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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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jecte > she ; contracted au enthusiastic love for rural scenes . The foliage of trees , t | ie beaujty of flowers , and the songs of ¦> birds , were to her sources of exquisite ;< gratification . She watched the first open- . < ing of the one , and the first sounds of
the other , with emotions which are peculiar to persons of delicate luinds , ^ who , not having had many opportunities of improvement , possess nevertheless pure and elegant tastes . Next , and superior to this love of nature , was her unfeigned benevolence , which manifested itself in
those unassuming acts of kindness and attention which are so grateful to the receiver , and which so seldom meet the eye and obtain the applause of the world . The regard which she cherished toward those who were bound to her by nature and friendship , was silent , deep and
powerful ; shewn rather in deeds than in words . Her mind was diligent and cheerful , acute and penetrating ! She possessed a keen sense of the ridiculous , and , had she indulged them , her powers of satire would have been very great ; but her temper was so embued with Christian charity , that she checked * every
idle word , " which uttered , might give pain to others . Above all , was she earnest in the performance of her social and religious duties . Virtuous by inclination , a Christian from conviction , her piety was fervent , and fitted to the various occasions of joy or sorrow which came to her from the hand of Providence . She boasted not
of any merit in the sight of God : nor did she venture to pronounce herself an especial favourite of heaven . Believing in the everlasting goodness of our heavenly Father , she gladly mingled her hopes with those of the whole human race . Hence will it be perceived of how gentle and humble a disposition she was ; and the readers of this brief memoir
will be prepared to expect a scene of sickness and death worthy of such health and life . For more than a year she was afflicted with a painful disease , yet in all this time she " sinned uot , nor charged God foolishly . She throughout so possessed her soul in patience , that " they who once saw her were anxious often to
watch at her side and converse with her heavenly thoughts . She appeared truly to have learned of him who was * meek and lowly of heart . * There were no wild raptures of a wandering imagination : but her soul was collected and firm . She
had that humble expectation , and that calm confidence which are produced by deep , inward feeling of the truths of Christianity , and firm faith in its promises * The exercises of devotion , and the reading of the Scriptures , afforded her high enjoyment while she was able
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; , to listen and comprehend ; but she faded away so slowly , life clung to her with such tenacity , that before existence was quite extinct , memory and thought seemed gone . And as long as she could make known her secret musings , it was manifest
that they were sweet to her , that they were of past benevolence , of present alleviations and of future hopes ; for she would break forth into animated exclamations concerning the goodness of oar Almighty Father . Yea , amidst all her protracted aud severe sufferings , her constant testimonv was that * God is love . ' Now rests
she in peace . She has died iu Jesus Christ , and * Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord / "¦*
* Extracted from her Funeral Seimonj
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1824 . Jan . 13 , at Littleton House , near Guildford * aged 77 years , Mr . John Ellis , pastor of the General Baptist Church , Meadrovv , Godalming . Our departed friend commenced his ministry about forty years ago , assisting his father in his declining years in the good work , and at his decease succeeded to the
charge , which he fulfilled in a most exemplary manner . Destitute of the adr vantages arising ifrora birth , . education and for tune , our friend had every thing to do for himself , and by dint of industry and skillful management succeeded in business , which became extensive and
multifarious , at the same time qualifying himself by unremitting application and study for public ministrations . In the early part of his life he was of the Arian persuasion , but reading and reflection induced him to believe in the simple humanity of Christ ; this change of
sentiment produced considerable uneasiness and opposition among his friends , which his firmness , candour and conciliating manner in due time allayed . He was a staunch and liberal supporter of the General Baptist and Unitarian interests , encouraged conferences and young
ministers , and earnestly promoted the interests of our Sunday School and Church Library . With his coadjutors in the ministry he was on the best terms , frequently expressing his pleasure and commending their labours , and rendered them ; every necessary assistance . Mr . Ellis was
universally respected for his virtues and urbanity ; strictly upright , diffusely benevolent , with a sweetness and benignity of deport meat , every eye beheld him with pleasure , and every tongue is filled with his praise—he diffused a sweet odour iu life , and his memory is blessed * His remains were interred in the family vault
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52 \ Obitnargt ^ Mev . John Mlw .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1824, page 52, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2520/page/52/
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