rfect rest; the peace of God that passeth all understanding now kept
her heart and mind through Christ Jesus; and she rejoiced in the full
assurance that for her to die that night was to depart and be for ever
with the Lord."

Day after day passed on, and she still lived. All her thoughts and words
were about her Lord and the spiritual welfare of those around her. Her
servants were a special care to her. As she was not allowed to see them
individually, she sent them a message that they must not be content with
trusting in a general way to the mercy of God, but that each of them
must be found in the Lord our Righteousness if they would be saved.
Throughout the illness her mind was kept in perfect peace, being
emphatically stayed upon her Lord. One can well understand how prayers
would be offered up for her by many that the valued life might be
spared, if it were God's will.

During the time of her slow and partial recovery she occupied herself
with learning hymns. She laid up a store which became in later months a
great source of comfort to her. The hymn which she first committed to
memory was one of her chief favourites:--

"A mind at perfect peace with God."

The second verse she specially valued:--

"By nature and by practice far,
How very far from God;
Yet now by grace brought nigh to Him,
Through faith in Jesus' blood."

As we have said recovery was only slow and partial. She tried to learn
the lesson designed in this lengthening out of her earthly sojourn. "I
thought my life was spared," she said, "to give the opportunity of
devoting for a longer period my influence and substance to the cause of
Christ, but I see now a deeper meaning in it. There is more personal
holiness to be attained, more nearness to Christ, and more joy hereafter
through a deeper work here in my heart."

Her old habit of early rising had of course to be abandoned. But the
hours of the early morning were well spent, especially in meditation and
intercessory prayer. As an example of the things that occupied her mind,
we may quote words spoken to her maid as she entered the room: "I awoke
very early this morning, and have been very happy and busily engaged. My
thoughts have been much occupied with three things all so different, yet
each needing God's help to-day. The first is the Queen's visit to
Aberdeen to inaugurate the Prince Consort's memorial; the second is Mr.
M.'s prayer meeting in London in a hall