for a long season the subject of spiritual convictions, or he could not have had so clear and comprehensive a view of religious matters. There is much reason to believe that this was a correct opinion. His patience during the eighteen months of his diseased and suffering state was not only extraordinary, but almost unnatural. During the whole time he was never heard to repine or to murmur. He was never heard to express a wish to get well again; a quiet, unruffled cheerfulness seemed to govern his outer life, so that his singular patience was the common remark of his family, and astonished all who had to do with him. To what was this attributable? To an insensibility and sluggishness of disposition? Not so: for he was both sensitive and active mentally. It must be referred, we think, to a higher, a divine cause. True, his sufferings were, for the greater part of his illness, more constant than acute, but peevishness is often most observable in those invalids whose pains are not of the most serious nature.

Mr. Moore's first visit to Howard broke the reserve so long maintained between him and his family. He at once became communicative; and many a sweet and nice conversation was had with him. Soon, however, he had to pass through great depression and sorrow of spirit. He now feared that he had acted presumptuously in the descrip; tion he had given of himself. He inwardly mourned and was silent, and at times would say that, “ if the Lord dealt with him according to his deservings, he should be lost." Indeed, he became greatly alarmed, and his mind was racked with uncertainty and dreadful forebodings, which, for the most part, he kept to himself. On one or two occasions the whole night was spent, as he afterwards confessed, in sleepless conflict and fear.

Once, in particular, he was so sorely tried and engrossed with these bitter waters that, disregarding or forgetting those present in the room, he burst into tears, and in a kind of desperate entreaty cried out, "O Lord, shine! do shine! shine, O Lord!" Oh! it is a great, a solemn moment when death stands over one, ready to strike the soul preternaturally alive to the amazing concerns of eternity, and no rock felt to stand on. The suspense of what may come then becomes agony and beyond what the spirit can bear. But the Lord is very merciful to His people, and ever appears in their extremities.

About the time when the above took place, he awoke up one day in his chair, stating that he had had a dream, which appeared fully to absorb his mind, and which had a prevailing influence over him for several days after. He dreamed that he saw two roads, one a broad road and good to walk on, which ran side by side with another for a long distance, and then curved away and left it; the other road was very straight, narrow, muddy, and full of great stones. Here he saw apparitions with ugly faces, as if menacing him, for he found himself in it, stumbling about amongst the mud and stones; and, do what he would, he could not get out of it. There was only light sufficient for him to see his way at the spot where he was; but before him it was exceedingly dark. The reader, however, may be one who laughs at dreams, yet he must allow that they have a cause; and if in this instance the cause arose from the thoughts that agitated the invalid's mind when awake, it shews how greatly he was exercised at this period. On after occasions he had his conflicts, and several times told his mother that, after all, he was afraid he should be lost. He frequently complained that

he was not able to pray, and that at all times his prayers were such poor prayers. Eventually this night-season of his soul broke and passed away; the Sun of Righteousness shone down upon him, the scene changed, his faith became strong and his hopes bright, and now he entered upon a state of tranquillity, out of which he rarely passed except at short intervals.

For the last few weeks of his life he lost all interest in worldly concerns. The Bible and Gadsby's hymn-book lay constantly by his side. When he discovered a hymn that much pleased him, he would turn down the page for after reference; and no fewer than twenty hymns are thus pointed at, which his family have been pleased to call Howard's hymns. Having given up the world, he had retired to a sort of constant communion with heaven. He began to talk of his departure as a thing that was settled, and about which he had no fear. He said "that it would be a glorious day when it arrived," though he trusted that he should be able to wait patiently the Lord's time. One day he said, "I have been thinking over that expression, 'The peace of God which passeth all understanding.' I never knew what that meant till now." He would often say that his mind was entirely at rest," that it was all peace with him." Once he said, in a smiling manner, whilst joy lighted up his face, "He has come-signifying that he felt Christ very precious; and at another time he said, "Where now should I be without my religion? would it not be fearful?" As it was, this naturally timid youth was desiring to be gone. His medical man was surprised that he should continue so long, remarking that "he had a wonderful tenacity of life." He also observed, "He is not the least afraid -he has no fear." Nor had he. That sweet

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serenity of mind which had so long characterised him still continued. His twin brother, who had visited home in order to see him, when leaving, was, as was natural, overcome with tears; but not so Howard, who, without any emotion, tried to console and comfort him. During the last week of his life, from the progressive course of his disease, he began to raise blood, having burst a blood-vessel. The doctor said that that need not cause much alarm, as the blood-vessel was a small one. When this was repeated to Howard, he quietly replied, "It would not have alarmed me if it had been thought serious." One morning his mother asked him how his mind was? His reply was, "I have been thanking the Lord for His mercies." Seeing the shocking condition to which he was now brought by his disease, the answer so amazed her that she involuntarily repeated his words, “Thanking the Lord for His mercies." At times he would say that he had no power to pray for himself, but was greatly moved to pray for others-especially for his family-but he would not unfrequently desire the prayers of certain friends, Mr. Moore was made very useful to him in this and in other respects; and he calculated much upon his visits to the last. Mr. Hedges, the highly-esteemed pastor of Ebenezer Chapel, who afterwards ministered at his grave, kindly paid him visits. The passages of Scripture most blessed to him were, Heb. xii. ; 2 Cor. v. ; Psa. xlii., cv. ; and especially the cxvi.

On the last Sunday night he was alive mortification attacked one of his legs. His father, perceiving the dangerous symptoms, felt at first undecided whether he should tell him, but at last said, "My boy, this is another phase of your illness, your leg is mortifying." He quickly answered, "Then, don't tell Patty" (an old attached servant), whom he

feared to distress. Personally, he evidently had no disquietude about the matter, but, upheld by a power superior to all that is terrible to nature, he spoke as composedly as if the greatest individual concern of an earthly kind was of no moment. With John, he might have said, This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith," or with Paul, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" As the mortification of his limbs went on, his sufferings became intense. On Monday, as his father entered his room, he found tears rolling down his wasted cheeks. The poor youth, so long a marvel of patience, and who had borne up so long almost without tear, now the picture of dreadful anguish, was a spectacle most pitiable and affecting. His father could not bear the sight, and his emotions overpowered him, which, when the poor lad saw, he cried out in distressing tones, 26 O, father dear father! good father! don't cry! don't! I shall soon be landed. I shall soon be landed."

At last his dying day came. He had often expressed a wish that he might be able to give a sign before his release, which should give his friends satisfaction as to his state; and his mother, too, had desired the same thing. For some reason never known, about eleven a.m. he told his mother to call into the room his eldest sister and his youngest brother-these being the only two at home. When they entered, he said, "I am going; I am going." His father was then sent for. Howard said to him? "I am going," His father said, “Are you, my boy? and how is your mind?" He replied, "He is coming to fetch me," and repeated the

verse:

"Yes, I shall soon be landed

On yonder shores of bliss ;