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Obituary.

CASE OF A BOY BITTEN BY A MAD DOG.

ABOUT the 1st of May last, John Boltwood, a boy about 12 years of age, in crossing a field in the parish of Hackney, was bitten by a dog belonging to a man then walking in the same field. The wounds were healed; and he returned to school, no further danger being apprehended. The dog, at the time when he bit the boy, displayed no signs of madness; but on Saturday, May 30, the boy was taken ill. On Monday following, he was much worse; and decisive symptoms of hydrophobia appeared. Three or four medical gentlemen attended, and afforded all the aid in their power: but the case was desperate. His reason, however, was quite unimpaired: he lived to afford the most satisfactory evidence of his piety; and died on the Tuesday, about one o'clock in the morning.

His little history was singular; and as it may afford some advantage to the young, I give you its outline: -At an early age he was introduced to the Sunday School, supported by the Rev. Mr. Palmer's congregation. There he gained the first rudiments of religious knowledge; for which he expressed his thankfulness. In that school he made such progress, and behaved himself so well as to obtain, on leaving the school, a testimonial in his favour, written in a Psalm and Hymn-Book, presented to him on that occasion. Early in 1806, three gentlemen founded a free-school, belonging to Well Street Meeting, which is aided by voluntary subscription, for the Education of Boys, the children of reputable parents, who, either from the demands of a large family, or from having been reduced by misforture, are unable to furnish them with a good education. Young Boltwood was one of its first scholars. His behaviour at school was highly satisfactory to the master; his temper was wild and peaceful. From the school he was never ab sent, except when unavoidably de

tained by affliction, or some sufficient cause. Nor had any of his school-fellows, at any time, occasion to lodge any complaint against him. The texts of Scripture which he heard explained on the Lord's Day, he repeated on the Monday morning, with an outline of the sermons. This he usually performed better than any other task assigned him.

When he was detained from the school by the bite of the dog, he sent his sister for his books, that he might read at home; and when unable to leave his bed, his Bible was his companion. On the Monday, when taken so ill, he sent for Mr. Shepherd, the master of the school; and here I use his words. — “ Į went; and his expressions filled me with surprize. He took me by the hand; and said, he was glad i bad come to see him. I asked him how he was. He replied, "I am very bad; but never was so happy in my life: I am washed in the blood of the Lamb! God has taken away my heart of stone, and given me an heart of flesh! I am going to Jesus." After I had spoken to the doctors, I returned to the poor boy. He said, "The doctors can do me no good: I am going to the bosom of Jesus! I am the third boy that will have died out of our school. The two Adamses died: I hope they are happy! I have often thought of them. I am very happy; but I shall be better soon, in the bosom of Jesus!" On informing him that a physician was sent for, he closed his eyes, and, folding his hands, said,

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O, my God, thou canst do more for me than the doctors can! Thou hast washed me in the blood of the Lamb, take me to thyself! I shall not stay long now; I must dic, and go to the bosom of Jesus. I hope we shall meet before the throne! Give my love to all the boys tell them to read their Bibles,

tell them all to pray that God would take away the stony heart,

and give them hearts of flesh. 0 God, thou hast taken away my heart. of stone, and washed me in the blood of the Lamb, take away their hearts of stone, and wash them all in the blood of the Lamb!"

"About 10 o'clock in the evening

he sent for ine and Mr. Hoakinson,
one of the founders of the school.
To me he said, That he had learned
more of the Scriptures that day than
ever before. I enquired of him,
What part of the Scriptures had en-
gaged his attention?
- and giving
him a Bible, he turned to the 89th
Psalm; most earnestly requesting
me to read it to him. Whilst I was
thus engaged, I observed him fer-
vently repeating each verse. When

I read, "Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance," &c. he repeated, with still greater emphasis. Here I paused, to ask, Whether he understood whose righteousness the Psalmist referred to? He replied, with uncommon fervour," O yes, the rightcousness of Jesus! - that alone can save my soul!" He then requested me to pray with him. In prayer he most solemnly repeated every sen tence. To Mr. H. he said," I bless God that you put me into such a school through eternity, I shall bless God for that school Of Mr. S. his master, he took an affecting farewell, earnestly desiring him not to forget his love to all his school. fellows; particularly charging him to tell them all," That if their stony hearts are not taken away, they will not be happy when they die, as I am! This (said he) is my dying testimony

to them!"

"To his aunt, on entering the room, he said," Do not weep, aunt; do not weep for me. If you were so happy as I am, you would not weep: I am not afraid to die, for nothing can hurt me; I am safe in the arms of Jesus!" After he had began to read the 12th of Dr. Watts's Divine Songs,

"Happy the child, whose tender years

Receive instruction well,"

being unable to proceed, he desired his sister to read it; which she did;

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""Twill please us to look back, and see That our whole lives were thine,"

he said, “O it will be pleasant in Heaven to look back, and see that

our whole lives were thine !"

"After asking for a little jelly, he
said, "O blessed be God, I shall not
want a drop of water to cool my
O that blessed book the
tongue!
Bible! Aunt, tell every body to
read it; and tell them to raind the
89th Psalm."

Satan under my feet: I have but
"To his sister, he said," I can tread
one step more of the ladder to go to
be with Jesus. My breath is short:
I have got what I wanted,- my Je-
sus! I
pray for my wicked play-
mates, though they are wicked: I
love them, because the Scriptures
say, "Love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to
them that hate you, and pray for
them that despitefully use you." I
to-day then ever; because Jésus is
have learned more of the Scriptures

my Teacher!”

father, weep not for your only son: "To his father, he said, "Dear he is happy, but take care of your children that remain, and follow me. I have prayed for you all. The angel is about to sound the trumpet, and I shall follow to the bosom of Jesus I am washed in the blood of the Lamb!"

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"A little before his death, he put his hand to his head, and said," O it desired his sister to give him her is getting into my head now; and but be sure to wash the bed-clothes "I won't hurt you; hand, saying, bed." He was quite sensible of the before they are put on any other cause of his malady; and said, "Though I foam like a mad dog, but it was the will of God." I will hurt nobody. O that dog!

"He breathed his last about one o'clock on Tuesday morning, June 2, aged 12 years and four months.” Well Street, Hackney. G. C. WE cannot close this account without regretting, that human life should be so much exposed to this most dreadful malady, Surely, some

means might be adopted to prevent it. Poor people, who can scarcely maintain their own children, must keep a dog, even when their occupation in life does not require one! No less than four of these animals have been bitten in one day, within the distance of 100 yards; and tho' no doubt was entertained of the fact, these people could scarcely be prevailed upon to kill their dogs.

A rumour had circulated, that improper means had been used to shorten this poor boy's life, when the malady was found to be desperate. This report excited the attention of a very respectable gentleman, well-known for his philanthropy and steady perseverance in every good work which he advocates; and we are happy to say, that the scrutiny ended in his entire satisfaction that it was without foundation.

The character of this little boy may afford an additional recommendation to Sunday and Free-Schools, for the Education of Children: they are part of the glory of our land. Many thousands now read the preGious Scriptures, who, otherwise, would have lived in gross ignorance all their days.

Let the advocates of Superstition hoodwink the Scriptures as they please; but let all who know their value, study by all means to diffuse them. Let us admire the wisdom and grace displayed in the inspired volume, That whilst angels desire to look into these things, a child, a poor and otherwise an ignorant child, is able, by the divine blessing, to understand the Scriptures, and become wise anto salvation, by faith in Christ Jesus! "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name -Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, and perfected thy praise!"

66

MR. GEORGE DYER

CAME to Woburn about August, 1806, for the recovery of his health, which had been greatly impaired while he was engaged in his Majesty's service in the West Indies. Intent on restoration, he could not bear

the least hint that his sickness might end in death.

Some of Mr. Dyer's relations being serious, and part of my charge, pressed on him the necessity of faith in Christ, justification through his blood, renewal by the Holy Ghost, &c. But these things tended to provoke the enmity of his heart; and, for a time, they suspended direct conversation with him on these points. Evidently, and rapidly wearing away, he began to fear he might die; and in order to obtain certainty, he required from the ine dical gentleman who attended him, his opinion on his case; who freely said, it was next to impossible he should recover. Like a criminal re ceiving his death-warrant, his whole attention was arrested with the ques tion, "What must I do to be saved?" He was now willing to listen to his relatives, on subjects before unpleasant to him; and to others also who were requested to visit him. One of these put into his hands two tracts; by which he expressed him self greatly instructed. They were Numbers 35 and 29, "A Traveller and Yourself,” and “ The Good Old Way."

It was within fourteen days of his dissolution that the writer was requested to see him. Eager to hear all I had to say, though greatly worn down, he never appeared tired; but regretted, when times were better with him, that he had so forgotten God and his ways. On one occasion, he said, "Ah, Sir, I have been a gay rebellious young man!" To which one of his rela tions replied, But you must remem ber, George, what a situation you were then in; alluding to his being abroad. -"No excuse for thai," said he, " for both my will and my heart were against God, No excuse for that!"

He appeared to obtain so much advantage by hearing the Scripture read and prayer, that at one time he said to this effect: "I have two phy sicians, one for the body and the other for the soul (the former have ing just left his chamber, as I en tered); but if I must give up one, it should be the physician for the

body." He seemed to be convinced, in an unusual way, that the Bible was the only source of light for that valley upon which he was just entering. The fifth chapter of Romans, from the time he first heard it, was never out of his mind. Like the wise men seeking Jesus, when they saw the star which pointed where he was, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy; so did this young man, on hearing the contents of this part of sacred writ. Not many days before his last struggle, one of his friends sitting by his bedside, said to him, 'George, do you think you and I shall meet in glory?' To whom, with great quickness, he replied, "Do you doubt it? If you do, let those who doubt, come and look at me!" So ended the life of this young man, in his 22d or 23d year, whose prospects, as to this world, were flattering, and whose talents were rare; and of whom, as far as mortals can judge, if now in glory, we must say, "Is not this a brand plucked from the fire ?" Woburn, Bedfordshire.

M. C.

MRS. ANN PRITCHETT. APRIL 19, died, at Kentish Town, Mrs. Ann Pritchett, aged 52, Matron of St. James's School of Industry. She was for many years an ornamental member of the congregation at Tottenham Court Chapel till within the three last years of her life, when confined by severe affliction. She was truly" a mother in Israel;" and her chief delight was in promoting the cause of Christ, by instilling into the minds of nearly 300 children under her care, the great principles of the gospel. As she exemplified in her life the power of the word, so she died under the full persuasion of its truth.

Her loss is felt by the institution which she superintended; where she supported the character of a faithful servant. In her social intercourse she was a sincere friend, church a devout worshipper, in her family an affectionate parent: in all, - a sincere Christian !

--

in the

and

RECENT DEATH.

ON Monday, June 29, died, aged 47, after a few days illness, the Rev. ISAAC NICHOLSON, Pastor of the Church of Christ meeting at Pell Street Chapel, Ratcliffe Highway; and formerly Tutor of Lady Huntingdon's College at Cheshunt. He has left a widow and seven children, and a numerous and affectionate' His remains were interred at Bunhill Fields, on Friday evening, July 3, amidst a great concourse of serious persons. Mr. Platt spoke over the grave; and Mr. Bennett, of Birming ham, preached the funeral-discourse at Pell Street, on Wednesday evening, July 8.

people to deplore his loss.

REV. THOMAS A. DALE.

THE late Rev. Mr. DALE, of Lewes, was for seventeen years the laborious and faithful minister of two parishes, preaching and reading prayers three times every Sunday; and, though of a delicate habit of body, officiating at a weeklylecture at the Gaol. He was also the constant and sympathizing attendant on the poor, the sick, and the afflicted. He was seized with an inflammation in his lungs, after concluding his ministerial duty, on Sunday, May 24; and died June 10, 1807. He was sound in his doctrine, exemplary and unblemished in his life; an affectionate husband and parent; and so entirely devoted to his work, as to bear up and struggle through many trials in it with singular resolution and patience. By his death, his widow and nine children are left destitute, having scarcely any dependence for their future subsistence but what shall be communicated, by Divine Providence, thro' the generosity of the public.

A Paper is in circulation, in recommendation of this case, signed by the Rev. R. Cecil, Rev. J. Venn, Rev. H. Foster, Rev. B. Woodd, Rev. S. Crowther, Rev. W. J.Abdy, and Rev. J. Pratt; by whom, and by Messrs. Down and Co. Messrs. Hoares, Messrs. Davison and Co. Messrs. Elliott and Francis, and Mr. Hawkes, subscriptions are received.

REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

The Temple of Truth, or the Best System of Reason, Philosophy, Virtue, and Morals, analytically arranged. Second Edit.

Ir is to be regretted that, in most of our periodical works of criticism, religious publications do not receive their merited share of notice and recommendation. One reason of this may be, that they do not always anite classic elegance with evangelic instruction; but we fear, in too many instances, an over-scrupulous regard to the "wisdom of men," has consigned to the shade excellent and useful productions. Those books, however, which treat on the essentials of religion, somewhat like the Scriptures, whence their principal contents are extracted, possess a species of merit peculiar to themselves. Some of them, indeed, may not exhibit a depth of metapi ysical argument, nor the ornaments of modern eloquence, yet much may be found in them, conducive to the present and everlasting welfare of mankind. It is, therefore, a duty of Christian Reviewers, to mark this important distinction, and so to triumph over the fear of man, as not to withhold their eulogiums from works of promising utility, hecause they do not happen to rank very high in the estimation of philosophers and men of letters.

The famous Origen seems to have confirmed an incipient fashion among Christian professors, of blending the maxims and rules of "Science, falsely so called," with the purity of inspired truth. Many of the ancient fathers, following his dangerous example, proceeded to submit the doctrines of the gospel to the tribunal of a vain philosophy; and the consequence was what might have been naturally expected,-the interest of genuine religion natuvally declined: and though we are emancipated from the shackles of Pagan superstition, nevertheless, there appears too much of this spurious criticism in the days in which we live. Persons of eminent talent

and copious acquisition are appature is not to be the governess, but rently prone to forget, that Literathe handmaid of Divinity.

We have felt ourselves more at liberty to indulge these reflections, as we have the pleasure of introducing our readers, a second time, to the Temple of Truth: a work which will bear the legitimate investigation of the learned, and confirm the faith of believers in the grand fundamentals of Christianity. The present edition has only undergone a few verbal and orthographic alterations.

We entirely dissent from the opinion of some, that our author has not exemplified in this volume the lucidus ordo. Commencing with an Introductory Prospectus, he passes on

to a Synopsis of Principles; which he denominates" The Arches on which the Temple is to be erected." A Compendium of Doctrines is added; and this is followed by his Definition of Terms. He then proceeds to illustrate his doctrines, under the form of Assertions, connecta the experience of them with happiness and universal holiness; and concludes with a General Diagram, to shew that Christianity is altogether a Religion of Grace. This arrangement would have appeared, perhaps, more perspicuous, but for the profusion of notes, which occasionally divide the attention of the reader. On some account too, we are concerned that so noble a pen should have stooped to a slavisk imitation of the political champion, who issued the Pursuits of Litera ture; and, more especially, as it has rendered a large portion of the Work inaccessible to those who are unacquainted with the Latin and Greek languages. Justice requires us also to observe, that there is something in our author's manner imperious and harsh, unsuited to the gentleness of a servant of the Lord, who, is "in meekness, to in instruct them who oppose."

A growing evil exists in the religious world, which this volume is

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