where he sat down, expecting from henceforth till his enemies be made his footstool. The Ascension may also be considered as beautifully uniting heaven and earth. He went into heaven as our representative, and sent down His Holy Spirit as His. Heaven and earth take an interest in the great work of the Redeemer. Two angels, like men in white apparel, were seen talking with the men of Galilee. Heaven and earth hold converse; the subject is Christ. And the Ascension is presented to us as an illustration of Christ's Second Coming. So let us look at the Ascension: I. AS THE CLOSING SCENE OF CHRIST'S FIRST II. As UNITING HEAVEN AND EARTHI MORE III. AS AN ILLUSTRATION OF CHRIST'S SECOND CONTRIBUTIONS, COLLECTIONS, AND SUBSCRIPTIONS. COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY FOR THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL AT HOME AND ABROAD. BATH (Rev. J. Wills).-Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. J. Wood. Collected by Mrs. Allward, 14s.; Mrs. Menzies, 4s. 4d.; Mrs. Watts, 11s. ; the Misses Clement, 168.; Miss Goldwin, 17. 1s. ; Miss Sansom, 17. 3s.; Miss Taylor, 12s.; Miss Eyres, 7s. 7d.; Mrs. Garlick, 6s. 6d.; Mr. H. Jones, 3s. 3d.51. 18s. 10d. The Vineyards Chapel Sunday school, by Rev. J. Wills, 41. 10s. 3d. Collected by Mrs. J. Wood J. Wyatt, Esq., 2s. 6d. ; Rev. C. Knowles, 3s.; Mr. Kidner, 2s. 2d.; Mrs. J. Wood, 5s. ; Miss Ford, 2s. 3d.; Miss E. Crease, 2s.; Mr. Seymour (for Harbingers), 3s. 3d.; Mr. H. Jones (for Harbingers), 7s. 3d.; Mrs. Wood (for Harbingers), 5s.-17. 12s. 5d. Total, 127. ls. 6d. : TODMORDEN. - Weekly contributions (per Mr. T. Barker, Secretary), 17. 16s. CHELTENHAM. (Per Rev. W. H. Ramsay.) Treasurer, Mrs. Seabright, 1, Sherbourne-terrace. Collected by Mrs. Seabright, 27. 5s. 7d.; Miss Potter, 17. 16s. 7d.; Miss Tinkler, 17. Ss. 2d. ; Mr. Young, 17. 1s. ld.; Miss Green, 17s. ; Miss Smith, 16s. 4d.; Miss Walters, 4s. 3d.; Mrs. Lloyd (donation), 12s.; Mrs. Wake (donation), 10s. ; Miss Straford (donation), 2s. 6d. ; Sunday-school children's pence, 15s. 9d.10. 9s. 3d.; less expenses, 12s. 5d.; total, 97. 16s. 10d. * SWANSEA. Burrow's Chapel Sundayschool (Rev. J. Whitby). — Collected by Henry Tunbridge, 7s. 9d.; John Evans, 1s. 4d. ; Thomas Evans, 1s. 11d.; George Jones, 6d. ; Henry Hacche, ls. 3d. ; Frank Triniman, 1s. 6d. ; Thomas Owen, 1s. 9d.; Grace Roberts, 1s. 7d.; Sophia Pennell, 1s. 5d.; Margaret Burns, 1s. ld.; Miss Whitby's Class, 16s. 6d.; Mr. J. 0. Whitby, 3s. 6d. ; E. A. Dyer, 13s. 2d. ; Mary Prout (Harbingers sold), 6s. 8d.27. 19s. 11d.; deduct for expences, 6s.; total, 27. 13s. 11d. WORCESTER.-(Per Rev. T. Dodd.) Collected by Mrs. Hicks, 2s. 6d.; Mrs. Richards, 9s. 8d.; Mrs. Thomas, 6s. 8d.; Mrs. Bevington, 4s. 3d.; Miss A. Farmer, 17. 3s. 4d.; Miss A. Wilesmith, 4s. ; Miss A. Price, 6s. 6d.; Miss A. Clift, 6s. 10d.; Miss S. Smith, 3s. 3d.; Miss E. Jones, 17. 6s.; Miss M. A. Price, 6s. 3d. Miss E. Bosworth, 2s. 2d.; Miss B. Powell, 7s. 4d.; Miss E. Wortington, 1s.; Miss A. Ward, 1s. 2d.; Miss E. Walters, 2s. 8d.; Miss F. Kings, ls.; Miss A. Pattison, 2s. 6d.; Miss M. A. Fletcher, 1s. 6d; a Friend, 5s. School: Miss Edmunds' class, 4s.; Miss L. Edmunds', 3s.; Miss Price's Bible-class, 10s. 6d; Mr. Russ' ditto, 7s. 6d.; Mr. Whittal's, ditto, Ss. 4d.; Boys' School, 6s. 10d.; Girls' ditto, 6s.; annual sermons (per Rev. T. Dodd), 157. Total, 23l. 9s. 9d. * The list of subscriptions from Basingstoke, amounting to 187. 11s. 6d., and from Margate, amounting to 87. 10s. 9d. will be published next month. Contributions, &c., to be sent to the Treasurer, Mr. FREDERICK WM. WILLCOCKS, 13, Lloyd-square, London, W.C SELINA, COUNTESS DOWAGER OF HUNTINGDON, TO BE PLACED IN FRONT OF SPA FIELDS CHAPEL, OPENED 1779. Mr. Editor, I had hoped to have been prepared with an engraving of the above for the forthcoming number, but the favour with which the matter has been received by so many friends, has necessitated a somewhat enlarged purpose; and, as it cannot be completed so early as intended, I shall be glad to take advantage of the delay by deferring the engraving and the list of contributions till the next number, when I hope the plan will be definitely settled, and in course of completion. You will be pleased to know I have succeeded far beyond my original expectation; but I shall be especially glad of help from the former students, and the congregations immediately associated with the Countess of Huntingdon and the Free Churches of England, and I again suggest that much interest might be created and valuable help rendered by our young friends, and have pleasure in quoting as an example Spa Fields Sunday-school. "On the afternoon of Sunday, May 5, the whole of the classes were assembled, with a few of the younger members of the congregation who had been invited to attend. An interesting address was given by Rev. M T. E. Thoresby as to the character and work of the Countess, with some incidents in her life; after which, a collection was made-5l. 5s.” Perhaps others of our schools would have pleasure in following the example. The Rev. Thos. Dodd and friends at Worcester have already intimated their intention of doing so. I continue to receive such expressions of approval as the following (some of the writers I have never seen) : Western District Meeting. This meeting hears with pleasure of an intended memorial to the Countess of Huntingdon in front of Spa Fields Chapel, London, and expresses its cordial sympathy and approval of the same. W. H. RAMSAY, Secretary. Better late than never. Everything connected with the great Countess has a very peculiar interest for me. I first heard the glad tidings of salvation in a Chapel which had belonged to her Ladyship, and I was very early in life noticed in an especial manner by her only surviving daughter, the Countess of Moira, ancestress of the present youthful Marquis of Hastings. I trust you will not be disappointed in your laudable endeavours to perpetuate the evangelistic and missionary spirit of the noble Countess of Huntingdon. Sincerely do I hope you will accomplish the object on which your heart is set. For us to erect a memorial to one of the greatest benefactresses of our country, whom the grace of God distinguished above many, will be doing that which the generation that has passed away ought to have done. I feel thankful that God has put it into your heart, and that you are determined upon its accomplishment. ** I can safely say that I never read of her works without receiving & stimulus to follow her good example. Mr. Editor, yours faithfully, F. W. WILLCOCKS. LETTERS TO THE COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON FROM THE REV. JOHN FLETCHER. (FIRST PRESIDENT OF OUR College, and Vicar of MADELEY, SHROPSHIRE.) (Continued from Page 140.) Madeley, 9th May, 1763. Madam,-I beg leave to trouble your Ladyship with a few lines, to testify my joy that as your day and trials are, so is also your strength, and my stedfast hope that you will find it so unto the end. Thanks be to our glorious Redeemer, I am enabled (in some measure) to follow your Ladyship's example, and to set to my seal (whether it be in the light or in the dark) that all things must and will work together for our good, and the glory of our Lord. Besides private troubles, by which our Heavenly Father sets new seals to your adoption, I think you feel much on account of the enthusiasm and offence that runs among the professors in London as fire among the stubble. Oh, stand in the gap, Madam-prevent (if possible) its raging further. Use all your interest with Jesus in prayer, and with His servants in conversation or by letter, to stop the plague, and may success answer your wishes and mine. What a comfort it is, in the meantime, to be persuaded that which way soever things turn out, all will be agreeable to our last wish-Thy righteous will be done!* I have waded through deep rivers of trouble since I wrote last to your Ladyship, but have been enabled to rejoice afterwards, and sing one of the Lord's songs on the bank of deliverance. The work of grace going on in my parish is chiefly among young people; nevertheless, I buried a month ago a woman fifty years old, the oldest in our society but one, and the first that our Saviour hath called into eternity from the time we joined hand in hand to go to the kingdom of God. She was all her life what the world called a mighty good Churchwoman -that is to say, a thoughtless, self-conceited Pharisee. When she heard *The above alludes to the enthusiasm of George Bell, one of Mr. Wesley's preachers, whose language became fanatical in public meetings. He asserted that his "perfection" rendered him infallible, above temptation, and superior to the instructions of all persons who were not perfect. Fanaticism is always infectious. It spread rapidly, and Thomas Maxfield allied himself with the enthusiasts. He was the earliest lay preacher, and received Episcopal orders from the Bishop of Derry. Having alienated several hundreds of the members of the London Society, he opened a chapel near Moorfields, where he continued to labour for about twenty years. Mr. Wesley afterwards preached for him in his chapel. Maxfield's delusion was of short duration. of the righteousness of Christ, she began to loathe her own, and to desire heartily to exchange her broken reed for the beam of our Saviour's cross. She mourned about two years under a fourfold load Firstly. A sense of her past neglect of Jesus Christ-"Oh, that I should have spent so many years without enjoying or seeking His love." Secondly. A peevish heart-" Oh, who shall deliver me from it? Lord, I cannot do it, come quickly." 66 Thirdly. Wanderings of mind after unreasonable business or trifles'Oh, that I might see the Sun of Righteousness! but these thousands of motes cloud my sight." Fourthly. The want of assurance-" Oh, that my pardon were sealed on my heart," &c., were some of her most usual complaints. She walked steadily through the means, till her feeble body was confined to a deathbed by a cholic. Here she was racked with pain in the flesh and peevishness in the spirit; but under all a spark of Job's faith supported her and kept her hope alive "I will trust in thee, though thou slay me." She drew near the gates of death; for five days the violence of her pain and the weakness of her stomach had prevented any nourishment from staying with her, and I began to fear for her, that the Lord had forgot to be gracious. Some of our brethren spoke openly the unbelieving thoughts that lurked in my heart; and others were tempted to judge and condemn the poor dying creature, as if she had never been truly wounded by conviction, and therefore could not be healed by pardoning love. In that extremity, I left her on Saturday. On the Monday I called, full of the fear of finding her in the coffin; but our good God had ordained it otherwise --she was upon a bed of praise. "The night before last," said she, "the Lord sealed my pardon-a voice spake it, as it were, to my heart-Thy sins are forgiven thee. Oh, what hath the Lord shown me ! Such things as no tongue can express! Now the world, and all that is therein, are nothing to me. I long to depart and be with Christ." “Oh, I asked her if she found her heart cleave to any earthly thing. no, no," she said. "The parting with my husband was what seemed hardest to me; but now I can freely, freely, freely leave him, to go to my dear Saviour. I have," added she, "been much harassed with temptations and fears; but, blessed be God, now that I thought they should have been at the height, they are all gone!" Nevertheless, two days after she told me, "The enemy of my soul hath returned; but blessed be God, I am enabled to look up, and his temptations vanished in a moment." Another time she said to me, "I do not find always the same power; but I can trust in the Lord more and more, as my faith grows stronger and stronger." What gave me the greatest satisfaction was her meekness and profound resignation; no shadow of her former peevishness appeared, and she suffered violent pain almost without intermission, and readily yielded herself to further sufferings. "I want to go to my dear Saviour," said |