ever, as they were, he was determined to be faithful to his dying partner, and took an opportunity of communicating this sad and unwelcome news unto her. In great distress she inquired, "Has the doctor said so? O! I hope not: Must I die? O dont say so. Cannot the physician do something more for me?" Here followed a scene which language fails to describe. "O my dear husband! (said she, my dear children! Let me see them." They came, four in number; she said, "Be good, my children," -kissed them, then wept, as all present did: who could forbear? From this time she was enabled to give up her children. This was on Easter-day. Her mind now became much more calm, tranquil, resigned, and happy. Anxious to express her gratitude to those of her relatives who attended her, she repeatedly thanked them, and earnestly exhorted them to serve the Lord, and to meet her in heaven.

At one time, being very happy, she said with a smile, "O how good the Lord is to me! Sing

Or sing,

Cheerful and blithe my way pursue,

And with the promis'd land in view,'" &c.

'Jesus hath died that I might live,'" &c.

This was a favourite hymn of her's, and after a short pause she raised her feeble voice and sung,

"O for a heart to praise my God," &c.

and thus continued blessing and praising the Lord.

The nature of her complaint (a consumption) encouraged at times an hope of her recovery, which proved groundless, as she grew weaker and weaker: her life, however, was prolonged far beyond expectation. When her class-leader (John Cumberland) visited her, she thanked him for his labour of love, and said, "You have been my leader here, and if permitted I will lead you into heaven. I am going to meet a large class there! She warned or comforted all who, she thought, required it, and drawing near to her latter end, she became perfectly resigned, and was disentangled from every earthly tie. The thoughts of parting with her husband, which had previously appeared so dreadfully severe, she was now enabled to overcome, and endeavoured to alleviate his grief. Jesus Christ, and heaven and glory were now the delightful themes on which she chose to dwell. She also felt deeply interested in the prosperity of Zion, and frequently inquired after the people with whom she used to meet. Her faith had now firm hold on Christ, nor did she lose her confidence to the last.

The evening previous to her death it became evident that her departure was at hand; of this she was fully aware. Her pain now became very great; but she was perfectly sensible, and said,

"I am dying; this is hard work: but it will soon be over. I am going to bliss! Lord, give me patience. Dont grieve, my hus band, I am happy! happy!"

At her request some friends prayed, commending her soul into the hands of God. She then said, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly;-now come." Then, after a pause, she said, "I am going to The New Jerusalem above, the seat of everlasting love;"" and then exclaimed, "Bless the Lord O my soul," &c. A friend asked "Are you happy?" she replied, "Very happy!" To a young lady present, she said, " Miss, O seek the Lord, my dear, seek the Lord; get religion, that will support you in a dying hour; be sure meet me in heaven !" To her sister-in-law she said, "Eliza, I wish I could take you with me to glory!" After twelve o'clock she said but little; but repeatedly waved her hand in token of triumph. The last enemy was quite disarmed of his sting thus calm and happy, she gently breathed her last at three o'clock in the morning of the 12th of May, 1815, in the 35th year of her age. A funeral sermon was preached in her own house, by Mr. Dawes, from 1 Thessalonians iv. 18; and another at Luton, by Mr. Newton.

As a member of the Methodist Society, my late dear sister was an example of stability, constantly attending the means of grace, especially class-meetings; observing our Rules, and approving of all parts of our economy. As a wife, she was faithful, affectionate, and prudent. As a mother-kind, attentive, and loving. As a Christian-humble, teachable, meek, and diffident. She felt a lively interest in the prosperity of the cause of God. Her highest ambition was to receive the ministers of the gospel, and hear the word preached in her own house; and in this God gave her the desire of her heart. Some failings, doubtless, she had; she was too credulous: she also manifested too great a love to her husband and children; to her friends and her home; but even her "failings leaned to virtue's side."

The design of the writer of this memoir is not to eulogize the character of the deceased; but to perpetuate the memory of one who, although known but by a few, was deservedly beloved and respected by all who knew her; and those who knew her best well know that this account is quite within the boundaries of truth.

T. P.

SOME ACCOUNT of the Christian experience and happy Death of the late Mrs. GARTRELL, wife of the Rev. James Gartrell, Ampthill, Beds.

It should seem that our dear and departed sister had rather a delicate constitution, and for some time past experienced much affliction of body. When the writer of this account first saw her,

which was in the latter end of August last, she then appeared as labouring under considerable bodily indisposition, and not likely, in all human probability, for any long continuance in this world. From this period to the day on which she died, she was under the necessity of having medical advice. No means were left untried, which could be devised by her very affectionate husband, to arrest the power of disease, and restore her, if possible, to health and strength; but, alas! all these efforts proved eventually unavailing. During the time of my short acquaintance with her she seemed at times to feel much pain, which, on some occasions, was evidently very excruciating, so that she stood much in need of Divine grace to support her under it; and which, there is every reason to believe, she enjoyed to the latest moment of her life. For the last two months she was called more particularly to pass through the deep waters of severe affliction; when every effort was exerted to counteract the influence of her complaint. Recourse was had to the physician, who had been previously consulted by herself, personally, a number of months before for advice; whose prescription was most implicitly followed by our departed friend; still, however, no salutary effect was produced; but her enfeebled constitution, worn down by so much continued suffering, was gradually sinking beneath the burden, until at length death put a final close to all her sorrows.

Perhaps there never was a more kind and affectionate mother than Mrs. Gartrell. All who knew her in domestic life concur in stating that she ever manifested the most tender solicitude for the welfare of her two children; both of whom, being boys, were sent to Kingswood School for education; the youngest having left home for that purpose last November; yet, notwithstanding this strong parental affection which she bore towards her chil dren, she appears, in the latter stage of her affliction, to have given them up entirely into the hands of him who is their heavenly parent. When asked, on one occasion, by a friend, whether she should like to see her sons, she replied, "I should like to see them; but I willingly leave that to the Lord," or words to that

effect.

It is pleasing to trace the truly Christian spirit of resignation and humility which she invariably evidenced throughout all her painful sufferings. Mr. Gartrell having observed to her that the Lord was about to part them, she said, "It appears so; the will of the Lord be done." He then proceeded, "My dear, have you any thing particular to say?" she answered, "No; only I hope that you will be kind to the children:" and from that time appeared to have committed them entirely to the attention of her grieving partner, and the guardian care of Almighty God. one time, after the physician had been paying her a visit, she observed, "What trouble and expense about such a poor unworthy

At

creature as I am." Her husband being then in the room, immediately replied, "Never mind trouble and expense, if we can but preserve life; when I am afflicted you will pay the same trouble and attention to me." "O yes, (said she,) that will I do with pleasure to the last moment;" and wept. It is to be observed, that on this, as well as on every other occasion, she evinced the utmost warmth of affectionate regard to her husband, for which she was peculiarly remarkable, and which was equally displayed on his part in return. Thus they gave more than a common example of conjugal affection; in which respect his loss is truly irreparable.

Religion, in all its gracious advantages and consolations, shone forth in our sister, especially while oppressed by bodily affliction and debility. It was then that she peculiarly felt its importance in soothing and supporting her mind. For having the power of godliness, as well as the outward form, she could "glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope." How happy would it be if all that read or hear this account were so to imitate her example, as to learn sincerely to seek true religion in the early part of life, when in health and strength; that like her they might enjoy its Divine consolations when called to endure any of the various human woes which flesh is heir to.

It is worthy of remark, that her views of the plan of salvation were strictly scriptural and evangelical; she ever depended on the grand atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ for acceptance with God, and the final redemption of her soul, acknowledging her own utter unworthiness of such Divine and transcendent blessings. On Saturday, the day before she died, Mr. Gartrell standing at the foot of the bed, observing her great sufferings, said, " My dear, how much we want faith, now is the time for its exercise." She then exclaimed,

"Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees,

And looks to that alone,

Laughs at impossibilities,

And cries, it shall be done."

And added,

"Author of faith, Eternal Word,

Whose Spirit breathes the active flame,
Faith, like its finisher and Lord,

To-day as yesterday the same."

On being asked in what page the latter hymn was to be found, she replied the 95th, and observed that it was one of the finest hymns in the whole collection.

Mrs. Gartrell seemed, through the latter period of her suffer ings, to be mercifully preserved from the buffetings and assaults of satan, her hope and confidence being strong in God, her Redeemer. The Lord evidently exerted his power in her defence

and support, preventing, by his gracious interposition, her mind from being painfully disturbed by any particular evil suggestions of her spiritual adversary; of whom it is said by the apostle, that he "goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." In this respect she experienced the fulfilment of that Divine promise, That those shall be kept in great peace, whose mind is staid on God. At length the awful moment was drawing near when she was to be no longer an inhabitant of this vale. of tears; the medical gentleman, who had attended her from the commencement of her illness, after repeated trials of his skill to remove the disorder, but to no effect, plainly informed the person waiting upon her, that he could not possibly do her any more good; which information seemed to convey, with certainty, the idea that death was making rapid advances, which indeed proved in the issue to be the case.

Her distressed husband had now his feelings raised to the highest pitch, under the painful apprehension that the desire of his eyes was about to be taken from him into an awful eternity. But, amidst all this anguish, he had the pleasing consideration to console his mind, that she was now going to that bright world where she should behold the blissful presence of her God and Saviour without a vail between; and where sorrow and suffering should be no more. Of this there was every reasonable and satisfactory evidence afforded in her dying experience. She repeatedly said that her mind was quite happy in the Lord. A respectable female friend, for whom she had an affectionate regard, having called to see her, said, "Mrs. Gartrell, are you happy?" she replied, "Very happy, happy in God, and should be more so if Mr. Gartrell could but give me up;" adding, "the Lord will be his support." After a restless night, on Sunday morning, March 1st, her end appeared to be near; she had already entered the dreadful valley of the shadow of death; but its awful gloom seems to have been dispersed while she was passing through it, by the enlivening beams of the glorious Sun of Righteousness. The last words she was heard to utter, and on which she evidently dwelt with peculiar satisfaction, were those words of the Psalmist, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me," Psa. xxiii. 4. After this she spoke no more, and soon her immortal spirit quitted its tenement of clay to mingle with its kindred spirits in the heavenly world.

Mrs. Gartrell, the subject of the preceding memoir, whose maiden name was Price, was descended, in the maternal line, from an ancient and respectable family of the name of Gwynne, in South Wales. Her father was prebend of Hereford. The late Rev. Charles Wesley, brother to the venerable founder of Methodism, married her own aunt, Miss Sarah Gwynne, who is yet living,