least apprehension was entertained for her safety. Her affliction, however, shortly assumed a more serious aspect. Her physical sufferings were great, but her mind was at perfect rest. Without,

all was rough and tempestuous, but within there was a settled calm. Christ was at the helm, and though the winds were high, the ocean boisterous, and her barque dashed upon billows, yet she felt that Christ would guide her in safety through all perils, and finally land her on Canaan's shore. Built upon the Rock of Ages, and her hopes for heaven resting upon that foundation which God has laid in Zion, she knew no fear, could feel no alarm.

Her articulation now began to fail, and it was with difficulty she could speak, or that her friends could hear her; but she frequently attempted to recite some of her favourite hymns, and on one occasion she very distinctly and emphatically said, "I know in whom I have believed, &c." On the day of her death, a friend said, "You seem very ill." She replied, "Yes, but I shall soon be better, Jesus doth all things well."

Her struggles with the last enemy now commenced; she suffered pain, but she rejoiced in the hope of the glory of God. By the grace of God she triumphed over all her enemies, and on the 30th day of Nov., 1846, she put off this tabernacle, and entered into rest.

Her death was improved by the Rev. J. H. Robinson, to a large, respectable, and deeply attentive audience.

Chester.

WM. DUNNING.

MARY FURNESS, OF MALIN BRIDGE,

(SHEFFIELD NORTH CIRCUIT,) WAS born in Chapel Town, near Sheffield, May 4th, 1825. During her childhood nothing very remarkable occurred, except that she discovered a love for reading and a very retentive memory; so that at three years of age she could repeat a great portion of Dr. Watts's Catechism, and was afterwards deeply impressed with the necessity of giving her heart to God, and ever rendered a cheerful obedience to her parents: but her conversion did not take place until her sixteenth year. At that period she went to live with Mr. Bramhall, of Crookes, a Local Preacher amongst the Wesleyans. It was under a sermon she heard from the Rev. Mr. Burton, that she fully saw and felt herself a sinner, although the date of the interesting change, when she "passed from death unto life," is not given. Her master says,

he well remembers the night when she went to the penitent form in search of the Saviour. On that happy occasion she was enabled to cast the burden of her guilt into the fountain of his blood, and rejoice abundantly in his forgiving love.

From this time she manifested her attachment to the means of grace, and the cause of God, and sought to shew her gratitude to God for his goodness towards her in seeking to do good in various ways. On leaving Mr. Bramhall's, she entered a situation in Sheffield, where she joined what is now Mr. Greaves's Class, and became a member of our Scotland-street Society. There she grew in grace and abounded in good works. As she felt deeply interested in the cause of missions, she engaged herself as a missionary collector, and although a servant, and had the duties of her station to discharge, which I believe she did to the satisfaction of those who employed her, it was really amazing how successful she was in collecting money for the good cause. This work she undertook without being requested to do so. The missionary treasurer was frequently surprised, at the end of the year, at the sum she produced. She never was more delighted than when engaged in doing something to help on the cause of God. During the summer of 1845, an effort was made to lessen the debt on the Malin Bridge Chapel. This being the place where her parents and their family attended, for their happiness, in a spiritual sense, she ever felt tenderly solicitous. When she heard the friends were going to have sermons and collections for the Chapel debt, without saying any thing, she set to work to beg for it, and in about five weeks she obtained £3. 1s., which she gave on the day the Sermons were preached, besides ten shillings she had previously collected some months before. Mrs. Peace, of Upperthorpe, who was present, was so surprized at her zeal and success that she requested her to assist her in collecting for the cleaning and painting of Scotland-street Chapel. This request she cheerfully complied with. In this good work she was interrupted by the affliction which terminated her mortal race; but before this took place she had begged for Mrs. Peace 19s. 4d.; this was the last of her zealous efforts. Some may think it needless to record such deeds of love to God and men, but when we remember that she was young, and in the humble walks of life, having to gain her bread in servitude, and especially when we consider that it was the love of Christ that constrained her, we believe it our duty to place her example on record, that num

bers who are more favourably circumstanced may go and do likewise.

A letter from the Rev. P. T. Gilton, to her father, dated Ashton, Feb. 9th, 1848, is expressive of the high estimation in which he held her zeal and piety.

I am

"Dear Sir,-Yours of the 8th instant, informing me of the death of your daughter Mary, I have just received. Whilst I sorrow with you on account of the loss you have sustained, my sorrow is much relieved by the fact that she was enabled to glorify God in her life, and especially in her last sickness and dissolving hours; her modest, untiring, and successful collecting for our missionary cause, often surprised and delighted me. constrained to say she was one of the most devoted missionary collectors I ever met with. Her regular attendance on the public and social means of grace, the marked and earnest attention with which she listened to the Gospel, conveyed to my mind the conviction that she was a young woman of sterling piety. May you and all the family follow her so far as she followed Christ.-With prayers for you all, I am, yours most truly,

"P. T. GILTON."

She was most devoted in her affection for her kindred. When she was aware of any little matters needed at home, such as shoes and stockings for her younger brothers or sisters, or cotton for shirts for her father, she took the earliest opportunity of supplying them from the wages she earned in service. It was to her the highest gratification, when she could in any way promote their comfort; having such a sweet disposition naturally, and this being sanctified by Divine grace, made her truly amiable, and caused her to be the joy and delight of all the family; but this lovely flower was cropped in the bloom, and taken to a fairer and healthier clime, where she will pour forth the sweet fragrance of holiness, free from diseases and decline; where no pinching winter's blast, nor blighting sickness will ever touch or injure her happy, happy soul. The disease which broke down her earthly tabernacle, commenced from a cold she took in Nov. 1845, whilst serving at a tea party at Queen-street Chapel, in this town. Her mistress being a member of that church, the minister asked her to allow her servant to come to be a waiter on that occasion; in passing from sudden heat to cold, it produced stagnation in the blood, and she was never well afterwards. She, however, remained in her place until January, 1846, when she was seized with epileptic fits, which frequently attacked her. On this account she was obliged to leave her situa

tion and return home. The violence of the fits produced some very painful disorders in her body, which caused her much suffering, but she had strength given according to her day, and was enabled patiently to endure. Various means

were employed for her restoration to health, but all failed; a change of air was recommended; this she tried by a visit to Huddersfield, but she returned home no better. Her sufferings in the fits and afterwards, were most distressing; in the end they completely paralyzed her, and deprived her of reason, and she lay quite unconscious for some time. During her illness, several friends visited her and prayed with her. I saw her myself a few times, and was much delighted with the meek and sweet resignation to the divine will which she manifested. Her mother had frequent conversations with her on the state of her mind. She on one occasion said, "Oh, mother, I have not the least doubt of my title to heaven." She became very familiar with death. She felt his sting was drawn. When her mother remarked, "that her arms and legs were smaller," she said, "there will be less for the worms, and my body will not be so heavy to carry to the grave." When fatigued with rising from her bed, she would observe," Bless the Lord, this body will soon have done with it." As she approached nearer her latter end her fits became more frequent and more powerful, until August 18th, 1847, when she gently fell asleep in Jesus, aged twentytwo. Thanks be to God who gave her the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

JOHN FISH WAS born at the Knowe, near Higher Hurst, April 4th, 1824, and when about four years of age, he began to attend our Sabbath-school at Hurst. The depravity which is common to our nature manifested itself in his character, not in the glaring and revolting forms of iniquity apparent in some, but in a general forgetfulness of God, and an aversion to religious duties. He remained indifferent to the greatest of all concerns till he was about seventeen years of age. Then it was that he heard the quickening voice of the Son of God; his soul was aroused from its death-like slumber, and he became thoughtful and serious. He sought earnestly the salvation of his soul, and he sought it not in vain. His soul was lightened of its load, and his tongue expressed his grateful joy. He had peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

A short time before his conversion he had been appointed to the office of teacher in the Sabbath-school, and the work of the Spirit which he experienced giving him the saving knowledge of Christ, and turning his heart to the love of goodness, was the best preparation for the work of Sabbath-school instruction. Were all our Sabbath-school teachers converted to God, how much greater would be their usefulness in bringing children to Jesus Christ.

After giving his heart to God, he felt it to be his duty to unite himself with the people of God, and became a member of our Society at Hurst. He enjoyed the Class-meeting, and esteemed it a valuable means of grace. His Leader speaking of him observes, "His Christian experience as stated in the Classmeeting was sound and Scriptural. He confessed his own insufficiency for anything that was good, and the great necessity there was of relying upon the aid of his Almighty Saviour. He spoke with feelings of gratitude of the great grace manifested towards him in calling him in his youth to love and serve God. From a full heart, and with eyes filled with tears he would exclaim,

"It has saved me from a thousand snares,

To mind religion young.'

"What should I have been but for the grace of God?" His attendance on the means of grace was regular, and one of his chief matters of regret in his illness was, that he could not unite in the assembly of the people of God."

Christ was the rock upon which he built his hopes; and the blessed name of Jesus was the dearest and most precious to him. He spoke with strong assurance of the redemption he had in the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace. He knew and rejoiced in the privileges of God's people, and would glory in the thought that he was a fellow-citizen with the saints. With simplicity he adopted the language, "I know that I am a child of God; I feel that God is my father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with my spirit that I am his. Being justified by faith, I have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Thus he could rejoice in the common privileges of believers with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

His love to the Lord Jesus Christ was widened by his attachment to the cause and people of Christ. It was strong and steadfast. He could adopt with propriety the words of the Psalmist, "I am a companion of all them who fear God." He also felt, in common with all the true followers of

Jesus Christ, a strong 'desire for the salvation of others. Prayer in behalf of all men he earnestly offered, but was espe cially importunate in behalf of those who were near and dear to him as relatives and friends, but who were still without God and without hope in the world. Their salvation lay near his heart, and he anxiously and prayerfully sought it. The general tone of his conduct and demeanour proved him to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. The spirit of the Gospel was manifested by him, till his mortal days were numbered, and his spirit passed into the regions of immortal life.

In the beginning of the year 1847 he became ill, and his sickness was unto death. For some time he expected and desired to be restored, that he might yet praise and serve God in the land of the living; yet was he resigned to the unerring and gracious will of God, expressing his assurance that "to die would be gain."

One of our friends who visited him during his affliction, having understood that suspicions had been entertained by some with regard to his faith in the distinguishing doctrines of the Gospel, and the only foundation of a sinner's hope, asked him pointedly, if he believed that the blood of Christ cleansed from all sin, and if he enjoyed an interest in that blood-the salvation of his soul. His reply was emphatic, "I believe that the blood of Christ can cleanse from all sin; and I believe also, and am sure, that I have an interest in that blood shed for my sins on Mount Calvary." His friend then inquired if he found religion to be what our Preachers and Leaders described it to be, in its power to afford comfort and peace in the hour of trial and affliction. He answered, "I find it to be all they have said it was, and even more; I feel that God acts according to his promises, and that he is indeed my support and consolation in the season of affliction." To another of his friends who visited him a short time before his departure, he spoke of his possession of that unutterable peace, which none can enjoy in the immediate presence of death but the Christian believer. He declared also, in a satisfactory manner, his unfeigned faith in the great fundamental doctrines of evangelical truth.

On the Monday previous to his death, he addressed to his mother the question, "Do you think I shall get better?" Unwilling to confess her own fears on the subject she sought to evade a reply by asking his own opinion on the matter. He said, "I think I shall go to heaven." On the 27th of February he called to

DIED at Pensnett, in the Dudley Circuit, on the 26th of March, Samuel Worton, aged thirty-nine. Our Brother was a Leader of some years' standing, was much beloved by the members of his Class, and highly esteemed by the Church with which he was connected. The world, too, acknowledged his worth, and took knowledge of him that he had been with Jesus. Though a working man, and not very abundantly supplied, we may suppose, with earthly riches, he was a most liberal contributor to the support of God's cause. This and his eminent consistent piety secured him the very general and exalted esteem in which he was deservedly held. In the commencement of his illness many of his brethren offered up special prayer to God for the recovery of their afflicted Brother. But the will of God was otherwise. After a six weeks' illness he triumphantly entered into the joy of his Lord. Such was the amount of Christian sympathy towards him, that as many as a hundred persons, in the course of a single day, called to see him, and inquired after him; and his funeral was attended by more than a thousand people; neighbours and friends who thus testified their high respect for his memory. The memory of such a man is truly blessed.

DIED at Staleybridge, April 3rd, 1848, Mary Owen, in the sixtieth year of her age. During the last nineteen years she

has been a consistent member of our Community. The affliction which terminated in her dissolution was long and painful, but she endured the fiery trial with Christian patience, and holy resignation to the will of God. Her firm and only dependence was placed upon the "precious blood of Christ ;" through this medium she obtained pardon, enjoyed peace, lived above the world, and died rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." T. W.

IN the city of Manchester, on the 10th of April, aged forty-two, Robert Topping. It is about thirteen years since our Brother obtained a knowledge of himself as a sinner, and after labouring for three days beneath the pressure of convictions of so powerful a nature as seemed to peril his life, he was favoured with a satisfactory sense of pardon, in the Peter-street Chapel, of which, as he was amongst its first, so he has been one of its most consistent and honourable members. Amongst other traits of character, his love to our Connexion was not the least conspicuous and commendable. At a period when, in consequence of events which are within the memory of all, and need not to be mentioned by name, the "love of many waxed cold," this man of God held to his principles; and notwithstanding the secession of his class leader and secular employer, clung with unfaltering firmness to our people in that hour of trial, and proved his piety not to be assumed for earthly profit, but to spring from Christian principle. As his life presented the lustre of Christian excellence, his death was marked by Christian peace and triumph. He has left a widow and six children to be "cared for" by Christ and his Church. J. STOKOE.