MRS. TALBOT.

THIS excellent lady was married to the Rev. Wm. Talbot, rector of St. Giles's, Reading, Berks; a truly evangelical and exemplary clergyman, whom she survived eleven years. He was the immediate predecessor of the celebrated Mr. Cadogan.

Mrs. Talbot was a pattern to women professing godliness, and one that adorned the doctrine of God her Saviour in all things. As a real helpmate to her worthy husband, she assisted him in the useful, but unfashionable employment of visiting the sick and needy, and catechizing the children; and, so far from doing these kind offices with the least degree of ostentation, humility shone forth in her whole deportment. Ever encouraging her amiable partner to take up his cross, and go forth without the camp, she rejoiced to share with him in that reproach which is the certain badge of the followers of the Lamb.

The Rev. Mr. Talbot was, indeed, an extraordinary man, both for piety and generosity. His labours were extensively blessed: it is supposed that, in the few years he preached at Reading, he had not less than two hundred seals to his ministry. But so mysterious are the ways of God, that in the prime of life, and in the midst of usefulness, this faithful and successful minister was suddenly removed to glory. He had not long left home to go to London on business, when tidings were brought of his being ill of a putrid fever, which, it is supposed, he had contracted before he left Reading, by attendance on a person there, who lay ill of that contagious disorder. The distress of mind which Mrs. Talbot endured on receiving the intelligence,

was extreme; but, at length, a sweet calm succeeded: with inexpressible composure, she resigned her husband into the Lord's hands, whether for life or death; and from that moment there was not a single murmur. Thy will be done!" was the language of her whole heart. It was judged most proper, by the faculty and his friends, that she should not see him, lest his mind should be too much agitated by the interview. His illness was of short duration; and full of faith and hope, after a severe conflict with death and the enemy of souls, he died at the house of the late Mr. Wilberforce.

Mrs. Talbot received the tidings of his dissolution with such a perfect serenity of mind, as astonished the Earl of Dartmouth, their particular friend, who kindly undertook to communicate the sad intelligence to her. On his Lordship's leaving her, having, at her own request, remained alone for some time, she sent for the mistress of the house, and desired her to sing a hymn, in which she joined; when she seemed more like an angel rejoicing to receive this new inhabitant into heaven, than a destitute widow, who had lost her beloved partner, and her all on earth. On her return to Reading, after the funeral, she was immediately attended by her Christian friends, whom she called her children. But, though they had met for the purpose of comforting her, they were themselves so overwhelmed with grief, that they could scarcely utter a word; whilst she, on the other hand, administered every consolation to them on the happy translation of their spiritual father, pastor, and friend. She went the same day to the church, to see where her beloved husband lay; and with all imaginable composure gave directions about her own interment, whenever it should please God to remove her. It deserves to be especially remarked, that, prior to this period, Mrs. Talbot had been much oppressed with doubts and fears, and often went mourning without the sun; but, thenceforward,

her faith was vigorous, her joy abundant, and her spiritual experience rich and refreshing.

The Lord now appeared in a wonderful manner for her, in a temporal way also, to the astonishment of her friends. Hereby she was enabled to assist the poor and needy, and send meat, from her own table, almost daily to the sick at the same time, like a nursing mother to her late husband's flock, she was as constantly speaking of Christ, like Anna of old, to all them that came to her. For she felt it her duty not to remove from the spot where her husband's labours had been so signally blessed; but to strengthen and comfort the numerous young converts, who daily came to her for instruction. Her house was open for religious exercises. Mr. Romaine, Mr. Newton, and other ministers who visited her, expounded to the people; and prayer was continually offered up under her roof, for the conversion of the new vicar, the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Cadogan, who, during some years, preached salvation by the deeds of the law, and was a violent enemy to evangelical sentiments and experimental religion. The old congregation were soon dispersed, as sheep without a shepherd. Some, unwilling to leave the church, attempted to convince him of his errors; but their conversation and letters, being sometimes too sharp, made his spirit more acrimonious. Mrs. Talbot, however, incurred his deepest resentment. Offended with her conduct, he frequently remonstrated; and various letters passed between them. To all his bitter reproaches, she returned answers full of wisdom and kindness; for she was not only pious and prudent, but sensible, polite, tender, and every way fitted to treat a person in his circumstances. While Mrs. Talbot conversed with Mr. Cadogan calmly on the nature of the Gospel, he saw in her the power of it. While she enlarged on the doctrine of the cross, he saw in her its healing and comforting efficacy on the heart and

life. She spake much of the True Vine, while he recognized the living branch and its fruits; and beheld with irreistible conviction, in her character, "the doctrine which is according to godliness." Puzzled, therefore, as this honest inquirer had been with the rough draught of Christianity, he was charmed with the finished portrait. Her judicious treatment, elegant manners, and bright example, formed both a contrast and an antidote to the rudeness he had met with in others. And this should teach us to set a due value upon every talent, natural or acquired, which Divine grace employs; though we ourselves may happen not to possess it, and though every talent, without that grace, must be employed in vain. To the last moment of his life, he confessed, to the praise of God, that Mrs. Talbot's letters, spirit, and example, were the principal means of leading him to the saving knowledge of Christ.

From the time of his conversion, Mr. Cadogan became her friend, companion, minister, and one of the almoners of her bounty; for Mrs. Talbot's charities were large; and, considering her circumstances, surprising. It ought not to escape remark, that she was just as well as generous,-scrupulously exact in her accounts and payments,-particularly careful to owe no man any thing but love, and to pay this debt as punctually as every other. She was affectionately attentive to her neighbours of all ranks. To her servants, she was a mother, as well as a mistress; but managed her kindnesses so as to produce by them the most grateful subjection, not indecent familiarity. To her relations she was strongly attached; she loved them with the love of Christ, and mentioned them daily in her prayers.

Her house indeed seemed a Bethel. Such a heavenly calm sat on her countenance, so spiritual was her conversation, so lowly in her own eyes, so dead to the world, and so ripe for glory, that, as a noble friend often expressed herself, she never saw Mrs.

Talbot but she seemed quite ready for her heavenly journey; with every thing packed up, and the carriage at the door, having nothing to do but to enter it, and take her flight to glory. Thus daily waiting for her summons, she was not surprised nor unready when it came. She knew in whom she believed: Christ was her life; and, through his blood and righteousness, the sting of death was taken out, and she happily obtained victory over the grave.

On the day she was seized with her last illness, being exhorted to look to Jesus, she said: "This Jesus is all in all." Her daily testimony, from this time to her death, was, that she had no other refuge, nor desired any other, but Christ, whom she found an all-sufficient Saviour for such a sinner as she. knew herself to be. A very familiar and striking expression, her minister observed, she often made use of "That she felt as though all behind her head were darkness and sorrow; and all before her face, light and gladness." On the Saturday night before her death, she said: "No more Sabbaths to be enjoyed by me on earth; but, oh that blessed Sabbath of rest above!" She attempted to sing; "Other refuge have I none,

Hangs my helpless soul on thee!"

and went on till her strength was exhausted. The next morning, she began speaking of the precious views she had, the preceding night, of the New Jerusalem; and added with a sweet smile, "Shall those gates of pearl be opened to unworthy me? And shall I obtain that crown of righteousness, laid up for all those that love the appearing of my dear Lord!" Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, she usually expressed by name, when she ascribed to Jehovah, her Covenant-God, the whole glory of her salvation.

Not long before her death, she was asked by her minister, the Rev. Mr. Cadogan, in the apostle's