the public a state of the fands of this Society, and in submitting an abstract of the reTeipts and expenses of the past year, and adverting to the very small balance remaining in band,+ they feel it their duty most serionely to urge every individual member of the Society to an increased personal exertion, and to ase his influence amongst his minediate friends and connexions, with a view to make the benevolent designs of the Institu tion more generally known, and to obtain such further pecuniary support as may enable this Society to continue a liberal distribution of the Holy Scriptures to the brave Sailors and Soldiers of our native land.
The Committee in continnation feel it in cumbent on them to advert, as briefly as possible, to a circumstance which has operated the disadvantage of the Naval and Military Bible Society; many persons have supposed from the statements that have appeared in The Reports of the British and Foreign Bible Society, relative to partial supplies of Bibles obtained from them, that by contributing to the funds of the latter, they have been benefitting those of the former; the Committee observe that they have undoubted proof that this effect has been produced in the minds of several of the former supporters of this Society, though they are persuaded the British and Foreign Bible Society by no means intended to convey such an idea, and that they will regret that the circumstance alluded to should have operated in the slightest degree to the disadvantage of this Society. The fact is simply this, that the British and Foreign Bible Society did, upon application from the Naval and Military Bible Society, with much cheerfilaess, and with their usual liberality, accommodate the latter with occasionl supplies of Bibles; but as the Naval and Military Bible Society paid the prime cost for sneh supplies, the transaction did not occasion either expense or loss to the Funds of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and was merely an Exelange of books for the full value in money, paid out of the Funds of the Naval and Military Bible Society.
consequence of the establishment of the Bri-
tish and Foreign Bible Society; but the Com-
mittee cannot admit that there exists any just
grounds for such an objection; the immediate
and professed objects of the Societies are
very distinct and different; the one is general
in its operations, and professes to encourage
a wider circulation of the Holy Scriptures in
various languages and to all descriptions of
persons, the other devotes its whole attention
to two classes of inen, the Sailors and Soldiers
of the British Navy and Ariny, amongst whom
they distribute the Scriptures gratuitously.
There is a wide field for usefulness open to
each of these landable Societies, and ample
scope for the exertions of both; therefore it
appears to the Cominittee that the best effect
that one can have upon the other, is to prove
a mutual stimulus each to the other in zeal,
patience, and continuance in well-doing...
Let this Society imitate the bright example
of the British and Foreign Bible Society; if
we had funds as abundant, friends as nuine-
rous, zealous, and persevering, upwards of
460,000 souls in the British Navy and Army,
whom we profess to take under our peculiar
care, would prove full employment for all our
resources; permit the Committee then to urge
the adoption of fresh measures for obtaining
more ample pecuniary aid, as well as for ex-
tending the Society's sphere of usefulness,
especially by inviting and cultivating an un-
reserved correspondence with Officers in the
Navy and Army, who may be disposed to pro-
mote the objects of this Institution; the cause
is a good one, and calls loudly for individual
and collective exertion; there is no time to
be lost, life is short and uncertain to all, but
to the Sailor and Soldier peculiarly precari-
ons, one campaign, one storm, one battle, wild
launch its hundreds, perhaps thousands, into
eternity, and it is the high privilege of the
Naval and Military Bible Society previously
to have placed within their reach the Holy
Scriptures, which are able to make them wise
unto eve lasting salvation.
We are requested by Mr. Thomas Taylor
to insert as follows: "A mistake occurs in the
account of Jonathan Lindley, in the Magazine
for last September: it is there said, the name
of the Independent minister at Masbrongh
was Sharp; but his name was Thorpe, a very
respectable character, an account of whose
conversion is in a former Magazine."
† Vide Supplement, page 32.
The Committee in conclusion deem it expedient to meet an objection which has arisen in the winds of some individuals who, notwith standing the explanations hitherto afforded, have been led to consider the continuance of this Society less essential and necessary in + £86 14 3
Royal Navy, including 31,400 Marines
Regular Army and Militia
Of life! What business done! What fouls
are fled,
And join'd the world of fpirits! To an end
All fwiftly pofts; but thou, Eternity,
Art but beginning yet! Lo! there it hangs,
The grand horloge of immortality;
Which measures moments, by immortal ages,
And minutes, by itfelf Eternity!
True, by the Time-piece of the universe,
Nature's great hand has mark'd another year,
But immortality's is not so swift:
She points the firft, commencing moment yet,
And thews immortals that their joy, or pain,
Is but begun; and when ten thousand years
Have made their exit from th' account of man,
She'll tell them the fame tale! Omnipotence
Contriv'd the vaft machine, and tho' her
wheels
Lag flowly round, yet ftill they onward move:
But who shall fee the circle form'd complete,
Or know the beating balance ftop, for want
Of winding up? Eternity!-but, none
Befide!- -If fuch our ftate,
To be upon our guard, becomes us beft,
Left, when Eternity's vaft portals open,
We should be fummon'd, unawares, to enter;
Cut down as cumb'rers of the ground; nor
fpar'd
The following lines appeared fome time ago
in a provincial paper, circulated in this neigh-
bourhood: If you think them worthy a place
in the Methodist Magazine, their infertion
will oblige, your's respectfully,
Grantham,
JOHN CULLIN.
May 5, 1811.
THE COMMON LOT.
ONCE in the flight of ages paft,
There liv'd a man, and who was he?
Mortal! howe'er thy lot be caft,
That man refembled thee.
Unknown the region of his birth,
The land in which he died, unknown:
His name hath perith'd from the earth,
This truth furvives alone:
That joy and grief, and hope and fear,
Alternate triumph'd in his breaft,
His blifs and woe, a fmile, or tear;
Oblivion hides the reft.
The bounding pulfe, the languid limb,
The changing fpirits rife and fall;
We know that these were felt by him,
For they are felt by all.
He fuffer'd, but his pangs are o'er ;
Enjoy'd, but his delights are fled;
Had friends, his friends are now no more;
Had foes, his foes are dead.
He lov'd, but whom he lov'd, the grave
Hath loft in its unconscious womb;
O the was fair! but nought could fave
Her beauty from the tomb.
The rolling feasons, day and night,
of it, and have fent it for infertion in the
Magazine, if it meet your approbation. I
am fure it will give pleasure to your numerous
readers, as every thing must do, which pro-
ceeded from the pen of that great and vene-
rable man.
Your very affectionate Friend & Brother,
Alpraham,
JOHN BRAITHWAITE.
Sept. 14, 1810.
FREE from the pride that fir'd his vengeful
The warrior learns his fury to control;
foul,
Mercy fits fmiling on his foften'd brow,
His glitt'ring fabre arms the fruitful plough;
His vig'rous arm unwonted labour knows,
And from his useful toil rich plenty flows.
By l'eace conducted, at your hallow'd feet,
The timid lamb, and fondling lion meet;
Undaunted hinds difmifs their jealous fear,
And fawning tigers lie difporting there.
The lifping infant in his frolic play,
Directs, with feeble bands, fierce beafts of
prey;
Preffes the panther to his fearless breaft,
Or thrufts his hands into the viper's neft ;
The foaring vulture his foft call attends,
And flutt'ring, with the tuneful lark defcends;
And as the ravish'd falcon near her fits,
The plaintive turtle her wild note repeats.
The feather'd choirs in every echoing wood,
And on the banks of every winding flood,
Announcing peace, their warbling voices
blend,
And for the prize of harmony contend.
Diffufive thro' the undulating air,
The varied concert captivates the ear;
The ravifh'd foul with foft emotion thrills,
And thro' the placid world fymphonious
fwells;
But mufic ftill more rapt'rous and refin'd,
Moves in the heart, and elevates the mind.
On a new earth, with blooming grace array'd,
Beneath a brighter heaven divinely spread,
Our happy days fhall glide, fecure from fear,
Sun, moon, and stars, the earth and main, Unftain'd with guilt, untullied with a tear.
Ere while his portion, life and light,
To him exift in vain.
He faw whatever thou haft feen,
Encounter'd all that troubles thee;
He was, whatever thou haft been;
He is what thou must be."
The clouds and fun-beams, o'er his eye,
That once their fhade and glory threw,
Have left in yonder filent fky,
No veftige where they flew.
The annals of the human race,
'Their ruins fince the world began,
Of him afford no other trace
Than this-There liv'd a man!
The terrifying trumpets' thrill alarms,
No more fhall roufe the tranquil world to
But in the courts of our celeftial king,
Seraphic bands fhall strike the tuneful string,
Swelling from age to age, their lofty lays,
With fongs of peace, and founds of folemn
praife.
Princes renouncing jealoufy, and pride,
Th' Eternal lays his thunderbolts afide;
While animated with one common flame,
Sovereigns, with citizens, their Lord proclaim,
Exulting bow to the redeeming God,
And wrapt in adoration, cry aloud,
"Meffiah reigns! by every tongue confefs'd,
Triumphant Lord of all, for ever bless'd!
Let heaven's bright hofis in one grand thoras
join'd,
With all the mingling tribes of human kind,
PEACE upon earth, in endless transports fing
And GLORY to our EVERLASTING KING."
Printed at the Conference-Office, 14, City-Road, by T. CORDEUX, Agent.
THE METHODIST MAGAZINE,
FOR FEBRUARY, 1812.
A MEMOIR OF MR. JOHN ALLEN:
CHIEFLY COMPILED FROM HIS OWN PAPERS,
BY JAMES MACDONALD,
[Concluded from p. 10.]
ON his going to the Keighly Circuit in 1777, he felt his mind
variously exercifed. Notwithstanding the refpectable Circuits in which he had laboured, to his own credit, and the edification of the people, a fenfe of his infufficiency for the work, ftill gave him great uneafinefs. But notwithstanding his habitual depretion of mind, which chiefly arofe from a bodily complaint, he felt himself at some times greatly encouraged. On Sunday, Aug. 23, 1778, he fays, "This has been a good day to my foul. I found much liberty in preaching, both in Bingley and Keighly. The welfare of fouls was deeply impreffed upon my heart; and I thought I could speak till I could speak no longer, if fouls might only be converted to God. I am another Sabbath nearer the eternal world, and, I hope, fo much nearer eternal glory. I want to live every moment like a dying creature; like one that must foon appear before God in judgment.
About this time, h was much afflicted in body for a few days: nay, was chaftened wh such strong pain as he had never felt before. After this affliction, he notes, "I fee more and more the folly of having all our work to do when we are afflicted, and death. is at the door. I had enough to do to bear my pain with patience; and if to it had been added the terrors of a guilty confcience, my. diftrefs would have been intolerable. I hope that I fhall never forget my late affliction. I would go out to my work as one raised from the dead, to preach and live the gofpel with more abundant
Having had a fanctified ufe of his, affliction, he engaged once, more, with renewed vigour, in publishing the glorious truths of gofpel. He found much liberty and enlargement of heart in the work, and had every reafon to believe, that the word delivered VOL. XXXV. FEBRUARY, 1812.
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