appearing to him on any other occasion whilst he was in this world, and in full health and strength. For Saul no more saw his spirit then than he did now; and his spirit was as well able to bear a body about with it now as it was then.

The only question then is, Why God should appoint, or permit Samuel to appear on this occasion? And this is a question which no man living hath a right to ask, and be informed in.Such questions as these are the very source and fountain-head of all infidelity."I don't know why things should be done so and so, and therefore I will not believe they were done."-And what is this, but saying in other words, that you are as wise as God, and as good a judge of fit and just, at least with regard to things of this world, as he can be? And therefore it is ridiculous to suppose that he transacted any thing in the affairs of this world which you cannot discover to be wise, and fit, and just. Can any thing in nature be more extravagant than such surmises as these?

The Attributes of God Displayed.

DIVERSITY OF FEATURES IN THE HUMAN FACE.

Ir is a very evident proof of the adorable wisdom of God, that although the bodies of men are so conformed to each other in their essential parts, yet there is so great a difference in their external appearance, that they may be easily and infallibly distinguished. Among so many millions of men, there are no two perfectly alike. Each has something peculiar which distinguishes him from all others, either in his face, voice, or manner of speaking. The variety in faces is the more astonishing, because the parts which compose the human face are few in number, and are disposed in every person according to the same plan. If all things had been produced by blind chance, the faces of men must as nearly resemble each other as eggs laid by the same bird; balls cast in the same mould; or drops of water out of the same bucket. But, as this is not the case, we must admire the infinite wisdom of the Creator, which in diversifying the features of the face in so admirable a manner, has evidently had the happiness of man in view. For, if they resem bled each other perfectly, so that they could not be distinguished from each, it would occasion an infinity of inconveniences, mistakes, and deceptions in society. No man could ever be sure of his life, nor of the peaceable possession of his property.

Thieves and cut-throats would run no risk of being discovered, if they could not be known again by the features of their face, nor by the sound of their voice. Adultery, theft, and other crimes would go unpunished, because the guilty could scarcely ever be discerned. We should be every moment exposed to the malice of wicked and envious men: and we could not guard against an infinity of mistakes, frauds, and misdemeanors. And what uncertainty would there be in judiciary proceedings, in sales, transfers, bargains, and contracts? What confusion in commerce! What frauds and bribery in respect to witnesses! Finally, the uniformity and perfect similitude of faces, would deprive human society of a great part of its charms, and considerably diminish the pleasure which men find in conversing with each other.

The variety of features constitutes a part of the plan of the divine government: and is a striking proof of the tender care of God towards us: for it is manifest, that not only the general structure of the body, but also the disposition of its particular parts have been executed with the greatest wisdom. Every. where we behold variety, connected with uniformity: whence result the order, proportions, and beauty of the human body. Let all who consider this subject, admire the wise arrangements of the great Creator!

The Grace of God Manifested.

MEMOIR OF MRS. PENELOPE goulding COKE, BY HER HUSBAND, REV. THOMAS COKE, LL. D.

(Continued from page 30.)

NOR was her patience inferior to her humility. "Often," says a friend, whose letter has been already quoted, "often have I beheld the provocations she has had to anger; but, through divine grace, looking to her blessed Lord, she remained unmoved, and presented to all, such a pattern of humility and patience as I never before beheld." As she was naturally of a haughty and imperious spirit, nothing could more clearly demonstrate the change which had taken place in her heart, than the striking contrast which she exhibited on these occasions. To a person who had never known her, prior to her conversion, it would almost appear, that meekness and placidity of temper were, with her, constitutional virtues. For such was the effect of divine

grace upon her heart, that scarcely a single trace remained of her natural disposition. "Her patience," says a friend, "was proof against the highest insults from the most contemptible persons, whether strangers or domestics." When, on certain occasions, her religious friends have paid her visits, her casual domestics have behaved sometimes with the most astonishing rudeness and assurance; and there have been instances in which they have abandoned their duty, and, in spite of every remonstrance, left her to fill their places. And when this improper conduct has been observed and censured by others, her constant reply was, "My God bore much longer with me." To bear such indignities from servants, without noting their conduct with pointed marks of decided disapprobation, would certainly have been censurable in her, had she not been actuated in this by a more noble motive than mere passive unconcern. When, on private occasions, some of her most confidential friends have hinted at the subject, her reply was, "These servants always shewed great kindness, and manifested a strong attachment to my dear father, and this draws a mantle over all their present failings.'

An habitual acquaintance with the miseries of others, tends too often to stifle the humane dictates of our nature, and to blunt, if not extinguish, compassion in the human breast. But personal afflictions too frequently operate in the same way with still greater power, and more especially so with regard to bodily pains. An acquaintance with the latter can only be obtained through the medium of experience; and, in proportion to their acuteness, they often render the sufferer morose and impatient. These simple propositions result from the general dictates of our fallen nature. If, therefore, these causes operate without producing their natural effects, they afford an invincible proof that some new, some amiable principle is at work, to counteract their legitimate efficacy. Of this truth, the dear subject of these memoirs presents us with a splendid instance. She had long been familiarized to scenes of distress, both among strangers and her nearest friends; and, almost through life, had been a subject of complicated bodily afflictions; but in neither case did she act in concert with the general mass of mankind, when placed in similar situations. The miseries of others not only excited her compassionate feelings, but gave them new energies in proportion to their aggravation and number. Their continuance, instead of blunting the soft emotions of her heart, seemed to give new vigour to her humanity, and to urge the adoption of new measures for the relief of those who languished. Among her dearest relatives, the same principle operated in all its force. An increase of malady only displayed the unabating fervour of her affection, and imparted a new lustre to a virtue which no ca

lamity could diminish. At the same time, though her personal sufferings were great, no murmurs were known to escape her. She considered these afflictions as coming from the hand of God, as being sent in much mercy, though now appearing in disguise; and as being, above all things, best calculated to work out for her a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. To what then can we attribute this glorious deviation from the common track, but to that grace which can alone transform the soul, and make the believer a new creature in Christ Jesus!

Such was the general character of this amiable Christian, prior to my acquaintance with her. It has been drawn from the documents and testimonies of persons of integrity, many of whom have spoken from their own knowledge, and others from the most authentic information, which they have derived from such as were intimately acquainted with her. In such parts as remain, I shall speak from my own personal knowledge, and shall find occasion in the relation of simple facts to corroborate the truth of the preceding accounts.

Through a train of providential circumstances, which can excite no interest in the reader, and which have little or no connection with the memoirs of her life, I was brought acquainted with this excellent woman. A congeniality of soul, subsisting between us to promote the glory of God to the utmost of our power, and also in many other respects, (if I may presume so to speak.) inclined us to a matrimonial union; and the solemnities of our mutual engagements were celebrated in the month of April, 1805. Immediately on our marriage, we hastened to carry into effect a resolution which we had previously formed. This was to quit the habitation of her early years, in which she had been partially secluded from society, and almost wholly from the world, to enter on a more extensive field of action, in which she might be more useful in her day and generation.— The scene which presented itself, when she came to take her final leave of her religious friends, with whom she had taken sweet counsel for a number of years, was truly affecting. Prayers for her welfare, and tears at the thoughts of being separated from her, were mingled together in all the varieties which the conflicting passions could exhibit. The aged and infirin, who laboured under the joint pressure of poverty and affliction, and who had found relief from her bounty, followed her with the blessings of gratitude for past favours, and with tears which, perhaps, might partly arise from the apprehension that their future wants would find no benefactor. To dissipate these fears

*1 am much obliged to the Rev. Mr. Dermott, for his kind exertions in collecting, at Bradford, all the information in his power on this (to me) most interesting subject.

we soon afterwards assured them that death alone should make an alteration in her list of pensioners. In this she invariably kept her word; and whoever may hereafter write a memoir of her husband, when he has joined her in glory, will be able to tell how he has acted since her removal to a world of spirits.

Removing from a stationary, to an itinerant mode of life, it was utterly impossible that she should search out those haunts of misery which she had been accustomed to visit, in order to relieve the unhappy sufferers. But this by no means contracted. her liberality, or rendered her less beneficial to society. The delicacy of her constitution, preventing her from frequently visiting such as wanted her spiritual assistance, compelled her to enlarge the variety, and increase the number of such tracts as she had been in the habit of distributing. These she kept by her on all occasions; and no opportunity which presented itself of giving them an extensive circulation, was suffered to pass away unimproved. Having nothing in view but the glory of God, in these endeavours to snatch souls from death, her faith in the good effects which she anticipated, was exceedingly strong. And so deeply was her mind impressed with the value of immortal spirits, as to draw from her such expressions as these: "If I might be the means of saving but one single soul, it would be well worth the labour of my life." "And if" (addressing herself to me with her usual vivacity, when adverting to my ministerial labours,)" it should appear at the last day, that I had been instrumental in saving as many souls as you, how greatly would you be surprised!"

Nor was her faith or labour on these occasions spent in vain. I can clearly recollect several specific instances of the good which has been wrought by the pamphlets which she distributed. I know the places in which many of those happy souls reside, who have been blessed through her instrumentality. And as the same tracts are sull in existence, it surely is not unreasonable to hope, that hereafter they will be read by others who will also derive benefit from the perusal of them. These facts, of which I have been an eye-witness, have made such an impression on my mind, that I feel it to be an imperious duty to follow her example by imitating her conduct. Hereafter, when the memoirs of her life shall be accompanied with an account of her experience, which will be drawn from her own journals, and published as a distinct work, I have no doubt, that though dead she will continue to speak; and will ultimately prove a greater blessing by her bright example and religious character, than she was rendered during her life, though spent in acts of benevolence and zeal for the glory of God.

(To be continued.)