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We noticed in the last No. of the Panoplist, the death of Mrs. Abigail Tuckerman, wife of the Rev. Joseph Tuckerman of Chelsea, and third daughter of Samuel Parkman, Esq. of Boston, aged 28. The following sketch of the character of this amiable woman was handed us by one, who well knew her worth.

IN noticing the decease of Mrs. Tuckerman, it is not our intention to compose an unmeaning eulogy; we wish to present an amiable character to the readers of this work, not for an encomium on the dead, but to advance the moral improvement of the living.

Jesus Christ, our blessed Redeemer, has given us an example of holiness, which infinitely surpasses all human excellence. Yet the graces of every Christian may be called examples, though in a subordinate and inferior sense. So far as any are followers of Christ, they may be followed. Their examples should stimulate us to desire, to pray and labour for a conformity to the divine image.

The

The contemplation of pious characters is useful in another view; it gives occasion to the exercise of Christian gratitude and joy. devout heart gives thanks to God for the graces bestowed upon a fellow disciple.

The amiable subject of this notice was in her manners affable, unassuming, and kind. She made no distinction between the great and the small, the rich and the poor, except to accommodate herself to their capacities, circumstances and wants. She la boured to be useful to all of every condition, with whom she was connected, and in some way to increase the rational enjoyments of each individual.

She possessed, in an uncommon degree, that mild and equal temper, which contributes so much to the happiness of domestic life. Natural temperament may make the attain. ment of it easy, but it is the grace of God alone, which can make it con

stant.

In the tender relations of sister, daughter, wife, and mother, the sentiments of nature glowed with ardour in her bosom; but they were enliven

ed, supported, and guided by relig ion. Christian benevolence gives to the natural affections, all their moral loveliness, and renders them an hundred fold more useful. A Christian sister, a Christian daughter, a Christian wife, a Christian mother may always be depended on. But what confidence can be placed in her, who has no love to God, her Father, Benefactor, Creator, and Sovereign?

Mrs. T. was blessed with the graces of contentment, moderation, and cheerful diligence. The provi dence of God had presented to her, a cup overflowing with temporal goodness. She received it with grati tude, tasted it with thankfulness and moderation, and delighted to present it to the lips of the poor and needy.

She had the means of possessing, but was preserved from desiring the trappings of vanity, She was made to perceive, that God gives wealth and prosperity, not to gratify the pride and appetites of a few, but to confer on them the honour of being stewards of his bounty to the rest of his creatures.

She laboured to appropriate a suitable portion of time to every duty, and to devote every moment to its proper use. The affairs of her household, charitable visits to the poor and sick, maternal instructions, useful reading and solemn devotion were the principal employments of her life.

Mrs. T. was enabled to submit to the divine appointments, with humble cheerfulness. She was blessed with a constant sense of her own mortality. This seemed to influence her conduct in a remarkable manner. Even her household affairs were ordered with a view to death Every thing was performed with a solemn regard to this truth, that it was possible, death might arrest her steps, before she should be again called to the same duty. To be prepared for this event, she was accustomed to meditate much upon it; to seek an interest in the merits of Christ through faith; by a diligent study of the scriptures, to learn the duties, promises, and directions of the gospel, and by prayer to seek divine grace, to make them the guides and comforts of her soul.

When it pleased God to visit her with sickness, she submitted with meekness and patience, She passed

into eternity with serenity, faith, and hope. When there is a reasonable ground to believe, that our friends are with Christ, how should it excite our gratitude and love to the God of all grace, and our diligence in glorifying kim, who has done so much for our

friends. How devoted ought we to be to that infinitely good Being, who has redeemed us by his own blood. At Ashford, (Con.) Rev. Enos Pond, aged 51. A worthy, faithful minister of Jesus Christ.

Poetry.

EPITAPH ON WILLIAM JORDAN,

A native of North Carolina, and student at the Greenfield Academy, who died et
Greenfield, July 26, 1794, aged 15 years.

SWEET youth! alike to friends and strangers dear;
On thy green turf I'll drop the tender tear.
This last, poor tribute let me daily pay,
As here I ponder o'er th' unconscious clay;
As here I feel thy distant brother's pain,
And see thy hapless sisters weep in vain.
In vain thy soul was bright, thy bosom kind;
In vain the tears of those thou leav'st behind.
Cold is thy form, and dark thy lone abode;
Yet thou but tread'st the vale thy Saviour trode;
With him, fond hope again beholds thee rise
From transient slumbers to superior skies.

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EXTRACT FROM COWPER'S POEM ON TRUTH,

Representing the Condition of the Believer at the Day of fudgment.

All joy to the believer ! He can speak-
Trembling, yet happy; confident, yet meek :-
Since the dear hour that brought me to thy foot,
And cut up all my follies by the root,

I never trusted in an arm but thine,
Nor hop'd, but in a righteousness divine:
My prayers and alms, imperfect and defil'd,
Were but the feeble efforts of a child;
Howe'er perform'd, it was their brightest part,
That they proceeded from a grateful heart:
Cleans'd in thine own all-purifying blood,
Forgive their evil, and accept their good.
I cast them at thy feet-my only plea
Is what it was-dependence upon thee;
While struggling in the vale of tears below,
That never fail'd, nor shall it fail me now.
Angelic gratulations rend the skies:
Pride falls unpitied, never more to rise;
Humility is crown'd, and faith receives the prize.

EPITAPH

ON THREE DAUGHTERS OF MR. BRADLEY, WHO DIED IN 1775, 1777, and 1779.

STAY, thou passing maiden, stay;

Learn how earthly joys decay;
Here three lovely sisters sleep :
Read their fate, and reading weep.
Swift the hours deceiving fly;
Death, unseen, is ever nigh.
Soon thy form of healthiest bloom,
Think how soon, may find a tomb :
Wisdom, then, and heaven to gain,
Early seek, nor read in vain.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

THE question of INQUIRER is not new. We are glad it is made public; and assure our correspondent, that it shall receive the attention, which its interesting nature deserves.

Serious thoughts addressed to the aged, by H. together with C. on the evidence of divine goodness, and T. on the knowledge of God necessary to salvation, are received.

The queries of TIMOTHY are very interesting to the cause of evangelical truth, and merit decp consideration.

The review of Dr. Holmes' Sermon, by accident, is delayed; but shall appear in our next number.

ERRATA. or Cluverius.

NO. 26. Vol. III. p. 82. 24 col. note, for La Ouver read Cluver
Do. p. 83. 2d col. several places, for ale read alc.

OR,

THE CHRISTIAN'S ARMORY.

No. 28.]

SEPTEMBER, 1807. [No. 4. VOL. III.

Biography.

MEMOIRS OF MISS ELIZABETH HUTCHINSON, (GRAND DAUGHTER
OF THE LATE EDWARD HUTCHINSON, ESQ.) WHO DIED JULY
10, 1800, NEAR BIRMINGHAM,
IN THE 21ST YEAR OF
HER AGE.

ENG.

Compiled from a Sermon occasioned by her death, and a narrative and letters of the deceased, published by the Rev. Edward Burn, a. M.

WERE the design of the following memoirs to delineate a character of strong sense, invig. orated by patient inquiry, and enriched by various, and, at her endowments age, uncommon the life of the late Miss HUTCH INSON would furnish ample materials. But the object here aimed at is of a much higher nature. It is to show how such a character is adorned by real and distinguished pięty. It is indeed to be lamented, that such a combination of excellencies should be deemed rare; but the melancholy truth is, that the age of youth is generally marked by a levity of temper and frivolity of pursuit, which tend to impress the fatal notion, that piety and weakness are synonymous terms; or, at the best, that religion is utterly inconsistent with true happiness. Indeed, the world generally account vital religion to be folly. But the young reader should remember, there is anothVol. III, No. 4.

T

er who judgeth; and that, in his estimation, "The fear of the Lord is wisdom."

It was the privilege of Miss Hutchinson to be the daughter of parents, who feared God, and who, by a large acquaintance with the enjoyments and disappointments of life, were eminently qualified to direct and assist her inquiries respecting both worlds. To the religious care of their children, their united exertions were uniformly directed; and God graciously smiled on their Parents are here endeavours entreated to recollect, amid all their cares, that the religious instruction of their children is a primary duty.

Those young

people, who have unhappily undervalued or misimproved the blessing of godly instruction, should also be reminded, that Miss Hutchinson, during her long affliction, and in her dying hours, was filled with gratitude and praise to God for this singular mercy.

She early discovered the love of knowledge, and pursued it with uncommon ardour and success. Besides a complete acquaintance with what is generally deemed necessary to an English education, she made very considerable progress in zoology and botany, and has left several specimens of her ingenuity on these subjects, which would not dis

grace a master.

But she had still higher objects, which engaged her attention, and which sanctified and enRobled every inferior pursuit. At the age of fourteen she became hopefully pious. From that period, the extraordinary vigour and improvement of her faculties may be dated. So true it is, that real piety, far from debasing or contracting the powers of the mind, is adapted to elevate and enlarge them; instead of checking their due exertion, it calls them into action, and consecrates them to their proper

use.

Her inquiries on the subject of religion were attended with peculiar earnestness of mind. Though remarkably vigilant in her attention to the ordinances of public worship, she was much in retirement; and though extensively acquainted with the works of the best modern divines, her principal books were the Bible and her own heart. Here her progress was truly astonishing. Not satisfied with an enlarged and accurate knowledge of what may be attained by our English version, she applied to the study of the Hebrew scriptures; and with such success, that, during the two last years of her life, she read the original of the Old Testament not only with ease, but with a de

gree of critical discernment, that would justly be held reputable in the sacred profession. Such was her facility and delight in this holy study, that she abridged, at the age of sixteen, the Hebrew Grammar and Lexicon of Parkhurst; and, during the last six months of her illness, she compiled, and wrote out with her own hand, a large Grammar and Praxis of the sacred tongue, both of which were executed in a style of superior accuracy and beauty. These were presented to her parents, as tokens of filial regard.

It may be proper to remark, that these extraordinary attainments were not accompanied by any airs of affected superiority. Far from that pert loquacity, which, without regard to circumstances, obtrudes itself on all occasions, she heard in modest silence, discriminated with judgment, and treasured up whatever was valuable in the observations of others.

But the prominent feature in Miss Hutchinson's character was piety; not, indeed, that heartless and formal thing, which consists in bodily exercise, or in accomplishing a round of external duties; nor that superficial and showy thing, which, despising forms, spends itself in profession and words; but, that enlightened, solid, and holy principle, which humbles the heart, magnifies the Saviour, and dedicates the life to his service.

Her humility was deep and habitual, and such as becomes every disciple of Jesus. She saw the refuge, which the gospel sets before us, and fled to it for safety; and this she found the sanctuary of peace.

Her views of sin were extensive and deep. Seldom, if ever,

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