to form the diamond by means of the rays of the sun. So you see I went empty and very needy, and returned full of joy; so much so, that it kept me awake almost all night, telling the Lord everything with such joy and thankfulness as cannot be expressed. So now I have two beautiful and precious portions to think of in my daily rounds. And in the morning I know not what I shall have to witness before day close. Am sure I am a wonder to myself and many of my patients too. They will say sometimes, O sister, how ever do you stand it? that is, when I have three or four patients in one day, and one or two the next day. At times I tremble all over, and have many times to run for a few moments to my room, and ask the Lord to keep me calm and help me, giving all the strength He knows I require; and praise and bless His holy name He gives the required strength. For it is not all the sisters can go; and the nurses often come begging of me to let them off from going into the operation room, as I always take one or two to wait upon the surgeons, while I hold the leg or arm, or whatever is being operated upon: but you would surely be frightened if I were to tell you any more. I must tell you this though. Three different openings have been offered to me, but I have refused on the ground of my not being at liberty to go to what place of worship I liked. Of course they ask if I am Church of England? Then they look so grave, asking me if I could not conform? but I say, No; and there is an end of it. Where I am no one asks; I am at liberty to go to any place of worship. This suits me, and I like London, and don't like changes and as I am not in any way bound to the committee here, I can leave any time by giving a month's notice. Not everything here is quite to my mind, but I have my work, and am quite willing to remove when it is the Lord's will, and He opens a place for me somewhere in some place where I can hear the gospel preached. And with all the changes and tossings about in the world, my love is stronger towards the truth, and it is becoming more precious to me every day of my life. But oh, surely the Lord will not send me any more sorrows. Sometimes I ask Him, if it is His will, not to cause anything else to come, not to try me any more: for I certainly feel as if I should fail, having no confidence in the flesh often having in the evening to tell the Lord that I have not even so much as thought about Him, when I have been so busily engaged and thinking for others. Then He has just whispered in my heart from His word, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of My little ones, ye have done it unto Me." Is it not just like Him? speaking so loving and kind, when I really return Him so little : am sure if it depended upon my long prayers or much reading, I should never receive any blessing from His hands or word, as it is always the old tale, I am so tired when done with everybody for the night. Ŏ if it was possible to tell you one-third of the goodness, long-suffering and forbearance of my very precious Saviour, since the very night He spoke my sins all forgiven (under Mr Baxter) in Sion Chapel, Nottingham: it is truly astounding and wonderful. So it is only by His grace I continue unto this day, amidst all the changes, tossings and buffetings in providence ; My faith has been sharply tried, and I have often felt all must come to a speedy end, crying in the very bitterness of my soul, "Surely God hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me.' But on the other hand have I not proved Him faithful to His word? "When thou passes through the waters, thou shalt where He says, not be overflowed, when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned," &c. And having proved Him a stronghold in the day of trouble, I can trust Him with all the future, He being to me "the cheifest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely:" there being such an endless fulness in Jesus, that can supply all our requirements in every time of need. I just now feel like the two disciples who walked to Emmaus, whose hearts burned within them, while He talked by the way, and opened up to them the scriptures. And must say surely God was in that little chapel on Wednesday evening, as it was indeed a Bethel to my soul. I always feel Mr. Baxter is my spiritual father, and although at a distance, where I cannot sit under his ministry, yet I must be one of his people or flock. Well, you will certainly think there is no end to my letter, but do accept my thanks for all your letters to me, and tell Mr. Baxter how encouraging, cheering and strengthening his sermon, on Wednesday night, was to me. With very kind regards to you all, and pleasure to hear all are well, and love to yourself, and praying you may have much of the presence of Jesus. Yours very affectionately in Him, S. A. G. A REMINISCENCE OF AN OLD HUNTING- To the Editor of the "Gospel Advocate." N a recent number of the "Advocate" I noticed a remark concerning a young believer in Chichester, who in the time of soul-anxiety felt no inclination to open his mind to the minister of the general Congregationalists, but sought for that worthy and excellent Christian, Mr. Baxter. These few lines touched a chord in my heart, and I was carried back to a very early period of my life. It is over fifty years ago, when I was ayoung school boy in that ancient city; and right well do I recollect "Old Baxter," as we little boys used to call him; and with your permission will state a few incidents, which I hope will be to the glory of God, and the comfort of some of the elect family. Mr. Baxter, in addition to his business of a hay and corn dealer, held the honourable position of beadle or attendant on the Mayor and Corporation, and also the office of town-crier. Many a time have I, at the sound of his great bell and fine voice, crying out, "O, yes! O, yes!" rushed off with other boys to hear what our old friend had to inform the inhabitants of that quiet old city of. Mr. Baxter was a noble man in every sense of the word. His stature was very great, and his heart very tender; but he had no fear of man. He feared the Lord his God so much that other fears found no place in that capacious bosom of his. My governess (Mrs. Cathery) was, I believe, a daughter in the faith of Mr. Huntington, and good Mr. Baxter would often turn into our school; and we little boys borrowed his bell, and used to hang on the legs, arms, and vast coat of this great and kind man, to see how many of us he could walk away with round the play ground. But there was generally a little quiet talk with our beloved old governess, no doubt, on matters concerning Jesus and His kingdom of grace or glory. So greatly was this honest man respected, that after he had escorted the Mayor to the Cathedral in his fine robes, and the paraphernalia then used, Mr. Baxter was permitted to slip off his decorated coat and go to the little Huntingtonian Chapel, where he led the worship, if no minister was present, and read a godly discourse. It was there I attended; and in those early days felt a respect and reverence for these godly people, and their simple worship. And, truly, the Lord's people would fare better under this system than by joining the general congregations of the day: and if they want a preacher, let them, as Hart says,— "Ask the Lord, and He'll provide." An uncle of mine resided about that time in Chichester, and beingperhaps, unfortunately-a great classical scholar, discovered among the archives of the city that his sons, and all the citizens, had a right to a free and first-class education, under the will of a very rich and ancient foundation. This discovery, after being resisted by the clergy, nobility, and other great men for some time, was at last utilized for the benefit of all the citizens and tradesmen, instead of being kept exclusively for the parsons and the rich. But my uncle (who was a godly man) suffered such persecution that he was at last nearly ruined; and, like the Pilgrim Fathers, was driven to America. But I have often heard him speak of Mr. Baxter with tears of gratitude; for all the afflicted found in him a Barnabas; and when my poor relative was nearly crushed under his troubles, the good crier would say, 'Come, brother Elliot, let us go up into my hayloft and pour out our troubles to the Lord;" and thus 66 I fear this letter is already too long, and so conclude. No doubt many are still living who can bear their testimony to the holy life of this humble though distinguished christian. Such men are buttresses of Zion's walls, a comfort to Zion's ambassadors, and an honour to Zion's glorious King. London, Feb., 1878. Yours in Him, CLEEVE W. HOOPER. A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH OF MRS. SHORTER. SHORT Memoir of this aged pilgrim, who was the widow of that late, and highly-esteemed minister of the Lord Jesus Christ, Mr. James Shorter, of Wilderness-row, London, will no doubt prove interesting to many readers of the "Gospel Advocate." Mr. Shorter laboured for many years in the country and in London with much acceptance to the Lord's people, and departed this life on Sunday, July 28th, 1861. His widow survived him nearly 17 years, and was buried in Abney Park Cemetery on the 5th April, 1878, in the same grave with her departed husband. Both are now, in their spirits, enjoying an everlasting sabbath above; their bliss, however, will not be complete until they realise their second "adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body." (Rom. viii. 23). On her husband's death, Mrs. S. was in great outward and inward trouble, when these words were applied with great power to her soul, "Be still and know that I am God;" and these, "I will work, and none shall let, nor hinder,"-which came to her as here stated, and not as in the original. These promises completely delivered her from her trouble, nor had she to wait long for her deliverance in outward circumstances. In reviewing the Lord's dealings with her, some years afterwards, she was made very happy by these words, "Blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord." Luke i. 45. She has thus lived to prove the covenant faithfulness of Him who said by Jeremiah (chap. xlix. 11) "Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me." And truly in her case, and in that of her beloved children, the above scripture has been confirmed to a demonstration; for the children are not only in the land of the living, but all of them, with whom we have had the privilege to converse, are evidently (through grace) the living to praise the Lord, thus proving, that although grace does not run in the blood, yet it is often remarkably developed in families. Hence Paul, in writing to Timothy (2 epistle, I ver.), recognises the grace of God not only in him, but in his mother Eunice also, and then refers to the same divine blessing in his grandmother Lois; in all these three persons he clearly saw that precious principle of faith unfeigned. And we now rejoice to believe that both these earthly progenitors, Mr. and Mrs. Shorter, are through the aboundings of divine mercy, safely housed as shocks of corn in the heavenly granary above,—for both died as they lived, "looking unto Jesus." Upon two or three occasions Mrs. Shorter has with her dear children visited Tunbridge Wells, and expressed to us the pleasure she realised under our ministry; while we also felt a spiritual union of soul to her, especially after hearing her upon one occasion narrate very simply and sweetly the Lord's dealings with her soul. Up to her 80th birthday, Mrs. Shorter on the whole enjoyed good health; indeed there was no particular failure, until she took cold in January last. A week or two before taking this cold she was very much blessed while hearing a sermon preached from Romans x. 8-10. when she said she was as happy as she wished to be this side of heaven. This was truly the anointing for her burial. From that time she gradually declined. On the 21st March she took a drive for the last time, and enjoyed the air. The heart had become very weak, and breathing short and difficult. Saturday, March 23rd, she took to her bed. She had latterly felt that her time on earth was short; and often longed for her heavenly home, She talked much of her early years, both in reference to her call by grace, and God's providential dealings with her,contrasting her former trials with her present mercies. In those early days this text was constantly following her: "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." She said, "What a mercy it is that I have not to seek repentance now. I know in whom I have believed." She was kept very peaceful and quiet to the end, though not joyous. She said Satan was not permitted to harass or come near her; that her feet were on the Rock of Ages, and that the arms of everlasting love were underneath her. On one occasion she said very warmly, My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever" She quietly fell asleep on Sunday afternoon, March 31st. She had expressed a wish to see us once more, but this was not 66 to be. We. however, had the honour of committing to the silent tomb her mortal remains in Abney Park Cemetery, in the presence of some members of the family and others, "in sure and certain hope of a joyful resurrection." Nor could we help remarking that she was buried in consecrated ground: for such it is wherever the sleeping dust of the Lord's people is deposited. "Why should we tremble to convey Their bodies to the tomb? We seemed to hear a voice from the Old Testament saying (as we stood at the grave), "Awake, and sing, ye that dwell in dust; for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead." Isaiah xxvi. 19. We also heard (by faith) the Spirit whisper from the New Testament, saying in a still small voice, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with Him." 1 Thess. iv. 14. While our hearts ejaculate, "Oh blessed sleep! from which none ever wake to weep. 66 Well do we remember the first scripture that was ever fastened upon our mind when very young: "I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." Rev. xiv. 13. We feel a sweet impulse thus to speak, for in these days we have not only resurrection doubters," but alas, "resurrection deniers." Yet the doctrine of the resurrection to eternal life and glory of the bodies of the saints who sleep, is the blessed climax of the believer's hope. Paul saith, in 1 Cor. xv. 12, "Now if Christ be preached, that He rose again from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen; and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God." Hear, therefore, and fear and tremble, ye deniers of the resurrection of the body! We rejoice to believe that Christ is risen, and to the praise of the glory of His grace we add, and bless God for it, we also are risen by faith in Him (Colossians ii. 12), and have the earnest already of that blessed resurrection at the last day, when body, soul and spirit shall be for ever glorified with the Lord. Tunbridge Wells. T. EDWARDS. THE LATE MR. GEORGE HOLDEN. Dear Friend, To the Editor of the "Gospel Advocate." N sending you this account of the late Mr. Holden, I beg to say that I am indebted to his son, Mr. E. Holden, for particulars relative to his beloved father. I am also indebted to Mr. Harbour for kindly communicating with me. The late Mr. George Holden was born on August 10th, 1794, at Kirdford, in Sussex, of poor parents. He was the youngest of ten children, and was left fatherless at the early age of four years. With much difficulty he got a little education, and when ten years old was put out to work, from which time he obtained his own |