They have ever since walked before God as humble, obedient followers of the Lamb; bringing up their children (for they have a large family) in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They have been a blessing too to their neighbourhood, which is particularly dark-for as soon as the man felt the value of his own soul, he felt for his neighbours also, and invited ministers to come and preach to them in his cottage; his cottage soon overflowed with hearers, and the neighbours helped him to build a little chapel in his garden. This too in time became

too small, and a larger one has been built in the village, in which this worthy man is appointed a deacon, and with his wife and children continues to adorn the doctrine they profess, by a humble consistent life.

ANECDOTE OF THE REV. H. ERSKINE.

While the Rev. H. Erskine resided at Dryburgh, after he had been turned out of his living, he and his family were sometimes in great difficulties: God however always so provided for them, that they never were obliged to beg their bread. At one time in particular, his gracious care was displayed. After supper, there remained neither flesh, bread, nor meal in the house; and they had no money to buy with. The children awaking early in the morning, cried for bread. The good man felt exceedingly for them, but his faith did not fail. With his usual cheerfulness, he did what he could to amuse the children and to encourage the sorrowing mother and himself, to depend on that gracious providence, which feeds the young ravens when they cry for food. He even took a musical instrument and began to play a tune for them, weeping and playing alternately; he being in one room, and they in another. Just then the sound of a horse's foot was heard, and a country fellow knocked at the door. Being asked where he came from, and what was his errand, he said he came from the Lady Redburn, with some provisions for Mr. E. They told him he was mistaken, and was sent most likely to another Mr. E. who lived in the same place. But he replied, no, he knew what he said, and had been sent to Mr. H. Erskine. They therefore took his load from him, and having brought the sack into the house, found it well filled with meal, cheese, and flesh. Thus did the good man experience the fulfilment of the promise, "bread shall be

given," &c. and was encouraged to rely on his heavenly Benefactor, in all future straits. Life of the Rev. E. Erskine.

PRESIDENT EDWARDS ON MIRACULOUS GIFTS.

"Therefore I do not expect a restoration of these miraculous gifts in the approaching glorious times of the church, nor do I desire it. It appears to me, that it would add nothing to the glory of those times, but rather diminish from it. For my part, I had rather enjoy the sweet influences of the Spirit, shewing Christ's spiritual divine beauty, infinite grace, and dying love, drawing forth the holy exercises of faith, divine love, sweet complacence, and humble joy in God, one quarter of an hour, than to have prophetical visions and revelations the whole year. It appears to me much more probable that God should give immediate revelations to his saints in the dark times of prophecy, than now, in the approach of the most glorious and perfect state of his church on earth. It does not appear to me that there is any need of these extraordinary gifts to introduce this happy state, and set up the kingdom of God, through the world; I have seen so much of the power of God in a more excellent way, as to convince me that God can easily do it without.'

AN ADDRESS TO THE CARELESS.

Pause, sinner-give a few moments to serious consideration; pause and think, why did God send you into this world? was it to eat, drink, and be merry? was it to heap up riches, or to follow the imaginations of your heart? No-it was to become a servant of Christ-yet, I fear you are a servant of the devil. You have sinned against God ever since you were born-you are now on the high road to hell, unless God have pity upon you, and change your wicked heart. Oh tremble at the prospect of eternal torment! death is at hand, you may be cut off in a moment-and find yourself in darkness, fire, and chains. God has cursed all the wicked. He has said that he will turn them all into hell; but he sent his Son to save all who will come to him. Have you heard of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to save sinners-the very worst of sinners-who has promised to save those who pray to him for salvation. Have you rejected him? yet, perhaps it is not too late-pray to him this moment to save you, to give you his Holy Spirit to make you holy. Do not you know what that means-yet pray for it; pray for mercy, repentance, and pardon, or (believe the Scriptures!) you will awake in hell. Cannot you say, "Lord, have mercy upon my poor soul, change my sinful nature." You will wish to say it on the bed of death. May God grant you repentance, and make you his servant-or you must very shortly be in hell.

FOSTER, PRINTER, KIRKBY LONSDALE.

FRIENDLY VISITOR.

No. CLXVII.]

AUGUST, 1832.

MEMOIR OF MR. G. HOBY.

[VOL. XIV.

Died on Thursday, Feb. 11th, 1832, at his house in St. James' Street, the celebrated boot-maker Mr. George Hoby.

There are few men who have been more the makers of their own fortunes than Mr. G. Hoby; and still fewer who, to the strength of mind and peculiarity of character which have ensured their success in life, have united that unyielding consistency of conduct, and fervency of devotion, which distinguished him. He was born in Herefordshire, just on the borders of Wales, in 1759. At the age of 16, in compliance with the invitation of two brothers, settled as grocers, he came to London. He was at this time without religious principle, and soon became distinguished for the profaneness of his language. On one occasion, while passing through Bishopsgate Street, a woman who overheard him, exclaimed, "I never in my life heard such a shocking swearer:" this remark so affected him that he went home, bought a copy of the Bible, to which he had hitherto been almost entirely a stranger; and was so earnest in his desire to know its contents, that he paid the watchman to call him early enough to allow him to read. He became a decided disciple of Jesus Christ; and so deeply was the recollection of the awakening fact just recorded impressed on his mind, that he never passed that spot in company without making a reference to it.

His dislike to the business of his brothers had induced him to accompany two young men in a journey to the continent: his regard to the Lord's day now led him to seek some employment which might enable him to spend it as he wished. He therefore acquired the humble art of shoe-making; little expecting that he should one day aptly illustrate that remark of the wise man, "Seest thou a man that is diligent in his business, he shall stand

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before princes." His beginning was of course on a very small scale; and many anecdotes have circulated among those who witnessed with pleasure his after prosperity, respecting the contrast which his little shop in Wych Street presented to that in St. James' Street; but he began in the right way: his ambition was to be the best tradesman in his line; and so well did he succeed, that many years since he had the almost unlimited command of the export trade. The patronage of officers of the army, and of several members of the royal family, placed him at the head of his profession; and it became a point of fashion to wear boots of his manufacture.

The tide of prosperity which thus set in upon him might have turned the head of a weak man, and chilled the religious ardour of a lukewarm Christian; but Mr. H. was neither. His wealthy customers, accustomed to command, were surprised to find that he refused to wait on them or to be seen by them on the Lord's day: but they would probably have been still more surprised to have known that his regular absence from business, from twelve to one o'clock in the day, was not for the purpose of bodily refreshment, but for that of private devotion.

The effects of the time thus spent were very apparent in Mr. H.'s conduct and conversation: few could be in his company without detecting his habit of ejaculatory prayer; and none could converse with him on religious subjects, without discovering that he had to cope with a man who was intimately acquainted with the Bible, which he read through regularly about three times in each year. In the domestic circle too Mr. H.'s character appeared to great advantage. Blessed from youth to age with an affectionate and devoted wife; surrounded with children who, amid all the varieties of disposition, united in the one great point of respect for their parents and love for each other; his authority was seldom exercised but in expressions of affection and few, it is believed, who were privileged once to unite with that circle, would fail to cherish the recollection of their visit as furnishing one of the most delightful pictures of domestic happines, or to advert to "it as one of the greenest spots of memory's waste.”

The close of his life was embittered by a painful disorder, which, by depriving him of rest, broke up a constitution naturally strong: the last effect of it was to produce such a backwardness to motion of every kind, that the closing scenes of his life were distinguished by little more than the unruffled tranquillity of a mind habitually prepared for the important event. His remains were interred on Friday, the 19th, and it was affecting to see a numerous body of respectable looking men in full mourning arrange themselves on each side the path, and wait uncovered while the procession passed, to testify their respect for their old employer. On the following Sunday a sermon was preached to a numerous train of mourning relatives, dependents, and friends, from Rom. xii. 11. (which at once described the man, the tradesman, and the Christian, and which might well serve for his epitaph)-"Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord."

THE STING OF DEATH TAKEN AWAY.

O ye timorous souls, that are terrified at the sound of the passing bell; that turn pale at the sight of an opening grave; and can scarce behold a coffin or a scull without a shuddering horror: ye that are in bondage to the grisly tyrant, and tremble at the shaking of his iron rod, cry mightily to the Father of your spirits, for faith in his dear Son.-Faith will free you from your slavery. Faith will embolden you to tread on this fiercest of serpents. Old Simeon clasping the child Jesus in the arms of the flesh and the glorious Mediator in the arms of his faith, departs with tranquillity and peace. That bitter persecutor, Saul, having won Christ, being found in Christ, longs to be dismissed from cumberous clay, and kindles into rapture at the prospect of dissolution. In this powerful name, an innumerable company of sinful creatures have set up their banners; and "overcome through the blood of the Lamb." Authorized by the Captain of thy salvation, thou also mayest set thy feet upon the neck of this king of terrors, Furnished with this antidote, thou also mayest play around the hole of the asp, and put thy undaunted hand on this cockatrice