work without admiring the felicity of selection and combination which has given so much that is properly

narrative, and enabled him to interweave those descriptive reflections, which blend the whole into an ablyfinished portraiture.

Extracts from volumes of this class are not always easily made. Particular portions usually require both introduction and sequel. A few passages, however, may be selected, as specimens of the general style and character of a work which we sincerely hope our readers will procure for themselves.

In speaking of Mr. Lessey's appointment to Manchester in 1821, and his removal from Weymouth, Dr. Hannah says:

"He retired from his friends at Weymouth amidst many mutual regrets; but he left behind him not a few monuments of ministerial usefulness with which it had pleased God to crown his zealous efforts, and with a short specimen of which this chapter may not unprofitably be concluded.

"The first Sunday that Mr. Lessey preached at Weymouth, a careless, thoughtless, and sinful young man strolled, as if without design, into the chapel. He was arrested by the power of the word which he heard; and returned home bowed down under the burden of a guilty conscience. From that time he earnestly sought the mercy of God; and exactly a fortnight afterwards, while Mr. Lessey was preaching, became a happy partaker of justifying grace. He prevailed upon his wife (for he was newly married) to accompany him to the chapel; and never rested until she also consented to meet in class. There the seed of life, already sown in her heart, was watered and cultivated, and at length brought forth fruit to the glory of God. When Mr. Lessey removed from Weymouth, she was a consistent member of the Wesleyan society, walking in the light of God's countenance. Some of her relations, seeing the blessed change which had been wrought in her, used the same means, and found the same unspeakable benefit. Thus a good work of God began and spread in that family; the full effects of which, direct and indirect, will perhaps be known only in the day of eternity.

"A poor, aged man, a member of the society, was an eminent example of the

efficacy of Christian faith. He had passed the years of his strength at sea, His health failing, he was compelled to -a rough, coarse, ungodly mariner.

abandon the seafaring life, and do what he could to provide himself with support. He occasionally attended the Wesleyan chapel; and, yielding to the agency of God's Holy Spirit in his heart, was made an humble and joyful partaker of divine love. He longed to do something for the good of his fellow-men; and was wont to cast his bread upon the waters,' by dropping a useful word, as opportunity allowed, in the ears of others, exhorting, encouraging, reprov. ing, in some short, terse sentence, every acquaintance whom he passed in the street. Mr. Lessey found him too feeble ing an allowance of five shillings a week, to do any regular work. He was receiv which he expended in a way which de serves to be mentioned. Two shillings and sixpence a week he paid to his sister, who was a poor woman, for his lodging and washing; sixpence a week he set apart for the poor-box, the Missions, and the support of the cause of God in the town where he dwelt; one shilling a quarter he gave for a seat in the chapel; and another as his contribution at the quarterly renewal of the society's tickets ;-thus reserving only about one shilling and tenpence a week for food, fire, and clothing. Yet old James, as he was called, never wanted. His necessities were supplied, according to his faith, by the bountiful providence of God; and he went on his way rejoicing.' He commonly spent the Lord's day in the chapel and vestry. Taking his Bible and a little bread and cheese with him, he repaired thither to the early prayer-meeting; and did not return home until the last evening service was concluded. Mr. Lessey's ministrations were exceedingly edifying to him. To hear Christ proclaimed in all his offices, and this formed one of the peculiar excellencies of Mr. Lessey's discourses, was the joy of his heart, Never did he meet his beloved Pastor without giving utterance to some strong expression of gratitude for the spiritual benefits which he had received through his instrumentality. He has long since entered into his rest; but his works' of self-denying charity 'do' still 'follow' him. Such examples do not always find a place in the annals of earth. Are they ever omitted in the annals of heaven?" (Page 125.)

The manner in which the biogra3 M

pher states the facts which he has to lay before the reader, may be seen in the paragraph which refers to Mr. Lessey as the President of the Wesleyan Conference.

"Mr. Lessey was now raised to the most exalted station in that section of our Lord's universal church to which he had long been united; and he filled it with exemplary ability. The Conference over which he presided was remarkable for the solemn and devout celebration of the Centenary of Wesleyan Methodism; and it was, on this account especially, one of the most memorable that have ever been known. Mr. Lessey paid strict attention to all the business which was transacted; he discovered the kindest consideration for his brethren; he put forth a degree of talent in every way worthy of the character which he had acquired; and he had the gratifica tion to receive the cordial and unanimous approbation of the assembled Preachers. At the private examination of the probationary Ministers, who were that year to be admitted into full connexion with the Conference, he displayed such skill in the proposal of questions, sich accuracy in his use of language, such comprehensiveness in his theological views, and so rich a seasoning of that truly evangelical sentiment with which his own heart was embued, that the writer of these pages, who was present, could not but think, that, in the charac ter of a sound and scriptural theologian, he had scarcely ever seen him to greater advantage. But his whole conduct in the President's office was marked by qualities of mind and heart which suffi ciently proved that the honour had descended on one who, by the blessing of God, was eminently deserving of it. He was the first son of a Wesleyan Minister who had been chosen President."

"In his most languid seasons he was not left destitute of heavenly support. 'I have peace,' he would say, 'sweet peace. I have a sure trust in the mercy of God, and a consciousness of his favour. I know that he loves me. But I have not that joy, that ecstatic joy, which I hear or read of others possessing in time of affliction. I do not rejoice in tribulation as I ought to do. I am so unworthy of the goodness and loving kindness of God, that I ought to feel more lively gratitude towards him, and to love him with greater ardour.' Again, when extremely feeble, he would say, 'I can hardly collect my thoughts, so as to form a connected prayer; yet my heart goes out after God, I am trying to pray every minute.' When reminded of the sacrificial offering and all-prevalent intercession of Christ, and of his sympathy with us in our infirmities, he would reply, with affecting emotion, Yes; Christ is my only hope. On his atonement I rest, his precious atonement.

In my hand no price I bring, Simply to his cross I cling,' "Different parts of the beautiful hymn from which this couplet is taken, were often on his lips. He would try to join with his family in singing it; and when unequal to that effort, he would repcat a line, and raise his hand as in the act of devotion.

"Confiding in his Saviour's merits and mercies, he expressed himself as feeling quite safe, whenever the Lord should call him; but he longed for a larger measure of hallowing grace. 'I live,' he said, 'in the favour of God. I am a poor, sinful, worthless creature; yet, for the sake of Christ, he has blotted out my transgressions, and cast my sins behind his back. But I want to be wholly sanctified, as the Apostle says, body, soul, and spirit. I want this body so to partake of God's sanctifying grace, that even the nervous agitation which I feel when any thing suddenly surprises me, may be done away, and that in constant calmness and quietness I may pos sess my soul.' It will appear in the course of our narrative, that this wish was mercifully granted." (Page 309.)

"He quitted his lodgings at Wey. mouth, on the 5th of May, with a de sign to embark immediately; but, finding the weather boisterous, he postponed cepted of a friendly invitation to take up his voyage for a short season, and achis abode at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Sargeant, until he could more conveniently depart from Weymouth. During

the few days that he spent with them, his health was subject to great fluctuations. In the evening and early part of the night, he was inflamed with a high degree of fever, to which succeeded profuse perspiration. All this caused a painful prostration of strength. He was unable to bow his knees before God in prayer. This troubled him; but he meekly acquiesced. I cannot now kneel before God,' he said, as I used to do; but my mind is almost constantly engaged in prayer.' Sometimes he would sit in silence for half an hour, and would then disclose the workings of his mind in such expressions as these: 'O the glories of heaven! O the infinite holiness of God! Who can stand in his presence? O the value of the atonement of Christ! I hide myself in him. I am altogether unworthy of the mercy of God; but Christ has died for me. for ability to preach Christ! Sanctified affliction is a blessing. It gives us to feel more of the value of personal religion, and to press it home on our hearers. It was this which rendered Baxter, Watts, and others, so efficient as Ministers of Christ. Their frequent bodily sufferings made them live in the near view of eternity, and preach as dying men to dying men.' On being reminded that it was influenza from which he was now suffering, and that it was hoped his present unfavourable symptoms would soon abate, he quietly replied, 'Yes; but people often die of the influenza." " (Page 312.)

"At other times, after being silent awhile, he would, with great feeling, utter some short sentences; such as, 'Precious atonement! the sinner's hope! O for more of God!' When he was much disturbed in the night by cough and fever, he would say to Mrs. Lessey,

And

Pray for me, that I may have patience to bear all these sufferings which God sees fit to lay upon me.' Once, after a very wakeful night, he said, 'I have had a restless, but a happy, night. This room has been a Bethel to re. so it has often been; for here I have, from time to time, held sweet communion with God. O how good the Lord is to me!' Another night, two or three weeks before his departure, he said, with uncommon emphasis, I am sanctified! sanctified by the grace of God! O the mercy and goodness of God!""

(Page 319.)

ings ceased, and he entered into the desired rest. Dr. Hannah thus describes the solemn event :

"When he had partaken of his food," (at dinner,)" which he appeared greatly to relish, he settled himself in his easy chair for a short sleep, while, at his request, Mrs. Lessey employed herself in writing letters. He rose about four o'clock, took a few strawberries, and walked a little in the room. He then sat down, coughing very slightly. Mrs. Lessey perceived that he was spitting blood, and instantly went to him. He quietly asked her for a larger basin. She fetched one, and rang the bell. Pulling it rather hastily, for the blood began to flow more profusely than it had ever done before, he calmly said to her, 'Do not be in a hurry.' He then rose from his chair, put his hand on his chest, and drew himself up, as if oppressed with a feeling of suffocation. He walked towards his sleeping-apartment, resting one arm on Mrs. Lessey, and the other on the servant, who just then came into the room. Sitting down on the side of the bed, he reclined his head on the bosom of his wife, while she supported him with her left hand, and with the right took hold of his hand as it rested on his knee. An apprehension of immediate danger seized her mind; and she began to point him to Christ as our sure refuge and support. Within a minute, she perceived a slight quiver, or tremulous motion, pass through his frame: his countenance changed, and his head drooped. She asked him if he could not speak one word to her. But there was no sound, nor the gentlest return of the pressure of her hand. Life had departed; and all that remained was clay. So died this servant of Christ, in the fifty-fifth year of his age, and the thirty-third of his ministry." (Page 325.)

And thus the workmen pass away, fully experiencing the support of the work itself which they had spent their life in gladly endeavouring to promote. And they feel no misgivings on the subject. Men of strong minds, knowing death to be a most serious occurrence, proving the quickness of their powers of reflection by the reviews they take of the past, and the perception afforded them of personal deficiencies, leading them utterly to disclaim every the slightest degree of selfconfidence; yet feel the utmost com

In this blessed state of mind he continued till Thursday, June 10th, (1841, at London,) when his suffer

posure in committing their undying spirit to their all-sufficient Saviour, and rejoice in the consciousness of the work wrought within them by "the Holy Ghost, the Lord and the Giver of life." Death has no terrors for them. They are happy. They are at rest. And how? What is it that gives this glory to the dying hours of the Christian? It

is THE

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH.

The merits of Christ, apprehended by a faith, which is itself the gift of God, enable the departing soul to contemplate, even with solemn joy, the infinite holiness of God.

And this work the faithful departed have left to their successors. From the dying character of men like Theophilus Lessey, a voice comes forth to survivors, and especially to the youth of the ministry: "Take heed unto the ministry thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it." Men may seek to raise questions of endless genealogies, and to perplex the simple; and

whatever we may think of them, wẹ are bound to say, that we regard the whole scheme as a fearful stratagem of Satan to keep souls from Christ, to put a something, called the Church, in the place of the Saviour. It is not enough to say of such a scheme, that its assertion does not move us. We must go further. Now, that attempts are making to revive the very Popery that, in bygone ages, ruined so many souls, it must be opposed,-opposed with heart and soul. It is the very sys tem on which St. Paul has pronounced an anathema, and must be every where assailed as the perversion of the Gospel of Christ. Every other consideration must give way to the full maintenance of the righteousness of faith.

We now thank Dr. Hannah for the excellent work with which he has favoured us; and again express our hope, that our readers will lose no time in procuring it for themselves.

Wesleyan Tracts for the Times. No. 6. Justification by Faith an essential Doctrine of Christianity. 8vo. pp. 24. Mason. The subject of this tract goes to the very foundation of the controversy. If the statements of the writer be correct, -and if he be in error, he errs with the authors of the official documents of the English Church, then Popery, whether as taught by Romanists, or Newmanists, is fundamentally wrong. The author quotes the title of one of the "Sermons for the Times," (published by Rivingtons,) "The Church a Place for the Worship of God, and not for the Conversion of Sinners;" and makes his

Wesleyan interlocutor say, "Not for the conversion of sinners! I hope, then, all the sinners in the parish will come to the Methodist chapel. The Vicar may call it heresy, delusion, poison, satanic_subtilty, whatever he pleases; but the Wesleyan Ministers preach for the conversion of sinners. If you believe the old Pro testant doctrine to be, in its essential principles, the very truth of God, the Gospel which is the power of God unto salvation;' I tell you plainly, it is your duty to hear that Gospel preached. It is at the peril of your soul that you sit to hear the work of God described as 'a poison which has wrought the destruc

can.

tion of millions.' You must hear the Gospel. Hear it in the Church if you But if you cannot, I again say, if the old Protestant doctrines are true, HEAR THEM WHERE YOU CAN." As grappling with the very core of the question, we hope this tract will be extensively circulated. Let the opponents meet it boldly, and prove it, if they can, to be erroneous. The writer asserts the teaching of Methodism on the subject to be scriptural, and supported by that of the Church of England. Let Dr. Pusey and his friends, instead of writing "about it and about it," come at once to the point. If not, we trust that the Wesleyans will not only turn a deaf ear to all their invitations, but, in their turn, insist on the duty of practical attention to the command of Scripture, "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge."

The exclusive Claims of Puseyite Episcopalians to the Christian Ministry indefensible; with an Inquiry into the Divine Right of Episcopacy, and the Apostolic Succession: in a Series of Letters to the Rev. Dr. Pusey. By John Brown, D.D., Minister of Langton, Berwickshire. Foolscap 8vo. pp. 560. Nisbets. This is really a masterly production, carrying the war into the enemy's own country, and seizing on his strongest positions. Ordinarily, really learned and clever men know, that the claims of such an Episcopacy as Puseyism requires, are utterly groundless; they content themselves, therefore, with contending for the lawfulness of the system, and its beneficial character. Whether the men who are now making such an outcry on the subject, have indeed succeeded in deceiving themselves into the opinion, that because the word Bishop occurs in the Bible, therefore it means all that they mean by it,-is a question into which we shall not enter though sometimes, when we look at the word as used, undeniably, in the word of God, and as used by the modern exclusionists, painful suspicions will occur. And these are not weakened when we find, that the most powerful opponency is disregarded; and that, instead of replying to the objector, the plan of the party is just to go on among the people as heretofore: "You see Bishops are mentioned in the Bible: our Church has Bishops: neither the Scotch Presbyterians, the Dissenters, nor the Wesleyans, have Bishops; therefore, they have no churches, and none but ourselves are right." As they not only take this ground, but are becoming

the common disturbers of the peace of Christendom, the public must be told the real state of the case. They who would know how both to repel the attacks of the party, and, in their turn, to act on the offensive, must study Dr. Brown's work. It is a kind of Thesaurus of arguments and references on the controversy, leaving not a branch of it untouched. It is a volume that might, at all events, teach any opponent modesty. But what can we expect from men who say, that the forensic doctrine of justification by faith was "invented by Luther?"

Principalities and Powers in heavenly Places. By Charlotte Elizabeth. Foolscap 8vo. pp. xiii, 322. Seeleys.A more useful volume for Christian readers has not been published for some time. The scriptural account of good and evil angels, is drawn out with proper caution; and our readers will understan us if we add, with proper boldness. To unhallowed curiosity nothing is given; but, in pursuing the traces of the subject, and carefully connecting them, much is elicited that, whilst primarily intended for the practical instruction of the simple-hearted and devout, will teach even the biblical student more than he anticipated. We recommend the volume, because we think it calculated to contribute to the increase of the wisdom that is unto salvation.

The Practical Works of the Rev. Job Orton, S. T. P. Now first collected. Consisting of Discourses, Sacramental Meditations, and Letters: with copious Indexes. To which is prefixed a Memoir of the Author. In two volumes. 8vo. pp. xvi, 600, 694. Teggs. To evangelical students, of every class, in the church, or out of it, the name of Job Orton is too well known to require from us any recommendation of the works to which it is prefixed. His "Discourses, Sacramental Meditations, Letters," &c., printed separately, have long been known, and esteemed as widely as known. We believe this is the first collection of his practical works. We are glad to see it. Those who read for purely devotional purposes will find this a useful addition to their library; and the young student, tempted, perhaps, by the exuberance of his thoughts and feelings, to the florid, and the prolix, will find an impressive example of the beautiful effect produced by the unadorned but distinct statement of plain but important truth. We again say, we are right glad to see this very convenient collection of truly valuable works.

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