Mrs. Heighway thus speaks of her husband's entrance on his laboursMr. and Mrs. Davey inviting us to Bathurst, until the Brethren should decide where we should be stationed, it was with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord that I saw my departed Husband, on the first Sabbath after our arrival, stand up to point the poor Africans to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world: he addressed them from Daniel iii. 25; and, in the afternoon, at Charlotte, from John iii. 14, 15. The following Sunday he was at Regent; and, on Christmas Day, at Gloucester: thus the Lord fulfilled the request of his soul-"May I have grace to work while it is called day, for the night may come soon!" He was truly animated with love divine, and

had an ardent desire to disseminate the precious truths of God. He often expressed to me how thankful he felt that he was so soon called to engage in the work. His warmth and zeal for the salvation of those around him caused him to lose no opportunities of impressing the infinite importance of eternal things: he was a man of strong faith and of much prayer.

On Friday, the 28th of December, Mr. and Mrs. Heighway proceeded to York, having been appointed to that Station; "both of them," Mr. Haensel writes, "in very good health, and justifying the most sanguine hopes of their future usefulness." On the following Sunday, he had been a good deal exposed

to the sun in an attempt, before Public Service, to enforce the due observance of the Sabbath; and Mr. Haensel adds

He afterwards addressed the people in the Place of Worship, and there again over-exerted himself to a degree which it was painful to his European Friends who were present to witness.

Mrs. Heighway thus describes the closing scene

From John iii. 18, he addressed an attentive and crowded assembly. Most of the people came after the Service, and shook hands with him: but though I rejoiced, it was with a mixture of fear. I well knew that if he spoke with that nessed, it would be unsuitable to such a warmth and energy which we had witclimate. Alas! my fears were too soon plained of head-ache, and took some medirealized in the afternoon, he comcine. On Wednesday, Mr. Betts came; and earnestly pressed the necessity of our going to Freetown for advice: on the following day we went. Mrs. Taylor was so kind as to receive us, and paid every attention to my afflicted Husband. We had likewise the repeated visits of Dr. Fergusson; but his hopes from the first were faint. Alas, he was beyond human aid! The Good Physician dealt very graciously with him: his bodily sufferings were not great; but he felt extreme

weakness, and laboured much for breath. him at the beginning of his illness, the Though Satan was permitted to harass temptation remained but a short time;

and, afterwards, his mind was sweetly composed, and resigned to the will of God: he remained in a peaceful frame until Monday Jan. 7, when, about four o'clock in the afternoon, he quietly fell asleep in Jesus.

She adds, in the true spirit of a Christian

My loss is very great, but Jesus has supported me; and on Him would I lean. I desire to consecrate myself afresh to His service. I have no wish, at present, to return to England, but to continue here; and shall esteem it no small favour to assist in instructing the dear children committed to my care. May heavenly wisdom be imparted to me! And, as the Lord is taking one after another of His faithful servants to their eternal rest, Oh may he send forth more Labourers! Mr. Haensel adds the following particulars

On Sunday Morning, his pulse seemed to be mending: he was perfectly sensible -knew what day it was—and was very anxious that Mrs. Taylor should not be prevented from going to Church. I sent Samuel Crowther to inquire how he was: the Youth sat a little while with him; when Mr. Heighway desired him to look at his watch, and, as it was Church-time, he advised him also to go. After Divine Service, I called. Mrs. Heighway had read the 116th Psalm to him, which he seemed much to enjoy.

On Monday Morning, Mrs. Taylor sent me a note, desiring that I would write to the Doctor, and beg an early visit, as our patient was getting alarm ingly worse. I sent a messenger off directly, and hastened to Mrs. Taylor's house: while she was telling me his state, the nurse came to beg that some one would come and pray with him.

"Has

he expressed a wish to that effect?""He has not; but you know what a state he is in." It gave me quite a shock when she said these words, and I went up stairs directly. He had had occasion to leave his bed some time before; and, his attending friends being unable to help him into it again, he was lying on a mattress spread on the floor-Mrs. Heighway kneeling by his side. I kneeled on the other side, and asked him, "Do you know me?" He spoke with great rapidity, as if it was a painful effort, and also as if he felt that his breath would not allow him to speak much longer: "Oh yes, Br. Haensel!"-" Do you know where you are?" "At Mrs. Tay.

lor's"-"Do you know in whose hands you are?" "In God's hands"—" Where shall you be when you shall depart this life?" "In Jesus's arms. I know that my Redeemer liveth!"-" Can you fix your thoughts on heavenly things?" "Thank God, I can"-"Can you lift up your heart to God in prayer?"-here he immediately began, with great fervour, to utter some petitions. I was quite alarmed lest he should make his case worse by this exertion; and stopped him as soon as I could, by asking whether he wished me to pray with him: he said "Yes" -and I could not but feel, when I had sent up my supplications to heaven, that I was taking my farewell of him. "God will assuredly raise you up,” I said: “if not to serve Him longer in this world, He will raise you up to a far more joyful service in the world of glory." I believe he was aware that his end was approach

ing, and he was evidently in a very happy state of mind.

I called again, after some time, and met the Doctor; who used, indeed, every means that he could imagine, but entertained no further hope of his recovery. I did not go up to see him again, as it was clear that repose was better for him than repeated excitement by conversation with his friends. In the afternoon, about half-past-three, Mrs. Taylor sent for me again: he was then near his last moments. Mr. Gerber was sitting by his bedside: Mrs. Heighway and Mrs. Taylor stood at some distance, weeping: the eyes of the departing sufferer were fixed-he breathed with difficulty, and gave no sign of consciousness of what was going on around him. We kneeled down, and prayed on his behalf, for the supporting and protecting help of his Lord in these his last moments; and, on the behalf of his surviving partner, for heavenly comfort under her bereavement. His breathing, became slower and slower; and at four o'clock he had breathed his last.

I praise God for abundantly answering our prayers, in bestowing on Mrs. Heighway a large share of Christian fortitude and submission, under the afflicting dispensation which has been laid upon her.

Mr. Davey thus speaks of his departed friend

He was a man of strong faith, ardent zeal, and fervent prayer. I had the privilege to see much of him at Islington; and, after his arrival, he remained with me a few days at Bathurst, and assisted

me in various ways, in the schools, and addressing the people of this District. His whole soul seemed to be drawn out in a peculiar manner for the eternal welfare of those, for whom he had left his native country and came out hither to labour.

The morning after his departure, his remains were interred in the New Burying Ground. The funeral, from some unavoidable circumstance, was delayed till it was rather too late; it being ten o'clock, and the sun very powerful. Mrs. Kilham attended the funeral,

though I fear that the walk was too much for her: she has been for the last five days confined with severe fever, and we know not how it may terminate : we hope,however, that she may be spared for the labour in which she is engaged: she is indefatigable in the work; and has already been to several of the villages, in order to lay a foundation for her fu ture labours.

The heroic spirit of the survivors, while it lays an increased obligation on their friends to enforce the most rigid attention to their health, may well encourage the expectation

I am aware that you need a large share of faith, under all the dispensations of God's providence, with which your Mission in this Colony is exercised, to enable you still to go on, in the great work of sending the Gospel to the miserable children of Ham. Sense would have said, long ago, "Give up the post, and labour elsewhere;" but you have been enabled, hitherto, to go on, in humble dependence on an Almighty Arm; and have sent out one Labourer after.

another, into this unhealthy place. Many of these Labourers have been summoned, at an early period of their residence here, to their eternal home: and some have been ready to say, Joseph is not, and Simeon is not! all these things are against me!` held under all trials; and, I doubt not, yet you, my Dear Sirs, have been upwill still be upheld by Him who hath said, Be still, and know that I am God! I will be exalted among the heathen: I will be exalted in the earth.

Mr. John King, who is stationed at Rangheehoo, writes

A Young Man of the name of Dudidudi, who was taken captive in war, and brought here by his master, lived with Mr. Hall some time; and when he removed to Port Jackson, Dudi came to live with me. Besides reading and writing, he had learned some prayers and hymns, some questions and answers on the principles of religion, and a few portions of Scripture, which proved to be very useful to him when lying on a bed of sickness.

When he was taken ill, and appeared to be in a decline, he laboured as long as he could: when he could work no longer, he said it was not right for him to eat, and asked if he should go to Rangheehoo; that is, leave the Settlement, and

retire to the native village. I told him, that as he was an old servant of Mr.

Hall's, and had wrought for me ever since while able, and had also behaved quietly, I could not turn him out of doors when sick and unable to work; and that he was not to be ashamed to ask for any kind of food that we had, which might be palatable to his taste. With this answer he was well pleased; and said, he could make me no recompence; and if he went to Rangheehoo, he should be put into a hut at some distance from the village, and have no

thing but fern-root and water; and, when dead, perhaps be thrown down the rocks into the sea.

Dudidudi continued nine or ten months in this state of debility. When he had become incapable of

speaks

When reduced so low as not to be able to walk to our Place of Worship on the Sabbath, or to walk into our houses without help, I attended him; and often found him in a praying frame of mind, and ready to hear God's Word and to join in prayer and praise. I asked, if he ever prayed to his New-Zealand God, and what was his name: he said, “I have no New-Zealand God. I left them all at my native place, and have forgotten all their names: they are no gods, they cannot save. I am only a slave at this place, and have no New-Zealand God. I pray to Jehovah and to Jesus Christ." He said, Jehovah was a good and a loving God-" Did you always think so?" "No: I thought formerly he was a very angry God and that all that the Missionaries said about God and Jesus Christ was false, and I would not believe: I followed my own sinful ways."

Mr. Shepherd says of him, a few days before he died

He asked me whether it was necessary for a man to believe in Christ, some considerable time previous to his death, in order that he might be received into heaven: I answered in the negative; and observed that we had instances of persons believing and being saved when about to die. He again asked-" Is the prayer of one who lies down, as acceptable to God as the prayer of him who kneels?" I replied, "The prayer of the heart alone is acceptable to God; and, when we cannot kneel, we can pray with the heart as we lie down, consequently it is acceptable." He then repeated the substance of some of his prayers which he adressed to God, which is as follows-" Give me, O Lord, Thy Spirit to cleanse my heart-take from me all darkness, and enlighten my mind -wash me in the blood of Jesus Christ Thy Son, that I may go to heaven when I die!" I then explained to him some of the principal doctrines of the Gospel; and prayed with him, that God would cleanse and sanctify his soul, and prepare him to dwell for ever with him in glory.

Of the state of his mind for some time previous, Mr. King, who had

He confessed his ignorance and darkness of heart, and prayed God to teach him, and enlighten his understanding by His Good Spirit: he lamented his sin and guilt, and prayed for pardon through Jesus Christ. He said, his heart was unclean, and he often prayed God to wash his soul in the blood of Christ, and make it clean by His good Spirit, to give him a new heart and a right spirit, and to guide his soul in the right way to heaven. He had seasons of fear and doubt, lest he was wrong and his prayers not offered aright; and then his heart was dark and gloomy: but he entreated God's Good Spirit to teach and lead him, and not permit Satan to lead his soul astray. At other times he had peace within, was cheerful and happy, and spoke with calmness and composure. He suffered much for some time; but, toward the close, he said, "Though the pain is great, I do not mind it: it is but little; for my soul is in health, which is the substance: my bodily pain will soon be over." He spoke nearly the sense of, my light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

A War Expedition had proceeded from the Bay of Islands to the River Thames: the return of the survivors had taken place a few months before, and to this period Dudidudi referred as that of his more decisive religious impressions: had he been in health at the time of the Expedition, he must, according to the custom of the country, have attended his Master, in order to pound his fern-root and cook his

food.

In whatever way the return of the warriors was made to influence his mind, whether in awakening gratitude for the dangers which he had escaped or consciousness of the sinful temper and habits of his countrymen, Dudidudi seems to have set himself, from this time, to seek the Lord with all his heart. That He was found of him, may appear from what has been already stated; and will be fully confirmed by what passed at the closing scene.

On the Sunday preceding his death, Mr. Shepherd visited him, and says

I found him in a very comfortable

state of mind. I asked him what he thought of God, and the place whither he was going: he replied, that the pain which he felt prevented his thinking as he would; however, he said that he thought of God. I asked him what he thought of God: he replied, "I think that God is good, and that He is a God of love. He gives to us all the things which we enjoy. He gave His Son to die for the world." I asked him by whom he expected to be saved: he replied, "By God." I observed to him, that we are all sinners, and that God cannot but punish sinners: he replied, Yes; but God gave His Son to die for sinners."-" How, then," said I, "do you expect to be saved from hell?" he replied, "By believing on Jesus Christ." -He observed, "I am not afraid to die, for God loves me." I asked him whether these were his former views of God. He replied, "No. When I formerly heard you speak of God, my heart disbelieved and despised what you said. While I was at the House of Prayer, my heart was thinking of my sport and other evil things." I asked him how long he had

66

had different views of God: he told me that it was from the return of the Warriors from the River Thames. I asked him how he came to alter his views relative to God: he told me that he heard Mr. King address the Natives on the certainty of the wicked going to hell, and

his heart was filled with fear lest he should go thither-that he prayed in his heart that God would save him-and, when he returned home, he prayed that God would heal his soul. I asked him how he felt after his prayer: he replied, "My heart felt light, and I believed that God would save me by His Son." I exhorted him to believe in Jesus, and assured him that the love of God to sinners is very great, and that He is willing to save sinners: he replied, "I am sure that God will save me; and I pray that God would give me His Spirit to cleanse my heart." I then told him that I would pray with him: he replied, 66 Stay longer. Continue your conversation, and we will pray by and bye." I accordingly acceded to his request. His heart seemed to be constantly lifted up to God in prayer, saying-" Give me

Thy Spirit to cleanse my heart, that I may go to heaven when I die!"'

Of the same day, Mr. King says—

The Sunday before he died, I went to him early in the morning. Before I could speak, he addressed me with a calm and cheerful countenance, and said, “I am not afraid to die now, though I have been afraid many times; but I will wait patiently, and bear the pain until God shall be pleased to take my soul, which loving to me." I said to him, “Fear is enlightened and joyful, for God is not. Believe in Jesus: pray to Him, and receive it." He said, "Last night,through resign thy soul into His hands: He will pain of body, I forgot to pray before I had taken a little sleep; and when I awoke, my heart began inquiring, 'Where is Jesus? where is Jesus Christ, who died for me?'-then my soul rejoiced and praised God, and prayed Him to forgive me my sin and forgetfulness; and I shall the day he spoke with feeling; and, with soon be in heaven." Several times during apparent pleasure, expressed his thankfulness to us all for our daily attention; and told Mrs. King, his heart leaped for joy at seeing me in the morning. He told the Natives living with us, and who in general waited upon him, to behave well and attend to what we told them, for his soul was going to heaven: they were surprised to see him cheerful, and his mind so composed in the prospect of death.

On Monday, the Rev. Henry Williams visited Dudidudi; when the following conversation passed

"What do you think concerning God and Death?" "I have so much pain, that I am not able to give you a correct account of my thoughts"-"Whither do you think that you shall go when you die ?" "To heaven"-"How do you expect to get to heaven?" "I believe that God will take me to heaven "→ "How can you look for that, seeing that you are a sinner?" "Jesus Christ came into the world, and died for sinners; and I believe in Jesus Christ "-" What do you think of your former state?" "I was once rebellious. I was a swearer, sabbath-breaker, and adulterer; a lover of play, and hater of good."

Mr. Williams thus speaks of his visit

I was rejoiced at witnessing what I did. He was very feeble; but related when his first religious impressions took place,