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We give the closing scene of the young woman's life, which is very touching.

"The night before her departure, after she had taken leave of all her relatives, and earnestly requested her beloved and affectionate mother to lie down and rest, fearing the closing scene might be too much for her feelings in her weak state, she said to her friend, Mary, do you think I shall live till the morning?' She was answered, 'Do you wish to live till then?' She said, No, by no means, unless it be the Lord's will.' After this she repeated several verses of the twenty-seventh hymn in the first book of Dr. Watts's Collection.

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"After this, she exclaimed, 'Oh, death, where is thy sting? I expected to find a sting in death; but it is all taken away. O grave, where is thy victory? Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!' Having uttered these expressions, she lay for some time quite composed, and her attendants thought the spirit had fled. There was a death-like quiet in the room-a breathless stillness, only interrupted by the sighs or weeping of those who watched over her. This continued nearly two hours, when, about one o'clock on the Lord's-day morning, she moved a little, opened her eyes, and, looking up with a smile on her countenance, and brightening with immortality, she said to her friend, Mary, tell Mr Wills it is beautiful-my soul is safe!' The spirit immediately took its flight from the clay tabernacle to enter into the realms of bliss: Absent from the body-present with the Lord.'

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"It would appear that her happy spirit had been privileged to behold the blessedness of paradise, and to bear this testimony to those below. It had such an overpowering effect upon those present, that they expected to have seen some of the heavenly messengers accompanying her happy spirit. Before taking my farewell of her, I had said, that if the Lord should continue her faculties to the last, and she should find Jesus precious to her soul, I hoped she would leave a testimony to that effect. She promised to do so, and the Lord enabled her to do more than realize my wishes; for she serenely, but triumphantly exclaimed, 'It is beautiful!'"

We cordially recommend this simple narrative as calculated to be useful to those who, like the in

teresting subject of it, anticipate with dread the passage through the dark valley.

RUTH;

OR, THE IMPORTANCE OF DECISION IN THE FEMALE
CHARACTER.

(Concluded from page 132.)

We next observe that,

4. Ruth became an ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Her son Obed was the grandfather of David; and from her a long line of illustrious kings, and holy and mighty men sprung, and from her, though a Gentile, according to the flesh, descended the Saviour of guilty men; He who lives and reigns for ever and ever, before whom every knee shall yet bow. By faith, you, my friends, may each claim kindred with Ruth you may become acquainted with Jesus Christ; by faith in his precious blood, and having redemption by him, you shall meet Ruth, and all others who lived and died in faith, and throughout eternity, it will be your blissful employment to sing, "to him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, to him be glory for ever."

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Lastly. THE LESSONS OF HER CASE.

1. Decision of character is imperatively necessary, Orpah promised once to return with Naomi to her country, but when Naomi, like a faithful woman, told her of nothing but difficulties and trials in prospect, Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, and finally left her, and we hear nothing of her in future, but Ruth displayed that quality for which religious females have often been most remarkable ;-DECISION OF CHARACTER, under the influence of which, holy women have resisted the most powerful temptations.

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We know you can do nothing in your own strength and that all your own resolutions will prove weakness itself, before either temptation or opposition; but unless you do resolve, and resolve in the strength of the Lord God, you will find insurmountable obstacles in your way. Without decision, your character is worth nothing; you will never excel in the divine life, or even in a morally virtuous course; you will be of little value either to the Church, to a family, or to the world. Through the pious exertions of this devoted proselyte, in training her son aright, she has the honour of reckoning more men of piety and talent, and influence, in her royal line, than can be found in nearly all the other royal families in the world put together: and as long as the names of David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Jehoshaphat, Josiah, Daniel, and Zerubbabel remain, so long shall we have reason to believe that to the third and fourth generation, at least, will God make the usefulness of a pious mother to descend. Had Ruth not taught her son Obed the way of the Lord, we might have heard nothing of the Psalms of David, or the wisdom of Solomon.

2. But this subject teaches that young women should be prepared to meet with troubles and afflictions. Ruth became a widow at an early age; and soon after the loss of her husband, she left her father and mother, brothers and sisters, country and home, to take up her abode among strangers. All these things were doubtless painful to flesh and blood, but through faith, like faithful Abraham, she went out not knowing whether she went, but persuaded wherever she was, she should be safe under the protection of Jehovah. Her afflictions, losses, and removal, all tended to her ultimate advantage, and worked together for her good. Nor will you, my young friends, have reason to regret that you

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have had early afflictions and trials. Many a young woman has had sincerely to bless God for early sickness and sorrow. The Dairyman's Daughter," and many a work of similar character, would never have been written, had it not been for the early afflictions of a young female. Again, this subject teaches,

3. That the wisest and safest course for a young female is to choose the society of aged and experienced Christians.

Ruth found such a course to be highly to her advantage. She did every thing that Naomi dictated, and found that obedience was the way to honour and peace. Seek, then, experienced Christians of your own sex; ask them to take the lead among you, by this means it will be found that they who walk with the wise will become wiser and wiser.

4. That the service of God, and obedience to his will, have great present rewards, as well as eternal glory hereafter;-But

5. We learn that if we would successfully imitate Ruth we must possess her faith:-for without faith it would be impossible for us to act as she did. Faith alone will enable you to renounce the world, and endure its ridicule and contempt. Many a Moabite would think that Ruth had acted a foolish part, because she had gone with Naomi she knew not whither. But Ruth believed that there was the true God in Israel, and that whosoever trusted in him would be safe and happy. Faith, my young friends, will bear you up when the wicked reproach you, and say of you every thing that is untrue and unkind. Working, as many of you are, in large factories, where you have to endure much opposition, you must entreat God to give you faith to look to Jesus, who endured the contradiction of sinners against himself, and depending upon whom, you shall be

brought safe to heaven at last. Ruth arrived safely in Canaan, obtained an honourable settlement there, and lasting fame; and through faith you may arrive in heaven, where honours, glories, and rewards, greater than any Ruth found in this world, will be your everlasting portion. Jesus will say, "Come ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, from the foundation of the world."

ON THE DEATH OF MRS. ROBE, OF WOOLWICH.
A Devoted Friend to the London Female Mission.
SHE has past the dark valley, her trial is ended,
The pilgrim mantle and staff is laid down,
Her justified soul to its God hath ascended,

The cross is relinquished, she waits for the crown.
Go weep o'er her ashes, ye lost and degraded,

Lament for the friend whom no power can restore,
The bosom that pitied, the tongue that persuaded,
Can plead for the children of sorrow no more.
The formal professor's indifference shaming

To the heart that was broken, the eye that was dim,
Her merciful Lord's invitation proclaiming,

She called the repentant to come unto Him.
The wealth of this perishing world, though denied her,
How oft did her kindness alleviate pain,

Exhaustlessly rich was the mine which supplied her,
The talent of love was not given her in vain.
Oh! bright as the stars are, and shining for ever,
Shall they who turn many to righteousness prove,
All human distinctions shall vanish, but never
Be quenched the Divine emanation of love.
Go weep o'er her ashes, ye children of sadness,
Your loss is her gain-yet her loss be deplored,
Who lived but to lead you to mansions of gladness,
Adorning the doctrine of Him she adored.

E. C.

PARENTAL SYMPATHY WITH THE PRINCIPLE

OF PENITENTIARIES.

"WHERE is the parent," says the Rev. Leigh Richmond, "who can say, amidst the uncertainties

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