'November 11, 1825.

MY DEAR MRS. OGLE,-Since my return home, my health has been gradually improving, as it usually does in the decline of the year. If this be fully verified of me in every other respect, my last days will be the best of my life. For now, while every thing around me wears the appearance of winter, and vegetation droops and decays with age, or the sharp blasts of the coming storms, I feel more invigorated and strengthened by them. And yet how delightful and pleasant is the returning spring, and how cheering to see nature reviving and putting on her beautiful attire. But when health and spirits are wanting, we lose the comfort of the pleasing scene, and languish out our time in weariness and painfulness, in weakness and disease. So that if our real comfort depended upon these outward things, what poor, unhappy, miserable beings should we be. But how often, in these outwardly gloomy seasons, have we experienced the strongest inward consolations, so that we could rejoice in tribulation, and praise the Father of mercies for His unbounded love towards us in Christ Jesus, which no affliction or trial could damp, or deprive us of.

'You, no doubt, have heard of our dear brother's death, which, though expected by us, yet was awfully sudden at the last; he being so much better, and in very good spirits a few minutes before he died. So soon is life gone, and so necessary is it to be always ready, that we may not be surprised at an hour when we think not. Numbers of my friends and acquaintance have dropped off within the last year, and some of them in the full vigour of life and health. May you and I strive upon earth, while we

to live more in heaven and less

tabernacle below. I deeply feel the importance of being

more spiritually minded; yet while we are in the world we cannot altogether disengage ourselves from outward things. But we ought always so to pass through them as not to lose those that are eternal. Nor should we ever lose that deep sense and feeling of eternal things, as to take our eye from them for a moment. And were we always to be as deeply impressed with the great importance of eternal things as we are with that of earthly things, we should then find earth indeed to be a scale to heaven, and the things of time and sense to be steps leading us to God, and all the creatures to be so sanctified to us, that in all things we should enjoy the fruition of Him that filleth all in all. O let us labour now, in the evening of our days, while our sun is setting, to grasp the glorious prize, that our horizon may be bright and clear, and our hope full of immortality and eternal life. And may the peace of God keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of Himself through Christ Jesus.

'I shall always be happy to hear from you, and hope we shall continue to remember each other at a throne of grace. In the meanwhile I remain your truly affectionate friend,

'M. TATHAM,'

'November 20.-Still one and another are quitting the stage of life. Miss Emma H has soon followed her sister; Mr. W., of Leek, in the prime of life, and in apparent health, was taken away after a few hours' illness; and J. L., a member of our society, died while he was smoking; and I am yet spared. O may I sit loose to the world, and die daily to it. I never had so many worldly concerns upon my hands as I have had of late, yet I pass through them with more ease than I for

merly did. I trust I am not losing sight of any promised blessing. I endeavour to walk by faith, and not by sight; but I want a closer union with God, and to be more spiritual in my conversation; and the Lord does show me favour by bringing me into acquaintance and fellowship with His chosen ones.

'November 27.-Another month is almost out, and

"Lo, I cumber still the ground,

Yet an Advocate is found,"

who prays, "Spare it yet a little longer, and I will dig about it, and dung it, and if it bear fruit, well: if not, then shalt thou cut it down." How long has the Lord borne with my sloth and indifference, and how often has He pruned my branches, and dug about my roots and yet how unprofitable a plant am I in the vineyard of my Lord. Lord, spare me a little longer that I may recover strength before I go hence, and be no more seen.

I have been reading over the life of Dr. Toft. I esteemed him much. His humility, faith, and simplicity were very great, and equalled only by a few; for ardour and zeal he was remarkable; and for sincerity and openness of disposition, almost a prodigy. I have known his manner of life from the beginning of his Christian career, and I consider that Mr. Atherton has given a lively, faithful, and judicious sketch of him. Whatever were his foibles, as a man, he was true to His God, and to His cause, wherein he had engaged.

'December 14.-On the evening of this day, between eight and nine o'clock, we had a most tremendous thunder-storm; the whole town appeared enveloped in a cloud of thick darkness, which being immediately over it, the flashes of lightning were exceedingly vivid, and the thunder following the lightning instantaneously,

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MEMOIR OF MRS. TATHAM.

showed it to be very close upon us. Some of the thunder had a harsh, metallic sound, as if many bars of iron were clashing together, and sometimes it was as the sound of a loud trumpet. I expected much damage would be done; but am thankful that neither the town nor its environs sustained any injury. The storm fell heavier in other parts of the kingdom; yet I have not heard of any lives being lost, excepting those of animals.

December 31.-The Lord has brought me to see the close of another year. I spent about three quarters of an hour alone, while some of my family were retired to rest, and others had gone to the watch-night. Great numbers of my friends and acquaintance have been taken hence during the last year. Yesterday Mr. Peat died ; he was a humble and simple follower of the Lord Jesus. Thirty years ago he was a burning and a shining light, a true servant of Christ, and a minister of good to the people of God. His infirmities were many, and his afflictions not a few; but his faith, his love, and his patience, did not fail. Several others of our friends have also been summoned hence, and some of them, only, at a short notice, but I trust in a state of preparation for a better inheritance.

A great man is also fallen, (the Emperor of Russia.) I am afraid he has met with a premature death; but God only knows. I wish his successor may prove as good a father to his people as he has been. But his removal will probably produce a change in the affairs of state throughout the nations of Europe, and also in other parts of the world.'

CHAPTER IX.

1826-1829.

MRS. TATHAM RENEWS HER COVENANT WITH

GOD-DEPRECATES EVIL-SPEAKING-HER ESTIMATE OF THE LAW OF LOVE OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HOUSES OF SAUL AND DAVID-HER STRONG FAITH REGARDING HER FAMILYDEATH OF MR. BUTTERWORTH-ILLNESS AND DEATH OF HER SON JOHN-HER UNION WITH THE PIOUS BEYOND THE PALE OF HER OWN COMMUNION VIEW OF THE SUPINENESS OF PROFESSORS, AND CHURCHES, AND GENERAL APATHY OF THE CONSIDERATION OF PROPHECY,

NATION-ATTENTIVE

AND LIVELY EXPECTATION OF ITS FULFILMENT.

FOR want of reflection we often lose the benefit both of providences and ordinances. But Mrs. Tatham, like other eminent Christians, was the subject of close reflection; she was much given to meditation, as well as to prayer. She frequently reviewed the way through which Providence had conducted her, and explored the ways of her own heart. Yet were there certain seasons and periods, at which she entered more systematically, and thoroughly, and minutely, upon the necessary, painful, and difficult work of self-examination; when with a fearless step she traversed the various labyrinths of her motives, the modes of her conduct, and the spirit and temper by which she was influenced. Her power of mental analysis, so to speak, was great and ready; she could dissect away the ostentatious and the visible, and