Page images
PDF
EPUB

the testament. Besides these there are 294 belonging to different congregations. In Southwark 556 Adults have been admitted. Several other societies for adult instruction, and many private Schools have been established in different parts of the kingdom."

While mentioning the progress of Adult Schools, your Committee would just allude to the decease of their first institutor, the Rev. Mr. Charles, of Bala. His name will be remembered as long as Sunday Schools and Bible Societies exist. "He now rests from his labours, and his works follow him."

Upon reviewing the general state and progress of Sunday Schools during the past year, your Committee rejoice to behold their rapid increase. They have already produced innumerable benefits. The progress of time, and the results of the last great day, will more fully display their beneficial effects.

Your Committee beg leave to allude to the funds of this society. They did hope that they would have been sufficient to have enabled them to establish a Sunday School wherever one was wanted, and to have granted some assistance to the societies connected with this Union. They cannot too strongly urge the necessity and importance of pecuniary support, and they trust that many new Subscribers will enrol their names at the close of the present meeting.

Your Committee would briefly direct the attention of their country friends to the importance of immediately forming Sunday School Unions in their different local situations. They strengthen the bond of brotherly love, they prevent languishing Schools from declining, and lead to the establishment of new Schools in situations which require them. These great objects are best promoted by union of strength, and division of labour, and your Committee trust that the time will soon arrive when Sunday School Unions shall be universally established.

While providence appears to be casting a gloomy shade over political affairs, let not the friends of Zion be discouraged; let them continue to sow the seeds of wisdom, virtue, and piety, in the youthful mind; though the storms may rage around them, and they may feel its fury," Weeping must not hinder sowing," and they that sow in tears shall reap in joy."

Annual Meeting of the Sunday School Union.

On Wednesday Morning, the 10th of May, the Annual Meeting of the Sunday School Union was held. It was much more numerously attended than any former meeting; and, we trust, its animated proceedings produced on the large assembly present, such

There are at present Adult Schools in London, and a Society is now forming.

impressions in favor of Sunday Schools and Unions, as will lead to increased activity and zeal in this cause.

Joseph Butterworth, Esq. M.P. the active and devoted friend of Sunday Schools, took the chair. The various resolutions were proposed and seconded, or acknowledged, by the Rev. Messrs. Hillvard, Campbell, Slatterie, Dunn, Allen, James, Upton, Johnson, Blackburn, C. Hyatt and Fennell, and Messrs. C. S. Dudley, J. Coombs, Marriott, Lloyd, and Jones.

We regret exceedingly that our limits compel us to exclude an extract of the animated addresses which were delivered on this occasion. They breathed the spirit of love, union, and energy; they incontrovertibly proved, by solid facts, the benefits of Sunday Schools, and, we trust, have produced such impressions as will never be forgotten.

OBITUARY

Of MARY WESTON.

MARY WESTON, the subject of this Memoir, lived in Kidderminster. She entered the Sunday School belonging to the Old Meeting of that place in the year 1806, when about fifteen years of age. She had not attended long before it pleased God to own, and bless the pious endeavours of the teacher for her spiritual and eternal welfare; previous to that time, she used to spend her Sabbath evenings rambling in the fields, or some trifling diversions, but the grace of God had now made such a change in her heart, that she was diligent and serious in attending all the means of grace, as well on other days as on the Sabbath. Though she had not only herself to maintain, but an aged father and mother, who almost relied upon her labour for support, yet she would rise up early, and sit up late, to enjoy these privileges she now so highly valued. Her attachment to school was evident from her constant, and regular attendance, always taking care to be there before the teachers. She was blessed with a retentive memory, and was anxious to store it with divine knowledge. In less than a year and half she learned the whole of the Assembly's Catechism, with all the Proofs, and many of Dr. Watt's Divine Songs. She listened with marked attention to the advice and conversation of her teacher, and the effects the important truths produced on her mind, appeared in her hatred to sin, her fear of offending God, and her great love of prayer. She was much impressed with God's omnipresence, and when tempted to do any thing that was displeasing to him, her mind was powerfully struck with the solemn words, "Thou God seest me." She would frequently call on her teacher for private and spiritual conversation, making, with tears in her eyes, the important inquiry, What must I do to be saved? When told to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, she replied, Lord help me to believe. She had such a deep sense of sin as to doubt of obtaining pardon,

This

but upon being told that God was rich in mercy to all who call upon him, and that he would bestow his grace upon those who asked it, her fears were dispelled, and she was enabled through grace to rejoice in God her Saviour. Though in perfect health, her mind was much impressed with the uncertainty of life, the certainty of death, and the solemnities of a future day of judg ment. With great earnestness would she beg not to be removed from hence till she could read her title clear to mansions in the sky, or till God had made her meet to be a partaker of the inhe ritance of the saints in light. Nor did Mary pray for herself alone; the eternal welfare of her parents lay very near her heart, and was the subject of her frequent prayers. valuable girl continued in the school for several years; the teachers observing with pleasure the attainments she made in knowledge, together with her consistent and humble deportment, solicited her assistance in instructing the junior classes; she cheerfully acceded to the request, and conducted herself in a manner worthy the imitation of other Sunday School teachers. In June 1813, she broke a blood vessel, which was attended with alarming symptoms, and seemed to threaten her life, but it pleased God to bring her out of this affliction, as gold seven times purified. To a female friend who was absent from home at the time, she said, I have been extremely ill, and thought I should have died; but the promises of God were precious to me, I found his grace all sufficient. Scriptures so suitable to her case were impressed on her mind, and so sweetly flowed from her lips, that her friend for a moment could only view her with silent astonishment. She was perfectly resigned to the will of God, and resolved by his grace assisting to live a life more and more devoted to him. She felt that in all her afflictions nothing could be intended by the author of our being, but her good and his glory.

On the subsequent December she was enabled to dedicate herself solemnly to the service of God, by making a public profession of religion, earnestly desiring to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith she was called, with all lowliness and meekness.

One of her former teachers being about to leave Kidderminster for a season, Mary requested permission to write to her, and last November she sent the following letter which is here inserted, as it will at once shew the humility of her mind, the simplicity of her manner, the grateful emotions of her heart for the establishment of Sunday Schools, and her ardent desire to be submissive to the will of God.

"Honored Madam,-It having pleased the Lord in his divine providence to lay his hand of affliction upon me his unworthy dust, I feel a desire to write a few lines to you, my dear instructor in the Lord; indeed it has been good for me, that I was, through grace, taught to seek the Lord in the early part of my life, for if I had no God to fly to in my affliction how unhappy should I now be, but I desire to rejoice in the God of my salvation, that he has given me a peaceable mind; I feel a heart's desire to be submis

sive to the will of my heavenly Father, who is the giver of every good and perfect gift. Though sometimes I feel a fear which brings me into sorrow, but thanks be to God for the gift of his dear son; in leaning upon Christ there is a balm for every wound. When I look back on my past life, there is nothing I can bring before God but what is imperfect. Sin is mixt with all I do; I love the Lord because he first loved me; it was he who found me in the wilderness, and brought me to his fold to, weep, and to rejoice with his dear people. At this present time it has pleased the Lord to bring my body in a very weak state, but I hope, trusting in my heavenly Father, as the outward man decays the inward man will increase day by day. It was his good pleasure to lay me aside from my employment on the third of August, since that time I have not been able to do any work; to all human appearance the Lord is bringing this tabernacle of clay near to the dust; from dust I came, and unto dust I must return. O that my soul may be prepared for that solemn change which must take place sooner or later. It is of his mercy that I am not consumed. I often think of the good advice I have had from you, my dear teacher in the Lord, and try to profit by it. I remember when I thought it a task to learn the Assemblys Catechism, but now I have reason to bless God that I was taught it. I hope the Lord will bless you, and every Sunday School teacher. I feel thankful that he has provided Sunday Schools, and that I was permitted to attend one; I hope I can say it has been good for my soul. Jesus Christ says, I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep; he has been a kind shepherd to me, unworthy as I am. He has kindly protected, preserved, and blessed me in my affliction. I have reason to be thankful to the most high God, that he has abundantly provided for me; that he has opened the hearts of the people of God to feel great kindness towards me. I desire to thank the Lord for that,and every blessing, knowing it comes from his bountiful hand. I hope this affliction will be sanctified to my soul, and the souls of my dear parents, and to all. about me, viewing it as the hand of God. I beg you to pray for me and mine, and I know you will, and believe me to be Your humble and obliged servant, MARY WESTON."

Kidderminster.

From this time she daily became worse, but appeared growing in grace, and gradually ripening for glory. Her minister, the teachers, and many other christian friends visited her frequently, and uniformly found her enjoying peace and serenity of mind, the effects of a good hope. She felt Christ to be the rock of ages, on him alone she depended for salvation, and was enabled to look with composure, and even pleasure on her emaciated hands and arms. These sentiments composed her mind, and inspired her heart with joy; nor was this joy the effects of agitated spirits, or fluctuating passions, but the result of a calm reflection on her state; as not having on her own righteousness which is of

the law, but clothed with the righteousness of Christ which is by faith.

During her long and painful affliction, no expressions of murmuring, fretfulness, or even of impatience escaped her; on the contrary, she possessed much gratitude for the blessings she enjoyed, such as having affectionate relatives to nurse her, and kind christian friends to visit her. She said sometimes it did her good to see the people of God, though she was unable to talk much to them.

In the morning of the 26th of January, she strictly charged her sister to live in the fear of the Lord, and requested her not to be alarmed, saying, Jesus Christ is now coming to fetch me, go and call Mrs. (naming a pious neighbour who had spent much time with her.) As soon as she entered, she looked earnestly at her for about a minute, with a sweet smile upon, her countenance, then exclamed, "O come," endeavouring to stretch out her arms to receive her, "Come, come, O come to Jesus Christ. He is a tree of life. Come, come, O come," then calling the names of several of her friends, she said, "tell them all to come to Jesus Christ." She then sent for a near relative, and exhorted him in the most affectionate manner to reverence the Sabbath day; intreating him to seek an interest in that Saviour whom she now found so precious. After that she gave him her new quarto bible which she had taken in by numbers, and had bound. His feelings overcame him and he wept aloud. Upon which she said I am disturbed, and should wish to have the room quiet, but in a few minutes her former tranquility of mind returned, and she took an affectionate leave of all her family and friends. Throughout her illness the adversary of souls was kept at a distance from her till about four o'clock the last afternoon, when she had a sharp conflict with the enemy, but it was short. Afterwards she clasped her hands together, and with a benign smile said, "All is well, Jesus is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. I know, I know," (when the shortness of her breath prevented her proceeding), one who was standing at her bed side said, 'I know that my Redeemer liveth.” She replied "Yes, yes." She lay silent about an hour, momentarily expecting her departure, when on a sudden she faintly exclaimed, "Will you, will you, will you?"-Upon being answered 'Yes, I will, she said, "Tell, tell, tell, (naming the friend to whom she wrote the above letter), I am gone to, I am gone to my heavenly Father;" and in a few minutes after, she entered into that rest which remaineth only for the people of God.

Thus died in the twenty-fourth year of her age, this valuable young person, a fresh instance of encouragement to all friends and teachers of Sunday Schools. My friends, the work is ar duous, the discharge of it important and difficult; but if your endeavours are crowned with success, how rich the reward; and humbly depending upon God's blessing, you have every thing to hope from his power and goodness, for he has declared, That in due time ye shall reap if ye faint not.'

« PreviousContinue »