May the next year be marked in our experience and character, by a rapid advancement in every moral and spiritual attainment, and by the most unreserved consecration of body and soul to the service of Christ; that when time with us shall be no more, we may be received into the state of final glory, and share in all the rewards and joys of a deathless eternity.

MEMOIR OF THE LATE MRS. JOHN EDWARDS,

Who departed this life, August 18th, 1841.

Mrs. Edwards was born in the parish of Compton Dundon, in the county of Somerset. She was the only surviving child of Mr. and Mrs. Barge, of that place. Her father was a farmer, in rather comfortable circumstances; but both her parents died before she was nine years of age. Left an orphan, she was removed to the parish of Hallstock, in the county of Dorset, where she resided with a cousin, (one of her trustees.) About the age of fourteen, she went to reside at South Petherton, in her native county, with the Rev. R. Herdsman, where she remained three years and a half; but, in consequence of ill health, she returned to her native place, and lived with an uncle, another trustee, and who had no children. Here the acquaintance commenced, which terminated in marriage, with her now bereaved and afflicted partner, in the year 1797.

About twelve months after marriage, the gospel was brought to her native place, by Mr. John May, who, though not a learned man, was very zealous in his Master's cause, and was instrumental in her conversion to God. During the first ten years of her spiritual life, she was, as the apostle states, "subject to bondage through fear of death;" this, as she states in a short diary kept by herself, was mercifully taken away in the month of May, 1807. From that time she was not heard to express a fear of death, or a doubt of her interest in the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. She was a firm believer in the covenant love of God to his people, and in the final perseverance of

the saints.

Mrs. E. having given herself to the Lord, and to his people, by joining the independent church at Somerton, about the year 1800, then under the pastoral care of the Rev. R. Gale, she continued to adorn the doctrine of God her Saviour, by a consistent walk and conversation.

In her diary, is the following account of the Lord's dealings with her at different times. "In the month of September, 1798, the Lord was pleased to bless to my comfort and joy, the following texts of scripture,-Psalm xci. 11,‚—' He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.' Matt. v. 6, Blessed are

they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled; also, that delightful hymn of Dr. Watt's,

"Why was I made to hear thy voice,

And enter while there's room;

When thousands make a wretched choice,

And rather starve than come," &c.

"At another time, (she says,) being in great trouble, and praying the the Lord to remove the cross, I was forcibly struck with the thought, Lord strengthen my graces, and enable me to bear patiently until the desired end is accomplished. I was directed to the fourteenth chapter of John, the reading of which much relieved my mind, and gave comfort to my troubled spirit. At another time, (she states,) being much distressed by reason of the dispensations of Providence, and the difficulties of the way, and quite impatient to depart, for a whole week the Lord was pleased to relieve my mind by directing our dear minister, Mr. Prankard, to preach from Phil. i. 21— For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' I suspected some one had told him the state of my mind, but it was of the Lord.

"Since residing in London, being much depressed in spirit on account of reverse circumstances, I was directed to a chapel in Church-street, Spitalfields, when the minister preached from Job ii. 10— Shall we receive good at the hands of God, and shall we not receive evil?' which was much blessed to my soul, in causing my troubled spirit to be at rest; leaving my temporal concerns in the hands of a kind and merciful Parent."

As a mother, she was excelled by few, if by any; and she had the happiness of seeing her children rising up around her, with hearts full of love and affection, both to herself and towards each other. She was diligent in the training of their minds, by teaching them the lessons of truth and holiness. She brought them up in the fear of the Lord, ever alive to their spiritual and eternal welfare. She was the mother of eleven children, seven of whom survive to mourn their loss.

As a wife, she was kind, affectionate, and faithful. During the forty-four years she sustained the conjugal relation, her character and conduct have proved all that could be desired. Her spiritual conversation was frequently delightful and encouraging. She possessed very humiliating views of herself; she exalted her Saviour, giving to him the glory of her salvation. Often she would exclaim, in the language of Paul, By the of God I am what I am ;" and with grace the poet,

-

"Oh! to grace how great a debtor,
Daily I'm constrained to be," &c.

Frequently after school, she has been heard to say," I have been much comforted from a verse of scripture I saw on one of the cards ;" and on the Friday before her death, she said to her now bereaved partner, "the Lord has been pleased to pay me a very gracious visit

to-day, by blessing, in a very peculiar manner, my soul, through the reading of a verse on one of the cards; I think I never was more highly favoured with a sense of the divine presence."

She had

She made secret prayer a duty, but not less a great privilege; and many were the extraordinary answers she received in return. nearness of access to the throne of mercy.

She was recently heard to adore the goodness of the Lord, for keeping her mind steady in his ways; while some, who started with her, by profession, had turned aside, or had been tossed about with different winds of doctrine. "I know not (she said) that a shade of difference has taken place in my views of the plan of salvation, by Jesus Christ, as laid down in the scriptures of divine truth, from the time I was called by divine grace to the present." She was no bigot; wherever she saw consistency of conduct, and the exercise of faith in the Lord Jesus for salvation, she most cheerfully gave the right-hand of friendship.

To do good to the poor in their distress, was her dear delight; not unfrequently was she known to solicit for them of others, what her own means would not permit her to do. From her youth, she possessed this feeling; and, for many years, she felt a strong desire to establish a society for their benefit. This she effected, with the aid of some kind friends, five years since, which is called the "Seamen and Rivermen Mother and Infant's Friend Society;" to the interest of which, she devoted much of her time.

While on her death-bed (on which she lay not quite three days,) she was asked at different times the state of her mind; when she replied," Happy-quite happy, and comfortable." About a half an hour before her departure, being asked if she felt the Lord's presence, she said, "The Lord God is a sun and shield." Being reminded that he gave grace and glory, she exclaimed,-" No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." She was sensible to the last, and stated she was in no pain. Thus not only the sting of death, but even the pain of it was mercifully taken away. She said she only felt weak and sinking. Soon after, she fell asleep in Jesus, without a struggle. Her happy spirit took its flight to the mansions of glory.

Her death was improved at the Sailors' Chapel, Shadwell, on Sunday, the 29th August, 1841, by the Rev. J. Vautin, from Matt. 6.; words chosen by her about ten years since. The place was filled on the occasion, with the children of the schools, their parents, and others, together with the members of her numerous family.

V.

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BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD, from HENCEFORTH-YEA, SAITH THE SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS; AND THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM."

FRITZ HAZELL-A TEMPERANCE TALE.

(Concluded from page 304.)

In summing up the account to the period of Fritz Hazell's final departure from Amsterdam, it must be confessed there was an item, of painful interest, not to be overlooked. The fatigue of a sea-life, and the weight of that responsibility which fell in the present instance upon an anxious spirit, were obviously impairing his health. Van Scromphen shook his head when captain de Witt was commending the young man's behaviour; and observed,-"De shword ish to sharp for de shcappord. I pe feared de sea-life vill never do."

Van Scromphen was perfectly right. Upon the arrival of the Thetis at Philadelphia, after a boisterous passage, Fritz Hazell quitted her in a feeble state of health. He now took passage for New England by land; and before his journey was half finished, he had become already sensible of an obvious improvement in his spirits. A relief from his late care and responsibility, and the prospect of revisiting the scenes of his youth, and his old friend and protector, were productive of the happiest effects.

The stage-coach at length ascended the Holden Hills; and, after an absence of nearly six years, Fritz Hazell beheld the smoke ascending from the house tops of his native valley; with an emotion easily understood by those who have caught the first view of the village spire, after an absence of years, and utterly unintelligible to those who have not. The vehicle rolled so rapidly along that it passed a few rods beyond the dwelling of old Hazell, before the driver had stopped the horses. Fritz was out in an instant, and leaving his sea chest by the road side, he turned back to the cottage. He tried the door, it was fastened; and, raising his eyes, he read upon a small card, "This house to be let; inquire of Mrs. Sukey Mc Flaggon, administratrix, or Christopher Grippett, her attorney." The tale was summarily told. His old patron was dead. He returned to the place where his chest had been deposited. He sat down upon it, and, for a moment, applied his handkerchief to his eyes. "Poor old man," said he, " perhaps he has died alone; I wish I could have been with him."

Attracted by the unusual circumstance of a passenger and his luggage left at the road-side, and especially by his unsuccessful attempts to get admittance to the empty cottage, a tall old man with his sleeves rolled up, and a leathern apron about his waist, came forth from a shoemaker's shop; and, after observing the stranger for an instant, stepped over towards him. It was old Enoch Foster, the shoemaker. Fritz recollected him immediately. "You don't remember me," said the young sailor, extending his hand. "Yes, I do, now that you speak," said old Enoch, shaking_him heartily by the hand; "I had a thought it must be you when I saw you go to the

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house. The old gentleman has gone. He talked a great deal about you in his last sickness. Whenever he got one of your letters, he used to come over and read it to us with a great deal of pleasure. Come, let me help you to take your chest over to our house. My wife will be glad to see you." Fritz accepted the offer; and, as they were entering the door, Nabby," cried the old man, 66 come down; here is Fritz Hazell just come from sea." "You don't say so!" replied a quick, business-like voice from above; and almost immediately after, a round button of a body came dumpling into the room, and seizing the young man by the hand, Why, Fritz Hazell!" she said, "why, how you have altered! You have lost your good old friend. Ah, Fritz! there have been strange doings in the village since you went away." "When did captain Hazell die, and of what distemper?" inquired Fritz. "A little less than two months ago," said Mrs. Foster. "He died of lung fever. You know how much he always disliked Sukey Mc Flaggon, his niece; who certainly, besides marrying Mc Flaggon, did all in her power to displease the old gentleman: well, only think of it, she is heir to all his property. They say he has left a very pretty estate here, besides money in Holland. Lawyer Grippit says it is no such thing, and that the old man left very little. But you know, I dare say; how was it?" Fritz replied that he knew nothing of the amount, but that he had heard the captain had money at interest with Van Scromphen, Brothers, and Company, of Amsterdam. 66 Lawyer Grippit and Sukey Mc Flaggon," said the shoemaker's wife, "are going to be married." "Mc Flaggon is dead, then?" said Hazell. Oh yes," said old Enoch, "I wonder you didn't hear of it. He has been dead these three years. He became a sot; and Tim Smith-you remember Tim Smith? he is now in the state's prison for manslaughter; Tim killed him in a row." "She is full eleven years older than Lawyer Grippit," said Mrs. Foster, "and everybody sees that he's after old captain Hazell's property. Everybody is talking about it, and strange stories are told. There is old Mrs. Spook, the deacon's wife, she says she is sure that her husband told her one evening, when he came home later than usual, that he had been with captain Hazell, who had been executing a will; and that Squire Grippit and Dr. Manna witnessed it with himself. But Lawyer Grippit frightened the old lady shamefully, and threatened to get a grand jury to sit upon her." No, no, wife," said her husband, "to indict her, you mean.” "Well, well, so it was," rejoined Mrs Foster; "besides, the old lady was none of the wisest. However, the deacon is dead, and Dr. Manna is dead; and if there's any secret about it, it's all locked up in the squire's bosom ; but t'will all be known in the great day." "It's a strange business,' said the old shoemaker, " and it's very hard to get at the truth. I hear a great many rumours, for the matter is talked over by everybody; and I take care to say as little about it as possible."

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Fritz listened attentively to the remarks of old Enoch and his wife, and in perfect silence, till he found himself alone with the husband. He then said to him, "Mr. Foster, I have always had a respect for