some. I can just meet my classes, and in meeting them, I sometimes get my faith strengthened, which encourages me. Were it not so, I should be cast down: for I seem to myself to be a most useless being, an unprofitable branch. May the Lord inspire me more and more with a pure zeal for His glory, and with fervent love to all mankind. I would show forth the praises of my God, and be faithful in all things.

'June 28.-Another month has nearly passed over, and the summer is hastening away. Time is ever on the wing; eternity is fast approaching; and death does not appear afar off. I want to improve the present now. My time passes imperceptibly away, and apparently to little purpose. I often wonder why I am continued upon the earth, as I seem to be altogether useless; yet I would be where the Lord is pleased to appoint-my times are in His hand. As it respects the things of earth, I die daily; but perhaps if my health were vigorous, I should enter too freely into worldly affairs. O for power to rise above myself, and the things which surround me, that I may be faithful to whatsoever the wisdom of God, in His Providence, may appoint me.

September 12.-In the last six weeks I have experienced many changes, both outwardly and inwardly; part of my time has been spent in retirement, part in the business of the world, and part in travelling to and fro, and in visiting my eldest son at Scarborough. There I found a sincere, lively, simple, and praying people. I felt my spirit much united to them, and my soul greatly refreshed while I continued with them. I have again reached home, and find, that the Lord is still in the midst of us at Nottingham, and manifests His glory here, as He has done in former times. I had a blessed season

with my class; the people welcomed me again, and we are as one heart and one soul. It seems to be good sometimes to leave my charge for a short space, as our meeting together again gives full proof of our love to each other. What will the meeting be in glory, if our fellowship below be so sweet and cheering to our spirits? May we still continue to believe and love, and give glory to God and the Lamb.

I had not been long at home, before Mr. Butcher's death was announced. Of him, it may indeed be said, that he was a good man. He was out on Tuesday last. O how soon do we fade away, and return unto the dust. May I be found ready when my Lord shall

come.

November 1.-Found it good this afternoon to be with my class; the communion of saints is not a small privilege. Perhaps I do not always sufficiently improve such opportunities. Since my return from Scarborough, my time has been much taken up with outward things, as present circumstances seem to require much of my care and attention; but I hope that I shall now be more at liberty than I have been for a long time. My trials and temptations are of a different kind, from those which I have passed through in former years. My infirmities increase, and my toil has been increased with them. But this is a small thing with me; weightier matters press upon my mind; some things have a gloomy aspect, and are inexplicable to me. May the Lord give me wisdom to direct me in all my ways. My own unworthiness and great unprofitableness weigh down my spirits, and some things that come against me seem to wear a retributive aspect; but I give myself unto prayer, and cast myself with all my sins on my atoning God. O how little every

thing in the world appears; its riches, its honours, its pleasures, and its friendships, are all lighter than vanity, and have no hold on me. But I want to live momentarily in God, to know Christ and the fellowship of His sufferings yet more and more, that I may be made more conformable to His death.'

CHAPTER X.

1830-1834.

HIS

MRS. TATHAM IS EDIFIED BY THE PERUSAL OF MR. WESLEY'S
LETTERS, AND LAMENTS THAT HIS WRITINGS ARE SO LITTLE
READ AND KNOWN BY THE PEOPLE THAT BEAR
NAME-MEDITATES ON GOD'S UNIVERSAL PROVIDENCE-HER
LOVE OF RETIREMENT-FIRMNESS AND FULNESS OF HER
PERSONAL ASSURANCE-CONCERN THAT HER CONVERSA-
TION SHOULD BE BLAMELESS-READS THE NEW TESTA-
MENT WITH INCREASING CARE, AND BECOMES ALMOST A
WOMAN OF ONE BOOK-REMARKS ON LEARNING AS APPLIED
TO THE ELUCIDATION OF SCRIPTURE-ON THE SECOND
ADVENT OF CHRIST-ANALOGY BETWEEN HER LIFE AND
THE PILGRIMAGE OF JACOB.

MRS. TATHAM is now advancing in years, but we find no decline of intellectual vigour, and no decay of moral beauty. Her "path was as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." What contemplation in the moral world is more interesting than the steady, advancing, heavenward course of the righteous? and what more glorious object is there in nature that could be selected to suggest a vivid picture of this progress, than the advancing brilliancy of the morning's light-the path of the sun through the heavens for half a day? Thus it is with those who are justified, and progressively sanctified, through a union with the Saviour, and the indwelling of His Spirit.

What a warmth of fresh and delightful feeling does it excite in the mind, when we muse of the early dawn, as its first streaks tinge the horizon; then of the grey light deepening into the rosy glow that intimates the sun's approach; then of the full radiance of the great orb of day; then of his triumphant march up the steep ascent of heaven; and then of the full splendour of his beams as he attains the perfection of noon? We have seen Mrs. Tatham emerge from the condition of moral darkness in which she was found by the grace of God; we have beheld her in the star-light of the knowledge in which she was first trained; in the twilight of the awakening which she afterwards experienced; in the auroral light of conversion, when she first believed; in the morning light of salvation, when she went forth with joy to run her appointed course; and we behold her now in the full meridian light of sanctification, with all her graces deepened in intensity, and augmented in strength, and with a large increase of knowledge, both extensively and intensively. Having given up herself to all righteousness, she is guided into all truth. The light of heaven, which the Creator commanded into being, is surely the most perfect image which we can conceive, to represent the light of spiritual life.

The next entry of Mrs. Tatham's active pen is under the date of

January 10, 1830.—I do not know when I have begun a year with more incumbrances, and under more disadvantages than the present. I have been much harassed, and my way greatly obstructed; but my trust is in the Lord, and my desire is unto Him, and to the remembrance of His name, that He may be glorified. I have said little, and kept my mind in peace, being stayed upon Him.