she expressed her joy and surprise at our unexpected visit, and offered us the use of the largest and best room she had, as often as we should require it! The time was then fixed for the first meeting, which took place accordingly, and was numerously attended. Mr. Davies was the preacher, and I believe it was the only time he was permitted to preach there, as he was soon afterwards called to receive his reward in heaven. (See his Memoir in the "Evangelical Magazine" for August, 1816.) The gospel was afterwards regularly preached at Freystrup Cross until the widow's decease, and not without some encouraging tokens of success. For the space of two years she received the word with joy; and, in her last illness, used to be brought down from her sick bed, and placed in her chair among the people, that she might worship and hear the glad tidings of salvation with them. deed, she longed for the return of the meetings, being refreshed and comforted by them. Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, she found rest for her soul, and was favoured with strong consolation, and a good hope through grace. In her appeared to be fulfilled the prophecy, which says, "The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads : they shall obtain joy and gladness; and sorrow and sighing shall flee away!" This passage she selected for her funeral discourse; and, according to the custom of the country, I addressed her weeping relations, and a large company of people, before the funeral procession moved from the house to the churchyard.

In

After the widow's decease, our meetings were continued at Freystrup Cross by permission of her daughter, who was afterwards married to Mr. Wm. Davies, who, with his wife, became members of the church at Rosemarket, when their esteemed pastor, the Rev. D. Thomas (now of Wotton-under-edge), was associated with me in those gratuitous and voluntary labours. At length,

Mrs. Davies became the mother of a numerous family, whom she and her worthy husband endeavoured to train up in the fear of God, and in the faith of the gospel. The word preached under their roof was still blessed to the true conversion of several persons; and their house will be remembered as the place in which the Rev. George Rogers, of Harmer Hill, in Shropshire, and the Rev. J. Rowlands, of Henleyon-Thames, delivered their first sermons, when members of the church under my care at Haverfordwest. Some time after this, the interesting meetings held at Freystrup Cross were discontinued, in consequence of the removal of our friends to Derby Farm, and the erection of a new chapel at Middle Hill, by the congregation assembling in the tabernacle at Haverfordwest. Of the church afterwards formed at Middle Hill, Mr. and Mrs. Davies became members; and of which he is now a deacon. Their eldest son and daughter are also members of the same church; and although the same thing cannot yet be said of the whole family, there are but few indeed which exhibit a more satisfactory illustration of the salutary influence of evangelical religion on the human character, and of the temporal and spiritual blessings connected with it.

I now come to the immediate occasion of this narrative, which is the happy, though lamented death of my much esteemed friend, Mrs. Davies, of whom her pastor, the Rev. Nathaniel Harris, speaks as having been 66 a mother in Israel." A further idea of her character, and a few particulars relative to her departure to a better world, must be given from a letter addressed to me by Mr. Thomas, of Wottonunder-edge, dated December 23, 1842. "I know not exactly," he says, "when she was admitted a member of the church at Rosemarket; but I recollect that her Christian experience, and the simple, unaffected manner in which it was related, gave great satisfaction to all her friends there; and they never had to regret that she was admitted

into fellowship with them.

You know the cheerfulness with which she used to receive the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ to preach at her house at Freystrup Cross, and that the preaching of the gospel there was blessed to many, among whom were two or three of her own servants, and one who is now a most useful member of the church at Middle Hill, and, I believe, an occasional preacher. It was at Freystrup Cross that my dear nephew, William Thomas, late of Stone, preached his first sermon. The recollection of the sweet, lively, and united services which we used to have there, appeared fresh in her mind, and in that of her kind-hearted husband, the last time I was in Pembrokeshire; and they appeared to attribute, in a measure, the prosperity with which the little church at Middle Hill has been blessed, to the services continued for so many years in their house. Her son, in his letter to me, observes that she had been in a weak state for the last two years, but not alarmingly so. She was able to be up and down till within three weeks of her death. He says it was a sorrowful time for them, when they saw that they were about to lose their dear mother, but that it was nevertheless delightful to see her going as she did. My wife,' says he, has told me that it was a privilege beyond any thing she could conceive to be present with her.'"

Not long before her departure, Mrs. Davies was overheard trying to sing that well-known stanza in Dr. Watts's hymn book:

"The wondering world inquires to know

Why I should love my Jesus so;" &c.

And truly in her conduct the constraining influence of that love was conspicuous in no small degree. When unable to sit up, her impression was that she had not to wait long before she should be at home, in the “ house not made with hands." On the last Sabbath she spent below, she desired to see her children and friends after

the morning service at Middle Hill, when they found her in a happy and cheerful frame, wishing them to be reconciled to the separation about to take place. On the following day, being something better, when her friends expressed their hope that she would be spared a little longer, her remark was, that, if it should so please God, she was willing to stay with them, but that she had no such desire; and observed that to-morrow might bring a great change, as indeed it did. Her son was sent for, and she had the pleasure, as she called it, of seeing all her children with her ; notwithstanding which, she expressed a desire to depart, and be with Christ, which, she said, would be far better. Her minister, Mr. Harris, having been also sent for, came to witness her peaceful end. On his proposing to pray for her, Mrs. Davies remarked, that her work was done, that all was well, and that she was happy. When about to leave the room, after prayer, she requested him to pray again, intimating that she found pleasure and comfort in hearing and uniting with him as far as she could. "It was a sweet season," observes one who was present, "which cannot easily be forgotten.”

On the night following, after sleeping for some time, Mrs. Davies was heard to whisper, "Come, dear Jesus, and fetch me home." During the ensuing day, she was free from pain, and enabled to speak to those about her on any subject she wished. When heavy thunder came on in the night-time, she observed some one going to cover up the window, and said, "Who is afraid of it?" remarking that she used to be afraid of thunder and lightning, but was not so then. Shortly after this, she asked a female friend from Haverfordwest, if she thought it possible for her to continue much longer. Her friend answered that, in her opinion, she could not; upon which she said, "Miss R has told me good news!" and, about four o'clock in the morning, she fell asleep in Jesus. Ac

cording to her request, Mr. Harris preached her funeral sermon, from Rev. xiv. 13: "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.” "She was, indeed," says Mr. Thomas, "an eminent Christian; for, as it respects consistency of character, I have scarcely known her equal."

To the above narrative, of which the personal religion of my esteemed friend forms so considerable a part, I rejoice to add, that her happy death, in connexion with other afflictions, has been the means of inducing her daughter-inlaw to walk in her steps. Mr. Harris informs me, that she has been recently admitted a member of the church at Middle Hill. Let my brethren in the ministry, then, and especially those who are young, on reading the above narrative, remember the exhortation, "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand : for thou knowest not which shall prosper, or whether both shall be alike good." We know that, if some seeds fall by the way side, upon stony places, or among thorns, some shall fall into' good ground; and that, "in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." The promise of our God, that his word shall "not return void, but prosper in the thing whereto he has sent it," has been fulfilled, as many living witnesses can testify. The endeavours to do good at Freystrup Cross and Middle Hill, which have been honoured with

success, were not in accordance with the parochial system, which would have totally precluded them; but they were carried on in the spirit of the Home Missionary Society, which now assists in sustaining the like efforts of Mr. Harris at the last-mentioned place. Without opposition to the parish minister, his parishioners have received additional instruction and benefit, which many of them readily acknowledge, and in which he ought to rejoice. O for more of the spirit of prayer and of faith in preaching the word, that more extensive good may be done! Let us not only pray for success, but expect it, and we shall not labour in vain. And if we seek to be useful in the spirit of love towards all our fellowservants, our Divine Master will surely be with us, and make us the honoured instruments of "turning many to righteousness." Being "stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord," we may not only look for success equal to that which has now been recorded, but hope to see greater things than these." Praying that our glorified Redeemer may smile on every scriptural attempt to promote the interests of his spiritual kingdom,

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From the late Rev. Dr. Lawson, of Selkirk, Professor of Divinity in the Secession Church, to the Rev. Andrew Lothian, of Edinburgh.

Selkirk, Jan. 1, 1814. MY DEAR SIR,-I write this to inform you of an event which I know will give you much regret. It is the

death of my beloved son John, to whom, as to his brother, you paid so much kind attention when he resided in Edinburgh. I take a kind of melancholy pleasure in expressing my gratitude to those who favoured him with their kind regards; yet I find them so numerous, when I think of them, that I cannot find terms of ac

knowledgment for them all. He had, partly from nature, and I hope also in part from grace, a facility in making friends, who will now sympathize with us in our sorrow. I believe he never made any enemies, nor do I know that he ever met with unkindness.

His death makes a large diminution to the earthly happiness of us all. We cannot but mourn for the loss of one whom we loved so dearly, and who so well deserved our love. This last observation I would not so readily make to you, if I were not persuaded, from your knowledge of him, that you will not place it to the account of a father's partiality: I am sure, from continued experience, that a great part of his happiness lay in giving pleasure to his parents, to his brothers and sisters, to our friends and his, and to all who had any connexion with him.

I believe we have reason to ascribe it to partial fondness in David, that he never said to Adonijah, Why hast thou done so? But Adonijah was born to be a prince, and exposed to those dangerous temptations which attend high stations in life my dear son was born in a humbler and a safer station, and I do not feel regret, but pleasure, in the recollection that I never, so far as I recollect, found fault with him; on the contrary, I sometimes told him, that I had been always well pleased with his behaviour.

I do not know that he was ever called to the great duty of Christian forgiveness; but no doubt if his life had not been short, he must have been exposed in some degree to the injuries that try the meekness of the Christian. His days have been very few in this world, but I trust that God has given him length of days for ever and

ever.

We all mourn deeply for the want of him, but we are persuaded that we have great reason to rejoice and be thankful for the ground we have to think, that he is incomparably happier

than we can hope to be, till we are with him. Our grief, we hope, will have its influence in preparing us for that felicity. All of us would shudder at the thought of being for ever separated from him. This indeed is a consideration that ought to have infinitely less influence upon our minds than the desire of being with Christ; yet I think it may be allowed a place in our thoughts. The holy writers do not always use the most powerful arguments in recommending holiness ; and the weaker may sometimes be of great use, when the stronger are not felt as they ought to be.

He had been six months unwell. He did not through the whole time seem to be apprehensive of the event that has now afflicted us. Yet from what has been told us by his brother Andrew, I conclude that he wished to conceal from us apprehensions that he had really formed. He tried to the last day of his life to make his affliction very light. He then said to us, that his distress was greater than ever. But we took no thought that next morning at four o'clock he was to breathe his last. I hope he was then overwhelmed with joyful surprise, to find the kind and soothing offices of his mother and sisters exchanged for the attendance of blessed spirits sent to convey him to that world where there is no more sickness nor sin.

God grant that I may not be deceived in the earnest hope which I would gladly entertain, that his parents, brothers, and sisters, and many others, who loved him whilst he was on earth, will, when a few years more are passed, meet with him in heaven, never more to be separated from him!

May Mrs. L, and all your children, with yourself, be partakers of the best blessings of heaven.

I am, yours affectionately,
G. LAWSON.

*Afterwards the Rev. A. Lawson, of Selkirk.

From the late Rev. Dr. Lawson, to Mr. Thomas Mair, Edinburgh.

Selkirk, June 20, 1816.

DEAR SIR, It is a very affecting consideration of which you spoke in your last letter, that you are now in the year of life in which your amiable father died in a good old age. I now am within less than three years of the time of my much respected father's death. And we certainly ought not to think of many more years. Why should we? What have we here? What unknown felicities await us beyond the grave, if we are not imposing on ourselves and all around us, by calling ourselves the followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises!

We may possibly be allowed some more days or years of life. Isaac lived longer than his father Abraham, although he died full of days. Both of them lived many years longer than their grandfather Nahor. And whatever years of life are given us, are to be spent with gratitude to Him in whose hand is our life, and breath, and

all our ways. We cannot now hope for days of such pleasantness and sprightliness as in the prime of life. But God has wisely given us the experiment in our own bodies of the folly of seeking our happiness in animal enjoyments, and of putting away from us the thoughts of that day which must soon come to all.

The days of mourning for your father are long since ended; but I was pleased to find in your letter that you cherish his memory, and the best way of cherishing it is in kindness to them that stand in the same relation to him with yourself, in imitating his virtues, and in looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you a share

*The Rev. James Mair, of West Linton, Tweed-dale, under whose ministry Dr. L. was brought up, and one of the original founders of the Scotch Secession church.

with him in the happy change which has passed upon him. I speak not by way of advice. I am persuaded you need none on these subjects, but such as all need, to hold on in the good way, and to abound more and more. When we speak of imitating the virtues of those who have gone before us to heaven, we do not mean that they were perfect while they were among I am us, any more than ourselves. persuaded that you will not suspect me of disrespect to your father's memory, by saying, that irritability of temper was his defect, which he could never thoroughly subdue, though he much laboured to do it. If we imitate his virtues, we shall strive against this, and do as he did, and he that striveth lawfully will be crowned with victory.

I am now very unfit for travelling, and, through dulness of hearing, unfit for carrying on much intercourse with my friends, if I should be able to visit them. I have been under some depression of spirit for above two months past, on account of a beloved daughter, a pleasant child, whose state of health has been bad, although we have still good hopes of her recovery. I trust to have the benefit of your prayers. I remember with gratitude the sympathy you felt for us when we lost our beloved John. Through the mercy of the Lord, and the prayers of good friends, I hope to be preserved from sorrow upon sorrow in the loss of children deservedly dear to my heart. But in all things, the will of the Lord be done; and if it is his will to have our children with himself rather than to have them with us, we have no reason to be sorrowful, but every reason to give thanks.

My wife and family remember you and your sisters with kindness.

I am, yours affectionately,
G. LAWSON.