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it was. As if he had some apprehensions of his approaching death, on the night before it took place he feelingly quoted the lines,

"Meet, through consecrated pain,

To see the Face Divine."

Surrounded by a few Christian friends he fell asleep in Jesus, June 11th, 1865.

A neat marble tablet, erected by voluntary subscription, in the beautiful little chapel at Bisley, commemorates his honoured life and labours, whilst his body lies interred in the adjoining ground.

As a preacher, Mr. Osborn was plain, practical, evangelical, and useful. His sermons abounded in Scripture, and he proved himself to be "a workman needing not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." His labours in the pulpit, moreover, were enhanced by his diligence as a pastor: he visited the sick and infirm, gave counsel to those who stood in need of it, and did not hesitate faithfully to rebuke the erring and lukewarm. His steadfastness could not fail to be observed; he shrank from no duties however difficult, but attended to all with a scrupulous conscientiousness. Neither the most inclement weather, nor severe bodily weakness, was sufficient to deter him from the fulfilment of his ministerial appointments. When made the Superintendent of a Circuit, he discharged the duties of that office with prudence and fidelity. It is no common acquirement to be able to maintain discipline with wisdom and kindness. But to this he aspired, and it is not too much to say that he succeeded.

But it was as an earnest, happy Christian, that the subject of this memoir will perhaps be best remembered. Those who had opportunities of closely observing his life were impressed with his sterling piety. One who knew him well says, " He was pre-eminently a good man. I am persuaded that his personal devotion to God was more than ordinary. I cannot but think of him as an 'example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.'" "It was not necessary," writes a friend, to know him very long, or very intimately, in order to perceive that he was an earnest and devoted man of God." "I never met," says another, "with a more holy, devout, and spiritually-minded man. He seemed to embody in his character every trait that should adorn a true minister of Jesus Christ. Godly and edifying in his conversation, gentle in disposition, tender and compassionate to the aged, and affable to the young, it was manifest that he ever aimed at promoting the comfort and spiritual improvement of all who came in his way." While Mr. Osborn's life and manner impressed one with the depth of his piety, they were rendered attractive by his habitual cheerfulness; there was nothing morose or forbidding about his

religion. Now that he has passed to a higher and a more glorious state, the fruit of his godly life on earth remains. Doubtless, the good seed sown by him is still living and growing in many a heart, to the glory of God, and to the enhancement of his own eternal reward, He "rests from his labours, and his works do follow him." H. A. B.

MEMOIR OF MRS. EDMAN,

WIFE OF THE REV. AARON EDMAN, LATE MISSIONARY IN JAMAICA :

BY HER SISTER.

MRS. EDMAN, whose maiden name was Louisa Clarke, was born at Wragby, in Lincolnshire, September 14th, 1829. It was her privilege to be blessed with a godly ancestry. Her great-grandfather was one of the earlier converts of Mr. Wesley; and often suffered severely from enraged mobs, when following him from place to place to hear the message of eternal life from his lips. Her grandfather had the honour to receive Mr. Wesley under his roof; and, on one of his visits, that eminent man invoked a blessing on the head of her father, when young. In infancy Louisa was dedicated to God, in an especial manner, by her parents. From earliest childhood she possessed great sweetness of disposition, and gentleness of manner, together with remarkable sensitiveness and refinement of feeling. She always had the fear of God before her eyes, and was happily preserved from outward sin; but it was not until the year 1850 that she made a full surrender of her heart to God. The account of her conversion will be best given in her own words, contained in a letter to a friend who had taken a deep interest in her spiritual welfare. After describing her state of mind, she writes:-"Your kind letter, and the little book accompanying it, I have read repeatedly and prayerfully. I have received much encouragement from them, and have been enabled to believe on 'the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.' I now approach God with confidence, calling Him, My Father.' On embracing the Saviour, I felt that a load was removed from my heart, that my God was reconciled, and that I had entered upon a new life. For a time all was happiness and peace; the dark cloud of God's displeasure had vanished; I dwelt in the light of His countenance, and was supremely happy. But, alas! soon I felt a change, fearing that I had deceived myself-that this was a delusion. I love God; but I want to love Him more, to know no other will but His, to dwell in the cleft of the Rock,' to abide under the 'shadow of His wing.' When I think of His great cor.descension

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and love, in allowing me to come unto Him, and call Him'my Father and Friend,' I am lost in wonder, love, and praise."

On April 20th of that year, she wrote:-"I now much regret that I did not seek the 'pearl of great price' long ago. I can cast my care upon One who is 'mighty to save,' and who has promised never to leave or forsake those who trust in Him.”

As soon as she herself was made a partaker of God's favour, she became anxious that others should enjoy the same blessing. To promote this object she commenced distributing tracts in her native place. This, to her retiring spirit, required an effort which nothing but a sense of duty would have prevailed upon her to make. Her appearance at the homes of the people was ever welcome; for she had a kind word for all, and deeply sympathized with those who were in any trouble. Being naturally of a delicate constitution, she was not able to do so much for the cause of God as some others; but, as far as her strength would allow, she was ready for every good work.

The house of her father was the home of the Wesleyan ministers who visited Wragby, and from a child she hailed their coming with pleasure. Often did she refer to the good she received through the visits of the late Rev. Dr. Newton. Her hand was solicited, after her conversion, by a minister devoted to the honourable toil of foreign missionary service. The acceptance of this offer necessarily involved a long and wide separation from parents, sisters, and friends, endeared by a thousand ties; and an exposure to the privations, and frequent changes, incident to a missionary life. The pleadings in her own mind on both sides were strong; and the conflict was severe and painful. Ultimately, the engagement was formed; and, on September 18th, 1855, she was united in marriage to the Rev. A. Edman, who had been again appointed to a Mission station in the West Indies. A passing allusion only may be allowed to the grief necessarily occasioned by her separation from her beloved parents. It had been her life-long study to minister to their comfort; but, though they loved her tenderly, a regard to the obligations resulting from her early dedication to God in baptism, and a consideration of the high and holy service in which she was about to be engaged, enabled them to make the sacrifice.

On October 17th, 1855, Mr. and Mrs. Edman, with other missionaries, embarked at Southampton for Jamaica. After a favourable voyage, they landed at Kingston, where they met with great kindness from the Mission families, and other friends. After a short time, they proceeded to their own Circuit, Grateful-Hill; but, as there had been no missionary resident there for a year, they found everything at the Mission-house in a dilapidated and desolate condition. In writing to her friends, she said :-"When I contrast my present isolated home with the one I have left, where I had every comfort and

indulgence, my heart would sink within me, were I not supported by the conviction that I am where a kind Providence would have me be. I am thankful that grace is given according to our day, and that we have blessings and comforts which we do not deserve. With all its trials, ours is a life of comfort and luxury, compared with the life of our blessed Saviour, who had not 'where to lay His head.'" Soon after their arrival at Grateful-Hill, a Sunday-school was commenced, which was under Mrs. Edman's care; and the work of God revived. Many of the children instructed by her became decided Christians, and are now members of the Methodist Society. In one of her letters she writes, "Our Sunday-school is very interesting, and the improvement of the children and young people encourages us not to be weary in well-doing."

Mr. and Mrs. Edman remained three years at Grateful-Hill. Their next Circuit was in the lowlands, in the east of Jamaica, at Morant-Bay and Yallahs. The climate proved so injurious to Mrs. Edman, that a visit to England, for a few months, was deemed necessary; and, accompanied by her little daughter, she ventured to cross the Atlantic, buoyed up with the hope of again setting foot on the shores of England, and joining the loved ones in the home of her youth. The memory of those few months of happy communion with the now departed one will never be forgotten by those who were privileged with her society. When the last evening of her sojourn with her parents and sisters arrived, the members and friends of the Society in Wragby, and some from an adjoining Circuit, held a special prayer-meeting on her behalf. Many and fervent were the supplications of God's people that she and her little child might be protected on their approaching voyage. At a late hour, when the other members of the family were engaged in finishing the necessary preparations for the next day's travelling, Louisa and her mother, while talking together of God's past goodness, agreed to meet each other at the throne of grace, at a certain hour, every day.

In several letters Mrs. Edman refers to this hour as being very precious to her, and one in which she received many cheering tokens of God's favour and blessing.

In writing of her voyage back to Jamaica, she says, "When I felt cast down, and the sea was boisterous, I was comforted by the remembrance of the dear ones who were praying for me; for the prayer of the righteous 'availeth much;' and I felt safe under the Divine protection." In another communication, to one of her sisters, whose faith she sought to confirm, and whose religious comfort she hoped to promote, she thus adverts to some of the exercises of her own spiritual life :-"How often have I been troubled with the same thing you speak of; but lately I have sought for, and tried to exercise, stronger faith. I know I am a sinner, but such Christ came to

save. He died to atone for my sins, and whosoever cometh to Him He will receive. We may go to Him, just as we are, feeling our own helplessness, but casting ourselves on Christ, remembering that He has borne our sins, and that when we embrace Him, the Father's anger is turned away. He marvels at our unbelief. How strange to doubt His willingness to save! Let us, then, my beloved one, repose -rest-in the merits of Jesus, knowing that, if we come to Him, believing that His sacrifice is complete and sufficient, He will receive us................ You are, I doubt not, a child of God: then whatever temptation to unbelief may suggest itself, be determined to resist it, and say,

"Tis all my hope, and all my plea,

For me the Saviour died.""

Mr. Edman laboured two years in the Morant-Bay and Yallahs Circuit; but the whole family suffered much from the exceedingly unhealthiness of the locality. It appeared especially to affect the nervous system of Mrs. Edman; who, though she naturally possessed a good and even flow of spirits, now felt at times great depression, and a longing to dwell in a climate more favourable to health. She writes, "I sometimes indulge in joyous anticipations of the time when I trust Providence will bid us return to our beloved England. O what a privilege I should feel it again to associate with those loved. ones, whose thoughts, desires, and affections are so congenial to my own......At times a sigh will escape, and a murmuring thought will intrude, on account of these separations, and the little trials and discomforts we meet with; but I endeavour at such seasons to call to remembrance in whose service we are engaged, and think of the boundless love of the Saviour, who led a life of suffering, persecution, and sorrow, and died to redeem us from eternal death. He has promised to us, feeble as we are, that, if we are 'faithful unto death,' we shall receive a crown of life.' Then what are all our troubles here compared with the glorious reward? If we would reign with Him, we must be willing to suffer in His cause, and be ready to follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.""

During Mr. and Mrs. Edman's residence in this part of the island, a general revival of religion took place in Jamaica. Interesting notices of this work of God are given in the following extracts from her letters, which, however, were written without the slightest idea of their being ever read by any but her own family.

"Since I last wrote, we have had special services. Last Sunday evening I was at chapel. Scores of the lowest class attended. After the sermon, my dear husband spoke to the people for about half an hour, and then commenced the prayer-meeting: several fell flat on the ground, crying in an agony, and were in such a state of

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