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grief of separation, and to her own shattered frame, she says, "But I am thankful: I have now six children in glory, and I am hastening to meet them. I feel a calm submission to my Father's will; and a delightful assurance that he has done, and will do, all things well.” Thus passive, and even rejoicing in hope," she waited for her own happy change. But the vigour of her constitution was not yet spent. Her friends were indulged with her continuance among them till May, 1838. On the 3d of that month she was seized with the sickness which was unto death. During three following days she thought that she should be restored. But God's design was otherwise; and she was not only submissive, but joyful. With much solemnity she said, "All is right,—quite right, even if death be mingled in the cup." On Sunday morning, the 6th, all hope of her recovery was at an end. "I stayed with her," says her son," and a happy, though distressing, day it was. On my saying, 'You know that your Redeemer liveth, she replied, 'O yes; glory be to God! I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.' After a pause, she resumed,

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After a second pause of a few minutes, she exerted her remaining strength in exclaiming,

'Jesus, my all in all thou art!

Strength of my failing flesh and heart:

O could I catch a smile from thee,
And drop into eternity!

"In the afternoon, she prayed with a fervour that deeply impressed her attendants. To them it was a memorable privilege. One of them, uttering the feeling of all, said, 'It is good to be here!' This was the last effort of the dying Christian. She said little afterwards; and early in the following morning her spirit returned to God."

In her death, the Methodist church lost one of its most deeply attached members. However paradoxical the remark may appear to some, it is nevertheless true, that, because she was strongly Wesleyan, she was also truly catholic. She knew how to appreciate the real liberality of our system; and this attractive feature was exhibited in her own example. A decided preference for Methodism was, in her case, the reason for good-will to all who "love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity."

For her Ministers she cherished the highest affection,-alike_removed from blind submission and from vulgar disrespect. The memory of the WESLEYS, of FLETCHER, and of a noble race of early Methodist Preachers, was dear to her heart; and yet she had no sympathy with those who say that "the former days were better than these." She was equally ready to cry, in view of the ascending pro

phet, "My father! my father! the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof;" and to acknowledge with grateful joy, "The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha." When societies were torn by factions, her heart bled for the church of God. She could not understand how any persons, professing high spirituality, could admit the insinuations of disaffection; or that those who in words "prayed for the peace of Jerusalem," could discourage her watchmen, or disturb her streets with the noise of contention.

During one period of her life, she was induced to attend, once on each Lord's day, the ministry of a clerical brother-in-law. But it is to be stated, that she thought it right, on mature deliberation, to desist from the practice. An occasion arose for asserting her Christian liberty in this particular; and she never regretted that she had taken a firm stand. It was done with great respect for the parties immediately concerned, but with uncompromising allegiance to Christ and to spiritual religion. She was unwilling to forego those Wesleyan services which are especially devoted to the edification of believers; to incur the risk of hearing statements at variance with the views of Christian privilege in which she had been instructed, and of which she had the evidence in her own heart; to unsettle a rising family, by dividing its religious attentions, and allowing an occasion of unprofitable comparisons; or to sanction the idea that Methodism is incomplete as a church, and that its ministry is only supplementary to some other. As to this last point, Mrs. Thornton's judgment and feeling were most decided; and she rested on principles which, fairly and abstractedly stated, few will question, namely, that eternity is greater than time; that the promotion of vital religion is the church's supreme duty; and that all MEANS are valuable simply in relation to this OBJECT. On the same ground we meet every exclusive claim; and we deny the theory which has long existed in rudiment, and which now offends Christendom with its sectarian details, a theory which defies all the laws of evidence, inspires its advocate with a boldness exactly proportionate to his ignorance of inward religion, and vainly hopes to compensate the lack of argument, by its unsparing condemnation of every man whose voracity of belief is not equal to its requirements.

If these free remarks be considered unsuitable to this place, the defensive plea is, that the great question of A LIVING CHRISTIANITY is in dispute. "Methodism is the old religion;" at least, in the esteem of her whose life is here sketched. She believed it—she felt it—to be a revival of primitive Christianity. Hence sprang her confidence that, whatever may be swept away by the tempests, this fabric shall stand, being founded on a rock.

During a long life, Mrs. Thornton had witnessed, in its onward course, a great work of God. Before she sank in death, its influence had extended, under various names, to every class of society. The labour of a hundred years was not bestowed in vain. A nation confessed the result; and its current literature was coloured with revived truth. One of the witnesses that Methodism is the religion of the primitive church, has been here permitted to speak for herself. She endured many of the storms of life, serene and unmoved; she imitated the holy women of old, who "laboured much in the Lord;" and she died in the triumph of faith. Myriads of such testimonies are given to us; and can we fail to draw instruction from them? Are they not

eminently valuable, as affording a guiding light amid the perplexities of our own times? We are required by some to abandon Methodism, and thus to escape fearful condemnation. Shall we yield to the demand? Let the question be resolved, as in the presence of those glorified spirits whose departing hour was bright and cloudless. Higher motives for our decision we have; but the love of a sainted ancestry might forbid the apostasy. But the Wesleyan Methodists of the second century will obey the command of One infinitely greater than even his most faithful witnesses: "Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD: joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody." (Isai. li. 1—3.)

MEMOIR OF MR. WILLIAM LENNY COLE,

LATE STUDENT IN THE WESLEYAN THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTION.

WILLIAM LENNY COLE, son of Abraham and Rebecca Cole, of Thorpe-le-Soken, near Colchester, was born at Holbrook, near Ipswich, March 22d, 1819. He received the elements of a plain and useful education at a school in that village, conducted by Mr. W. Laker, who watched over him with great care, and instructed him, not only in the usual branches of secular knowledge, but in those truths without the knowledge of which, all other instruction, in reference to the great purposes of man's being, is vain. When twelve years old, William was apprenticed to Mr. William Griffin, linen-draper, Colchester, where also he experienced the watchfulness, and received the counsel, which youth so greatly needs, and which too many persons, to whom the charge of youth is committed, neglect to furnish. Happily for him, this was not the case in his new situation. The seed had been sown, and already were there evidences that it had taken root, and at last begun to grow; and the domestic training with which he was now favoured, together with the influence of the faithful ministry of the word of God, more fully enlightened his mind, and strengthened his determination to "remember his Creator in the days of his youth.” He saw more clearly both the general evil of sin, and the sinfulness of his own heart, and was thus led earnestly to desire to flee from the wrath to come. At this time, Doddridge's "Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul" was put into his hands. He read it attentively, and with much benefit. Light was increased, and feeling strength

ened.

The language of his soul was, "What must I do to be saved?" and under the influence of the convictions which his conscience had received, and guided by the directions which he heard from the pulpit, and which were repeated to him in private, he sought the Lord with all his heart, thus striving to enter in at the strait gate, that he might thenceforth walk in the narrow way. And while thus seeking for that vital union with Christ by which he might become a member of his mystical body, the spiritual church, composed of the whole com

phet, "My father! my father! the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof;" and to acknowledge with grateful joy, "The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha." When societies were torn by factions, her heart bled for the church of God. She could not understand how any persons, professing high spirituality, could admit the insinuations of disaffection; or that those who in words "prayed for the peace of Jerusalem," could discourage her watchmen, or disturb her streets with the noise of contention.

During one period of her life, she was induced to attend, once on each Lord's day, the ministry of a clerical brother-in-law. But it is to be stated, that she thought it right, on mature deliberation, to desist from the practice. An occasion arose for asserting her Christian liberty in this particular; and she never regretted that she had taken a firm stand. It was done with great respect for the parties immediately concerned, but with uncompromising allegiance to Christ and to spiritual religion. She was unwilling to forego those Wesleyan services which are especially devoted to the edification of believers; to incur the risk of hearing statements at variance with the views of Christian privilege in which she had been instructed, and of which she had the evidence in her own heart; to unsettle a rising family, by dividing its religious attentions, and allowing an occasion of unprofitable comparisons; or to sanction the idea that Methodism is incomplete as a church, and that its ministry is only supplementary to some other. As to this last point, Mrs. Thornton's judgment and feeling were most decided; and she rested on principles which, fairly and abstractedly stated, few will question, namely, that eternity is greater than time; that the promotion of vital religion is the church's supreme duty; and that all MEANS are valuable simply in relation to this OBJECT. On the same ground we meet every exclusive claim; and we deny the theory which has long existed in rudiment, and which now offends Christendom with its sectarian details,-a theory which defies all the laws of evidence, inspires its advocate with a boldness exactly proportionate to his ignorance of inward religion, and vainly hopes to compensate the lack of argument, by its unsparing condemnation of every man whose voracity of belief is not equal to its requirements.

If these free remarks be considered unsuitable to this place, the defensive plea is, that the great question of A LIVING CHRISTIANITY is in dispute. "Methodism is the old religion;" at least, in the esteem of her whose life is here sketched. She believed it-she felt it-to be a revival of primitive Christianity. Hence sprang her confidence that, whatever may be swept away by the tempests, this fabric shall stand, being founded on a rock.

During a long life, Mrs. Thornton had witnessed, in its onward course, a great work of God. Before she sank in death, its influence had extended, under various names, to every class of society. The labour of a hundred years was not bestowed in vain. A nation confessed the result; and its current literature was coloured with revived truth. One of the witnesses that Methodism is the religion of the primitive church, has been here permitted to speak for herself. She endured many of the storms of life, serene and unmoved; she imitated the holy women of old, who "laboured much in the Lord;" and she died in the triumph of faith. Myriads of such testimonies are given to us; and can we fail to draw instruction from them? Are they not

eminently valuable, as affording a guiding light amid the perplexities of our own times? We are required by some to abandon Methodism, and thus to escape fearful condemnation. Shall we yield to the demand? Let the question be resolved, as in the presence of those glorified spirits whose departing hour was bright and cloudless. Higher motives for our decision we have; but the love of a sainted ancestry might forbid the apostasy. But the Wesleyan Methodists of the second century will obey the command of One infinitely greater than even his most faithful witnesses: "Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD: joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.” (Isai. li. 1—3.)

MEMOIR OF MR. WILLIAM LENNY COLE,

LATE STUDENT IN THE WESLEYAN THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTION.

WILLIAM LENNY COLE, son of Abraham and Rebecca Cole, of Thorpe-le-Soken, near Colchester, was born at Holbrook, near Ipswich, March_22d, 1819. He received the elements of a plain and useful education at a school in that village, conducted by Mr. W. Laker, who watched over him with great care, and instructed him, not only in the usual branches of secular knowledge, but in those truths without the knowledge of which, all other instruction, in reference to the great purposes of man's being, is vain. When twelve years old, William was apprenticed to Mr. William Griffin, linen-draper, Colchester, where also he experienced the watchfulness, and received the counsel, which youth so greatly needs, and which too many persons, to whom the charge of youth is committed, neglect to furnish. Happily for him, this was not the case in his new situation. The seed had been sown, and already were there evidences that it had taken root, and at last begun to grow; and the domestic training with which he was now favoured, together with the influence of the faithful ministry of the word of God, more fully enlightened his mind, and strengthened his determination to “remember his Creator in the days of his youth." He saw more clearly both the general evil of sin, and the sinfulness of his own heart, and was thus led earnestly to desire to flee from the wrath to come. At this time, Doddridge's "Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul" was put into his hands. He read it attentively, and with much benefit. Light was increased, and feeling strengthened. The language of his soul was, "What must I do to be saved?"

and under the influence of the convictions which his conscience had received, and guided by the directions which he heard from the pulpit, and which were repeated to him in private, he sought the Lord with all his heart, thus striving to enter in at the strait gate, that he might thenceforth walk in the narrow way. And while thus seeking for that vital union with Christ by which he might become a member of his mystical body, the spiritual church, composed of the whole com

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