excellent sermon, appealing from time to time as she went along to my recollection; but I was silent, for I would not tell her that I did not remember one word he had uttered. The truth was, I had dozed a great deal, and my own earthly affairs had gone rapidly through my memory. I had seen a cap I thought I should like, and I had looked at the trimming of a bonnet I thought I could copy. In short I had far better have been at home than thus to have forgotten God in his courts. But I loved my cousin, and rejoiced to see her comforted by Catherine's discourse as she went on. But after I went home I felt very unhappy. I saw how superior Catherine was to me, and I began to feel the loss my idle inattention had been to me. My cousin, thought I, is miserable at the approach of death; and if she is so, so must I, for we have lived alike. Will God yet receive me who have so long neglected his law? And I was filled with dark fears, and it seemed strange to me that as I thought more and more upon the subject, the idle thoughtless ways I had had, which appeared before as nothing, rose up as a bulwark before me to keep me from heaven. Then dark horrors fell on me, and conscience whispered that I had lost my immortal soul.

At length I opened my heart to Catherine, who advised me to alter my life, and to pray to God to enable me to persist in a better way, and by active attention to omit none of my former duties, and yet to serve my God and Redeemer. So by her advice I rose an hour earlier in the mornings, and kept things equally neat every day. And I let no day pass without reading a portion of the Scriptures, less or more, as. I found time. And the first thing I did in the morning, and the last at night, was to bow my knees in prayer for salvation; and by regular employment

on each day of the week I had little more to do on the Saturday than usual, and went as early to bed, and rose light and refreshed on the Sabbath morning, and was dressed and able to read my book previous to church time. And I soon found myself able to attend to the good sermons delivered there, which, thanks be to God, were sanctified to my soul, giving me peace in believing. Afterwards the good Catherine procured me a service near herself, and we went every Sabbath day to comfort my poor cousin, and brought our clergyman to visit her; and ere her departure I had the happiness to know that her peace was ratified through the Saviour's blood; and I saw her die in cheerfulness and hope. But if her death was an instructive lesson to me, what was not that of my beloved Catherine? Oh, Anne, she "remembered the Sabbath day to keep it holy; and her God soon bestowed on her a Sabbath of eternal rest, to which she travelled in confidence through paths of dark trouble, looking from earth to Heaven, which is far better, her young heart rejoicing in her Saviour. She went triumphant amidst pains and poverty, sickness and sore trial. In a cold lodging, with no help but from the charitable whom he raised up to nourish her till she entered Zion. But he was to the orphan a supporting parent, watching over her with exceeding love, and bearing her to mansions of eternal rest. Wonder not then that I wish to follow her footsteps, for little do you know the blessed joy which beams on the Christian's path.

"Dear, dear Anne, be no longer the careless, heedless, ungrateful sinner, but pray for grace to enable you to turn unto the Lord. Think, Oh think, what would be your situation were death to call you on this very day, and God and your conscience should

say to you, 'You loved the world, and all its busy anxious cares and vanities. You counted my Sabbaths a weariness, and my word of no value. Now, earth is yours, the worm that dieth not, and the everlasting darkness, and your soul shall never inherit my Sabbaths of glory, eternal in the heavens, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.'

While Paul preached of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and said, "Go thy way now, at a more convenient time I will send for thee." But so said not poor Anne. She returned home trembling under the terrors of conviction. She did as Martha had desired her, even to pray for forgiveness and strength to amend her life. She began, from henceforth, to give occupation alike to every week day; and by faithfully performing all her duties, she became the delight of her master and mistress; and soon, on the Sabbath day, there was not in the house of God a more attentive hearer than Anne, nor one who profited more by the truths she heard delivered there, or studied the Scriptures more carefully. For the Lord accepted of her service, and shed over her understanding a light to make her desire and feel the truth, and, in humble hope of the gospel, to look forward to the day, when the servants who have been faithful over a few things, shall be invited to enter into the joy of their Lord.

INSTRUCTIVE NARRATIVES.

A BRIEF MEMOIR OF A FAITHFUL AND VALUED SERVANT.

(Concluded from page 263.)

Ar the age of sixty a severe illness much impaired the health of Sarah A., and about five years subse

quently, it was judged best for her to relinquish duties, to which she was no longer equal. An almshouse having been obtained for her, she removed to it. The small annuity granted with it, and the savings of her long and careful life, rendered her circumstances comfortable. Here it was permitted to those whose early days she had tended, and into whose minds she had endeavoured to instil the blessed truths of religion, to witness their sustaining power in the period of weakness and declining bodily strength; and, by kind and affectionate attentions, to soothe her latter days. She did not live more than two years after her removal to the almshouse; severe illness again attacked her, and caused her much suffering: every possible remedy was resorted to, but the relief was only temporary; unfavourable symptoms returned, though no immediate danger was apprehended, and her removal at last was somewhat sudden. On the Saturday she appeared ill, and on the Monday she was unable to rise from her bed. She herself felt that her earthly career was soon to finish; she spoke distinctly and clearly of her hopes for eternity, during the early part of the day, and named some arrangements that she wished to be made respecting her funeral. The closing scene now drew on. About noon, and though free from bodily pain, she suffered much mentally, and said, "Satan now has his hour, he harasses my mind, and all seems dark,—I cannot see my Saviour." It was remarked to her, "but after so many years' experience of His love, you cannot think He will leave you now, even though you see Him not.” She replied, 66 No! I know He will not; I know I must be safe, because Jesus is faithful to His promises, because He died for me; but, oh! it is so distressing thus to be shut up in darkness; I seem to

have no comfort, no hope; it is the temptation of Satan to distrust my God." The conflict was great, she seemed scarcely able to bear it; her earthly tabernacle was fast approaching its end. Soon after this she sank into a gentle sleep, and on awaking, said, "It has all passed away now; my Saviour is present, He waits to receive me; He has always loved me, and loves me to the last. I knew He would not forsake me when walking through the valley of the shadow of death, though I did not see Him." After this she spoke little, but seemed happy, and to realise a foretaste of that spiritual blessedness, prepared for those purchased by the blood of the Lamb. She affectionately thanked those around her for their kindness and attention, and then fell asleep in Jesus. The exact period of her departure could hardly be ascertained, so gently did her spirit exchange time for eternity.

As a last mark of the high esteem in which she was held by those who had so long known her faithful sevices, her former master, a clergyman, performed the funeral rite, and consigned her mortal remains to the silent grave, there to await the resurrection of the just. Some members of the family followed as mourners, (none of her own relations residing in or near London,) and undertook the distribution of her little property. She bequeathed a legacy of five pounds to each of the societies she had so fondly cherished, and the remainder among her family in Northamptonshire, for whom she had ever evinced the greatest regard. Such was Sarah A.; her life was a testimony to the truth; she moved in a humble sphere, in which she was conscientious and consistent. She was a follower of Christ in all,-in service and in private, and her departure exemplified, "How blessed are the