ploring of him to grant him his blessing ere he left the world. The effort to him was particularly painful: the probability was, that he never should behold his father again. His increasing illness left little hope that he should long survive. There seemed no prospect of his being able to go to Ireland, which had been his earnest wish; that he might reside amongst those who had once composed his flock, to witness to them. the reality of his sorrow for his ever having renounced Protestantism.

He was much harassed by Mr. Conolly and other Roman Catholic priests; they returned again and again, to endeavour, by argument, persuasion, and sometimes the most dreadful threatenings, to shake his faith in a religion they denominate as novel, as heretical. Verschoyle felt much this constant recurrence to what he most desired to forget; and sore was the combat, as these contending opinions were frequently presented to his mind.

At times he was almost overcome, and his bodily health suffered greatly; but he

but he would not suffer the Roman Catholic priests to be forbidden the house, but entreated of his physicians, that, as long as they desired to come, they might be admitted, considering that it was his duty to testify for God till his latest breath.

He was enabled, however, ever to pursue the same conduct towards them; the Bible was his text-book, whence he drew' every remonstrance with them. At length, finding all their efforts fruitless, Mr. Conolly and his friends discontinued their visits; but they forbad their congregation upon any account whatever to go near Verschoyle's dwelling. The Lord, however, tempered the east wind to the shorn lamb: some there were, who, allured by curiosity and heedless of the priests, heard from Verschoyle's lips those holy truths which were, by the blessing of God, to them, a savour of life unto life!

Mrs. Vernon, as well as her husband, was unremitting in her attention to Verschoyle. Her strong and highly-cultivated mind, imbued with the influence of divine truth, was, under God, peculiarly suited to support and

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strengthen Verschoyle's declining frame, and a mind often clouded over by doubts and fears. Of her it might truly be said "she walked with God;" her religion was more in deed than in word, her life was that of holiness, hid with Christ in God. The world she had known in its most fascinating form; her society had been sought after for her talents, and she had been the admiration of many, not only for her genius, but her very great humility. When she was led, by the Spirit of the Lord renewing her heart, to renounce the world, it was by no half measure; she saw the command that a God of love hath traced, and she endeavoured to be an imitator of Christ Jesus.

But she did not cast from her, as worthless, those distinguished talents with which she was endowed; they were laid at the foot of the cross, sanctified to his service, not hid in a napkin; whatever she did she desired to do to the glory of God. We have said she was characterised by great humility. She did not lightly esteem those who were not equally gifted as herself; her superiority never

obtruded itself. She loved those who loved her Lord and Saviour, and from those who did not, she did not shrink with horror; she bore with their prejudices, remembered that she was saved alone by grace, and endeavoured to win them to a consideration of the Saviour's love, as the highest and holiest principle which can fill the human breast.

In addition to the many duties which devolved upon Mrs. Vernon, it was a heavy charge, the anxious solicitude of watching over one who was already beloved by all at Ashton; but she esteemed it her greatest pleasure to be Verschoyle's solace, and regarded his residence with them, as did her husband, as an answer of prayer, that the Lord would show that he was with them, especially in this hour when popery was gaining ground.

For some time the physicians gave slight hopes that Verschoyle might recover, and for a short period he rallied considerably—but the Lord willed not that he should longer be a dweller on earth. As winter set in, notwithstanding every precaution, Verschoyle had

caught a severe cold, which confined him entirely to his room.

At the beginning of the following week he partook of the sacrament for the last time. The scene was deeply affecting. He partook not of that cup now in the vain error, that it ought to be denied to the laity, or in that of transubstantiation; he enjoyed holy communion with the Lord Christ, and he looked on these elements as a means of Christ Jesus' appointment, to remember him who has passed into the heavens, but who on earth spilt his blood an offering for our sins; and he looked forward to that time when he should drink it anew with Christ Jesus in his kingdom.

"It seems now," said Verschoyle to Mr. Vernon, some time after the conclusion of the service," my dear friend, that I have done with earth; it does not appear to be the will of heaven, that I should ever see my country or kindred again"-the name of father he did not dare to pronounce ;-" but I feel resigned, nay more, a calm, almost entire subdual of my will to God."