to work on the bodily and mental weakness of this suffering child of God. The appalling accusation that she was an hypocrite, rent her enfeebled spirit with indescribable anguish. It was to her "the hour, and power of darkness." To many who witnessed this scene, it was, no doubt, a matter of astonishment that one who had devoted herself to God as she had done, should be thus exercised. But such conflicts are not uncommon, even in the dying experience of those who have been eminent for holiness. The Lord, for the manifestation of his own faithfulness and power, is sometimes pleased to give Satan leave to try what he can do. The experiment answers many good purposes. The tempted saint is humbled, yet approved; surrounding friends are instructed; Satan, in the issue, is disappointed; and the wisdom and mercy of the Lord in his darkest dispensations towards his people are gloriously illustrated. These blessed effects were strikingly exhibited in the case of Mrs. Skinner. On the morning of the succeeding Tuesday, this tremendous storm subsided into holy calmness and serenity; but her weakness was too great to allow of her then expressing much of what she felt. On the following Thursday she appeared better, and being raised out of bed for a few moments, one of her kind attendants said, "My dear, you are much better;" she replied, "Yes; 'it is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes."" She afterwards added, "I have had such promises, such sweet promises!" Being laid again in bed, she recited the words of David with solemn composure, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." A little after, she quoted our Saviour's delightful words to his disciples :-" In my Father's house are many mansions: I go to prepare a place for you." From this time to the day preceding her death, she constantly spoke of the clear manifestations of God's love towards her. At one period, her strength was sufficient to warrant her conversing a little with her beloved friends. They uniformly found her in the spirit of praise and thanksgiving; and, at times, she hardly appeared to have language to express her feelings. On one occasion she said, with great composure, I have learned to hang upon Christ," and emphatically repeated, "simply to hang upon Christ.” In this exercise of holy confidence, notwithstanding some occasional efforts of the Tempter to distress her, she was enabled habitually to persevere. 6.6 Notwithstanding the temporary improvement in her health, she retained a fixed persuasion of her speedy dissolution. The first indications of the recurrence of serious symptoms took place on Tuesday, May 28th. On Friday the 31st she became still worse; but her mind was all serenity and peace. On the following Sunday she said to her eldest sister, "Will you find the chapter which has that delightful promise, Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.' It has been impressed on my mind with power." In the evening when Mr. S. and her sister H. were on the point of leaving her, she said, "We must pray." After they had accordingly commended their beloved invalid to God, she herself broke out in prayer. The subject and manner of her supplications greatly impressed their minds. Every expression bespoke intimate communion with the Father, through the Son, by the eternal Spirit. Every request terminated in perfect acquiescence to the will of God. Thus sweetly did she close her last sabbath on earth; brightly exemplifying her preparation for that endless bliss, on the threshold of which she seemed already to have entered. On Wednesday her mind was elevated above all earthly things. She observed, "I am afraid of looking to the world; heavenly things are every thing to me." In the evening of this day, one of her sisters, when sitting beside her, observed to her that she seemed better; she replied, with sacred ardour, " But the best of all is, the Lord draws nigh." June 7th, the day on which she died, she said, "These light afflictions, which endure but for a moment,"-here she sunk upon her pillow, when a near relative added,-" shall work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." "Yes," she faintly replied, "for me." In the afternoon she struggled to speak, but the power of utterance had almost failed. A sister beside her asked," is Jesus precious to you?" With difficulty she answered, "Yes, yes ;" and a little after distinctly said, "I shall get to heaven!" Whilst several promises and passages of divine truth were repeated, she listened with deep attention; and when the following lines met her ear, "Hide me, O my Saviour, hide, O receive my soul at last!"' She just repeated the word " My." This was the last word she was able to articulate; and at the solemn midnight hour, her happy spirit made its escape to endless rest. Thus terminated the short but useful life of Mrs. William Skinner, wanting one month of the twenty-fifth year of her age. MRS. HORNE. The following statement of the closing scene of Mrs. Horne's life is given by her husband; a missionary in Jamaica, belonging to the Wesleyan Methodist Society. On our arrival in Jamaica, myself and my colleague soon began to feel the debilitating effects of a tropical climate; but Mrs. Horne was by no means so seriously affected. Her spirits were good, her soul was happy, and she was actively and incessantly employed; so that, while sickness brought us to the brink of the grave, she enjoyed perfect health, with very little exception, until the week before that in which she died. Business having rendered it necessary for me to go to Kingston, she requested to accompany me principally with a view to provide various articles for the family. While there, on Thursday, Aug. 5th, 1819, she complained of head-ache and feverishness, and before night was obliged to retire to her room. The usual medicines were |