observed to be gently slipping from his chair; and, being supported, he suddenly, without a groan, fell asleep in Jesus. Thus he died, December 4th, 1841, aged seventy-five years; for sixty years of which he had been a resident in St. Alban's, and for nearly half a century a valuable member of a Christian society. But though himself removed from the church on earth, he has left behind him permanent monuments of his attachment to it, and his desire to contribute to its continual prosperity.

The event was improved by a sermon preached at St. Alban's, by the Rev. Joseph Floyd, to an overflowing assembly; the other Ministers of the Circuit being also present, and taking a part in the solemn service.

"Thou art enter'd into joy :

Let the unbelievers mourn;
We in songs our lives employ,
Till we all to God return."

MEMOIR OF MISS JANE AND MISS ROSANNA FINLEY, OF DRUMCLAMPH, IRELAND.

II. OF MISS ROSANNA FINLEY.

ROSANNA FINLEY was born at Drumclamph, June 21st, 1823. In her childhood she was instructed in the ways of piety by her maternal grandfather, the late Mr. Samuel Steele, who had been, when he died, a member of the Wesleyan society for sixty years, and a Class-Leader during nearly the whole of that period. He was well qualified to impart heavenly instruction to his grandchildren, who lived with him for several years. The Bible and his Hymn-book were his chief companions; and these he had so far made his own, that even in old age, when his grandchildren read aloud, or repeated any part to him, he could correct their mistakes from memory. He loved all the children of whom he had the charge; but to Rosanna he appeared to be attached with peculiar affection. He sought from the very beginning to imbue her infant mind with holy truth; and, by God's blessing on his endeavours, they were attended with very pleasing success. He often took her with him into his closet for private prayer; so that in her subsequent life, brief as it was, closet-devotion became with her a settled and highly-prized habit. Thus trained by the affectionate old man, Rosanna had no cause to regret her absence from her parents, and she never forgot the way in which he showed her that she should go. When at school amongst her good-humoured, but perhaps somewhat thoughtless, companions, she was regarded as particularly seriShe was not, however, at all gloomy or dull. She had the true cheerfulness of spirit, which enjoys the blessings of life as the gifts of the divine bounty: but one of her school companions states, that she has been observed to be reading the Scriptures with the tears rolling

ous.

down her cheeks. She was, indeed, thoughtful beyond her years. She knew that many eyes were upon her because of her religious training; that she had to exemplify the pleasantness of religion, as well as its solemnity; that, therefore, she must walk circumspectly, guided by heavenly wisdom, and keeping far away from the paths of worldly folly. Young as she was, something of the maturity of her devoted grandfather seems to have been communicated to herself.

Still she did not clearly perceive, that the work of religion is eminently personal, and that, great as might be the blessings flowing from a training so decidedly pious, she must for herself both choose the narrow path leading to life, and enter into it by the strait gate. To that gate education may conduct, but it cannot supersede the necessity of passing through it. So Rosanna Finley found. During the same religious exercises, in which her sister Jane received so much spiritual good, her own mind was impressed in a similar manner. She saw that of herself she was a fallen and guilty sinner; that her fear of God, her departure from evil, her desire of good, were all, not of nature, but of grace; and that she must receive the great blessing of personal justification as the free gift of God, through the alone merits of Jesus Christ. She was deeply convinced of sin, and earnestly sought for the mercy by which alone, she plainly saw, a sinner could be saved. But she knew the promises of covenant mercy, and that all these promises had been sacramentally sealed to her; and while she pleaded them in earnest prayer, she obtained their fulfilment. The same letter, written by Jane, which told of her own happy experience, conveyed the tidings, which would be so thankfully received by the father to whom the letter was addressed, that "Rosanna and Samuel had both likewise found peace with God."

Rosanna was scarcely fifteen years old when thus, in March, 1838, she "found peace with God." Of course, little alteration could be anticipated in the conduct of one who had been trained as she had been by her venerable grandfather; but her religious feelings were of a much more elevated character. God had become her reconciled Father, and she loved him, because he had first loved her. Filial love was evidently the principle of her whole conduct. She was soon called, indeed, to experience that the children of God are not exempted from afflictions; but He who chastened, supported her, and bestowed those gracious influences by which she became

"Meet, through consecrated pain,

To see the face divine."

After she had walked humbly with God, and with the amiable modesty so suitable to youthful profession, and which is, in truth, one of its greatest ornaments, about two years, her health appeared to be in a precarious state, and pulmonary disease was apprehended. Whatever means affection could suggest and command, in order to subdue an enemy so

resistless, when once his grasp is securely fixed, were tried; and, as is usual in such melancholy cases, flattering hopes were often awakened; but, as is likewise usual, they were only awakened to be disappointed. The symptoms became more and more decided; and at length it was evident that consumption had marked her for its prey. For the attentions she received, few young persons could feel more thankful; but she did not appear to be at all anxious for recovery. She spent three months on a visit to her uncle Gault's, as it was hoped that change of air would be serviceable to her. "During this visit," Miss Gault says, in a letter written since her cousin's decease, "she was greatly endeared to us all, by her amiable and gentle disposition, and very uniform temper. She submitted with great patience to all that her friends and medical attendant thought would be beneficial to her, though she often said she thought there were no grounds for expecting that she would be restored to health."

It was on the conclusion of this visit that the writer of this account had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with her. As he had to preach regularly at Mr. Finley's and in the neighbourhood, he had frequent opportunities of conversing with her, which he did very closely, on the subject of personal religion. He was strongly impressed with her good sense, her solid judgment, and her deep Christian experience. She appeared to possess a remarkably clear apprehension of the ways of God, and in his will she fully acquiesced. Young as she was, only in her eighteenth year, she not only submitted with patience to all the privations which her illness occasioned, but relinquished, even with cheerfulness, the pleasures which the world might proffer. Her mind rose superior to affliction, not from insensibility, but from her close union with God, her firm reliance on his promises, her abiding sense of his presence. Supported by his all-sufficient grace, and comforted by his witnessing Spirit, her soul seemed to feel no want, and to fear no ill. She lived for heaven; and in doing so, it was as though she lived in heaven. When enduring most pain, she was enabled to say, "All is calm, and joy, and peace." No murmur ever escaped her lips; for she had the victory over the world, through her abiding faith, which at the same time prompted and enabled her to give all the glory to Him whose blood cleanseth from all sin. Her brother William once asked her if she would not prefer living somewhat longer in the world. She instantly replied, "Who would prefer living here, to enjoying heaven? Only a sad consciousness of being unprepared to leave the world, could occasion the wish to remain in it. At the same time," she added, "if it were God's will that I should live, his grace would be as sufficient for me in regard to life, as now it is in regard to death." And it was indeed sufficient for her. She appeared fully to realize the settled peace implied in that blessed declaration of Scripture, "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." She was very graciously, likewise, preserved from being disturbed by temptation. Only once,

during the last three months of her life, did she refer to that subject ; and then it did not appear that she experienced any mental disturbance. She was made "strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might," and by him was indeed made able to "stand."

While she had strength, she delighted to read the Scriptures, and her Hymn-book, and she would often express herself at great length in the language which was thus furnished her. So naturally, however, and with such an unction, did she speak, that all who heard her felt that she was speaking, not from the memory only, but also and chiefly from the heart. There was seldom any excitement in her manner. The sacred unction which rested on her spirit was rendered more obvious by the calmness, the self-possessed serenity, of her whole demeanour. She was always happy, and her happiness appeared to flow from her thankful and adoring love. She spoke much of her "debt immense of endless gratitude," and evidently felt the joy of still paying, and still owing. She often concluded the observations which she had been making by adding, "Eternity's too short to utter all his praise."

Her love of the means of grace ought not to be overlooked, though, from her circumstances, she had not the same opportunities of manifesting it which are possessed by the Christian in full health. But as the class in which she met assembled in the house in which she lived, she was enabled to attend it to a later period than would otherwise have been possible. On November 7th, 1841, it met in a room adjacent to hers. At Mr. Finley's request, the Class-Leader gave out part of her favourite hymn,

"How happy every child of grace,
Who knows his sins forgiven," &c.

Old and

"Such a sight," the Leader writes, "I never witnessed. young were bathed in tears. All were stirred up to seek preparation for a better world. The afflicted, dying Rosanna was praising God, as a sin-pardoning God, and her reconciled Father in Christ. Nothing like a murmur was heard from her. She was rejoicing in the prospect of a blessed eternity. She said, 'My Saviour! My blessed Saviour!' She told us that it was most likely the last class-meeting that she would be able to attend. We all felt that the chamber was indeed 'privileged beyond the common walks of virtuous life,' that it was truly within the verge of heaven.""

During the following week, her high spiritual enjoyments were not lessened. The nearer she approached to death, the more she experienced of the blessedness of heaven. Mr. Finley, at one time, heard her singing,

"To that Jerusalem above,

With singing I repair;

While in the flesh, my hope and love,

My heart and soul, are there."

Then, as if kindling into rapture, she sang,

"There my exalted Saviour stands,

My merciful High Priest,

And still extends his wounded hands,

To take"

Here she paused, as if about to realize what the last line expresses; and then, raising her voice, evidently with her heart full of joy, she concluded,

"To take me to his breast."

It was impos

The writer saw her a few days before she died. sible to be present with her and not be profited. He saw before him the complete triumph of grace. Death was disarmed of its terrors, the grave of its gloom. He was requested by her to pray. "For what?" he asked. "Pray," she said, "that the work of the Lord may prosper; that I may receive yet more of the love of God; that I may continue patient and resigned; that I may suffer and do God's holy will; that I may have the use of my reason to the last; that I may honour God in my short life, and glorify him by my death." The Lord fulfilled to her his promise, "In quietness and confidence shall be thy strength."

The Thursday before she died, she experienced great pain. "My dear," said Mrs. Finley, "you suffer much." Her reply was, "Dear mother, one half hour in heaven will compensate for all.” "Have you any advice to give us?" Mrs. Finley asked. She answered, "You know the way: walk in it." In the midst of her sufferings, she turned to her sister Eliza, and said,

"Not a cloud doth arise

To darken the skies,

Or hide for a moment my Lord from my eyes."

She continued thus to the last. On the day on which she died, when scarcely able to breathe, she said, "I shall die before night." And then, her countenance lit up with a heavenly smile, she repeated the lines,

"My soul with confidence shall rise,
And meet my Saviour in the skies."

And so it was. On the night of December 10th, 1841, in the most perfect quietness, she drew her last breath, and her spirit returned "to God who gave it."

Thus blessedly died these two children of God. Lovely in their life, in their death they were scarcely divided.

"At once their pardon they received,

By Jesu's blood applied;

His witnesses awhile they lived,

His witnesses they died.

"Quicken'd at once, they soon shall rise,

Their Saviour's joy to share:

Reader, expect Him from the skies,

And thou shalt meet them there."