be visited of the Lord with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire." Isaiah xxix. 6. The in the midst of manifold provomercy that spares cations; the long-suffering and goodness of God; the doctrine of a particular Providence; the strivings of his Spirit; the necessity of the conversion of the soul to God; and the ultimate triumphs of his grace; how forcibly have these truths been illustrated in the foregoing narrative! Reader, adore the wonderful power and grace of God! See what this grace has done for others! Learn what it is capable of effecting for yourself, and what an instrument of extended usefulness Providence may render you, when your own heart is once renewed by his Spirit! Who shall trace the final consequences of a single soul thus brought to God! The last great day alone can reveal the issue. If then you have not yet entered on this heavenly road, make the Grand Experiment in the strength and power of God. "It is high time to awake out of sleep." "The night is far spent, the day is at hand." Save thyself and others. Flee to the cross of Christ for pardon and mercy. Read the neglected Bible. Pour out the heart in fervent, persevering prayer; and let thy faith be quickened, and thy fears assuaged by the gracious assurance, "All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." Matt. xxi. 22. He died at his residence in Coleman-street Buildings, London, Dec. 21, 1807, in his 83rd year. The following epitaph, composed by himself, is inscribed on a plain marble tablet, near the vestry door, in the church of St. Mary Woolnoth, London. JOHN NEWTON, CLERK, ONCE AN INFIDEL AND LIBERTINE, A SERVANT OF SLAVES IN AFRICA, WAS, BY THE RICH MERCY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, PRESERVED, RESTORED, PARDONED, AND APPOINTED TO PREACH THE FAITH HE HAD LONG LABOURED TO DESTROY, NEAR SIXTEEN YEARS AT OLNEY IN BUCKS, AND TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS IN THIS CHURCH. ON FEB. 1, 1750, HE MARRIED DAUGHTER OF THE LATE GEORGE CATLETT, OF CHATHAM, KENT. HE RESIGNED HER TO THE LORD WHO GAVE HER, ON THE 15th OF DECEMBER, 1790. In his study at the vicarage in Olney, Bucks, are still to be seen the following lines, inscribed on the wall: "Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honcurable."-Isaiah xliii. 4. But, "Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee!"Deuteronomy xv. 15. THE OLNEY HYMNS. THE origin of the Olney Hymns, and the proportion contributed by Cowper to that collection, have been already stated in the first volume of this work Before, however, we enter on the subject of these Hymns, it will not perhaps be thought uninteresting to present the reader with a brief historical account of Psalmody, and to detail the circumstances which first gave rise to a metrical version of the Psalms of David. We shall extract the information principally from "Warton's History of English Poetry." Sir John Hawkins may also be consulted on the same subject.† The praise of having first effected a metrical version of the Psalms is to be assigned to France. About the year 1540, Clement Marot, valet of the bedchamber to Francis I., was the favourite poet of France. Being tired of the vanities of profane poetry, and anxious to raise the tone of public taste + History of Music. Vol. i. p. 118. |