joy. Mrs. C. did her utmost to lighten my cares, and cheer me in the many hours of despondency which were then my portion. Nor was she unsuccessful. The kindness, too, of many of our Birmingham friends, especially on the Unettstreet side, greatly refreshed our spirits, and we parted from them with grateful feelings for their kindnesses, and with deep regret that we had to leave them, at the end of two years, to occupy another part of the Lord's vineyard.

At the Conference of 1853, we were appointed to the Nottingham Circuit. With this appointment Mrs. C. was greatly pleased; it brought her near to her parents and friends, and, being so near to her native place, we expected it would be of the utmost service to her health. For the first three months all was right. Her health greatly improved, and my own health got better every week. We hoped that after the many afflictive and trying scenes through which we had passed, we had now found, for two or three years at least, the place of comfort and repose; but not so.

There is

no lasting comfort-no uninterrupted repose on earth: these are found only in heaven. Mrs. C. was greatly pleased with Nottingham itself; with our chapel, our people, and our religious services she was delighted. Her intercourse with the friends most agreeable; but suddenly it was interrupted. In the month of September she was laid up with a gathering in the head, and was confined to her room for three weeks. After one week's liberty she was confined of her fourth child. Her recovery was slow but sure, and at the end of the month she was able to attend the services of the sanctuary; but she was only able once in December, and once in January, 1854, to attend the meeting she best. loved the class-meeting. At Christmas she paid a visit to Spondon, and while there she was seized with a pain in her right side one evening, and was fearful that she should not live till the morning. In the

morning, however, she was better, and at once returned to Nottingham. In two days afterwards, January 2nd, our eldest daughter was taken ill of the measles, and was confined to the house for three weeks; at the end of that time our second daughter took the measles, and was confined to the house for the same period. Just as they recovered Mrs. C. was taken ill, and on the 16th of February she was confined entirely to her room until the 18th of May, when she expired. Our Nottingham friends did everything in their power to alleviate her affliction, and to bear me up under my sorrows. Her babe was taken care of by two excellent friends for four months, and they would not receive any remuneration for their trouble. Others supplied her with everything she needed in her sickness. Others watched with her, and cheered her by their sympathy and kind offices; and a few of the ladies sent me quite a large sum of money, which defrayed the extraordinary expenses of the household during these heavy afflictions, and the expenses of her funeral. I mention no names, but they are engraven on the table of my heart, and I pray most earnestly, that at the last day they may be found in the "Lamb's book of life."

Before referring to the scenes of her last affliction, it may be proper to notice some of the more prominent features of her character. The preceding narrative shows that Mrs. Crofts was no ordinary woman, and no ordinary Christian. The readers of this memoir are, I think, prepared for the statement, that she possessed a sound judgment, a retentive

memory, a lively fancy, a determined will, and generous affections. Had she been thoroughly educated in her youth, she would have attained a prominent place among the female worthies who have blessed human nature, and adorned the church of the living God; as it was, she had not many superiors in clearness of intellect, in decision of character, and in energy of purpose. She was an acute observer of men and things,

a qualification which rendered her an invaluable helper to one who had to deal with every possible variety of character. I was often deceived in persons, but she was seldom deceived. She read much, but her reading was confined to sterling works. The trash which thousands read with avidity she rarely looked at, declaring that such reading had a tendency to vitiate the taste of all, and to destroy the spirituality of mind of those who desire to love and serve God. She was partial to the works of Charlotte Elizabeth, Mrs. Ellis, and the gifted Hannah More. Her favourite religious authors were Wesley, Fletcher, Legh Richmond, Fawcett, Jay, Pike, and James. Jay's "Morning and Evening Exercises," and Fawcett's "Preciousness of Christ," were, for several years, always near her.

As a daughter, a wife, and a mother, she discharged her varied obligations with affection, fidelity, and skill. She was all her parents, husband, and children could possibly wish. Her virtues are enthroned in our hearts, and will live there while life lasts.

As a friend, she was open, generous, and constant. She was exceedingly strong in her attachments; nothing was so painful to her as separation from those of kindred disposition and faith. I am not aware that, either in England or Canada, she ever alienated or lost a friend.

As a missionary's wife, had she possessed a stronger body, she would have been all that could be desired. She was to me a helpmate indeed. For the good which, by God's blessing, I was able to effect in Canada, the mission is very largely indebted to the counsels, sympathy, selfdenial, and prayers of Mrs. C. In her might be seen a reflection of the graces which adorned the character of Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchrea, and of those pious women also who laboured with the apostles in the gospel. Her clear views of the plan of salvation eminently qualified her for giving coun

sel to those of her own sex, on the most important of all questions, the way of a sinner's acceptance with God. Earnestly would she pray, even to an agony of soul, with anxious inquirers. In prayer-meetings she generally enjoyed, and in lovefeasts she ever bore testimony to, the power of Divine grace. Though suffering often and severely from impaired health, and although deprived for weeks and sometimes months together of my society, she did not complain; nor would she, at any time, on account of personal or domestic affliction, permit me to neglect the claims of the mission; and when worn out with preaching, travelling, and various anxieties, I returned home, she had always some word of comfort for me, to cheer me under my heavy and protracted trials.

She possessed genuine and exalted piety. "The fruit of the spirit love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance," abounded in her life" to the praise of the glory of God's grace." She was strong in faith, giving glory to God. She would lay hold of the promises with a giant's grasp; and, like Jacob, she would wrestle with the Angel of the Covenant, and not let him go till he had blessed her.

Her patience was sorely tried by afflictions and privations, and sometimes by unkindnesses and provocations. She would often weep over these; but never, to my knowledge, did she murmur against God; and seldom did she resent the injuries she received from her fellow-creatures. She possessed the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit; still, however, I have seen her, at times, when cruelly injured, thoroughly roused; and then the biting sarcasm, the keen retort, or the look of stern indignation, would remind the offender that she was not to be trifled with, nor to be treated unjustly, with impunity.

Her love to God was ardent and supreme; and her love to man sincere, fervent, and constant. The

command, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; and thy neighbour as thyself," was the guiding principle of her life. Rivers of tears often ran down her eyes, because men kept not this holy, just, and good command.

Her humility was deep and genuine; she ever underrated both her gifts and graces, and modestly shrunk from offices of trust and honour she was well calculated to fill. She ever obeyed the injunctions, "In honour preferring one another-In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."

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Her thankfulness could not be surpassed. She constantly kept the command in view, "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." Once, at a society meeting, when all the members were invited freely to give their views as to the hindrance to the prosperity of the cause of God among them, after many had spoken, she mildly but firmly said, "The reason is, we are not sufficiently thankful for the good which God has done among us. God cannot consistently bless and prosper while we are so unthankful for his past favours." All who visited her, or waited upon her, during her long and heavy affliction, marked this very prominent feature in her character. The surgeon who attended her said to me, only a few days ago, "You ought to write a memoir of your late excellent wife. I never saw such patience and resignation in any one before. She was so exceedingly thankful, too, for every little attention shown her, and for any little thing that was done for her, that it was quite a pleasure to be near her."

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But her cheerfulness through life surprised me more than anything else. Afflictions, privations, and trials, of some kind or other, were her almost invariable lot, from the time of her conversion to her death.

Yet she never lost, for any considerable period, her buoyancy of spirit. No matter what the affliction, what the privation, nor what the trial, she ever made the best of it. The cloud would, at times, gather on her brow, and the tears would, at times, flow from her eyes, but very seldom did the storm prove more than an April shower, which speedily vanished, and was instantly followed by the sunshine of hope. Well was it, for a naturally melancholic being like myself, that I was blessed with such a wife.

The graces which shone forth in the character of Mrs. C. were wrought in her by the power of the Holy Spirit. She ever felt, she ever acknowledged, 66 By the grace of God I am what I am;" and I place them thus prominently before the readers of her memoir, that they may be induced to glorify God in her, and be stirred up to use those means which secured for her the abundant grace of God. She be

came not what she was without diligent, laborious, and persevering effort. She sedulously used the means which the God of infinite wisdom and love has appointed to secure our growth "in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." The means by which she attained eminence in grace, and by which she retained her position, were reading the Bible, closet-prayer, attendance on the ordinances of the sanctuary, and watchfulness. She loved the Bible; portions of the Holy Book were daily read, studied, prayed over, and reduced to practice. Her faith in the truth of God was unbounded; she ever mixed faith with what she read. The exercises of the closet were most faithfully and most cheerfully performed. It was not a task, but a pleasure to her, to enter into her closet, and when she had shut the door, to pray to her Father in secret, and he did reward her openly. She also loved the habitation of God's house, and the place where his honour dwelleth. The public services of the sanctuary were wells

of salvation, out of which she drew water with joy. She most faithfully attended those social and private means of grace which are established among us for the especial growth and development of experimental godliness. She ever cultivated a spirit of holy jealousy of herself, and a watchful suspicion of her own heart. It was not that she doubted the love and the faithfulness of the Saviour to her, but it was a fear lest, by her own unfaithfulness, she should, after all, become "a castaway." One statement which she made in class, Feb. 21, 1842, will best illustrate this feature of her Christian experience. She said :

"It is possible-gloriously possible for me to get to Heaven; but it is also possible for me to get to hell: and what will be my misery, if, after all my profession, I should get to hell! I have no doubt of my interest in Christ now, but the Scriptures say, 'Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.' I have been thinking much this week past about eternity; and, while comparing eternity with time, I feel that I have been too much taken up with trifles, and too little concerned about the great realities of eternity. Oh! should I miss heaven, seeing it is possible for me to gain it, what will be my misery when I am shut out-having the deep conviction, that might have been in heaven, instead of being in hell, had I been diligent."

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The character of Mrs. C., drawn by her husband's hand, may be to the charge of partiality; on that account, therefore, I will now give a few testimonies from those who knew her well, and who have spontaneously uttered their views respecting her, The Rev. H. Breedon, her first pastor. speaks of her as having been one of the most conscientious persons he ever knew. The estimation in which she was held by the Rev. J. Addyman and his wife, with whom we were associated six years in our Canadian mission, may be learned from an extract from his letter of condolence to me. He writes

"Bradford, May 23.-Dear Brother, -I have just received the card and hymn announcing the death of your dear wife. A few days ago, Brother

John Shaw told me that she was very ill, and not likely to recover. That was

the first intimation I had of Mrs. Croft's situation. John told me she was in a very happy state of mind. I was quite prepared for all that; but still it was gratifying to hear that such was the fact. She rests from her labours, and will be ever with the Lord. We are quite stunned with the melancholy tidings. You have our heart-felt sympathy. Your loss is great; and you will feel it most acutely. But so it seemed good to our heavenly Father; and painful as it may be, we must bow with submission to his will. Though 'clouds and darkness are round about him, righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.'..... My wife unites with me in feeling condolence. Her heart is full of sympathy; we have united in earnest prayer that you may be sustained under this painful bereavement...."

The Rev. G. Goodall, in a note directed to the Rev. J. Ramsden, who preached Mrs. C.'s funeral sermon, says

To my

"I frequently saw our late and dear friend Mrs. Crofts during her sickness, and can witness to her explicit declaration of a steadfast faith in our great Redeemer, and to her patient acquiescence in the divine will. mind, her views of the way of reconciliation appeared clear, and there was a manifest earnestness in her faith by which she went at once and direct to the Saviour, realizing thereby her interest in him, and in the precious promises of his word. We had usually much freedom and power in prayer, so that these were seasons of refreshing coming from the presence of the Lord. She now rests in him, being another trophy of victorious grace."

The Rev. J. Ramsden, in his funeral sermon for her, said—

"Our depated sister had a superstructure of character solid, well proportioned, firmly cemented, the whole resting on Christ Jesus, the only foundation of a sinner's hope."

Mrs. Storer, of Derby, her earliest and one of her most intimate friends, when sending me a packet of her letters, writes:

"I am glad to hear that you have begun to wrtte a memoir of dear Mrs. Crofts. I hope you will be assisted by divine wisdom to do her justice, for

Her

she was no ordinary Christian. memory to me is very pleasant. I love to think of her devotedness to God in the midst of the most trying circumstances. It comes often vividly to my recollection. From the time of her conversion she made the cause of Christ her own. She was a pattern of good works. The Lord help me to follow her, as she followed Christ."

The Rev. James Caswell, one of our Canadian missionaries, writing to me, says

"This world is favoured with but few such women as your late beloved partner. Take her all in all, and there are few she has left behind her that excel her. I always admired her for her deep, strong, and unswerving attachment to the cause of God. Her piety was intelligent, active, and very efficient. Of her domestic virtues you are, of course, the best judge; but from what I have witnessed I am sure that she entertained a very strong affection for yourself and children. She was a valuable wife, and I doubt not but you will long mourn herloss'; but, bless God! your loss is her gain. She lives in a fairer clime-she awaits a reunion in a better land. I trust you feel the consolations of grace abounding in your soul.

...

May you, my dear brother, profit by the bereavement, and feel that heaven now possesses another attraction in the white-robed and rejoicing spirit of your departed wife."

These testimonies to Mrs. C.'s worth, which might easily be multiplied, are very cheering to me, and, I doubt not, will be satisfactory to all who knew her. Still, as "the deathbed is the detector of the heart," how did the religion she possessed bear the test of the last affliction and of death? During the first six weeks of her affliction she was in a very lethargic state, owing to the peculiar and complicated nature of her disease. She was afflicted with chronic inflammation of the liver, the stomach, and the bowels. She had many doubts and fears, from the 16th of February to the 4th of April, respecting her ultimate safety; and she felt that she could not give up myself and the children. I frequently spoke to her of the Saviour's grace, the Father's love, and the Spirit's power-of the many seasons of refreshing she had

enjoyed from the presence of the Lord. She would reply, "I know it is all true; but if my faith fail me, what shall I do ?" This state of body and mind continued so long that I spoke of it to the physician, who informed me that such feelings ever accompanied disorders of the Jiver, and that had the lungs been principally affected, instead of the liver, she would have been the subject of feelings of a directly opposite character. I often read to her cheering portions of God's word and prayed with her, which proved the means of comforting her soul.

Wednesday, April 4th, was a memorable day. I was engaged in making the plan of the circuit, when I was suddenly attracted by her cries and groans, and hastened up stairs to see what was the matter. I found her sitting up in bed, in an agony of spirit-her hands clasped, her face bathed in tears, and praying with all the earnestness of a soul troubled to its utmost depths. I anxiously inquired into the cause of this agony. She replied, "I see myself to be such a sinner-you cannot imagine what a sinner I see myself to be. What did you come for? I was just taking hold of Christ." I left her; she soon obtained the victory, and was filled with peace, joy, and love. She then was able to give up her husband and three children, one a delicate infant seven months old; afterwards all was tranquillity.

On Sabbath, the 23rd of April, after the morning service, I went to her bedside; she wished to see her second daughter; a messenger was despatched for her. This was too much for me; for I saw that she had given up all, and expected to die; and, as I gazed upon her emaciated frame, I, for the first time, began to realize the thought that she would soon be removed from us. On the following Friday, when Mr. and Mrs. Woollatt visited her, she had an impression that her end was very near. I prayed with her, as well as I could for the emotions of grief, and was, in some measure, enabled to give her up to the Lord. In the