to persons of higher rank, and opposite sentiments, to many of whom her prayers and advice were blessed. Few failed to appreciate her worth, and in some cases a striking testimony was given of the esteem in which she was held. One lady about this time requested her to go, and live with her that she might have the benefit of her pious conversations and be assisted in her endeavours to find the way of life. She preferred however, continuing with the people, among who she had lived and laboured, and with whom she wished to die. She rejoiced to hear subsequently of this lady's conversion. It seemed as if the lamp only burned brighter as the oil was wasting; but the ardour of her zeal, unquenched by difficulties and time, could not burn for ever; the period of her active labours was near at hand. Sickness and death were on the way; and when they come, who shall resist their might; and labour on? “The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak." Death may not destroy the principle but it effectually stays its operation on earth; "for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."

Death.

"There is no man that hath power over the Spirit to retain the Spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death, and there is no discharge in that war."

The tale of life is soon told. It may be idle or busy; merry or sad; shorter or longer; but it winds rapidly to its close, and soon must be told again! Oh! it is well when it will bear telling; it is well too, when there is time to review before the account is presented, that the spirit of man may be fully prepared to meet the broad eye of God; for it must not be forgotten labours are nothing, however abundant ; works are nothing, however good; benevolence is nothing, however expansive; nothing avails but a new creature in Christ. It was Miss Bentley's privilege to enjoy such a season of review. There was time given to pause from her active labours, and in the silent chamber ponder over her probationary career; having done so, though conscious of many imperfections, she was convinced of the " sure founda

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tion" upon which she had built her hopes and practice, even "Christ crucified." Here was her rock; she was created anew in Christ Jesus. Still some finishing touches had to be given to her sanctified nature, ere her entrance into the Great Presence; and these were supplied in the interval of her sickness.

Towards the close of May, 1842, she was seized with an affliction, which threatened a speedy termination of her life; but the sudden transition from her busy engagements, to the verge of the eternal world, did not surprise her. Her confidence was in Jesus, and even her sufferings of body, could not repress the joy she experienced in the prospect of glory. "Tell your wife," were her words to my father, "I am upon the rock." The attention of many friends who visited her in this extremity, so deeply affected her, as to excite a burst of grateful feeling; and it is difficult to say, whether the visits were more profitable to her, or to them. The attack was however only premonitory; the promise was suggested, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God," and she was accordingly, after some weeks' illness, restored again, though but for a

A STRIKING INCIDENT.

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short season. Indeed from this time, her strength evidently began to fail; the infirmities of age crept gently on, and she was compelled to relinquish her accustomed labours, as also her classes; one of which contained nearly sixty members. This was a season for the trial of of her faith; she had to sit still and eke out her days in weakness and sorrow; to feel the loss of public ordinances, and Christian communion; and to trust God for the supply of the increasing necessities of age. But the trial was sustained, and friends were not wanting to alleviate, as far as possible, the declining years of her, who believed in God. Even in emergency, when no help appeared, her faith did not waver, but her resource was prayer-a resource which could not fail. The following is a striking incident. Having been long afflicted, she had contracted a larger bill for medicines than she could meet; deeply concerned, she laid her difficulty before the Lord, and earnestly supplicated that He would undertake her case. The following morning, as she was dusting her room, she discovered a small packet laid on the window sill; she opened it and, to her surprise, found the exact sum she required to discharge

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her debt. There was written on the paper, "ask not how it came there." Say, can God forget his own who trust in Him? The emergency may be instant; but means are not wanting to him, by which, without any miraculous agency, He can supply all their need, and will; for never yet was it known that He betrayed the faith of his people.

It was apparent during her years of infirmity, she was preparing for a triumphant departure. Her faith assumed almost the vividness of sight; her graces were softly mellowed, as if ripening in the sunshine of God; and her joy was full, so that she longed for her change, and anticipated the pleasure of meeting many, to whom she had been instrumentally blessed, in a happier world. But this will more distinctly appear from the following particulars, which are the records of a few occasional visits, noted down when they occurred; as they were strictly casual, they present a correct idea of her general experience. It should be observed, in the close of the year 1846, she had a second stroke of paralysis, from the effects of which she never recovered. On the following New Year's day, my mother found her very feeble in body; but