Him; I have no fear of death; still, especially on Sundays, I sometimes wish to get better, it was so pleasant going to hear his Word preached. Is this wrong ?" I assured her it was not. We all have a shrinking from pain or death; it is the result of sin resting upon us, and while we must suffer it without a murmur, it is only natural to wish to escape from it. I told her that as the new life, the resurrection power had begun in her soul, so she would feel a longing for it to work in her body as well-that David had the same longing when he said, "I shall be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness ;" and I added, that soon He would come again, and then all His people in glorious assembly, perfect in Him, both in soul and body, would worship Him without ceasing for evermore.

She perpetually dwells on the Lord's wonderful love in having called her at the eleventh hour. One cannot see and hear her without remembering the words, "To whom much is forgiven, the same loveth much." As she has, on principle, discontinued all stimulants, often such a sudden sinking comes on that death seems indeed near at hand, and even then it is nearly impossible to make her swallow a drop of brandy or wine, though ordered by the doctor.

The Lord watched over her when she had not power to watch over herself. She was suffering greatly and longing to go. Once she called out " Oh, I hear the sound of his chariot wheels, but they are so slow in coming." The next moment it was, Pray for me that I may be patient and wait on the Lord."

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January 29th.-At half-past two, she gently breathed her last. The last time I saw her, she clasped her hands, and said, "Oh, Lord, give me great patience." She had then a rattling sound in her throat, as if she was breathing through water. We spoke about Jesus, the tender Shepherd, waiting by her side, to carry her through the valley of the shadow of death, and that no evil could come near her-not even the fear of evil; that now, in her last weakness and extremity, His word was pledged to keep her feet to be with her as she passed through deep waters, and that all she had to do was to trust in her God, and so, that no good thing would fail her. Her feet were in truth on the rock, but the

"when

noise of the waters below frightened her. She was remarkably clear in her mind, and I left her calm and happy. The kind neighbour said she remained so all the night, with no inclination to sleep, full of conversation, and all her thoughts and words were of Christ and heaven. Once or twice she asked, "If I close my eyes will you feel frightened ?" "Oh no," was the answer, "there is nothing to fear." "Then," said Mrs. P. you see me close my eyes, kneel down there and pray, aloud if you can, if not in your heart." At twenty minutes after two, she clasped her hands on her breast, and fixed her eyes. Mrs. Nsaw a change was coming, and hastily called up her son from the adjoining room. He only just came in in time to see his mother breathe her last, without a sigh. With her hands still clasped she died. "So He giveth His beloved sleep."

MR. SPURGEON'S

GRANDSTRE.

My attention has been specially directed to, No. 554, M. T. P. in which C. H. S. in most tender terms refers to the death of his venerated grandsire.

The following extract presents a happy and holy scene of one who, after a long life of devotedness to God, left the cottage of clay for the mansion of glory, and for visions of God. Oh, to be a Christian indeed, is nothing short of the mighty and most merciful work of God. Should C. H. S. live as long as his departed grandsire--should tribulation ever cross his path,-should deeper waters ever enter his soul, we believe he would not then say some things he has said; but his review of the old man, upon whose knees, when a child, this popular preacher was affectionately dandled, are excellent, though brief. He said :—

"I have photographed upon my heart just now, the portrait of one very, very dear to me, and I think I may venture to produce a rough sketch of him, as no mean example of how honourable it is to endure to the end. This man began while yet a youth to preach the Word. Sprung of ancestors who had loved the Lord and served his church, he felt the glow of holy enthusiasm. Having proved his capabilities, he entered college

and after the close of its course settled in a spot where for more than fifty years he continued his labours. In his early days, his sober earnestness and sound doctrine were owned of God in many conversions both at home and abroad. Assailed by slander and abuse, it was his privilege to live it all down. He outlived his enemies, and though he had buried a generation of his friends, yet he found many warm hearts clustering round him to the last. Visiting his flock, preaching in his own pulpit, and making very many journeys to other churches, years followed one another so rapidly, that he found himself the head of a large tribe of children and grandchildren, most of them walking in the truth. At the age of fourscore years, he preached on still, until laden with infirmities, but yet as joyful and as cheerful as in the heyday of his youth, his time had come to die. He was able to say truthfully, when last he spake to me, "I do not know that my testimony for God has ever altered, as to the fundamental doctrines; I have grown in experience, but from the first day until now, I have had no new doctrine to teach my hearers. I have had to make no confessions of error on vital points, but have been held fast to the doctrines of grace, and can now say that I love them better than ever." Such an one was he, as Paul, the aged, longing to preach so long as his tottering knees could bear him to the pulpit. I am thankful that I had such a grandsire. He fell asleep in Christ but a few hours ago, and on his dying-bed talked as cheerfully as men can do in the full vigour of their health. Most sweetly he talked of the preciousness of Christ, and chiefly of the security of the believer; the faithfulness of God, and the infallibility of the Divine decree. Among other things which he said at the last was this, which is, we think, worth your treasuring in your memories. "Dr Watts sings

'Firm as the earth thy gospel stands, My Lord, my hope, my trust.' What, Doctor, is it not firmer than that? better comparison? Why, the earth will feet one day or another, if we rest on it.

Could you not find a give way beneath our The comparison will

not do. The Doctor was much nearer the mark, when he said— Firm as his throne his promise stands,

And he can well secure

What I've committed to his hands

'Till the decisive hour."

Firm as his throne,' said he, he must cease to be King before he can break his promise, or lose his people. Divine sovereignty makes us all secure.' He fell asleep right quietly, for his day was over, and the night was come; what could he do better than go to rest in Jesus?

ELLEN'S PRAYER ON A DEVONSHIRE HILL.

TH

HE readers of CHEERING WORDS, may perhaps be stirred up to persevering, believing prayer, by considering the following brief account of the success of a young Christian in her attempts to "hold forth the word of life," and cause her "light to shine before men." A few months ago it pleased the Lord by His grace, to bring Ellen to Calvary's Cross, with her heavy burden of sin, and to go on her way lightened of her load, rejoicing in a full and finished salvation, and like the Apostle of the Gentiles, to exclaim, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" She has been accustomed to pray in the cottages, and her prayers have been fervent, simple, and childlike. Indeed, she has often reminded us of the words of Holy Scripture, "I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also."

Many are the hearts she has comforted; many have been the burdened ones she has brought before the Lord; many have been the tears she has helped to wipe away, and before ignorant ones has she prayerfully read the Word of God; and He, who has promised to be with His people even unto the end, and to honour those who honour Him, has signally blessed the efforts of this young Christian, and stamped them with His approval. The Lord has made her the means of the conversion of some souls. Many have wept whilst listening to her simple prayers, and some, who

have through her means appeared for the first time in a place of worship, have been convinced of all, and judged of all, confessing that God has been with His people of a truth.

But whilst so blessed amongst her acquaintances, she has felt as many young Christians feel, a strange hindrance to speaking before those who are closely related to her by the ties of flesh and blood; but the Lord who has promised to answer all our petitions, has cleared the way, and given her an opportunity of speaking of the love of Jesus, as out of the fulness of her heart, to her unconverted relations. How many tears she has shed in the assembled congregation, whilst she has earnestly prayed for the conversion of those who are linked to her by the ties of nature; and now her desires are about to be realized. Her aged grandmother sickened, and died; and whilst her mortal remains were lying in an adjoining room, Ellen entered the house, and seeing her parents, her cousins, and a young man, the husband of one of her cousins, weeping noiselessly as though they would be silent in the place of death, she felt constrained to open her lips for the Lord, and after reasoning with them for a time, the Spirit of God so worked within her, that she requested them all to kneel down, that she might pour out her heart in prayer for them. They all instantly complied with her request; the men -her father and cousin, who never attended a place of worship, and the women also; and then, for the first time they found this dear girl, who a few months before was "standing in the way of sinners," or, "sitting down in the seat of the scornful," bringing each their cases before Him who has promised that before His people call He will answer, and whilst they are yet speaking He will hear. She felt such nearness of access to the throne of grace, and her faith so increased, that she was sure her Heavenly Father had filled her with the spirit of prayer, because He had blessings in store for those on whose account she was besieging the throne of grace; therefore she was not surprised to find them all sobbing aloud, and confessing that it was an evil and a bitter thing to sin against God. She waited with them to help dry their tears, to point them to the cross, to tell them of Him who invites the weary and heavy-laden to leave their burdens there, for He has