Methodism in any measure assailed, or by witnessing the inconsistency of professors, which made them stumbling-blocks in the way of inquirers after truth, and gave to the irreligious a plausible excuse for themselves, and a temporary ground of exultation over others.

On the earlier part of the Monday which preceded her decease, she expressed her conviction that her sickness was unto death. Her sufferings were very severe; but she bore them with Christian fortitude and resignation; observing, that she should soon be with her beloved father, singing eternal praises before the throne of her Redeemer. During the morning she expressed her wishes with reference to certain domestic concerns, to which she wished that attention might be paid after her own departure. She likewise spoke of the nursing, and training up for the Lord, of the lovely infant, which the Lord in his providence had given her. Having finished what she had to say on those subjects, she broke out in a glowing strain of praise to God, that she had remembered her Creator in the days of her youth, and had been led to seek his face whilst in the enjoyment of health and strength. She likewise spoke of the sweet peace of mind, and joyous rapture, that she experienced, in the prospect of her great change; and when not conversing with those who were in attendance upon her, she continued in earnest prayer and communion with her Maker. In the afternoon she repeated, evidently with much delight, these three

verses:

"Lover of souls, thou know'st to prize
What thou hast bought so dear;
Come, then, and in thy people's eyes
With all thy wounds appear.

"Appear as when of old confess'd,
The suffering Son of God;
And let me see thee in thy vest
But newly dipp'd in blood.

"Thy side an open fountain is,

Where all may freely go,

And drink the living streams of bliss,

And wash them white as snow."

Towards evening she fell into a sound and refreshing slumber; and when her medical attendants called, and found her in that state, their hopes appeared considerably to revive. Her sleep continued several hours; so that, on the Tuesday morning, her friends thought that perhaps she might even yet be spared unto them. Observing this, she remarked to her husband, that she feared he was anticipating her recovery ; and if so, that he would indeed be deceived, as she too well knew the state of her own feelings to expect it. She added, “I believe it is the will of the Lord that I should be taken away; and it will all be for the best. Blessed be God, I feel ready to depart at his bidding! but it requires much grace to be enabled to give up yourself

and that sweet babe. See to it, that you walk steadfastly in the paths. of piety, which I have found, indeed, to be the paths of peace. Pay a strict attention to the means of grace; never forsake your classmeetings, those precious meetings! What heavenly seasons have I there enjoyed! We have been too happy in each other, to be continued long together. There was a danger of our loving each other more than God; but I am only going a little while before, to welcome you into the presence of my Redeemer, if you remain his faithful follower, and rely fully on his atonement. Then-yes, then-that will be a blessed meeting, where parting will for ever be unknown." Towards noon unfavourable symptoms again presented themselves, and the hopes that had arisen were again disappointed.

Expressing a wish to speak to each of her brothers and sisters, such of them as could attend did so, when she spoke to each in the most affectionate manner, firmly expressing her confidence in Christ, urging the importance of devoting their whole hearts to God, and charging all to meet her at the right hand of her heavenly Father. One of her sisters having expressed a fear lest she should fatigue herself by speaking so much, she replied, "Indeed, Eliza, I could not have said half so much as I have, had not my Jesus been very nigh unto me; and his manifestations continue to grow brighter and brighter." During the afternoon she wished to see me. I immediately attended; and, upon entering her room, she appeared much pleased; but, being exceedingly weak and low, she could say only very little. In a faint whisper she said to me, "I want to be filled with the presence of Jesus." I stayed a short time with her, and engaged in prayer, which she appeared very much to enjoy. For several hours during the night, each breath was expected to be her last: the cold, clammy sweat of death stood in large drops upon her countenance, which yet remained as placid as though she had been in perfect health. The Almighty permitted the full persuasion of approaching death to be accompanied by such a manifestation of his grace and glory to the dying saint, as completely swallowed up death in victory, and even forced away from her afflicted relations, then attending her, the deep anguish of their souls, while it awed them into reverence, gratitude, and joy.

About six o'clock the following morning, she revived in a most remarkable manner, and again renewed her strains of prayer and praise. In a few hours afterwards, her recollection began to fail, through excessive weakness; and she continued in this state, with one or two exceptions, till the evening. The flame of life was now fast flickering in the socket; and on the evening of Wednesday, August 28th, 1839, she resigned her blessed spirit into the hands of her Maker, sweetly falling asleep in Jesus.

The mournful event was followed, a few days after, by the death of her infant son; so that, in the space of one short year, her bereaved partner became a husband, a father, and a solitary widower; and she

a wife, a mother, and a glorified saint; yet, not alone! but, with the infant to which she had given birth, glorified in the presence of her God and Saviour. Funeral sermons were preached on the occasion, both at Bradford and Bingley, to overflowing congregations, who honoured the memory of the dead, and sympathized with her surviving kindred and friends.

On

Mr. George Bingham, her respected Class-Leader, in Bradford, has given a correct summary of her character, pointing out, as the most prominent traits, her humility, spirituality of mind, and entire resignation to the will of God; her decision in religious matters; her strong attachment to the means of grace; her generosity, and special care, under all circumstances, to remember the poor. One fact only shall be recorded. Nearly the oldest member of the society in Bradford, who is venerable for his piety and uprightness, in advanced age was reduced to poverty, though God has never suffered him to want. the Sabbath-day this poor man was sometimes her chosen guest, and welcomed to all the comforts her table afforded, where he felt as much at home as if they had been equals in their worldly circumstances. Upon her becoming acquainted with the smallness of his weekly income, she set on foot a subscription, to be collected monthly amongst her friends in the congregation, and speedily raised a sum sufficient to make him comfortable. It is zealously continued, and is received by the venerable old man with feelings of the warmest gratitude. And shall we be far wrong in supposing, that the earnest prayers which were offered up by him, for his kind benefactress, were not without their share in contributing to the large measures of divine consolation and support which she so manifestly enjoyed in her own affliction, and especially in her conflict with the last enemy? It is written: "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing : thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness." (Psalm xli. 1, 3.) At all events, this instance will serve to illustrate her character. Much beside might be added; but it shall be left to the revelation of that day, when the words of the Apostle shall receive their full accomplishment: "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (Heb. vi. 10.)

In conclusion, an interesting circumstance shall be related, which elicited from the pen of our great Christian poet four beautiful verses of the most affecting nature. Mrs. Wyvill having purchased an album, which she intended expressly for the contributions of Christian Ministers, and godly men and women, was particularly anxious that Mr. Montgomery should be the first contributor. Her husband being acquainted with one of the poet's friends, Mr. Henry Longden, of Sheffield, and having to visit this gentleman on business, the book was taken, with a request from Mrs. Wyvill, that Mr. Longden would

endeavour to procure a few lines from Mr. Montgomery's pen. Mr. Longden kindly promised to do so. Very shortly after the book had been sent to that gentleman, Mr. Montgomery left Sheffield, on a visit to the warmer climate of the South, where he remained some time. On his return, he was informed that, during his absence, Mrs. Wyvill had departed this life. He shortly afterwards expressed the feelings which the intelligence had produced, in the following lines, which he transcribed on the first page of the album :

TO CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ALBUM.

WITH fear and trembling on this volume look;
'Tis not a mortal's, but a spirit's, book;
Wherein let none a line, a thought, indite,
That will not bear the day of judgment's light,
When every secret thing shall be made known
By Him that sitteth on the "great white throne."

TO READERS OF THE CONTENTS.

WITH tender reverence on this volume look;
A saint in glory owns the humble book;
A bridal-gift, by her consign'd in trust
To one dear friend when she return'd to dust;
A link of love, unbroken, still to be
"Twixt him in time, her in eternity.

TO HER WHO LEFT THIS BOOK BEHIND.

SPIRIT made perfect! if sometimes thine ear,
'Midst angels' songs, may earthly accents hear,-
If, glancing from the unseen world on high,
Lines written on these pages meet thine eye,-
Hear, read, approve, while I presume to say
What thou, if prayer be made in heaven, dost pray!

"Our Father, God! thy kingdom come; thy will
In earth, as heaven, let all that breathe fulfil;
And O! since I am raised by sovereign grace,

Thus in thy house to dwell, and see thy face,
May those below, with whom my heart was bound,
Be here with me in life eternal found!"

THE MOUNT, SHEFFIELD,

Jan. 21st, 1840.

The remains of this excellent lady repose, in accordance with her own request, in the burial-ground of Eastbrook chapel, Bradford, as also do those of her infant son. "The memory of the just is blessed."

HOW THE LORD JESUS CAN GIVE US HIS FLESH TO EAT:

A SERMON,*

Preached before the Wesleyan-Methodist Ministers, assembled at their Annual District-Meeting, in Liverpool, May, 1841, and published at their request:

BY THE REV. WILLIAM FRANCE.

"How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" John vi. 52.

IN reference to this matter, the Jews strove among themselves, when they had heard our Lord not only say, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever," but also add," And the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." Nor can we wonder, that many of his professed disciples still strive among themselves, and urge the same question. Some, indeed, may be satisfied with the assertion, that his words are to be taken in a spiritual sense, without ever giving themselves the trouble to ask those who make the assertion, what they mean by "a spiritual sense." Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit of God," and "prophecy came not in old time by the will of man." Hence the true spiritual sense of the words of Scripture is, as I conceive, what the Spirit of God meant by them, and not what any man chooses to imagine that they mean. It is thus we are taught by St. Peter to look upon what has been said, by all the ancient Prophets, of the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that were to follow them. And the Apostles spoke and wrote, not in words taught them by man's wisdom, but by the Holy Ghost. We also must observe, that Jesus Christ was so far from recalling, or even softening, the strong declaration which caused the Jews thus to dispute among themselves and put the question under consideration, that he immediately proceeded to use yet stronger language, saying, with the greatest solemnity, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

• As not a sentence of this sermon was written previous to its being preached, and the author, after he had commenced writing it, was visited by a most afflictive family bereavement, which obliged him to lay it aside for a time, he cannot vouch for its being, in every respect, the very discourse he delivered: it is, however, the same in substance, and, he hopes, improved in depth of feeling, by that severe trial of his own faith.