and tokens of kind remembrance to some among them. She expressed, over and over again, her deep thankfulness that she had escaped the snare and the attraction which this Church had presented to her. In the early part of her last illness she thus writes to a friend who had spoken to her of the happiness of being in the Church of Rome, and who had urged her to join it:

"My mind has undergone a real change on the subject of Roman Catholics. I see in their hierarchy, in their spirit of persecution, in their worldliness, and, above all, in their constant recurrence to external rule and force instead of the living internal principle, that which appears to me almost like blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and to which I could not subject myself without denying what is the very deepest principle of my soul; namely, the living communion of God, the Father of spirits, with every soul He has created. These things, now and for ever, will prevent my joining the Roman Catholic Church; but I do hold myself a faithful and earnest member of that true Catholic Church founded on Scripture and set forth in the Three Creeds, in the last of which it is declared that This' (the teaching therein set forth) is the Catholic faith.' It was so received by the Universal Church, and for centuries was acceded to as such by the Church of which you are a member, which, in so far as she has added to her requirements, has ceased to be Catholic; and this is my deep conviction.

"I do not hesitate to say, that God has led and taught me; for I am sure man has not: and the result is, my final and irrevocable resolve to remain where I am. I have been brought very near the end of all things here, and very

near the things of eternity. Do you not think I would theerfully follow wherever the will of God led me? I have never cared much for public opinion; it is now less than n thing to me. But I must follow the will of God and the dictates of my conscience: and they tell me to stand still. • I ko win whom I have believed;' and amidst the trials, the furtuations, the sufferings of this severe illness, my soul has formed, and does find, perfect rest and peace in Christ." Oh as fler jensi n. she called two of her intimate meals - der levis ie, an i. amongst other expressions, used They were written down by one of those

-I have been led to look nearer to

2257 Church (of Rome; and in so doing, I find that there s in it a real heresy, namely, the practical denial of the work of the Holy Spirit. And that this is shown in their system of acting upon its members like a mould, to fashion them from without; not as in the process of crystallisation, when the true elements in their true proportions being present, the true form is the spontaneous result. I also find that I cannot, in conscience, agree to making essential as matters of faith any of those things not expressly contained in the Word of God; though some may be lawfully held, by minds to which they are suited, as developments of revealed truth."

She then said, that God's providence had sent her various things to throw light on the subject, and to aid her in her perplexity. Amongst them were certain historical works, which showed the working of that Church on a large scale in different ages and countries, and under various circumstances; and she had seen, in each and all, the same features

of worldly policy, ambition, and the spirit of persecution, as belonging to it.

Enough has been said to show how unambiguously clear and decided her views upon this momentous subject became before her death; and how deep her thankfulness to have been preserved from the Church of Rome.

Such was the trial which, in age and weakness, assailed Mrs. Schimmel Penninck. The opposing results of a long life seemed, for a time, to clash in doubtful conflict:early associations, and cherished habits of thought, in favour of Roman Catholics, with a deep grounding in foundation. truth; a reverence for antiquity, with an abhorrence of worldly and crooked policy; a love of symbolic representation, with an entire dependence on the teaching of the Spirit. But, who can tell how great the interests which hung upon the issue; or with what deep humility we should thank God for a victory, beyond the calculations of human wisdom!

It only remains to add, that during her last days on earth, and when, as we shall see, she spoke, and thought, and lived, as one about to appear in the presence of God, she left it a solemn charge, to one she loved and trusted, to make these, her final convictions, known, not only to her minister, but as widely as possible. This injunction was repeated several times, with much solemnity and earnest

ness.

CHAP. XV.

1856.

“I am glad and even leap for joy that the time is come in which that mighty Jehovah, whose majesty in my search of nature I have admired, whose goodness I have adored, whom by faith I have desired and panted after, will now show Himself to me face to face."

"This is that joy which was procured by sorrow, that crown which was obtained by the Cross."— BAXTER.

In the early part of the year 1856, that particular form of illness appeared, which terminated Mrs. SchimmelPenninck's life eight months afterwards. It had long been evident that her physical powers were slowly, though surely, declining. The severe pain in her side, from which she constantly suffered, rendered movement very painful to her, so that her walks were entirely given up: and her drives, which once she had so much enjoyed, ceased to be a refreshment. The nature of the illness rendered it one of very peculiar trial and suffering; and, when it first came upon her, it is probable that she underwent a severe, though secret conflict, as at that time she often spoke of her want of submission to God's will.

During Passion Week, a full tide of spiritual blessings set in upon her soul. It was at this time, she said, that

she had been going through the deepest sense of sin she had ever experienced, which had been brought home to her by her slowness of heart with regard to suffering. It was true that, from the beginning of her illness, she had sought to humble herself under the hand of God, and to get from Him patience and the benefits of His chastening; but then she had not seen the special blessing and intention of suffering, which is to open the heart to a sense and knowledge of what our Saviour suffered for us, and to lead into communion with Him in His sufferings for sin. She had been unable to see this before because of the hardness of her heart, and this had been a continual oppression and grief to her. But God had shown her something between sleeping and waking, which had comforted her. She had "thought of suffering as of a mountain, the first slopes of which were adorned with fruits and flowers of a humble kind; and these were what she had first been led to seek, patience, resignation of the will, and humbling one's self under the hand of God. Then somewhat higher grew forest trees, strong and stately, of fortitude, endurance, and courage. Higher still it was bleak and bare, and covered with snow; but then the icicles reflected the beams of the sun, and were radiant with the varied colours of the rainbow, showing forth His light, His beauty, and all His glorious perfections. So God had showed her that there were different grades to be attained in suffering, from the first attempt to discipline and humble self, to the coming quite out of self and losing the thought of self altogether in the love and in the life of Christ, and especially in the thought of all He has done for us."