MY DEAR FRIEND BANKS:-You have already been informed of the removal from a world of sin and sorrow to a world of holiness, and joy, and peace of my dear and much lamented wife, which took place on the 29th of May, the day she was 45 years of age, after a long and painful affliction. And she having left a most sweet and blessed testimony of the Lord's goodness and mercy to her, I have sent you a few particulars, and some of her sayings during her affliction; but must leave it with you to correct, and insert or reject what you please, as I find our dear pastor, who has furnished me with a brief outline of the sermon he preached on the occasion, has mentioned a few things that I have myself.

Thus agonized in spirit he proceeded to feel it an honour in being permitted to the church, where he found a large congre-record the event, and shall give it verbatim gation assembled and waiting to hear the as it came to me, by the hands of my esWord: and then it was, he observed, that teemed brother Button (of Leicester,) who he was more deeply distressed than ever, was commissioned by the bereaved husband and especially for the dishonour which he to bring it.-ED.] feared would fall upon religion, through him, that day. He resolved, however, to attempt, the service. He introduced it by singing a psalm; during which time his agitations were increased to the highest degree. When the moment for prayer commenced, he arose, as one in the most perilous and painful situation, and, with arms extended to the heavens, began with this outcry, 'Lord, have mercy upon me!' The cloud instantly broke away, and an unspeakably joyful light shone in upon his soul, so that his spirit seemed to be caught up to the heavens, and he felt as if he saw God, as Moses did, on the Mount, face to face, and was carried forth to him, with an enlargement greater than he had ever before experienced; and on every page of the Scriptures saw his divinity inscribed in Truly, my dear friend, I have lost in her brightest colours. The result was a deep a most valuable wife-my dear boys a most solemnity on the face of the whole congre- affectionate and excellent mother and the gation; and the house, at the end of the church a most valuable and excellent memprayer, was a Bochim. He gave them the ber. But you are not ignorant of her sterlsubject of his evening meditations, which ing worth, both as regards spiritual and was brought to his full remembrance, with temporal things; for, as regards the former, an overflowing abundance of other weighty she was indeed godly above many; and and solemn matter. The Lord blessed the the latter, careful and managing above discourse, so that it proved the happy many: so that her price was above pearls, means of the conversion of about thirty and as Newton says, 'Her care and manpersons. This day he spoke of ever after-agement was the chief concern of my life, wards as his harvest day. Taken from the 66 Evangelical Magazine," 1807.

The Grace of God,

AS MANIFESTED IN THE GOSPEL LIFE
AND PEACEFUL DEATH OF

MRS. HANNAH WALKER,
Late of Leicester.

[Christian Reader :-You are here presented with a brief memorial of the life and death of one of our heavenly Father's beloved saints. I have read it myself with much solemn and grateful feelings of soul. My acquaintance with the deceased was slight, but it was sufficient to enable me to see, and to declare that she was (by the grace of God,) an exceedingly choice mother in Israel. A more sober, steady walking, faithful and affectionate christian woman I never knew. I have mourned in my soul over her death, because I know full well, that while she is unspeakably happy, my dear brother Walker has sustained a loss that must frequently cause his poor heart to bleed; the dear children have lost a mother of mothers; and pastor Garrard has lost a friend that could sympathise with him, and did keenly feel for him in all his trials. But, the Lord has taken her home. May each and all of us have grace given that through faith and patience, we may also at last inherit the promises.

I

she was the very hinge on which my life
turned!' But she is gone: and the only
solid comfort I can find, is, when I can in
any small measure feel that I have an in-
terest in those blessed and glorious reali-
ties that her soul ardently longed after,
and which she is now richly enjoying.
Your affectionate friend,

E. W.

My dear wife, from her first conviction, was a woman of a very tender conscience, and favoured with great zeal and warmheartedness in the cause of Christ, which you and many others can bear witness to, and of the godly and and savory conversation they have enjoyed, and the excellent counsel they have received from her, both of a spiritual and temporal nature; and in all her actions and deportment was a most praiseworthy example of a humble follower of the meek and lowly Jesus.

The first conviction she had was when about twenty-four years of age. Having gone out with what is called, a pleasureparty,' in running down a hill she felt her heart beat within her, and the thought struck her that it was her soul, and she said, within herself, that if she was spared to reach home, she would never go on such an occasion again. But, however, these impressions wore off, and she went to the same place once or twice after. But shortly after this she lost a brother by death, and manifesting a great concern about his body, her sister said, 'it does not concern me

remarkable that she never had the least fear of death the whole of her affliction. She remarked to me two or three times, how kind the Lord was, for I have never had the least fear of death all this affliction, and which was an evidence to her, as well as to me, that the Lord was about to take her to himself; and it was truly astonishing to see with what calmness and composure she spoke of her end, and at intervals, as the Lord gave her strength, set her house in order, made every arrangement for the funeral, &c., with the greatest fortitude, clearly showing the sweet peace she enjoyed in her soul; and one day she said to me, after she had been arranging some of her little matters,' If any body had told me the happiness that I should have enjoyed, and the blessed light that I should have had in the very prospect of death, I could not have believed them; so that it will not matter to you nor me how it may be with me in my last moments, if I am not able to say a single word, the work is done; and done for me.' And from that time (according to her own request) we did not force any conversation with her, her voice being broken.

about his body, but to know what has become of his soul;' which remark sunk deep in her heart, and never left her, though it did not for the time cause any deep concern. But soon after, being, in the providence of God, removed to a distant part of the country, the Lord put a cry into her heart which none but himself could satisfy, and which, in his own good time he did, with these words, Daughter, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee; but the first words that struck her mind very forcibly was, 'Behold he prayeth!' and being at that time in a secluded spot, none but God and herself knew what sweet communion she enjoyed with her heavenly Father around the private walks, in the park, and in the private rooms in the house. A circumstance occurred about this time, which I must not forget to mention: being in a family that were strict church people, and read prayers morning and evening; and her mistress required the servants to repeat the Lord's prayer after her; but not being able, at that time, to call God her Father, from a feeling sense that he was her Father, she could not repeat the words; she was therefore called up to know why she did not repeat the words; when she She was not able to say much in her told her mistress that not feeling God was last moments, as it was exceedingly painher Father, she could not, but if she par- ful to her to articulate at all; but had she ticularly wished it, she would, as a com- not been able to have said one word, I mand from her, but not from God; but should not have had the least doubt of her however, she said, she clearly saw the hand security in Christ, she having given numof the Lord towards her; for her mistress berless unquestionable evidences of her intold her she would not press it, and also terest in his great salvation. On the gave her permission to go once on the Sabbath Day fortnight previous to her Sabbath to hear a servant of the Lord who death, I said, 'this is the beloved Sabbath, preached the everlasting gospel to a few an earnest of that eternal Sabbath. Yes, poor people, a few miles distant, which she she said, which is secured for me, but Í esteemed an inestimable privilege, and cannot talk about it now.' She was not in where her soul was often greatly refreshed. raptures during her illness; but her mind Soon after this she was brought, in the was sweetly stayed on the Lord the whole providence of God to Leicester, and was di- of the time; and excepting at very short rected to the chapel in York Street, where intervals, when the enemy was permitted the late Thomas Hardy laboured; but, be- to assault her, from whose temptations she ing just at the time of his death, she did was not exempt, for as she told me he not hear him, but the late Mr. Robert would sometimes set before her eyes one Creasy, who succeeded Mr. Hardy, coming thing, and sometimes another to draw her about this time, she was very highly fa- mind from meditating upon heavenly voured under his ministry, and by him she things, still she manifested the most cheerwas baptised, greatly rejoicing in the Lord; ful resignation to the will of God. If any and continued through evil and good re- spoke of her sufferings which were very port, a consistent and honorable member of great, she would say, 'I shall not have one the church through Mr. Creasey, Mr. Black-pain more than my heavenly Father sees stock, and Mr. Garrard's ministry, (under the last named of which, according to her own words, her soul was greatly strengthened and established,) up to the time of her last illness, which began in October, 1847; from the very first of which she felt persuaded would be unto death, as when pleading with her heavenly Father to make it And also one day she said to a friend, manifest unto her whether this sickness Susan, you must sing when I am gone; was unto death, the dear Lord spoke these her friend said, 'What shall we sing? For sweet words with great power to her soul-me to die is gain;' she said, instantly. At 'In my Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you; I go to prepare a place for you;' and which words were much blessed to her many times during her affliction; and it is very

good for me.' She often expressed an ard-
ent longing to be gone, and often repeated
that verse of the Poet-

I feel this mud wall cottage shake,
And long to see it fall;

That I my willing flight may take
To him who is my all.

another time she said, ' You must clap your hands and rejoice when I am gone. She never once manifested the least desire to get better; for she said I am sure I shall sin again, and would therefore, rather de

infinite space; there saints in their glorious bodies will have a boundless range of pleasure grounds; uncreated, immortal groves, living fountains and rivers of delight. God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death. No death nor disease shall ever enter into those immortal, uncreated, glorious and everlasting mansions of the saints.

presence of Christ, the light of God's countenance, and the comforts of the Holy Ghost; but here they had no continuing house, or city: by faith they sought one to come. One generation of saints pass away, and another, by the Spirit of God, are raised up to fill their places on earth, until the consummation of all things, when the marriage of the Lamb comes, and the bride in all nations have made herself ready, or are prepared for the palace of glory above. "Third: Our houses of earth, brick, or stone, that we may build, buy, or hire, are no certain dwelling places; we cannot keep plagues, diseases, nor death out of them by all the skill of physicians; yea, we take the seeds of disease and death, into our houses with us, and death ultimately is sure to turn us out, either into the dark and dismal house of hell, or into the glorious shining mansions in heaven, prepared for them that love God. We may enter into our houses here on earth, hired, bought, or built new for us, in our wedding clothes, but death turns us out muffled in a ghastly shroud, covered with a black pall, and lodges the body in the dark grave, until the resurrection day, and the mourn-off to take possession, and be with Christ. ers go about the streets.

"Fourth: This vile body, 'the earthly house of our tabernacle,' is no certain dwelling place for the soul. Sin has bred the plague in the house and down it must come. Yea, through sin, time and age, the house becomes untenantable, and to a heaven-born, sanctified soul, a miserable lodgment, and the more of the sanctifying Spirit, and grace of God is given to the soul, the more loathsome the house becomes; and those souls who have smelled and tasted the sweet savour of heaven and Christ in the old house, are sure to smell the greatest stink of the plague, and have the most ardent desires to leave the house, depart and be with Christ, which is far better; which you know was the case with the apostle Paul, though the fleshly mind may still linger to stay longer.

66

II. That we have an everlasting house in heaven.

"First: A house not made with hands, viz., not of this building. Some have disputed to know whether heaven is only a state, or a place. I believe it is both a state of peace, rest, perfect happiness, and glory unspeakable; and a solid state, a place immovable, because Jesus saith, I go to prepare a place for you.' Many mansions, many houses, palaces, superb, uncreated, and glorious, lighted with God's presence, where the saints will breathe only the pure Spirit of God; which is light, life, and love, where the happy departed souls will ultimately be clothed with a light transparent, immortal, and glorious body, being clothed upon with their house, which is from heaven,' which will never decay, neither can they die any more."

Second: The house is eternal, not of corruptable material, but was from everlasting everlasting habitations, standing in

"Third: The mansions will be your own property, bequeathed and made over to you in the name of Christ, who is heir of all things; and you, heirs of God, and jointheirs with Christ.' No sophisticating lawyer, either on earth or elsewhere, shall ever rob you of your mansions; Christ is your law-giver, head, husband, and glorious king; the church is his consort queen for ever. And God in this time state is pleased to give the heirs of glory, while in this mortal, earthly house, the writings and title-deeds of their mansions above; and these our sister had clearly written before she departed out of this earthly house, and she had light given to read them herself, before she departed, and was anxious to be

God had written his law of faith and love' in her heart and mind, and none could blot it out. Men are very particular about their writings and parchments of old houses here on earth; but how few appear to be concerned about the writings and title to the house above. O ye humble, doubting souls, who have not had clear evidences, sue at the Will Office of heaven for your writing and title deeds of your glorious mansion. Ask and it shall be given you." And you that have once had the witness of the Spirit in your soul, in whose hearts God hath put his fear, and written his law of love in your hearts and minds, remember what God doth, is done for ever; nothing can be added to it, nothing taken from it; never expect God to do that again which he has once done. Men have the writings of their houses made out but once in their lifetime. God writes it but once, adds nothing to it, takes nothing from it for ever; but men may have the writings of their houses in their house, and yet cannot find them, nor read them in the dark; but when light in the morning breaks in at the windows, they can read again. So pray for more light from heaven, the light of God's countenance, that you may read them again and again, and say, 'I know that if this earthly tabernacle were destroyed, I have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.'

66

III. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.

"First: They are prepared by a new birth, being born of the Spirit, washed in the blood of Christ, sanctified by the Spirit, the word and the blood, and clothed in Christ's righteousness, and thus prepared for glory. Christ, by his life, death, obedience, and righteousness, hath prepared

the way to heaven for them, passed through | Hackney, with profit of soul, she felt inclined the gates of hell and death, took the keys to cast in her lot with them, which I believe away with him; heaven's everlasting doors she did, till the ministry became closed, were opened for his personal entrance, and which she expressed as a source of great he is there to prepare a place for his trial to her soul, although she said she people. could see that there was a deal of that in some of the friends, as well as the minister, that needed the pruning knife, and that God was bringing his own forth to see and acknowledge the same. But now the next trial was, where can my soul find a home? Wander about she could not. Give herself to prayer she must, which by the time she said, a friend said to her, 'Did you ever hear that man at Beulah Chapel?' She said, 'No.' Her friend urged her to go; which she did. She said the first time she heard you it was not with that refreshing she could wish; but solemnly convinced that it was God's soul-searching word that she had heard, and go again she must, and so did the Lord command his blessing on the word; that some of the most solemn and sacred hours in communion with Christ did her soul enjoy; thus, to use her own words,' Whether in the body, she did not know.'

Second; His personal presence as their mediator, advocate and intercessor, is a preparation for them. If a bride had ever such a glorious mansion with all accommodations, and found not her husband there whom she loved, the place would not be suitably prepared. But Christ being there in person to receive departing souls, every-help of the Lord, she did. Just about this thing is prepared for their reception, nothing wanting; and being united to Christ in everlasting wedlock, the mansions are their own, as being heirs and joint heirs with him. No rent, no rates, and it is all freehold for ever. They shall enter into the king's palace, and go no more out. All the tribute they pay is a willing offering a tribute of praise. Unto him that loved us, and washed us in his own blood, and made us kings and priests to God and his Father for ever." "

W. GARRARD.

The late Pamela Jacobs.

After hearing you on one occasion speak on Believer's Baptism, she became much concerned to follow her dear Lord in that despised ordinance, although she said she knew it would bring upon her a great cross which would be the loss of her situation, which was truly the case. Now to seek a place near to the house of God was her desire and prayer. The last place she lived at was our dear friend and brother Mr. Josiah Denham; and I feel happy to say that their loss of her, as a God fearing servant, corresponds with what I have here imperfectly stated of her.

It appears she was taken ill with the small pox, and taken home to her mother's house, and from thence to the hospital, where she died, telling her dear mother not to fret, for she was going to dwell with Christ above; the inmates of the hospital said they had never witnessed such a happy death there; they were truly led to see that 'Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.'

MY DEAR BROTHER AND PASTOR IN THE LORD:- Grace and peace be multiplied to you. Having many times felt my soul comforted and refreshed in reading the experience of the living family of God, my mind has been impressed with this feeling, that some notice should be taken of the life and death of our departed sister P. Jacobs. I was one with the rest of our dear friends that heard her relate many precious things at the giving in of her experience. Little did I think how soon the Lord would remove her from the church militant, to the church triumphant above. As it was therefore my happiness to hear at different times, from her own lips, the goodness of God to her soul, I thought I should like our friends who read the Vessel to know how graciously the Lord did fulfill his promise both in life and in death to our sister. It appears that Mr. Just before she died, she earnestly reIsaacs, of Hackney, was the honoured in-quested her young sister to read the 43rd strument, in the hands of the blessed chapter of Isaiah, speaking of the preciousSpirit, of leading her to see an end of all ness of that chapter to her soul. I recolperfection in the creature, and the glory of lect her speaking several times of that that perfect righteousness wrought out, and chapter, in the course of conversation, bebrought in by her dear Redeemer, when he fore her illness, as one that had many preached from John i. 17,' For the law was times been so powerfully applied to her given by Moses, but grace and truth came soul. Thus lived, and thus died our sister, by Jesus Christ.' This verse, her mother as a witness of those precious truths, told me was particularly marked in her my brother, that the Lord has enabled you Bible, with her name attached round the from time to time to deliver amongst us. verse. Oh, how dear and sacred to such souls are the words that the blessed Spirit is pleased to impress on the soul. I recollect now, at this moment, how she referred to that solemn time, and dated all her conflicts as commencing from that moment. After the Lord had thus appeared she became very much impressed to find a home with the Lord's people. Having heard Mr. Hugh's of

May the Lord go on to bless us, whom our dear sister has left behind in the wilderness, with much of the overshadowing of his blessed Spirit; so that we may say and feel with the Lord's dear servant, 'For us to live is Christ, and to die is gain.'

Your's, in undying love, E. PACKER.