of introduction to the Commanding officer at Vellore, and was remarkably kind, offering me open house at all times, at Arcot, where the Governor stayed two days.-25th. I saw a Fakeer, at the choultry, who from a child had let his finger-nails of one hand grow, till they twisted twice round the back of his hand, and once round the wrist, that he might be an object of charity. The use of his hand is lost. When will these things have an end?

"26th. I returned home, after an absence of thirty-nine days, having travelled six hundred and fifty miles. May my future life, talents, all I am and have, be devoted to my God, from whom I have received all."

The greater part of Mr. Close's journal was destroyed by the water in the hold of the vessel, on his return to England. But these extracts, from the portion that was preserved, will evidently show how essentially necessary, and of what great importance to the success of Missionary undertakings, it is to select and send out men of genuine piety, respectable manners, and tried character, well qualified by good mental capacity for the acquisition of various learning and languages; improved by diligent study, trained by judicious education, as well as firmly grounded in sound theology. They should be men of God, deeply devoted to his service and glory, in wisely promoting the salvation of mankind; men of prudence and zeal, who by their intercourse with the civil and military Authorities that esteem them for their work's sake, will not dishonour the British Government, which sanctions and protects them; and men who, in their associations with other Missionaries and their people, in their public ministrations, their pastoral work and private converse, and their sometimes needful literary labours, will neither disappoint nor dishonour the Methodist Connexion and Missionary Committee, who send them forth at great expense; nor discourage the persons of influence who forward them in their Gospel embassy among their friends, and whose respectability is pledged for their Christian piety and sound integrity. God and his people must unite to form and send forth such men. Mr. Close was compelled to return to England in consequence of the entire failure of his health.

Eternity must tell the great importance, and extent of success, of Missionary labours among the resident Europeans, and the natives of India. Mr. Close learned in England, a little before he ceased from his labours, an encouraging instance of his usefulness in Madras. He says, in a letter to Mrs. Close, dated June 27th, 1832, "On Sunday, at Rochester, a Sergeant who belonged to the 46th regiment, which was stationed at Madras on our first arrival there, came to me, and said before many scores of people, that he and about forty others in the regiment were awakened under the first sermon I preached in the Fort. Some of these, he said, had died happy in God. This is encouraging." While out on a journey he took a violent cold, which he attributed to sleeping in a damp bed. He came home afflicted with the rheumatism, and otherwise unwell. After this time he never fully recovered his for

mer health, but his constitution was more than usually susceptible of injury. Yet he still delighted in his work; and his cordial readiness to exert himself for the good of souls, at every opportunity, remained unabated. A prospect of usefulness, and a request to increase his labour, were to him irresistible inducements to exceed his strength. Repeatedly, by overworking his strength for one day, he has been laid aside for a week, suffering afflictive exhaustion, the sure consequence of extreme exertion. Yet he was no ranter; it was not by wasteful vociferation, or wearisome and long discourses, that he overspent his physical energies; but by sometimes undertaking more labour than his constitution could afford. His utterance was not easy to himself. He was too rapid a speaker to endure with impunity the protracted vocal exertions, which, if better regulated, might have been maintained with less inconvenience to himself, and more advantage to his hearers. The health of a Minister is valuable property in the church of God, since on his regular services, to promote their instruction and edification, their spiritual and eternal welfare are constantly dependent.

After his return home Mr. Close occasionally walked to country places in his Circuit, too distant for his strength. There was no necessity for this it is wiser economy to employ a horse than drain the constitution of its strength to the very dregs. When a constitution is enfeebled, it is more exposed to the attacks of disease, and less able to surmount its power. In this time of his weakness the influenza generally prevailed, and his constitution suffered so much from its virulence, that it never rallied again. Some little improvement appeared; and it was hoped that removal for a while to Croft, near Darlington, for the change of air, and use of the spa, might contribute to his restoration. He sought the benefit, but went to die. He lodged at the inn; and, though kindly attended to, yet not improving, he wished to return home. His little remaining strength was rapidly wasting away, and he wrote for Mrs. Close to come from Newcastle, and attend him. She inquired whether he felt anxious about life or death, and he said, he should like to be able to preach two or three times more on the great love of Jesus.

On Sunday, June 9th, 1833, while lying on the sofa, so exceedingly ill that Mrs. Close thought his spirit was departing, and every thing around him was perfectly still, he unexpectedly said, with emphasis, "I commit my body, spirit, soul, into the hands of my gracious Redeemer ; and to him I commit my dear wife and children. He will take care of them." Soon after he asked, "What time is it?" and was told, near six o'clock. "Then," he said, "the people are going to the Brunswick chapel, and will pray for me." He was now distant thirty miles; but he knew that prayer had greater speed than lightning, to go up to heaven, and bring a blessing down; and he felt consolation in the assurance that he should not be forgotten by his brethren at the throne of grace. They could not forget him. A deep interest was felt in the congregation, and earnest prayer was made to God for him; and though so dis

tant, he felt much more than the consoling idea that the friends would pray for him. Between seven and eight o'clock he was in unspeakable joy, and exultingly exclaimed, "I know the people are praying for me now; I feel the influence." After which, more composedly, he added from a favourite hymn,

"Jesus can make a dying bed

Feel soft as downy pillows are,
While on his breast I lean my head,

And breathe my life out sweetly there."

Mrs. Close remarked to him, that he had not felt very violent temptation; and he replied, "The Lord sees my weakness of body is such, that I could not bear it now. I have had strong temptations, and he gave me power to overcome them."

The Rev. H. L. Hodgson, of Darlington, knowing of brother Close's dangerous illness, after a Sabbath-day's labour in the country, went to watch with him the last night of his stay in the body; and at the request of his colleague, who preached his funeral sermon, he furnished the following observations :

"I consider it a privilege to have been with brother Close during the last night of his life. I felt death in some measure to be disarmed of his terrors, in beholding the grace of God exemplified in the unshaken confidence in Christ by which he was supported, accompanied by the most humbling views of himself as a sinner; the great patience with which he bore the pangs of dissolution, and the uniform gratitude which he most feelingly and often expressed to his heavenly Father for his supporting grace in the comparatively easy manner in which he was passing home, and for all the little attentions which his friends were able to show him. His mind appeared uniformly calm and composed, and perfectly resigned to the divine will. Satan was not permitted to harass him; and to my inquiries respecting his state of mind, he invariably replied, All is right. I am resting on the true foundation. Jesus is precious,' &c.; and when asked, Does your mind enjoy the consolations of religion in this time of severe trial?' he said, 'O yes, blessed Jesus! blessed Jesus!' I asked him if he found the truths which he had so often preached to others sufficient to support him in giving up his stewardship? He answered, O yes;' and added,

My body with my charge lay down,

And cease at once to work and live.'

When inquiring if he felt power, with acquiescence in the divine will, to leave his wife and children, he said, 'Yes; I love my wife, and I love my children; but my heavenly Father will provide for them:' adding, I have no wish to live ;' and then, like a true Minister of Jesus Christ, whose sole business is to save souls, he checked himself, and said, If I have a desire to live, it is to preach Jesus to sinners' observing, 'I

sometimes wish the Lord to spare me to preach two or three times more.' He observed nothing more at this time; but it appeared to me that, like Moses, he was viewing the good land before him; and, feeling the time of his departure at hand, was contrasting the glories of a better country with the vanities of time, by which so many are awfully attracted; and, impressed with the worth of souls, he felt as if he could, in the privilege he desired, more forcibly warn the impenitent, and more successfully cauti on professors, not to rest short of that grace which alone can support in his solemn circumstances.

Though I have witnessed persons more triumphant, his end exhibited the holiness of the Gospel, and the perfection of the graces of the Spirit."

As he was absent from home, and at an inn, it was thought expedient to go and see if by any means he might be removed, not being apprehensive of so near an approach to death. One of the friends went from Newcastle to assist and relieve Mrs. Close; and the writer followed some hours after, whom he received with a most affectionate welcome, declaring his great esteem, and gratitude for the visit from such a distance, at such a time. He appeared much fatigued and drowsy; and said he wanted rest. His breath had been previously so greatly oppressed, that he could not recline backward on the sofa; but now he could lie down at length, and breathe freely. We flattered ourselves that he was greatly relieved, and might probably recover; and, like the disciples, said, "If he sleep, he will do well;" and therefore, by request, for a few hours, left him with a friendly attendant. Between six and seven o'clock we again entered his room, and joined in prayer. While we were attempting to help him to find an easy posture, his limbs suddenly ceased to obey the dictates of his will. The last voluntary movement he was able to make was with his tongue; and, faltering, he said, "Glory be to God! glory!" And then the spirit left its body in our arms, and went to rest in heaven, June 10th, 1833.

He had lived thirty-eight years, and died in the fifteenth of his itinerancy, endeared to all his acquaintance by his very amiable disposition, and to the church of God by his affectionate, zealous, and useful labours. That a good man in the bloom of his life, a Christian Minister in the midst of his usefulness, a beloved father of large family of young children, should be hastened to the grave, may be considered as one of the awful proceedings of a righteous Providence, intended to warn us against trusting in uncertain life, and to admonish us to make haste and finish the work which God has given us to do. It bids his brethren preach, and live, and die, as guides and examples to the flock; and proclaims to the church and to the world, that the Lord reigneth in holiness, justice, and mercy. While sorrowing for him, we tremble for ourselves; and yet are reminded that the grace which supported him is offered to us, and that we may follow him to glory.

THE WESLEYAN METHODIST. (No. LXIII.) THE EDUCATION OF MISSIONARIES. To the Editor of the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine. I TRANSCRIBE for your pages the following letter, received from the late Dr. Adam Clarke, during my residence in Ceylon; judging that, at the present time, it may not be inappropriate; while some are opposed to the principle of an "Institution" which appears so admirably calculated to lengthen out the usefulness of our Missionaries, by affording them facilities at home of preparing for their future labours abroad, more especially in the acquirement of foreign languages.