affections; while the unspeakable mercies of redemption deeply impressed her heart, and "the love of Christ constrained her." It was, accordingly, evident to all who knew her, that she had but one great object continually in view-to glorify God, and to do good to all around her, to advance in the knowledge and practice of true religion, and to communicate it far and wide, both at home and abroad. Though naturally of a retired and timid character, the principles of the Gospel, without affecting her native modesty, rendered her active, energetic, and persevering. She lived in the exercise of love to God, and of charity to man. Her faith was productive of all the lovely fruits of piety, devotion, and virtue. Constant and fervent in prayer, in the study of the holy Scripfures, and in her attendance on the ordinances of public worship, the blessed effects of this Christian course were seen in the exemplary discharge of every social and relative duty. To charity, in all its branches, she was eminently devoted; and her freedom from the cares of a family, as well as her station in life, enabled her amply to indulge this benevolent disposition. The instruction of the young in the National School at Brighthelmstone, ofwhich she might almost be considered the foundress, the admonition and consolation of the aged and the afflicted in the Poor-house and in the Infirmary, and the visitation of the poor at their own habitations for the purposes of instruction and relief, were among the objects of her habitual care; while combined with these stated and daily occupations were her zealous and persevering endeavours to support various plans and societies for the distribution of the word of God, and the propagation of the Gospel in distant lands. Of these benevolent institutions, the British and Foreign Bible Society and the London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews, were those in which she felt peculiarly interested. In all this she was the humble, modest Christian, sitting, like Mary, at the feet of her Saviour, listening to his word, watchful over her spirit and conduct, "keeping herself unspotted from the world," and anxious only to approve herself in the sight of God, and to be ever in a state of preparation for an eternal world. In support of the preceding sketch of Mrs. Kemp's character, it may perhaps be interesting and edifying, both to her friends and others, to add a few extracts from her private papers, for the purpose of confirming and illustrating what has now been stated. Thus, in a few brief reflections on the first two chapters of the Epistle to the Galatians, the following observations and petitions occur:-" Pray for an entire dependence on Christ, and it shall be given you. Let Christ crucified be the source of your comfort and of your dependence, and your acts of charity and obedience be only done for his sake-to glorify Him. They must be done, but think not of them. Follow Christ, and depend on Him for support and comfort." "O Lord, grant that I may be without guilein every thing simple as a little child. May truth appear to me more and more lovely; and may I abhor deceit. O let me not be afraid of confessing Thee before men; but may I daily and hourly glory in the cross of Christ." Again: "To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." "If we live not to Christ in this life, we cannot expect to find it gain to die. But how are we to live to Him? By dependence on Him, by the study of the Scriptures, by constant attendance on Divine ordinances, by not being conformed to the world. Be as an epistle to your friends; that if they will not look into the Gospel of Christ, they may read its contents in your daily life." "I do hope I am led to seek for happiness in Christ Jesus as my only Lord and Saviour. There is no peace or happiness without this; and what a comfort it is to know and be assured, that if we pray for dependence on Him, it shall be given to us! And then we must remember what gratitude we owe to our Redeemer; and surely when we feel this, we shall avoid whatever is displeasing to Him, and keep His commandments. This is what we ought to feel for our best Friend, our adorable Redeemer." "Be charitable-do all the good you can-be earnest in your duty-be very diligent; but trust only in your Saviour. Persevere-mind no discouragements. Pray earnestly and constantly for the help of God's Holy Spirit. Strive against all your faults."-The following short prayer may be properly added to the preceding admonitions to do good: "O Lord my God, I beseech thee put it continually into my heart, and into the heart of my dear husband, to do good to our fellowcreatures, both to their souls and bodies. Bless us with frequent opportunities of so doing, and grant that we may never neglect them; but that we may sincerely endeavour to be faithful stewards of all thine abundant mercies and blessings bestowed upon us. O grant that we may be thy faithful and diligent servants to the end of our lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord." Annexed to the foregoing prayer is another for a blessing upon some young persons whom she had been carefully instructing and preparing to attend the Lord's Supper for the first time, which strongly expresses both her own piety and her affectionate anxiety for their spiritual welfare. Several memoranda remain, containing hints and questions for self-examination, Of these the following may serve as a specimen. "Are you selfish, irritable, or captious? Are you continually aiming at the victory over every evil disposition? Do you earnestly pray for right motives? Are you sincere in your words and actions? Do you endeavour to think, speak, and act as in the sight of God? Are you diligent in improving your time? Are you particularly careful not to dishonour religion by selfish attention to your own satisfactionby any little inattentions, or shewing any wrong tempers? Do you carefully avoid giving offence to the faithful children of God by the least unkind word or behaviour? Have you a perfect trust in God, and a desire to leave every thing to his all-wise Providence? Are you sweet in your manners, that you may honour religion in the sight of others?" Those who were acquainted with Mrs. Kemp will perceive in some of these queries pleasing proofs of her anxiety to adorn the sacred principles which she professed; while it must be obvious to every one that the standard of Christian holiness must be high which can allow of a serious attention to such minute and delicate points of temper and conduct. To a friend who had presented her with a paper containing an eulogium on the Bible, in which its most essential and important principles were omitted to be mentioned, she returned it with the following just observations. "The Bible shews us the way of salvation by Jesus Christ-that in Him alone is salvation; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we can be saved. 'God was manifest in the flesh.' It also reveals to us the way by which alone we can be sanctified, and enabled to walk in the right path, by the help and assistance of the Holy Spirit, which God has promised to give to those that ask it. I think this paper very deficient in not touching upon these great truths." The following reflections were made on the removal of some highly valued religious advantages. "I have had blessed privileges and opportunities of religious instruction: they are removed from me; but let them not be lost upon me. Make me more holy and more penitent. Let my faith in Christ be firm, wanting nothing. Let me be full of prayer and ejaculation, diligent in studying the holy Scriptures, and earnest in my prayers for the influence of the Holy Spirit, that I may lead a holy life.” The conscientious fidelity and seriousness with which Mrs. Kemp endeavoured to improve the various providential seasons and circumstances of her life are evident from the following memoranda, on returning home after a long absence on account of her health. "If it should please God to restore me safe in health and my dear husband to our happy home, what are the fruits that I should take with me? So long an absence, with such opportunities of reading, thinking, and attending the house of God, ought to bring me forward in the work of grace. I feel that I ought to be incessant in my prayers for a simple, entire dependence on Jesus Christ, looking perpetually to Him every hour for comfort and direction. This is the only source of real inward felicity. I do hope I have found it so more than formerly. God grant I may not lose it, for it is the Pearl of great price! I apprehend it must be constantly kept in view, and prayed for without intermission. I also hope I shall be earnest and diligent in the performance of every duty, not only in works of charity, but in the regulation of the inward disposition of the heart and of the temper, that not only the outward actions and words may be gentle and forbearing, but that the heart may be so likewise, and to be more earnest in ejaculation. I also hope that every duty may be performed with a view of entirely doing them to the glory of God, not seeking mine own glory, not depending on any thing for salvation or comfort, but only looking to Christ, and performing every duty from love and gratitude, and with diligence and alacrity. I also wish and hope I shall not be too. anxious about future things, but think how the duties of the present day may be performed, and trusting in the providence of God. I also hope to be more guarded over conversation-to be daily more humble and abased in my own esteem, and yet possess a cheerful trust in God through Christ. Also a much more diligent reading of the holy Scriptures, never neglecting the least opportunity, and earnestly praying for the Holy Spirit to open my understanding, that I may see the way of salvation and the wondrous things of God's law. May I take warning by past experience! Let me never neglect to read this at least once a-week." A variety of notes and memoranda remain, in which cases of distress are mentioned for the purpose of being attended to either by herself or others; observations on the state of the poor, and of the young people in the work house; and requests to Mr. Kemp to shew kindness to widows, orphan children, and others in distress, with remarks on the best means of relief, and earnest exhortations to be zealous and persevering in adopting them. From one of these it appears also that she was in the habit of occasionally sending to pious elergymen, with large families, packets of various articles of necessary use, as well as pecuniary assistance.-Amongst other points of private and domestic practice, she was accustomed to retire for the purposes of devotion in the middle of the day; and to employ some time after dinner in reading the Scriptures with one or other of her servants. The success which attended these various efforts to do good was such as should encourage others to follow her example. Numerous were the young whom she instructed and guided, and the aged whom she cherished and comforted. By her compassionate exertions and unwearied exhortations, many a sinner was converted from the error of her way, and many a dying penitent was directed and consoled. One of the last of her memoranda which we shall mention, is dated on Easter-day 1820, and is as follows. "O Lord, make my heart truly grateful for the comfortable holy week we have passed. O heavenly Father, let me never forget thy mercies to me and my dear Mr. K. We have followed our blessed Lord to his cross, and to his sepulchre, as his disciples did; but, alas! not with their love to their Lord and Master. O grant that we may with them follow our risen Saviour henceforward to the end of our lives! May we be devoted to his service! May we daily love him more, and serve him better! May he be precious to our souls! May we rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh! May we follow him in humility and gratitude, and affectionate devotedness to his cause! O may we watch and pray that we may press forward, and never grow cold or lukewarm; and may we constantly and fervently from the heart pray for and desire the help of the Holy Spirit! Amen! Amen!" It will be obvious to every intelligent reader, that with all the seriousness, spirituality, and fervour which mark the pious reflections and prayers of Mrs. Kemp, there is not the slightest tincture of any thing extravagant or enthusiastic. Under circumstances which might occasionally have tended to perplex and mislead her judgment, she was steadily and consistently attached to the communion of the Church of England; contented and thank ful for the means of Christian edification which it afforded; and anxious to promote its truest interests and prosperity. It is no slight addition to the excellence of her character, that during several of the latter years of her life, her activity and benevolence were continued amidst infirmity and pain. Yet, such was the strength of her faith and love, that she was never weary in welldoing, but persevered in her Christian career till the very day on which increasing sickness suspended her labours. Then it was that the value and the happiness of her choice were fully demonstrated. A short prayer occurs among the papers already referred to, which shews that she had not been unmindful of this trying season. "Grant, O Lord, that if thou shouldest be pleased to call me away suddenly, my mind may be composed and tranquil, and that I may have an entire assurance of the pardon of all my sins through the merits of Jesus Christ." Though her departure was not sudden, but after a gradual decline of several weeks, the preceding prayer was substantially fulfilled. Tranquil and serene in her own mind, relying on the mercies of a reconciled God and Father, and on the merits of a crucified Saviour, she possessed in the consolations of the Spirit of grace, a peace which the world cannot give, and "a hope full of immortality." On the bed of sickness she saw all her poor neighbours, and many of her young friends; and with sweet composure and placid exhortation, she. entreated them to read their Bibles, trust in their Saviour's atonement, and pray for the constant help of the Holy Spirit. To one whom she requested to see a second time she said, "Read your Bible, and pray that you may be a devoted servant of Christ." To one poor woman whom she had instructed in reading, and who was just able to read a chapter, she said, " You and I have often read the Bible together;" to which her poor neighbour replied, "I wish now that I had attended you oftener." Thankful for the multiplied blessings of her lot, and feeling in a most lively manner the ties which still bound her to the present world, she was resigned to the will of God, contented to remain, yet willing to depart, and to be with Christ, which she knew was far better." In ber, patience had its perfect work," and the faith of the Gospel a calm yet undoubted triumph, This was the more remarkable, because like many other Christians of humble and unassuming character, she had sometimes entertained fears of encountering the hour of death. These were, however, gradually and entirely removed. To the writer of this imperfect but affectionate tribute to her memory, she said only a few days previously to her death, "I hope I am not impatient-but whenever it shall please God to remove me, I am ready to depart." During the whole of her illness, she testified the most lively pleasure in hearing of the success of religion, and the progress of the Gospel. Her continual prayer was, O Lord, write gratitude on my heart." When fast sinking to her rest, and a very short period before her departure, it was said to her, "His rod and staff are now comforting you." She replied with great gentleness, "I know it." It was added, "You have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins." Most distinctly she replied, "Amen. Thank God!" Thus lived and died this truly pious and excellent woman, esteemed and loved by all who had the happiness of knowing her, and lamented by a very numerous circle both among the rich and the poor. Of her it may be justly said, that as she had lived to Christ, so also she" died in the Lord;" and that resting from her labours, her works of humility, faith, and charity have followed her to the possession of those unspeakable joys which are the portion of the righteous in a heavenly and eternal world. The length to which this memorial has been unintentionally carried, precludes the writer of it from adding more than a few very brief reflections. As an illustration ofthe value and efficacy of the genuine principles of the Gospel, should it not, in the first place, excite every one to inquire, how far his own resemble them, and are producing similar effects? To these the subject of the preceding remarks owed all her excellence, happiness, and usefulness. Above all, if to die safely and well be the great object for which we ought to live-and if we cannot reasonably expect to share in the blessedness of the righteous in death, unless we have partaken of their principles, and exemplified their conduct in our lives-how anxious should we be to ascertain the true nature of our own character, and the foundation on which we are building our hopes of future happiness! How should the recollection also of those who have thus finished their course console us under their loss, and encourage and animate us to be "followers of them who through faith and patience have inherited the promises!" Let this, then, be our object and aim-that when the hour of our departure shall arrive, and we know not how near it may be at hand, we may rest in Him who is "the Resurrection and the Life;" and, re-united to those whom we have loved upon earth, be for ever blessed in the happiness and glory of "the inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and whieh fadeth not away!” MEMORANDA OF THE LATE MRS. CUNNINGHAM. "The memory of the just is blessed." WEperform a pleasing, although melancholy, duty in recording a few additional particulars which have been kindly communicated to us of the last hours of the late lamented Mrs. Sophia Cunningham, wife of the Rev. J. W. Cunningham of Harrow. To the pious mind, the memorial of departed worth and virtue can scarcely fail to be acceptable, both |