truth, and who were now on their pilgrimage towards the heavenly Canaan! Immediately on her return to St. Mabyn, Elizabeth joined the Wesleyan Methodist Association; and, although labouring under great weakness, and even pain, she embraced every opportunity of attending both the public and private means of grace. Her bodily strength, however, gradually declined, but her soul was more and more renewed in health and vigour. As she approached her heavenly Father's house, she had bright and elevated views of joys to come, and more than ever abounded in faith, hope, and charity. The language of her heart was "O love, thou bottomless abyss! My sins are swallow'd up in thee; Nor spot of guilt remains in me; While Jesus' blood, through earth and skies, Sunday, Jan. 5, 1840, was the last Sabbath our sister was enabled to assemble with the people of God in his sanctuary. On the evening of that day she had an opportunity of receiving the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, which was administered by our highly esteemed friend and brother, the Rev. Aaron Weston, who was at that time stationed in the Camelford and Wadebridge Circuit, and whose labours amongst us were rendered peculiarly useful. Very many at St Mabyn, who were the seals of his ministry, bear ample testimony of their affectionate regard for him, whenever his name is mentioned. The following day was observed as a day of public thanksgiving to Almighty God, for the gracious visitation which the circuit had experienced in this memorable revival of His work. Elizabeth made an effort again to reach the chapel; and Mr. Weston preached from "To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." This was the last sermon she heard the last time her strength would permit her to visit the house of God. From this period she was almost entirely confined to her room, and gradually became worse, until the beginning of May, when she was reduced to such a state of weakness as to be entirely confined to her bed. Her dissolution was almost daily expected; yet it pleased God afterwards to lengthen out the brittle thread of life for fourteen months; during which time she was a striking example of patience and resignation to the will of her heavenly Father. Amidst all her sufferings, which were at times very acute, she never was known to manifest anything like impatience or discontent; but her placid and cheerful temper seemed to diffuse comfort and happiness on all around her. A smiling God, an approving conscience, and a delightful prospect of felicity beyond the grave, are admirably calculated to produce peace and contentment in the dying Christian. Christians, both old and young, delighted to visit this daughter of affliction. Some delighted to come many miles to enjoy the conversation of the suffering saint. A smile of complacency invariably beamed on her countenance. She expe rienced the truth that "God is love." She claimed him as her recon ciled Father in Christ Jesus; and rejoiced to tell of the great goodpess of her heavenly Parent. Her language was "God is love-I know, I feel, Jesus weeps, and loves me still.” Being filled with that "perfect love which casteth out fear," she felt deeply interested in the prosperity of the Church. On one occasion a friend who was going to the class meeting called on her. Are you going to your class meeting?' asked Elizabeth. On her friend's replying in the affirmative, she said, Tell them all, that Betsy Tabb charges them to meet her in heaven.' And, blessed be God, there are many in that class, who have not forgotten that charge, and who have full expectation of seeing her face in the realms of glory. On another occasion, a friend visiting her, asked, 'Are you not very much tired with lying so long in bed, and is it not very gloomy by night, when all around are sleeping, whilst you are unable to take any repose?' 'No,' answered Elizabeth, I am neither tired nor gloomy,-Jesus is always with me.' Every individual who was privileged with visiting our dear sister found it good to be there. Her room appeared to be filled with the presence of God. Full of joyous anticipation, she would tell those around her, that when her Master should come she had nothing to do but obey the summons.' She earnestly desired to depart and be with Christ, yet patiently waited the coming of her Lord. The evening preceding her death, the writer, as a medical man and friend, was requested to go and see her. Whilst feeling her pulse, she asked with a smile,Am I dying now, sir?' The reply was, I think the conflict will soon be over. She answered, 'I have not strength to speak-but Christ is precious; all is well.' A few hours after, about three o'clock the following morning, July 4th, she sweetly fell asleep in the Lord. Her class leader, (brother Thomas George,) to whom the writer is indebted for many of the foregoing particulars, writes thus concerning her: 'At her class meeting she was always present, except when unavoidably prevented by ill health. Her attendance at these meetings was not only conducive to her own spiritual good, but also to the welfare of her class-mates, and especially so to me, her unworthy leader. There was a peculiar sweetness in her manner of expressing her feelings, and she spoke as one who was evidently ripening for heaven. Oftentimes, in relating her experience, she expressed implicit confidence in God; and when she engaged in prayer, there was such an holy ardour in her breathings at the Throne of Grace, that I have often said, 'It is good to be here.' Others, as well as myself, can well remember those precious seasons when we were, as Mr. Wesley expresses it, 'Touch'd by the loadstone of His love.' And we could all say with him— 'Thy grace through every vessel flows In purest streams of love.' "But she is removed to a happier place, where she beholds the beatific vision of the once crucified, but now exalted Saviour. She was, however, very soon deprived, by affliction, of the privilege of mingling her prayers and praises with those which were offered in the house of her God. After she was compelled to discontinue her attendance at the class meeting, she almost immediately became confined to her room, and shortly after to her bed, where she was a prisoner for nearly fifteen months; yet through all her affliction she was made a blessing to those pious friends who were in the habit of visiting her. Sometimes, indeed, she felt acutely the sharpness of her affliction; yet she received it as from the hand of her heavenly Father, perfectly resigned to his will. Her language constantly was 'Thankful I take the cup from thee, Prepared and mingled by thy skill; Powerful the wounded soul to heal.' "It was almost impossible for any one to visit her without being blessed. I was frequently privileged with such opportunities, and they were always the means of strengthening my weak faith, animating my fainting hopes, and cheering my spirits-which too frequently droop. Her views of the plan of salvation were clear; consequently, her confidence was unwavering, and her manner of expressing her present enjoyments, and future prospects, sound and scriptural. I have often thought that her experience was enough to convince the most obstinate infidel of the truth of the religion of the Gospel. Her happiness on the bed of affliction, her prospects beyond the grave, her complete victory over death, through faith in the Redeemer, appeared to me an unswerable argument against all the cavils of unbelievers. She most earnestly desired the salvation of others, especially of her family connexions. She told me that when she was from home she received a letter stating that her brother Nicholas had joined the Society; and the Teetotalers' Society having recently made great progress in St. Mabyn, she concluded he had joined them, and as she was a stanch Teetotaler, she rejoiced greatly; she also hoped that his becoming identified with this excellent society might very possibly lead to something still better. Her joy was unspeakable when, on her return home, she found that he had not only signed the Teetotal pledge, but had also given his heart to God. This brother's name is now on our Preachers' Plan. When I have been engaged with her in prayer, and when the burthen of our petitions has been the conversion of her parents, she has often been wrought up, even to an agony, when pleading with the Almighty in their behalf; and has expressed to me her belief that the Lord would hear her prayers in this respect; and, although such a change might not take place before her death, yet, nevertheless, she believed that she should eventually meet them in heaven. O may the Lord be graciously pleased to answer her prayers; and may they follow their affectionate child to the realms of glory! "A few months before her death she desired to have a class meeting in her room; her wishes were acceded to, and such a meeting I scarcely ever experienced, it was like a class meeting in the suburbs of heaven. Those who were present will not soon forget that delightful season. "About three months before her death I removed from St. Mabyn, but being at no great distance, I occasionally visited her. Being very uuwell myself, I went to St. Mabyn to obtain medical advice. Soon after my arrival I was informed that Elizabeth was much worse; when I called to see her I found her to be in a dying state, but happy in the love of God. She was reduced to such a state of weakness that it was with difficulty she could articulate distinctly; yet as soon as she saw me she smiled, and in a faint voice said, 'Thomas, this is dying.' I asked her the state of her mind? Her answer was, Christ is precious, Christ is precious; I will fear no evil; his rod and his staff comfort me.' Finding that the exertion of speaking was too great for her, I said but very little, yet it was truly good to behold her. There was such a smile of complacency, such an expression of heavenly joy in her countenance, as evidently bespoke that all was peace and serenity within. I knelt down by her bed, and silently commended her spirit to God; and feeling assured that it would be the last time I should see her in the flesh, I bade her adieu until I should meet her in the kingdom of our Father. The next morning I was informed that her happy spirit had taken its flight. As soon as I received the intelligence, these words of the poet were forcibly impressed on my mind,— 'Happy soul, thy days are ended, All thy mourning days below; "It appears that after I left her, the preceding evening, she remained in the same tranquil state, until the vital spark had fled; and this happened in such a calm, peaceful manner, that her attendants could scarcely ascertain the precise moment of departure. 'Calm was her exit.— Night dews fall not so gently on the ground, "The spiritual conflicts of our dear departed sister with the great adversary of man have scarcely been adverted to. She was not, however, free from his assaults; but I have seldom seen one who could so easily baffle the insinuations of Satan. Her confidence in God enabled her to come off more than conqueror. 66 Some weeks previous to her decease she made choice of the hymns to be sung at her funeral. She also requested me to preach on that occasion from the following text:-'And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death; neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.' "On the day of her funeral, I felt myself very unwell, yet I considered it to be my imperative duty to comply with her request; and whilst endeavouring to show the blessed change which the people of God experience in the heavenly world, that they are delivered from all their afflictions, and enjoy an eternal fruition of all that is good, I felt divinely assisted-God blessed my soul-and many felt it good to be there. On looking at the end of my beloved sister, I would say— 'Life take thy chance, but O! for such an end.' The mortal remains of our departed sister were carried to the grave by eight young women (members of our Society) all dressed in white, whose services she had engaged for this purpose long before her death. The scene was both imposing and solemn. After the funeral service the people simultaneously adjourned to the Association chapel, where brother George, her leader, for whom she had evinced the most affectionate regard, addressed the audience in a very impressive manner. 66 May her friends and relations, with the writer and readers of this account, copy her example, and enjoy her reward!" ON THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. "But be filled with the Spirit." Eph. v. 18. ASSUMING it on the ground of revelation for an undoubted fact, that there is an operation of the Holy Ghost, to which the regeneration and growth in holiness of every Christian is to be primarily imputed, and that without it nothing can be done or attained to any important purpose in religion, we request your candid attention to a few hints respecting the most likely method of securing and perpetuating that blessed influence. To this we are the more encouraged, by remarking the numerous cautions, warnings, and advices, with which the mention of this subject is joined in the sacred writings; sufficient to show that the doctrine of which it treats is a practical doctrine, not designed to supersede the use of means, or the exercise of our rational powers; but rather to stimulate us to exertion, and teach us how to exert them aright. If ye live in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit. Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by which ye are sealed to the day of redemption. 1. If we would wish for much of the presence of God by his Spirit, we must learn to set a high value upon it. The first communication of spiritual influence is, indeed, imparted without this requisite. I am found of them that sought me not. But in subsequent donations, the Lord seems very much to regulate his conduct by a rule, that of bestowing his richest favours where he knows they are most coveted, and will be most prized. The principle whence divine communications flow, is free, unmerited benignity; but in the mode of dispensing it is worthy of the supreme Ruler to consult his majesty, by withholding a copious supply, till he has excited in the heart a profound estimation of his gifts. |