believers are enlivened when their fouls cleave to the duft, are enlightened when under fpiritual darkness; are comforted under their forrows; are affifted in prayer when they know not how to addrefs the Lord; are ftrengthened with might in their inner man, fo as to be enabled to perfevere in the ways of holiness and obedience to the will of God. He begins, carries on, and completes the work of grace in their fouls; hence he is called the Spirit of Grace, and the Spirit of Glory. The queftion now to be confidered is, "By the Holy Spirit, are we to understand the virtue, power, or energy of the Divine Father? or are we to understand a Divine Perfon in the Godhead ?"-I conclude the latter, for the following reafons : First, Because the Sacred Three are mentioned under diftinct perfonal characters, when the Apoftle declares that "there are three who bear record in Heaven; the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoft*." Alfo, when the folemn ordinance of baptifm is adminiftered, perfons are to be baptized in the "name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft." Again, Perfonal pronouns are very frequently ufed, with an immediate reference to the Eternal Spirit; particularly by Jefus Chrift himself. "When he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he fhall not Speak of himself; but whatfoever he fhall hear, that fhall he fpeak; and he will fhew you things to come. He fhall glorify me; for he fhall receive of mine, and fhall fhew it unto you." Alfo perfonal properties and actions are attributed to the Spirit in the facred word of God. For inftance: "The Spirit fearcheth all things; yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, fave the fpirit of man which is in him? even fo the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God §." "Now there are diverfities of gifts; but the fame fpirit: and there are diverfities of operations; but it is the fame God who worketh all in all. To one is given, by the Spirit, the word of wifdom; to another the word of knowledge, by the fame Spirit; to another faith, by the fame Spirit; to another the gifts of healing, by the fame Spirit. All thefe worketh that one and the felf-fame Spirit, dividing to every man Yeverally as he will." || Farther, He is reprefented as interceding for the children 1 John v. 7. John xvi. 13, 14 + Matt. xxviii. 19. 1 Cor. xii. 4, 6, 8, 9, 11. of of God: "The Spirit alfo helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we fhould pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh interceffion for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that fearcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh interceffion for the faints, according to the will of God."* Hence we are folemnly cautioned againft grieving this divine Comforter. "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are fealed unto the day of redemption." Once more. The Lord the Spirit is reprefented as fpeaking and fending meffengers: "I heard the voice of the Lord, faying, Whom fhall I fend, and who will go for us? Then I faid, Here am I, fend me. And he said go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not," &c. Now the apoftle Paul, when he quotes this paffage, fays, "Well fpake the Holy Ghoft, by Elaias the prophet, to our fathers, faying, Go unto this people and fay, Hearing ye fhall hear, and fhall not understand; and feeing ye shall fee, and not perceive §." When the Lord was about to call the Ethiopian eunuch to the knowledge of Jefus Chrift, "the Spirit faid to Philip, Go near, and join thyfelf to this chariot ||." When Peter was in fufpenfe as to the import of the vifion which he had feen, the Spirit faid unto him, " Behold, three men feek thee: arife, therefore, and get thee down and go with thein, doubting nothing, for I have fent them**." Alio, when Paul and Barnabas were to be fent forth, in a more particular manner, for the work of the miniftry among the Gentiles," As they miniftered to the Lord, and fafted, the Holy Ghoft faid, Separate me Paul and Barnabas to the work whereto I have called them. And when they had fafted and prayed, they fent them away. So they, being fent forth by the Holy Ghoft, departed," &c. Again, If the bleffed Spirit were merely the power and energy of the Father, how could we understand the following affectionate prayer:-" Now the God of peace fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghof? Can this and all the preceding paffages be applied to the Holy Spirit, with any propriety, without confidering him as a diftinct perfon from the Father and the Son? I conceive not; but the next queftion which arifes naturally, is, Whether the Rom. viii. 26, 27. Acts xxviii. 25, 26. † Acts xiii. 2 A. + Eph. iv. 30. Acts viii. 29. 44 Ifaiah vi. 8, 9. ** Acts x. 19, 20. Holy Holy Spirit be truly a divine perfon, or a fubordinate and created being?-But this must be referved for my next letter la the mean time, I remain yours, OBITUARY, ANN EVANS. J. UPTON ANN EVANS was bort in Bristol, Nov. 13, 1767: her parents were Extremely poor; and her father dying when fhe was very young, fhe was left to the care of her mother, who was a ftranger to the truth as it is in Jefus. Soon after her husband's death, however, fhe had a fever, and fup pofing her diffolution to be approaching, fent for a minifter to pray with her. Ann was in the room, when the minifter, being about to engage in prayer, called her to kneel down, and fpoke a few words to her on the fubject of praver; which deeply impreffed her mind. From that time fhe always at tended a preached gofpel, particularly at the Tabernacle; but was only a bearer till the year 1791, when the late Mr. Medley's preaching was bleffed to het converfion. To ufe her own words, " She felt as shënever had done before." At this time the maintained herself by her needle, and had frequent fweet opportunities of attending the houfe of God; but public or dinances were foon denied her. A bed of affliction was the place wherein fhe was defigned to be a pattern of patience to thofe around her. At the age of 25 he had a pleurify, which, being neglected, brought on other complaints; her lungs were affected; and, for fome years, fhe was in a fingering ftate, gradually wafting away. She was wholly confined to her bed the last nine years of her life; and had nothing to fupport her but the induftry of her mother, the affiftance that could be afforded her from the Sick Man's Friend at the Tabernacle, and the voluntary contributions of a few friends. She was never heard to murmur at her fituation; but alé ways faid, "the time would come when it would all be revealed ;" and this really was the cafe. I first vifited her in 1796, and found her in a happy frame of mind, rejoicing in God as her portion. I continued my vifits frequently, for I found her converfation peculiarly fweet and encouraging her conftant companions were her Bible and hymn-book. She was bleffed with a very retentive memory; feldom was a verfe in fcrip zure mentioned, but fhe could go on with two or three following; or if a line or two of a hymn were quoted, the generally took it up, and went through the whole. One day when I went into her room, she said, “İ have just been thinking of you: thank you for all your loving-kindness to me; my Father will repay you: I often think of you, and I often pray for you." A friend one day faid to her, you seem very comfortable. “Yes,” The replied, "I am. "Soon fhall I join the favour'd throng; On being answered, he is your fong now, " yes, 2 faid the j “ biên then I fhall fing more fweet, more loud." After I had vifited her about two years, on entering her room one day, the almost sprung out of her bed, faying, "Now, my dear friend, I have found the reafon why I was brought to low; I told you it would all be made plain. I believe my affliction affliction and the prayers of the good men who vifit me from the Tabernacle, have reached the heart of my dear aged parent, now near fixty years of age I fhall never forget the joy expreffe in her looks upon this occa fion; the could only fpeak in a whisper, through weakness; but generally with a fmile on her countenance. At one time fhe faid, "Jefus is precious to my foul; he is my all." On being anfwered "he is precious," the faid, "I have long been deprived of the public means of grace; but I have had many vifits from my Jefus on this bed; yes, refreshing feafons."-One Sabbath-day I called on her, and gave her fome account of the fermon I had just been hearing: "Ah," faid the, "that is more of a fermon than I have heard for a long time." I faid, you have a Bible, and that is the word of God. It is a treasure!" was her anfwer: and then, as he was often wont to do, enlarged much upon the goodness of God, in bringing her to a faving knowledge of the truth before the was afflicted. She was particularly fond of those sweet lines of Cowper: "The bud may have a bitter taste, But fweet will be the flower." At another time the faid to me, "I am often furprized to think how wonderfully the Lord provides for fuch a useless creature as I am!" On my faying, he will withhold no good thing from them that truft in him, she, with her eyes looking upward, faid, "Lord, increase my faith!" and then added, "Did I fay ufeless? No: I am fuffering my Father's will. Lord give me patience." One night, in October 1800, we had a dreadful ftorm of thunder and lightning; the next day I went to fee her. On going to her bedfide I faid, Well, Nancy, how are you, after the ftorm laft night? I fuppofe you were greatly affected by it in your weak ftate? "No," faid he, "Iwas not; I know who ordered it. I had fuch a view of the majesty and glory of God in that storm, as I never had before." She often expreffed her gratitude to her friends, and faid the knew who put it into their hearts to aflift her. She has frequently faid to me, "I thank you as the inftrument; but no further." About Chriftmas, a very unpleasant fymptom took place in her diforder. She had fuch a craving for food, that it was impoffible to fatisfy her. Upon this being mentioned in her hearing, the faid, "I fhall foon be where I fhall be fully fatisfied; I fhall have all I want; there is all fulness in Jefus." The beginning of January 1801, the was attacked by a violent complaint in her bowels, which so reduced her, that there was every appearance of her removal being near, On leaving her one day, after having fpent a few minutes with her in prayer, she took me by the hand, saying, “I thank you; I shall foon praife." Yes faid I, you feem to be going home faft. What a wonderful change you will experience, in the twinkling of an eye, to be free from pain and anxiety! Here the stopped me, and with more than ufual quickness faid, “Yes, and free from fin too." On Friday the 16th, I called on her, and imme❤ diately faw a very visible alteration in her countenance; she was in an agony of pain, but her mind was calin, fixed on the Rock of Ages. In this vifit the faid but very little; only begged me to pray for her. day I saw her twice, and left fomething with her, which I knew the needed. She faid, "You have been a friend; but I am going to my best Friend. God bless you and yours." I aiked her if her foul was happy? fhe faid, "Yes, very; the poor body is weak, but confolations are frong; my fweet Jefus fupports me;"-and much more in the fame ftrain. Some part of Sabbath-day he was much confufed in her ideas; but in the afternoon a great change took place. One of the Tabernacle friends called on her, and engaged in prayer with her for the laft time. She was quite collected, and feeined aware of her change being at hand. In the courfe VOL. IX. 3 S On Satur of of the day the fpoke louder than for many months before; and enlarged much on the neceffity of fleeing to Chrift. She then spoke of the diftreffes of the times; and hoped her mother would not lofe her friends: but added, "Why should I doubt the Lord is good: I fhall be provided for I am going to the family above. I am glad to have friends come to fee me here; but when I join the family above, I fhall be furrounded with the ranfomed ones." Her foul was particularly happy at this time; the was longing for her change. At eleven o'clock at night the enemy was fuffered to buffet her greatly; fo that he was led to doubt of the willingnefs of Jefus to fave her at last. "I have read," faid fhe, "in my Bible, that his arm is not fhortened, nor his ear heavy; but I find it otherwife. My Jefus ufed to hear me, and he used to help me. Jefus, hear me now "-About four o'clock, Monday morning, the rattles came on in her threat, and fhe was a little convulfed. Her mother faid, "Nancy you arę going." She replied, "Where should the dying members rest, But with their dying head?" As he drew nearer her end, her mind was raised above the fear of death. In the afternoon I found her dying; but perfectly fenfible. I afked her if she knew me fhe faid, "It is my dear Miss B. God bless you;" and then feveral times lifted up her dying eyes and hands as if in prayer. I faid to her, Nancy you are going to glory; I believe there is a bright crown and a golden harp waiting for you. In a very faint inward voice (the rattles often preventing her) the replied, "Praife the Lord, O my foul! praife his holy name!" I left her about five o'clock. At feven o'clock, the faid, "turn me." On being asked which way, the faid, "with my face to the wall, that I may go." She then gave a convulfive catch, and breathed her happy fpirit into the arms of her beloved Saviour, at the age of thirty-four years. She was buried the following Thurfday in the yard in Portwall Lane, by the Rev. J. Slatterie of Chatham; who fpake a few words at the grave, from Job xiv. 10. On Thursday, the 12th November, died the Rev. John Thorowgood, paftor of the Independent congregation at Bocking, Effex. REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. The Church of England vindicated from Mifreprefentation; Shewing the Genuine Doctrines as contained in her Articles, Liturgy, and Homilies. With a Particular Reference to the Elements of Chriftian Theology, ty the Bishop of Lincoln. By a Prefbyter of the Church of England. 8vo2 pages 162, price 3s. 6d. Mawman. THIS is an able difcuffion of an important fubject, which certainly deferves the moft ferious confideration of all thofe who are called upon to give their explicit and unequivocal affent and confent to the Articles, Homilies, and Liturgy of the Church of England. The Bishop of Lincoln, in his Christian Theology, has undertaken to explain the Articles of the Church of England in an anti-Calviniftic fense, as the only one confiftent with the moral attributes of God, and as evidently meant to be fo understood by the framers of them; and he concludes, by folemnly warning every fubfcriber to thefe Articles, “ that |