Her end was perfect peace. She was interred in the burying ground of the City-Road Chapel, on Thursday, April 16th; and the solemn event was improved by Dr. Bunting, in a funeral sermon, on the 26th of the same month. 7. HANNAH HOUSMAN. "What nothing earthly gives, or can destroy, THIS amiable and exemplary woman was one of those who remember their Creator in the days of their youth. She was a native of Kidderminster. In her childhood she enjoyed the advantages of a religious education; and such was the blessing of God upon her early privi leges, that she appears, from her diary, to have been. under lively religious impressions at thirteen years of age. For twenty-four years she seems to have humbly and circumspectly walked with God. In her dying hours she had such foretastes of the joy to come as richly rewarded her for all the conflicts of this probationary scene; and in her triumphant departure, let the young behold an animating and encouraging reason for early piety. The following account of her last illness and death was drawn up by a person who witnessed her sufferings and her comforts : From the time of her first seizure she was exercised with very violent pains without any intermission till her death; such as, she would often say, she thought she could not have borne. "But," said she, "God is good; verily he is good to me! Through life I have found him a good and gracious God." When recovering from extreme pain, she said, “God is good; I have found him so: and though he slay me, yet I will trust in him. These pains make me love my Lord Jesus the better. O they put me in mind of what he suffered to purchase salvation for my poor soul! Why for me, Lord! why for me, the greatest of sinners? Why for me, who so long refused the rich offers of thy grace, and the kind invitations of the Gospel? How many helps and means have I enjoyed more than many others; yea, above most! I had a religious father and mother; and I had access to a valuable minister, to whom I could often and freely open my mind. I have lived in a golden age. I have lived in peaceable times, and have enjoyed great advantages and helps for communion with God, and the peace of my own mind; for which I owe my gracious God and Father more praises than words can express. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all, or any of his benefits!" 66 When any were weeping or mourning over her, she would say, Weep not for me: it is the will of God; therefore be content. If it may be for his honour and glory, he will spare me a little longer; if not, I am wholly resigned to the will of God. I am content to stay here as long as he has anything for me to do or to suffer; and I am willing to go, if it be my Father's good pleasure. Therefore be content, and say, 'It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth to him good.' To a person who came to see her, she said, "Cousin, I think I shall die: and now what a comfort it is that I am not afraid of death! The blood of Christ cleanses me from all sin. But mistake me not; there must be a life and conversation agreeable to the Gospel, or else our faith in Christ is a dead faith. Secure Christ for your friend: set not your heart on things below; riches and honours, and what the world calls pleasures, are all fading, perishing things." She then threw out her hand, and said, "O, if I had thousands and ten thousands of gold and silver lying by me, what could they do for me, now I am dying? Take the advice of a departing friend who wishes you well. Do not set your affections on riches, or on anything here below. Remember, death will come in a little while, whether you are ready or unready, willing or unwilling. I commend you to God. I hope, in a short time, we shall meet again in heaven, that place of perfect rest, peace, and happiness." The whole time of her sickness she was in a cheerful, thankful frame of mind. When she was cold, and had something warm given her, she often said,"Blessed be God for all his mercies; and for this comfort in my affliction." On her attendant's warming a piece of flannel, and putting it round her cold hands, she thanked her for it, and said, "O how many mercies I have! I want for nothing. Here is everything I can wish for. I can say I never wanted any good thing. I wish only for a tranquil passage to glory. It was free grace that plucked me from the very brink of hell; and it is the power of Divine grace that has supported me through the whole of my life. Hitherto I can say the Lord is gracious. He has been very merciful to me in sustaining me under all my trials. The Lord brings affliction; but it is not because he delights to afflict his children-it is at all times for our profit. I can say it has been good for me to be afflicted; it has enabled me to discern things, which, when I was in health, I could not perceive. It has made me see more of the vanity and emptiness of this world, and all its delusive pleasures; for, at best, they are but vanity. I can say, from my own experience, I have found them to be so many a time." To her husband, the day before she died, she said, "My dear, I think I am going apace; and I hope you will be satisfied, because it is the will of God. You have at all times been very loving and good to me; and I thank you for it kindly: and now I desire you freely to resign me to God. If God sees it best to prolong my stay here upon earth, I am willing to stay; or if he sees it best to take me to himself, I am willing to go. I am willing to be and bear what may be most for his glory." The evening before she died she found death stealing upon her; and, feeling her own pulse, said, "Well, it will be but a little while before my work in this world will be finished. Then I shall have done with prayer. My whole employment in heaven will be praise and love. Here I love God but faintly, yet I hope sincerely; but there it will be perfectly. I shall behold his face in righteousness; for I am thy servant, Lord, bought with blood-with precious blood. Christ died to purchase the life of my soul. A little while, and then I shall be singing that sweet song, 'Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever."" With smiles on her face, and transports of joy, she often said, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly! Why tarry the wheels of thy chariot? O blessed convoy! come, and fetch my soul, to dwell with God, and Christ, and perfect spirits, forever and ever. When I join that blessed society above, my pleasures will never end. O the glory-the glory that shall be set on the head of faith and love!" A few minutes before her departure, finding herself going, she desired to be lifted up. When this was done, she cheerfully said, "Farewell, sin! farewell, pains!"— and so finished her course with joy. 8. ELIZABETH ROWE. "Death is an equal doom To good and bad, the common inn of rest; But after death the trial is to come, When best shall be to them who lived best."-SPENSER. IN every age religion has found many of its most devoted friends among the softer sex. Women ministered to the Saviour when he had scarcely a place to lay his head, and watched beside his cross when his own disciples forsook him. They welcomed his resurrection from the grave, and to them he first appeared; and still, wherever the Gospel of salvation spreads, it will be found that female hearts, in the largest proportion, yield to the gentle sway of the Lord Jesus Christ. Elizabeth Rowe is one of those who adorned the Gospel in life, who enjoyed its supports in death, and who doubtless shine as stars in the firmament forever. And let the young, especially, consider that the piety of this amiable woman was early piety. She sought the path of peace in youth. Her course was like that of the sun. In the morning of life her religion appeared, and shone more and more unto the perfect day. Her maiden name was Singer. She had a sister distinguished for her early and amiable graces, of whose death the following remarkable account was given by Mrs. Rowe to Dr. Coleman, of Boston, who sent it in a letter to the eminently pious Isaac Watts. The account is strange, but by no means incredible to those who believe that effectual fervent prayer availeth much: "It was in my sister's death," said Mrs. Rowe, when giving the account, "that my father was to be |