tasted that the Lord is gracious, than her mind was greatly concerned for the spiritual welfare of her fenow-sinners, w o still remained in the gall of bitterness and no. ds of iniquity. Being a person of affluence, she licensed a room for preaching, and different ministers in the neighbourhood came and cispensed the word, as often as their other labours gave them an opportunity; by which means a congregation was gathered, and much good apparently done in and near this dark villa, e. The number of hearers increasing to more than the room could contain, she was disposed, if money could be raised, to erect a chapel. She had pe socner made known her intentions, than several Christian friends threw in their inites, and by their kind ass stance she was enabled to complete the building. The inisters who engaged at the opening of the chapel, were the Rev. Mr. Barnard, f Hull; Mr. Feist, of Beverley; Mr. Bean, of Lincoln; Mr. Clerk, of Brigg; Mr. Bradley, of Gainsborough; Mr. Phillips, of Newark; and Mr. Cohan, of Misterte. The serv ce was continued for two days, and a very comfortable season it was. Let us, as Christians, unite with them in their joy, and rejoice at the spread of the everlasting Gospel. ON Thursday, the 20th of October, the congregation that had for two years and a half assembled in a little cottage on Bentry-leath,with grateful acknowledgments of the divine goodness, removed t the newly fiu shed place of worship in Romford, called Bethel Chapel. The Rev. T. Priestley preached in the mornin, fron Zech vi. 13. "He shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory," and the Rev. Vir. Easton, in the afternoon, from Luke, viii. 18. "Take need how ye hear." The morning sermon was well calculated to enCourage the people in their reliance on the faith ulness of God, and the afternoon discourse contined many excellent motives and directions for hearing the Gospel, which we hope will be remembered with pleasure, and pursued with suc cess. The building is forty feet by twenty-five, and appears to be one of the completest of the size we have ever seen, and does credit to the zeal and exertions of the people, who disinterestedly, yet expltingly, exclaim, in the language of the pious Dr. Dodderidge: "These walls we to thy honour raise, NOVEMBER 9, the Rev. Mr. Chipperfield, lately a student at Homerton Academy was ordained to the pastoral office over the church of Streton, in Warwickshire, in the room of the Rev. Mr. Morris, removed to Kenilworth. The service was introduced by the Rev. Mr. Wood, of Rowel, by praver and readin the Scriptures. The Rev. Mr. Burder, of Coventry, delivered a discourse on the nature and constitution of a Christian church, its proper officers, and the manner of their appointment; and received the confession of faith, &c. The Rey. Mr. Davis, of Wigston, engaged in the ordinati npraver. The Rev. Mr. Moody, of Warwick, gave the charge The Rev. Mr. Saunders, of Coventry, preached to the people; and Sir Egerton Leigh concluded with prayer. Suitable hymns, at proper intervals, were read by the Rev. Mr. Morrel, of Kilsby. The unanimity of the people in their choice of a minister, his excellent confession of faith, and the conduct of the whole service, gave universal satisfaction to a numerous auditory. WEDNESDAY, Nov. 23, the Rev. Mr. Nichol was ordained to the copastorship over the Scotch Pr.sbterian hurch in Swallow-street, London The Rev. Mr. Smith, of Camberwell, introduced the service of the day with player. Mr. L ve, of Artillery-lane, read the Scriptures, proposed the usual questions, relative to articles of faith, and the mode of government, to which VOL. IV. 4 C Mr. Mr. Nichol assented. Mr. Steven, of Crown-Court, delivered the sermon, on the nature of the Gospel ministry. The ordination-prayer was offered up by Dr. Trotter, who has for many years been pastor of the church. Dr. Hunter, of London-Wall, gave the charge; and Mr. Rutledge, of Wapping, concluded with prayer. Miffionary Society Prayer-meeting, to be held on the firft Monday in every Month, during the Year 1797, O Service to begin at half past six o'clock in the Evening. OBITUARY. N Sunday, the 25th of September, died, at Painswick,in Gloucestershire, in the 86th year of her age, Mrs. Cooper, for 34 years the relict of Mr. Cooper, a respectable apothecary at Kidderminster, and formerly a member of the Church of Christ in that town. Though her constitution was far from robust, she was safely carried through twenty labours, from which a numerous offspring was established to her, of whom was the late amiable and pious Dr. Cooper, well known in the religious world, and the present Dodor, eminent for his successful practice. While in conjugal life, she concurred with her affectionate and pious husband to bring up her family in the way of experimental godliness, and when the care of them immediately devolved upon herself, through the long series of the years of her widowhood, she was not less concerned for the salvation of their souls, than for their temporal interests, and endeavoured to be an example to them in her conduct,as well as to inculcate the most salutary advice. So properly did she conduct herself, as to be highly respected by her neighbours, and to be held in the greatest esteem by that church, of which she had been long a member. The vicissitudes of life befel her tending to checker the scenes of it. Her trust was firm in God, and he never forsook her. It was part of her happiness to spend the last eight years of her life with her affectionate daughter, Mrs. King, of Painswick, from whose attention she enjoyed all the help she required, and received all the comforts of which she was capable. Her sentiments were truly evangelical. She renounced herself, knowing she was a sinner, and often lamented that in her early days her mind was so much under a worldly influence. Perhaps, it was not so much as she imagined; for when the mind is truly spiritual, superficial religion will not satisfy it. Her joy and peace in believing was interrupted by fear, lest her interest in the Redeemer should not be secure; and this at times made the thoughts of death formidable. We never could cenceive there were grounds for her fear, and always opposed to them the encou ragement ragement the Gospel gives to sinners. She was always ready to attend the means of grace with becoming devotion, and was ever exact in the duties of retirement, till her intellects, which first received injury by a paralytic stroke, failed her. After that, and as the effect, some little irregularities appeared in her temper, but at intervals the disposition of her mind Godwards appeared. As she advanced towards her end she expressed herself in the language of hope; and we are persuaded it was hope that maketh not ashamed. One, and the last sentence she articulately uttered, bore the language of assurance. There was no more conflict in her closing moments than what is common to dissolution. All exer tion and convulsive struggle ceased for hours before the immortal tenant, the soul, left the tenement, the mortai body. She had only at last to breathe and die, and in none more than in Mrs. Cooper can we conceive the promise verified, "Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in its season." ON Friday, October 14, died Mrs. Hester Stephenson, wife of Mr. John Stephenson, coal-merchant, Pimlico, London. In the early part of life, Mrs. S. indulged in the ordinary amusements of the world; though in the choice of her company and entertainments there was some evidence that her mind was free from that dissipation which marked the conduct of many of the young people around her; for in her enjoyment of worldly things, there was a degree of moderation conspicuous, and she frequently reproved the extravagancies of some who were desirous of her acquaintance and triendship. In the year 1776, Mrs. S. went to Bristol, (a few miles from her native place,) and spent several months at the house of a particular friend of her parents; during which time she constantly attended, with the family, upon the preaching of the Gospel at the Tabernacle, where some deep impressions were made on her mind, and she was apparently under strong convictions of her sinful and . lost estate. These were, however, of short continuance after her return to the country, and the vain conversation, and unwarrantable indulgences of some" professors with whom she had intercourse, proved a great stumbling-block in her way, and tende greatly to weaken the force of former impressions, though she often felt such checks of conscience as brought her under restraint, and kept her from fully relishing her former vain pursuits. In July 1788, it pleased the Lord to visit the family with an affliction, in the death of her only brother, for whom she had a great affection. This visitation was graciously made a means of reviving her convictions, and rousing ber more earnestly to seek for mercy. She was now very deeply distressed; not only under the most painful apprehensions for herself, but for her dear brother also, until she received before his departure some glimmering hopes concerning the safety of his state. From this time the Lord seemed to work powerfully upon her heart; convictions took deeper hold, and this bereaving providence was much blessed to the family; particularly to her younger and only sister, who began with her very seriously to reflect on the folly of hat kind of worldly conformity in which they had formerly indulged, and which they now saw, (far from affording them any real satisfaction,) would only lay a foundation for future and increasing sorrow. Being most tenderly united in a ection, and equally by the bereaving providence, they mutua ly determined to break loose from every engagement that was likely to insnare them, and attend in earnest to the things upon which their present peace and everlasting happiness must depend—a resolution which, as it was formed in strength infinitely superior to their own, the most earnest solicitations f their gay friends were never able afterwards to shakė. They now became diligent in searching the Scriptures, shunned their worldly connections, and sought after the society and conversation of the people of God; they were regular in attendance upon the faithful preaching of the word, though they had to travel six or seven mi es to hear it. The conversation of a pious friend, who frequently visited them after the death of their brother, being desirous of improving that event, was also made abundantly useful, for 4 C 2 establishing establishing them in the faith and hope of the Gospel, in which they continued to walk with growing comfort. Soon after this the Gospel was introduced at a neighbouring village, where they warmly espoused, and openly supp rted the cause, in the face of many of their former friends, who reinained enemies to it; they hospitably entertained those who came to labour among them; were zealous for the faith once delivered to the saints; and by a life and conversation consistent with the Gospel, put to silence the ignorance of gainsay, rs. About this time, meetings for prayer were established, which they were unwearied and constant in attending; it being a duty in which they delighted, and conscientiously exercised themselves at home. Thus they lived together, strengthening and encouraging one another in the go d ways of God, until the latter end of the year 1792, when the younger sister, being married to Mr. Savaze, of the East-India House, removed to London. Here acquitting herself inch to his comfort. in the characters of a wife to him, and of mother to as children, for the space of two short years, she died in child-bed, on the 26 h of September, 1794, greatly lamented by all who knew her, though none nad cause to sorrow on her account. The elder sister was married to Mr. Stephensen, in November 1793, and also died in child-hed, in October 1796, having survived but eleven days after her delivery. It appears from her pocket-books, that she had been accustomed to keep a brief diary. From this may be gathered some knowledge of the state of her mind at different seasons, and unde- changing circumstances. Among other memorandums, on the day of her coming to London, she has the following: "O Lord! I pray thee, prepare my heart against the vanities of this great city, and cause me to live to the glory." And on the day of her marriage--" O, that this connection may appear truly to be of the Lord, and that we both have done right!" On another occasion, she expresses her fears, lest her heart might be drawn away from God, by her being too much engaged with her new situation. She would often be much affected in repeating the following lines of Dr. Watts: "The fondness of a creature's love, How strong it strikes the sense; Nor can we draw them thence.' AND, "Why is my heart so far from thee, Why are my thoughts no more by day Dec. 26, she writes thus:-" Was visited to-day by some of my new friends; that their acquaintance may prove a real-blessing to me!" She had no desire of forming intimacies, where she could not have the advantage of profitable intercourse; and therefore her particular friends were confined to a small number. Having little relish for company or visiting, she was always happy at home, engaged in some necessary domestic employment, or in reading, or useful conversation. The Scrittures were almost her constant companions; she loved her Bible, and was well acquainted with it, and would often take it up with fresh pleasure after per sing other books, and say, "This is the best book still, and without it all others would be little worth." She was always of a happy, cheerful 'isposition, and when she had occasion to speak of her expected confinement. she never mentioned her recovery in the language of confidence, but with a peradventure that the Lord' might raise her up again. After she was taken ill, and had reason to expect a lingering time, she prayed, if the Lord should be pleased to remove her, that he would first graut her deliverance; that so she might enjoy a mesure of ease, and quiet before her departure. After she was, with great difficulty, at last safely delivered, she acknowledged herself to be a monument of great mercy, and that the Lord had done great things for her; she had been earnestly desirous of the prayers of all her Christian Chriftian friends, and ever efteemed it a high privilege to have an intereft in them. On Monday, October ro, a female friend coming to fee her, fhe was too languid to speak much; but faid, “ It she would come in about another werk, the wished to talk with her, and fhould be able fo to do, if it was the Lord's will; but if otherwife, the hoped he would give her entire refignarion, and that he would also enable her husband to fubmit without repining. On Wednesday the 12th, as he was ftanding by her, the faid, he had thought while he was from home, that the fhould never have feen him again in this world. On being asked what were her feelings in that profpect, and how her mind was affected by the thoughts of a feparation, the replied, "I have fome tender feelings," but added, with great compointe, "He thar loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me." The manner in which this was expreffed, feemed to indicate that her aff êtions were loofening from the earth, and its dearest enjoymen's. She lamented the folly of thofe, who poftponed the concerns of their fouls, till they were confined to a bed of sickness; and observed, that there was then enough to do, to fupport and nourish a poor frail feeblo body, at the fame time, acknowledging the Lord's great goodnels in af fording her fo many refreshments, and praying, if he faw fit, to spare and recover her, she might come forth like gold. In the evening a much efteemed friend called to fe her, and inquired about the state of her mind, which the faid was comfortable, and added, the had often called upon the Lord in the day of trouble, and found him, indeed, a very prefent help. At her requelt her friend went to prayer, in which the heartily joined, and feemed much refreshed; the was afterwards heard in a low voice, laying, "Jefus is very precious !" On Thursday the Rev. Mr. Steven, of whofe church she was a mem、 ber, vifited, and prayed with her; though he was then exceedingly drowly, and could attend but little. She had in the course of the morning made frequent attempts to speak; but after repeating two or three words, ftrength and recollection feemed to fail; till after feveral efforts, the at laft, with difficulty, faid, "He is my fun, tho' he refuse to fhine; Tho' for a moment he depart, I dwell for ever on his heart; While the feemed thus a little revived, he was reminded of the faithfulness of God to keep what he had committed to him, and that though her flesh and heart thould fail, he would be the ftrength of her heart, and her portion for ever. Several friends being around her bed at this time, fhe was asked, if the had not fomething to tell them of what God had done for her? upon which the feemed very defirous of speaking to them, and. exclaimed, "O yes! let me tell of his goodnefs;" but being overcome with drowfinefs, fhe was unable to proceed. After this fhe fcarcely spoke at all, except when the took any nourishment, which the always received with great thankfulnefs. There was a great degree of calmnefs in her behaviour, especially towards the clofe of her illness, and the had little or no pain; as the was frequently asked if the felt any, and generally replied, "No;" and therein it appeared that her prayer had been answered. She lay very quiet and compofed, until Friday night about ten o'clock; when, without any emotion, the gently breathed her last, having just lived to finish the last day of the 34th year of her age, and has now, we trust, entered into the poffeffion of these blessed enjoyments, of which the delighted to fing on earth, • ! for |