God would let her have her desire; but the day before she died her anxiety had vanished, and she was willing and longing to depart. God, however, granted her request. Her husband arrived on the morning of her last day, and she was enabled calmly to tell him all she wished.

Oh,

"Of all the scenes I ever witnessed, her dying bed was the most sacred and sublime. She seemed to have conquered death before it approached her. I was with her the day before she died; she took hold of me with both hands, and said, 'O dear Mrs. this is the place where religion pays for all the abuse and obloquy the world throws at us. He is faithful that promised. Oh, yes! he fulfils his promise. Paul says, "He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." "That day,' she repeated several times. Now is that day with me. 'Now is that day with me. He is faithful! He never broke a promise to his children-never. thanks!—oh, blessed be his dear name that he ever thought of me-ever remembered me, a poor worm!' Her weak frame was then exhausted; when revived, she said, 'The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth from all sin! Oh, thanks for the blood !-it is his precious blood that is my life to-day. Oh, he is dear to me to-day. I should have been to-day poor indeed without my blessed Saviour. His blood cleanseth, and maketh us meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. You think that it is hard to bear so much weakness; and so it is: but, oh, could you see with me the glorious light yonder-yonder, beyond the stream of death!'

"She at this time appeared as if communicating with unseen spirits. Then gathering all her strength, which was but little, with an angelic smile she shouted, 'Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven-whose sin is covered!-Oh, yes, blessed!'

"On a friend's repeating to her the text of the then last

Sabbath-If children, then heirs;' 'Yes, yes,' she said, 'that if is not wanted to-day: we have covenanted together long ago, and he is faithful, I have not a shadow of a doubt.

"The morning of the day on which she died, they took to her her only child, a lovely little girl of three years old. She smiled a heavenly smile when she saw her, and said, 'I once thought that I could never bear the pang of parting with her, but the Father of the fatherless is alive; yes, yes, he is faithful; he fulfils his promise to me, and he is sure to do the same to my child!'

"She then gave some directions respecting her funeral, and looking at her hands, she said, 'What old friends the body and soul have been, but they are going to part company to-day. The grave where thou art going—the grave, no work nor device there!' Then she seemed to rise again from the very borders of that grave, and called out, 'Oh, the better country! Jesus, my Redeemer and my God! Spirits of the just! Angels! What glory awaits me!' At this she fainted, and her friends thought she was gone; but she again revived, and said, 'The chariot is long in coming; the ship is long among the breakers; but it is pleasant to be going into the desired haven. I am going in full sail.' The joy was too great for her weak body, and that moment she expired, faintly saying, 'The blood of Jesus,' but did not finish the sentence."

Ennobling Examples.

"Remember them which have [had] the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day and for ever."-HEB. xiii. 7, 8.

THESE words recall to me in a lively manner the venerable

theological tutor of the Hoxton Academy for Ministerial Students, the Rev. Dr. Simpson, as one of those ruling ministers, or presidents among ministers, of whom the apostle speaks. They bring before me his life and character, which deserve lasting remembrance, and which might be held up as a pattern for devout imitation. For my own sake and that of others, both those who were acquainted with him, and those who were strangers to him, I would recount some particulars concerning him which hitherto have only received a brief and little known commemoration.

The character for piety, zeal, and theological acquirements which he had sustained, pointed him out as a fit person to occupy the responsible post of president. He discharged the duties of that office most laudably for many years. Though placed at the head of the institution, he was unobtrusive and retiring, and but for the high testimony to his worth borne by a succession of students, I should not have been prepared to find in him any remarkable qualities of mind. Like one of the innumerable stars in the firmament, he was content to be rather than to appear great; and he was a striking illustration of the truth that men who are intrinsically worthy of admiration receive more of it in proportion as they seem to claim less. We willingly and liberally accord our esteem where we ourselves become the discoverers of personal worth, but we are disposed to withhold it when that worth is paraded by its possessor for our commendation.

As his habits were retiring, and the cast of his mind contemplative, the students seldom saw him, excepting when he lectured to them, or presided at their repast, or solemnly led the family devotions of the whole household. Yet while engaged in his study he was accessible to all, and was ready to afford suitable advice or encouragement, or to sug

gest caution, or to direct studies, just as might be necessary in each case. His comparative seclusion checked familiarity, but did not prevent the growth of confidence and esteem. Though you felt you could not trifle with him, you were equally conscious that he would not trifle with you. He spoke when you wished him to speak; and he listened carefully to all details before he offered his own counsels or cautions.

Perhaps his exaltation of mind was most manifest when he led the devotion of the household, as just mentioned. It then became apparent that he had secret and continual communion with his heavenly Master; and by the fervency of his petitions, and the scriptural propriety of his thanksgivings, he often carried his fellow-worshippers with him to the very gates of heaven. At the close of these services the students would often look at one another with evident, delight, and their countenances would exhibit the traces of those emotions which he had awakened by his devout and elevating exercise.

In his religious views he was well known to be most firmly attached to what are called "the doctrines of grace." To these he always gave particular prominence in his own. ministrations, and inculcated upon his pupils the propriety of doing the same. He abhorred and reprobated any timidity or time-serving policy in respect to their promulgation, while his countenance beamed with pleasure as he sat and listened to a full exposition of such principles. He confessed that when young he had been a Pharisee, and that the force and experimental truth of these doctrines had overthrown his self-complacency, and humbled him to the dust. When he had thus been brought to feel his own sinfulness, they had disclosed to him the riches of mercy and grace in the Almighty Father made known to him by

Jesus Christ, and thus had enabled him to triumph in his Saviour with great joy. It was no wonder, therefore, that he delighted to advocate such truths to every listening ear, and every heart disposed to be thrilled by the emotions which pervaded his own. Nor was it surprising that most of his students imbibed the same spirit, and were kindled into zeal by the same affections.

A distinguishing feature of his conduct was self-abnegation, and this was accompanied by nobleness of mind. Indifferent to outward appearances and to luxurious appliances, he was in like manner regardless of pecuniary advantages, and appeared indeed to be incapable of forming a just appreciation of the value of money. So conspicuous were these traits in his character, that it was familiarly said of him, if he saw a guinea lying before him in the streets, he would scarcely stoop to pick it up; and Thomas Wilson, Esq., the Treasurer of Highbury College (which sprung out of this institution at Hoxton), himself a pattern of liberality, said of Dr. Simpson, at a public meeting, that he had never known a more disinterested man. He fully exemplified the announcement-"A good man shall be satisfied from himself."

There must have been an inexhaustible fund of goodness and kindness in his nature, since, during the long period of twenty-five years, his urbanity was as conspicuous to the last of the students as to the first. I never met with one of them who did not revere his memory. Which of them ever voluntarily occasioned him pain? Or if involuntarily any one of them did inflict pain upon him, did not that student himself suffer a bitterer pang in his own regret? How could they feel otherwise towards him, when they knew he had their personal and ministerial welfare at heart? Nothing could exceed his solicitude for their usefulness and public