to be called into the world of spirits. Then she began to cry mightily unto God, to spare her a little longer in this life, that she might obtain pardon and holiness, in order to her having a sure and certain hope of everlasting life. The Lord heard her prayers, and raised her up from a bed of affliction.

As she recovered from her sickness, she began to put her resolutions in practice. She first regularly attended the church, afterwards other places of worship: but, during 1780, 1781, 1782, and 1783, she frequently came under the heart-searching sermons of Messrs. Valton, Pawson, Benson, Percival, and others. She was brought, by the influence of the Holy Spirit, to a true knowledge of her state, and often did she cry out, "O wretched creature that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" And repeatedly have her sons heard her sing, in bitterness of soul,

"Only Jesus would I know,

And Jesus crucified."

Some of her religious friends, at this time, were of the Calvinistic persuasion, and others of them were Methodists. Fre quently the doctrines of Predestination, of the final Perseve rance of the saints, of the freedom of the will, and of the possibility of finally falling from grace, were the topics of their discourse. For a time, her mind was much harassed by rea. soning on these subjects. Earnestly desirous to know the truth, she read all the books she could, both for and against the doctrines in question; and prayed earnestly for the illumination of the Spirit, that she might not be deceived. At these seasons, she was sometimes drawn by love, and, at other times, driven by fear; and often, while conversing with her religious friends, she said,

""Tis a point I long to know,
Oft it causes anxious thought,
Do I love the Lord or no?
Am I his, or am I not?"

From this time to the end of her life, the Bible was her con stant companion, at work, at table, and often by her bed side. In the month of August, 1783, it pleased God, during a most tremendous thunder-storm, to remove her guilty fears, and give her the knowledge of salvation by the remission of her ins. Many of her neighbours having come into her house for shelter, they were amazed to hear her sing,

"Ye mountains and vales, In praises abound,
Ye hills and ye dales, Continue the sound;
Break forth into singing, Ye trees of the wood,
For Jesus is bringing, Lost sinners to God."

This verse she sung with such a tone of confidence, and such a joyful countenance, as indicated that she was unspeakably happy. Her youngest son, who was present on the occasion, still recollects with gratitude that memorable event.

The following passages of Scripture then occurred to her mind, and were accompanied with much power: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." "Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." Before the storm had quite ceased, she was going out of the house to inform one of her friends, what the Lord had done for her, when a doubt arose in her mind, whether her experience was genuine, or an effect of imagination. She immediately turned back, and went into her chamber, where she prayed earnestly for divine assistance; and those words of the apostle silenced all doubts, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." She now went on her way rejoicing. The next month, (September) having received an invitation to join the Methodist Society, she went to Mr. Garside's class. When he asked her the state of her mind, she broke out in the animating language of the prophet; "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." Being now happily freed from doubts respecting her acceptance with God, she gladly cast in her lot with the Methodists in Stockport; and she continued in union with them, until her departure to the church triumphant.

From the time of her joining the Society, until her health became bad, she endeavoured to be useful, according to her ability, by visiting the sick, particularly her own sex; comforting and exhorting them, as she found liberty and opportu nity; in which blessed work she often witnessed the triumphs of grace. She was frequently found, on a Sunday evening, at prayer meetings, when her family concerns would permit. Her constancy at Chapel, for a number of years, was almost proverbial: whoever the preacher might be, it was all one to her. She often said, that she did not wish to know before-hand who was to preach, that she might be the better prepared to receive his message as from the Lord. On such occasions she was wont to say, "It does not become a criminal to sit in the place of a

judge."

She was remarkably attached to her Leader, and to the members of his class, and hence sympathized with them in their sorrows, and felt a lively interest in their joys. If the least dissension at any time appeared amongst them, she mourned in secret, and wished to be an healer of their grievances; remembering, "Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God." Throughout the whole of her Christian

2

course, she manifested a sincere desire to know the truth; attended to the presence of God; and endeavoured to walk in all his commandments and ordinances blameless.

She had considerable trials in her family. Her second son early shewed a predeliction for the army, and eventually went with General Abercromby to Egypt, where, he fell a victim, with several of his townsmen, to the diseases incident to that unhealthy climate. She often mourned for him, as one mourn ing for her first-born; but sometimes exclaimed, "Not my will, but thine be done."

Her natural disposition being hasty, and sometimes inclined to levity, she was frequently brought to mourn, before the Lord, over her unwatchfulness. On these occasions, she was sometimes led to fear that her joys would not be so abundant, when she came to her death-bed, as she had witnessed in many others she had visited; like Christian, as described by Bunyan, she feared that the waters of death would be highest when she should be called to pass over them.

For a number of years, her health had been gradually on the decline. The last sermon she heard in the Methodist chapel, Hillgate, was when Mr. Myles was on his return from the Liverpool Conference. As she had often profited under his ministry, when stationed at Stockport, in 1792 and 1793, she wished to hear him once more; and two of her friends conducted her thither for that purpose. For upwards of three years previous to her death, she was confined to her house, but even then, when she understood that any of the preachers were in town, whom she had heard in the chapel, she would be placed at the door or window, to see them, or speak to them as they passed by.

During the last fourteen months of her life, her afflictions (rheumatism and dropsy) would not permit her to be brought out of her chamber. But the Lord was present to comfort and cheer his afflicted servant there. Although sometimes, when under the pressure of severe affliction, her consolations were not strong, yet her trust was in him, who has said, "when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee."

When Mr. D. Jackson came to Stockport in 1810, having been stationed in this Circuit during the years 1790 and 1791, after looking around in the chapel for many of his old hearers, be missed her, as well as several others also, and concluded she was added to the list of deaths during his absence. But, bearing of her indisposition, he went to visit her, and continued to do so regularly, to the last week of her life. She frequently expressed her gratitude to God, for sending his servant to ad

nister the word of salvation to her in her confinement. During the course of his visits, she had many times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.

The Tuesday before she died, after Mr. Jackson had prayed with her, she broke out, in the song of the angels, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good-will towards men." The day on which she died, she was not able to articu late so as to be understood; but a few hours before she expired, her attendant observed, that she lifted up her head, and seemed desirous to speak, but the only words that could be collected were, Happy! happy! happy!" She fell asleep in Jesus, Saturday evening, Feb. 29, 1812, in the 68th year of her age.

May her relatives so tread in her steps, and endeavour to imitate her in godliness, that they may all meet her, at last, at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Amen.

I shall close this short account of my mother, in the words of Mr. Daniel Jackson.

"My acquaintance," saith he, "with sister Leech com menced in the year 1789, which was the first year I was stationed in the Stockport Circuit. She was then strong and active both in body and mind. She was constant in her attendance on all the means of grace, and holy in all her conversation. She let her light shine before men, nor did it shine in vain; for several were blessed and comforted by means of her counsel, and in answer to her prayers.

"When I came to reside in this town in 1810, I concluded that sister Leech, as well as many others of my old friends, was gone to rest, as I never saw her at the means of grace. Her great love to the ordinances of God confirmed me in this opinion, until I was requested by her eldest son to visit his sick mother. On my calling upon her shortly after, I found her heavily af flicted in body, and very much depressed in mind; grief, indeed, was strongly depicted in her countenance. I asked her the state of her mind, and her reply convinced me, that she was writing bitter things against herself, and concluding that the glory was departed from her. I conceived that her distress arose, partly from her affliction and confinement, but chiefly from the attacks of him who goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he nay devour. I began to speak to her of the mercy, truth, faithfulness, and love of God in Christ Jesus to his people. It pleased the Lord to speak with such power to her heart, that she cried out aloud, "Help me up, to praise God!" The cloud burst, and the light of life shone upon her mind. From that time I visited her frequently, but never without a blessing. At some of these seasons, she appeared to be on the verge of heaven, very happy in God, and greatly rejoicing in his salvation. The last time I visited her, which was the Thursday before her dissolution, after we had conversed of God's dealings with us, and concluded prayer, I sat down, and was silent for a few minutes. Our departed friend broke silence, by crying

out, "Glory be to God on high, &c." After taking a folemn farewell, we parted; and when I came to vifit her again, I learned that her immortal fpirit had left its tenement of clay, about half an hour before my arrival.-She was a woman of good fenfe, and of a itrong memory, well ftored with divine truths. She knew how to fpeak a word in feafon, which fhé often did, to the profit of many. JOHN LEECH.

SIR,

MISCELLANEOUS.

PLINY'S LETTER TO TRAJAN.
To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine.

THE Letter written by Pliny the Younger to the Emperor Tra jan, on the subject of perfecuting the Chriftians, and the Emperor's answer to it, are, on feveral important accounts, worthy of the greatest publicity. They prove that Trajan, notwithstanding his great fame for wifdom, juftice, and humanity, was a bloody perfecutor; and that Pliny, with all his good fenfe and moderation, did not fcruple to execute an edict which made the bare profeffion of Christianity a capital crime. It is evident that Pliny's fcruples in carrying on the perfecution in which he was engaged, did not arife from his thinking that Chriftians fhould be tolerated in the profeffion of their religion; for he fays, "Interrogavi ipfos an effent Chriftiani: confitentes iterum ac tertio interrogavi, fupplicium minatus: perfeverentes duci juffi. Neque enim dubitabam, qualequnque effet quod faterenter, pertinaciam certe et inflexibilem obftinationem debere puniri." So, according to Pliny, a steadfast profeflion of faith in Chrift, was fuch inflexible obftinacy as deferved capital punishment! This celebrated proconful's letter to Trajan, and Trajan's answer to it, with Dr. Macknight's obfervations upon them, will, I prefume, be highly acceptable to your numerous readers. Having tranfcribed them with a view to their being inferted in your widely extended and useful Mifcellany, your giving them a place as foon as convenient, will much oblige your's, fincerely,

August, 1812.

A. L.

"PLINY to Trajan. It is my cuftom, Sir, to confult you upon all things about which I have any doubt. For who can better refolve my doubts, or remove my ignorance. I never was present at any of the proceffes against the Chriftians. Therefore I know neither what is in them, which uses to be punished, nor how far the inquiry concerning them ufes to be carried. Moreover, I hefVOL. XXXVI. APRIL, 1813.