nistry to become members of the Society. Among these was Mrs. Mollett, who would not join the Society unless he would set the example. His affectionate regard for her spiritual welfare overcame his scruples, and he was ever afterwards thankful for the step he then took. He was a great blessing to the Society, as his piety had borne the test of years. He was appointed the Leader of the Class; which office he sustained till his death. He retained all his attachment to the Church of England, frequenting her ordinances on Sundays, and even holidays; yet, esteeming it his high privilege to entertain the Methodist Ministers in his house. His path shone more and more bright, till in March, 1820, he entered into the joy of his Lord, aged eighty years, during sixty of which he had maintained an exemplary and consistent religious character.

It is a subject of great regret, that so many parents seem unaware of the early period at which the Spirit of God operates upon the mind; and some, even when His influences are clearly discovered, still neglect that instruction and prayer which the situation of children requires ; erroneously imagining that the mind is not capable of understanding the plan of salvation. It is true, that the senses are not exercised to know the deep things of God; but it is equally certain that these are not suited to the juvenile capacity. When God is working, parents are called to work

⚫ too.

Often did the subject of this memoir mourn, that she had spent so many years without an experimental knowledge of Christ, which she attributed principally to this neglect. When six or seven years of age, her convictions of the need of religion induced her to retire frequently for prayer; and she delighted to hear of Jesus: but her parents contented themselves with admiring and praising her, rather than administering instruction how to pray, believe, and love; so that she even became proud of her seriousness. During the time when she was at school in York, however, temptations to cast off religious restraint proved very powerful; and once she was prevailed upon to accompany a friend to the theatre; and in other matters she assumed the appearance of the world: but even here the Lord graciously followed her. One evening, having retired to bed, her distress of mind was such that she arose, and, kneeling down, entered into resolutions to be the Lord's in future. Although these feelings ended without conversion, yet her more frequent and earnest prayer, with her bold singularity, no doubt saved her from many evils. All the advantages of such gracious visitations, even when they do not result in an evangelical change, cannot be fully known. Her conduct and appearance had so much the semblance of piety, that many Preachers urged her to become a member of Society; whom she invariably endeavoured to undeceive, by assuring them that she was not pious, nor had she those hungerings and thirstings after salvation, which are requisite in every one who joins a religious society. None were more regular or attentive hearers of the word, or more neat and modest in their dress; few had so

much the government of their temper, or were more cautious of giving offence; and in separation from the world, she was a pattern to most believers: yet, still the mind was not renewed. She had much restraining grace, the drawings of the Father, but not the manifestation of the Son; and she well knew the necessity of receiving the Spirit of adoption.

The spiritual husbandman goeth forth weeping, bearing precious seed; yet for reasons unknown to us, he has sometimes to wait long for the former and latter rain. The Lord, at the same time, is, however, generally preparing a people for himself, and the labourer has ultimately his reward. The Methodist Society in Appleton continued for twenty years. nearly stationary, when the Lord graciously poured his awakening and converting Spirit upon the people, and in a few weeks the number in Society amounted to seventy.

It was during this revival, that Mrs. Haswell was brought to experience the truth as it is in Jesus. "Our meetings," says she, "were sometimes continued till after midnight; frequently several were crying for mercy, some praying, some weeping, others singing and rejoicing. At first I could not join with them. The work seemed to be all confusion: but I soon became fully persuaded that it was the work of God. I had for several years been fully convinced that religion was the only thing that could make me happy. During prayer my convictions increased, till I felt determined not to rest in my present state. But I cannot describe what I felt sometimes I was ready to conclude my case to be desperate; at other times I felt a degree of hope. when the Lord graciously enabled me to always respected the Ministers of the esteemed them. Like Mary she sat with docility to learn, and their conversations with her were made a great blessing to her soul. She rejoiced in the Lord, and spent several hours each day alone in reading

and prayer.

Thus I went on for five weeks, rejoice in his salvation." She Gospel; but now she highly

"He that receiveth a prophet, in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward." The conversion of his wife and daughter were not the only rewards experienced by Mr. Mollett in consequence of receiving the messengers of truth into his house. His son Thomas became a subject of gracious influence, and, at a Love-Feast in Tadcaster, received the salvation of God. Some time after this, however, to the great grief of the whole family, especially of his sister, he embraced Socinian views of divine revelation. During the revival of the work of God, the contrast between the chilling system he had embraced, and the fervent piety of those about him, shook his sandy foundation; and a serious study of the Scriptures, accompanied by earnest prayer, convinced him of the truth. This event was of vast importance. He sought and found again the pearl of great price; and then became the adviser, instructer, and leader of his sister. Happy in each other, and in beholding the pros

perity of Zion, one thing more seemed desirable. The preaching-room had been enlarged to twice its original size; but still it was too small. They therefore requested their father to give land upon which to build a neat and commodious chapel; with which he cheerfully complied, and subscribed thirty pounds besides, toward the erection. With pleasure they beheld its progress, and Solomon could not feel more elated at the dedication of the temple, than they did when the chapel was opened for public worship. The blessed God, however, saw proper soon to interrupt this union of affection, by the death of Thomas, in May, 1821. His zeal was ardent, though he was a man of few words; and the papers he left show the reasonings of his mind on the errors he had embraced, his progress towards truth, and ultimate deliverance.

The Selby Circuit was the place of my appointment at the time of our marriage. The spiritual advantages which my wife then enjoyed, more than compensated for the inconveniences of a small and half-furnished house, which formed a perfect contrast to that which she had left. And as our marriage was the introduction of a second Preacher's family into that Circuit, she was unwilling to put the Society to more expense than was absolutely necessary.

We removed to York at the ensuing Conference. During the two years we spent in that Circuit, there were no remarkable variations in her Christian experience. In 1819 we were stationed at Easingwold. This was a situation exactly suited to her native diffidence, and retired habits. Its small, but select Society; its exemption from that tax on time, large and frequent visiting parties; were all subjects of thankfulness. Here she formed an acquaintance with Mrs. Driffield, whose deep experience, and affectionate manner of encouraging the timid, made her friendship truly valuable; especially as the cares of an increasing family required the advice of one who had been exercised in a similar way. Her experience must have greatly varied during the three years she spent in this place; but upon the whole, though her severe manner of censuring herself for every thing short of perfection, frequently occasioned depres sion of mind, yet she experienced an increase of spiritual knowledge, and of humility, spending her time principally with her family and her God. Having spent three comfortable years in Easingwold, we removed to Sheffield. The diversities in an itinerant life are by no means favourable to piety in diffident persons, because of their hesitancy in the formation of new friendships: yet the memorandums which Mrs. Haswell has left in manuscript show at this period, as well as at every other, during her religious course, the correctness of her judgment, and the piety of her disposition. Her great sincerity and tenderness of con science, induced the most rigid scrutiny into all her actions and motives. She never pleaded the example of others, in extenuation of a fault. The Bible was her rule; but she sometimes erroneously judged, that because

she was not all that the Bible says of an adult Christian, she was there. fore nothing. This mode of reasoning occasionally deprived her of many comforts which she had a gracious right to enjoy; and a more thankful spirit for present blessings, would have secured greater abundance. While none was more lenient to the faults of others, she passed the severest censures on herself, for failings which none but herself could discover.

A powerful attack of illness in August, 1824, her subsequent confinement in October, and the death of the infant in November, caused a degree of debility from which she never recovered. In May, 1825, it was recommended to her to try her native air, which for a short time produced a favourable change. But symptoms of an alarming nature were soon presented, and in the course of a few weeks her case became hopeless. During this time her religious feelings were very fluctuating: alternate hopes and fears pervaded her mind; and Satan taking advantage of her disposition to under-rate her religious attainments, greatly oppressed her spirits. Her family, of whom she was passionately fond, she could not resign into the hands of God. One day she observed, "The test of discipleship is denying ourselves, and taking up the cross daily; but of what have I denied myself? What cross have I borne ?" And when reminded of her abstaining from worldly amusements; her conscientious adherence to religion, contrary to her worldly interest, and in direct opposition to some friends; her refusal of all the gaieties of life, and cheerful adoption of all the inconveniences of itinerancy; all these, and many other circumstances, she attributed to education, habit, or natural disposition, rather than to the grace of God. When the rapid increase and necessary cares of her family were urged as reasons why she had but little time to devote to the welfare of others, she remarked, "I have lost many hours, many days, which, had they been spent in visiting the sick and poor, would have afforded me pleasing reflections now; not as works of merit, but as fruits of grace." Many times she was referred to the promises of God, especially, "They that trust in the Lord, shall never be confounded." She replied, "I trust in nothing else but the atonement; I have been deprived, for some years, of every plea beside; but I want the momentary witness that I am the Lord's child. God has said, 'He that believeth hath the witness in himself.' I have not that witness; it is mixed with so much doubt, that no witness remains." I asked, "And will God cast you into hell, while resting only on the atonement?"? "No," she replied; "I do not fear hell, because I am saved by hope; but do not endeavour to persuade me I am right; my native sloth is great enough, it needs no opiate. I must have assurance, constant assurance; and when I have believed aright, God will give it: I know he will give it." "Then," said I, "now fearlessly believe; give yourself wholly to Christ; his atoning work is finished." "O," she answered, "but you, and my children, my dear children, must be given up; and when I think of you,

I am like a person driven away. I must overcome this feeling before I can hope for the full salvation I desire." I rejoined, "No, not before; but as a fruit of faith: believe; take Christ first as your complete Saviour; then myself and the children will be given up." The struggle between nature and grace was severe. With strong crying and tears, she made her request known to God; and she was heard.

On Wednesday, October 19th, a pious friend and myself having engaged in prayer, the Lord revealed himself to her soul, in a way that removed all her doubts, and enabled her to " rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." Now her fears of death were gone, and what had long distracted her mind became comparatively easy; her dearest earthly connexions then lost that hold which they had possessed, to the obstruction of the peace and joy promised to the believer. Not that she loved her relations less, but she loved God more. Her native diffidence was so remarkably overcome, that she freely spoke of the things of God to those who visited her; requesting them not to be satisfied with any degree of religion short of a direct and abiding witness of their acceptance with God. On the following evening, whilst her brother was sitting by her bedside, she entreated him to be a decided Christian; assuring him of the confidence she had that she should soon be with her father and her brother Thomas in heaven. During this conversation, the Lord vouchsafed a powerful manifestation of himself to her mind concerning which she afterwards observed, "There was more solidity in it than in the former; more of God, less of nature, a settledness, a depth; it was not so overwhelming, yet it was more clear and powerful. Scarcely do I know how to describe it; it is all love, it is heaven."

Her disorder was of that nature, that her family very frequently expected she would not survive many minutes, and surrounded her bed to receive her dying testimony. On one of those occasions, when revived a little, she looked at me, saying, " Am I come back again?" I inquired how she felt when apparently dying. She replied, "Comfortable; but it is a valley." On Friday morning, October 28th, she wished to have all her children brought to her, that she might once more see and bless them. To the eldest she spoke, for a considerable time, on what Jesus had done for them; adding, "It is your dying mother's request, that you be good, pray much, and love Jesus." She then prayed for them all, and kissing them, gave each of them her dying blessing. She then took her husband by the hand, and resigned the little ones up to him, with a solemn charge to train them up for God. "It has been," she observed, "my constant fear, lest, through my neglect, any of them should be lost. I have suffered unutterable things on their account; and now God calls me." Here the tears of the mother overcame her. When tears and prayer had relieved her, she proceeded, "Now you are to be their double