Obituary. The commencement of christian life in the deeply regretted subject of this memoir, was not attended with any of those strong and marked feelings which are sometimes experienced. Blessed with the privileges of religious education, and habituated from her childhood to the observance of the Sabbath, and attendance at the sanctuary, she was insensibly and gradually led to the reception of divine truth, and to that sanctification of heart in which true religion consists. In a letter ad dressed to her father before she was received into church fellowship, she says, "I have known no sudden transition with respect to my religious views, no particular event or admonition, which led me to see the value of real vital Christianity; but gradually and imperceptibly have I been convinced of the evil and danger attending sin, of the necessity of a change of heart, and of an applica tion to the fountain set open for sinners." But the change, although gradual and gentle, was accompanied with every desirable evidence of its reality. place of worship still occupied by the congregation was erected. To the ministry of her father, and to the interest of that religious society over which he presides, she ever felt a warm and lively attachment. She grew visibly in the knowledge of Christianity, and in an experience of its power. Her church-membership was from its commencement far from being merely nominal. Her active exertions, while she remained in the house of her parents, and had no domestic cares to engage her attention, were very great. In connexion with a considerable number of pious young people of her own sex, and united with the same christian society, she was sedulously attentive to the best interests of the young and the poor. The female branch of the numerous Sundayschool, supported by the New-court congregation, owed, under God, a considerable proportion of its prosperity and usefulness to her indefatigable exertions; and her afflicted and bereaved father acknowledges with thankfulness, that he has often been animated with zeal, and prompted to perseverance, by the activity and decision of his beloved daughter. Such was her attachment to the church with which her first religious connexions were formed, that she would never allow her name to be erased from its records; and although removed to a distance, she was gratified by considering herself as still under her father's pastoral care, and united to the people of whom he has the oversight. Having given herself first to the Lord, she then gave herself to his In 1813, Providence opened to her people, according to his will. On a new sphere of duty and of happiFriday, January 3, 1812, she became ness in relative life, by her being a member of the church in New-united in marriage to J. R. Bedcourt, Carey-street, London, of which her father is the pastor, and with which many of her ancestors, and other honoured and revered relatives, have been connected from the year 1706, at which time the VOL. XIII. dome, Esquire, of Romsey, Hants, grandson of the late Rev. B. Beddome of Bourton, Gloucestershire, whose memory is blessed in every denomination of Christians, and whose excellent" Village Sermons" 2 K and whose rod and staff comfort and solace the heart of the traveller to Zion, in the last stage of his pilgrimage. are the means, in many little assem- through the valley of the shadow of blies of pious people, of diffusing the | death," there to cast herself on the knowledge and the influence of the care of that divine Shepherd, whose gospel. While her friends in Lon-presence banishes the fear of evil; don lost the immediate benefit of her exertions, and of her example, they rejoiced to think, that in another circle she was continuing to promote that great object for which principally life is desirable. To the claims and the duties of personal religion she was increasingly attentive. In an affectionate attachment to her husband and her children, she had few superiors. The opening minds of her children excited her warmest regard. She was beginning to store their memories, their understandings, and their hearts, with the best of principles, when almost suddenly her exertions and her life terminated together. She was not unacquainted with the feelings of parental solicitude in circumstances of severe domestic trial. The death of one child, and the threatening illness of others, tried and proved the power of the gospel over her mind; and she was enabled happily to blend with every poignant emotion of distress, dutiful and even cheerful acquiescence in the will of her heavenly Father. Although her constitution was naturally strong, she knew much of personal trouble, arising from pain and disease. But in all these scenes her spirit was training for "the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." On the 3d of June she united in her usual health in the public worship of the congregation assembling in the Abbey Chapel, Romsey, and partook of the memorial of her Lord's death. On both the Monday and the Tuesday evenings she attended meetings for prayer in the same place. The former was the Missionary Prayer Meeting, held in rotation in the Independent, Baptist, and Wesleyan Chapels. The latter was a private meeting of the society with which she usually wor shipped. On returning home from the last of these services, she joined with much interest at the family altar, in singing the twenty-third Psalm, little expecting probably that she was so shortly to “walk On the evening of Wednesday the 6th of June, having enjoyed the company of a few friends with her accustomed cheerfulness, she discovered symptoms of that painful disorder which was appointed to terminate her carthly course. During this short and mournful interval, her mind retained all its firmness, and her faith all its power. In such circumstances it cannot be expected that much would transpire which would afford materials for a lengthened detail. Indeed, the evidence of interest in the promises of the gospel, arises not from the frame of a death-bed, but from the course and tenor of a holy life. Yet it was pleasing and consolatory to her friends, and her nearest relatives, who attended her through the rapid progress of the fatal disorder, to observe her composure, her dependence, and the happy influence of that "good hope through grace” | which sustained her mind, On different occasions she said to her kind and pious friends, "My soul is clouded, but I know it to be the effect of great bodily suffering. We, who have trusted that the Lord is gracious, know in whom to trust. A time of sickness is not a time to seek the Lord. Blessed be God, I have sought, and I have found him." 66 To a friend, who watched with her the last night of her abode in the body, she said, "I hope you will all pray for me: I am in a state of great suffering and danger." Afterwards, while under violent pain, she said to the same friend, Oh, if I had only mortal strength to support me, what would become of me? Mere mortal power shall fade and die." To another person she said, " If Christ were not an almighty Redeemer, what should I now do?" An interview of a few minutes, which it was the privilege of her and suitable discourse on 1 Cor. iii. 21-23, "All things are yours," &c. &c. In the evening of that day, in compliance with the earnest desire of his afflicted son-in-law, and of his friend Mr. Reynolds, Dr. Winter attempted to comfort his own heart, and the hearts of others, and to point out the use to be made of this totally unexpected event, by preaching to a crowded congregation from Job xv. 2. "Are the consolations of God small with thee?" father to have with her within one hour of her dissolution, is to his mind an object of solemn and delightful remembrance, which he will gratefully cherish so long as the powers of recollection are continued. She joined with him in prayer with the greatest interest; expressed her hope in the Lord Jesus Christ in a manner most consoling to his heart; and felt evident pleasure in applying to herself the expressive language of the Psalmist;-on which he told her, that the Rev. J. Reynolds had just been addressing the congregation from Psalm xl. 17: "I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, Oby the blessing of God, these immy God.” “Yes,” she replied," and till we see that we are indeed poor and needy, we shall not value the great salvation." And then she added, "Religion is not a work to be delayed to such an hour as this. What a mercy that I have built on a foundation which cannot disap- MRS. ELIZABETH STEWART. point me!" The time of her departure was now nearly at hand; but a very few minutes before it took place, she said with a firm voice to her dearest earthly friend, "God is my support: may the Lord comfort you." After this, when it was supposed that all was over, her pious and attentive nurse thought she perceived some faint sign of respiration, and gently whispered in her ear," Is Christ precious?" She replied, in the lowest accent, but perfectly distinct, "O yes." When she had said this, she fell asleep; and that Jesus who was precious to her in life and in death, received her departing spirit. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." On Saturday, June 16, her remains were deposited in the buryingground belonging to the congregation at the Abbey-chapel, followed by her bereaved husband, her afflicted parents, and a long train of brothers, sisters, and more remote relatives, who "sorrowed not as those who have no hope." The Rev. J. Reynolds delivered an appropriate address to a large congregation. On the morning of Lord's-day, June 17, he preached an excellent On the 24th of June he repeated at New-court the substance of the same discourse, from which the foregoing particulars are chiefly extracted. And happy will he be, if, perfect recollections should be instrumental in leading any readers of this article to be "followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." MRS. Elizabeth Stewart was born in Moffat, Anandale, Scotland, on the 5th of May, 1728. Her father, Mr. William Williamson, was a respectable farmer, a man of singular piety, and a conscientious member of the Scottish establishment. His daughter Elizabeth, when very young, had deep impressions of divine things, and attended diligently on the means of grace that she might learn the way of salvation. On sacramental occasions, she went many miles to hear evangelical ministers; such as Boston, whose fame is so widely and justly diffused, Murray of Lockerby, and others of the same class. In November, 1761, she was married to Mr. John Stewart of Peebles, who was eminent, even at that period, for his piety, his extensive knowledge of the scriptures, his meekness of disposition, and his consistency of conduct. Business requiring Mr. Stewart's presence in England, they left Scotland in 1794, and took up their abode in Liverpool. Conducted by divine providence to hear the late Mr. Samuel Medley, they derived much benefit and her employment. At the seasons which she had fixed for engaging daily in prayer, she continued to rise and sit up and read and engage in devotion long after her bodily weakness rendered it inexpedient in the judgment of her friends. But her heart was in communion with God, and she loved to exhaust her strength in his service. from his ministry, and continued to attend till it pleased God to call Mr. Stewart from this wilderness to the heavenly country. He died in 1796. By this bereavement Mrs. Stewart lost not only a tender husband, but a christian companion, who had guided and comforted her in the way to heaven. After his death she continued under the ministry of Mr. Medley, receiving further light in divine truth, deriving growing comfort from it, and living more devotedly to the Lord. In October, 1796, in the sixty-ninth | year of her age, she was baptized and added to the church. Thus, at an advanced period of life, and after long professing the name of Christ, she came forward to follow the dictates of her conscience, and the example of the Saviour, pleading as an exemption neither her bodily infirmities, nor her former profession. After Mr. Medley's death she left Byrom-street with the people who formed another church, which is now under the care of the Rev. James Lister. Of this church she has been an honourable and active member. She died last January, nearly ninety-three years of age. She has left no dubious character For ardent love to the Redeemer. behind her; and the leading features This may be pronounced the proare worthy of record, for the in-minent feature in her character. struction of others, and for the honour of that grace which was their spring. She was distinguished for her study of the scriptures. Other books, especially such as were tinged with a devotional spirit, Romaine's Treatises, Rutherford's Letters, Dr. Gill's Sermons, and similar works, were occasionally perused by her. But she dwelt on the living oracles. In the morning, at noon, and in the evening she read them; and often attempted it, when her hands were too feeble to hold them, or her eyes to look on them. She was so familiar with them, that in her last illness, when memory was nearly extinguished, if a friend mentioned the first part of a passage, she could repeat the conclusion. She was eminent for secret prayer. She loved domestic worship, and was much attached to public prayer meetings. Prayer was her element For lively faith in Christ. In the early part of her life she suffered much from dark views of the gospel and from a spirit of legal bondage. Under Mr. Medley's preaching, the Spirit condescended to open her understanding, to deliver her from slavish fear, to afford her clear discoveries of the way of salvation through faith in Jesus, so that she cast herself on the mercy and truth of the Saviour for eternal life. Her dependence on Christ's righteousness for acceptance, and on his Spirit for holiness of heart and life, was habitual, strong, steady, and sometimes triumphantly lively. In her severest contests with temptation, inward corruption, and heavy trials, she was kept from despondency, and honoured with filial confidence in her God. Her affections being naturally strong, and her mind formed for lively friendships, when God the Spirit discovered to her the King in his beauty, and imparted to her a taste of that loving kindness which is better than life, her heart became supremely placed on the Saviour, and gratitude to him influenced her every principle of conduct. It is not easy to convey in words an adequate idea of the strength of her feelings to the Redeemer; for in extreme old age, after capacity for enjoyment was departed, when common comforts palled, and even the fellowship of saints was a burden, tlie mention of Jesus's person, or work, or fulness, or laws, or mercy, would raise her from her depression, would fill her eyes with joy, and her tottering frame with energy. The names of her dearest friends dropped from her recollection; but the name of Immanuel was as ointment poured out. For affection to the people of Christ. From the time of her conversion to God, she never discovered any desire, when it was in her power, to frequent the company of mere worldly persons, how respectable soever. She manifested a determined hostility to every intercourse of a trifling description-and dreaded, among the avowed friends of Christ, every approximation to a worldly spirit and sinful customs. She selected for her friends such as she judged the most spiritual, without any regard to their external situation in life; and in their presence loved to dwell on the topics connected with the honour of our Lord, and the prosperity of his kingdom. For love to the institutions of Christ. Her anxiety to attend all the public means of grace was very evident. Though she suffered much, for several years, from the want of hearing, she loved while able to go to be in the meeting, to join in the singing, to read the text, to see the very faces of God's children. She delighted in the sanctuary, and amidst all the infirmities of age to set an example of early and regular attendance. For spirituality of mind. Her reading, her conversation, her conduct were all stamped with seriousness; but a seriousness remote from moroseness or sullenness; a seri- | ousness springing from nearness to God, from familiarity with divine things, and from steady expectation of future blessedness. No levity was predominant in her conversation. Her element was heaven: and her discourse, without any effort, bore On have made the Lord Jesus their refuge and confidence. By mentioning some of the scripture texts which she delighted to repeat on her dying pillow, the state of her mind may be easily gathered. "I hope soon to go to the general assembly and church of the first born-to God the judge of all-to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant." She delighted to refer to her departed husband, and other pious relatives who had gone before her; and expressed very strongly at times her hope of reunion with them, and of spending an eternity with the very persons whom she had loved in time. receiving a drink of water, she observed, "Ere long I shall get a fall draught of the water of life from the fountain head, which runs through the heavenly city, having often been refreshed by it while passing through this waste wilderness." Being asked if she was afraid to die, she answered, No, no; Christ has made the dark valley all light." When her dissolution was evidently approaching, the family was called up to her room. Perfectly composed, and in the full use of her senses, she invited each of them to her bedside apart, and kissed them, and took an affectionate farewell. About two minutes before drawing her last breath, she raised her head and said, with much force, “Peace, peace! I am going to the great Peace-Maker." She then shut her eyes, and fell asleep in Jesus, without a struggle or a groan. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. chiefly on matters above the world, MR. WILLIAM BOTTOMLEY. and beyond the duration of time. And for many years, she manifested both to the church and the world, that to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Enlargement would be easy on a life so worthy of the christian profession, so honourable to its Head, so useful to the church, so beneficial to all connected with her.phical sketches given in your work, But brevity is preferable. She died in the faith in which she had lived. Confined to bed for several days during her last indisposition, she enjoyed and manifested the comforts and security of such as SIR, Having found my better feelings often excited by reading the biogra and in other periodical publications, I feel it to be my duty to endeavour to contribute to the number of such, by sending you the outlines of the life and death of individuals with whom I have been personally ac |