3. Died, November 20th, at Catterick, in her thirty-ninth year, Mrs. Wilkinson, of Hunton, in the Richmond Circuit; having been for upwards of twenty years a steady and consistent member of the Wesleyan-Methodist society. At a very early period of her life, she was favoured with the gracious visitations of the Holy Spirit. Good impressions were made on her mind; and in the eighteenth year her age, she resolved to become a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

She was married to Mr. A. Wilkinson in July, 1822, and about the same time joined the Methodist society, and became an earnest seeker of salvation. Her repentance was genuine, and resulted in the conversion of her soul to God. On one occasion, she had retired into her room for the express purpose of praying that she herself might be a partaker of the blessedness of those to whom the Lord doth not impute sin. She was enabled, while thus engaged in pleading with God, to believe in Him who justifieth the ungodly. Her mourning soul was comforted; she now enjoyed the witness of the Holy Spirit, attesting the fact of her adoption into the heavenly family; and as long as she lived, she retained, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the consciousness of the divine favour thus imparted to her.

Mrs. Wilkinson was a woman of a meek and quiet spirit. This was very conspicuous in her character. There was a kindness in her look, a mildness in her expression, and a uniform sweetness in her behaviour, which indicated the peace that reigned in her heart, and which are so suitable to the Christian character and profession. By the providence of God, she was naturally possessed of an amiable disposition; and this was heightened, as being sanctified by the grace of God. It seemed to be her delight to promote the temporal and spiritual good of those around her; to minister to their comfort, as well as to their solid advantage. The law of kindness was not only in her heart, but also on her lips. Her house was truly a home. For the ordinances of religion, she cherished a strong regard; and this was evidenced by her regular and constant attendance on them.

She esteemed the Ministers of the Gospel very highly for their work's sake, and her kind attentions will never be forgotten by them. A few days before she died, she said to her husband, "It is your work to preach, and it is mine to attend to the Preachers."

She was a truly Christian woman. Her piety was plainly visible, but it was not at all ostentatious. Nor was it wavering her heart was fixed, trusting in the Lord. Her last affliction was very painful. She had been for some time gradually becoming weaker, and it was evident that disease was making serious inroads upon her constitution.

For several weeks before her death, she was mostly in a state of delirium. There were, indeed, some intervals of ease; but whether delirious or not, her constant themes were, religion, the church, Jesus, and heaven. Her mind was generally in a devotional frame. Prayer and praise were constantly on her lips. Frequently did she repeat verses of the hymns she had so often been accustomed to sing. On one occasion, she exclaimed, “ Mighty faith, mighty faith,

66

'Mighty faith the promise sees,

And looks to that alone;

Laughs at impossibilities,

And cries, It shall be done!'"

And immediately, with great emphasis, she added, "Victory, victory, victory!" waving her hands as she repeated the words.

As she approached the end of her journey, and when suffering much pain, she solemnly remarked, "All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come." Just before she expired, she said, "Jesus, that dear Friend! Heaven, heaven, heaven!" These were the last words she uttered, and soon after she slept in Christ. ROBERT COOKE.

4. Died, December 7th, at Pateley-Bridge, Mr. William Grange, aged twenty-four. His father dying when he was very young, the future training of himself and three brothers devolved on their mother, who was a member of the Wesleyan-Methodist society. She endeavoured to train them up in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord,” as well as to "provide things honest in the sight of all men" for them. The good seed thus sown was not wholly lost. William was sent to the Sabbath-school, where the impressions previously made were deepened. Soon after the commencement of his last affliction, he observed, "I cannot recollect a time when the Spirit did not strive with me; and often, while sitting under the word, has my heart been strongly affected, and I have resolved to begin to seek the Lord in earnest : but, alas! these pious feelings were, for the time, too much like the 'morning cloud, or the early dew.'" Being of a lively disposition, and fond of company, he in some degree resisted this gracious influence, and remained a stranger to vital godliness till the nineteenth year of his age. He then yielded to conviction of sin, and determined not to rest till he had obtained the blessing of pardon. At a prayer-meeting held at the close of the Sabbath-evening's service, with some others, he continued wrestling with God till near midnight: the Lord, in mercy, then spoke peace to his soul, and enabled him to rejoice in his Saviour. From this time his character became decided: he made no compromise with the world, nor did he ever after lose the evidence of divine acceptance. Though sometimes brought into heaviness through manifold temptations; yet, when most closely assailed by the enemy, he was enabled to hold fast his confidence, and to say, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Growing in grace, he soon saw that richer blessings were attainable: for these he sought; and by faith in the full efficacy of the atoning blood, and the power of the Spirit of holiness, his love was made perfect, fear and sin were cast out, and thenceforth he went on his way rejoicing evermore, praying without ceasing, and in everything giving thanks, knowing that this was the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning him.

Having experienced so much of the goodness of God himself, he began to see it his duty to call sinners to repentance; but a sense of his own unworthiness prevented his engaging in this work for about twelve months: the consequence was, a loss of spiritual enjoyment to a considerable extent. At length he reluctantly yielded to the call of the church; and, being duly authorized, laboured with acceptance as an Exhorter and Local Preacher, his theme being a present, free, and full salvation, received and held by simple faith in Christ. He attended punctually to his appointments; and, in all probability, the pulmonary affection which terminated his life originated in these labours.

For some time before the commencement of his last affliction, he was assailed by powerful temptation; but when his foot had well-nigh slipped, the mercy of the Lord held him up, and gave him the victory; so that, when sickness came, the tempter was rebuked, and even in tribulation he gloried. To the probable event of the disorder he was fully resigned. He knew that it was better to depart, and be with Christ, as the very possibility of departing from God would then be removed for ever. His mind was truly happy. Grateful to God for spiritual blessings, he was likewise thankful for the marks of kindness which he received from his friends. He said that he was too weak for ecstatic joy; but that he rested in the Atonement, and had settled peace. As disease increased, his desire to enjoy more of the life of God was extremely strong. He once said, "I am on the Rock; but I want a clearer witness." On one occasion, feeling that his strength was rapidly declining, and being unable to sleep during a great part of the night, he pleaded earnestly with God for a deeper baptism of the Holy Spirit, and continued to urge his suit till almost exhausted. To use his own words: "I then began afresh, and came in a different way: I told the Lord I was coming through Christ as the door, to Christ as my Mediator, in Christ as a strong tower, and on Christ as the foundation." He saw that Christ was to be all, and in all; and he now fully felt that Christ was made to him "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." He became so happy, that he awoke the family with praising God. Referring afterwards to this gracious visitation, he said, that he fully believed God had at that time sealed his salvation, and brought on "the top stone with shouting, Grace, grace unto it;" and that he had such views of Christ as he could not express; that it was as though his feet were so fixed upon the Rock, as to be a part of the foundation itself.

Having been for some time actively engaged in public services, he was well known and greatly beloved in the neighbourhood. This gave him frequent opportunities, during a long affliction, of recommending to those who visited him that religion which was his support in the hour of trial. He was also extremely solicitous about the spiritual welfare of his relations; and he affectionately exhorted his brothers to meet him in glory. To his Class-Leader he said, while the tears flowed down his face, "I cannot talk much now. I have often prayed for a melting like this: these are not tears of sorrow; I feel a joy that is unspeakable, and full of glory." When he received his last quarterly-ticket, he said, "The next will be an admission into glory." At another time he said, "I am so unworthy, that I can hardly allow myself to go to heaven. On being told that Christ was worthy, he said, "O yes, through him I shall get there!" After a few friends had prayed with him, he said, "Praise the Lord for Christian fellowship!" and affectionately thanked them for visiting him.

About half an hour before his departure, as he breathed with great difficulty, he inquired if that were death. Being told that it was not far distant, he instantly said, "Well, it will be a deliverance." Being asked if Christ was precious, he replied, "Yes, he is; glory be to God!" and, after a pause, added, "My prospect is bright." His lips continued to move for a short time, as if in prayer; and shortly after, his happy spirit took its flight. THOMAS RICHARDSON.

MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

THE CHRISTIAN'S STANDARD AND BANNER.

"EVERY man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard with the ensign of their father's house." (Num. ii. 2.) It is confessedly a matter of great difficulty to determine what the standards were which a this early time we find in use among the Israelites. It seems, therefore the best course to look, in the first instance, at the standards which we find in use among ancient nations, as furnishing the only materials on which we can found any conjecture or conclusion.

The invention of standards is attributed by ancient authors to the Egyptians, and this with great probability, as they had the earliest organized military force of which we have any knowledge: we may therefore feel tolerably certain that the Hebrews had the idea of, at least, the use of ensigns from the Egyptians; for it is not at all likely that the small body of men which originally went down into Egypt had any such articles, or any occasion for them. Diodorus informs us, that the Egyptian standards consisted of the figure of an animal at the end of a spear. Among the Egyptian sculptures and paintings there also appear other standards, which either resemble at top a round-headed table-knife, or an expanded semicircular fan. These latter are attributed to the Græco-Egyptians; but we are unable to find any satisfactory data to show that they were other than varieties of most ancient Egyptian standards. The early Greeks employed for a standard a piece of armour at the end of a spear; but Homer makes Agamemnon use a purple veil with which to rally his men. The Athenians afterwards, in the natural progress which we observe in the history of ensigns, adopted the olive and the owl, and the other Greek nations also displayed the effigies of their tutelary gods, or their particular symbols, at the end of a spear. Some of them had simply the initial letter of their national name. The ancient Persian standard is variously described. It seems properly to have been a golden eagle at the end of a spear, fixed upon a carriage. They also employed the figure of the sun, at least on great occasions, when the King was present with his forces. Quintus Curtius mentions the figure of the sun, inclosed in crystal, which made a most splendid appearance above the royal tent. We therefore presume it was the grand standard, particularly as even at this day, when Mohammedanism has eradicated most of the more peculiar usages of the Persians, the sun continues to divide with the lion the honour of appearing on the royal standard. Among the very ancient sculptures at Persepolis, we discover specimens of other standards. One sort consists of a staff terminated in a divided ring, and having below a transverse bar, from which two enormous tassels are suspended. The other consists of five globular forms on a crossbar. They were doubtless of metal, and probably had some reference to the heavenly bodies, which were the ancient objects of worship in Persia. The proper royal standard of that country, however, for many centuries until the Mohammedan conquest, was a blacksmith's leathern apron, around which they had at one time been rallied to a successful opposition against the odious tyranny of Zohauk. Many national standards have arisen from similar emergencies, when that which was next at hand being seized and lifted up as a rallying-point for the people, was afterwards, out

VOL. III.-FOURTH SERIES.

C

of a sort of superstitious gratitude, adopted either as the common ensign or the sacred banner. Thus, also, originated the horsetails of the modern Turks, and the bundles of hay at the top of a pole, which formed the most ancient Roman standard, as mentioned in the following extract from the introduction of Dr. Meyrick's splendid work on "Ancient Armour : "Each century, or, at least, each maniple of troops, had its proper standard and standard-bearer. This was originally merely a bundle of hay at the top of a pole; afterwards a spear, with a cross-piece of wood at the top, sometimes with the figure of a hand above, probaby in allusion to the word manipulus, and below, a small round or oval shield, generally of silver or of gold. On this metal plate were usually represented the warlike deities, Mars or Minerva; but, after the extinction of the commonwealth, the effigies of the Emperors and their favourites: it was on this account that the standards were called numina legionum, and held in religious veneration. The standards of different divisions had certain letters inscribed on them, to distinguish the one from the other. The standard of a legion, according to Dio, was a silver eagle with expanded wings, on the top of a spear, sometimes holding a thunderbolt in its claws: hence the word aquila was used to signify a legion. The place for this standard was near the General, almost in the centre. Before the time of Marius, figures of other animals were used. The vexillum, or flag of the cavalry,' was, according to Livy, a square piece of cloth, fixed to a cross-bar at the end of a spear." These flags had sometimes fringes and ribands, and were used less restrictedly than Dr. Meyrick seems to state. The divisions of a legion had also their particular ensigns, sometimes simply attached to the end of a spear, but sometimes fixed below the images. An infantry flag was red; a cavalry one, blue; and that of a Consul, white. As the Roman standard is in the New Testament mentioned distinctly as "the abomination of desolation,” we have here noticed them particularly under the general subject. As to the hand on the Roman standard, we may observe that, at this day, the flag-staff of the Persians terminates in a silver hand, as that of the Turks does in a crescent. After Trajan's conquest of the Dacians, the Romans adopted as a trophy the dragon, which was a general ensign among barbarians. The dragons were embroidered in cotton, silk, or purple. Mention is also made of pinna, which seem to have been aigrettes of feathers of different colours, intended for signals, or rallying-points. Animals also, fixed upon plinths, with holes through them, are often found; and were ensigns intended to be placed upon the ends of spears. In the East, the use of standards fixed upon cars seems to have been long continued. We have observed, that this was an usage in ancient Persia; and, at a period long subsequent, we find it existing among the Saracens. Turpin, in his "History of Charlemagne," mentions it as belonging to them. He says, "In the midst of them was a waggon drawn by eight horses, upon which was raised their red banner. Such was its influence, that, while the banner remained erect, no one would ever fly from the field." (See Meyrick, vol. i., p. 50.) This custom was afterwards introduced into Europe, and found its way to England in the reign of King Stephen; after which the main standard was borne, sometimes, at least, on a carriage with four wheels. The main standard of Henry V., at the battle of Agincourt, was borne thus upon a car, being too heavy to be carried otherwise.

After this rapid glance at ancient standards, it remains to ask, to which of all these classes of ensigns that of the Hebrews approached the nearest. We readily confess that we do not know; but the Rabbins, who profess to