Obituary. MRS. SARAH BASS. Mrs. Sarah Bass, wife of the Rev. James Bass, of Halsted, Essex, died Dec. 13, 1808, aged 31. Mrs. Bass finished her education at Sheriff Hales, under Miss Yeomans, now the wife of the Rev. Dr. Williams. To this lady, and to an excellent mother, Mrs. E. Holmes, she ascribed her first religious impressions. The Rev. Mr. Fletcher, of Madely, who used to visit the school, by his pointed addresses to the young ladies, was made of use te her; and the very sight of the Rev. Mr. Ryland, of Birmingham, her native place, seldom failed to excite in her mind the most serious reflections; yet she long sought, but found not rest to her soul.' The means of her obtaining this, was a discourse from Ps. Ixxiii. 26, delivered in Carr's Lane Meeting, Birmingham; by which, she found the knowledge and comfort of the gospel, with that hope as a sinner, and that spring of spiritual life and new obedience, which she regarded as proofs of her conversion to God. The principles of free grace, which she now imbibed, were always dear to her, and few have exemplified their excellence, both in life and in death, in a more decisive and striking manner. Her conduct at Birmingham, in single life, conciliated extensive esteem, and is a pleasant perfume in the remembrance of her many friends. She considered indulging late in bed a voluntary sacrifice of the best part of human life; and, her health and spirits being good through most part of her married life, she rose early in the morning, seldom later than four in the summer; when, before any thing worldly was attempted, she began the day with God. The Scriptures were statedly perused with attention, with some savoury author kept at hand for the purpose, and a considerable season spent in prayer. Her address then to the business of the day was a pattern of diligence, A fervent heart and a diligent hand,' she used to say, 'make the spirits cheerful.' It was her favourite maxim, That to cherish a sense of the love of God in Christ, and in his common goodness, is an infal lible spring of willing obedience, and that obedience, flowing from this principle, ieads round again to spiritual enjoyments; and this was the circle, as those who best knew her can testify, in which she moved. Her thirst for knowledge was insatiable, and books, she often complained, were her great temptation; so that she wished either for more time to read, or for less inclination; but, by good management of her time, and being early in the morning, perhaps none did more in the family than she, and few read more. By an art, almost peculiar, to her self, she read at a glance, ran thro' a book with incredible dispatch, and yet all the real treasure it contained was decidedly her own. The best English poets, good histories of her own and other nations, with many valuable works in literature and science, were familiar to her; and, where a sense of the paucity of her knowledge, which she cherished to a fault, did not restrain her, the facility with which she could draw from the stores of her capacious miud, equaity surprized and delighted many. There were few topics on which she could not fluently converse; and, where she was quite at ease, being naturally communicative, streams of wisdom daily flowed from her lips. Few professors have complained more of the badness of the heart than she, or have exercised more jealousy about their right to regious comfort; yet few, perhaps, have lived a more pure, useful, and consistent life. Natural quickness, and haste of temper, she charged upon herself in the most heavy manner, and consid red as a prime cause of spiritual darkness; but, if it really existed, it was so effect tually restrained by the power of as was usual with her, of the frame of her heart in them; and though, generally speaking, she had much to allege against herself, she seemed that evening to be peculiarly animated with the assurance of hope. She enlarged with fluency, and said many charming things on her views of the unsearchable riches of Christ. The conversation went grace, that it was scarcely per- The Sabbath evening which imceptible to others. The leading inediately preceded her illness, is features of her character were memorable. She began with speakcalmness, self-possession, and cheering of the services of the day, and, fulness. She lived in peace with all. Her voice was not elevated in orders or reproofs to servants and inferiors; yet few commanded more ready obedience. No cause of shyness found existence during her married life, which was almost 16 years, between her and her husband, nor any quarrel or offence between her and any of her conpections. She was of course greatly respected; and, while some ministes' wives complained of unpleasantness in their situations, for her part, she would often say, it was otherwise; that she met with no thing from the people but kindness. She ever returned from visits where nothing serious had been on the carpet, depressed and discouraged. Oh! she would say, how insipid! how unprofitable! how unworthy of immortals!' often condemning herself that an unreasonable dread of being thought a Talkative in Religion, had suppressed her desire of speaking, and commanded an unworthy silence; that, at best, she was but a religious coward. She cultivated great thankfulness for God's common goodness, and for the choice he had made for her. On a review and careful scrutiny of all relating to her connection, and circumstances in life, she would often say that she durst not hazard an unqualified wish for the least alteration; that, all put together, she saw reason to think herself one of the happiest of creatures; and, by experience, she knew that to think herself happy in this view, was really to be so. She had long discovered unusual deadness to the world; and some Christian friends, from a manifes: maturity in gospel altaininents, both suspected and feared what was approaching. It was a custom with her and her husband, on the Lord's Day evening, to sit an hour together for conversation, after the family retired ; and such pleasure had been found at these seasons, that they mutually longed for their return. pleasantly on at much length, till both seemed to catch a flame of pure joy and peace in believing, and turned at last upon the unspeakable mercy, not only that God had made them one, but had blessed them thus to sit together in heavenly places in Christ.' The thought was started, and on both sides spoken to at large, that should one be called by death before the other, this me cy was great, as the fellowship they then enjoyed together in the things of God, would afford the survivor peculiar satisfaction concerning the deceased. Four days after, she was taken seriously ill; but there was no appearance of danger. As opportu nity offered, she continued to court rehgious conversation. She said, It is pleasant to me; and, now I can do nothing with my hands, it keeps my thoughts from rambling." When fatal symptoms appeared, her intelligent and pious mind calmly received them as a summons from above. She said to her husband, I want to speak with you. Is any one in the room ?' He said, "No one." Then raise me up,' she said. He did so; when thus she spake : < Should I get safe to Heaven, my dear, I shall have cause eternally to bless God for your instrumentality. Your ministry, at Birmingham, was the first mean of giving my mind a right direction in the knowledge and comfort of the gospel. I shall die in this affliction; but, blessed be God, I am not distressed at the prospect! I wish to submit to his heavenly will! Never had I such striking views of my exceeding sinfulness! 1 know, indeed, that there has been nothing in my heart or life which I perceived to be wrong, but I have confessed it in secret, and fervently prayed for divine assistance to help me to avercome; and, in some measure, I hope I have been enabled to overcome, but, ah! how imperfectly! Notwithstanding all, in the sight of infinite purity, I have that sense of my extreme guilt and unworthiness, as overwh: Ims me; and, in myself, I entirely despair; but I favoured with such sweet views of Jesus, and of the grace of the gospel; and, by a collected view of Scripture evidence, I feel myself warranted to place an entire trust on the word of Ged in Christ; and those words which were an encouragement to me when I joined the church, are still a comfort to me:- Come unto me ail never was ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest; and I know that I hate every evil thing. Therefore, I cannot be discouraged; I cannot refuse to take comfort. Blessed be God for such mercy to so wretched a sinner!' Some hours after, she said, I have a great desire to see the children, that I may speak to them while I am able; I feel myself sinking fast, and fear I shall not be able long. Let Sarah (the eldes!) come; and let them all come, one by one.' With a settled firmness, and majesty of countenance, and without an apparent emotion, or a tear, taking Sarah by the hand, in a confident affectionate tone, she said, Sarah, my dear, if I should die, the Lord will take me to Heaven. Do not grieve for me, my dear, it will hurt you; but seek the Lo:d for your self now you are young, and then you will find the comfort of it on a sick bed, as I do; and we shall meet again in Heaven.' in terms adapted to their different ages, she addressed the other children, dismissing each with a parting kiss. Those who beheld this affect ing scene, were drowned in tears, and witnessed, with amazement and joy, the complete triumph of a hope of glory in one so remarkable for the tender feelings, over all mere natural affections, over all the weakness of parental love, and over all desire of present things. At one time, she said, Never did I enjoy such happiness as in this affliction. Last night I was not only willing, but thought I felt a desire to die.' At another time, the frame of her heart varied, and she said, 'I feel a little spark of desire to return to earth, and it leads me to examine the ground on which my hope is built; I now want the comfort of it. Speak to me some sweet promise, that may revive me again. Several were repeated to her. She then reasoned, with remarkable point and clearness, by way of examining her right to rehgious comfort; then, in a prayer peculiarly pathetic, addressed immediately to Christ, she referred her cause to him, as the Saviour of lost sinners. On dozing a little, she was asked, "Have you quite lost your hope in Christ?" In a cheerful tone of sweet confidence, she replied, 'Not quite. Her head being greatly distressed by pain, and a nervous ir ritability pervading the whole frame, she said, I cannot bear eonversation, — it distracts me. I want a little text now and then repealed to me, - it is so sweet!' Strict regard being paid to this, at one time it was said, "To them that believe, he is precious." She replied, Exceeding precious.' Again: "You lie in the hands of mercy;" she rejoined, And I am willing to lie.'. "The Lord seems now about to take you; to whom you many times have given yourself up." She replied Yes; fervently, with my whole heart.' She re quested the 14th chapter of John's Gospel might be read to her. The first few verses being gone over, she said, It is enough. Various passages were gently repeated to her, as she seemed able to bear it; to which she invariably returned some cheerful expressions of hope. The last, expressed so as to make it a question to her, was this, "Looking to Jesus, my dear?" To which, summoning all her feeble powers, she replied, 'Yes.' Delirium now encreased, convulsions came on, she The Rev. R. Stevenson, of Castle Hedingham, in a judicious discourse on Mat.x; 28, to a numerous audience, the principal of whom, as a tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased, were clothed in mourning, improved her death; who, in addition to the above, bore the following testimony :-- Mrs. Bass was a woman of a superior order. She was possessed of an understanding that was remarkably streng, and highly cultivated, and, by her death, society is deprived of one of its most valuable members, and this Christian church of one of its brightest ornaments.' Halsted. MRS. DANDO. J. B. MRS. DANDO, when a child, was remarkable for her sprightly dis position, and retentive memory. She was not without occasional convictions of sin in her early youth; but the first serious impressions on her mind which were permanent, were received when she was about 21 years of age, soon after she married Mr. Shipway. She was then persuaded by a friend, Mrs. B-, to accompany her to the Tabernacle at Bristol, to hear Captain Joss. She was violently prejudiced against preachers deeined irregular, and would say, How can shoemakers, weavers, and butchers know the way of salvation, who have not had a University education? It is impossible!' She was, however, persuaded to go on a week-night, as there was then less fear of observation. The place happened to be so full, that she could not get near enough to hear; but, observing many respectable persons present, some of whom she thought would never have approached so polluted a spot, her prejudices were weakened, and she attended the next Sunday morning. Being early, before the worship commenced, she looked around her, and felt a solemn awe on her mind, which appears to bave been the commencement of a work of grace. Mr. Joss was led, in his sermon, to treat fully on the deep depravity of the human heart, and its enmity against God, his people, and his ways. She was deeply convinced of sin, and filled with fear. She even concluded that her friend had previously been with the preacher, and acquainted him with all the hard speeches she had altered; but she way astonished above measure, when assured that not a word had been spoken to him concerning her.. It was not long before she received comfort from the gospel of Christ, and began to enjoy much of his pardoning love; but she was not without her trials, for Mr. S. was greatly offended by her diligent attendance on the means of grace, and strong attachment to the cause of Christ, though, on her part, she ad every thing in her power to solen his resentiment. She proceeded, however, on her Christian course, in general, with much coun f. t; yet, at times, was greatly dejected, on account of the body of sin and death; and a deep sense of her spiritual poverty, sinfulness, and depravity, sometimes reduced her almost to despair. During one of these seasons, she happened to meet with Dr. Stafford's Sermons, in which the following quotation from Hervey's Dialogues afforded her unspeakable relief and satisfaction: But there is a righteousness, blessed be divine grace! spotless, pure, and consummately excellent! a righteousness which answers all the Creator requires, and supplies all that the creature needs!' Great was the consolation she received on reading this passage. Never,' said she, did any one embrace the most lovely object, and clasp it to their bosom with greater delight, than I was enabled, on this occasion, to embrace Christ in the arms of my faith, as my righteousness and strength.' In Aug. 1799, she was married to Mr. D. who testifies that her whole conduct, from that period, was uniformly excellent, and corresponded with that which preceded it. She abounded in every good work, as a numerons family, now formed into several separate connections, can fully witness; next to whom, many of the serions Christ jan friends, of almost every deaomination, will give their testimony; as she contributed to many chari table institutions, and, till lately, gave her manual assistance, like Dorcas, to make garments for some of the Benevolent Schools; but her chief excellence appeared in visiting the poor, especially those who received help from the Misericordia Institution; but enlargement is unBecessary, her works praise her in the gates.' The closing scene of her life shall be related nearly in the words of her afflicted husband. On Sabbath, May 14, we heard a sermon at the Tabernable in the morning, and received the sacrament. While we were at tea in the afternoon, we read that remarkable account in the Evangelical Magazine for May, of M.Gommersall's sudden death, after reading to his family that portion of Scripture, Be ye also ready we then went to Broad Street to the lecture. In the midst of the worship, we observed several vivid was flashes of lightning, and appre- an at Yes;' which was her last word; for, like the person we had been reading of, not four hours before, she silently, without a struggle of a groan, in two minutes, passe away !' REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS, The Works of the Right Rev. Ezek. Hopkins, D. D. sucecssively Lord Bishop of Raphoe and Derry, now first collected, arranged, and revised, with a Life of the Author, and a copious Index, by Josiah Pratt, B. D. F. A. S. 4 vol. 8vo, demy, 21.-royal, 21. 16s. with a Portrait of the Bishop. In our last volume, page 393, we recommended Mr. Pratt's edition of Bishop Bali's Works. The excellent prelate, whose writings he has now collected, appears to have received from him the same attention; and is presented to us in a still more handsome style, the type being more open. We rejoice to see the old divines thus multiplied upon us, in the commodious and engaging dress of modern times. It is a symptom for good. Human Sciences must im |