direct preaching of the truth, is instrumental, under the Divine blessing, in awakening and converting sinners, we have Mrs. Ash's own testimony that it was at a prayer-meeting that the spell of sin in her case was first broken, and she was led to seek in earnestness the "pearl of great price." The occasion was during the summer of 1814, when she was about fourteen years of age. The work then begun was no evanescent series of impulses. Its genuineness was proved by its continuousness, and by the vivid recollection of its commencement which this true Christian retained to her dying day. Writing of it, March 4th, 1838, she says:-"Nearly four-and-twenty years ago the Lord gently drew me, by the 'cords of love,' to seek His favour. Hearing several young people engage in prayer, who nad found peace a day or two before, I was pleasingly astonished, and began to weep and pray, (along with my sister, who was five years my senior, and with many others,) at the Saviour's feet, for the same happy change. Condemnation was soon removed; but, for years, I durst not believe fully at all times. I had, however, a fixed determination to wait at the Saviour's feet, begging for mercy in the exercise of that measure of faith I was in possession of." Whether the spiritual state here described is set forth in exact agreement with our theological terminology, may admit of doubt. But that the description indicates, first, a sincere seeking for salvation, by "repentance toward God, and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ;" and, secondly, the passage from a death in sin to a life of relative righteousness, by Divine forgiveness and adoption, certified by the testimony of the Holy Spirit; and, thirdly, the production of a regenerate nature, finding its happiness in striving to please God, and forming its resolutions, in spite of felt feebleness, to "fight the good fight of faith,"-admits of none whatever. There can be no question that the writer obtained, at this time, the blessing of justification; a blessing which, it appears, she never lost, but which was attended with a constant panting for "more of that life" which grows and flourishes" as the old Adam dies." Hence she proceeds, at the date of the last quotation :-" Praise God, who heard my prayers! Though for a long time unbelief and doubts intervened, and the remains of the carnal mind troubled me, yet I grew stronger and stronger in Jehovah's might, to the treading down of sin and Satan under my feet. At the expiration of twelve years the Lord stirred me up to seek a deeper work of grace, which I obtained through faith in His cleansing blood. I have retained this blessing twelve years, and hope to enjoy it till death." The date here assigned (1826) for the attainment of this "deeper work of grace," (in other words, the blessing of entire sanctification,) may be deemed too specific. A reference to her journal, of various dates, shows that for two years, at least, prior to 1826, the work of holiness had been advancing in her soul. Thus, August 4th, 1824, she writes: "Praise the Lord, my happiness consists in a supreme love to Him,

from a consciousness that He loved me, and gave Himself for me. The salvation of my soul has been my pursuit and desire for ten years. Many are the comforts I have enjoyed: but the Almighty only knows the doubts and fears I have entertained, lest I should deceive myself, -my conversion not having been so striking and remarkable as that of many others. Yet, having cast my care upon the Lord, and obtained help from Him, I continue unto this day." Again, a few days later: "I feel a grateful sense of the goodness of God, resting upon my mind, for the privilege of such communion with Him as I often enjoy, by His Spirit, both in public and in private. At the same time my soul is deeply humbled, and almost lost in astonishment, at His condescension and love." Again: "I still rejoice in a will resigned to the will of God; and am content to sojourn a little longer below, though my spirit would gladly associate with those who mingle with the blaze of day."" Again: "The Lord blesses me with almost constant tranquillity of mind; with a love to Him, surpassing that of any worldly object; and with many refreshments, especially in private prayer. My eyes shed tears of gratitude, while my soul longs to be

'Where Christ, enthroned in glory, shows
The brightness of His face.""

On January 9th, 1825, after penitentially alluding to "much misspent time, many unholy tempers and dispositions," for which an account must be rendered, she adds: "My mind has been much impressed with the reflection, that all my words, thoughts, and actions are registered for eternity. O that I may commence to learn perfectly the will of God!"

“June 21st.- Last night I obtained such a degree of the blessing of sanctifying grace as made me inexpressibly happy. But the enemy of my soul was so busy with me, that I was afraid to believe with assurance. What a conflict!......but I was enabled to lift my eye of faith to the Lamb of God, whom I beheld as bleeding to wash away my sin. I this day feel happy in a will perfectly resigned to the Divine will." And again: "Christ is all and in all to me."

These extracts are sufficient to show that the knowledge and love of Christ had been in active growth for a considerable time prior to that assigned as the date when "the deeper work of grace" was

effected.

To quote again." March 25th, 1827.-I feel I rejoice more or less from day to day in a deeper manifestation of the Spirit's power, which I have enjoyed above a year. I know that my Redeemer liveth;' and, if I abide faithful, I shall see His face, to my everlasting comfort. O the unspeakable happiness of a life of continual and unshaken faith in the Son of God! I think I can safely say, I always feel a willingness to leave the world, and all it contains, should the Lord call. I see Him so purely good, and so wise a Disposer of events, that

I can leave myself and all my concerns in His hands, not anxious how they may terminate."

The characteristics of a religion thus acquired, and thus matured, it is most pleasing to trace. It was thoughtful. Having a true basis of faith, there was in it the force of reason, with the consecutiveness of system. Conclusions were not attained without foundation, or by illogical processes. The experience was, in itself, consonant with the teachings of the word of truth, if not always conveyed in terms which would bear the test of criticism. Blessings were not expected without use of the required means; and, when received, they were ascribed to first causes, and held contingent upon personal fidelity. Enthusiasm was no part of such piety. Its commencement was in the nature of a mental suggestion, derived from observation of religion in others; enlisting, it is true, the sentiments and affections, but maintaining a guiding supremacy. And its progress incessantly called forth the exercises of reflection and memory, connecting past with present, showing the dependence of to-day's state upon that of days preceding, ascertaining the improvement made, and forming hopes for the future upon the basis of present attainments.

It was "calmly fervent." Not an ebullition, at one time violently active, and again subsiding into morbid stillness; bursting forth now with the eruptive energy of a volcano, and then languishing under the accumulations of dust and dross. Quietly the mind looked upward, and beheld the sovereignty, the love, the patience, of God. Quietly it looked around, and pondered the obligations of duty, the demands of personal relation. As quietly did it direct its eye to the Christian law, to study the force of injunction, and the authority of precept. And as quietly did it arrange the order of its own pursuits; the time, the manner, and the circumstances, of its own activities. Yet this quiet was not torpitude, nor lack of faith, of love, or of zeal. It was not indifference to right, nor contempt of Divine revelation, nor sullenness in the course of Christian practice. But it was intent obedience. It was the firm hand, and the strong arm, made bare for selfconquest; applied to the grasping of Gospel blessings; and compelling, as "reasonable service," a ceaseless and "living sacrifice."

It was ever-ascending. "Leaving the " first "principles of the doctrine of Christ," this believer went "on unto perfection." "Not as though" she "had already attained, either were already perfect;" but she "followed after, if that" she "might apprehend that for which also" she was "apprehended of Christ Jesus." She "counted not" herself "to have apprehended;" but "one thing" she did,"forgetting those things which were behind, and reaching forth unto those things which were before," she pressed "toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

And her perseverance was rewarded. She was given to know that "the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him." She" dwelt in

the secret place of the Most High," and abode "under the shadow of the Almighty." She was hidden "in His pavilion, in the secret of His tabernacle,"—"in the secret of" His own "presence,”—“ from the pride of man," and "the strife of tongues."

It will be naturally asked, What were the outward results of a piety thus deep and rich? If a tree is known by its fruits, then we are warranted to look for good works, and shall always find them commensurate with the growth of a spiritual life. At the same time, the surroundings and opportunities of an individual must be considered, in forming our expectations of service, and of signs of devotedness. An inhabitant of a rural valley, shut out from intercourse with the great world,—one to whom the page of knowledge, "rich with the spoils of time," has been but partially unrolled,-one bound down by daily domestic duties or industrial pursuits,-whose neighbours are few and scattered, having wants so similar to his own, that to prescribe for himself is to prescribe equally for them,—must differ widely, in the aspects now surveyed, from one whose home is in the crowded city; who has been the nursling of science; who has learnt his duties, and the wants of others, by hourly contact with countless forms of life, and ever-varying appliances of human invention; and who is led forward to paths of usefulness, by an ambition which has acquired stature and power from force of circumstances, or the trainings of a higher providence.

During the period we are now considering, Mrs. Ash's lot was cast in the secluded sphere; and it was only by glimpses, and by occasional visits, that she became acquainted with more active scenes in the society beyond. Let the reader not be disappointed, then, by the table of her religious labours, as the result of what we have asserted to be a high state of grace; but let him consider her position, and remember the line of Milton,

"They also serve who only stand and wait."

It must be borne in mind, that, at the period to which allusion is now made, the advantages of steam locomotion, of cheap postage, of equally cheap and available literature, were unknown. Many of the institutions which have since taken a firm root were only young, and to some extent untried, or, at least, novel, in localities such as that on which our eye is resting. There was, consequently, far more credit due to the commencement and prosecution of laudable undertakings, than we may be ready to acknowledge.

Mrs. Ash's conversion, although less demonstrative than that of many, was decided enough to give her an intense anxiety for the conversion of others, especially of her own relatives and intimate friends. Many selections might be given from her journal, if space permitted, showing how sincerely she rejoiced at the success of means used for the salvation of souls, and how earnestly she prayed that the number

of converts might be greatly increased. Particular cases, too, might be cited, in which she prayed for and with individuals, some of whom bore happy witness to the success of her efforts, whilst others, to her grief, passed into eternity and "made no sign." The various religious services she attended with great zest, and with a special desire that each occasion might be honoured with instances wherein the Redeemer should "see of the travail of His soul." She attended, too, under some degree of opposition, for a length of time. Her mother, although pious, was not, till late in life, inclined to Methodism; and her father, and others of her relatives, held the distinctive features of this communion in strong aversion. But she had counted the cost: and, whilst her conscience was too tender, and her sense of propriety too keen, to allow her to offend where she saw it right, if possible, to please; yet, where obedience to God and love to Christ were at stake, she knew no rival law, but willingly, and with resolute design, "through evil or through good report," followed the light of duty, not fearing the wrath of man. Nor was she a mere attendant, or an inactive worshipper. She soon began to exercise in public prayer, to give expression to her thoughts, and testimony to her experience, at the band-meetings, and at lovefeasts. But here she was met by a formidable difficulty,greater, indeed, than any opposition from without, whether on the part of strangers or of friends. The difficulty was that of extreme diffidence. On one occasion she writes: "My talent for public prayer appears so little, and my improvement of it so insignificant, that I often think I have less influence with the Almighty, for the good of the hearers, than any one. I seldom exercise, but when my friends press me to it. The cry of my heart is, (but I want more fervour of spirit in asking,) 'Lord, show me the right way. Divest me of self and pride. Increase my faith, and fill me with the graces of Thy Spirit, that I may walk therein, and have this confidence, that my ways please Thee.'" On another occasion she speaks of doubts as to the propriety of conducting a small band-meeting of female friends; which seems afterwards to have been given up, partly from sensitiveness on this point. But she obtained help of God; and we find her subsequently writing:-"I feel thankful for power given me over many things which a little time ago were hindrances. Instead of despairing of ability to do this duty and the other, I now feel willing, through Divine help, to do the best I can; knowing that my time and talents are the Lord's, and that He will require His own with usury."

The condition of the heathen world early excited her commiseration. The first Missionary Meeting in the extensive Dales, of which Glazedale is part, was held on Monday, August 16th, 1824. Of this she remarks: "I was favoured last Monday with the privilege of attending the Missionary Meeting at Fryup, when I was much pleased and benefited with the appropriate speeches delivered, especially those of Messrs. Newstead and Clough, Missionaries from Ceylon. I felt myself