the Saviour, which is the condition of our acceptance. Again her mind was graciously drawn to the sacrificial death of Christ; but she continued for a while to shrink from claiming a personal interest in his atonement. The light of the Spirit, however, continued to shine on her soul, and his gracious energy still drew her to the cross of Christ: she embraced the record of mercy; and, while, in perfect self-renunciation, she rested on that one plea, "Christ loved me, and gave himself for me," she received the Spirit of adoption, enabling her to love God as her reconciled Father and Friend. In her experience, as thus described by herself, we may perceive the co-operation of the Holy Spirit with the human mind, in the production of saving faith. The Holy Ghost took of the things of Christ, and "showed them unto her;" he directed her views to Calvary, and prompted the feeling of confidence in the Saviour; but this spiritual revelation of Christ, this clear and powerful application of the truth which relates to his atonement and intercession, and his willingness now to save, was followed, on her part, by an act of appropriating trust in the Redeemer she committed her soul to the merits of his sacrifice, and felt the peace which "passeth understanding." Repeatedly has she mentioned, with gratitude to God, the circumstances of her conversion, and the clear and joyous assurance of her acceptance with which she was favoured. In all her temptations and afflictions, she never doubted the reality of the solemn transactions of that hour, in which her broken and contrite spirit rested on the Saviour, and received the peace and joy of the filial relation.

The love of God being now "shed abroad in her heart by the Holy Ghost given unto her," she was constrained to live for Christ. With much diffidence and modesty, she entered upon the very responsible employment of visiting the sick; and her labours in this sphere were crowned with much success. Often, indeed, her mind was exercised with fears, lest she should not have given suitable advice; but through all her inward fears and conflicts, and through all the discouraging circumstances which occurred from without, she persevered in her benevolent efforts, and looked to God for his blessing.

Her connexion with the Methodist society extended through a period of twenty-seven years; and, during eighteen of these, she was accustomed to express in writing the state of her mind, in order to promote the habit of self-examination, and to record, for her own benefit, the gracious dealings of God with her. It would have been interesting to those who knew her, to trace her religious history, as thus detailed by herself; more especially, as she possessed a vigorous and discriminating mind, and her piety was deep and uniform. This source of information, however, is closed to us; since, in her last illness, she confided her papers to her husband, under an express promise that no one should peruse them but himself.

It was towards the close of the year 1835, that my acquaintance with Mrs. Collet commenced. She was at that time confined to her house by the illness which, after the lapse of nearly two years, proved fatal; but she was able to come daily into her sitting-room, and to converse with a considerable degree of freedom. My interviews with her were, to my own mind, highly interesting and profitable; and I remember her conversation, and the graces which were apparent in her character, with a desire to follow her in those exercises of faith and patience," through which she now inherits the promises." Some of the views of her Christian character, and the workings of divine grace in her, which these interviews suggested, may be here briefly stated.

In endeavouring to trace the religious character of Mrs. Collet, I would first mention her clear and vivid apprehension of the truths of the holy Scriptures. She was habituated to the careful study of the inspired volume; and sought to understand, and to retain in her memory, all the great subjects which it unfolds. She was likewise distinguished by the habitual application of the truths of Scripture to personal religious experience. She did not merely credit the word of God, so as to believe the doctrines which it reveals, but she embraced the truth with her heart; she clung to that sole object of reliance which the holy Scriptures reveal; she reposed firmly on all the promises of God; and she claimed in faith the personal realization of the high privileges of our religion.

One particular now alluded to, must have arrested the attention of every one who conversed with her on Christian experience,the simplicity and firmness of her reliance on the sacrificial death of Christ. With her the doctrine of the atonement was not a mere article of speculative belief; it was held in connexion with a strong and unfailing confidence in Him whom it sets forth. She always approached God through his incarnate Son; she connected every promise with that precious blood which has been shed for our redemption; and she had a firm regard to the intercession and mediatorial sovereignty of our Redeemer. To the vigour and constancy of her faith in Christ, must be attributed the stability of her inward peace. Hers was not the peace of an unreflecting mind,-a mind that enters not into self-scrutiny, and that feels no alarm, because it is unacquainted with its true character; but the peace of a mind convinced of the purity of God, of the spirituality and extent of the divine law, sensible of its need of an interceding High Priest, and of that “blood of sprinkling, which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel," and actually exercising a self-renouncing trust in the sacrifice of the Redeemer. This faith was not, however, at all times exercised without a struggle or conflict. She had sometimes to press through temptations and doubts, through a seeming inability to engage in devotional exercises,-to that Saviour who " is full of grace

and truth." In the absence, however, of these powerful conflicts, which sometimes rendered the act of appropriating trust somewhat difficult, she enjoyed calm and joyous access to the Most High. She was "a child of God," living in the conscious enjoyment of the privileges of the filial relation; and, as the first of those privileges, possessing "the Spirit of adoption," whereby she could cry, "Abba, Father."

In connexion with her vigorous faith in the atonement, should be mentioned her deep and steady regard to Christian holiness. She saw its beauty; she viewed its establishment in the heart, and its developement in the life, as included in the grand design of the Saviour's appearance on earth; and she rejoiced to know, that "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus makes us free from the law of sin and death." There was no melancholy depression connected with her thoughts of holiness; for she looked upon it as inexpressibly lovely, and she viewed it as attainable through the precious blood of Christ. On every past deviation, indeed, from the path of duty, she looked back with humiliation and regret; and if, at any time, she yielded for an instant to an improper feeling, she acknowledged it with real contrition of spirit. In the presence of the God of unsullied purity, she would not, even when conscious of no offence, conclude herself thereby justified; but, casting herself on the merits of the Saviour's sacrifice, she sought the continual manifestation of the light of God's reconciled countenance, and the continual supplies of the hallowing grace of the Spirit.

It was easy to perceive in her experience, that the Holy Spirit used his own truth as the instrument of her sanctification and comfort. She knew and loved the truth; she dwelt with deep interest on the doctrines, the precepts, and the promises, of the holy Scriptures, and viewed them in their application to her own experience. All her religious emotions seem to have been connected with some great truth clearly apprehended by her mind,-with some impressive view of the character of God, or the scheme of redemption, or the high privileges of those who receive Christ by penitent faith, or the glorious " inheritance of the saints in light." She would often dwell on particular passages of the holy Scriptures, unfold the views which they had opened to her mind, and state the feelings of confidence, and love, and hope, and joy, which they had excited in her breast. This application of the truth to her mind contributed to render her power over sin, and her religious comfort, though sometimes assailed by the powers of darkness, habitual and firm. By a faith of the operation of the Holy Spirit, she took hold of the revealed declarations of God, and was enabled to quench "the fiery darts of the wicked one."

The religious character of Mrs. Collet was distinguished by active benevolence, and devotedness to the cause of Christ. If it was not in

her power to contribute largely to the relief of the temporal necessities of the destitute, she was indefatigable in seeking to promote the spiritual interests of the afflicted. It has been already mentioned, that, while capable of active exertion, she frequently visited the sick chamber, for the purpose of imparting religious instruction or comfort; and in this department of service she manifested great fidelity, discrimination, and love. It was obvious, likewise, that she ever felt a deep interest in the prosperity of the Redeemer's cause. She was impressed with the worth of immortal souls; she looked upon them as redeemed with the precious blood of the incarnate Son of God; and "the love of Christ constrained" her, while her mind dwelt on those great principles of our faith," that if one died for all, then were all dead; and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again." When, in my visits to her, I was able to refer to any instances of true conversion, her soul kindled with holy benevolence and joy. Through the whole period of her affliction, she took a lively interest in the work of God around her; and every indication of prosperity cheered and delighted her spirit.

As her disease advanced, her piety was evidently increasing in strength and maturity. She evinced a growing spirituality of mind, a deepened love to God, a brighter hope of heaven; but while her affections were placed on things above, and she already "sat in heavenly places with Christ Jesus," she manifested a tender benevolence to all around her, a perceptible interest and delight in their comfort and happiness. Her unostentatious kindness of heart gave a charm to all her other graces, and illustrated their reality and depth. Her state was one of calm and steadfast repose on the sacrifice of Jesus, and the promises of God; and she was accustomed to testify, with deep and peculiar feeling, the great mercy of the Most High, and his unfailing fidelity, as her covenant God in Christ. She frequently described her experience, by saying, that her mind was stayed on God; that she felt that he was, indeed, her God and Father. As her bodily weakness increased, and a vigorous exertion of the power of thought became more difficult, the Holy Spirit infused comfort into her mind by the frequent application of some precious truths of his holy word. Adverting to her inability to seek God with that earnest and energetic pleading of his truth, which had in former seasons characterized her prayers, she seemed overpowered with the thought of the condescension of God, in coming to her, and pouring into her heart abundant spiritual consolation.

In the anticipation of death, she felt no dread, no shrinking from the solemn change. She had proved the virtue of the Redeemer's sacrifice, and the grace of his mediatorial reign; and when she thought of entering the invisible world, she reposed with unshaken confidence on his fidelity, and power, and love. With deep feeling, she could say, * I

know whom I have believed, and am persuaded, that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." On one occasion, she observed to me, "Since I last saw you, I have been apparently very near death. Indeed, on Sunday last, I thought I was in the article of dying; but my mind was in a state of unutterable composure and happiness. I had such a full persuasion that the blessed God was mine, and that it was only for this fleeting breath to pass, and I should be with Him for ever." Frequently she employed the language of holy exultation, in the prospect of the heavenly world. She sometimes exclaimed, "Glory! glory! ceaseless praise and glory be unto the Lamb that was slain, and that liveth again. I shall see him as he is. I shall be with him for ever."

For a few weeks before her death, which occurred at the close of July, 1837, her debility was extreme, and the severe pain which she suffered in speaking, and the violent cough which was brought on by the least exertion, prevented her from conversing much with those friends who were allowed to see her. Still, however, it was evident to us that her mind was graciously supported under extreme pain; that she rested, with unshaken constancy, on the atonement of Christ; and that her anticipations of heaven were bright and cheering. To her Class-Leader she said, in the last conversation which that Christian friend was privileged to hold with her, "Give my love to the class, and tell them that I have found the all-sustaining power of God in this affliction more than I ever expected to find it. My mind is in perfect peace; it is calmly stayed on God. I can sink into his will, and feel that he is mine." And when, at last, the messenger of death was commissioned to terminate her bodily sufferings, and to close her state of probation, she lifted her feeble hands, and uttering, "Glory! glory! glory!" sweetly fell asleep in Jesus. In her we beheld, while living, a striking illustration of the power of divine grace, of the blessedness of piety, and of the fidelity of God to his promises; and, "being dead, she yet speaketh."

DIVINITY.

MEANS OF OBTAINING FOR METHODISM A SECOND PROSPEROUS CENTURY:

A SERMON :

BY THE REV. SAMUEL JACKSON.

"Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation."
(Psalm xliii. 1.)

THE text assumes that there are cases in which men are attacked and accused by their fellow-men, but approved and defended by God, the one Governor and Judge of all. David himself, at one