WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE. JANUARY, 1854. BIOGRAPHY. MEMOIR OF THE LATE MRS. DE QUETEVILLE, OF GUERNSEY: BY HER BROTHER, THE REV. HENRY DE JERSEY. MRS. DE QUETEVILLE was for many years the beloved wife, and for a short period the widow, of the late Rev. John De Queteville, "the apostle of the Norman Isles." Mr. De Queteville, a native of Jersey, of good family, was the first Minister raised up in the islands through the instrumentality of Methodism, and the first Missionary appointed (anno 1786) to them by Mr. Wesley. "Being endowed' (as the appropriate words of his epitaph run) "with great energy of character, and animated by an extraordinary zeal for the salvation of souls, he exercised his ministry for more than half a century, with much success, and amidst many persecutions. He lived long enough to see the literal accomplishment of the promise, The little one shall become a thousand.'" This venerable man, one of the "worthies" of our Israel, died in the Lord, Feb. 1st, 1843, in his eighty-second year. His memoir, and that of Mrs. De Queteville, were prepared by his brother-in-law, the Rev. Henry De Jersey, of the Mon-Plaisir family, who has long been a useful Missionary in France; and were published in French in 1847. It would be well to put forth in English an abridgment, at least, of the former; which contains details of extraordinary freshness and interest, as well as much edifying Christian experience. Meantime, all who love the records of early Methodist struggles and triumphs, and can read easy French, may procure the volume for themselves, at a very moderate cost, from the Conference-Office. The memoir now given to the reader is a translation, abridged here and there. "Mon-Plaisir," so often mentioned in the memoir, is the farm or manor-house of the De Jersey family, in Guernsey; at which Mr. Wesley stayed during his visit to the island in 1787, and to hich he makes very interesting references in his Journal under dates of August 15th and 16th in that year. JAMES H. RIGG. MRS. DE QUETEVILLE was the eldest daughter of Mr. Henry De Jersey, of Mon-Plaisir, in the island of Guernsey. Her father had the honour and privilege of receiving under his roof the illustrious VOL. X.-FOURTH SERIES. B Wesley, and of forming an acquaintance, also, with one of the apostles of modern Missions-the indefatigable Dr. Coke. Another eminent servant of Jesus Christ, Adam Clarke, was a guest at MonPlaisir, for twelve months; during which sojourn he was seen frequently to retire to a distance, and continue his studies in the solitude of the fields. Mr. De Jersey might, doubtless, have derived no spiritual advantage from his intercourse with those distinguished men. He might have remained a stranger to personal godliness, without which all external privileges are absolutely vain. But God, who had disposed him to show hospitality to His servants, gave him grace also to receive the great truths which they clearly and forcibly declared. He gave proof of his attachment to the Gospel, by taking up his cross, and suffering reproach for Christ's sake. The Lord disposed him likewise to do something for His cause, by setting apart a large preaching-room in a house built within his court-yard, which was opened for that sacred purpose by the venerable Wesley at the time of his visit to Guernsey in 1787. Nearly sixty years have passed since that little chapel was opened; and during this time it has been the Bethel of many souls. Several members of the owner's family have worshipped God therein, and experienced the blessedness of His presence whose infinite glory they now celebrate within the gates of heaven. How carefully did the revered father and beloved brother of the writer watch over the fulfilment of the pious intentions of their relative!-happy in being able thus to perpetuate an establishment dedicated to the glory of God and the salvation of souls. May their descendants walk in their steps, even to the remotest posterity! Mrs. De Queteville's father died in 1807, at the age of seventy-six. He finished his course with joy,-a consolatory fact, for the completion crowns the labour. Mr. De Queteville, who was present at this death-bed, returned home full of joy, exclaiming, "Blessed are they who die in peace!"-The mother of Mrs. De Queteville feared God from her youth. It was not, however, till after her marriage that she was really converted to the Lord. Before this date she had conscientiously walked in the paths of a formal religion, without experiencing that peace which proceeds solely from faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ. She was born in Jersey, August 27th, 1739, and came to reside in Guernsey after her marriage, which took place in 1762, when she was twenty-three years of age. It was through the ministry of her future son-in-law, Mr. De Queteville, that the Lord called her into the glorious liberty of the people of God; and from that time till her death she honoured her Christian profession by a truly exemplary walk. As she displayed deep interest in the conversion of her children, so had she much at heart that of her grandchildren. Her memory is dear to him who writes these lines, because of the solicitude she evinced for his salvation, so soon as she perceived the beginnings of the Spirit's work in his heart. When she learned at a later period that he had begun to exhort his fellow-sinners to flee from the wrath to come, she wept for joy. He can recall her lively and abiding desires for the prosperity of Zion, not only in her own country, but elsewhere also. She was wont to deplore the abandonment of the vital doctrines of Christianity in influential cities of the Continent, and to grieve over the condition of Geneva, in particular; most reluctantly admitting the evidence that the city of Calvin-the Zoar of illustrious fugitives whose works she had perused-had been given up to the pernicious doctrines of Arius and Socinus. Mrs. De Jersey lived to the age of seventy-eight: hence she was privileged to see much increase in the work of the Lord before her death, May 21st, 1818. She breathed her last, surrounded by the members of her family, who besought the Lord to shorten the period of His handmaid's great bodily anguish by taking her to her place of rest. They were still praying-they did not see that the sharp conflict was ended! The deliverance had come more speedily than they expected. These were the parents of her whose life we are about to write, or at least such portions of it as seem likely most to edify readers. Those who were able to appreciate her rare virtues, will not accuse us of overpassing the bounds of truth: rather will they be inclined to think that more ample details might have entered into this biography. Susanna De Jersey was born on the 4th of February, 1768. Her health was delicate from infancy, so that her parents scarcely hoped to see her attain maturity. Her father's conviction on this point was so strong, that he resolved on bestowing the name of Susanna on his next daughter, in order that it might be retained in the family, being the name of the mother. Susanna's disposition was quiet, gentle, and loving. Thus she lived in pleasant harmony with her brothers and sisters, who, on their part, cherished both toward her and each other an attachment which was never interrupted in youth, and never in later years. Both parents set them an example of the strictest morality, which exercised the happiest influence in disposing them to the remembrance of their Creator from their earliest years; but it was chiefly on the mother that the important duty devolved of instructing them in religious duties and doctrines. Though she herself was not, at that time, enlightened as to the nature and effects of vital godliness, yet had she an earnest desire to lead them into the right path. She went with them regularly on Sunday morning to the parish-church, and spent the evening in teaching, catechising, and exhorting them. The pious endeavours of Mrs. De Jersey were not fruitless in the case of her daughter Susanna, who had, while very young, a deep feeling of reverence toward God, and an anxious wish to do that which is right. This she showed by her submission and obedience to her parents, whom she in very deed honoured as the fifth commandment enjoins. She often remarked in subsequent years, that she could not recall an instance of disobedience to them. At that time it was the received opinion, that, before the age of seven, children are not responsible for their actions. Susanna, having been in a measure enlightened by "the true Light; which lighteth every man that cometh into the world," already felt that she was a sinner in the sight of God; and she looked foward with such apprehension to this age of responsibility, that she desired greatly that she might die before she attained to it,-believing that in that case eternal happiness was assured to her. On her return from England, where she had spent some time for her education, she looked upon the amusements and customs of the day with much aversion. When, in compliance with her parents' wishes, she accompanied her mother into society where cards. were introduced, she declined to join in this pastime. It was vain to solicit she was firm, and would remain alone in a corner of the apartment, rather than burden her conscience with what she looked upon as sin. Her father was fond of dancing; and, though he did not dance himself, he had great pleasure in seeing young people entertained in that way. With the view of perfecting his daughter in the art, he joined with some of the respectable families of the neighbourhood that their children might have weekly lessons from a master. Miss De Jersey continued to attend for some time, not from taste, but solely to gratify her father. One day, however, in the midst of the dance, she was at once so convinced of the sinfulness of the amusement, that she made a solemn resolution never to take part in it again; and her vow was kept. Her native country was yet a region of "darkness and the shadow of death." But the time of its merciful visitation approached, and the young disciple was soon to hail with joy the arrival, in that island, of messengers of peace. Meanwhile the Lord sought her by His Spirit, and instructed her by His word. Being then in deep affliction because of her spiritual state, feeling that she was a great sinner in the sight of God, and having no one to point her to "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,”—she received much comfort by means of a dream, in which she was commanded to read Ezek. xvi. 8. Being at that time little versed in holy Scripture, she did not remember such a book. In the morning, while at breakfast, she inquired of her mother whether the prophecies of Ezekiel were in the Bible? Her mother, while she blamed her inattention, pointed out the passage to her. She then read the remarkable words, applying them to her own case: "Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread My skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest Mine." It was during the first visit of Dr. Coke to Guernsey, in 1786, that Mrs. De Jersey became more fully convinced of her sinful condition, and of the necessity of regeneration. She heard him preach; and the word was accompanied with so much of the Spirit's power, that she fell on her knees in the middle of the sermon, and remained |