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dejected. "I may, indeed," she observed," say with the Psalmist, My sin is ever before me.' Even the sins of my childhood seem as fresh in my recollection as if they had been committed to-day. But her simple trust in the Saviour soon removed this burden, and her mind became tranquillized and serene. From this period she could not venture to attend public worship; but her health was greatly improved, and on Christmas day she appeared in far better health and spirits than usual. She had often tasted supreme pleasure in religion, and used sometimes to remark, that she knew what true happiness was; but on that day it seems she had experienced a delight in reading the Scriptures while the family were at church beyond what she had ever known before; and she afterwards remarked, that God, who knew what was coming upon her, thus prepared her for the last trial.

The next day, Wednesday, she was seized with a violent shivering fit, succeeded by exquisite pains in her limbs, and highly inflammatory affection of the chest. The most powerful and skilful means proved unavailing; and her breath, which she had often wished so to retain in her last moments as to set forth the praises of her God and Saviour, soon began to fail. She still often employed it, however, in saying, "My heart and my flesh faileth, but God is the

strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."

Next to the idea of beholding her adorable Redeemer, nothing gave her so much delight as the thought of meeting her beloved friend and pastor, Mr. Scott, in glory, who, on the day he died, said to her, "We shall soon meet again." To the end her mind was sweetly composed, and full of gratitude and love to God and man; and on the day before her death, when her sufferings were so great, she could say but very little. Her thoughts seemed engaged in recollecting all the kindness she had received from different persons; and she observed, that she had so many kind friends to think of, that she was almost exhausted in trying to pray for them all.

On the Saturday morning she became speechless and insensible; and, after some convulsive struggles, exchanged her cumbrous load of clay for a glorious robe of immortality. On the Sunday week following, the Rev. S. King preached a sermon on the occasion from Ps. lxxxiv. 12, Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee."

Blessed indeed are they who thus live and die in the Lord! May the writer and every reader of this account follow this blessed woman as she followed Christ; and so prove" meet to be partakers of an inheritance among the saints in light."

M.S.

1 Cor. xv. 1—4. My appearance among you this day is most solemn and impressive. I cannot forget where I have been, and what prospects were before me. I wish also to feel a proper sense of the work in my soul, and the

reason of it. You will feel, as well as myself, that I am a monument of mercy: I mean not only

as

to the many events of my private life, but of mercy, marvellous mercy! that I am restored from the brink of the grave, and

brought back to this favourite place, which has ever been the joy of my heart-the delight of my days. I am not going to work upon your feelings or my own; but I must inquire, what instruction has been derived from the late dispensation, both to you and myself? It was a dispensation which should excite reflection in every one, even in those most devoid of it! I stand a monument of mercy; not only as to my first appointment in this place, but that I have been spared so many years to continue my labours. Great has been the mercy to you of a stated ministry of the Gospel. This is an extensive blessing. Let it be inquired, whether it will redound to your credit and that of your Minister? Will it turn to the honour of our great Master Jesus Christ? Although we have been threatened with a separation in this world, we are brought together again for a short time. I am (it may be) for only a short time restored to you. Let us, therefore, be humbled for our past offences. We have none of us profited as we should have done by the means allowed us. Let this consideration rouse us to prayer. O God of grace and mercy, declare, we beseech thee, thy whole counsel to this people; and let not the preaching they have heard be in vain! May we be roused to watchfulness -to diligence-to holiness! May we prove to the world the influence of the principles preached and received among us! I can, as your Minister, witness to the truth of these principles. Not for the first time do I stand up to declare this; I only remind you of what you have long heard. I come as one from the dead, to confirm these truths; to testify my own earnest belief in them, and my desire that you should vouch for the same. I declare that Gospel I have preached unto you; and I trust I may say, that wherein we stand and by which we are saved. My present object

you

is principally to express my regard to you; to thank for all your kindnesses-for your sympathy in my afflictions, and for your prayers. Ministers should feel for their churches as St. Paul did for his. He saw and lamented the errors into which the Corinthians had fallen, and wished to call them back again to their first principles, and guard them against the most prevailing errors.

1st, Let us consider, what was the doctrine he preached to them; and,

2dly, The importance of that doctrine.

1st. The doctrine preached.-It is profitable to consider this at all times, but more particularly so when there is a probability of a separation between Minister and people taking place. Surely the question occurs to every mind, What account have I to give? Now, for myself, I take the liberty to say, I have preached the Gospel to you. It has, at least, been my study to do So. I am no boaster, but desire to acknowledge the truth. I would distinguish between the Gospel and mere morality. No man can preach the Gospel without inculcating norality; but he may preach morality all the days of his life without attaining to the truth of the Gospel. To preach the Gospel, is to point out not only what men should be towards each other, but what they should do to be saved. It is to bring men from the ruined state in which they were left by the fall, to the knowledge and service of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the one plan which runs throughout the Bible; and no man can preach the Gospel who does not labour to open the ears of sinners to these solemn truths. I trust this has been done to you, my brethren. You have been repeatedly encouraged to flee to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. This has been my bounden duty, and I would again press it upon you. I have

no other object in life. May God accept my earnest endeavours! I would preach to the people committed to my care, and join with St. Paul in declaring unto you the Gospel wherein I stand. I would set Christ before you according to the Scriptures. I would present him to you in all his glory, grace, and righteousness. I would entreat you to accept him-to believe on him as your Alpha and Omega, the first and the last! I would speak of his death as the first thing to be declared, the chief point of importance. The death of Christ is the main point of the Gospel. At this season, we commemorate his coming into the world; but let us remember that he came to die-he came to die for us! he came to die as a sinner! Many die as sinners; but he was crucified for sin! This very mention of crucifixion marks his character. He suffered for a guilty world! All were under the sentence of condemnation! Consider this! O what should we have been without the sacrifice of Christ! Condemned! Lost! Exposed to the extremity of torment! O how precious should our dying Saviour appear to us! Let us pause here, and think what we should learn by the death of Christ. Let us think of the rich grace of our recovery by this sacrifice! This we may learn by the law, which says, "Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." This curse is now removed-God is reconciled to us! He is ready to receive returning sinners, because Christ hath died for them! because he has purchased them with his blood!

and rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures.

grave,

This chapter refers chiefly to the resurrection of Christ from the dead this is an important subject. Much depends upon it. We read of Christ's descent into the and of his rising again. It is equally true, that Christ died, and that he rose again. These two facts united constitute our hope and joy. One would be nothing without the other. If he had not died, he had not risen. If he had not risen, our faith had been vain. It seems to have been the Apostle's design to refer the Corinthians to this plain principle. All the disputes of the Christian world arise from want of attention to the Scriptures-from not suitably contemplating the Saviour's death and resurrection. Let me entreat you to apply these truths, and you will be happy Christians indeed. Let us endeavour to follow Christ to heaven-see him there in his glory and beauty! Having made satisfaction to the law for sin, he has been received for our justification. See, in the glory he possesses, death overcome! No enemy can now conquer you, because Satan, the last enemy, has been conquered by your Saviour. You need no longer dread the sting of death! Christ hath taken it away! You need not dread the grave, its trials are overcome! You may go down to it with joy, because Christ hath entered into it for you! Suppose you saw him raised to heaven, and heard the angels say, "Lift up your gates, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in!" Brethren, believe that through him you shall enter also. You shall enter those gates, and see him there-sce him as he is.

A few words on the second point before us- -What constitutes the importance of these words. We say according to the Scriptures. I cannot help here feeling for myself, and saying, This has been the grand

desire of your Minister. Near forty years have I been endeavouring to preach amongst you, on this plan, according to the Scriptures. I would not say, I have tried to disturb your peace. No; I have endeavoured to establish it upon the true principles of the Gospel. But I would say more. I would not only say, you have received the Gospel; but many can, I trust, say you are saved by the Gospel. What, then, has no benefit been received? As St. Paul said to the Galatians, you did not receive Christ by the law, but by the Gospel. You are not the same you once were. You are changedchanged from sin to holiness—from the power of Satan unto God-unto the living God! O remember this! Fear not! Keep up to your principles; you are saved! So is every believer in Christ Jesus. The duties of morality might have been preached to you for ever without effecting this. The mere preaching of morality can produce little or no effect. What good can be expected from it? What has it done in this town? What has it done in private life?

A further consideration is, "Wherein ye stand."-How can you answer this? You have been renewed in your principles; you hope for glory. This is the work of the Gospel. It invigorates the soul!

It

opens the heart! It is this work whereby you stand! Stand fast to the last day in this holy steadfastness; your God will acknowledge you, and we shall meet in glory hereafter.

I must conclude, and would do it by asking if you have believed in vain? St. Paul did this to the Corinthians. There is what some men call faith, which leads only to death. Men may approve

of righteousness, may themselves appear righteous, without receiving any benefit from Christ's death. I pray you to examine what your faith is; what kind of faith it is. Is it that which will save your soul? As we have been separated, we may be separated again. For a short season I am returned to you. 0 let the Gospel be more and more precious unto us! 1 trust I shall ever rejoice in having been permitted to preach this Gospel among you. I trust I should rejoice even in hearing it preached to you. I ought to do so. O that we may welcome every returning sabbath! that we may come with joy to this place! Here may the love of God increase amongst us, and then we shall have abundant cause to bless God for the late dispensation. Lastly, let sinners think, if they have received the grace of God in vain, what will become of them. The Gospel is the word of life, and thousands will have to lament to all eternity that they have been hearers of this salvation, and have despised it; this greatly aggravates their guilt in the sight of God. But may God of his mercy prevent the awful consequence, and give us all cause to bless and praise his gracious mercy to all eternity! Now, to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be endless praises, world without end. Amen.

"What shall I render to my God,

For all his kindness shown?
My feet shall visit thine abode,

My songs address thy throne.
"How much is mercy thy delight,
Thou ever-blessed God!
How dear thy servants in thy sight!

How precious is their blood!
"Here in thy courts I leave my vow,
And thy rich grace record;
Witness, ye saints, who hear me now,
If I forsake the Lord."