uninterrupted serenity and joyful anticipation of his approaching change." During the latter years of his life Lord Teignmouth was still occupied in useful work. In his eightieth year he published Octogenarian Rhymes, in two sets; one on "Gospel Truth, or the Religion of the Bible;" and the other, "God is Love." The first consists of a metrical expression of his faith in the doctrines, precepts, and promises of the word of God, and the work of the Redeemer. It concludes thus :--"Jesus, my Saviour, Priest, and King, O let thy grace my soul inspire, That I thy praise may ever sing, My hope, my joy, my fond desire! "Oh, may I glory in thy cross, And, in the faith of holy Paul, "Then shall my spirit, unconfined, On wings of faith, and hope, and love, Leaving all earthly joys behind, Aspire to reach the bliss above. "Thus blest through grace e'er may I live; Thy peace, O God, shall then be mine,-- The other, on "God is Love," will be found at the close of our sketch. Lord Teignmouth attended the Bible Society's Anniversary for the last time in 1829, but he was able to take some interest in its operations until shortly before his death. After several warnings that his frame was failing, in the end of 1833 he was taken seriously ill. Believing that now he was to depart, he made all necessary preparations. Mr. Wilberforce died about this time. He was much affected by this, for a ripened friendship had subsisted between them. Yet when he heard of the public funeral of his friend, though a national proposal, "he was unusually agitated, paced his room repeatedly, and calling for a pen, committed to paper explicit injunctions, suggested by his aversion to funeral pomp, that his remains should be borne to the grave as privately and unostentatiously as possible." He consented, at the request of Mr. Brandram, the secretary of the Bible Society, to the publication of a treatise which he had written on Providence and he devoted some of his last days to its distribution. Full of years, for he was eighty-two, he departed in peace on the 11th February, 1834, having said, "I have no hope but in Christ Jesus, in his sacrifice, in his blood, in his righteousness." "I trust I do indeed repent of all my transgressions; but I do not trust in my repentance. No! I look only to the blood of Jesus for pardon and peace." On the Sunday before his death he said to his beloved partner and his children, “I feel that I am resting upon the RIGHT FOUNDATION, and I can now leave you all rejoicing." "For many years of his life," says his son-in-law, the Rev. Robert Anderson, in a funeral sermon," he was engaged three hours every day in the exercise of private prayer. And it was his custom to retire for his evening devotions at five o'clock in the afternoon, in order that he might perform these holy exercises before a sense of weariness or fatigue should oppress his bodily powers, and thus impede the aspirations of his soul towards the gates of heaven. From these secret communings with God he always came forth into his family, like the Jewish lawgiver of old, with brightness in his face, as well as with the law of God in his heart; and showing by that HEAVENLY-MINDEDNESS which marked his whole conversation, how earnest had been his prayer that the same mind might be in him which was also in CHRIST JESUS." In the Church of St. Marylebone, London, his monument may be seen, testifying that he was President of the British and Foreign Bible Society for thirty years, and formerly Governor-General of India. For India and England now may it please God, in his rich mercy, to raise up statesmen and nobles who shall copy the virtues and usefulness of the RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD TEIGNMOUTH. "With doubts and cares and fear opprest, Man's wayward thoughts desponding rove,- Oh, fly to God!-for God is Love. "When bow'd beneath afflictions-sent Hail them as Heaven's kind mercies, meant "When sin-felt pangs thy soul annoy, With tears and prayers God's mercy prove; "In Jesus hear his mercy speak; .Hear him who reigns in heaven above! "Trust, trust in him,-for you he died; So shall thy soul in peace abide, And know, and feel, that God is Love. "Thus may I live!-thus let me die! That, when the summons calls, 'Remove,' To sing with saints, onr God is Love." CHAPTER VI. MADAME GUYON. "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God nomena. "Thy choice and mine shall be the same, Inspirer of that holy flame Which must for ever blaze! To take the cross and follow thee, Where love and duty lead, shall be My portion and my praise." FRANCE in the reign of Louis XIV. presented strange pheThe king and court were the most magnificent that the nation had ever seen. The Church of Rome had there as gifted orators as ever occupied a pulpit. Literature had its most honoured names. But religion was low, and linked to the dissolute members of a profligate court. Most severe persecution followed the Protestants: and the revival of piety among a few in the National Church received the frown of the monarch, the condemnation of the pope, and the strong restraint of power. Yet, amidst the darkness of that night, and the danger of that persecution, some lights shone brightly, and illumined many souls. In the person of a WOMAN appeared one of the most remarkable characters that France has produced, and one whose living piety and useful labours all Christians delight to honour. MADAME GUYON was born at Montargis, in the Orleanois, April 13, 1648. She was descended from the Seigneurs de la Mothe Vergonville, an honourable family in the district. Her education was received at the hands of the Ursuline nuns, among whom she had a sister; and at the house of the Benedictines, where the Duchess of Montbason for a time resided, under whose care she was placed. She spent a short time also in the Dominican convent, where she received an impression that afterward bore rich fruit. She found a Bible, and perused it. She was then not twelve years of age, yet this is her account of the study of the inspired word: “I spent whole days in reading it, giving no attention to other books or other subjects from morning to night; and, having great powers of recollection, I committed to memory the historical parts entirely." Religious impressions early possessed Mademoiselle de la Mothe; but as she was young, fond of gaiety and of reading romances, clever, fascinating, and surrounded by admirers, they were evanescent. The love of God was not in her heart. Removed to Paris in 1663, the world attracted her. No expense was spared to gratify her wishes, or to make her appear to advantage in society. She threw herself entirely into the world; and, by means of her beautiful person and enlarged intellect, her sparkling wit, great powers of conversation, and engaging manners, she made a very agreeable impression on Parisian life. She was married in 1664, while scarcely sixteen, to M. Guyon, a man of great wealth, but twenty-two years her senior. She had not seen her husband till a few days before her nuptials. There was no mutual affection between them; and, owing to evil influences, their union was never happy. Her mother-in-law made her most uncomfortable, prejudiced M. Guyon against her, and showed her much unkindness. She could not call her house, nor a single chamber of it, her own. Though she had wealth in abundance, yet she was miserable, ate the bread of sorrow, and mingled her drink with tears. Domestic trials pressed heavily upon her. They |