abounding hope were the fruits of his faith in Christ. The language of his heart was,

"We have whate'er we ask of God,

By faith in the atoning blood."

He had the "new heart" and the "right spirit;" but he was not accepted with God because he had these; he had them because he was accepted with God, and he was thus accepted only for the sake of Christ his Saviour. He had peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, as being justified by faith. On this he had rested during the activity of a healthy life, and on this he rested while passing through the painfulness of the disease by which his life was brought to a close. He asked a friend one day if he had ever read the little tract, "Poor Joseph;" and observed, "My feeling is that of poor Joseph. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners :

"I the chief of sinners am,

But Jesus died for me.' 999

He delighted to anticipate the closer communion with God that he should enjoy when his spirit was set free from the burden of the flesh. A friend had been conversing with him on the resurrection, and on the glorious scenes which should then be realized. He exultingly exclaimed, "Better than that,'absent from the body, present with the Lord' after this, the resurrection."

These specimens of observations made by him in the midst of the trials of what he knew was mortal disease, will show the correctness of what was said by one who had known him long and intimately, and who had frequent opportunities of seeing him in his last illness. "He had strong consolation in his affliction, and especially in seasons of extraordinary pain; but the most impressive fact was, his uniform fortitude, evident even when the animal spirits were quite exhausted; fruits of the Spirit, indeed, but such as might have been expected from his previous character. We saw in him the established Christian, resting on first and long-tried principles, principles drawn from God's word, and wrought in his soul by the power of God's Spirit, and which led him, in all circumstances, whether of doing or suffering, to refer himself to God's will. They had borne the tests of half a century, and they failed him not in his dying hours."

During this period of confinement, the Quarterly Meeting of the Birmingham Circuit was twice held, and each time a resolution was passed, and sent to him, expressive of the regard of the members for one who had so long occupied a place among them. He was much gratified by these marks of Christian remembrance. One of them we now copy, as showing the estimation in which he was held.

66

Resolved, That this Meeting expresses its filial and most affectionate sympathies with our friend and brother, Fiddian, on his severe and continued affliction; and accompanies this expression of sympathy with earnest prayer that his soul may be abundantly blessed and supported under his present very painful circumstances, and that, if consistent with the divine will, his life may yet be spared to the church of which he has been so long a consistent member, and an ornament."

His peaceful frame continued undisturbed to the last; and nature

being at length worn out, he fell asleep, and entered into rest, June 4th, 1842.

That he had lived respected, and died regretted, was affectingly manifested at his funeral, when so great a number of persons attended, that entrance into the churchyard was obtained with difficulty. The occasion of his death was improved in a sermon by the Rev. Charles Prest. Some friends of the deceased, from an adjoining Circuit, arriving at the chapel early, found a number of poor persons, waiting for the opening of the gates. The question being casually asked, "Is there anything particular at the chapel this evening?" "Yes," was the immediate reply; "there is to be a funeral sermon preached for a good man. Everybody says that he was a good man. If all men were but like him, we should have a happy world."

After the above notices were written, a letter was received by the writer from the Rev. Charles Prest, a few sentences of which are subjoined, as furnishing valuable testimony to the correctness of the delineation of Mr. Fiddian's character which has been attempted.

"During my ministerial connexion with Birmingham, I had constant opportunities of observing the spirit and conduct of Mr. Fiddian. His piety was unobtrusive, enlightened, and devoted. All his habits were orderly; and this, together with his punctuality, his honourable principles, and great integrity, secured him the good opinion and respect of all who, either in the church or the world, had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He was a consistent, a firm, yet a truly catholic, unsectarian Methodist. Where he had first experienced the blessings of God's gracious call, there did he abide to the last; never meddling, though often tempted to do so, with them that are given to change.

66

“I saw him repeatedly in his last illness; and while it was distressing to witness his sometimes agonizing sufferings, it was an instructive privilege to observe his patience, his cheerful submission to the hand of God, his thankfulness for past and present mercies, and his abounding hope of approaching glory. His death was eminently peaceful, and such a one as might have been anticipated as the close of a long life of ardent, steady, and practical piety."

MEMOIR OF MRS. ISABELLA COX,

OF UPLYME, DEVON.

THE biography of the saints forms an interesting and profitable study for those who yet survive to pursue their earthly pilgrimage. It cheers them in their onward course, points out more definitely the path in which they should tread, and assures them, amid the storms and darkness of their journey, and the forebodings and fears by which they are sometimes harassed, that to such as endure to the end, the issue shall be most peaceful and glorious. The believer who thus reads the divine conduct towards others, may also discern his own interest in the same unchangeable God, and rejoice in the thought which impressed the mind of the Psalmist in his survey of Zion, and which may, with equal justice, be inferred from the triumph of every

departed saint: "This God is our God for ever and ever. He will be our Guide even unto death."

Mrs. Cox was born at Uplyme in the county of Devon, December 1st, 1815. Her father, who yet lives, has been for many years a useful and diligent Local Preacher among the Wesleyan Methodists. His partner, who died in the faith long ago, was in Christ before him. The infancy of their daughter was a season of peril, and it was for a long time doubted whether she would attain to any maturity of growth. But He who holdeth our souls in life preserved her, notwithstanding the unpromising aspect of her early years. As her mother died while she was yet young, her religious education and discipline became seriously interrupted. Her father's occupations in providing for his family obliged him to be absent much from home; but at every opportunity he carefully instructed her in "the truth as it is in Jesus." From a child there was seen in her "some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel," and her early convictions were well remembered and often acknowledged with pain in after-years. Being now deprived, however, of the watchful restraint and tender care of her pious mother, the impressions made by previous instruction began to weaken, and, amid the follies and temptations of giddy youth, she forgot the claims of her Creator, abused her spiritual privileges, and resisted the Holy Ghost; who seemed, in consequence, to have departed from her for a season. The indifference to religious truth and duty which she then manifested was a source of great grief to her pious father, and elicited many a faithful warning from him. Though she had forgotten her responsibility, he had not: he spoke to her, therefore, as one who knew that he must give account. She confessed the justice of his reproofs, and would say, in reply, "If I am lost, the fault is not in you." Thus, like many others, she condemned herself, without making any effort towards improvement; contented herself with vague and unfelt admissions of guilt, unconvinced of the necessity of "repentance unto life." In this state she continued for several years; and her father saw her, with pain, leave the home of her childhood to form other permanent attachments, and to engage in the more serious duties of life, without having experienced that change of heart for which he had so long prayed and waited; and, apparently, prayed and waited in vain.

But the precious seed, though hidden for a season in a fruitless soil, yet, if watered night and day with tears, will seldom fail at length to yield its produce. And of all his spiritual husbandry the pious parent has certainly good reason to expect success. The present narrative is one among the many which prove that, though his harvest may be somewhat delayed, and his faith and patience be thus severely exercised, yet not often is it found that his care was in vain. With so many facts in view, we are forcibly impressed by the counsels of inspired wisdom which inculcate the importance of persevering industry and unwavering faith in all our spiritual labours. "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, this or that."

Mrs. Cox had never entirely cast off the form of godliness, but had been constant in her attendance on the house of God. About two years before she died a gracious influence from on high appeared to rest upon the congregation with whom she had been accustomed to worship. She

herself partook of it. She was very powerfully affected by a sense of the guilt and danger which her former course of life had brought upon her, and she manifested a deep and anxious concern for the salvation of her soul. The sins of her youth, like so many spectral forms, creating terror, and foreboding evil, were continually passing before her. She bitterly thought on the privileges which she had neglected, and even perverted; and remembered, with strong self-condemnation, how often she had done despite to the Spirit of grace. The counsels and prayers of her father, which she had so long disregarded, were now felt to be precious and desirable. One morning in particular, he remembers that she left her own dwelling and family occupations, and came over to him in great distress of mind, beseeching him that he would pray with her, that God would in mercy reveal himself to her soul. The request was readily granted, and she departed somewhat comforted by a ray of hope. But though she was now constantly found among the seekers of salvation in the house of God, and though she entreated the intercessions of the Ministers and people of God in her behalf, she mourned long before she could rejoice in any assurance of pardon.

It frequently happens that they who refuse to listen to the earliest and sweetest invitations of mercy, experience at length the greatest struggle in embracing them. This fact furnishes young persons with a powerful motive to seek the Lord betimes when he may best "be found;" whilst life is yet unentangled with the busy engagements of earth, and the soul is least hardened, because least advanced in transgression. The exact time in which Mrs. Cox obtained a consciousness of divine forgiveness is not known; but before her departure she had this testimony, and at various times expressed herself, though humbly, yet decidedly, to this effect. Though her habits, according to her sex and station, were retiring, and her example did not shine far and conspicuously around, yet she walked with God in her own sphere, and her end was peace. There are many pious names almost unknown on earth, which, nevertheless, are written in heaven: and this is the chief source of the believer's joy; his "record is on high." If the excellent of the earth were confined within the narrow limits of our own knowledge, they would be few indeed; but there are many over whose worth and history time and obscurity have drawn a veil, whose praise, though not of men, is certainly of God. The humble floweret of the vale is as truly a witness for God, and "good in his sight," as the tall cedar of Lebanon.

Mrs. Cox, when convinced of her sinful state, united herself forthwith to the church of Christ, influenced by a desire to "flee from the wrath to come;" and she continued in this fellowship as long as she lived. But from the pressing cares of a small family, from the distant locality in which she resided, and perhaps not a little from natural disposition, she was very much a keeper at home; and thus she sometimes debarred herself from religious privileges, the loss of which she felt and lamented. There is not much in her previous experience that claims observation until her last illness. She held on her way; and as the mortal foe advanced, she waxed stronger and stronger. In this final trial of her faith its evidences were most brightly perceived, its reality and support most convincingly displayed. Her last affliction, though only of short continuance, was severe; but, by the

grace of God, she was enabled to bear it submissively; neither was she dismayed at what soon appeared to be its certain result. When her brother, who assiduously watched by her side, informed her that it was not likely that she would recover, she bowed at once to the divine will; and then, with great calmness, gave instructions to her husband concerning her infant children who were so soon to be deprived of her maternal care. She said that she had no fear of death, and that she was cheered by a hope of heaven through the merit of her Saviour; but that she desired, to use her own earnest and oft-repeated language, "a stronger confidence, a clearer evidence." During the few days of her sickness she was enabled to suffer as a Christian. No spirit of murmuring increased her pains: she complained not; but said, as with one of old, "It is the Lord. Let him do what seemeth him good." She rested in the Lord, and waited patiently for him.

It was particularly observable, in what may be termed the dying experience of Mrs. Cox, that the full gaze of her soul seemed fixed on Christ. She saw in him a fulness of life, and of grace, and she was enabled clearly to realize her own interest in him. He was her Saviour. She could say, "My Lord, and my God." Salvation by Christ appeared to be ever present to her mind; the Rock on which she rested; the theme on which she loved to meditate; the source whence she derived support and consolation. Her bodily suffering, her maternal solicitude, had no power to divert her from this. She was enabled to look away from all else, and, while she lived, to live "looking unto Jesus." Many sweet expressions of faith and piety fell from her lips, which proved not only that she was "patient in tribulation," but that tribulation itself was sanctified to her, and that the furnace was made as the fire of the refiner.

To the last she was preserved in this state of calm, unshaken reliance on the great Atonement, and of peace and hope uniformly serene and bright. All her conversation declared that she felt Christ to be her "all in all." On the morning of the day in the course of which she died, one of her attendants, observing her look very steadfastly through the window, as the sun was just risen on the earth, remarked, "It is good to see the light." "Yes," she replied with promptness; "but it is better to see my Saviour;" showing that while she gazed on that natural light, which beams as well into the chamber of suffering as into the abodes of health, her "faith's interior eye" was more especially contemplating Him who is both the life and the light of men. Soon afterwards a pious relation entered her room, to whom she spake very freely on subjects of spiritual and solemn import; especially concerning death and its glorious consequences to the believer in eternity. She said that she felt happy in Christ, and had no fear but wished to rejoice more in the love of God. With these expressions on her lips she suddenly threw back her head, and gently expired, just past the hour of noon, on the 8th of January, 1842, in the twenty-seventh year of her age.

;