efpecially in that of the Chriftian Union which you have formed at Bedford. They will certainly neglect no fuitable opportunity of spiritual co-operation with you; nor will your affemblies for prayer, on the first Monday of each month, país unobferved by them." The German Society, of which Bafle is the centre, learn from time to time all that tranfpires here. Every measure tending to the increase of union among chriftians, is communicated to them; and many of them are already accustomed to unite their interceffions, every month, with the many thoufands who then call upon the Saviour of the world for the enlargement of his kingdom, and the fuccefs of its concerns. Our small affembly, which, by means of the minifter's conference, has formed a connection, both with the brethren's church and among ourselves, find our utmost exertions neceffary to withstand the violence of prevailing innovations. Gladly as fome of us would devote ourselves wholly to the propagation of the Gofpel at large, we muft limit ourselves at prefent to an imperfect participation in your efforts. We enquire what the Lord is doing, from time to time, by means of your labour and zeal; and impart it to our own flocks, and to our well-difpofed neighbours, who join with us in praife and prayer to God on the account. Thus we patiently wait to know whom the Lord will pleafe to employ, and what work he may defign for us. In your interceffions, dear brethren, be mindful of our embarrassments. It grieves us to fee that indifference towards religion fpreads in our congregations, and our ferious people undergo a remarkable languor. Oh that fervor and zeal might now be communicated to us from your country, as fcepticifm, alas, formerly was! We entertain, however, the moft affured conviction that our great Saviour, who once triumphed over death and hell, will refift, limit, and counteract the power of darkness. which he permits at prefent to prevail. Knowing that he will confound and triumph over all oppofition, and in the end will make it only pro ductire |