tion draweth nigh." He then added, "I am looking up to Je sus-but a point or two more,* and I shall be at my heavenly father's house." His children now asked, "Do you know us, dear father?" With great earnestness he replied," Know you! yes, sure I do." He then took a most affectionate leave of them all, and several friends, who sur rounded his dying bed. Being asked, what shall we say from you to the absent parts of the family, mentioning them all by name; Say, my dear love to them; and tell them, I am going home in peace to my dear Jesus." He was soon after very restless, and frequently cried out, "Help, help me! One grain of creature mercy, Lord "His friends tried to help him, and said with tears, "We cannot help you." "No," said he, "help from above." When he saw his children weeping round him, he said, "For shame! why will you weep? am I not in my own Almighty Father's hands? and he will take care of your poor old father." He often lifted up his hands and said, "My God! my portion! my portion!" then, clasping his hands together, added, "I am looking up to Jesus." Frequently his struggles were violent. He would then say, "Take courage, my soul, take courage: why art thou cast down? why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him." Through the whole of his agonies, which were sometimes extreme, he was not left to murmur. Once, when violently agitated, he said, "It is hard work; I shall die, I shall die, and go to glory." Then with his eyes stedfastly fixed upwards, he added, "Are they not all ministering spirits? I am coming, I am coming." Pushing the bedclothes • Alluding to the compass. with his hands, he said, "Take it away, take all the world away, all but Christ." His struggles were again violent, and again he cried, "for one grain of creaturemercy, Lord! one grain!" then, lying more composed, he said, "Well, this is a mercy ;" and continued, "I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope !" laying a peculiar emphasis on the last sentence. About four o'clock in the morning he turned, and said, "One more farewell, my dear children !" and affectionately embraced them all. From this time he continued quite still and composed, looking tenderly on his surrounding family and friends, and repeating many portions of Scripture, which could not be distinctly heard. "Sweet Gospel," often escaped his lips. No alteration took place further, till about half an hour before his departure, none of his family expecting to hear his voice more, when he opened his eyes, and with a smiling countenance, said, "Dying is sweet work! sweet work! my Father! my heavenly Father! I am looking up, I am looking up to my dear Jesus, my God! my portion! my all in all !” then with a dying voice he continued, "Glory, glory! Home, home!" till his voice failed, and with a smiling countenance, he yielded up his spirit into the hands of his heavenly Father, without a struggle or a groan, about half an hour before 7 o'clock in the evening. "Now safe arrives the heavenly mar iner, The battering storm, the hurricane of life, All dies away in one eternal calm. With joy divine full glowing in his breast, He gains, he gains the port of everlasting rest."+ † Heb. i. 14. This favourite quotation from Mr. Fanch he was wont to use, when speaking of the death of a Christian. He had just completed his sixtyfirst year; had been in the ways of God thirty-nine years; thirtythree years had been a minister of the Gospel; five years pastor of the church at Watford, Herts, and twenty-seven years pastor of the church at Liverpool. Reader, may your life and mine be as useful, and our end as happy Religious Communications. ON PROFESSION. MORTALS Cannot be engaged in a more solemn transaction than the profession of religion. It is a dedication so sacred, a surrender so complete, a sanction so awful, that none should ever presume to make it without profound reverence. It is the acknowledgment of mercies received, and the confidence of the soul in the certainty of those yet to come. It is the chief expedient by which a mind struggling under the impulse of an ardent gratitude, can give utterance to its affections. It is the visible signature which the Lord requires from all who have experienced his kindness, to the long detail of his mercies. Profession is to be considered as the overflowing of that heart, in which is the well-spring of life. It is nothing more nor less, than the streams of grace running back to the fountain, the rays of heavenly light reflected, the blessing of God rising in our hearts and breaking forth in the expressions of our lips. Viewed in this light, it is not the effort of one who pays a debt or gives a requital to his benefactor, but of one who employs the munificence of his benefactor to set forth his praise. Much as we may have heard and said on the subject of profession, there may be still many points in which it would be useful for us to contemplate it. One shall say I am the Lord's, and another shall call himself by For the Amer. Bap. Mag. the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel." This text gives a striking view of that period which has been already fulfilled, when thousands and tens of thousands have gone forward with a zeal which no coldness could damp, and with a courage which no dangers could intimidate, to subscribe with their hands unto the Lord. All this may be properly regarded as the nature and essence of that profession which the followers of Christ under the gospel dispensation, usually make, when by sensible acts they become the Lord's in appearance, as well as in heart. In considering this subject, I shall present a view, first, of the nature of profession, and secondly, of its circumstances. When we mention the nature of any thing, we mean that which is necessary to its existence. Thus certain faculties of intellect and affection are necessary to the nature of man, and certain instinctive powers are requisite to the nature of animals. That, therefore, which is necessary to constitute religious profession, may be considered its nature or essence. In its nature then profession must be continual, voluntary and solemn. Successive acts declarative of one's views and inclinations, are essential to profession. Accord ingly when we name a professor, of religion we must be understood to refer to one who furnishes daily evidence of the authenticity of his declarations. The profession of a christian should be linked with his whole existence. It does not consist in a few acts or observances, but in an even and uniform tenor of consistent living. You would account him inconsistent and vain, who should profess a science, and never teach it, who should profess to be a physician and never practice, or a lawyer, and never plead. Continual acts therefore are necessary to the being of profession, and consequently an important part of its nature. Do you ask how a professor of religion is to maintain this perpetual ayowal of what he is, and on what points he can erect the sign of his character? The way is, manifest. His profession is seen in that self-denial, by which he restrains his passions, and curbs the impetuosity of his temper. It is seen in his preference of heaven to earth, and of heavenly things to earthly things. It is heard in all the language of brotherly love, and in all the strains of devotion and praise. It is seen in the greatness of that spirit which repels wickedness because it is sin against God, and fixes a negative upon temptation, because it would pollute the habitation, of God, It is heard in the breathings of prayer, and in the sighs of contrition. It is seen in bowels of mercies, tenderness and compassion; in charity which suffereth long and is kind; in the peace of God which rules in the heart; and in the hope which, as an anchor of the soul, holds it firm and unshaken in the tempest of life. It is seen in the family, where religion sweetens all the toil, and alleviates all the burden. It is seen in the public walks of life, where the professor takes heed to his ways that he offends not with his tongue, and in places of worship which are frequented for the adoration of God, and the reception of his blessing. The kind of profession of which we speak was in the eye of the Apostle, when he entreated those who were the objects of his address, that they should advance in their course, "Holding forth the word of life." It has been thought, with good reason, that his allusion here is to a light-house, which lifts its salutary rays over a dark extended surface, to convey the wandering mariner into a safe channel. If one, who had been intrusted with this light, should fail to raise it, or should suppress it, how wantonly would he sport with the lives of those who might be beaten with the waves, and tossed over the devouring flood. Christians "shine as lights in the world." How many are the myriads who are driven to an awful distance from the haven of spiritual rest and peace! How are they borne away by the violent billows of an unrenewed state, whilst darkness veils the port of gracious deliverance ! Professors of religion, you are the light-houses which are to point out to these miserable men, the way to salvation. That religious profession should be wholly free from constraint, none will for a moment deny. The words already quoted from the prophet Isaiah, give a lively picture of that ready and unre, served devotion to God, which was to characterise the times of the gospel; when spirits quickened by the influence, of grace, would assume with unfeigned a lacrity, the yoke of the Lord. Metaphora a Pharo, ubi accensae faces navigantibus in alto portum quasi praetenderunt in quem appellunt. Bega. That loud and decisive testimony which a cloud of witnesses for God has uttered in a voice which has resounded through the world, was the result of a voluntary profession. Sensible of the distinguished honor of being allied to the Lord, the voluntary professors of religion have sought "the name," as that which alone could give them the desired pre-eminence. Israel has always been a favourite title for the designation of God's people. It was a name first given to Jacob after he as a prince had prevailed with God; for he wept and made supplication; by his strength he had power with God. The title, when applied to christians, is descriptive of a free and generous disposition, in undertaking even difficult things for the Lord. It denotes the prevailing features of a mind eager to engage in bold and arduous attempts for the honor of God-a mind prepared to wrestle with him for his blessing, and to attest his truth with the glow of pious affection. Every step in the progress of our profession is marked by sotemnity. The grace conferred upon us must be gradually disclosed. Our life must be eloquent in speaking the mercy of God. Through all the dark rubbish of our infirmities, must be seen the beauty and brilliancy of the precious pearl. Through all the cloudiness of remaining siu, must shine forth the rays of a heavenly light. In all the wan derings of our pilgrimage we must plainly declare that we seek a country, that is an heavenly habitation. God makes the profession of his people the means of salvation to thousands. "Let others see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." When therefore we feel our hearts in clined to descend from the sacred eminence upon which divine grace has placed us; when we become sensible of any tardiness or reluctance in making such disclosures as are due to God, and due to immortal souls; let us remember, that the consistency and spirituality of our christian deportment may arrest the destructive progress of some sinner who is hastening to ruin, may call to the ways of righteousness some soul wandering in the dark mazes of sin, may bring to his right mind some unhappy creature infatuated and blinded by the god of this world, may convert the sinner from the error of his way, may influence the happiness, present and eternal, of the whole community in which we live, and will certainly have an influence upon the dear objects that compose our families. 2. In its circumstances, our profession contains impressive marks and indications. In the words already mentioned, it is said, that "another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord." Upon the authority of the learned Grotius, we are informed, that these words are spoken in reference to a custom, which prevailed in ancient times among soldiers, of having the names of their commanders engraven upon their hands.* The Greek bible seems to favor this opinion, which has "another shall inscribe upon his hand, I am Jehovah's." The Lord says to his people, I have engraven thee on the palms of my hands. And it would not seem improbable that as his kind and perpetual remembrance of them is thus denoted, that their recollection of him should be represented in the same way Such a mark as that which we have mentioned, was a perpetual remembrancer to the soldier, of his military oath, of the • "Sicut milites Imperatoris nomen în manu seriptum habebant." authority of his leader, and of his obligation to fight his battles. The profession of religion is an appeal to God in all respects équivalent to an oath. It is as if we had inscribed upon our hands, I am the Lord's." We can never consider it, without being reminded of God's title to us, and of our subjection to him. Yes, those hands which have been extended to wards heaven, in token of adoration and praise, are virtually, inscribed unto God. Those lips, which have uttered the language of profession, are inscribed to him. To him is inscribed that heart which has felt his grace and love, and hath burned with holy zeal. To him are inscribed all our pow. ers and faculties. We are the soldiers of the cross; we cannot go out to fight the battles of an other than Christ. His impress is upon us; we dare not abjure his service. In our Baptism, an appeal is made to the adorable Trinity. A distinct image of Christ in some of the most endearing and awful events of his life, is presented to our view. There we declare ourselves to be imitating his descent into Jordan, and his immersion beneath the flowing wave. There we recognize the baptism of sorrow with which he was baptized, and are emblematically bur ied with him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we also should walk in newness of life. There we vow unto the Lord, and are consecrated forever.his. We then proclaim ourselves ready to follow him through evil report and good report. It is to be lamented that the practical uses of our scriptural, authentic, and significant mode of baptism are not more inculcated. We are not deficient in urging all VOL. 1. 56 the proprieties in the administration of this ordinance, and in requiring submission to it as one of the first steps in profession; but we are too unmindful of the improvements of which it is capable. In our addresses to those who have conscientiously yielded in this particular, to the explicit requirement of the gospel, we stand on superior ground. We can hold up to their remembrance an event consecrated by the impression of their first love; we can set hoine upon their con sciences the weighty obligation which they have assumed in their voluntary.compiiance with one of the great evangelical Institutions, We can remind them of the time when they requested of us, the washing of their bodies in pure water, expressive of the washing of regeneration. Considerations so tender and affecting should be brought frequently into view. They will be of much avail in ob. viating declension, in reclaiming backsliders, in maintaining a prop er tone of piety, and in demonstrating the utility and importance of believers' immersion. As a circumstance of a religious pro fession, it would thus press into the whole tenor of duty and devotion, and exert a salutary influ ence. Is it not, then, highly ex pedient, that our ministers, in their public exercises, should lay greater stress upon the sanctifying tendency of baptism; that they should exhibit, more fre quently than they do in the ordinary course of their ministry, this memorable circumstance in the earliest attestations of christian experience; that they should more frequently display the so lemnity of those vows implied in this institution. Consistency re quires that this should be done; especially, since the character of our administration is so perti |