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willing service to Christ now sanctified all his engagements; and he maintained the Christian character, in its integrity, steadfast unto the end.

He always took a deep interest in the spiritual welfare of young people, the members of his class, and the loved ones at home. His scholars at the Sabbath-school will not soon forget his sound and practical advice, his pathetic and faithful appeals to their reason and conscience, and those encouraging exhortations to a life of piety which were the outgushing of a renewed heart and a joyful spirit.

He had a retiring disposition, and an undemonstrative manner, which strangers might mistake for coldness and reserve; yet his attachments were warm and true, and by those who knew him best he will long be remembered for his Christian geniality and cheerfulness.

His punctual attendance on all the means of grace was exemplary. He did not neglect the Sunday-morning prayer meeting, the band-meeting, or the lovefeast; and though he "studied to be quiet, and to do his own business," avoiding all unnecessary display, yet he delighted "to. do good and to communicate." He was not distinguished by commanding talents, yet he was always found in his work, carnestly and steadfastly labouring in his own sphere, as a Sunday-school teacher, class-leader, and prayer-leader. He discharged the onerous and responsible duties of a class-leader for thirty-five years, with acknowledged fidelity and great success,— no fewer than six classes having been successively formed out of the one which he led. His labours were thus abundantly blessed, in the building up of Christ's people; and his heart was often cheered by the affectionate esteem and sincere attachment of those who met with him.

He had "a good report of them that are without; " and many instances might be cited of the respect paid to his character by worldly men who were associated with him in daily toil. His quiet, decided answers to their captious questions, and not seldom his discrect silence, were productive of much good.

He lived under the influence of that "charity" which "suffereth long and is kind," and which "thinketh no evil." He was never known to speak evil of any one, but always put the best construction on any report which he might hear injurious to any person's character.

Nor

did he allow others, in his dwelling, to speak evil of the absent, especially of the ministers of the Gospel. He was never heard to speak disparagingly of a sermon.

At home he was much beloved by his family, over whom he had great influence, ruling by the gentle force of Christian kindness. Twice every day he gathered all his family around him for worship, and this he continued to do with unbroken regularity throughout his Christian course. His prayers were always marked by a rich unction, and a solemn and impressive fervour; and, in answer to his intercessions, showers of blessings came down upon his children.

His love for God's Word must not be overlooked. It was truly sweeter to him than honey or the honeycomb. Each day was marked by a serious and attentive perusal of its contents; its promises were to him exceedingly precious. He was, in an important sense, a man of one Book; and yet he found great pleasure and profit in reading our denominational literature, and enjoyed with a keen relish what was solid, good, and pure iu general publications.

He was often tried in the furnace of affliction, and his faith and patience were severely exercised; yet no repining word was known to escape his lips. The habit of prayer, and of "watching there unto with all perseverance," braced his soul for service and for suffering. During the last ten years he suffered severely from dyspepsia and asthma, yet his temper was never soured by his almost ceaseless pain.

At length the closing scene, which he had long anticipated, came. He had no fear of death, because he had endeavoured to live every day as if it were his last. To one of his family, who called to see him two days before his decease, he said that he thought this illness had come to take him away; but, he added, “ You all know that it will be all right;" and, comforting his weeping wife and children, he said, "The Lord will provide. He is too wise to err, and too good to be unkind. I know where I am going." And then his face was lit up with a gleam of heavenly light; and with faltering voice he gave the loved ones his last blessing. Thus, with his lamp trimmed and burning, he received the summons of his Lord to that "good home" of which he had often spoken; and, with those that have gone before, he now casts his crown at Jesu's feet, "lost in wonder, love, and praise," WILLIAM LEES.

LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM NICHOLS, 46, HOXTON SQUARE.

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WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

SEPTEMBER, 1868.

MEMOIR OF MRS. SHEPHERD,

OF DERBY:

BY THE REV. SAMUEL TINDALL.

THE memoirs of those who "sleep in Jesus are amongst the most precious treasures of the Church. They exhibit the riches of the grace of God, and thus minister to the comfort and encouragement of His people who are waging war with the adversary, and still struggling on the battle-field of life. The subject of this sketch was worthy of a place amongst the records of the pious dead; and her name and deeds will long be had in remembrance by those who knew her.

The late MARY SHEPHERD was born at Spondon, on April 6th, 1783. Her maiden name was Holbrook. When about nineteen years of age she left her native village, and went to London. Shortly afterwards she entered into the service of Lord Mount Edgcumbe; and, subsequently, into that of Lord Dudley. She had been in the employ of these distinguished families for some years, when the death of her father occurred. He had suffered much for many years; and, at his decease, left a widow with six children, of whom Mary was the eldest. During the time she remained in service, she commanded the respect and esteem of her fellow-servants, and enjoyed the confidence of the families in which she resided; and it was her good fortune to receive many substantial tokens of the approbation of her noble employers.

The year 1812 was an eventful one to Miss Holbrook. In that year she was united in marriage to the late Mr. Shepherd, and came to reside at Derby. This was the turning-point in her course. She eutered upon the duties of married life with carefulness and industry; and from that time became a regular attendant upon the WesleyanMethodist ministry. Some time, however, appears to have elapsed before she became a member of the Society; and many struggles ensued ere she fully yielded to the power of saving grace. length, a brighter day dawned upon her, and joys to which she had hitherto been a stranger sprang up in her heart. She found the pearl of great price.

VOL. XIV.-FIFTH SERIES.

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Mrs. Shepherd was brought to God under the ministry of the late Rev. Joseph Taylor, and received her first ticket of membership from his hands in June, 1816. She recognised Mr. Taylor as her spiritual father, and solicited something written by himself as a memento of the benefit she had received under his ministry. This wish was readily complied with; and Mr. Taylor gave her a few verses of his own composition, in which he expresses his gratitude to God for making him the instrument of her conversion, offers some pious counsels as to her future conduct, and concludes by breathing a prayer for the final happiness and re-union of herself and family in the world beyond the grave. Since that day the faithful minister of the Cross and his spiritual child, together with some members of her family, have met in that state where there is "no more curse," and their voices have swelled the anthems of the redeemed who are "before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple."

Some time after her conversion, Mrs. Shepherd commenced a diary of her Christian experience, which she kept with some regularity for nearly forty years, making the final entry only a few months before her decease. A friend who has read the manuscript observes, "it has proved a refreshing occupation to peruse a record so simple, earnest, and devout, relating to the long and active pilgrimage of one who was so greatly respected."

From the diary referred to, it is plain that she was anxious, first of all, to keep her own heart "with all diligence," remembering that "out of it are the issues of life." Personal piety seems to have been her first and highest object; and for the cultivation of this she was constant in her attendance to closet-devotions, keeping the sacred flame alive by daily "watching unto prayer." She was deeply concerned also for the spiritual welfare of her family. In labouring to bring her children and household to Christ, she was most exemplary; and letters found since her death, addressed to those who should sur vive her, show her intense anxiety, and evince her maternal yearnings, on this point.

Although Mrs. Shepherd was known to be very benevolent to those who needed temporal aid, her diary seems to have been written on the principle enjoined by our Lord: "When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly." There is scarcely an allusion to her acts of charity in her papers, although she was ever ready to listen to the cry of distress, and exemplified "pure religion and undefiled," by "visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction," as well as by "keeping herself unspotted from the world." She loved the cause of God, and delighted to repair to "the habitation of His house, and the place where His honour dwelleth." The ordinary means of grace are often spoken of by her

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