"How can I sink with such a prop, That bears the world and all things up?

What should I do if I had religion to seek now." She loved to repeat the hymn

"On Jordan's stormy banks I stand,
And cast a wishful eye

To Canaan's fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie."

As her body grew weaker, her inward strength was renewed, and she continued to rest calmly on Jesus, until a quarter past ten o'clock a.m., when her happy spirit escaped from the prisonhouse of clay to the paradise of Godthe land of pure delight, to be for ever with the Lord.

T. GUTTRIDGE.
Newcastle-on-Tyne, October
10, 1865.

MARY SKELTON, OF RIPON. MARY SKELTON was born on the 4th of March, 1807. Her disposition was so retiring, and her life so quiet, that a few words will express almost all that can be said of her. In early life she decided for the service of God, and united with the Church. Her first

ticket of membership is dated January, 1826, and was given to her by the late Rev. W. Ford. The motto upon it may be said to have been the motto of her life, and her death is a solemn commentary upon it-"Let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober." At first she encountered considerable opposition at home, but most steadily persisted in the course she knew to be right. She delighted in all the means of grace. At the class-meeting she was most regular when her circumstances would allow; if absent, her leader never felt any anxiety as to the cause, being well assured that it was one she was unable to control. He states that her experience was always clear and sound. There could be no doubt as to a genuine conversion having taken place. She rested upon the Atonement, and seemed to have no doubt as to her acceptance.

Her character, though peculiarly retiring, seems to have commanded general respect. Every one appears to speak well of her. Under a modest, and even bashful, exterior was a large amount of strong common-sense. She was not only truthful, she was true. Her yea was yea, and her nay, nay. She loved the house of God. Like the ancient. Jews, who took pleasure in the stones of Zion, and favoured the dust thereof, she felt a strong attachment to the place where she had received so many blessings; and on the opening of the new chapel, she felt a degree of pain in leaving her old religious home.

On the Thursday night previous to her death she was at class, and one who knew that her mind was a good deal burdened with anxiety was surprised at the liberty with which she engaged in prayer. On the following Monday she was as cheerful and active as usual, and did not complain of illhealth; but in the evening, having gone out on business, she was seized with illness at a neighbouring house, and was conducted home in an almost speechless condition. In three hours she was no more on earth.

Shortly before her death a dear friend said to her, "I think your Master and you will soon meet; how do matters stand ?" She smiled faintly, but was unable to articulate a reply. When her leader was informed of her death, he could scarcely credit the report, but said, "If it be so, it is a glorious change for her." She died on Monday, November 6th, aged 58 years, having been a

member of our society for forty years. "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Ripon, Dec. 4, 1865. A. L.

REV. JOHN NICHOLAS. DIED, December 15th, 1865, in Lower Broughton, Manchester, the Rev. John Nicholas, aged sixty years. He entered on his public ministry in 1837, and continued bis labours until the autumn of 1864. His last affliction was lingering and painful, but he is now released, and sleeps in Jesus. R. H.

MR. GEORGE COOK,,

MANCHESTER NORTH CIRCUIT.

OUR brother departed this life October 11th, 1865, aged 51 years. He had been a steady member of our society, at Crab Lane, from 1836 to the time of his death. Soon after he had joined the church, some of his old companions, seeing him one Sunday morning at the chapel gate, said one to another, "We have him now; we will make him go with us;" but he firmly resisted their influence, went into the house of God, and remained steadfast in his Christian profession. He was never able, in the class-meeting or love-feast, to tell the time when he received the forgiveness of sin; but for many happy years he could rejoice that he had peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

No sooner had he become a member than he sought to be a labourer in the Lord's vineyard, and at once engaged as a teacher in the Sabbath-school. He continued a teacher until he was elected as superintendent, the duties of which office he discharged with diligence and zeal for many years. When, owing to a slight impediment in his speech, he resolved to retire from the office, the teachers could not allow him to do so without recognizing, in an appropriate resolution, their high appreciation of his past services. He was also, in his best days, a very acceptable leader in the society; but the same reason that led him to give up the

superintendence of the school induced him to resign his office in the church. But, as a private member, his piety suffered no declension, his zeal no abatement. He attended the various means of grace with regularity and diligence, and was among the most devoted of God's worshipping people. The pecuniary support of the cause was with him a duty and a pleasure, and he was often heard to say, "In all things the Church should be first."

His last illness was of very short duration. Few of his friends beside those of his own family heard of his sickness before they received intelligence of his death. The fatal disease soon accomplished its errand. His dying utterances were brief, but satisfactory. That God who had been with him in life was his strength and consolation in death. His loss is severely felt by the Crab Lane friends. By their request, the event was improved by the Rev. R. Henshaw, on Sunday evening, November 26th, to a large and attentive congregation. May the bereaved widow and son follow him as he followed Christ, and at length meet him in heaven! R. H.

MR. WILLIAM SHEDDEN. ON the morning of Friday, December 1st, 1865, Mr. William Shedden, of Dudley, terminated his earthly career, aged ninety years. Our dear brother, after a long servitude in the cause of Christ, was well prepared for his change; he was literally ripe for glory, entirely free from pain of body or anxiety of mind. I had some delightfully interesting conversation with him the day previous to his departure, in which he expressed himself as resting on Christ, and feeling him exceedingly precious to his soul.

"How blest the righteous are,

When they resign their breath;
No wonder Balaam wished to share
In such a happy death."

"Let me die the death of the righteous,
and let my last end be like his." A
more lengthy account may be ex-
pected.
W. P.

we have been sent from God that we might bear witness to the Light, so that all men through us may believe.

Nay, it would seem that greater things are required of us, who live "in these last days." Mark the Saviour's words, "Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist : notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." Greater not only in privilege, but also in service, if the believer prove worthy of the vocation whereunto he is called. But it may be said that the necessity for such work as that performed by the great preacher of the desert ceased when Jesus commenced his ministry, and hence it is impossible that we can tread in his footsteps. On the contrary, that necessity remains. Though the Son of God is come as the light of the world, solving our difficulties, answering our questions, dispelling our doubts, healing our wounds, assuaging our sorrows, and leading us from the region of darkness to his own blessed kingdom of righteousness, joy and peace, only those upon whom he hath shined, only those whose hearts are irradiated with his bright beams, are conscious that he has risen. We have, therefore, to make known this auspicious fact, to "bear witness to the Light, so that men through us may believe!" Let it not be said, "There are the Scriptures; men should search them for themselves." Granted that they ought to do so, but in the vast majority of cases they will not. Nor should we forget, that we more readily receive instruction through the eye than through any of the other senses; hence men are more apt to form their conclusions respecting religion from what they see in the believer than from what they read of the Word of eternal life, Had we, apart from this reflective power, the eloquence of Apollos, or the logical acumen of Paul, we could not effect so much good as simply bearing witness, through the brightness of our lives, to the shining of the true Light. Every sincere Christian is a living revelation of the unseen Christ to his fellow-men. Every consistent life is a means of grace to all who behold it. As Jesus

could not be hid, so his servants are as "a city set upon a hill." As virtue went forth from him, and healed all the afflicted and diseased in the crowd around him, so, if we thus bear witness to his shining in our hearts, we shall impart a blessing to all who come in contact with us. As Cowper finely says—

"When one who holds communion with the skies

Has filled his urn where those pure pleasures rise,

And once more mingles with us meaner things,

'Tis e'en as if an angel shook his wings.

Immortal fragrance fills the circuit wide,

And tells us whence his treasure is supplied."

One thing must not be passed over. This ministry of life is not the privilege of a few, but possible on the part of each one. This witness can be borne by all who are the children of light. The obscurest as well as the most distinguished saint can unite in the blessed work. The merchant in his office, the physician in his round of calls, the tradesman in his store, the artizan at his bench, the mother in the midst of her family, the boy or girl in the school, or even the playground-each and all cau reflect the light which beams from heaven. Let us, then, be faithful to our solemn trust. The salvation of some of our fellow-men may depend upon our conduct. There are, doubtless, many things beyond our reach; but this, at least, we can do, through Divine help-we can bear witness to the Light. In such a case we shall not live in vain, while, when our work is done, when we sink in life's last sleep, our eyes will close

"As sets the morning star, Which goes not down behind the darkened west,

Nor hides obscured amid the tempests of the sky,

But melts away into the light of heaven."

The Religious Monthly.

ESCAPE FOR THY LIFE. THIS call, or entreaty, would scarcely be needed if your dwelling was en

veloped in flames, and a way of escape was before you. Nor if you, a prisoner in some gloomy dungeon, saw at length the door opening wide for your escape. How strange, then, that you remain careless and unconcerned when your deathless, immortal spirit is in danger every moment of being "cast into hell-fire!"

Better, far better, that the body consume to ashes, than that the soul be consigned to everlasting torments; better that it rot in an earthly dungeon than that thy immortal spirit live for ever in the prison-house of despair. Light and transient are all the sickness and sorrows of time, compared to the gnawings of the worm which never dies; of the fire which cannot be quenched; of the scorpionsting of a guilty conscience.

Escape for thy life; "flee from the wrath to come;" hasten to "the city of refuge;" secure an interest in "the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ;" for the avenger of blood is at thy heels, and thou art "condemned already." W. R. S.

ILLUSTRATION OF SCRIP

TURE.

"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."-Isa. i. 18. "WE have some little difficulty," said a scientific lecturer, "with the iron dyes, but the most troublesome of all are the Turkey-red rags. You see I have dipped this into my solution; its red is paler, but it is still strong. If I steep it long enough to efface the colour entirely, the fibre will be destroyed; it will be useless for our manufacture. How, then, are we to dispose of our red rags?

We

leave their indelible dye as it is, and make them into red blotting paper. Perhaps you have wondered why your writing pad is red. Now you know the reason."

I could scarcely sleep that night for joy at the acquisition of so striking though unintentional an illustration of the riches of grace and the power of "the precious blood of Christ." The Spirit of God led the Prophet Isaiah to write-not "though your sins be as blue as the sky, or as green as the olive-leaf, or as black as night:" he chose the very colour

which modern science with all its appliances finds to be indestructible. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

JESUS, THE CHURCH'S
MODEL.

CHRIST was free from all one-sidedness, which constitutes the weakness as well as the strength of the most eminent men. His character never lost its even balance and happy equilibrium, never needed modification or readjustment.

His zeal never degenerated into passion or rashness, his constancy into obstinacy, his benevolence into weakness, nor his tenderness into sentimentality. His unworldliness was free from indifference and unsociability, his dignity from pride and presumption, his affability from undue familiarity, his self-denial from moroseness, his temperance from austerity. He combined childlike innocence with manly strength, all-absorbing devotion to God with untiring interest in the welfare of man, tender love to the sinner with uncompromising severity against sin, commanding dignity with winning humility, fearless courage with wise caution, unyielding firmness with sweet gentleness.

HE DID NO SUNDAY WORK. SIR CHARLES MIDDLETON, afterwards known as Lord Barham, who, as First Lord of the Admiralty, had the management of the English navy, managed it in times of difficulty so great, that never before or since was there such a demand for prompt and efficient service. Urgent and rapid were the demands which Lord Nelson made upon the navy department, whose circumstances and uncommon movements required no ordinary energy to supply what he called for. Yet Lord Barham permitted no Sunday labours in the dockyards. Notwithstanding, so well was everything done, and so promptly, that Lord Nelson commended him in the highest terms. Now, will some of our Sunday-workers" account for this?

SIMPLE FAITH IN JESUS. A DOCTOR, who was once visiting a Christian patient, had himself long been anxious to feel that he was at peace with God. The Spirit of God had convinced him of his sin and need, and he longed to possess "that peace which the world cannot give." On this occasion, addressing himself to the sick one, he said, "I want you just to tell me what it is, this believing and getting happiness-faith in Jesus, and all that sort of thing that brings peace?" His patient replied, "Doctor, I have felt that I could do nothing, and I have put my case in your hands-I am trusting in you. This is exactly what every poor sinner must do in the Lord Jesus." This reply greatly awakened the doctor's surprise, and a new light broke in upon his soul. "Is that all?" he exclaimed, "simply trusting in the Lord Jesus! I see it as I never did before. He has done the work!" "Yes, Jesus said on the cross, 'It is finished!' and 'whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life!"" From that sick bed the doctor went a happy man, rejoicing that his sins were washed away in the blood of the Lamb.

ARE YOU CONVERTED? My friend, are you prepared to die? "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John iii. 3).

That you were born into the world a sinner is certain. Have you been converted since then by the operation of the Spirit of God on your heart? This is so great a change, you cannot be mistaken if it has passed upon you; for "if any man be in Christ he is a new creature" (2 Cor. v. 17). Death and eternity must come, and may come to-morrow-to-day! Then where would your immortal soul be? If you have been hitherto regardless of these things, take the advice of an unknown friend.

The way of salvation for a guilty sinner is recorded in the Word of God.

There is no time to be lost if your soul is not safe for eternity, for this night it may be required of you.

This is the day of grace, and Christ is exalted to save the vilest of sinners. His invitation is, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. xi. 28). May the Holy Spirit (without whose drawing none can come to God aright) bring this word with power to your heart, and then he will lead you to Jesus, who casts out none who come unto him. In the Word of God you will read the encouraging words, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

You may long since have believed in Christ, and yet not be in a safe state; for there are two kinds of faith. "It is with the heart man believeth unto righteousness" (Rom. x. 10). "The talk of the lips tendeth only to penury (Prov. xiv. 23). The faith that always brings salvation is the "gift of God" (Eph. ii. 8); and none shall ask for it in vain, nor shall any one fail of salvation who possesses it. Its fruits and effects are repentance, joy, peace, holy living, good works, communion with God; and the end everlasting life!

Friend, it is a precious boon; be it yours to seek for it (Matt. vii. 7). -Old Jonathan.

HUMAN INFLUENCE. AWAY among the Alleghanies there is a spring so small that a single ox could drink it dry on a summer's day. It steals its unobtrusive way among the hills till it spreads out into the beautiful Ohio. Thence it stretches away a thousand miles, leaving on its banks more than a hundred villages and cities, and many thousand cultivated farms, and bearing on its bosom more than half a thousand steamboats. Then joining the Mississippi, it stretches away some twelve hundred miles more, until it falls into the great emblem of eternity. It is one of the great tributaries of the ocean, which, obedient only to God, shall roar and roar till the angel, with one foot on the sea and the other on the land, shall lift up his hand to heaven and swear that time shall be no longer. So with moral influence. It is a rill, a rivulet, an ocean, boundless and fathomless as eternity.