and after seventeen hours of excruciating pain her happy spirit took its flight to the mansions of bliss. To her the curtain of time is dropped, and eternity opened. She has gained the victory, and entered upon a state of being that will never, never end."

It often happens that the righteous do as much or more good by their death as that they had accomplished during their life. In the instance of Esther Harrison it was even so. Her life was as "the still small voice," which wooes and wins, but her death as the loud and piercing blast of thunder, which affrights and warns. Many who in their sin resisted, if not despised the gentle exertions of the former, have in penitence received and obeyed the solemn lessons of the latter. The sensation produced and the religious sentiment created by her death cannot be described. Congregations have been increased, hardened sinners aroused, church-members quickened and multiplied. funeral sermon, preached by Mr. Geo. Fox, of Sheffield, was listened to by a congregation which densely crowded every part of the chapel. Scores who flocked to pay this last tribute of respect to the departed could not gain

access.

Her

The effects which have followed Miss Harrison's death are indebted, not more to the suddenness of that event than the sterling and exalted character maintained in life. Such a person meeting such a death is instrumentally the secret of the sensation and movement experienced and observed. In the factory, in the family, in the church, in the school, she was the epistle of Christ, which all could read. Rest, then, thou happy, sainted spirit, in the embrace of that Saviour whom on earth thou loved and honoured! Soon we hope to renew thy fellowship and share thy felicity. "Then, in the realms of bliss divine, With crowns of life and vestments fine, Eternity a day shall seem,

And life on earth but as a dream."
J. STOKOE.
Sheffield North, Dec. 11th, 1849.

JOHN AND SARAH BRODHURST OF DERBY.

John Brodhurst, the son of George and Sarah Brodhurst, of Derby, was born October the 23rd, 1828. In the month of July 1843, it pleased God to take to himself the oldest sister of our young friend, who died happy in the

Lord. This event made a deep impression on his mind, and he has been heard to say, that her death was the means of his spiritual life. Not, however, till the last Sabbath evening of the year in which she died, did he give himself fully to God. To this decision he was in mercy brought under a discourse delivered by the Rev. John Hilton, from these words: "The end of all things is at hand." The following week he began to meet in class with Brother Valentine Kirk; and continued to meet with the same leader to the end of his brief pilgrimage.

It was not till about a fortnight after our young friend began to meet in class, that he obtained a knowledge of the forgiveness of sin. He had retired to his room for prayer, and so earnestly did his soul plead for mercy, he might be said to agonize. God heard his cry and set him free, so that he could sing"No condemnation now I dread, Jesus and all in Him are mine," &c. From this time, our deceased brother steadily pursued his Christian way. winning the affection and esteem of his brethren in the church, and of the ministers who laboured in the circuit, by his amiable spirit and consistent piety. A few things may be named here, which marked the character of our young friend, and attracted the notice of those who knew him.

His love of reading.

The small sums

of money which came into his possession were taken care of, and generally spent in the purchase of some good book; and it was pleasing to see what a number of excellent little works he had in this way secured. He was especially fond of poetical compositions, and most of all, of such as brought out with distinctness and fulness the great doctrine of the atonement. To the atonement his soul clung with admirable earnestness and vigour. Hence his favourite hymns were those that present this subject; and as he loved singing, such hymns were often in his mind and on his tongue.

His marked attachment to his parents. Not only did he readily attend to their expressed wishes, but sought to anticipate them, and was ever tenderly regardful of their feelings and comfort. He entered thoughtfully into the consideration of their temporal interests, and not unfrequently laboured beyond his strength to aid them, as far as possible, in their honest toils.

The industrious attention of our departed friend to self-improvement-his

warm attachment to the church of which he was a member-his ardent love of his class and of the Sabbath school, might with propriety be enlarged upon, as also the steadiness of his faith, and the ripeness of his religious experience. This last named excellence rendered him an edifying member of the class in which he met, and it was delightfully and instructively manifested throughout the long and painful affliction through which it pleased God to lead him. Often has the writer, as well as others, been charmed at witnessing the grace of God which was seen in him. And the records which have been left among his papers reveal, not only the pains and sorrows which he bore, but also the consolations and joys, the triumphs of his faith.

John was a great sufferer. So early as the year 1843, an affection of the chest presented itself. In September 1846, a large abscess, which had greatly distressed him for some time, broke, and brought him into very critical circumstances. After a while he rallied, and hopes were entertained that he would recover; but in February, 1847, he took a cold which settled in his weakened side, and produced a contraction of the leg; so that he became thenceforward confined to the house, and mostly to his bed.

It was affecting to see the lovely youth, as his end approached, adjusting his books, papers, and other small matters, and apportioning them to the several members of the family, and to particular friends, as memorials of his love; and giving directions respecting things connected with his expected decease. On the Tuesday preceding his death, he desired the family to meet in his room, and requested them to sing the hymn

"And can it be that I should gain," &c. His father then prayed, and then he himself prayed, entreating the Most High to support his dear parents under the trial to which they were called; that he would be gracious to his elder brother, who was at the time also afflicted, and restore him, and make him a blessing in the church; that he would save his younger brother and sister, and mercifully support him in the valley of the shadow of death; and that they might at last meet in heaven. His leader calling the same evening, John sent his love to his class mates, exhorting them to be diligent at the means of grace, especially at class, and

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Come let us join," &c., himself raising the tune. After this his sufferings became very great, and he requested one of the family to pray. His elder brother engaged in the exercise. The mother, overpowered with her feelings, was obliged to leave the room. In a few minutes, he again requested prayer, specially for his speedy departure; adding, "Satan tempts me.' After prayer, his pains appeared gradually to decrease, when stretching out his hand, he said "I have heaven in view! I have heaven in view! All is well." Observing a friend to enter the room, he asked him to pray, and then, without a struggle or groan, he fell asleep in Jesus, on the morning of December the 3rd, 1847, aged nineteen years.

SARAH BRODHURST.

She

Mrs. Sarah Brodhurst, the wife of Mr. George Brodhurst, and mother of the pious youth whose Christian course has just been narrated, was a native of Breaston, in the county of Derby, where we have an old and excellent society. She was born May the 6th, 1796. Her maiden name was Birkamshaw. was sister to our late friend, Mr. William Birkamshaw. Her conversion to God, which took place when she was only thirteen years of age, was instrumentally effected by the pious counsels, prayers, and Christian conduct of her brother, who on being made happy in the love of God himself, became zealous in the cause of his Saviour, and was rendered very useful among his family connections. The particular circumstances in which she first obtained a knowledge of forgiving mercy are not

known, but it is known that she became early fixed in the belief of the truth as it is in Jesus, and through grace she continued therein, to the end of her days. Her general experience was characterised by a firm trust in Christ, and a distinct recognition of the atonement made by his death. She was conscious of many imperfections and failings in her conduct, and deplored them; still the power of Divine grace over her mind was uniformly manifested.

Strongly attached to the church of Christ, and to the religious community to which she belonged, she laboured to advance the interests of truth and holiness. During a revival of religion which took place in Breaston, while Messrs. Chapman, Atkinson, and Wm. Joues were in the Nottingham circuit, with which Breaston was then connected, our friend, though then young, was very active in promoting the work of God.

On the marriage of our deceased friend with Mr. Brodhurst, she became a resident in Derby. Our cause at that time in the town was in its infancy, and had many difficulties to struggle with, but in all its difficulties her attachment remained unwavering, and she cherished it as an object of devoted love.

The preachers, who mostly supplied from Nottingham at that time, always found an open door and hearty welcome to her dwelling. When Mrs. B. became a mother, she deeply felt the responsibility of this new relation, and sought at an early period to instil divine truth into the minds of her children; enforcing the instruction which she gave by her own example. Her love of family worship was strong and constant, and she has often been heard to express her gratitude to God for the many precious seasons she had had at the domestic altar. When it so happened that Mr. B. was from home, as when he was out in the circuit attending to his engagements as a local preacher, she conducted the devotions of the family herself, and the prayers which she offered on those occasions are still kept in lively recollection by some who heard them. Nor did this earnest and devoted mother pray and teach in vain; happily she lived to witness the conversion of nearly all her children; several of whom have already passed to a better life, in the assurance of faith.

The zeal of Mrs. B. for the honour of God often led her to reprove profaneness in persons who came to the shop on business. On one occasion, having reproved a gentleman's servant

for swearing, he left the shop in great anger, but shortly after returned, and thanked her for the reproof she had administered.

Although our esteemed friend enjoyed a large share of happiness in her domestic relations, yet during the last few years of her life, she was the subject of much toil and sorrow, arising

from a succession of afflictions and bereavements.

During the long and painful affliction of John, other members of the family were often ill; and when he no longer required her daily and nightly care, her youngest child, and only surviving daughter, who had long been in a declining state, became worse, and in about three months followed her brother to the grave. This event occurring so soon after the death of John, and when much weakened by excessive labour and suffering, affected her greatly. She also for a time suffered some anxiety respecting the soul of the departed child. She was of tender age, and reserved, but evidently the subject of gracious feelings; still the anxious mother had some fears lest her beloved daughter had passed away before she was fully ripe for heaven. After a time she was comforted, and felt assured that her dear Elizabeth was safe in a better world.

When the urgent claims upon the energies of Mrs. Brodhurst were no longer required by her suffering and dying children, it soon became apparent that her own constitution had suffered serious injury. The most skilful medical aid proved unavailing, and in little more than four months the grave of the children received the parent also. Throughout the closing period of the life of our friend, she had an impression that her end was at hand. And it was evident that her affections became increasingly spiritual. The last time she attended her class, she remarked that she had less then to bind her to earth, and more to attach her to heaven, and expressed a conviction that she should soon be united to those who had been separated from her, in a holier and happier state. The day before she died, on her eldest son going into her room, she said, "My lad, I am going to the grave." On his saying he trusted she had a hope beyond it, she said, "O yes! a bright and blooming hope of immortality and eternal life. It is the hope, the blissful hope, which Jesus's grace has given." She added, "I have found it a great trial to give you all up; Satan has

harassed me much, but I feel I can give you all up, I leave you in better hands than mine." Toward evening she became worse, and it was evident to those about her that her end was near. She requested prayer, and several times begged them to wait silently upon God, remarking it would soon be over; frequently repeating

"Our conflicts here will soon be past.”

She was heard to say-"Get away, Satan, I am not thine, but God's;" and then exclaimed

"My Jesus to know, and to feel his blood flow,

It is life everlasting, it is heaven below."

She particularly prayed that God would bless her youngest son, and convert his soul, and that they might all meet in heaven. She expressed her thankfulness that she had embraced religion in her youth, and had it not to seek then; observing, what a pitiable state those must be in who were in dying

eircumstances without it. After saying, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly, and take me to thyself; why are thy chariot wheels so long delayed?" she shortly yielded up her spirit into the hands of her Maker, August the 1st, 1848, in the fifty-third year of her age. G. G.

RECENT DEATH.

DIED at Cheadle, on the 12th of Dec., 1849, Mary, the beloved wife of Thos. Bullock. After bearing the most intense suffering with a perfectly Christian magnanimity, she entered triumphantly into the presence of her God. During her whole affliction she had an unclouded prospect, the result of faith that never wavered. She said she "felt herself constantly in the hands of her heavenly Father, and that he would take care of her." "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord."

A more lengthened acconnt of her private life and glorious death may be expected to appear in these pages.

God is still favouring the Connexion with his approving smile and blessing. The present month records the opening of two additional chapels, Kingswinford, in the Dudley circuit, and Belper, in the Derby circuit. These accounts will be read with interest. We have also the intelligence of a successful opening, and the organization of a society, at Walsall. It may not be out of place to state that, during the present month, additions of 600 member's tickets and 500 probationer's tickets have been required by the circuits. Indeed, we printed 21,000 for each quarter, and the demands for England and Ireland have exhausted our stock, and we have to print again. Some hundreds will, probably, be a surplus in the circuits, but still the large demand for both member's and probationer's tickets is indicative of improvement. Let these facts encourage our friends to increased prayer and exertion, and let us take care to ascribe all the glory to our God.

evening following, an excellent sermon was preached by the Rev. W. Burrows. The congregations were good, and the collections amounted to £31 10s. This, considering the size of the chapel, the depressed state of trade, and, also, that several of the principal works in the neighbourhood are standing, is a very liberal sum, and is highly creditable to the friends who attended these services.

Kingswinford is a pleasant, and now populous village, about three miles westward from Dudley; previous to the erection of our chapel, it contained but one place of worship, and that belonged to the Established Church. Several

attempts have been made at different times by other Christian bodies to raise religious societies, in connection with neighbouring churches, but they have altogether failed. The prevalence of High Church opinions and prejudices seemed, for a time, to forbid the employment of any other instrumentality in improving the moral and spiritual condition of the neighbourhood, than that under the immediate control and direction of the Establishment. Of late years, however, the iron works and mining operations of this district have been gradually extending, and have at length made a close approximation to the village, and by the erection of houses for the workpeople, an entirely