members of his class, and all with whom he was acquainted, who made a profession of religion, never to rest satisfied until their "sprinkled conscience knew" God's "sweet forgiving love."

Of my father's burning charity for the souls of men, and unwearied diligence in trying to do good, much might be said. He appeared to know something of "the importance of a soul immortal." He was convinced that sinners were dying on every side; that unholy men were passing into eternity, and perishing under the most aggravating circumstances, perishing in the midst of plenty, and with the bread of life in their very hands. He was thus led not only to cry aloud himself, but to exhort others to unite with him in sounding an alarm to sinners, and seeking if that by any means they might save some.

His earnest and solemn appeals in families where religion was not experienced, and to which he had access, will not soon be forgotten. Argument upon argument was advanced, to induce them to dedicate themselves unreservedly to God,-and to do it then. He was not, however, satisfied with merely visiting families at their habitations, but embraced every opportunity of repeating the cry of wisdom: in the market-place and public streets he very frequently administered warning and reproof.

Thus, while some are called upon to occupy high and honourable stations in the church, and either to leave the land of their fathers, that they may become ambassadors for Christ in foreign climes, or to be in their own land public messengers of peace and salvation; he appeared exactly in his place when reasoning, in the most homely and affectionate manner, with his fellow-men. And it was because of the present reward he received, while so engaged, that he was induced to persuade others also to abound in the work of the Lord. He ever held this belief, that he who accomplishes the greatest possible amount of good, shall not only in this world have a larger share of peace and happiness, but also in the world to come "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." It afforded him great pleasure to hear of the conversion of sinners. He would exclaim, with tears of joy running down his face, "The Lord's name be praised, brands are still plucked from the burning!" My father was truly a man of prayer. His prayers in public were not remarkable for any uncommon language; but, with all simplicity and earnestness, he poured out his soul before his Maker, in the name of the great Redeemer, for the present blessings of the common salvation. It was, however, especially in private, that he appeared to excel in prayer. He there offered up supplications, with strong crying and tears, unto Him that was able to save: there he groaned, agonized, and cried mightily to the God of Jacob. In visiting from house to house, one thing at which he principally aimed was, to persuade those with whom he conversed to become men and women of prayer. If excuses were made for neglecting this duty, he endeavoured to obviate VOL. XXI. Third Series. JUNE, 1842.

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them, and frequently wrote the following letters in some prominent place,-"TRY."

He was not only regular, but also punctual, in his attendance at the house of prayer. He observes, in one part of his diary, "There are many things I have always endeavoured to guard against: one is, late attendance at the means of grace. I have long seen it to be a great evil, and one which must be very displeasing in the sight of the Almighty. In reading the Life of Mr. Bramwell, I find he considers late attendance at the house of God as an indubitable mark of a low state of grace in the soul. Another thing I have endeavoured to avoid has been, running from one place of worship to another: where I got my good, there I remained; and thus, while many became weak and feeble, through the help of the Lord I grew stronger and stronger." My father could not, however, be justly charged with bigotry; for when visiting the old and infirm, he exhorted them to attend the nearest place of worship, rather than neglect the public means of grace altogether.

He always hailed, with the greatest pleasure, the approach of the quarterly love-feast; and was never backward in declaring what God had done for his soul. He frequently said, on such occasions, "I have had a love-feast the whole of the past week;" and would sometimes add, "I see, if I had turned to God sooner, I might have been much more useful in the world: instead of shining like a glow-worm, I might have shone like the sun when he goeth forth in his strength."

Having lived nearly seventy-seven years in the enjoyment of excellent health, and having adorned the doctrines which are according to godliness by so many years of activity in the cause of truth, it was appointed that he should now glorify God in the furnace of affliction. In the month of July, 1839, he was visited with a severe attack of illness. Medical aid was immediately called in; and the opinion given was, that he could not recover. Contrary, however, to the expectation of the Physician, he again rallied; but it was only to become acquainted with more severe and acute pain. For about a month he was confined to his house; and very great was the tribulation through which he had to pass. Having hitherto been almost altogether unacquainted with bodily pain, he seemed sometimes as though scarcely prepared for this strange thing which had happened unto him. He could not say, that, when his sufferings most increased, then his strongest joys were given. And thus, when labouring under great pain, from violent spasms, his language was that of prayer, rather than of praise. When partially free from pain, he both could, and did, rejoice and give thanks; exclaiming at one time, with the Psalmist, "O sing praises unto God, sing praises unto our King; sing praises." At midnight he frequently cried out,

"My Father, my God, I long for thy love," &c.

He recovered his strength, however, so far as to be able to visit his friends and acquaintances once or twice again; and he was once more found in the sanctuary where, forty-one years previously, he had obtained a sense of pardoning mercy: but it was discovered by all, that his stay on earth would be short. In the month of October the outward man appeared to be perishing rapidly; but the inner man was renewed day by day: for though his mind was occasionally beclouded, in general he was happy, and could " rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

About ten days before his departure he said to me, "O I could weep, when I think of the great things which God has done for me." A few days afterwards he said, "I would have you to grow in grace, in wisdom, and in understanding. You must try to get poor men and women to heaven. Let your heart and mind be intent upon doing good in God's service some way or other." Thus, in the midst of health, and when sickness had laid its withering hand upon him, it was his constant desire that God's honour should be promoted in the earth, and that his fellow-men should be rescued from their evil ways.

On Sunday morning, Nov. 24th, he appeared to be drawing still nearer the end of his journey. About seven o'clock he feebly repeated the following words :

"From all that dwell below the skies,

Let the Creator's praise arise;"

and, after a few minutes, he faintly breathed, "My ever-blessed Father!" These were his last words. He lingered a few hours longer, but did not speak again; and, about twenty minutes past three in the afternoon, without a struggle, the immortal soul was delivered from the burden of the flesh.

My father had his infirmities; and though they were but few, yet he frankly acknowledged them. Of his excellencies more might have been said; but it has not been my object to praise him. Neither in his character, nor in his condition, was there anything extraordinary. He had no peculiar duties to discharge, no peculiar trials to sustain. He passed through the world on what may be termed the ordinary path of life, meeting with no occurrence tending to attract any particular attention to himself. But, by the grace of God, his character was consistent with itself, and his conduct always agreed with his profession. He did not seek to be noticed, but to have a conscience void of offence. He was faithful in all the relations of life; he sought to walk closely with God; and, because he knew the value of religion, and tasted its sweetness, he endeavoured to convert sinners from the error of their ways, and so to save souls from death, and to hide a multitude of sins. What he was, he was by the grace of God; and by that same grace, through decision and prayer, the reader may be what God would have him to be.

THE SABBATH. (No. V.)

THE SPIRIT AND MANNER IN WHICH THE DAY OUGHT TO BE SANCTIFIied.

(Concluded from page 389.)

(To the Editor of the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine.)

THE subject of this paper properly belongs to our last communication, and the want of room alone induced us to throw it into a separate article. Our design was, by way of conclusion, to give the serious reader a brief plan for keeping the Sabbath holy; and, without further preface, we observe, the sanctification of the Sabbath implies,

5. That we spend the whole day in the public and private exercises of religion.

God enjoins, not simply that we rest, but that we keep a holy rest. We are to cease from worldly things, to the intent we may devote our. selves to the contemplation and pursuit of heavenly things. Were we merely to rest from our own work, we should keep the Sabbath idly; but our duty is, by diligence in God's work, to keep it holy. Idleness is a sin on any day, much more on the Lord's day. Rest from toil is the Sabbath of the brute; whereas rest in God, through the medium of religious exercises, constitutes the Sabbath of the saint.

"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." Memorable and instructive words! Though the beloved disciple was an exile and a prisoner, on the convict-isle of Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ; though he was shut out from public ordinances, from the fellowship of saints, and from all the blessings of freedom; he forgot not the day which commemorated his Lord's victory over death and hell. Deprived of the privilege of preaching, he had consecrated the day to meditation and prayer; and, while thus employed, the Holy Spirit came upon him with plenary light and power. He heard

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the voice of God, he saw the visions of God, he held converse with the angels of God, and his soul was rapt into an ecstasy of reverential awe, of humble love, and of divine desire. He beheld his Lord, in his glorified humanity, standing" in the midst of the golden candlesticks: and he had in his right hand seven stars and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him," says the Apostle, "I feil at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." O glorious truths! O enrapturing sight! How confirmatory of the Deity, the atonement, the resurrection, and the supreme headship of Christ in his church! Happy Apostle! who on the Lord's day saw the Lord himself; felt the strengthening energy of his pierced hand; beheld, in prophetic vision, the final triumph of his cause; and, by a thousand tokens of love, was re-assured that he and his fellow-disciples fulfilled his sovereign pleasure, in keeping the first day of the week as the Christian Sabbath.

Such visions and revelations we may not hope for. But there is a sense in which we also may be "in the Spirit" on this holy day; may behold the glory of our Lord; may hear his voice; may stand in his presence; and may be strengthened with his right hand. "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done