Does the shepherd forsake his sickly and weakly sheep? Does the refiner forsake the gold because he melts it? Does the captain forsake his wounded, prostrate soldier? Does the father forsake his tried and wandering son! the mother her weak and sickly child? No. But he hid his face, xiii. 24, and Job was troubled; and this was the greatest of all his trouble. When David had the light of God's countenance he feared no evil. Psalm xxiii. 4. When Asaph had this mercy vouchsafed towards him in the sanctuary, after he had walked in darkness, earth and heaven seemed as nothing compared to it. Ps. lxxiii. 2, 3, 13, 23, 26. When Paul was strengthened, every burden seemed light, 2 Tim. iv. 17, 18. But Job had not this to alleviate his sorrow, and the absence of it, deeply aggravated his case. And yet what is all this, compared with the sufferings of the Saviour of sinners! He was a "man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Think of the contrast here. "He was rich;" rich in the glories of the Godhead, in the adoration of angels, the bliss of heaven, the Father's ineffable love; yet "he became poor," hiding His glory, wore a poor nature; the son of a poor virgin, brought up in a poor habitation, worked at a poor trade, then supported by poor women, followed by poor disciples; and known still, in the scorn and reproach, and insult and calumny, the bitter vaunts and mockery, which he endured in his last and bitter agony, His agony unto death, and, infinitely poorer still, in drinking the cup of wrath, curse, and death, from the very hands of His Father and His God.

In Job's cup there was wormwood, bitterness, and gall, but there was no curse. But here were curses,-the curse of a holy, holy, holy God. Col. iii. 13. Job's sufferings were involuntary, but Jesus was a willing as well as patient victim. Ps. xxiv. 6—8. Is. liii. 7.

Job had friends about him, well meaning, though mistaken friends, but, when Jesus was taken to judgment, all His, forsook Him and fled. In Job's sufferings we have the benefit of his example, his patience, integrity, and faith. But in the sufferings of Jesus is our salvation. In His poverty, we are rich indeed.

JOB'S S FAITH.

His children were dead,-Property gone,-Friends accusing, -Wife unkind,-Body diseased, loathsome,-Soul confused and darkened iii. 1,-Satan tempting,-God hiding his face,—yet the root of the matter is found in me, xix. 28-Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, xiii. 15-I know that my Redeemer liveth, xix. 25. He knoweth the way that I take, xxiii. 10. The effect of his faith, xxiii. 11. 12. EVAN'S MEMOIRS.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF MRS. EDWARDS,

BY RICHARD KINSMAN.

"Friend after friend departs,

Who has not lost a friend ?"

I expected long ago to have seen some account of my much respected friend-the friend also of all our ministers who had the privilege of knowing her-sister ELIZABETH EDWARDS, of Truro. But I have learned since coming into the Gwennap Circuit, where I now labour, that the delay is in part chargeable on myself. Br. Edwards gave me an intimation that he wished me to be his wife's biographer, a short time after her death; but as he had written somewhat copiously on the subject, and as I had read with satisfaction certain articles which he had written from time to time for the Magazine, I advised him to be her biographer himself A recent interview, however, with our bereaved friend, has led to his handing over to me the documents which he had drawn up, with copies also of certain papers written by Sister Edwards herself. After spending some considerable time in perusing what Brother Edwards has written, I have arrived at the conclusion that my wisest course is, not merely to revise the papers before me, which at first I felt most anxious to do; but to undertake the responsible task of writing the whole afresh, availing myself, however, of the sentiments and language of these documents somewhat extensively.

Perhaps but few among us have taken a deeper interest in the circulation of our Magazine than the husband of the deceased, arguing, when its pages were fewer for the price than they are now, with such as thought it a dear work, that its commercial value should not be tested by its bulk, as compared with some kinds of literature in the market, excellent perhaps in many respects, though unsuitable for us; but by its value to ourselves as a connexional organ; especially as a depositary for the biographical records of departed friends, which to bereaved survivors, where the heart knows its own bitterness, is invaluable. How little do we know, when giving expression to our sentiments on religious subjects, how soon we shall be called to test their accuracy in our own experience.

In christian biography we may frequently find waymarks to direct our steps to the New Jerusalem. A view of the motives and principles originating and sustaining the conduct pursued, is very important, and should always, we think, be particularly noticed. The foundation of a holy life is that which is laid in Zion, even Jesus Christ the "the precious corner stone," "the sure foundation," the never-failing support of holy obedience, of christian piety. The subject of this memorial, being a christian of such an evangelical type, we feel ourselves under obligation to record the workings of the Holy Spirit, in connexion with christian discipline, as well as the various features of her devout and holy life, for the joint purposes of glorifying God in the displays of his grace, to embalm her memory for the gratification and instruction of surviving relatives and friends,

and for the spiritual profit and edification of all who may read what we now write.

ELIZABETH EDWARDS, the subject of this Memoir, was the daughter of JOHN and ROSAMOND BLEWETT, and was born at Truro, January 10th, 1805. Her parents for nearly half a century exemplified the christian character as described by the apostle, Phillipians iv. 8, where he says, "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." For a record of their lives and peaceful deaths, see Bible Christian Magazine for October, November, and December, 1844. Her religious training commenced at a very early period, under the care of her deeply devoted christian parents, whose teaching and example, were spiritually beneficial to their child. They also sent her to a Baptist Sunday School, said to be the first Sabbath School in Truro, where her religious convictions received further strength and developement; and she often spoke of deriving much reflective pleasure from a recollection of those days, arising mainly from feelings of love and esteem for her teachers, who took much pains to give a right direction to the minds of their youthful charge.

When about eleven years of age she was taken to the Friends' meeting at Come-to-good, near Truro, where she heard a Mr. John Kerkham, an eminent minister of that denomination, who was made instrumental in making known the way of God more plainly; the true light, as is supposed, having previously began to shine upon her mind. On returning from the above named meeting, she made her mother her confidant, and opened her mind on the subject of her state as a sinner, beset with fears and doubts, an object of the divine displeasure; and though young, she remembered in after life having said to her mother, "From what I have heard to-day I believe I shall be saved." Hence we infer that the grace of God which bringeth salvation had shone upon her humbled spirit; especially as her life and conversation henceforward corresponded with a renewed and sanctified mind. The young morning of her christian life soon began to put forth its buds and its blossoms, which gave indication of future stability, decorum, and fruitfulness in every good word and work. Indeed, the advantages of parental training, and Sabbath School instruction, as well as the ministry of the word, began to show themselves in a demeanour which was at once christian, lovely, and of good report. She was greatly beloved by her parents for her good and dutiful conduct, while neighbours and acquaintances universally admired the superior qualities of her disposition.

About this period of her life this young disciple of Jesus became noticed by a widow lady of the Society of Friends, by the name of JANE BAWDEN. The name of this pious friend is necessarily associated with the subject of this memoir, from her twelfth to her twenty-second year. For this reason, as well as for the excellences in Mrs. Bawden's character, we briefly refer to her history. Her maiden name was MARTIN, and she was a native of Penzance. Very early in life she embraced the principles of the Friends, and

was driven from her parents' house as the consequence thereof. Having acquired some knowledge of the shoe trade, she obtained credit, and commenced business in that line at Redruth, in which she ultimately failed, leaving a considerable deficiency unpaid. She surrendered the whole of her property on the occasion, and would have had to leave the town in the depth of poverty, had it not been for the liberality of three benevolent ladies, named Arper, of Redruth; who gave her fifteen guineas. After some other casualties in her history she became united in marriage to Mr. Bawden, who had formerly been in her employ at Redruth, and commenced business at Truro. His habits of life were unhappily the reverse of her own, she was careful, he was a spendthrift: poverty and debt were the consequences. A change, however, at length took place in Mr. Bawden's conduct, and in their circumstances; and for several years he led an exemplary life, and died in peace. The widow finding herself in easy circumstances, with a business somewhat prosperous, resolved to pay the deficiency on her first effort in trade; and ultimately succeeded in doing so, with great exactness; together with the fifteen guineas before referred to, which had been given her by the Misses Arper, of Redruth, and which she had always regarded as a loan rather than a gift. And now calling to remembrance some of the bitter feelings occasioned by her husband's intemperance, and the kindness of Mrs. Blewett, who lived near her in the grocery business in the time of distress, and who at that time had given her credit, and having no children of her own, her mind seems to have been involuntarily drawn towards the daughter of a person who had shown her kindness in the time of embarrassment: and thus in consideration of acts of kindness from the mother, from motives of convenience, and from a growing attachment, induced by the amiable qualities of the little girl, she took her to reside in the house and to assist in the business; and henceforward this conscientious woman, regarding our young friend as her adopted daughter, treated her with parental kindness, and trained her youthful steps with great vigilance and care. For a period of ten years, until her benefactress departed this life, Elizabeth continued to reside with her aged friend, cherished for her a great degree of respect, adopted that form of plain apparel selected by the Society of Friends; and with a good degree of cheerful acquiescence, renounced the fashions and maxims of the world. The admirable mode of training their children among the Friends, was pursued by Mrs. Bawden in training her youthful charge, which accounts in some degree for that discreet and modest carriage which subsequently became the settled practice and habit of her life. The example set her in business, also, was that of concientious integrity, which had likewise a share of influence in forming and establishing her character. Anything like deception or deceptive conversation in business, she abhorred through life; and resisted with a firmness of purpose which at times, perhaps, appeared something like austerity; but it was evident that her conduct was regulated by conscientious principles according to the word of God.

The period of attaining one's majority is generally looked forward to with deep interest among young people, whether male or female. To this period we have now arrived in the history of this amiable

young woman.

She was subject to the discipline of the Society of Friends up to this age, continued to be a praying person, and enjoyed a measure of spiritual religion. Her father, by this time, was a member of the Bible Christian Society in the town of Truro, where Mrs. Bawden also resided. Elizabeth, having a high opinion of the piety of her parents, and two of her sisters also having been brought to God among us, desired to attend the ministry of the Bible Christians; which she obtained liberty to do on Sabbath evenings, in company with her father and the other members of the family. She soon experienced an increased measure of divine power, and was enabled more fully to lay hold on the hope set before her in the gospel. She at length became decided to unite with the Bible Christians, instead of the Society of Friends, and from this time, regarded herself as a member of our community, although it was some years after this before she consented to receive a ticket of membership, in consequence of certain scruples imbibed in reference to forms and ceremonies in the church, and likewise from great scrupulousness of conscience, and low views of her attainments as a professed christian.

Events of great importance in the history of our young friend, about this period of her life, rapidly followed one another. "Marriage is honourable in all," and therefore it was an honourable estate for her when Providence opened the way. About this time MR. JACOB CORIN EDWARDS, a local preacher among the Bible Christians, from the neighbourhood of Penzance, happened to be in Truro, and met her for the first time in the highway, May 14th, 1826; and without any previous knowledge of each other, they became, as it was afterwards known, the subjects of mutual impressions, favourable to a further acquaintance. Such an acquaintance speedily followed, and ripened into a marriage union on the third of April, 1828. The young couple believed that the Lord had directed their steps,that the town of Truro was fixed in the order of Providence as the place of their habitation; and that while their residence there, gave them an opportunity of sharing in christian privileges beyond what many other places might afford, they would also be called upon to sustain responsibilities in the work of the Lord, if not to suffer for his sake. The business of Mrs. Bawden, who was now a leather seller, and who departed this life about the period of their marriage, was open to them; to which they also added, after a short time, the Ironmongery business, in premises which ranked among the most respectable shops in the town.

The following extracts from the papers put into my hands, give a description of our Sister's religious feelings for the next five years, and also of the way in which she became an accredited member of the Bible Christian Society. After remarking, "that to suffer in connexion with the church, was among their calculations, believing it was required of them as the servants of the Lord," Br. Edwards remarks," She did not formally join society at the time of our marriage, but from that period, she regarded herself as much a member of the Church, as if the event had been rendered notorious by ever so much form, and at all times cheerfully contributed to the carrying on of the work, without any regard to ticket as a token of membership. She pursued christian duty without regard to observation from others; VOL. XIX. THIRD SERIES.

M