active life. Here we see intense suffering endured without a murmur. Patience keeps the soul of the saint, and in him it has its perfect work. He lies passive in the hands of God, exercising an unwavering faith in these inspired words, "all things work together for good to them that love God." This precious truth thus believed, checks every anxious fear, that would arise to disturb the quiet of his soul, in reference to the issue of his trials. He trusteth in the Lord and is not moved.

cause.

Many a Christian when in the sick room gains enlarged and more accurate views of God's character-the righteous nature of his governmentand the ceaseless fidelity with which the children of men ought to serve him, and is thereby induced to make a full surrender of himself to God and his He sees how unfaithful he has been in many things; his neglected duties his heartless devotions-his parsimonious gifts to the cause of Christ, and his improper conformity to the world, all look him in the face. These greatly distress him, he mourns over them before God, he prays for a fresh application of the blood of Christ, to wash him from every stain, promising God that if his health is restored he will do his utmost to enhance the interests of his kingdom. His prayer is answered, he recovers, and is filled with the Holy Ghost. He leaves his room to shine more brightly, to pray more fervently, to give more liberally, to work more energetically for his Maker's honour. The words of his mouth, the spirituality of his mind, the power he has in prayer, and the zealous manner in which he now labours to bring sinners to Christ, testify that "it is good for him that he hath been afflicted." When in the sick room his meditations rose to things above this sublunary world, he obtained such views of the surpassing grandeur of heaven's glory and happiness, which induced him firmly to resolve that he would act out to the fullest extent Christ's command, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." Blessed is the man, woman, or youth who cometh out of the sick room thus hallowed, thus richly fraught with good desires and holy resolves, and happier still will he be beyond the tomb, if he retain them unto the end of life.

Let us now meditate on the sick room as it is changing into the presence chamber of death. Sometimes when we look on the appearance of the sick Christian, we are led to view him as one marked soon to fall by death, as one to whom God will shortly say, "Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer steward." To be thus summoned into the presence of God involves changes of a most serious order. The state of that man's mind is not to be envied who can meditate on it and not feel seriously impressed. For an immortal being to have come to the last moment in his probationary state, to the dreadful crisis when he is either to sink, and that for ever, immeasurably low in depths of woe, or rise inconceivably high amidst the gorgeous splendour and hallowed joy of the kingdom of heaven, is an idea awfully solemn. Its dread magnitude cannot be fully comprehended by any human mind. Through this change all the dead have passed, and through it all the living must pass. Die we must, and that ere long. Sickness is frequently the precursor of death; it announces his onward march, though it seldom tells the distance he is from us. The feeble pulse, the clammy sweat, and the dimming sight often speak him near. Some Christians anticipate, and that with great joy, the approach of death. They hail him as a man doth his friend. This arises almost entirely out of the great confidence which they feel that God will be with them in the final struggle, and that through his grace they will be enabled to say, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." To behold the taper of a saint's life go out, to see him take his flight from earth to heaven, is an occurrence never to be forgotten, and from which we ought never to cease receiving instruction. While standing by the side of the man of God, whose race we judge to be almost finished, our thoughts are variously exercised, and our feelings are of a mingled kind.

Looking at the sufferings of the invalid, the valuable and interesting connexions which are likely soon to be broken off, and the dark, damp grave in which his untenanted body must be deposited, a gloom settles upon, and grief seizes hold of our spirit. When however we turn our eyes from these things, and contemplate the placidity of his countenance, the entire resignation of his will to God's, the strong confidence he has in the atonement of Christ, and the vigorous hope which he possesses of a blissful immortality, the gloom and grief of our minds are greatly mitigated. But when we call to our remembrance the delightful truths, that though he is leaving pious and affectionate friends on earth, he will join others holier and more loving in heaven, that when his earthly sufferings terminate, then will commence his heavenly, unmingled, rapturous, and eternal joys-that after his body, which in the grave is to be sown in corruption, in dishonour, and in weakness, has slept until the end of time, it shall be awakened, raised, and brought forth by the Lord Jesus, invested with the attribute of immortality, radiant with an unfading glory, and animated by a power that shall support it amidst the splendours of the upper world-then we are prepared to say to God, "Not our will but thine be done." Then we feel as though we would not if we could, keep the dying Christian away one day, or even one hour beyond his appointed time, from honours so great, joys so angelic, and a service so congenial to the best feelings of his heart. By such considerations natural and earthly ties have been so far loosened, and the will of the creature brought so far into subjection to the will of the Creator, that some very affectionate Christian parents, husbands, wives, and friends have been enabled sincerely to say, while looking on the corpses of those who have died in the Lord, of those to whom while in life they were ardently attached

"We gladly let thee go,

From a suffering church beneath

To a reigning church above."

It does honour to the Christian, when bereft of what he dearly loved, thus to bow to Heaven's sovereign will, or to say with the noble spirited Job, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

Reader! hast thou ever, by affliction, been confined to thy room? If so, hast thou thereby profited or not? Did it lead thee to repentance, to Christ, and to holy living? Was the sick room the birth place of thy soul, and hast thou ever since been walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost? or,

"Hast thou, with heart perverse and conscience sear'd,
Despising all rebuke, still persever'd,

And having chosen evil, scorn'd the voice

That cried, Repent!-and gloried in thy choice?"

Art thou one of that class of sinners whose profession of contrition for sin, and determination to abandon it, is highest in the time of sickness, but who on recovery always neglect to perform their promises? O thou hardened rebel! O thou enemy of God and thine own soul! I beseech thee check thy rebellious spirit, submit and now pay unto God thy vows, "lest He take thee away with His stroke," then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. Now that thou hast space to repent, do it quickly. God may soon send affliction to thee, and thou mayest soon have to give up the ghost. Seek salvation; now, while the evil days come not, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. Now while the spirit enlightens, grace moves, and God tenders mercy and life, yield, yield thyself fully unto the Lord.

"Be wise to-day; 'tis madness to defer:
Next day the fatal precedent will plead;
Thus on, till wisdom is push'd out of life.
Procrastination is the thief of time;
Year after year it steals, till all are fled,
And to the mercies of a moment leaves
The vast concerns of an eternal scene."

JOSEPH GARSIDE.

DEATH OF THE REV. WILLIAM HENRY. WITH much regret we have to inform our readers of the death of this useful minister of Jesus Christ. He had for some time been labouring under bodily indisposition, but continued his ministerial labours until within a fortnight of his decease. Mr. Henry's complaint was a disease of the heart, which baffled all the exertions of his medical attendant. He endured great bodily sufferings, and his spirit was summoned to "the rest that remaineth to the people of God," on Saturday, the 11th of March. He was highly esteemed by those among whom he laboured, and his ministry was much blessed. He has left a sorrowing widow, and a child, to mourn on account of his departure. May God be their support and refuge! We hope that some one, well acquainted with our dear deceased brother, will prepare a memoir of him, and transmit it to us.

BIOGRAPHY.

MR. THOMAS LAWRENCE, OF MULLION.

MR. THOMAS LAWRENCE was born in the parish of Mullion, on the 25th day of May, 1784, and departed this life on Tuesday, the 17th of November, 1846, being in his sixty-third year. Of his early days I have not heard any particulars. He was converted to God in or about the year 1812-13, at the commencement of what is termed, in his native village, the great revival, when about two hundred persons professed to experience a like delightful change. He continued faithful unto death, holding on the even tenor of his way, amid all the changes to which he was a witness. Many who commenced with him to run the heavenly race grew weary, and turned aside from following after righteousness, but he kept the prize in view and pressed onward. His experience was simple, and the testimony which he bore to the power of grace Divine was uniform and steady; he often exclaimed, "God's grace is sufficient." Many of his fellow pilgrims well remember his unaffected and humble manner of relating the dealings of God with him. He had clear views of that Being of whom he frequently spoke as a " God of love."

66

66

I

The affliction which terminated his earthly career was short, but exceedingly painful. He was taken ill in the field where he was at work; the disease, inflammation of the left lung, made rapid progress, and soon prostrated his strength. Although his sufferings were great, yet he was never heard to murmur or complain; he once expressed a fear lest he should give way to impatience, but never manifested any signs thereof. He was calm and resigned throughout his affliction. His confidence in God was strong. His eldest son observed to him, you will soon overtake our dear friends that have gone before." "O! yes," he replied, "I have bright prospects." am going home,' was an expression he often made use of, when referring to his approaching dissolution. In his case, as in that of many other Christians, the great advantage of having made his peace with God, while in the enjoy ment of health, was strikingly manifest. He had no fear of death. On the Sabbath evening previous to his departure, his daughter Elizabeth said, "my dear father, you are not afraid to die." He answered, "No, I feel he cannot cast me off; one that He has done so much for; yet I feel that I have no other plea than all the world can urge, 'for I the chief of sinners am, but Jesus died for me.' Afraid," said he, "no, I am not afraid of all the powers of

darkness; dying to me is no more than passing from one room to another !" His son Thomas just then entered the chamber, and said, "My dear father, you are just arrived at home." "Yes," he replied, "going home to Jesus." "You love Jesus," said his son, "you feel him precious.' "Yes," he answered, "I do." The doctor on the same evening told him he could do no more for him, and added, "I commend you to God." "That I have done,' said Mr. Lawrence," thirty-three years ago:" meaning that then he gave himself entirely into the hands of the Lord. He also added, "I feel the Lord is my portion." Sometimes during his illness the enemy was permitted to disturb him, but whenever he felt him approaching he invariably looked to God for succour, and ever found that greater and stronger was Jehovah his friend than Satan his foe. Throughout he had much peace and joy. "I am very happy," he once said, and added, "my dear children, mind and live to God, He will bring you through ;" and again he remarked, "I have a bright prospect." The greater part of Tuesday he was speechless, and about six o'clock in the evening he exchanged mortality for life, a suffering world below for a reigning church above.

"With songs let us follow his flight;"

Songs of praise to God who redeemed him with the precious blood of Christ, changed him by his grace, sanctified him by his spirit, kept him by his power in the world, and who has raised him to glory, immortality and eternal life! As a neighbour he was kind, obliging, and willing and ready to lend a helping hand in time of need. As a father he was most affectionate; for his children he toiled early and late, and above all was most desirous for their spiritual welfare. His family can bear testimony that he was one of the best of parents. As a Christian he was diligent, humble and pious. He had his failings, and infirmities, but his excellencies outweighed them. His dear wife died" in the faith before him; the separation was not long; they are now united never to part again. She was a good woman, a lively Christian, and her end was peace.

JOHN HARLEY.

MRS. ELEANOR IRVING, DALSTON, CARLISLE CIRCUIT. ELEANOR IRVING was born, in the parish of Gretna, in 1810, and at the age of three years came to reside at Dalston, in Cumberland. She was the intimate friend and companion of Mrs. Elizabeth Gunn-an account of whose experience and death, appeared in the Magazine, last month-and like her she was strictly moral and upright in her deportment. She was induced to give her heart to God from hearing a sermon preached from these words: "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these ? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs." John xxi. 15. This sermon made a deep impression upon her mind; especially Peter's answer to our Lord, which she repeated over and over again to herself, and thought that she could not say with Peter, "Yea, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee." On this account she became greatly distressed, and for some time sleep fled from her eyelids. Having made her case known to a pious neighbour she was greatly encouraged, and was prevailed upon to go to a class meeting, which proved a lasting blessing to her, and in a short time she was enabled to believe to the saving of her soul. While health permitted she was very attentive both to her class and to the other means of grace. For several years she was subject to much affliction, which she bore with uncommon patience and resignation. She cultivated a thoughtful spirit, and would often express her gratitude to

Almighty God, as if her heart were overflowing with joy and love. Her confidence in God was strong, and her experience and conduct were scriptural. She set a high value upon the oracles of God, and perused them with diligence and care. While upon her bed of sickness she exhorted all to whom she had access to seek religion, and told them of the comfort and support which it afforded her in her peculiar trying circumstances; and at the same time she thanked God that she had not her religion to seek when it was most needed. She was greatly refreshed by the visits of God's praying people, and on such occasions would sometimes express a desire to depart and to be with Christ. Then she would check herself and say, "I must wait his time; all things work together for good to them that love God." She said to a neighbour, who was attending upon her a day or two before her death, "I shall soon clap my glad wings and soar away, and mingle in the blaze of day." At the time of her death she asked those who stood by her to raise her up in bed; and when they had done so she shook hands with five of them, and bade them farewell, without a faltering voice, and immediately and sweetly fell asleep in Jesus; leaving the by-standers astonished at the calm and peaceful manner in which she gave up the ghost. Her death occurred on the 25th Nov. 1847. She was aged thirty-seven years. An improvement was made of her death, and also that of Elizabeth Gunn's, to an overflowing congregation, at Dalston, on Sunday evening, Dec. 12, by the writer, from these words, "And what I say unto you I say unto all-watch."

M. BESWICK.

MRS. MARY ANN NICHOLSON, OF BRADFORD.

THE subject of this brief memoir, was born, Oct. 27, 1804. Her husband's death, which took place in April 1844, was the means of causing her to begin to have a concern for her soul; and in the course of a few weeks afterwards, she was deeply convinced of sin, under the Rev. J. Edgar's ministry; and then united herself with the people of God. She became a member of Mr. Croxall's class, and from the kind and affectionate counsels of her leader she derived great encouragement and assistance, in seeking that salvation she so earnestly desired. She continued a consistent member of the Society until her death, and attended her class and the other means of grace as frequently as opportunities or health permitted. Her last illness (which commenced in last September,) was at intervals very severe; she several times expressed her conviction that she should never recover, and was very diligent in seeking a full and clear knowledge of her acceptance with God through Jesus Christ, in whom alone she trusted for full redemption. She had the happiness to experience that blessing about three days before her death, when she rejoiced greatly, and called upon those around her to join in praising God for his goodness, in having made her ready for heaven. On being asked if she felt a desire to get better she said "No, in a short time I shall be in glory. One more struggle and then all will be well." Her sufferings at this time were very severe; during the intervals of pain her breath was spent in singing and prayer, and in speaking of her happiness. To one who stood by her she said, "It is no time to seek salvation on a dying bed; there is enough work to do without that." Almost the last words she uttered intelligibly were in prayer; after which she sung a part of that beautiful hymn, " Jesu, lover of my soul," &c., dwelling particularly upon the words, "O receive my soul at last." She continued to sing as long as the powers of her mind continued unimpaired. With her last breath she exhorted those who were near her (particularly her young friends) to seek the Lord before it was too late; after which she gently fell asleep in Jesus. Her death was improved by our minister, the Rev. J. Thompson, from Matthew xiii. 43, to a large and much affected audience, and it is believed good was done.

G. HARKER.