over the vessel. But, as you prayed, 'Jesus was in the ship.' He was my support, and did strengthen and comfort my heart. O that I could praise and love Him, and live more to the glory of his name! Trials make Christ precious to us.

"Dear Sir, how shall I sufficiently thank you for all your kindness? I know it is God that gave us union and love. To the prayer of faith nothing is impossible. I trust love will abound.

"Mr. Hopper is here, and is well, and God has prospered him. Mr. Wesley is still in Dublin, but intends to leave it next week.

"It would give me a singular pleasure to hear from you, and to hear dear Mrs. Wesley and the child are well. When you write to her, I request you would give my best respects, and to any of those good friends I saw at your house, especially Mrs. Grinfield. I find such union with Bristol people as I never found before; and as to London saints, they are written in my mind. Yet it is very uncertain whether I shall see them till the resurrection of the just. If you please to write to me, direct for me at Mr. Thomas Jones's, Merchant, in Cork. Dear Sir, requesting your prayers and advice, I am

"Your truly affectionate and dutiful son." "Rossmead, Oct. 9th, 1758. Rev. and very dear Sir,Your letter was very refreshing to me; and while I read it the power of God rested on me. But truly I was ashamed that you should speak in such language to me. It is certain I pray earnestly for you, being moved thereto, not by a mere sense of duty, but by hearty love, and a remembrance of your kindness.

'My spiritual state is this: First, I have a constant assurance of the favour of God. Secondly, A steadfast confidence that my present afflictions will work together for my good. Thirdly, That whenever God calls me hence, Jesus will receive my spirit. Fourthly, I am tried to the uttermost. All the grace God has given me can hardly bear the pains I feel. Indeed my soul is often sorrowful. I grieve, though not enough, that my love to God is so little; and that I do not desire more earnestly to be with Christ. Yet I live by faith, and constantly pray for submission and thankfulness. prayer my soul is often enlarged; and I am led much to

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pray that the God of patience and consolation would give all his children to be like-minded: I mean chiefly, that they should love one another. Ah, Lord! why do not thy children love and agree, as thou hast given them commandment, and even prayed that they should? When will thy prayer be answered? Well, blessed Jesus, we shall agree in thy presence.

"It is long since I wrote a letter; but you have constrained me. I am worse and worse, as to my disorder. I have a violent cough, profuse night sweats, a high and almost continual fever, wind in my stomach: finally, every part is pained in its turn. But to this day the Lord has not shown me clearly whether this sickness be unto death. O that I may be always ready!

My strength fails me. I can only add, a thousand loves and respects to my friends at Bristol. Upon you, my dear Sir, and the kind wife of your bosom, and all that belong to you, may the blessing of God for ever abide! Shall I hear again from you? I am, Rev. Sir,

"Your affectionate son. "P. S. Dear Sir, excuse my putting you to cost. I could not get a frank here; and I was afraid if I sent the letter by London, you would not receive it for a long time, if at all. O forget not to pray for me! I believe really you do make intercession for me. I often, with pleasure, told my friends, Mr. Charles Wesley prays for me; yea, and sings a verse for me too."

Such was the grateful and devout language of this great man, drawn forth by the Christian affection and sympathy of Mr. Charles Wesley. The statement of Mr. Horne, viewed in connexion with these letters, affords a striking illustration of the uncertainty of oral tradition, especially when various parties are concerned in the transmission of a report. That Thomas Walsh's distress, in his last illness, was at all occasioned by Charles Wesley's severity and unkindness, is here positively disproved. He was one of the truest friends on whom Thomas Walsh could rely in the hour of trial.

This holy and learned man lingered till the month of April following, when he slept in Jesus. A few friends prayed with him on the Sunday evening; and when they had concluded, he desired to be left alone, in order, as he said, "to

meditate a little." They withdrew; and he remained deeply recollected for some time. He then burst out, in a sort of transport, and pronounced with a dying voice, but with joy unutterable, "He is come! He is come! My Beloved is mine, and I am His! His for ever!" In uttering these words he resigned his soul to the Lord Jesus, in the twentyeighth year of his age.

How deeply Mr. Charles Wesley was affected by the death of Thomas Walsh, is apparent from the three hymns which he wrote on the occasion, and in which he describes the history and character of the deceased. In the second of these are the following remarkable stanzas :

A few months after he had parted from Thomas Walsh in Bristol, Mr. Charles Wesley paid a visit to the surviving members of his brother Samuel's family, in Devonshire, preaching, with his wonted energy and spirit, at various places, both in going and returning. His brother's widow was now dead; but she had left a daughter, who lived in Barnstaple, and was married to an Apothecary of the name of Earle. He gives an interesting account of this journey, and of its results, in the following letters addressed to his wife. It would appear that he was still suffering from the effects of the dangerous fall which he had in the spring. The narrative is incomplete, referring to a former letter, which has not been preserved. His son Charles, who is mentioned in the correspondence, was now about nine months old; and his daughter Patty, to whom a touching reference is made, had been dead more than three years. The letter, it will be perceived, was written in Barnstaple, but relates several occurrences which took place before his arrival in that town.

"Barnstaple, Sept. My dear Sally waits for the continuation of my history. I think it left off on Saturday morning, Sept. 2d. After preaching I breakfasted at one Miss Parkhouse's, a simple, zealous disciple in her first love. I spent the day in my Prophet's chamber, and preached again at night with more enlargement.

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Sunday, Sept. 3d. My text in the morning was, 'In those is continuance, and we shall be saved.' Almost all the society met me at the Lord's table. The Minister administered to me first, as if he wanted to gain the hearts of our people. Our room was too narrow for us in the evening; so we borrowed the market-house, which is capable of holding thousands. Thousands attended gladly while I explained and applied, 'The poor have the Gospel preached to them.' My mouth was opened to make known the mystery of salvation by grace. Another lively hour I passed with the society, and with all our absent-present brethren. I believe you had a good time at Bristol and London; for we seemed all to drink into one spirit.

"Sept. 4th. After preaching and breakfast, I set out at eight, with a guide, for Barnstaple, the weather flattering us with a fair day. I rode a Spanish pace for the first mile: then the sky was overcast, and the rain returned. My com

panion would have enticed me on; but I turned my mare's head, and marched back as sober and contented as you could wish. There were scattered showers most of the day. I got two more opportunities of preaching; and,

"Sept. 5th, took horse at seven, to make a second effort. The clouds gathered, and kept us in awe for the two first hours. To escape a shower we baited at a little alehouse; gave a word of advice to the poor ignorant landlord and his daughter; and went on our way, (and a vile one it was,) without any more rain, till we came, between twelve and one, to North-Moulton, twenty measured miles from Tiverton.

"I dined on a dish of tea, which I had taken care to bring with me, and shut myself up till night. Mr. Robarts was the first that planted the Gospel in this place. The 'Squire and the Minister, as usual, were the chief persecutors. Both people and Preacher were cruelly treated, but conquered all by love and patience. The captain of the mob cut his own throat; but lived long enough to repent, and ask pardon of the poor injured people. I preached to them the pure Gospel, with more comfort and life than I have done since I left Bristol. Not a word seemed to be lost upon them. The seed fell upon good ground. I had a feast with them; so I wanted none elsewhere. My friendly old host gave us the best he had; but the bacon and hen were such, that my teeth could not penetrate them. However, our clean warm bed made us amends.

"Sept. 6th. I found the room full at five, and exhorted them to come boldly to the throne of mercy and grace. My throat was a little sore through last night's straining. applied a flannel plaster, (some of what you furnished me with,) and watched my time for setting out. Twice or thrice I ordered the horses back to the stable, as the clouds gathered again. At last we mounted, and rode through the town almost; for near the end of it the rain began, and drove me back. I made another attempt, and got so far as to cut off my own retreat. We were got half way to SouthMoulton, three measured miles from North-Moulton, when the rain forced us through. I stood up in my stirrups, and ventured a trot. We put in at a brother's, in the town, till it was fair; then rode on towards Barnstaple, ten miles distant. In less than two miles' riding a heavy shower drove us to