Jo his king and country; the zealous advocate of the helpless and oppressed; "not weary in welldoing," but ever giving full proof that he was " thoroughly furnished unto all good works." In private life, the affectionate husband, the tender parent, and the constant friend, shone conspicuously and uninterruptedly. All within his reach felt the cheering influence of his benevolence; and his was that heavenly grace, in its fullest and truest sense, which "seeketh not her own, thinketh no evil, beareth all things, believeth all things, hop eth all things, endureth all things." He was a well-bred gentleman, and an accomplished scholar, with a modesty of deportment, a delicacy of feeling, a cheerfulness of spirit, and an equability of temper peculiarly his own. But fair as were

these virtues, attractive as were these ornaments, what would they have been but "as sounding brass, and a tinkling cymbal," if he had not been endowed with that wisdom which cometh from above? He was a CHRISTIAN. He was "cheerful," for he "served God." He was gentle and unassuming, for his was "the meekness of wisdom." He was "a man greatly beloved;" not only "blameless and harmless," but as a shining light in the world:" for while he was acknowledged by all to be the unwearied friend of his fellow-creatures, he was the faithful servant of his Lord and Master. He was "lovely in his life," for "he adorned the doctrine of God his Saviour in all things." He had 46 hope in his death," for he trusted that "by the obedience of Christ" he had been "made righteous." He " came to the grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season ;”— and his body is committed to the dust, in sure and certain hope that the "warfare" of the soldier of Christ is now "accomplished" that the labourer, who has "borne the burden and heat of the day," is now receiving the recompence of his labours-that the good and

faithful servant," having here gained "other talents" than those committed to his trust, is called to "enter into the joy of his Lord”—and that the spirit of the "just man," washed in the blood of his everblessed Redeemer, is gone to be "made perfect" in the paradise of his Father and his God,

MISS JANE LUCY BENN.

THE subject of this memoir was cousin to the Misses Yeats, the very interesting account of whose happy deaths was recorded in your valuable miscellany for the months of May and June 1804. She was ac customed, with her parents and fa❤ mily, for the last two years, 10 at tend at Bentinck Chapel. I visited her and her father, in their last vilis ness; and was highly gratified by their great patience and resignation to the will of God. I send this account, in the hope that, if you approve of inserting it, it may, by the Divine blessing, prove edifying. to others; and with most cordial wishes for the success of the CHRIS❤ TIAN OBSERVER,

I remain;

Your faithful and obedient Servant, BASIL WOODd.

Miss JANE LUCY BENN was born at Highgate, May 19th, 1802. She was a child of a very good understanding; but her spirit was naturally high, and her temper irritable. Of this, at eight years of age she was sensible; she often lamented it with tears, and would earnestly pray for Divine grace to subdue her pride and irritability. To prayer she united her diligent endeavours; and by these means her temper was greatly softened and amended.

A few days before her death, she made the following remarks upon this subject; addressing her mother, she observed, "My bad temper, which I so often tried to conquer, see how my Saviour has changed it! He has always been good to me. This rod of his chastisement has been a staff to me. It was by

making me so long weak and ill that he gave me time to read my Bible and to think of him. How good is his Providence to all us children! He has afflicted papa for years; but it was to teach us, that we might learn resignation; for papa wanted no teaching. Sickness is a good thing; they, who have good health, cannot learn what sickness would teach them."After this she referred to one of her brothers, and observed, "I think, however, that he wants encouragement more than affliction; for, though young, he already mourns for his sins."

It was remarkable, that although she was so young, she always kept a little purse devoted to the poor, and constantly put into it the half of whatever she received. When only six years old, she discovered great fondness for music, and would play upon the piano forte little pious strains, of which both the words and the tune were her own composing.

Miss Benn's general state of health was very delicate, although not confined to the house till within a few months of her death.

The affliction and lingering illness of her father appear to have been the means of great spiritual benefit to her. Although she was but ten years old when he died, and she scarcely survived him six months, yet she seems to have deeply sympathised in her parent's sorrow, and to have cherished in her mind all the practical lessons of so painful a visitation.

Mr. Benn was long and heavily afflicted with asthma. This terminated his valuable life on the 2d of August, 1812, at the age of 41. His soul seemed, particularly in his last illness, to have anticipated heaven; the remarks he made, which were recollected by his son, a youth of eleven years, and written down with great filial affection, are so very impressive, that I cannot forbear recording them. One of his frequent remarks was, "HuCHRIST, OBSERV. No. 151.

mility consists in giving up our own will in every thing to what we know to be the will of God." The last time he dined down stairs, in June, he was taken ill at table; and when one of his family, who assisted in getting him up stairs, burst into tears, he said, "These knees have never failed before for forty years; we must not complain now. The Lord gave, and the' Lord hath taken away; and blessed be the name of the Lord. Thank God, I have no will of my own, respecting life or death. I would not choose for myself, nor be in my own keeping."

On the first of August, he settled all his private and official concerns. He then lifted up his heart with great gratitude that he was enabled to do so much for his family, desired his funeral might be plain, and exclaimed, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me. Blessed is the man who trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is."

The evening before his departure, he desired all his children to come into his chamber; and placing them around his dying bed, addressed them,-"You all know that I am soon going to be transplanted out of this world into a better. I hope I shall there be permitted to watch over you, and I trust in God you are all little Christians, all walking the same road, and will soon follow me. You all know the road; great pains have been taken to shew it to you. Where is it to be found" The children all instantly replied, "In the Bible." The dying parent proceeded," Keep hold of that chain; it will never mislead you. When you are at a loss, if this or that be right, ask your Bible; see if your Saviour would have done so." Addressing the elder children, he said, "Remember, you are to teach the younger; tell them all we have taught you, and try to make it a pleasure."

Addressing his eldest son, he ob

32

served, "When you go into the world, and are exposed to persons who perhaps will ridicule the Saviour's name and the Bible, do not listen to them; divert your mind by thinking of something else; pray for them, but do not speak of their faults to others; if you can, secretly tell them of it, in such a way as they will listen to; it may do them good; remember, they may not have had your advantages. Seek that society which will help you to practise your Bible; it will provide comfort for you, when friends forsake you. Every other comfort in this world has its drawback, and is not lasting. When you are in pain or suffering, write upon it, THE ROAD TO HEAVEN."

It was Mr. Benn's custom so to arrange all his secular affairs, that Saturday evenings might be a preparation for Sunday. Upon this subject, he said to his children, "When you see people neglecting to keep holy the Sabbath-day, pity and pray for them; be thankful that you are taught better. When you are at church, remember where you are, and whom you are come to meet. Repeat all the responses; bow at the name of CHRIST; as you come home, ask yourselves what good you have gained. Keep, if possible, to one church; go all together as a family; in the Church of England, you have the best prayers that ever were penned, and a service all but divine. On the Lord's day, remember to rejoice and be glad therein: neither visit nor receive visitors, if you can avoid it. The Church Catechism is taught as a lesson for youth, but it is to be practised as a rule through life. Remember, every day in the week, that you never leave your room without reading one chapter in the Bible; and then walk by it through the day.

Be thankful to those who tell you of your faults; think yourselves the worse for being flattered; never speak ill of any, one, nor, if possible, hear any thing unfavourable of another; we ought to

feel, as if our very soul was sullied by slander. When you give to the poor, ask your heart, what is the motive: do you give because the Bible commands it? There is charity in covering the faults of a fellow-creature, as well as in covering his naked body. As I trust we are travelling the same road to heaven, so I wish we should all lay our dust in the same tomb. You shall all go to Paddington Church-yard, and fix on our little spot."

During his long and painful illness, he never expressed one murmur or complaint. He would often say, "How can I look otherwise than happy, when there is written on all that concerns me, His mercies are from everlasting to everlasting ?” When it was proposed that plasters should be applied to protect his bones, which had now almost penetrated the skin, he said with great feeling, "No; for I am ashamed to hold out my hand for another mercy, when I have so many."

Upon hearing the words of his Saviour Christ," Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," he said, "O Lord, I gladly hear the call, and come with all my heart and soul." When occasionally asked "how he was?" he would reply, "Very comfortable: I am upon a bed of roses.”

When the clock struck twelve on Saturday night, he said, "Thank God, who has permitted us to see another Sabbath-day together. I can now say, I am going to heaven, clothed in my Saviour's robe of righteousness, and truly wish I could more loudly proclaim the goodness of God to me." After this be slept that night better than usual; and, at nine on Sunday morning, conversed very cheerfully with Mrs. B- when in an instant, without a sigh or groan, he smiled, looked up to heaven, and expired.

From this account of the last illness of the parent, I now return to Miss Benn.-She often spoke

She entered her father's room a few minutes after he expired, and looked at his corpse stedfastly. Then, to the astonishment of all present, without shedding a tear, and with a heavenly smile upon her Countenance, she said, "I used to wish to die before my father; but I am glad I did not; for now I see how blessed it is to die and go to heaven. Now angels are rejoicing over my dear papa. It was, as it were, written on papa's door, As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Six weeks previous to her death, she desired to be removed into the room in which her father died, and to have his chair, and his table, with his watch upon it, saying, "I wish to die where papa did."

She said to her elder sister, "If you live to see my brother a man of business, do not hurry to bed when he comes home at night, although you may be tired; but stop and talk half an hour with him about something good; it may put

away the temptations the world may expose him to."

She was particularly attached to the observance of Christmas-day, and used to prepare for it with great pleasure and solemnity. She called it her happiest day, and frequently expressed a desire to die upon it. Being fully persuaded

that it would be the last she should ever enjoy in this world, she anxiously requested that she might have all her frocks, clothes, &c. to make into baby linen, to be ready for the poor on that day.

Why

When Mrs. B. asked her, “ are you so willing to leave us? Have you not every comfort this world can give?” She replied with great sweetness, "Yes, mamma, I have indeed; but they are not my God. In heaven there will be no sin to strive against. This is a place of trial, but heaven is a place of joy and glory.

One day, adverting to her hav. ing been reproved and rebuked for a supposed falsehood, Mrs. B. observed, My little comfort, I was sorry for it;" she instantly said, "You need not be sorry for it; had you never reproved or rebuked me when I was wrong, I should not now have been your little comfort."

On Mrs. B.'s addressing her, "My patient child," she would say, "Do not praise me; that is not right; I wish I had more patience, I am always trying for it. When I was in pain with the blisters, my prayers used to be, that God would be pleased to remove my pain; but now I only pray for patience to bear what my God pleases." Twice, in her very last days, she remarked, " If God were to say, 'Jane Benn, you shall live to be old, and have all the good things of this world, and go to heaven at last; or I will take you now; which would you like best? I would say, O Lord! if thou pleasest, take me now.' Is it not good of my Heavenly Father to take me now in, in my youth, out of the way of all temptations?"

When asked how she did, her

"Pretty well, To her friend,

usual answer was, and very happy." Mrs. L, she wrote, ".. I am perfectly happy; I have no fears of death; death is not dying, but living;" and again, " I trust my sins are all forgiven; I love God, who made me, and has given me all my mercies; but I love God most, because he gave his Son to die for me." On the Sunday night before her death, for the first time, she complained of great pain; after this, convulsions succeeded, and it was thought that she was gone. Soon, however,she revived, raised her hands from the pillow which lay before her, and, lifting them up in the attitude of prayer, fixed her eyes towards heaven nearly for a quarter of an hour. Then dropping on the pillow again, she said, "I am safe and happy; His everlasting arms are underneath me." She then prayed earnestly that God would bless her beloved mother, and gave a solemn and affecting charge to her brothers and sisters to be affectionate, dutiful, and obedient to her.

To her elder brother she said, "You must now be an husband to mamma; we shall all soon meet again." After this she exclaimed, "O my Father, take me to thy heavenly kingdom, take me to thy. holy habitation; Omy Father, come quickly."

As she finished this sentence, Mrs. B, who was supporting her, added," if it please thee."She instantly looked up to heaven, and with peculiar emphasis lisped out," for grace to add my mother's prayer!"

The period now drew near when all pain was to cease, and glory to

commence for ever.

On the 29th December 1812, a few hours before her departure, she cried out with great feeling, "O Father, look upon me, for Jesus Christ's sake." Mrs. B said, "My dear love, I doubt not he is looking upon you." She replied, "What, does he look upon such a worm as me!"-Her eyes at this moment seemed to notice her nightdress, which had been accidentally torn; and Mrs. B said, "My Jane, never mind your clothes being torn; you know your Saviour had no where to lay his head." She answered, "No;-but I am unworthy of these torn clothes-I am a sinner."

The last words she was heard to utter were these, which she spake with death in her countenance, but with bumble confidence and delicate feeling, "O my Father; I have no Father, but thee; take me to thy holy habitation."

Mrs. B observed, "You have not now long to wait; perhaps in half an hour you may be in heaven." She looked with a most divine and affectionate smile,and said, "I know it, mamma.”

In about twenty minutes after this, without a sigh or groan, her happy spirit took its flight, and mortality was exchanged for life everlasting.

Thus died Miss Jane Lucy Benn, aged ten years and seven months.

May all who read this memoir imitate her piety to God, her love to her Saviour, her filial affection to her parents, her concern for the spiritual welfare of her brothers and her sisters, her delight in doing good! Then may they hope to die the death of the righteous, and that their fatter end may be like hers.