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    2<Jo Obituary.—Mrs. Field.—Mr. Spencer.

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    J8xo, April A, At Dover, In The 87th Yea...

    comfort and happiness of all with whom " she tvas connected . s c For the failings and imperfections of her fellow-creatures , she was ready to make every allowance , which reason and reflection would warrant ; not forgetting that ourselves , in . similar

    circumstances , rnay have acted in the same Tnahn « r ; and , on such occasions , always expressing gratitude to God for being preserved from those particular difficiilr ties arid temptations to which others may have been more exposed , and which may have produced error and vice in their

    conduct . Nothing harsh or censorious , Respecting the characters of others , escapejifrom hef lips ; if occasion required her to administer reproof , she always did it with gentleness ; with placidity , howtevcr , wheri it was necessary , she could blend steadiness and firmness .

    " She was scrupulously averse from saying or doing any thing , and was always much hurt when she observed others say or dp any thing , to wound Unnecessarily , even in the slightest

    degree , the feelings * or in any way excite uneasiness in the breast , of a fellow-creature . Her personal conduct was , in every respect , highly excellent ; she walked circumspectly ; discretion directed her steps ; in purity , delicacy , and suavity of mind and manners , she Was surpassed by none , and equalled only by few . *

    The removal of so excellent and amiable a character from a sphere of increasing usefulness and happiness , in the midst of her days , and at a period when the care of her surviving infant seemed to render the longer continuance of life peculiarly desirable , is one of those mysterious dispensations of Providence , which , with our present limited faculties , we cannot fully comprehend . The

    Christian , however , is fully warranted in concluding , that the decrees of heaven are not the edicts of mere arbitrary power , but are all dictated by unerring wisdom ; and by the unerring wisdom

    too of an infinitely kind and compassionate" Father ; and hence he deriye > consolation , even under those dispensations which mw appear to his niind most incomprehensible , andare to his feelings most painful -arid distressing . Under the severest tiiaU , the

    Christian possesses also a source of most powerful support and consolation in the grand and interesting discoveries of Ohc go ~ peh Aided by the resplendent light of revelation , he can contemplate death

    J8xo, April A, At Dover, In The 87th Yea...

    as . effecting a temporary separation only between the sincere disciples of Jesus , who have been united in the present state by the closest ties of esteem and affection ; and as an event , moreover , which is introductory to that future glorious state , which Christianity discloses

    to his view " , where they will again meet , nevermore to separate , but to advance in knowledge , holiness , and happiness , throughout an endless duration , —The departed relative and friend whose worth , has beeri here recorded , will live in the memories and affections of all those , whose intimate acquaintance with her

    character enabled duly to appreciate its excellence . Her virtuous * amiable , and endearing disposition and conduct , will always be reflected upon with pleasure and satisfaction , with esteem and love . And her future destiny , through the mercy of God revealed in the gospel ,

    may be anticipated with delightful hope , with animating joy . — - ' And . I heard a voice from heaven * saying , Write , happy ar ^ the dead who die in the L-ord henceforth ; yes , saith the Spirit , they rest from their labours , and their works follow them . " Rev , xiv , 13 .

    1810 , April 16 , in the 70 th year of frer age , Mrs . FIELD , wife of \ v \ Field , Es 4- of Canonbury . The virtues which adorned her life , and endear her memory , were those which characterise the

    true disciple of Jesus Christ ;—unobtrusive , uniformly influential * Her life , beyond preceptive wisdom , taught The . meek in conduct ) and the pure in thought .

    * 8 io , April 39 , Mr . JOP 1 N SPENCER , of Attercliffe , near Sheffield , Yorkshire , cutler , in the 60 th or 61 st year of his age . Early in life he was set to business , before he had enjoyed any of the advantages which even the lowest class of country schools affords . He t 6 ld the writer of this , " that he was

    never more than one quarter of a year at school , and that only to a dame . " But though destitute of those opportunities for ^ niproveaicnt ; , which , in this country , the children of parents in the

    fpwer walks of life often possess , he rose superior to these obstacles by fa is ^ own persevering endeavours , lie taught himself to write , not indeed a fine , but a very legible hand , and when he read aland it was with mucn propriety and

    discriminating intelligence . For many yeara he continued to attend the worship

    2<Jo Obituary.—Mrs. Field.—Mr. Spencer.

    2 < Jo Obituary . —Mrs . Field . —Mr . Spencer .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1810, page 260, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/mrp_02051810/page/44/