ers, amounting to upwards of seven hundred, who had died since he entered upon his ministerial career, five hundred of whom had commenced their itinerancy subsequently to himself. Scarcely ever did he peruse the current Number of this Magazine, but the memorial of some old friend, or of others who through his instrumentality had been brought to the knowledge of the truth, met his eye, as having been called into eternity; and he rejoiced in the prospect of again seeing these old companions in distress.' He believed he had more friends in heaven, than on earth.

"A few days previous to his dissolution he was extremely feeble, which led him to remark, that his feelings indicated a speedy dismissal; but on Sunday and Monday, June 13th and 14th, he revived, and alluded to the approaching Conference with considerable interest, displaying great power of memory in reference to former years, as well as to the affairs of more recent date, which was truly remarkable.

"On the forenoon of Tuesday, June 15th, he rose ; but, on account of increasing debility, was shortly compelled to return to his bed. To a person who was reading to him a memoir, which contained a reference to a sermon preached by himself, and which had been made a blessing to the subject of that memoir, he observed, 'I do not depend on my unworthy labours: my only plea is, For me the Saviour died; yet God confers honour upon a worm.' In the afternoon of this day he was still weaker, and said, 'My strength is gone: my life will soon follow.'

"On the following morning, June 16th, he said, 'I am in the valley when some one observed, 'But God is with you;' he replied, 'Yes; I dare not doubt: blessed be his name.' To the inquiry, whether prayer should be offered, he said, 'Yes; pray, pray;' and to every petition he responded with a hearty Amen. It was afterwards remarked, 'The Lord is your Shepherd, you shall not want;' when, although articulation had become difficult and imperfect, he distinctly said, 'I have meat to eat, that the world knoweth not of.' This was the last sentence he was able to utter; and, soon becoming insensible to all surrounding objects, his emancipated spirit entered into rest.”

MEMOIR OF MRS. ELIZABETH JOBSON,
Of Lincoln:

BY HER SON, THE REV. FREDERICK J. JOBSON.

My beloved mother, whose maiden name was Caborn, was born at Beverley, in Yorkshire, Nov. 20th, 1786. In her childhood she was distinguished by what has been designated "innocent simplicity," and was truly affectionate and dutiful to her parents. Her father, Mr. James Caborn, being an intelligent and thoughtful man, and strongly

attached to his daughter Elizabeth, would frequently take her upon his knee, and hear her read; an employment which doubtless awakened in her mind that thirst after information, and love for books, which she retained to the end of her life.

In early days the Holy Spirit was gently opening her heart for the reception of divine truth; and often would she retire to her chamber, and pray that God would make her good and happy; so that, although her youth was spent amidst scenes of dissipation, these sincere and fervent supplications, which were addressed to the God of all grace, were answered, and she was preserved from the evils which surrounded her. The Lady of the Earl of P, observing her prudent and consistent deportment, was desirous that she might accompany herself and family in their travels, during the war,-the Earl being the Colonel of the county militia; and with this request her parents complied. In this novel situation, exposed to the vanity and pride of the world, and admitted to an intimacy with her patroness highly flattering, a benign and watchful Providence preserved the tender blossom, and not only kept her safe from the allurements of evil, but powerfully convinced her of the futility and unsatisfactory nature of all sublunary good.

In the year 1809 she was united in marriage to Mr. John Jobson, and soon after took up her residence in the city of Lincoln, where her father also resided; who, through the blessing of God on the cathedral services, was brought from darkness into light. Solicitous for the spiritual welfare of his children, he sought an early opportunity of making that desire known to his daughter Elizabeth. Visiting her for that purpose, he observed, "I am going to the Lord's table, at the cathedral, on Good-Friday, and should rejoice if you will accompany me." He was immediately answered in the affirmative. "But,” said he, "the sacrament of the Lord's supper is a very solemn ordinance; and, consequently, you should seek, by repentance and prayer, a preparation for it." "I will pray," rejoined the daughter; "but I do not know what you mean by repentance; for I have always striven to do that which was just unto every one. It is true, that I have not loved and obeyed you as I ought to have done." "There is no need of repentance on that account," said her father, "as far as I am concerned; but there are other occasions of repentance; and that we may ascertain what they are, let us examine the ten commandments: I will read them one by one, and you shall examine for yourself, as I proceed, and then say whether you have violated the command or not." The Prayer-Book was immediately procured, and the investigation began. The first commandment was read; and the daughter, evidently ignorant of its extent and spirituality, unhesitatingly replied, "I have not broken that law." The second was brought forward; and, considering that it referred exclusively to the adoration of graven images, she without reserve exclaimed, "Not guilty." On the third commandment being produced, she judged that it could only be trans

gressed by profane persons; and, conscious that oaths and curses had never fallen from her lips, she again pleaded her innocence. But when the fourth commandment of the decalogue was exhibited, "it came home:" she confessed, with tears, numerous breaches of that law, which called loudly for prompt and sincere repentance. The investigation was not conducted further: Elizabeth was deeply humbled; and already was she praying to God for the forgiveness of her sin.

On the appointed day she accompanied her aged parent to the house of prayer; and, while listening to the word of truth, and to the discourse, which was an exposition of the object and design of the Redeemer's death, as an atonement for the world's transgression,-and more especially when partaking of the sacred memorials of the Saviour's passion,-she experienced that bruisedness of spirit, which can only be felt by a penitent apprehending the love of God in the gift of his Son, to die "the just for the unjust." From the table of the Lord she went home, with a broken and a contrite heart, to her closet; and on repeating the hymn commencing,

"Behold the Saviour of mankind,"

she was enabled to appropriate by faith, to her own case, the merits of the death of Christ; and then, while uttering the verse,

"But soon he 'll break death's envious chain,"

and death, and rose into the

her soul burst from the sepulchre of sin light and liberty of the children of God. The Holy Spirit now became her Comforter; and, as an unerring and indisputable witness, assured her of her adoption into the family of God. For some time she walked in the unclouded brightness of the divine favour, wondering what were meant by the temptations of Satan. At length he was suffered to approach; and, as the prince of darkness so assaulted the rejoicing believer, that "neither sun, moon, nor stars appeared for many days," she could neither eat, sleep, nor pray. The hour of deliverance happily drew nigh. Resolving to cry earnestly for help, and even to perish in the act of crying, rather than not cry at all, she exclaimed aloud, "Lord, save, or I perish!" when the Saviour took her by the hand, expelled the foe, and filled her soul with peace and joy. From this period, the dark hour of temptation, until the close of her mortal career, she held fast her confidence.

Soon after her conversion to God, Mrs. Jobson was invited to join the Methodist society, but for some time hesitated doing so; for although she was impressed and edified by an occasional attendance on the Wesleyan ministry, and delighted to find that its theology was in strict accordance with her own views of Scripture truth, she was unacquainted with the nature and design of those spiritual and quickening

means of grace called class-meetings. Understanding, however, that they were not designed exclusively for saints, but for those, also, who were determined to flee from the wrath to come, she cordially cast in her lot with the people of God, and communed with them in these scriptural and social engagements, until prevented by that affliction which ultimately removed her from the militant church below, to the church triumphant above.

As a Wesleyan Methodist, Mrs. Jobson was uniform and consistent: the doctrines which are held and taught by the body, she heartily believed; its discipline she approved; and while she was strongly attached to its Ministers, she regularly attended and profited under its services. What was excellent and good in other Christian denominations, she cheerfully appreciated, and was ever ready, as far as her ability extended, to aid them in the prosecution of their benevolent designs. In her, "charity never failed;" consequently, in her views of the heavenly world, she discovered ample room for all who loved the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.

As a Christian, she was faithful to her profession. Her conversation, while it displayed considerable mental vigour, was characterized by "simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God." Her love to the Saviour was "not in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." Her piety was not seclusive; it was cheerful and active: as Christ was, so she endeavoured to be in the world; she visited the forsaken, relieved the destitute, and comforted the sorrowful. If any might plead numerous and important engagements as an excuse for inactivity in the cause of Christ, Mrs. Jobson might have done so she was the mother of a large family; she took an active part in business; had many persons subject to her guidance and control; nevertheless, while faithfully attentive to these domestic and worldly cares, she could "visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction," attend with diligence to the duties of the class, of which she was the Leader, and keep herself unspotted from the world. She possessed the happy art of representing the religion of Christ in its native loveliness. Her manners were so simple and unobtrusive, and her kindness so open and sincere, that all who knew her recognised the ways of piety to be ways of pleasantness, and her paths peace. Rank in life was no hinderance to her fidelity, when called to discharge her duty towards her Saviour. Ladies of title have often prolonged their stay under her roof, to hear her speak of "things that accompany salvation." Her usefulness was not confined to her immediate neighbourhood. Journeys have frequently been taken of considerable extent, that she might warn an ungodly friend of his danger, and of the way of escape; and many of these objects of her solicitude have been united to Christ and his people. She was eminently "instant in season, out of season." When travelling by the stagecoach, she did not shrink, even in the hearing of fellow-passengers,

from paying her tribute of respect to the Lord Jesus; which was done in a manner by no means offensive, but by the exercise of tact which she possessed, in a peculiar degree, of passing almost imperceptibly, in conversation, from "things which are seen and temporal," to those "things which are not seen, and eternal."

In compassion for the thoughtless and rebellious of mankind, she displayed "the mind which was also in Christ Jesus." She yearned in Christian affection over perishing sinners, and prayed earnestly for their salvation. The scenes of the metropolis, which she was obliged annually to visit, were almost too much for her sensitive mind to witness. Deeply interested, as she undoubtedly was, with the incomparable works of art which surround a visiter, yet, beholding the thousands of immortal beings eagerly pursuing the objects of the world, and of sin, her soul was filled with poignant grief, and she longed for a place in secret, where she might indulge the sacredness of her sorrow, and with cries and tears follow the example of the Psalmist of Israel: "Rivers of water run down mine eyes, because men keep not thy law." On one occasion, leaving London, she wept for hours in the mail, when reflecting on the contempt which was poured by the majority of mankind upon the love of the Redeemer; and observed to the writer of this memoir, "I never, until that evening, knew how to estimate the feelings of our Lord, when in compassion he hung over the city which he had sought to save; but which, on account of its obstinate and unnatural rebellion, was doomed to destruction; and exclaimed, 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! thou that killest the Prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!'”

To the young, Mrs. Jobson was particularly attentive; her sympathy won their affection; and her house was constantly visited by those who sought her counsel and help when under convictions for sin, the temptations of the adversary, or perplexity in seasons of darkness or distress. She was a woman of prayer, and attended to the apostolic injunction: “Praying always, in all prayer and supplication in the Spirit." Apart from the constant breathing of the soul after God, she had her stated times for this exercise; and although far from being what is designated "a slave to method," she displayed considerable decision even in her acts of worship; and it is, after all, much to be feared, many serve the Most High as circumstances permit, employing only those fragments of time which are snatched from worldly engagements in that duty, as if the things of time were of far greater importance than those which pertained to eternity. This was not the practice of Mrs. Jobson: she enlisted in the cause of religion the mighty power of habit; therefore, nothing was attempted without prayer. If a child were sent to school, a visit were proposed to a friend, a female domestic to be engaged, or the advice of a Physician sought,-all, all