there are a great many young people who see a beauty in religion, and often feel a desire to enjoy it, but timidity and shame keep them back. Oh may you that see this beauty, and feel this desire, follow the example of our departed sister, and heartily join with the people of God. It will be your wisdom and safety so to do. This incident teaches another class an important lesson: those whom the Lord has set to be watchmen over the flock. O! may all such look out for those who may be desiring to live a life of faith on the Son of God; who hath loved them and given himself for them :" and like the great Shepherd, carry the lambs in their bosom, and make them to lie down beside the still waters. The spirit of Christianity is a spirit of benevolence; the heart is enlarged and the soul is big with the desire that others should enjoy the like precious blessings with ourselves. "The love of Christ constraineth us :" and when our dear sister became converted, she could not eat her morsel alone; but began to seek the conversion of her former companions. A friend says; "Our dear sister was an intimate friend of mine for many years, both before and since our conversion. She was converted first. I then endeavoured to shun her in every possible way; but she would not give me up. At last she prevailed on me to accompany her to the class-meeting, and many delightful seasons we have had together. There was no one to whom she could open her mind so freely as she could to me. I knew in a great measure what she suffered for Christ's sake. I remember that one night she stole away to the meeting. We wept and prayed together on the road, and such a season we had, as I trust will be remembered by us when we meet in our Father's house above. "When we returned, her father's door was locked against her. I often think of her distressed look when she came to me and said, 'I am turned out of doors!' She slept with me that night, and was enabled to rejoice that she was counted worthy to suffer in her master's cause. We made it a matter of prayer; the Lord undertook her cause, and her mother was reconciled to her again. A short time before she died, I was sitting by her bed-side listening to her heavenly conversation, when she referred to the above circumstance, and said, 'If I had given up then, what should I have done now? The Lord is rewarding me for all I have suffered for him. Yes I will bless the Lord at all times,' whether in the chapel or in my sick room; 'His praise shall continually be in my mouth.' At another time when I visited her, I referred to her not being able to attend the chapel, when she said, 'I trust I feel quite resigned to the will of God on that point. I have been thinking on those beautiful words of the apostle,-Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? She dwelt more especially on who shall separate us from the love of Christ?' Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like hers." Our dear sister was united in the holy bands of matrimony, to JAMES WOODCOCK, of St. Martins, July 16th, 1834, by whom she had four daughters. Her husband being a sailor, the care of the family principally devolved on her. She manifested a deep concern for the salvation of her children, and had the happiness to see her dear husband, and her two eldest daughters, walking in the ways of God; and I am happy to be enabled to add, that since her death, her two youngest daughters have given themselves to God and to his people. It is a pleasing sight to see the father and his four daughters, all travelling on their way to heaven. May they all as a family meet in the kingdom above. Sister Woodcock was a lover of her Bible; it was her daily companion, and she treasured up its rich contents in her head and heart; and from thence she drew much strength and consolation, and could say with the Psalmist, Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee." She was truly a Bible Christian. Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile. An Prayer was another branch of christian duty in which she much delighted. She was often found in secret, pouring out her soul before God in simplicity and sincerity, and with much confidence, (for she was strong in faith giving glory to God) in behalf of her husband, her children, and her neighbours; and she often realized the import of these words, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." Another trait in her character was, she loved the habitation of the Lord's house, and the place where his honour dwelleth, and was always punctual at the means of grace, especially at her class-meeting. She often felt that the communion of saints was sweet, and was seldom absent, except through affliction. When her children were small, and could not be left at home by themselves, she took them with her to the house of God; thus training them in childhood to respect religion, and love the services of the house of the Lord; an example worthy of being copied by every mother. As a friend she was sincere and faithful, never betraying the confidence reposed in her. As a neighbour she was quiet; following the advice of the Apostle, "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” She was an affectionate wife, always studying the comfort of her husband. Her person and house were always clean and tidy; and as a natural consequence her husband and children were always neat and clean. She was a tender mother; whose eye was ever watching over the children whom God had given her, as one that must give account. I believe she felt her position, and discharged her duties, as a Christian mother. I do not know that I have met with a person who has more fully exemplified the christian character, than sister Woodcock. I do not mean to say that she had no imperfections, or failings; but as far as I know, they were few. It was the grace of God that made her to differ; and unto him be all the glory. I feel that I can scarcely do justice to her character; for she seemed to outrun most of her companions in the heavenly race. Oh! yes, praise God, she has attained the goal and received the crown of life "that fadeth not away." She was always pleased to see the servants of God, and welcomed them to her table. I have spent many happy hours in her company, and have often been refreshed with her conversation, which was always such as becometh the gospel of Christ. Her mind seemed altogether spiritual; and truly her conversation was in heaven, from whence she looked for the Saviour. Our dear sister was a great sufferer for about four years; first brought on by a fright, (I think on seeing her husband and several others in great danger from a vessel that had sprung a leak and was sinking fast) from which she never fully recovered, but gradually sunk away until death terminated all her sufferings. I had frequent opportunities of visiting her during her affliction; and I always found her resting all on the atonement. Her confidence in God was strong, and her peace flowed as a river. I never heard a murmur escape her lips. She was generally in a happy frame of mind, praising God for his great love manifested in the gift of his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ: and with one of old she could say, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Thus our dear sister fell asleep in the arms of her Saviour, and her happy spirit took its flight and winged its way to the everlasting hills of glory, July 4th, 1855, in the 43rd year of her age. She was taken off in the prime of life; leaving her husband and children to mourn their loss; but their loss is her eternal gain. The substance of the following has been furnished by her eldest daughter. "My dear mother about three weeks before she died seemed to be drawn from every thing earthly, and to have her heart and mind fixed on things heavenly and divine. Her greatest delight was in prayer, and having the Bible read, and hymns sung or read, that were suitable to her state of mind. The last week of Mr. Pool's stay on the Island, she was very happy. When she saw him enter the room, she said, 'Oh! Mr. Pool I want you to help me to praise the Lord. I cannot praise him enough for his goodness towards me, in filling my soul so full of his love. And when prayer was offered on her behalf it never ended without a shout of praise. Her language generally was, "Praise the Lord, O my soul! and let all that is within me bless and praise his holy name.' She often said, 'Why don't you praise the Lord with me, the unworthiest of all his creatures; and would get into such an ecstacy of joy that she could be heard through all that part of the village, shouting, 'Glory! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!' until her voice failed, and she sunk down quite exhausted. In the midst of all her suffering, I never heard a murmur_escape her lips. She would say, 'The more I suffer, the sooner I shall be with Jesus in glory. She longed to be gone to be with Christ, which is far better, and seemed pleased when any friend would express an opinion of her speedy departure. During the last fortnight of her life, she frequently awoke as out of a trance, and burst forth into singing, Jesus will lead His ransomed forth, and a number of other appropriate hymns, too numerous to be specifically mentioned. She frequently said, 'O the precious love of Jesus! It is very great. O precious Jesus! how can I can sufficiently praise him. O for a thousand tongues to praise the Lord!' "She took no food for a week before she died; nothing but a little wine and water, and when taking a little, she would say, 'I shall soon drink a full supply in my Father's kingdom.' "Although anxious to depart, 'to be with Christ,' she was perfectly resigned to the will of the Lord, often saying, 'not my will, but the Lord's will be done.' She was enabled to give up her family several weeks before she died, with great Christian composure, as though she was going a journey soon to return. One morning while sitting by her side, (the other members of the family being gone to rest) she woke up and said, 'Hark, Jane, don't you hear them singing! 'Bright angels are around my bed, And in my room, Waiting to waft my spirit home, Bright angels are whispering so sweet in my ear, The last two days of her life her sufferings were very great; but in the midst of them she shouted ; 'Courage, my soul; while God is near, How canst thou want a sure defence, As she drew near the closing scene, the faculties of her mind became a little impaired, which seemed to be a trial to her. She said, 'I shall not be able to praise God much now; my senses will be gone.' But the Lord was very gracious to her, she was generally sensible, though a little out at intervals. "She exhorted all that came to see her to meet her in heaven. One friend advised her not to exert herself so much in praising the Lord. She said, 'Shall I not praise him? I will praise him while I have any voice. I want to praise the Lord right home to glory.' When the friends engaged in prayer with her, it seemed as though the room was full of glory, and she was heard exclaiming, 'Victory! Victory! through the blood of the Lamb,' with her eyes raised towards heaven, as though she would fly home immediately. The night before she died, we were watching, expecting every breath to be the last, when she revived, and said, 'I've been in glory, but I am come back again for a little while.' Addressing herself to an aged friend, she said, Fight with the same weapons, meaning the weapons of faith and prayer, and the word of God. After this she slept for about an hour, and then awoke, and said, with such an unearthly voice;—'I shall soon be no more an inhabitant of earth,' and then recited the following affecting lines ;— "The next morning about five o'clock, Satan was permitted to make his last attack; it was a severe struggle. Mr. Coles was expected to breakfast, and she anxiously waited his arrival, saying, 'I want him to help me to sing.' When he entered the room, she looked at him and said with much earnestness, 'Mr. Coles I am glad you are come, for I want you to help me to drive Satan. He is here, and he wants to get me now I am so near home; but he shall not; for the 'Blood of Jesus cleanseth me, Mr. Coles began to sing, 'I'm a pilgrim bound for glory, &c.' The time I shall never forget. My dear mother joined in and sung it with him; her voice was sweet and strong, and a heavenly smile played over her countenance-such as I had not seen before. Now,' she said, 'it is all right; for Satan is gone.' "She gradually grew weaker, and wanted some one to read or talk to her about heavenly things to help her through the valley and shadow of death. She was very grateful for any little kindness done. 'Jane,' she said, 'my dear child, the Lord bless you for your attention to me, and take care of your younger sisters.' "She seemed restless all day, and her earthly tabernacle was sinking very fast, but her soul was ripening for glory. She desired me and my youngest sister to sing, 'Christian, the morn breaks sweetly o'er thee, And when we had nearly sung it through, she said, "Stop, the cloud is gone now. Oh! the precious blood of Jesus! O my dear Saviour, I am almost home. I shall soon put off this old tabernacle, and put on my white robes, and be with thee in glory : 'Cheer up! Cheer up! the day breaks o'er thee, The star-gemm'd crowns, and realms of glory, Time would fail to speak of all the delightful portions of scripture, |