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compensated physical exhaustion. When he was quite unable to attend to business, or to enjoy the public means of grace, his spirit was sustained by a high and holy influence. Fully aware of his precarious condition, he more than once invited the most candid declaration of his medical friend as to the probabilities of his case; saying, "In letting me know the worst, you cannot distress or alarm me." And when it became necessary to apprise him of the impossibility of recovery, and of the certain approach of death, he received the intelligence with a calm and dignified composure, which bespoke an inward satisfaction, and seemed at once to say, "Father, thy will be done."

On the 6th of July the writer had a long and interesting conversation with him; the more interesting, as it was felt probable that this might be the last interview. He referred to his peace of mind through faith in Christ, and said that this was the habit of his soul. He observed he was sometimes astonished that, in the certain prospect of death, he should feel so calm. Was it indifference? No: it was that he felt himself upon a Rock. The doctrine of human redemption, the experience of a personal salvation, the hope of a blissful immortality, and the happiness of knowing himself to be under the immediate care of the Most High, were the topics of conversation; and the impression left on the mind of his visiter will not soon be forgotten. His countenance was lighted up with holy joy; his anticipations of glory were high. His cup of bliss seemed full; and, when the interview was closed with prayer, we were favoured in an unusual degree with that "access to God" which enables the believer to "glory in tribulation," and to "rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

When asked, a few weeks before his death, if he still felt quite comfortable in his mind, he replied, "The cup which my Father hath prepared for me, shall I not drink it?" At another time, having passed a restless night, he was reminded that he would soon enjoy perfect rest. "Yes," said he, "I shall; but perhaps not so soon as may be desirable for me. Nevertheless, I will patiently wait until my change come." "I have no joyous feeling," he said, in answer to a friendly inquiry. "It is well known that my disease is often attended with depression of spirits. But I feel that I am like a vessel with its cargo, resting on its great sheet-anchor, waiting to be taken into the harbour." As he came nearer his end, his extreme weakness seemed to preclude the disposition and the power for conversation; and he lay with the stillness of death, in holy and peaceful anticipation of his change. A few nights before he died, he was visited by two of the Local Preachers. The scene was truly affecting, and the occasion one of "refreshing from the presence of the Lord." During the day he had lain with his eyes closed, not articulating many words; but, as soon as these beloved brethren entered the room, he received them with a smile. He made an effort to shake hands; and one of them, while holding his hand, said, "To them that believe He is precious." The dying saint replied, "Yes!" During prayer, there was a peculiar manifestation of the Divine pre

sence; and, when they arose from their knees, he gently raised his hand, held it in that position for a short time, and said, "All up

For the brief remaining period of life he was scarcely able to speak; but it was evident that he had special communion with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. The indications of his confidence in God, and his sweet composure of spirit, up to the moment when he left the clay-tenement, afforded the strongest assurance that he "fell asleep in Jesus," and shall have his "part in the first resurrection." He died August 5th, 1847.

The general respect entertained for his memory was testified at his funeral. The mill of the Messrs. Addison was closed; and those gentlemen, with the greater part of the hands in their employ, besides a large number of the official and private members of the Wesleyan Society in both the Bradford Circuits, took part in the procession. The remains were interred at Eastbrook, in a vault presented to the widow and family by the Trustees of that chapel. That spacious edifice was densely crowded in every part on the evening of Monday, August 30th, when the funeral sermon was preached; that evening being selected in preference to a Sabbath, at the request of the Kirkgate Leaders' Meeting, to give the friends in both Circuits an opportunity of being present at the service. "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."

The following is the record on his tomb :-
:--

IN MEMORY OF MR. JAMES RHODES,

WHO DIED AUGUST 5TH, 1847,

AGED FIFTY-FIVE YEARS.

AS A HUSBAND, A FATHER, AND A FRIEND,
HIS LOSS IS FELT TO BE

DEEP, LASTING, AND IRREPARABLE.
AS A MEMBER, A LOCAL PREACHER,
A CLASS-LEADER, AND A TRUSTEE
OF THE WESLEYAN CHURCH,

HIS PIETY, TALENTS, AND USEFULNESS
WERE EMINENT AND CONSPICUOUS

TO ALL BUT HIMSELF.

MARK THE PERFECT MAN, AND BEHOLD THE UPRIGHT: FOR THE END OF THAT MAN IS PEACE.

MEMOIR OF MRS. MARY CORDEROY,

OF LAMBETH:

BY THE REV. THOMAS H. SQUANCE.

THE following brief memorials of an eminent servant of Christ are principally compiled from a document supplied by a member of her family.

Mrs. Corderoy was born at Lambeth, September 24th, 1771. Her parents were pious members of the Wesleyan Society, residing near

the place where the Marsh-Gate recently stood. Her father held the post of one of the King's Body-Guard,-an office which, in the early part of the reign of George III., was obtained by purchase, and usually filled by men of lofty stature and great physical strength. He was open, frank, generous, and hospitable; and he died while his daughter was but a child, sending from his death-bed a message of faithful admonition to his comrades and friends. Her mother came to London under the auspices of the Rev. John Murlin, who, in the days of early Methodism, was styled "the weeping prophet;" so deeply affected was he when, in his public ministrations, he delivered the message of mercy to guilty men.

Mrs. Corderoy's mother married a second time. Her husband appears to have been a most worthy man. He was a Local Preacher; and at a time when the talent of this useful class was by many called in question, and Mr. Wesley consented that they should all be heard on trial, the late Rev. Samuel Bradburn declared that "Brother Langford preached like a Prince."

Mrs. Langford was privileged with the acquaintance and friendship of the Founder of Methodism. She was one of his chosen Class and Band Leaders, and at that time "a mother in Israel." The Sunday morning prayer-meeting, now held in the vestry of Lambeth chapel, was begun in her kitchen; and the Lambeth branch of the Strangers' Friend Society had its weekly meetings in her house,-she being the Treasurer, and her daughter, the subject of this memoir, the Secretary.

The Wednesday morning class, now met by our valued friend Mrs. Baxter, is a continuation of the class raised by Mrs. Corderoy's mother, the first female class formed in Lambeth; and, it may be added, one of the most interesting and prosperous in the Lambeth Society. Two months before his own death, Mr. Wesley received Mrs. Langford's class and band papers from her dying hands, and accepted her recommendation of a successor in the important charge. She died, after a holy, humble, useful course, without a doubt on her mind; and was carried to the chapel in Lambeth Marsh, where, amidst the tears of the Society, her husband preached her funeral sermon. Her remains were then borne to the grave, followed by a large concourse of devout people, singing a hymn of praise for a soul

"Escaped to the mansions of light,

And lodged in the Eden of love."

With such instructers, it is not surprising that Mrs. Corderoy should have become in early life the subject of religious impressions. Under the influence of an ardent desire to flee from the wrath to come, she became a member of the Methodist Society when about twelve years of age. For more than sixty successive years she was an humble, uniform, consistent member of this church of Christ. During that whole period she maintained an unblemished reputation. Never did she give occasion for the enemies of religion to blaspheme,

or for its friends to blush. Her life truly adorned the doctrine of God our Saviour.

When she was very young, Mr. Wesley took the round of the Societies to receive contributions for building the City-road chapel. Mrs. Corderoy was inspired with the general desire to have "a brick" in the "New Chapel," as it was for many years called; but, her native modesty preventing the offering of her little savings to the patriarch himself, she paid the amount by instalments to Mr. Chappell, her first Leader.

The precise period at which she obtained the "knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins" cannot be stated. In conversation with a member of her family, she once reverted to a season, in her early Christian course, when her pleadings for mercy were answered by the powerful application of the Saviour's encouraging words,— "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." But, from the time when her very childhood was visited by the Holy Spirit, her Christian life was one of progress; her "path" was as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." She grew in grace; and, step by step, with steady perseverance, advanced to the "inheritance of the saints in light."

In March, 1791, she was married to the late Mr. Corderoy, then a journeyman carpenter. Having the confidence of his employers, and considerable practical ability, Mr. Corderoy was soon intrusted with the superintendence of their business, at that time one of the largest in the kingdom; and he had under his direction, during the war, some hundreds of men. In this position his faith and integrity were often tried; but he was never known to swerve from a righteous course. His excellent wife sustained him by cheerful counsel and uniform piety; and his life of high and holy rectitude, crowned by the blessing of God, ended in great peace. In how many ways he rendered service to the church, many in Lambeth remain to testify. Throughout the Circuit, and beyond its limits, his name is had in honour. "A good name is better than precious ointment;" and "the memory of the just is blessed."

Mrs. Corderoy was left a widow with six children, two having died in infancy. With this large and important charge, she found her most appropriate sphere at home. Her children learned to lisp the name of the Saviour at her knee; her first lessons told them of His love; and her example, consistent in all things, constantly pleaded for the reality and importance of religion.

Brought up in a large timber-yard by the water-side, her boys were frequently exposed to danger. On an occasion well-remembered, one of them having been brought home in a state of insensibility, and laid upon his bed, the first object to greet his returning sense and sight was his mother, kneeling over him in tenderness and prayer.

This affectionate anxiety was continually increasing. Throughout her life, every pain, every distress, every perplexing circumstance in the history of her children, called forth her active sympathy and her earnest intercessions. But her solicitude for their spiritual welfare

was paramount. This was evinced by the constant inculcation of religious truth, and by unceasing prayer for the Divine blessing on her efforts. In the communication of religious instruction she united ardent affection with sound judgment and discretion, blending indoctrination with example and discipline, and avoiding the extremes of flattery and discouragement. Thus she won the love and confidence of her children. They listened to her instructions with delight, yielded themselves to Christ, and became exemplary members of His church. Her sons have long filled offices of great honour and usefulness. Their devoted mother lived to see them all happily and prosperously settled, with rising families that bid fair to serve God and His church in the next generation.

The death of her husband was a severe trial. After a union of forty years, she felt the desolation of widowhood; but she thus wrote to a relative, similarly bereaved :—

"On looking back at the dealings of God with me, from my youth up till now, I have nothing to complain of but my unfaithfulness: the Lord never fails in His promises. He has promised to be the Husband of the widow;' and He will still be your and my support." Soon after this, Mrs. Corderoy's spirituality and qualifications for usefulness pointed her out as eminently fitted for the office of ClassLeader; and, after much importunity, she was persuaded to enter upon this new service. This she did with much fear and trembling, but to the great satisfaction and profit of the members. Yet, ever disposed in honour to prefer others to herself, and viewing the office as one of awful responsibility, she was but too quickly overwhelmed, and felt obliged to retire. This was to her Ministers and friends a matter of deep regret, and undoubtedly a departure from the path of duty, though she could not so consider it.

On the marriage of her youngest son, she lived for a short time with her eldest child; but, desiring to be near the house of God, she took apartments in Canterbury-place, where she resided nearly six years. A journal, kept at that time, shows the devout feeling with which she entered her new abode. It is beautifully evident that she was wont to acknowledge God in all her ways,-to recognise His providence in little as well as in great events; and this enabled her to be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to make her requests known unto God." Under date of Sabbath evening, September 27th, 1840, after recording the blessings of the day, she adds: "Edward and Sarah went home with me; and my Edward was much affected at my being alone, fearing I should not be happy. But that is a mistake: I love to be alone; and I have every mercy I want. The promise is, 'My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.' Lord, help me to long more and thirst more for spiritual blessings! then I shall be more happy."

"I am brought," she subsequently writes, "through the goodness of God, to see the first day of the year 1811. How many mercies have I received! how many forgotten! The forbearance of God has

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