lights were extinguished in the cottages-the people had gone to bed, except in one upper room, were there was the ray of a rushlight to be seen in the top window. He knew that room-" the old man is not dead yet, or else the light would be out; I will go, and catch him when flesh and heart are failing, and induce him to deny his God; he shall even curse God when he is dying; and then, what triumph shall be mine!" So, up stairs he went; and when he got into the room, he found old Mr. Williams still alive, though reduced to a skeleton, his wife and family standing around his bed taking a last farewell of him. But ere he could thrust a doubt or insinuation in the old man's heart, old William's eyes glistened, and he put out his hands all gaunt and bony, and said, 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 ; Thou hast prepared a way before me, in the presence of mine enemies." "Ah," said Satan," he meant that last line for me"in the presence of mine enemies;" and he slunk away back to his pit, for he never had so ill a day all his life before.

From these illustrations, quaint, and familiar though they be much good may flow. We hope to give our readers many, much better.

THE

PHYSICIAN

SURPRISED

IN THE DYING CHAMBER OF A HAPPY CHRISTIAN.

For pure and savoury Gospel truth, and a genuine experience of a New Covenant salvation, we have scarcely ever seen or read any better work, than those two most excellent vol. umes entitled " Correspondence and Sermons of the late Rev. J. Chamberlain, of Leicester." We have referred to them more fully in some numbers of The Earthen Vessel; and desire to give the readers of CHEERING WORDS a few spiritual gems, in future pages; but here we copy from "The Appendix" to the second volume, a few lines descriptive of the scenes and sentences connected with the happy death of Miss Chamberlain; whose brother wrote an account of her departture in letters to the late William Huntington. From them the following paragraphs are selected :-After some in

troductory remarks, in addressing Mr. Huntington, Mr. Chamberlain says:

I said in my last, I would give you some of the particulars of my sister's conversation previous to her departure, which I am sure you will be glad to hear; for although I as well as others, have been satisfied respecting her eternal state for some time past, yet it is confirming that she used such language, and found such support, in the approach of death, through the sweet enjoyment she had of the Lord's love and favor to her. A few days prior to her confinement to her room she told me much of her experience, and how sharply she had been exercised at times; what dreadful things went through her mind, such as she durst not even speak of. She said, "When I do not enjoy the Lord's presence, I feel many fears and misgivings of heart. But why should I expect to escape this, when Christ himself cried out, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me ?' That consideration is often a great comfort and support to my mind." The peace of soul she enjoyed for the last six days was very great, and her conversation was encouraging and comforting to all that came to see her. She said, "Thou wilt keep that man in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee. And so I find it, for so far as God hath given me faith to stay my mind on him I have peace. I cannot say that I have any fear of death; perfect love hath cast out all fear; nor have I any tossings in my mind, nor do I feel those sharp exercises I at one time had; I have that peace in my conscience which passeth all understanding, which this world knows nothing of. The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.'" Mr. B. Cort said to her, "You remember Mr. Huntington's saying from the pulpit, If perfect love had cast out all fear, you would be no more afraid of death than I am of you.'" "Yes," she said, "I do; and I think that some who are not so strong in faith as Mr. H. can say the same. I feel no fear; death will be swallowed up in victory. Formerly I used to have great terror; and was so exercised with the fear of death, that often times the sweat has dropped from me. One night in particular, amongst many others, I was in great fear and distress; I got up, and earnestly prayed to the Lord to remove my fears, and to reveal himself to me; and, if he had any mercy for me, to show

me mercy. The Lord heard me in this time of trouble, and delivered me, so that my soul was melted under a feeling sense of his goodness, and this Scripture came with power, 'The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.' And immediately after, this verse in Hart's hymns came upon my mind:

I'll lay me down and sweetly sleep,
For I have peace with God;
And when I wake He shall me keep,
Through faith in Jesu's blood.'

I did lay me down in peace; and when I awoke the Lord kept me by faith in his blood; he has kept me to this day, and I now have peace. When I was at Matlock my feelings were very different at times; I was taken very ill on Wednesday, and from then till Sunday I felt very dead in my soul, and dark respecting my eternal state; which brought me to cry mightily to God. I may say the Lord for a small moment forsakes, and in a little wrath hideth his face, but with everlasting kindness he hath mercy on me. I read Mr. Huntington's' Kingdom of Heaven taken by Prayer,' and often wept while reading; it was so suitable to my feelings, and so blessed to my soul while looking in it. On Sunday I found myself so happy, and my soul so melted under the goodness of the Lord, that I knew, whether I lived or died, I was the Lord's. I praised his name, and felt more than I am able to express. O, if I could but make the professing world know what I feel, they would never speak against Mr. Huntington, nor his religion any more. O, how should I like to see him once more in the flesh!" Being told that her time would be but short here, she said, "I know it will not, but I am the best off of you all. "The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come." I have rejoicing in myself, and it is what I feel that supports me, and the comfort which I enjoy springs from my confidence in God. At times I feel more than I can utter; and then I think to myself, O what shall I enjoy as soon as I am gone! Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered the heart of man to conceive, what God hath prepared for them that love him; but it is revealed unto us by his Spirit: and I look upon it that it will be the same

as I now feel, only I shall have such an abundant increase. ' Now abideth faith, hope, and charity, but the greatest of these is charity.' The love which I feel will abide for ever, and be increased."

On the Friday preceding her death, the physician said to her, "I am glad to see you look so comfortable to-day." She said to him, "Yes, I am comfortable, I am very happy; I would rather die than live." He replied, "I never heard such a thing; I cannot believe it." She answered him again, "Why Sir, if I would not rather die than live, how could I be comfortable ?" The greatest calmness and composure were in her countenance, which testified to all who saw her that she was happy in heart. The Lord anointed her head with oil, and his name was as ointment poured forth; the house was filled with the odour thereof, for a sweet savour seemed to rest upon all around her.

The last thing she asked of me was, to read to her the chapter where it is said, "These all died in faith" &c. I did so; and while I stood by her talking upon these words, "These all died in faith," she became much worse in body, and afterwards said but little. One morning when B. C. and myself where in conversation with her, our friend Mr. Lockwood came in, and after standing a little while to hear her speak, he said, "I am glad to hear your conversation, and to find you so comfortable." She replied, "Yes, Mr. Lockwood, I am very happy." He said to her," If a lively countenance is a true index of the heart, you are happy indeed." On his departure he said, "Farewell; and if I never see you again in this world, I hope to follow you to a better." She said, "Yes I believe you will, and many others who have been to see me during my illness."

She is now gone to join the spirits of just men made perfect. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."

There is no real cause for sorrow for one whom the Lamb in the midst of the throne is now feeding, and leading to living fountains of water. They that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." We are living in hope of dying in the Lord, and in a little time our race will be run; and God is faithful, who hath said, "your expectation shall not be cut off."-Chamberlain.

THE CURATE AND THE BISHOP.

There is a very old woman-she is not at all a handsome woman-but she has been amazingly fruitful; her family is very numerous, and her labours in mischief-making and church-dividing have been immense. She goes by the name of "Mrs. Bigotry." Mr. Spurgeon said, the other day, he wished the old woman was hanged, and out of the way; but we see no prospect of her departure at present. Nevertheless, there are now and then circumstances occurring, which tend very terribly to shake her constitution, and some day or other we expect to hear that this giantess of an old woman is going into a decline; and although the decline may be a long time before it comes to an actual dissolution, still, the end of all earthly things must come; and Mrs. Bigotry's end must come too; and then Ephraim will no more envy Judah, and Judah will no more vex Ephraim; but rivers of love and mercy will sweep away those wretched spirits which now torment and divide some of the best inhabitants this sinful world can have.

We dare-to-say our readers have heard something of the great noise this old Mrs. Bigotry has been making in High Church quarters because a most respectable clergyman, and very spiritual Christian Chaplain, has published a pretty little shilling volume, entitled "THE THREE CURACIES: MY FIRST CURACY; How I GOT IT: MY SECOND CURACY; How I LOST IT: MY THIRD CURACY; WHY I LEFT IT.”

This volume, now issuing from the house of Partridge and Co., has excited some strong feelings among Reviewers and others. We have obtained a copy, and find it is beautifully expressive of the feelings of a good man's heart, who watches the kind hand of Providence in all its dealings with him.

After the author of the work had gone through a variety of conflicting scenes in this world, he is carried into St. Bee's College, to prepare for Holy Orders; and it is from one chapter of his history, after he left the College, that the