CHAPTER VII.

1819-1822.

THE HAPPY AND TRIUMPHANT DEATH OF HER ELDEST DAUGHTER-APPREHENSIONS RESPECTING THE AFFAIRS OF THE NATION, ITS RELIGIOUS CONDITION AND PROSPECTS-JEALOUS SOLICITUDE FOR THE PIETY OF HER CHILDRENOPINION OF MRS. HESTER ANN ROGERS-OF REV. ROWLAND HILL'S PREACHING.

THE natural strength of her mind, and force of her religious character, conducted Mrs. Tatham with great composure through scenes of personal, domestic, or relative affliction, when called to encounter them. She knew how to weep; and whether sketching the interest she felt in her little grand-daughter Oastler, whose death took place at an early period, or referring to the decease of her daughter Ann, wife of Thomas Trentham, Esq., of Nottingham, we find in her the sympathising mother, and still more do we recognise the mature and well-disciplined Christian. How striking and satisfactory is the narrative now to be given of the death of her eldest, beloved, and pious daughter, Ann. It cannot be read without solemn delight. Here was ripe fruit of a mother's assiduous religious instructions and neverceasing prayers for her children-fruit gathered early into the heavenly garner, but ripe, the first ripe fruit of her fine family.

'January 30, 1819.-For some days past I have been

led in an extraordinary manner to offer up myself, and all that appertains unto me, to God, without any reserve; and am so fully satisfied with this act of faith, that I am fully assured nothing can come against me, but that all things shall ultimately work together for my good and the glory of God; and though I do now pray with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit with thanksgiving, I can only ask, wish, and desire, that He will so order all things for me and mine, as well as for the support and defence of His own truth, as seemeth best and right to His godly wisdom.

Horsforth, near Leeds, January 31.

This morning my little grand-daughter, Sarah Oastler, died. I felt a strong attachment to the child from the first moment I saw her, but could not offer up a petition for her life: " Thy will be done," was the extent of my request, knowing whatsoever the Lord doeth, it is well.

'Leeds, February 21.

Last night I had a conversation with some friends that tended greatly to relieve my spirits, which have been low and depressed for many days. I never was more kindly treated than amongst my friends at this place; yet I have been almost insensible to every attention, and seemed to myself to have neither interest nor enjoyment in any thing, but suffered a kind of heaviness and numbness of soul that almost overwhelmed me, though my faith remained unshaken, and my confidence in God unwavering. I could bow the knee, and look up; but had no power to offer up any particular request until this morning, when I had such an opening into the Divine life, as I have not been favoured with for a considerable time. I seemed to possess new senses, a new mind, a new heart, and a new path opened before me :

all was heaven, love, joy and peace in believing. May I hold fast and press towards the mark.'

Having returned to Nottingham, she writes,

' April 7th.-Have had constant toil and hurry since my return home, and but little opportunity of attending the public ordinances and means of grace. Yet I have found it good to read plain, home truths. I should love to be more at liberty for writing, but my time is so filled up with outward things, that I have found it very difficult to maintain a spirit of recollection.'

The following letter is addressed to her daughter, Mrs. Oastler, after her return from a visit to her parents at Nottingham. It expresses the aptitude with which Mrs. Tatham's mind turned from things external and natural to those which are spiritual and sacred, and so made nature the handmaid of grace. She was an admirer, a lover, a student of nature; the flowers of the garden, the fruits of the field, the stars of the sky, the succession of the seasons, all touched her with delight, and filled her soul with the loveliest images, and deepened in her heart mighty impressions of moral truth and spiritual beauty.

'May, 1819.

'VERY DEAR MARY,-We duly received your letter, and were exceedingly glad to hear that you arrived safe at home, and found your dear Mr. O. well, and all your friends whom you left behind you. We should have been much gratified had Mr. Oastler had it in his power to have left his business to fetch you home, but live in hopes of seeing him at Nottingham before long. I feel very much about the situation of your sister Trentham, particularly as she was in such danger on the last occasion of a similar kind, but trust that the Lord will graciously help her once more through her

trouble, and raise her again to her family and connexions. Your aunt Bates has been very poorly indeed since you left Nottingham. How precious health is! and it is our greatest wisdom to make a diligent improvement of it whilst we are favoured with its continuance. A time of sickness and weakness is a bad time to make up lost ground, and make proper exertions for the attainment of those blessings which are most necessary in affliction. I hope that you find yourself much better for your journey, now you are settled at home, and can enjoy the pure air, and exercise yourself in walking or riding daily. I dare say that your situation is very pleasant now, as every thing around you wears a different aspect to what it did a month ago. And the next month the beauties of creation will attain a still greater degree of perfection. May we improve the spring of our life, and bring forth good and lasting fruit in old age. It is not enough for us to have a name to live; leaves and blossoms are not fruit, though they be the attendants and harbingers thereof. Christ says, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bring forth much fruit, and that your fruit may remain." Therefore Christ expects his disciples to have the true criterion of a good tree, and not the name only. May He bless you with that religion which will render you useful, and very successful in all you set your hands unto, for God cannot be glorified by a cold, dead, formal, and lukewarm worship-a round of duties, ceremonies, and observances. Our faith must be lively, active, laborious, and fruitful, in order to its being acceptable to God, profitable to ourselves, and useful to others; and this it will be if our faith is of the operation of the Spirit of God, and rightly grounded in Christ Jesus, who is the only Author and Finisher of our faith.

'We have all been tolerably well, and still continue to be. Your father will be well-pleased to hear from you when you have leisure to write, which I hope will be soon. Give my kindest love and most cordial regard to Mr. Oastler, sen., &c.-Shall be happy to see any of them at Nottingham when they can pay us a friendly visit. Tell Mrs. Ogle that I do not forget her, though I have not written to her, but shall be glad to hear from her, whenever she can find a leisure moment to write to unworthy me. I have nothing new to communicate to you. The complaint, that trade is flat, appears to be general all over the nation. May we keep up a brisk return with the spiritual and invisible world; this we may do, and in the end it will pay the best interest. May the good Lord bless you, and keep you eternally His, through Jesus Christ. So prays your affectionate mother,

May 2.-Heard Mr. Hope from "Ye are the salt of the earth." It was to me a powerful, heart-searching time-a word in season. The Lord has for many days past been impressing the substance of this discourse upon my heart, and I was afresh reminded of my danger, and of my wants. I trust I shall take the warning, and lay aside every weight. The Lord enable me to arise, and to shake myself from the dust, before the night cometh wherein no man can work.

'Monday, June 21.—The last evening, a Discourse was delivered by Mr. Hollingworth, on account of the death of my beloved daughter, Ann Trentham, from these words, Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." And indeed