the promoting of Christ's kingdom, to the poor members of his mystical body, to her kindred and those of her own house, and what to lay out on the accommodations of life; what portion of her time to allot to devotional exercises, to social and relative duties, to lawful business, and what to exercise and such recreations as might strengthen her for duty.

During her last sickness, which was only of a few days' continuance, her mind was serene and peaceful, and her conversation pleasant and spiritual. She expired on the 18th of March, 1792.

MRS. ANNE THORNTON.

MRS. ANNE THORNTON, whose maiden name was Ford, was the wife of Mr. John Thornton, Highstreet, Borough of Southwark. She was born of respectable parents, in that neighbourhood, Nov. 1741, and was married to Mr. Thornton in July, 1772.

About the age of nineteen, she received her first abiding religious impressions, through attending the prayers at Westminster Abbey, on a Wednesday. In the early stage of her Christian profession, she chiefly attended the ministry of the late Rev. Thomas Jones, of St. Saviour's. But during the whole course of her life, she held communion with true believers of every denomination, without forming a bigoted attachment to any one.

Mrs. Thornton was favoured with a strong, comprehensive, and active mind, which was improved by a good education, and she had a taste for literature; but this did not prevent her from paying a diligent and exemplary attention to the duties of domestic life. She was much respected in the characters of a wife, a mother, a friend, and a mistress. By her literary attainments, she was well qualified to educate her own children; to which important employment she devoted much of her time.

The following particulars relate to the manner in which she bore the long and painful illness which closed a useful and honourable life.

During the whole of her trying indisposition, her deportment was uniform and consistent. Deeply convinced of the vanity of all human learning and acquirements, she repeatedly declared to those around her," There is a knowledge that must be given up." All knowledge that does not spring

from the knowledge of Jesus Christ and him crucified, or that has not a direct reference to Him, will prove at last, to an immortal soul, impertinent as a dream, and unsubstantial as the smoke which the wind driveth away. She said, "If God were pleased to prolong her life, she would chiefly confine her studies to that one precious book, the Bible." She trusted for her acceptance with God, and for happiness in the invisible state, (of which she had cheering prelibations while yet upon earth,) to nothing she had done in her past life, but wholly and solely to the atonement and mediation of her Saviour. As she had lived as becometh a saint, aiming to regulate her temper and conduct by the precepts and example of her Lord, so she died as becometh a Christian, renouncing her own righteousness, and simply relying upon Him who was made sin for us, though he knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. She expressed her solid hope and her stable peace, in terms perfectly agreeable to what the Scriptures teach us to expect from those who are rooted and grounded in the faith of the Gospel, and who can rejoice in God as their strength and portion, when flesh and heart are fainting. There was a striking elevation and dignity, combined with simplicity, in her manner and language. Knowing whom she had believed, and expecting to be soon with him to behold his glory, she employed the remnant of her breath in praising Him, in praying for others, in instructing, admonishing, and comforting her children and friends who were with her. With these views she often continued speaking, till, through_extreme weakness, she could speak no more. But, as soon as her strength was a little revived, she resumed the same pleasing employment till within a few hours before her happy dismission.

From July 1798, Mrs. Thornton's health had been gradually declining; but, at the first, neither she nor her family were apprehensive of danger.