employ, in order to obtain the means of subsistence for himself and family. The record of his Australian experiences, which he afterwards published, is exceedingly interesting. After a

while he became pastor of a church at Geelong, where he remained eight years. Thence, early in 1861, he removed to Sydney, where, under his instrumentality, a Particular and Strict Baptist Church was formed, Lord'sday, July 7th, in that year. Here he laboured successfully for several years. A new chapel was built, the cost of which, however, the friends were unable to discharge, or to get sufficient means in the colonies wherewith to do

So.

His mission to England to obtain help to clear off the chapel debt, which he and the church felt to be a pressing burden, and the hearty manner in which the churches in this land responded to the appeal, are still fresh in the minds of thousands. Having succeeded in obtaining the needed sum, he returned to Sydney, having been absent nearly two years. A heavy trial, however, awaited our brother. Only three weeks before he landed, death entered his home circle, and called away the partner of his life. The effect of this painful event was nearly overwhelming to his sorrowful spirit, and, but for the gracious support a covenant God only can give, he would have sunk beneath the stroke. Some time after this, he decided to resign his pastorate at Sydney, and return to his native land. Accordingly, on his arrival in England, about fourteen years ago, he received invitations from many of the churches to serve them, and was in consequence in labours abundant ; but to preach the Gospel of distinguishing grace was to him a service of love. He felt that he could not sufficiently extol the name of Jesus, who had saved, redeemed, and delivered his soul from sin and death.

Having supplied the church at Eden Chapel, Cambridge, he was invited to take the pastorate, which, after prayerful consideration, he consented to do, and entered upon his stated labours there on the 15th of December, 1872.

The Lord very much blessed his ministry in this place, and made him instrumental in building a new chapel on the site of the old one; the foundation stone being laid on the 10th of June, 1874, by the late Mr. W. Crowther, of Gomersal, Leeds. This building cost about £2,000, and was completed in a little over six months, and, owing to the blessing of God upon the indefatigable labours of our departed brother, was opened free of debt on the 25th of November in the same year. About forty joined the church during the time he was able statedly to labour here. In the year 1876, his health began to fail-no doubt owing to over exertion-and in January, 1877, it was deemed needful for him to have some months rest and change of air, but after a sojourn of six months in Jersey and other parts, he returned to Cambridge very little improved in health.

He was unable to preach more than one Sunday, and, being compelled again to leave home, he resigned his pastorate, though it caused him very great sorrow, as it did also those to whom he had so much endeared himself. After some months he was partially restored, and again employed his strength in preaching the Gospel of Jesus. Doors were opened for him in almost every part of the country, but he was never able to take a pastorate again. The last time he preached was at Gamlingay, in May, 1882, many of his old friends from Cambridge being present, and have testified it was a season never to be forgotten. In the month of June following, he had a slight attack of paralysis, and, though he was able to get about a little, he never really recovered, but gradually got worse. He was out on Lord's-day morning, April 22nd last, but was taken worse during the day, and went to bed, and never left his room again, but fell asleep in Jesus on the following Sabbath, April 29th.

Owing to the nature of his last illness (throat affection), he was not able to say much; but to a friend who was present he said he felt he was sweetly resting on the Rock. The last words that fell from his lips on earth, about an

hour before he died, were, "In the arms of Jesus," and thus

"Released from sin and toil and strife, Death was his gate to endless life."

Our dear brother leaves behind him to mourn his loss a bereaved widow (who has been a gentle, loving wife) and six children, four of whom are in Australia and two in England. May the Lord comfort the bereaved ones in their sorrow, and help them to look forward to the happy re-union in that land where separation, sin, and death are for ever unknown. The funeral took place at Nunhead Cemetery on Saturday, May 5th, in the presence of a large number of friends, Mr. James Clark, of West Hill, Wandsworth, officiating, who, in a solemn address delivered at the grave, bore testimony to the uprightness of our departed brother as a godly man, and his usefulness and faithfulness as an unflinching minister of the Gospel. Mr. Deeks, a member of the church at Cambridge, also gave expression to the high esteem in which the memory of their late pastor would be cherished by the friends there, several of whom had come up to show their affection by being present on this mournful occasion.

The following four lines

"Safe in the arms of Jesus,

Safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o'ershaded,
Sweetly his soul doth rest,”-

were sung with feelings of deep emotion.

Mr. Clark then committed the body to the tomb, in sure and certain hope of a joyful resurrection. The grave is in close proximity to that of the beloved James Wells, and his two godly deacons, Edward Butt and John Carr.

MRS. CHARLES CLOVER.

LUCY, the youngest daughter of the late beloved John Cooper, of Wattisham, fell asleep in Jesus, a little before midnight of May 1st, aged forty years, and was by her dying wish buried, by her

friend Mr. S. K. Bland, by the side of her father, sisters, and brothers, in the presence of a large assembly of truly sorrowing (yet rejoicing) friends, young and old, on Tuesday, May 8th.

In quite early life she had found joy and peace in believing, and for many years sought her chief delight in seeking to lead others to the knowledge and love of the Saviour, who had become eminently precious to herself.

While at home she kept a day-school, and there won the hearts of her scholars; for she not only taught the regular routine of knowledge, and carefully trained them in singing, but sought to draw their affection to divine truth.

During winter evenings she kept a night-school for young men, several of whom by that means obtained their only education, and some obtained good situations thereby.

Not few have been their acknowledgments of what they owed, and how they valued her loving care. She would often sing with these young men, and it is not vain to hope that the tender chords of some of their hearts were touched.

She was long an earnest teacher in the Sunday-school, her one desire being to tell of Jesus, for she desired to know nothing else, and in her correspondence would generally ask some pointed question on soul matters, for, like her dear father, she had a great concern for the highest welfare of others.

In affliction and trouble she would try and alleviate, as far as able, their sufferings, enter into their feelings, and seek to lead them upwards. Indeed, she lived very much for others, rejoiced with the joyous, and mourned with the

as well as with the friends who gathered.

As to her own soul's experience, until within two months of her departure she was enabled to rejoice in God her Saviour, but lately He saw fit to withdraw His countenance. During the former part of her last illness, when she began to be unable to fulfil her usual domestic duties, the enemy of souls was permitted to harass her, and she became the subject of dark doubts and fears.

Her husband says, "I was not aware of this till one day going into her room I found her weeping. I asked her the cause, when she replied, "Oh, dear Charley, I am lost; there is no mercy, no hope for me! I have been acting the hypocrite all my life; I have never prayed, never loved the Saviour;' and she sobbed as though her heart would break. I talked to her as best I could, and tried to comfort her, repeating many of the precious promises. I told her it was those who felt they were sinners Christ came to save; and when His Spirit brings one to see and feel this, the work of grace is begun, and He will carry it on. She spent much time in fervent prayer that God would have mercy on her, and reveal Himself to her as her Saviour. This went on for some weeks, and friends tried to comfort her by pointing to Christ alone; but for many nights and days she continued in this state, wrestling with God for the manifestations of His grace, mercy, and forgiveness."

One day her aunt (Mrs. William Cooper) sent her a little book, "Words of Comfort," and this was the means, in the Lord's hands, of bringing peace to her; she used to ask for her Testament and her "little comforter book," and, in answer to prayer, God did again reveal Himself, and she was enabled to and not be afraid," and she said so. Indeed, she often afterwards said she longed to go home, and had done so more or less ever since her dear father's departure.

66 trust

She told her husband, "I shall look out for him; but how wrong to

put my father before Christ. Oh, how pleasant the conqueror's song!" Her husband says: "She had no trouble about leaving me or the dear children-though parting was a sharp trial at the time. She said God would take care of us; she had given us up to Him a long time. Never a murmuring word escaped her lips. She was so patient, although suffering from difficulty of breathing and constant coughing. She prayed for patience to bear it, while she asked her Heavenly Father to take her home. We thanked God together for twelve years of real happiness in each other's company. As she told my sister, 'Never did we have a cross or angry word from each other.' She was indeed a gift from the Lord to me, or, rather, a treasure lent; and He has but recalled His own. I have often thought how she sings now she was fond of it here, and entered into it heartily, and I am sure she does in heaven." So is brought to pass another mystery-not to mystify, perplex, or encourage doubt (a loving mother taken from four children too young to realise their loss), but rather to prove His own sufficiency for the motherless, and to cast their profitable care on the kindness of others, exercising their loving sympathy for His sake. An earnest "servant of the church" removed, not to prove any lasting loss, but rather to bring in others to fill her place, as those "baptized for the dead."

A patient teacher's lips closed, not to leave her charge destitute, rather to seal the truth she taught by the witness of its value in death, bearing this personal testimony :

"Jesus can make a dying bed

Feel soft, as downy pillows are ; Whilst on His breast I lean my head, And breath my soul out sweetly there."

May we that are left for a little while behind be more alive to His will, whose we are, and, at His command, "work while it is called to-day."

A REAL FRIEND.

AMONG the many wise aphorisms of King Solomon we have the following: "A friend loveth at all times." A true friend in life's rugged way is a great boon. A person who does not possess one friend must be very miserable indeed. Rich and poor are alike in this respect. It is probable that you all have one companion whom you prefer to others, with whom you love to associate and to share all your joys and sorrows. For this reason, I feel confident you will be glad to receive a few thoughts and hints on friendship.

Our young people make a mistake when they conclude that to secure a real friend is an easy matter. As they grow older they will find that some who appear friendly are really the opposite. It is not all gold that glitters. I would say, in all loving concern, be careful in the choice of your friends, your companions; one's character is known by the company kept. Genuine friendship is undissembled and abiding. Some people are as unstable as water and fickle as the wind. You have heard or read of the two friends David and Jonathan. Their friendship lasted till death; and, when Jonathan was summoned to another world, David abounded in acts of kindness towards the house of Saul, for his friend's sake. Learn if friendship be real, no outward circumstances, however adverse, will alter it. In times of affliction or distress, when friends are most needed, they often turn away and become callous.

"Men when raised to lofty stations,

Often know their friends no more." If friendship be real and disinterested, it will evince itself when friends are apart as well as when together. When David fled, on account of Saul's anger,

Jonathan spoke kindly of him to his father, and procured his padron. "A friend liveth at all times;" not acting from selfish motives, but making our interest his own. As my young friends advance in life, and are brought face to face with its stern realities, they will, doubtless, find some prepared heartily to sympathize with them-provided their lives are shaped and regulated by the Word of God-in all their joys and sorrows, and by all p per means promote their happiness and welfare. Happy is he, whether young or old, that hath such a friend

our

Next to the comforts of religion, are those of friendship aid society, especially when those whom we regard as our friends are wise, prudent, and honest; able and willing to give us advice when we need it, without for upbraiding us ignorance, or despising us for our weakness. It is a blessing in a world like this to have such friends about us, discreet and experienced, and at the same time open and communicative. If our friend be foolish, his folly may occasion us great inconvenience; and if he be ever so wise, yet sullen and reserved, his wisdom will do us little service. Some years ago an aged Christian was consulted by a young man regarding his future course of life. "I mean," said the youth, "to prepare myself for the study of the law, and diligently to apply all my energies to legal learning." "And what then?" was the inquiry of his friend. "I mean," was the reply, "to push on in my profession and rise, if possible, to distinguished eminence in it." "And what then?" his friend again inquired. "I mean to settle in life, and in the bosom of a family to taste the sweets of domestic happiness." "And what then?" asked his friend. "I mean to gain some prize in my