A Physician attended her, and told her he thought it impossible for her to live twenty-four hours. She refused to take any more medicine, and said, "Give me some butter-milk: the medicine which Mr. Wesley had formerly recommended to her. After taking it for a few days the fever left her, and she was restored to her usual health. For the last ten years, owing to her great age and increasing infirmities, she was unable to attend the public means of grace; but was always glad to see her Christian friends. She had a great regard for prayer; and when her Class-Leader called to see her, she would in general ask him to read the hymn which begins, "Jesu, lover of my soul," and then pray with her. About the middle of February, 1832, she appeared to lose her strength very fast, and said to her daughter, "It is all over; it is all over." Being asked if she feared death, she answered, "No; no." It is rather remarkable, that this venerable woman, once the personal friend and hostess of Mr. Wesley, should live to be as old as he was; and that she should die on the day of the month preceding that on which he died; and forty-two years after him. In the course of the last nine months of her life, she witnessed in the house where she lived with her son, the death of two of her grand-children: one a fine young man, aged twenty-one years, died in peace, July 29th, 1832; the other, an amiable young woman, aged nineteen years, died December 28th, with a hope full of immortality. The rest are in the way, and likely all to meet those who are gone before. WILLIAM LEACH. 4. Died, March 17th, at Boroughbridge, in the Ripon Circuit, Richard Brown, aged sixty-four years. Having been instructed in the principles of Christianity by his teacher, by his pious father, and by hearing Mr. Wesley, in his early life, he saw his sinful state, was convinced of the great excellence of experimental religion, and sought and found the favour of God. But not uniting in society with pious people, he lost his confidence in God, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, although he still continued moral, and generally attended the public means of grace. When he was a little more than thirty years of age, he again sought and found the blessing of salvation by grace. He now joined the Methodist society in Boroughbridge; and from this time he continued a steady, humble, and consistent member of the Christian church. He was a useful Class-Leader In for twenty-two years, greatly beloved by the members of both his classes, and by the religious portion of his neighbours. It always grieved him when his people were absent from the class-meetings without a sufficient cause. The illness which terminated in his death continued only for a month. He was frequently a subject of extreme suffering; but his patience was great. His mind was preserved in peace during his affliction, and his death was full of holy triumph. the morning of the day on which he died, he said to his wife, "I am happy, happy, happy." She replied, "Praise God; and he added, "For ever, for ever." She then exclaimed, "Glory be to God! Victory, victory!" He waved his hand, and immediately added, "Through the blood of the Lamb." These were the last words he uttered. He waved his hand at intervals, as long as he could, and continued in an entirely composed state of mind till he expired in the evening, without a struggle. "He was a good man." J. ROADHOUSE. The 5. Died, at Pentney, in the Downham Circuit, March 24th, Mr. Robert Balding, sen. He received his first religious impressions under the ministry of a Clergyman of the Church of England, obtained a sense of the divine favour more than forty years ago, and continued a steady follower of Christ for a considerable period; after which he fell from grace, although he never became immoral in his outward deportment. Lord visited him by severe family affliction; a beloved child was taken away by death; and he was brought to the gates of the grave. He came out of the furnace as gold purified; immediately joined the Methodist society; and remained a steady useful member till the day of his death. He laboured hard, in the occupation of a carpenter, for the maintenance of a large family, and the support of the cause of God. By astonishing industry and frugality, attended by deep piety, he brought up his large family respectably; and had the pleasure to see his children comfortably settled, and two of his sons Local Preachers. They consider their honoured parent the instrument of their conversion. It was his constant endeavour to bring up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. He became a sincere friend and lover of Methodism, and liberally contributed for its prosperity. When there was no place for the preaching in Pentney, he bought a house on purpose to give his neighbours the privilege of hearing salvation proclaimed by the Methodist Ministers. When it became too small, they preached in his son's shop; and when this could not contain the congregation, the friends determined to build a chapel. Mr. Balding encou raged the project to the utmost of his ability. He had no independent property, excepting a little which he had acquired by diligence and self-denial. On this he and his wife lived in their superannuated condition. In this situation he determined to save, by denying him. self, that he might help forward "the good cause," as he usually called it; and towards the erection of a new chapel, he gave not less than thirty-five pounds. His health began to fail while the chapel was in building; and it was the fear of his friends that he would never see it completed; but he was spared to see it opened, and the occasion was a delightful day to his soul. He lived not only to see the cause prosper in his own neighbourhood, but he had also the happiness to learn that the work was reviving in every part of the Circuit; so that we had been favoured with an increase of three hundred members in little more than twelve months in this small Circuit. Our prosperity rejoiced his heart. Frequently have I seen his eyes sparkling, and his countenance lighted up, while I have related to him the glorious revivals of religion in our Circuit; and he frequently said, "How very good is the blessed Lord! Glory be to his holy name!" Having had many of his prayers answered, and seen the cause in a flourishing state, he could say, "Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." He had not worshipped many times in the new chapel before he was called to his reward. About a fortnight before his death he was confined to his house in consequence of weakness and affliction, which he endured with the greatest patience and Christian fortitude. His soul was unspeakably happy in God; and he said to his son, "My light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." He took his leave of his beloved and distressed family in the most affectionate manner, recommending them all to God. He exhorted his grandaughter to seek salvation; and observed, "It is as free as the air you breathe." At length, while his afflicted wife was praying that the Lord might favour him with an easy passage, his happy spirit took its flight to the paradise of God, without a strug gle or a sigh. Thus he fell asleep in Jesus, aged seventy-five, having been a steady member of the Methodist society for twenty years. He was one of the most liberal and kind friends to Methodism I ever knew; and entertained the Preachers at his own house with peculiar pleasure and hospitality. He was diligent in the use of the means of grace, and valued class-meetings. He was a man of prayer. Beside his attention to public worship and family devotion, he regularly retired three times a day to pray in private. He visited the sick and the dying, distributed religious tracts, and was always ready for every good work; at the same time looking upon himself as one of the most unprofitable servants, resting upon the merits of the Redeemer alone for life and salvation. W. EDWARDS. 6. Died, at Chester, March 26th, Mr. William Dean, who was a subject of God's gracious dealings in early life. Soon after he came to reside in this city he was invited to become a Teacher in the Sunday-school at St. John's-street chapel. After some deliberation he consented, though not without considerable hesitancy; for upon finding, from a copy of the Rules, that he would be expected to instruct the children under his care, not only in the letter of the law, but as touching its spiritual import also, he was affected by a consciousness of his own want of personal religion. "I am herein," thought he, "required to give spiritual advice to the rising generation, and have far more need of such advice myself. I am void of experimental godliness, and, in a great measure, ignorant of the way of life: how then can I teach it to others? I am not myself walking in the heavenly road, how then can I be their guide? These reasonings at length led him to resolve on seeking the Lord with all his heart; and he at once set about the work with strong crying, and with many tears; nor did he rest until he had found Him of whom Moses and the Prophets spake, and was enabled by faith to say, "Abba, Father; my Lord, and my God." From that time to the day of his death he continued, more or less, to walk in the light of God's countenance, with all integrity and uprightness of heart, striving to keep a conscience void of offence toward God and man. Shortly before his last illness, the Psalmist's words were powerfully applied to his mind, "The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing; thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness." This he seems to have regarded as the signal of approaching dissolution; and he was therein confirmed by symptoms of pulmonary consumption, which soon afterwards made their appearance. A truly Christian spirit, and entire acquiescence in the divine will, now marked every word he uttered upon the subject, as well as every part of his conduct. In writing to one of his brothers, he observed, My health, I apprehend, is irrecoverably lost: symptoms of a serious character present themselves. I am troubled with an inveterate cough, which baffles all medical skill, and announces my speedy removal to the tomb. How the strife will end, I know not; but being in the hands of God, I feel no anxious solicitude about the matter. I feel that I am his; and believe that whether death or life be my lot, all will prove subservient to his glory, and my own everlasting welfare." The promises of God he now more fully than ever felt to be all "yea, and amen, to them that are in Christ Jesus." "They are precious, they are precious!" said he to the writer, while one morning sitting by his bedside, and reminding him of such as were applicable to his case. On one occasion, when somewhat harassed with doubts and fears, the following cheering expressions of the Prophet flashed heavenly light upon his mind, and instantaneously dispelled all gloom : mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my lovingkindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee." Nevertheless, the enemy buffeted him sorely, and very frequently, during the protracted period of his affliction. His "The extreme debility, together with a constitutional inclination to despondency, were circumstances of which the arch fiend often, and advantageously, availed himself. Hence, while contemplating, on the one hand, the immaculate purity of the divine character, the nature of that "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord;" and, on the other, his own unworthiness, unfaithfulness, and manifold imperfections, to all which he was alive; he was often found writing bitter things against himself, and even questioning the genuineness of his conversion. This led him again and again to examine, to try, and to prove himself; and, while thus engaged, the Sun of righteousness shone forth upon his soul with healing in his wings, breaking effectually the snare of the devil, and restoring confidence and a holy calm to the mind of his servant. "O,” said he, one day, "God has spoken unto me by his Spirit, saying, 'Be thou faithful unto death; and I will give thee a crown of life." And then, after a short pause, he added, with considerable emotion, "Well, a few more days of suffering, and then an eternity of glory." He often dwelt, with overflowing gratitude, upon the lovingkindness of the Lord, upon his gentle dealings with him, in taking down the earthly tabernacle so gradually, and upon the renewed discoveries of God's boundless mercy in Christ Jesus. One night, however, after several severe fits of coughing, which completely prostrated the little remaining strength he had, he was strongly tempted to think that his sufferings were about to overwhelm him, and that he should inevitably sink under their accumulating weight. But, lifting up his heart to God, he again heard, as it were, "the still small voice" sweetly whispering to his troubled soul, "Fear not, I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee by the right hand of my righteousness." This deliverance was followed by abounding peace, and joy, and love; and, after relating the circumstance to those around him, with a feeling truly devotional, and with sacred pleasure beaming from his countenance, he gave vent to the fulness of his heart in the following beautiful stanzas : "Better than my boding fears To me thon oft hast proved; And challenged thy beloved: And death ungrasp'd his fainting prey; And sorrow fled away." A few days before his death, he exclaimed, "I am going home: 'There I shall see his face, There from the rivers of his grace, Drink endless pleasures in.'” The following day he anxiously inquired how long the Physician thought he might continue; and on being told "not long," he replied, with manifest longing, "to be dissolved," ," "Perhaps I shall go to-day, or perhaps to-night." Then, lifting up his eyes and hands towards heaven,he exclaimed, with the greatest possible fervour, "Glory be to God, all will be well!" Whilst his brother was engaged in prayer at the bed-side, he was heard faintly shouting, "Glory be to God! glory, glory be to God!" On rising from their knees, one present said, "The Lord is with us." a 7. Died, on the 28th of April, at Alnwick, Mr. Samuel Purvis, aged seventytwo; who was for more than forty years a member of the Methodist society in that place. Early in life he was led to seek his peace in Jesus, and to give himself to the church by the will of God. When he changed a single for a married life, he found favour from God in the object of his choice. By habits of great industry and care, he and his amiable wife were soon placed in very comfortable circumstances; and they have reared a numerous and affectionate offspring in a manner highly creditable to themselves. For many years he held the office of a Class-Leader, with great acceptance to the people of his charge. The kindness of his heart was such, that the law of kindness was always in his lips. Few men who are so fully engaged in business as he was are so easy of access, especially to the needy; and while he gave a preference to the members of the Methodist body, he was true friend to all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and to Ministers of the Gospel in particular; many of whom will long retain a grateful sense of his affectionate attentions. fervent love for the Ministers of the word discovered itself in his last illness, in an affecting attempt to pronounce the names of many of them who had spoken to him the word of the Lord. That illness was short and severe, producing a rapid prostration of strength; so that at the end of fourteen days from the time that he was first seized, he finished his course. During this time I frequently saw him. On one of these occasions I said to him, "You suffer much." His reply was, "O yes; but it will soon be ended!" He then, with flowing eyes and uplifted hands, said, "O, how near are those blessed men who have preached the word of life to us!" the morning of the day on which he died I entered his room, and found that this was likely to be the last opportunity I should have of speaking with him. I inquired, "Is Christ precious to you? to which he replied, "Yes; precious." After this his patient spirit entered its eternal rest. JOIN NOWELL. His On 8. Died, April 28th, at Stonehouse, in the Plymouth Circuit, John Avery, aged fifty-two. For the space of thirty-six years he lived without God, and without hope in the world; and walked in the broad way that leadeth to destruction, till the year 1817, when he was awakened to a sense of his sin and danger, and truly converted to God, under the ministry of the Rev. Joseph Burgess, then stationed in the Plymouth Circuit. When setting out for the kingdom of God, he met with much opposition; but he chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. In the course of his Christian career, he was a subject of strong and manifold temptations; but the great Head of the church supported him under them all. As a visiter of the sick, he was eminently useful; and many I believe will be the crown of his rejoicing in the day of the Lord. As a Sundayschool Teacher, he was faithful in the discharge of his duty. Often has the writer of these lines seen him in the school, with his little flock round him; and while he has been pointing them to the Saviour of the world, he has seen the tears trickle down his cheeks. Such was his zeal for the glory of God. His disorder was a consumption, which gradually reduced him to a mere skeleton. His affliction was long and painful; but he bore it with Christian patience. A murmuring word never escaped his lips: his outward man was perishing; but the inward man was renewed day by day. During his illness I asked him if he was happy. He answered, "Yes." He continued in this happy frame of mind, till he gently fell asleep in the arms of his Redeemer. JAMES EARLE. 9. Died, at Lurgan, in Ireland, April 29th, Mrs. Jane Keys, wife of the Rev. William Keys. She was born at Tullylark, in the Irvinstown Circuit, July 3d, 1791. Her father, Mr. David Read, was well known and highly esteemed by the Methodist Ministers as one of the most sensible and pious men in the north of Ireland. For more than thirty years he exercised his talents as a Class-Leader; and though he did not usually take a text, his addresses in public manifested superior qualifications for the important work in which he was engaged. To him the words are applicable, "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace." He died as he lived, holy and happy, in March, 1828. In conjunction with his amiable and pious wife he brought up a The numerous family, one son and nine daughters, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, training them in the way in which they should go. The messengers of the churches were hospitably entertained by them; a privilege which they greatly prized; and their profiting in divine knowledge appeared to all. Jane was brought, at the early age of seven years, to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. In her was fully accomplished the encouraging promise, "They that seek me early shall find me." love of God was shed abroad in her heart; nor have I ascertained that, at any time, she forfeited the divine favour. In the year 1807 an unusual revival of pure religion took place in the Circuit, through the instrumentality of the late Rev. Matthew Steward, and nearly one thousand souls were added to the society. Miss Read caught the holy flame, and resolved to dedicate herself without reserve to the worship and service of God her Saviour; and from this period her life was highly ornamental to the Christian religion. Being appointed in 1808 to travel in the Circuit where she resided, our acquaintance commenced. The more I was acquainted with her, the more I esteemed her. There was in her a mildness and gentleness of disposition, accompanied by a becoming dignity of manner, which was calculated to obtain universal respect. With the full consent of her excellent parents we were united in holy matrimony, in February, 1812; a union for which I shall have to bless God in time and in eternity. She was, in the fullest sense, an help meet for me. Twenty-one years and three months we lived together in the greatest harmony. In every thing I could repose in her unwavering contidence. When I was from rome, engaged in the duties of my Circuit, I was happily free from all anxiety respecting family concerns, being perfectly aware of her ability to manage with wisdom and discretion the children committed to her care. No children could more cordially esteem, obey, and love a parent than they. Her qualifications for the important situation she filled in the church of God were of no ordinary kind. Her understanding was strong, her mind well informed. Early in life she evidenced a taste for reading; and had the privilege, in her father's house, of carefully perusing books calculated to improve the understanding. Her memory was so retentive as to enable her, on suitable occasions, to produce things new and old and hence, she was a pleasing and profitable companion, and her com : pany was often solicited by the wise and the pious. She exercised her talents, when health admitted, with good effect, as the Leader of a class. But, with all her knowledge, wisdom, and piety, she was of retiring and diffident habits. Her constitution was exceedingly delicate, and incapable of much bodily exercise. In whatever Circuit the providence of God placed us, she was highly respected by the people. For, as a Christian, she was a pattern worthy of imitation, destitute of every species of covetousness, dead to the world, and the things of it. Her treasure and heart were in heaven; and she was anxiously careful for nothing, casting all her care on the Lord, who cared for her. As a wife, she was kind, tender, and affectionate; as a mother, indulgent, and yet firm in the performance of parental duties. As a friend, she was constant and sincere; nor could she bear to hear any thing but good spoken of those who were absent. According to her ability she contributed to supply the wants of the poor and needy; and subscribed to several institutions which have for their object the comfort of the widow and the fatherless. Were they not too long to be inserted in this brief sketch, and too good to be abridged, I would introduce several letters from her correspondents, which would testify the high esteem they had for her. But she is now with God, and her works follow her. The affliction destined to remove her from us was consumption. The best medical skill was employed, but to little purpose. Though mostly confined to her room and bed, no murmuring expression ever proceeded from her lips; for she was continually cheerful and happy. At intervals her faith so delightfully realized the glories of heaven, that she appeared in a state of rapture. With her hands clasped, and eyes lifted up, she sang, "O what a glorious change While or the happy plains they range, Sometimes she had sleepless nights; but |