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look only to him for support who has declared, that his strength is made perfect in weakness, and that he will never forsake those that trust in him. In a word, "the life which we live in the flesh must be by the faith of the Son of God;" of whom each true believer can say with confidence, he "loved me, and gave himself for me."

ther. Even in the present life, the true believer has some anticipation of this blessedness: it is his privilege not only to follow Christ, but to enjoy his presence. Though he sees him not with his bodily eyes, yet with the eye of faith he beholds him, and in the affections of his soul has communion with him. He is united to him by a living faith: he enjoys his presence in secret prayer and in public ordinances, especially that holy ordinance in which Christ gives his own flesh and blood for the nourishment of his people. St. Paul declare that the mystery of the gospel is "Christ in us, the hope of glory." We are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God-"hid from the enemy who would destroy it-hid in that sacred treasury where it shall be safe for ever. O how great the pri

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4. It necessarily results, that we must follow Christ in the way of holiness; for such, we well know, was the path he trod; and those who live by faith in him must lead a life of righteousness. He" did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: when he was reviled, he reviled not again, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." He has left us an example that we should follow his steps an example, of meekness and patience, truth and equity, charity and forbear-vilege of being thus united to the Saviour-ance, tenderness to man and entire devotedness to God: his meat was to do the will of his heavenly Father, and to finish his work. So should it be ours. In every circumstance we should enquire how would Christ have acted-how would he have improved this opportunity? how would he have borne this trial? how would he have forgiven this offender? Christ was, from his earliest years, a patron of filial duty: he was a most kind and constant friend; he was obedient to all lawful authority he was a helper of the afflicted, a comforter of the mourner, a reprover of vice and hypocrisy, a teacher of righteousness.

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To the minister of his gospel he is, in these respects, pre-eminently a pattern; and much does it concern us to study his character. May his Spirit teach us to transfuse its graces into our own. May we be like our great chief Shepherd-an example to the flocks over whom he has placed us; both tracing his footsteps ourselves, and successfully pointing them out to others. "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ," was the language of the apostle: happy they who can properly hold the same language, who are continually pressing forward themselves, and exciting their brethren to press forward, in imitation of the blessed Jesus.

of having him always nigh to guide and succour, to rescue from evil, to prosper in exertion! My dear brethren, do you know any thing of this blessedness in your own experience? Be persuaded to seek for it more earnestly. Set the Lord Jesus always before you; then will he be at your right hand, so that you shall not be moved. Walk with him, and be perfect in devotedness to him: then, though you should "walk in the midst of trouble, he will revive you; he will stretch forth his hand against the wrath of your enemies, and his right hand shall save you."

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is through him become our God and Father, often honours, even upon earth, those who devotedly serve him: the examples of Abraham, of Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, and others, recorded in the Old Testament; of Stephen, Paul, and John, in the New-are only a few of those recorded for our encouragement. The history of the church also presents us with many that of Luther, for example, and of the noble army of martyrs who followed Christ unto the death, and who are now honoured both by God and man, might be insisted on. But it is in the next life that the recompence provided for Christ's servants will be fully and eternally 5. I might proceed to say, that, thus fol- bestowed. "I have fought a good fight lowing Christ as our Lord and master, as (said the apostle Paul); I have finished my well as Saviour, we may confidently follow course; I have kept the faith: henceforth him as our portion and exceeding great re- there is laid up for me a crown of righteousward. But this leads me to the third divi-ness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, sion of my subject. will give me at that day; and not to me only, III. The recompence held out to the faith-but unto all them also that love his appear ful servants of Jesus: "If any man serve ing."

me, let him follow me; and, where I am, there It is, therefore, to the day of our Lord's shall also my servant be: if any man serve second coming, that we are to look forward me, him will my Father honour." The re- for the consummation of our felicity. "I compence, you observe, consists of two par-go (he said to his sorrowing disciples) to ticulars-the being with Christ where he is, prepare a place for you; and, if I go and preand the being honoured by his heavenly Fa-pare a place for you, I will come again, and

receive you unto myself, that where I am | there ye may be also." Then shall be fulfilled his dying prayer-" Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me; for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."

How unspeakably more happy, my brethren, those who shall enjoy this privilege! Peter, when favoured with a transient vision of the Saviour's glory on the mount of transfiguration, exclaimed-"Lord, it is good for us to be here." John, when at Patmos he saw Christ in ecstatic vision, fell at his feet as dead. But, when we are permitted to approach him, our eyes will be strengthened to behold, our hearts enlarged to comprehend, this unutterable splendour: we shall be transformed by it into the same image: "we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." Well might David rejoice in the anticipation-" As for me, I shall behold thy presence in righteousness. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness." If to enjoy communion with Christ be so consolatory to the soul below, how infinitely more blessed shall be that full communion with him which it shall enjoy when purified from every remainder of defilement, having all its capacities enlarged, all its powers invigorated-it shall behold Christ's visible presence, be made completely like him, and be assured of dwelling with him for ever! "Him that overcometh (he declares) will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out. I will grant unto him to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am sat down with my Father in his throne."

In this honour which our Redeemer gives, his heavenly Father will unite: "If any man serve me, him will my Father honour." Here is a prize held out to our ambition, for which angels might eagerly contend. How vain, compared with this, are the distinctions which earthly monarchs can bestow! We know how to be proclaimed as one whom the king delighted to honour, was desired by Haman, and bestowed on Mordecai as one of the highest rewards in the power of the Persian monarch. Vain and transient indeed was such dignity but to be honoured by the King of kings and Lord of lords-to be marked for ever as the objects of his approbation-is no vain thing it is a blessed and enduring privilege, which should rouse our highest emulation, and excite us to any service and to any sacrifice.

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Is it not so, my brethren? Surely this cannot be denied. And yet how little impression has this saying of the holy Jesus

hitherto made upon us! How little have we been moved to love and serve him; how imperfectly, even at the best, have we followed him-nay, how often forgotten him, and walked in paths directly opposite to those in which he would have led us! O let this consideration fill us with shame and real penitence! We call ourselves Christianslet us be Christians indeed. Let us abhor the thought of bearing the name of our heavenly Master, without possessing the character and fulfilling the duties which that name imports. Consider well his own expostulation-" Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

We cannot be ignorant what those things are. The course of holy walking which Christ prescribed and pursued is so distinctly marked out in the New Testament," that he may run that readeth it." But, alas! the precepts and examples of Christ are seldom diligently studied, and still seldomer applied to practice. Most are content with the standard of morality or of religious practice established in the world; most are satisfied if they are as good as the generality of persons esteemed respectable; but to be like Christ in every thing, to walk at all times even as he also walked, to do all in his name and for his glory, would be generally esteemed enthusiasm, and the very attempt thought absurd in the present condition of society.

But, my brethren, we are to be tried, not by the standard of human judgment, not by the example of even the best of our fellowcreatures, but by the unerring word of God. Judge yourselves carefully by that standard: have it continually in your hands, and by it examine your thoughts and words and actions; but be not satisfied with your own examination. Pray with David-" Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Such careful self-examination will doubtless discover much imperfection even in your best endeavours, and still more of evil in your less weighed and considered actions. But, whilst such discoveries fill you with shame and confusion of face, they must not lead you to despondency: let them bring you to the foot of the cross: let them lead you to look more to Jesus, both that you may be washed from your sins in his blood, and that you may be guided by him in the paths of righteousness. Let every fresh view of your deficiency cause you to pray more earnestly for the assistance of the Holy Spirit: that assistance will not be withheld. The Lord, who has begun a good work in you, will carry it on unto perfection. Wait upon him, and you shall renew your strength; you

shall mount on wings, as eagles; you shall run, and not be weary; you shall walk, and not faint.

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tint which peculiarly distinguishes her poetry, and which marks how ill at ease the mind of the authoress was. Perhaps she had little learned, what in after days she did learn-where true rest was to be But, whilst I thus encourage those whom a found; and that the only pillow where the weary and sense of imperfection and weakness may tempt heavy laden can recline with comfort and tranquillity to despondency, how shall I speak to the is the bosom of an all-loving Saviour. careless and indifferent - the carnal and where her father, an Irishman, was settled in business. Felicia Browne was born at Liverpool in 1793, worldly minded? Can they hope to be with Owing to some reverses in his pecuniary affairs, he Christ? Do they ever desire to be so ? was compelled to retire to Gwrych, in Denbighshire, Would they not rather tremble than rejoice fortune, passed the greater part of her childhood in where Felicia, thus early taught to know the reverses at his appearing? Yet appear he most surely a large house on the sea shore, the surrounding will; and that to the terror and confusion of scenery of which was peculiarly calculated to call the ungodly. Whilst they are eating and forth and to nurture those feelings which are so beaudrinking, marrying and giving in marriage, tifully expressed in her poetry: even in her last hours, we are told, her thoughts reverted to the days engrossed by earthly pursuits and pleasures, of childhood-to the old house by the sea-shore-the the Son of man will come in a day they think mountain rambles -the haunts and the books which not of, and in an hour of which they shall had formed the delight of her girlish years. Mr. not be aware; and will appoint them their por-Wales, leaving his widow and family in a very imBrowne, it would appear, died soon after settling in tion with the unbelievers, will cast them into poverished state; for, like too many, he had made no outer darkness, where is weeping and gnash-provision for them in the event of his decease. What ing of teeth. O, my friends, what will be your feelings when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves shut out, when the wise virgins enter in to the marriage-supper of the Lamb, and the door is closed against you for ever? ́ Awake, I beseech you, and repent whilst there is yet time. Tremble at the doom appointed for that servant who knew his Lord's will, and did it not. You call yourselves the servants of Christ; you have the means of knowing his will: how heavy, then, will be your stripes if he comes and find you neglecting it. But, if even now you repent, you shall not be rejected: if even now you knock at the door of his mercy, it shall be opened if even at this eleventh hour you give yourselves heartily to the work of the Lord, you shall not only escape the doom of the unprofitable servant, but be made partakers of his grace and favour. Be persuaded, then, to follow the Lord wholly. Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him whilst he is nigh. So shall your sins be blotted out, and an entrance administered unto you into the presence of Christ, that you may dwell with him for ever.

Biography.

FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS.

THERE was something so affectingly touching in the sad domestic career of the subject of the present brief memoir, as could scarcely fail, even had she been unknown as a poetess to fame, to have called forth the deep sympathy of every feeling heart. It is never wise, and certainly never delicate, to seek to pry into those causes which give rise to family estrangements. How much these estrangements preyed on the naturally sensitive mind of Mrs. Hemans, no reader of her works can be ignorant: they in no small degree account for that melancholy

Mrs. Browne was the daughter of a German family of Venetian descent, named Wagner. Her very slender means, by prudence and strict economy, she husbanded to the best advantage, sparing as much as she could to procure a good education for her children, in which she herself took an active part, as by her attainments she was fully capable of doing. Felicia made rapid progress in her studies; became languages. It ought to be noticed, she had the use of conversant with the classics and many of the modern a good library at her command, and excelled in music and drawing. Her memory was peculiarly retentive. years of age, and is entitled, "On my Mother's BirthHer first poem was written when she was only eight day." In 1808, at the desire of some friends, she published a small volume of poetry, dedicated to the Prince of Wales. How far the advice was juhowever, meant well; and arose probably not from dicious is very doubtful. It was unquestionably, any feeling of vanity so much as from the desire to bring a deserving and impoverished family into notice, in the hope that something might be done for them. Little do the children of wealth, cradled in the lap of children so circumstanced as were those of Mrs. Browne luxury, know of the manifold privations to which are exposed-how many impediments lie in their path to the acquisition of knowledge, and how difficult it is for them to combat with hindrances resulting solely from deficiency of pecuniary means. Many a youth of talent has been crippled in his exertions from this very cause, and become compelled to enter on a life of drudgery. Many a delicately minded female, of gentle parentage and of fine attainments, has been compelled, by the toil of the needle, to procure a precarious subsistence. It is not the sturdy vagrant-too often preferring a pilfering life to one of honest labour-who should excite our commiseration: it is those who are constantly struggling to keep up a decent appearance, and whose privations are known only to themselves.

At the early age of fifteen, Felicia became acquainted with captain Hemans, then about to embark with his regiment for Spain. It does not appear that at this time she was under any serious impressions on the subject of religion. On his return, their acquaintance the word is somewhat freezing-was renewed, and they were married in 1812; a union which proved far from a source of happiness to either party. They

had five sons. Her husband's health having suffered much from the fatigue of the campaigns in which he had been engaged, he went to reside in Italy in 1818. Unfortunately she did not accompany himI say unfortunately, because it must be almost invariably disastrous for those whom God hath joined together thus voluntarily to put themselves asunder: I regard it as unlawful. I cannot admire a woman who separates herself from her husband. It speaks well for neither party; it gives rise to suspicions and surmises; and, where there is a family, the effect on the minds of the children must be most prejudicial. It produces a coldness of affection between the parties themselves, which too frequently ends in downright disgust. It does not follow that husbands are always in the wrong. I know nothing about the peculiarity of the case before us-perhaps it might have reference to the education of the children-but, viewing such cases generally, they are deeply to be deplored, and uncompromisingly to be deprecated. They speak ill for both parties: they argue a want of sound Christian principle. Whatever their intentions as to the future may have been, Mrs. Hemans and her husband, though they corresponded and he was consulted about the children, never again met. It did not appear, however, that it was intended the separation should be permanent. She resided with her mother at Bronwylfa, near St. Asaph, whither the family bad removed from Gwrych. Her time was entirely devoted to the education of her sons, and the produce of her literary labours enabled her to support them; which gave a constant impulse to her mind-perhaps too strong an impulse for her feeble frame.

It does not come within the limits of this very brief and very imperfect sketch to detail the rapid succession of works which emanated from the prolific pen of Mrs. Hemans-too rapid for her health; and which almost yearly won her fresh fame. She became, as might be supposed, acquainted with the most eminent poets of the day. Sir Walter Scott and Mr. Wordsworth, with both of whom she spent some time, thought highly of her attainments. She made one attempt at dramatic poetry, "The Vespers of Palermo"-composed originally, it is said, without any design of being brought upon the stage, but ultimately performed at Covent Garden theatre and in Edinburgh. To the chagrin and no small mortification of the authoress, it proved unsuccessful. I confess I cannot sympathize with her in this disappointment, regarding, as I do, theatrical entertainments as the bane and pest of society; and it is painful to find that it was brought upon the stage chiefly at the recommendation of Mr. (bp.) Heber, and Mr. Milman. The former, in a letter to R. J. Wilmot, Esq., dated June 14, 1821, says “Mrs. Hemans has written a tragedy on the subject of the Sicilian vespers; of which it is saying too little to praise it as better than any which, for several years back, has been brought on the stage, and which I think would really make a popular acting play. It is by far the best of her productions." Again, writing to Mr. Milman"Many thanks for your account of Mrs. Hemans's play. You have shewn her great and most judicious kindness; and I verily believe her worthy of it, both in disposition and talents."

In 1825 Mrs. Hemans with her family removed to Rhyllon: here she lost her mother, to her inexpressible grief. Her own circumstances rendered a mother's counsel peculiarly valuable. "O," she thus writes, "that we could but fix upon one eternal and unchangeable Being the affections which here we pour forth a wasted treasure, upon the dust! But they are of the earth, earthy; they cling with vain devotedness to mortal idols-how often to be thrown back upon our own hearts, and to press them down with a weight of voiceless thoughts, and of feelings which find no

answer in the world!" She now removed to Wavertree, near Liverpool, where she resided for some years, and where her boys had greater opportunities of perfecting their education.

We have hitherto viewed Mrs. Hemans in the light of an eminent poetess, whose works breathe the tenderest emotions, the most unreserved submission; and yet it must be confessed that there is little or nothing in all that she wrote for the first twenty years, after the appearance of her small volume adverted to, to entitle her to the name of "Christian poetess." No Christian poetess would suffer any production of her pen to be brought upon the stage and this deserves especially to be noticed, because I have often seen her poems put into the hands of children, to occupy the place of the Olney hymns, and others of that character; I have heard her verses quoted to the sick and dying, as very full of sweet comfort; I have witnessed more than one elegantly bound copy of her poems sent as a seasonable refreshment to a bereaved mourner; and have seen it stated, that "there remains a strong question whether her poetry so sought after, and so loved by every one, did not add as much to the advancement of religion among those classes in society where sophisticated science reigns a sovereign, as did the pen of a Hannah More, or the unwearied labours of a Newell." Let it not be supposed that one immoral line pollutes the pages of Mrs. Hemans; on the contrary all is chaste, pure, guileless. In creation, in nature, in providence, God shines forth in all her verses; "but one thing thou lackest"-where is God in grace to be discovered? and the echo answerswhere? Surely the whole tone and strain of Mrs. More's writings widely differ from those of Mrs. Hemans. Doubtless, had the latter been spared, her muse would have assumed a more holy strain; but there is much danger in substituting the" sentimentalism" of religion-if I may use the expression-for the deep-toned religion of the heart. I should deplore the taste, or rather want of taste, of those on whose ear her poetry should dully fall, without exciting the tenderest emotions. At the same time, I should question their religious progress who would be conteated to make a volume of Mrs. Hemans their spiritual manual in poesy, and would not rather chose to cheer the sick, weary, hours of a sleepless couch, next to the songs of the sweet singer in Israel, with the effusions of a Newton, a Cowper, or a Montgomery.

In 1831 Mrs. Hemans quitted Wavertree to reside in or near Dublin. She was now in confirmed bad health. It is stated that, in her younger days, a lady once incautiously observed in her hearing, "That child is not made for happiness, I know; her colour comes and goes too fast." She noticed with pain the thoughtless and injudicious remark, and treasured it in her heart to her last days. The prediction was, as we have seen, too fully verified. As far as age was concerned, she might be deemed in the prime of life, but constant ceaseless anxiety on pecuniary matters will enervate the most robust frame. The skill of the most learned and able physician is often baffled to account for the still silent progress of decay when no bodily malady is discoverable, but where the true seat of disease is in the mind, and where the unexpected acquisition of means to prevent future anxiety has wrought an almost instantaneous cure. The constant drag upon her mental capabilities must have likewise had a pernicious effect. The mind is not at all times equal for the same intellectual exertion; the brain becomes overworked; and the feeling that it was absolutely necessary, for the sake of her family, to produce a given quantity of manuscript in a given time, necessarily shattered her nerves. Often did the bitter tear of sorrow roll down her cheeks when she almost despaired of being able to carry on her work. From the arch

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bishop of Dublin and Mrs. Whateley, Mrs. Hemans | couch. This she acknowledged as a great and unexperienced the most unremitting kindness and attention. Their own country-seat was most cheerfully offered for her acceptance; and at Redesdale, a retired spot, seven miles from Dublin, she enjoyed every comfort, but she was "cherished, alas, too late"-to use her own expression. Enfeebled nature could not be restored, and, though not rapidly, she gradually wasted away. In March, 1835, her malady increasing, she was taken back to Dublin, that she might have medical advice at hand. She was now nearly paralyzed. As to the unremitting kindness of the archbishop and his lady, let Mrs. Hemans herself tell the tale of gratitude. In a note,dated Jan. 27, 1835, she thus writes

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"I cannot possibly describe to you the subduing effect that long illness has produced upon my mind: I seem to have been passing through the valley of the shadow of death,' and all the vivid interests of life look dim and pale around me. I am still at the archbishop's palace, where I receive kindness truly heart-warm. Never could any thing be more cordial than the strong interest he and his amiable wife have taken in my recovery. My dear Henry has enjoyed his holidays here greatly, as I should have done too (he has been so mild and affectionate) but for constant pain and sickness."

Herson Henry-of whom Mrs. Hemans speaks with such affectionate anxiety, manifesting the warm affection of a mother's feelings-had now arrived at an age when it became of much importance that his future occupations in life should be determined. The subject had weighed heavily on the mind of Mrs. Hemans, for her means were necessarily scanty. "It may well be imagined, therefore, with what unspeakable joy and gratitude she hailed the arrival of a boon so utterly unexpected as a letter from sir Robert Peel (expressed in terms no less honourable to the writer than gratifying to the receiver), appointing her son to a clerkship in the Admiralty, and accompanied by a most munificent donation, which, emanating from such a quarter, could create no feelings but those of heartfelt thankfulness, unmingled with any alloy of false delicacy or mistaken pride."

And here, had we to close the memoir of Mrs. Hemans, it would be with pain, but far different must be our feelings on the subject. After her removal to Ireland it would appear that a very great and momentous change took place as to her religious views, sentiments, and feelings: she had ever, as already observed, had a respect for religion. James Montgomery admirably observes, that "our great authors, unhappily, have too often wanted the inspiration of piety; and religious poetry has been held in contempt by many learned, and wise, and elegant minds, because religion itself was either perfectly indifferent, troublesomely intrusive, or absolutely hateful to them." Against Felicia Hemans no such charge could be brought; still there was, as already hinted, something deficient. It was a providential circumstance that in Ireland she was thrown into a society calculated to further her growth in grace, and in meekness for that momentous change which so soon awaited her. It is said that a correspondence with the rev. Hugh White was of infinite service. The tone of her later letters and later poems powerfully illustrate this; and the testimony of those who were with her during later scenes of her weary pilgrimage, confirm the fact. "Of all she had ever done in the exercise of the talents with which it had pleased God to intrust her, she spoke in the meekest and lowliest spirit; often declaring how much more ardently than ever, had life been prolonged, her powers would have been consecrated to his service."

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After her return to Dublin it would appear that her malady was less distressing, "her sleep was calm and happy, and none but pleasing dreams ever visited her

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expected blessing; for in all her former illnesses she had been used to suffer either from painfully intense watchfulness, or disturbed and fitful slumbers, which exhausted rather than refreshed the worn and feverish frame. Changeful as were the moods of her mind, they were invariably alike in this-that serenity and submission as to her own state, and the kindest consideration for others, shed their sweet influence over all. At times her spirit would appear to be half etherealized; her mind would seem to be fraught with deep, and holy, and incommunicable thoughts; and she would entreat to be left alone in stillness and darkness, to commune with her own heart and reflect on the mercies of her Saviour. She continually spoke of the unutterable comfort she derived from dwelling on the contemplation of the atonement. To one friend, from whom she dreaded the influence of adverse opinions, she sent a solemn exhortation, earnestly declaring that this alone was her rod and staff when all earthly supports were failing. To another she desired the assurance might be given, that the tenderness and affectionateness of the Redeemer's character, which they had often contemplated together, was now a source, not merely of reliance, but of positive happiness to her the sweetness of her couch. At less solemn moments she would converse with much of her own cheerfulness, sending affectionate messages to her various friends, and recalling old remembrances with vivid and endearing minuteness."

To her attendants in her last days of weakness she repeatedly dwelt on the amazing scheme of human redemption. "I feel," she would say, " as if I were sitting at the feet of my Redeemer, hearing the music of his voice, and learning of him to be meek and lowly." And then she would say-" O, Anna, do not you love your kind Saviour? The plan of redemption was indeed a glorious one; humility was indeed the crowning work. When any body speaks of his love to me, I feel as if they were too slow; my spirit can mount alone with him into those blissful realms with far more rapidity." On Sunday, April 26, she dictated to her brother the Sabbath sonnet, commencing "How many blessed groups this hour are blending:" it was her last. She gradually became weaker, though still able to converse and read. Four days previous to her dissolution she read the collect, epistle, and gospel for the previous Sunday, the fourth after Easter. A selection from the works of archbishop Leighton comforted her much: the last time she listened to it, she exclaimed "beautiful, beautiful!" She expressed her confidence that her peace was made with God, and stated that all was peace within her own bosom.

On Saturday, the 16th May, she sank into a gentle slumber, which continued almost unbroken throughout the day; and at nine o'clock in the evening her spirit passed away without pain or struggle, and, it is humbly hoped, was translated, through the mediation of her blessed Redeemer, to that "rest which remaineth to the people of God."

The Cabinet.

T.

DELUSION OF THE WORLD.-The world is in a state of delusion; for such is the state of them that sleep. To all things that really concern them they are insensible; but they are earnestly employed, meanwhile, in a shadowy fantastic scene of things, which has no existence but in their imaginations. And to what can the life of many a man be so fitly compared, as to a dream? What are the vain employments and amusements of multitudes, but " visions of the night?" And is not he who wasteth his time and breath in telling the history of them, "as a man telling a dream to his

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