"2, Dale-street, Manchester, June 23d, 1843. "MY DEAR FRIEND,-On Monday, May 1st, when I had the last interview with your honoured mother, she felt that the time of her departure was near; and wished to improve, in the best manner she could, the remaining hours. I never, during the affliction, knew her mind more clear, nor, at any time, more actively alive to what one would wish to be attended to by a dying Christian. She desired to commemorate, with your father and sisters, her Saviour's death; and she engaged in the service in the spirit befitting one who could, by faith, feed upon Christ in her heart with thanksgiving. My own heart was so affected, as, at first, to overlook a member of the family in the room; but your mother's recollected mind perceived, and in her own kind way corrected, the oversight. To some of the family before, and to one or more after, the solemn service, she delivered her dying counsels and charge. In reference to her own state, she said to me, 'I am going to my Saviour, who, in his mercy, will receive me. feel that all is well, and I shall soon be with him.' The humility, simplicity, and confidence with which she expressed herself were such as made all she uttered impressive. I "I well knew, from former and unreserved Christian intercourse, her views of herself, of her Saviour, and of the way of a sinner's acceptance through him. Her principles and her heart were fixed. Her Christian experience accorded with her evangelical views. She had, through grace, taken her position at the foot of the cross; and she livedby the faith of the Son of God,' and brought forth the fruit of the Spirit.' In health and activity she was the Christian; but I had never witnessed her faith and consolation so strong as when she felt that the time of' her 'departure' was at hand.' "However consoling to her friends the manner of her decease must be, and however happy to herself the state she now enjoys, those who best knew her cannot but regret her removal at this time, while they bow with submission. The post of exemplary usefulness she occupied in the church speaks her loss. The active Christian influence exercised by her, and to which deference was willingly paid by almost all within the circle of her relative and religious associations, cannot now operate as it has done. The gentleness and courtesy which adorned her, as an intelligent Christian and as a friend; and, above all, her unostentatious works of mercy,-works, many of which only that day' will declare, as well as reward; these rendered her longer stay on earth so desirable, and cause her death to be so regretted. But they are among the evidence of meetness for the heavenly inheritance; and 'blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.' "I am, my dear friend, "Dr. Wood, Ardwick." 6 "Yours most affectionately, On Tuesday, May 2d, my mother, with great composure, called the various members of her family to her bed-side, one by one, and gave them each some valuable memorial of a mother's love. During this day she seemed to anticipate the period of her departure. My sister Hannah heard her distinctly utter these words: "To-day, to-morrow, and then the next day!" We could not comprehend the meaning of these ominous expressions, till her death, on the 4th of May, seemed to show (as we thought) that they might have some reference to that event. Very early in the morning of Wednesday, May 3d, the family, perceiving that life was ebbing fast, were anxious for a last personal recognition; and each said, "Do you know me?" She at once distinctly repeated each name, as the question was proposed; and, observing that her two married daughters were absent, she endeavoured, in her dying accents, to request that the carriage might be sent for them immediately. This was done; and when they came, they were at once recognised. In the mean time, she frequently exclaimed, Happy, happy, happy! I'll praise my ;' but was unable to finish the verse. My mother earnestly prayed this morning, and urged us to pray, that the Lord would graciously preserve her reason and recollection; and though her mind had occasionally wandered before, yet it was now vigorous and clear, even to acuteness; and continued so till the nearer approach of death arrested the organs of sense, and the soul could no longer hold communion with earthly objects. She frequently expressed her gratitude for this answer to her prayer. Her anxiety concerning my father's health, even in her dying moments, was remarkable. On this very day, when he inquired, "How are you?" she replied, "How are you? Is there any hope?" referring to his own restoration to health. But whatever she said,— as, indeed, had been the case throughout, there was no murmuring: patience had her perfect work, even when suffering was most acute. The burden of her prayer, during the conscious hours of this day, was, that her affliction might be sanctified to her family as well as to herself; warning those around her, that to neglect the voice of God, however uttered, was the sure path to hardness of heart. As weakness caused the effort to speak to be painful, she observed, "I cannot say much; I wish I could; but I am too near heaven to talk. O what scenes!" One of my sisters, perceiving a ray of sunlight, though the curtain was closely drawn, asked if it were too strong for her. She replied, "O no, no! It is all light in the valley; beautiful, beautiful! No night in that temple!" After this, by an effort, she repeated the following verse:— "Farewell, conflicting hopes and fears, Where lights and shades alternate dwell: She then said, "Jesus,-come,-Jesus!" One of her daughters rejoined, "You wish him to come quickly?" She replied, “Yes, I do, I do." Thursday, May 4th.-On this day, her last upon earth, my mother remained as if soundly asleep, till after one o'clock. To our great astonishment and delight, however, she once more recognised my father's voice, and said, "Good bye!" Leaning over her almost lifeless clay, he remarked, "The Lord Jesus will not long delay his coming. me to 'For me my elder brethren stay, She distinctly, and with great energy, answered, "Amen!" This was her last word. Afterwards she could not be roused to intelligence, without great effort. Having failed in several attempts to gain her attention, even though I raised my voice, one of my sisters requested 66 the name pronounce Jesus;" observing, "She will hear that." I said, "The Lord Jesus will receive your spirit." She instantly, though unable to articulate, unquestionably signified her assent. She continued to respire very feebly for several hours, and at last ceased to breathe, so suddenly, as to attract the attention of her family by its abruptness; but when they looked, all was over. There was neither struggle nor sigh: she appeared literally to have fallen asleep. This was in the night of Thursday, May 4th, 1843. On Sunday morning, May 14th, her long-attached friend, the Rev. Dr. Bunting, of London, preached an appropriate sermon, in Oxford-road chapel. My mother had strictly prohibited any kind of funeral sermon, believing that such honours were only due to "the excellent of the earth;" and though the family considered her to be especially entitled to rank amongst them, they were bound by her decision, and could not but admire the motive, though perhaps a mis-taken one, under which she acted. The sermon, however, was so suited to the solemn occasion, and so touchingly finished with a few of my mother's triumphant expressions, that the family could not have desired any other; and they feel that to him who so kindly undertook the service, though suffering from great debility, their grateful thanks are due, and are thus most respectfully and cordially presented. BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 1. DIED, November 8th, 1842, at Stamford-Bridge, in the York Circuit, Marmaduke Lund, in his seventy-second year. At the age of nineteen, under the ministry of the Rev. John Doncaster, he first felt himself a sinner, and, by repentance and prayer, soon obtained the gift of precious faith, and a clear evidence of the pardoning mercy of God. He was soon afterwards admitted into the Methodist society, by the Rev. Edward Jackson, and, from that time until his death, continued to be a zealous, consistent, and useful member of it. He was appointed Class-Leader at Stamford-Bridge, and discharged the duties of the office with great faithfulness and zeal for a period of twentyeight years he had also the charge of a class at the neighbouring village of Gatehelmsley. His attention to the sick was unremitting; and, feeling the value of immortal souls, whether solicited or not, he made it his constant duty to visit the houses of the afflicted. His acknowledged simplicity and sincerity always procured him entrance, and even prejudice soon yielded to the influence of his piety. In many instances, by the blessing of God, he has been made the instrument of real spiritual good to his neighbours when under dying circumstances. The services connected with Methodism were highly valued by him; and this he evidenced by a strict and conscientious attendance on them all. Although he moved in an humble station, he an was much esteemed by a numerous and respectable circle of acquaintance, and his friends always welcomed him to their houses. In such visits, he manifested his usual cheerfulness and vivacity; and constantly, both from such incidents as might occur, and from the word of God, enforced upon those whom he was visiting the advantages of Christian communion, and the necessity of true piety. For some weeks before his dissolution, he felt that his infirmities were increasing; and he was therefore obliged to desist from his usual labours: but though the outward man continued to decay, his love to God, and reliance on his Saviour, were unaltered to the last: he departed hence, in the sure and certain hope of eternal life. RICHARD BURDEKIN. After : 2. Died, November 15th, at Derby, in her twenty-second year, Miss Martha Wintle, the fourth daughter of the late Rev. Richard Wintle, Supernumerary Wesleyan Minister. From her infancy she was thoughtful and studious, and was particularly attentive to the wishes of her parents. Her youthful days were distinguished by diligence in reading the holy Scriptures, and useful and religious books. She seemed, indeed, to fear God from her childhood. Her parents cannot recollect that in a single instance she was ever guilty of swerving from the truth. When her father was stationed in the Grimsby Circuit, she being then fourteen years of age, she experienced that gracious change, the reality and depth of which were manifested in her subsequent and brief life. She joined the Wesleyan society, and continued a steady and consistent member till she finished her course. leaving Grimsby in 1836, her parents came to Derby; and in the following year, she was engaged as a private teacher in the family of Mr. Joyce, of Breedon, Leicestershire, where she remained till within a few days of her decease. Mr. Joyce remarks, in a statement which he drew up for the sermon preached on the occasion of her funeral :"From the day that she entered our house, she evinced that her change of heart was genuine. There is no doubt but that her natural disposition was kind; yet her general manners were such as proved to all that, however amiable her temper, she possessed in a high degree the principles of divine truth and grace. She was a member of our family five years and a half; and during the whole time, no one ever saw her in the slightest degree ruffled or discomposed in spirit. Her situation was not of a character to free her from provocation or trial. The management of children, and particularly of healthy and spirited little boys, requires much patience and forbearance; yet, in all her intercourse with them, the observation made above is correct. Her whole conduct towards them was much to be admired and valued. Her prayers with them, her strict regard to integrity and truth, her proper and faithful reproofs, given with such kindness as always discovered the motive by which they were induced, together with her uniform punctuality and firmness, were matters of great importance to her charge, and, it is to be hoped, have left an impression not to be erased. About four years before her death, she obtained the blessing of entire sanctification; and although she had not named it till it was mentioned in her class, yet it was discovered in the family, that she had appeared more than usually cheerful and happy; and there is no doubt but that she retained this abundant grace to the close of her life. Every one of us esteemed her as if she had been a near relation. Her prudence and sincerity so far gained our confidence, that we felt entirely free from restraint in her presence, and should not have feared to confide to her things requiring the greatest secresy. Her kind and unobtrusive manner gave her the goodwill of all who came to the house. Amongst the poor, too, whose interests lay near her heart, and whose wants she often personally relieved, she was highly esteemed. She visited the fatherless and widow in their affliction, while she kept herself unspotted from the world. As to the irreligious world, it had not one charm for her. She did not appear to have the slightest relish for it, or its concerns: she has been heard to say, even in the time of health, that she was so happy, she could wish to depart, and be with Christ. She greatly enjoyed the preaching of the Gospel, and all the means of grace; and when our Ministers were expected at the house, on their regular visits, she was always delighted with the thought of seeing them. She was an assiduous and successful Collector for the Bible and Missionary Societies, and manifested great pleasure in supporting every institution which tended to the glory of God. She was careful to devote all her leisure hours to something useful; and while her six days were diligently occupied, her Sabbaths were strictly employed in sacred duties. Prayer, reading to, and catechising, the children, and attendance on the house of God, always occupied her days of sacred rest. She could not be induced to take what she thought a needless walk on the Sabbath, and always discouraged even ordinary cooking on that day. Her health was delicate; but the most cheerful good humour always appeared in her manner and countenance. In her last illness, though she suffered much sickness and pain, she frequently observed, she never was so happy in her life; and her extreme kindness to all about her manifested how satisfied she was to suffer all the will of God. Up to the time she left us, the same spirit was continually manifested. We view her death as a great loss, both to ourselves and children; but we are well aware it is her infinite and eternal gain." From my own visits to Mr. Joyce's house, for about fifteen months of her residence there, and from seeing her repeatedly during her affliction, I can corroborate all that Mr. Joyce has said. It was indeed delightful to witness her confidence, submission, and abounding consolation. After her return to Derby, a murmur was never heard to escape her lips; on the contrary, she expressed herself as being always happy in the love of God, and perfectly resigned to his will. During the last few days of her life, several kind friends, as well as the Ministers of the Derby Circuit, visited her, to whom she expressed her thankfulness, and heartily responded to the petitions offered in her behalf. About ten o'clock in the morning of the day on which she died, her mother was standing by her bed-side, not at all apprehensive that her death was so near, when she said, "Mother, I shall be in heaven before dinner time." Just then a friend came in, and prayed with her. She was then quite sensible. After lying still for a short time, and when all who were present thought that she would speak no more, she suddenly lifted up her eyes, clasped her hands, and, with a beautiful smile, exclaimed, "Glory, glory, glory!-Heaven!-Angels! -The Saviour!-The music!-Don't you see?-Don't you hear?" In a few minutes afterward, without one struggle, she gently fell asleep in Jesus. THOMAS STATON. |