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reproof without giving unnecessary offence. In course of conversation, the captain became deeply affected, and shed tears. He stated that his mother was a pious woman and a Methodist in America. He thanked him for his timely reproof, and asked him to pray with him. He then gave him an American Sailor's Hymn Book, and promised on his next visit to England to bring him the life of Lorenzo Dow, as a token of love and esteem. But it was as a man of prayer that he stood pre-eminent. Many can witness to this. His daughter remarks, that he always had family prayer, morning and night, when at home. The brother before-mentioned, says, "From my first acquaintance with our departed friend, I always found him a zealous, straightforward Christian; labouring for God, and rejoicing in the prosperity of his cause. His calling in life led him to be often at Liverpool, where he met with some of the early Methodist preachers, especially Mr. Bramwell, of whom I have heard him speak; and I have thought when I have heard him at prayer, how much he resembled Bramwell, in his powerful devotions."

It was his desire to have devoted the latter part of his life to visiting the sick, and going from place to place, giving a word of exhortation, and dropping a word of caution and warning to the sinner. There can be no doubt that his efforts in these respects would have been much blessed. He had a good knowledge of human nature. He would much have liked to have gone to places where he formerly preached; to build up believers on their most holy faith. He never had any doubts about the reality of religion.

His great kindness to his family-for he loved them tenderly-led him to labour longer than many others would have done; this prevented him from carrying into execution his pious intentions. When lading for his last voyage he said to the writer, "I am trying to arrange matters so as to be at home this winter, and expect to succeed." Before the winter came, he was at his heavenly home! There can be no doubt he would have been of great service had he been spared for some years, and spent his latter end as he intended. David would have liked to have built the temple; but was not permitted. God, however, informed him, that it was good that it was in his heart, and rewarded him accordingly. When circumstances prevent an action from being accomplished, God takes the will for the deed. I would now say a little respecting his character as a man. He was a man of warm temperament and feeling. He had a full flow of spirits, and was very warm-hearted, and at times warm-tempered. Religion does not make all people alike. Some who are grave by nature become more so by religion; while others who are by nature the reverse, manifest another spirit. Warm-hearted people are less considerate and calculating than others; they do not stop to weigh every word and action; and, at times, are betrayed into imprudencies, and unintentional exaggerations. So might it be at times with our brother. There was a good deal of Peter's spirit in him. He had, however, with it Peter's heart. The natural temperament of man is not taken away in conversion. It remains, but grace reigns. Many have very erroneous impressions respecting religion, and expect all religious people to be exactly alike. This cannot be. Some are proverbially men of action. They are no triflers in anything. Their whole nature is thrown into the work. Such was our brother, to whose memory we pay this tribute of respect and affection. To say he had no faults or failings, is what can scarcely be said of any man. He was a very steady man. He laid himself out for usefulness: he had a flow of oratory, and, if he had been well educated, would have been a clever man. He had considerable tact in prayer meetings especially, and knew well how to work one to the best advantage. In a lovefeast he was always at home, and scarcely ever attended one without bearing his testimony to the abounding

grace of God towards him. He was highly esteemed wherever he went: At home or abroad, he was the same, and always willing to labour in preaching, praying, or exhorting, as the case might be. He was faithful in giving reproof. When anything prejudicial to another was stated, instead of carrying it further, he went straight to the individual and acquainted him with the rumour, thus giving him an opportunity of clearing himself. Much evil would be prevented—were this good old Scriptural rule, invariably acted upon as it most assuredly ought to be.

He watched over the interests of the Church, and was solicitous for its prosperity. He was quick in suggesting what he considered essential to prosperity, avoiding asperity on one hand and croaking on the other. He saw that success could not be obtained by ceaseless fault finding, but by prayer, holiness, unity, and effort. He was one of those men whom a preacher, upon his first entrance into a circuit, would expect to do all in his power to carry on the work of God. He was generally "in the Spirit" himself, and was distressed when others were not so. He was emphatically a man mighty in prayer, and this is attributed to his constant practice. At home or abroad, in the church or in his flat, he prayed. Like his Saviour he sanctified every place with prayer. One burden of his prayer was the salvation of his children. These-four in number-lay near his heart. His wife went before him to heaven; doubtless, they have met again.

Towards the close of life, his piety deepened, and he seemed to be ripening for heaven. He looked upon himself as one who might soon be removed. When the cholera commenced, he regarded his life as very insecure; and, when he was about to leave Winsford for Liverpool, he spoke of the uncertainty of his return. On Monday, September 16, 1849, he left Weston Point, near Runcorn, in his flat for Liverpool, where he arrived that afternoon. In the evening he was seized with cholera. Medical aid was called, but it was unavailing; for on the following morning about eight o'clock he died.

From the nature of the illness, he said but little. He, however, before his death, showed in whom he had believed, saying, "Come Jesus, come Jesus, come Jesus, come quickly!" nor did he call in vain, his Saviour came and took him to himself.

His death was improved by the writer in our chapels at Winsford, Sandbach, and Swanlow Lane, September 23rd, 30th, and October 2nd, 1849, to large and attentive audiences; and the following lines, composed on the occasion of his death, were sung on each occasion.

See swiftly borne away,
A brother and a friend,
Up to the realms of day,

To joys that never end;

The toils, the cross, the tempest past,
Our brother gains the port at last.

Thou to thy bliss hast come,
A shock of ripen'd corn;
Fully prepared for home,

And swift to glory borne:

Dear brother, may we meet thee there,
And all thy bliss and triumphs share.

He whom we lov'd, hath died,
We love him still above,
For death cannot divide

The souls made one by love,
Break forth our souls in loudest strain,
We soon shall see his face again.

Sav'd by his gracious Lord,
With mighty, sovereign grace,
He boldly preach'd the word
In every time and place:

But Beswick 's gone, each brother cries!
Yet here he lives, all heaven replies.

He lives, he lives in heaven,
He joins the ransom'd throng,
Where matchless praise is given,

In one eternal song;

Break forth our souls in rapt'rous strain,
We soon shall see his face again.

B. GLAZEBROOK.

MISS ANN BRUNSKILL, OF NETHERHOFF.

THE subject of the following memoir was in early life powerfully wrought upon by the spirit of God. At an early age she was deeply convinced of sin while sitting under the preaching of the Word of God; and when but ten years old--being directed to Him who had said, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven"she applied for mercy, received the forgiveness of sins, and found Christ to be precious to her soul. But she, by giving way to a natural lightness of disposition, and not watching and praying as she ought to have done, lost the evidence of her acceptance with God. She continued in this condition until about six months previous to her twentieth year, when she was again powerfully wrought upon by the Spirit of God, and awakened to a sense of her lost condition; frequently she was seen at this period weeping, while sitting under the Word preached at her father's house.

In the month of August, of 1846, being on a visit at her sister's in Appleby, and still labouring under conviction of sin, she attended our chapel, on the evening of the twenty-third of that month, at which time the Rev. J. Harris was preaching his first sermon here; and while he was referring to the love of Christ for perishing sinners, she felt some hope. After preaching she remained at the prayer-meeting, and while the friends were engaged in prayer with God on her behalf, she was earnestly seeking, through Christ, the forgiveness of her sins; and on one of the brethren enquiring, "Are you willing to give up all for Christ?" she replied, "I am willing, I want salvation.' It was then said to her, “Christ came to save sinners, you feel you are a sinner, therefore Christ came to save you;" and while groaning in spirit to enjoy the liberty of the children of God, and exercising faith in the world's Redeemer, she believed that Christ loved her, and gave himself for her. She that night gave her heart to God, who gave His Son for her. Returning to her sister's house, it was perceived that she had been weeping; on inquiring as to the cause, she replied, that she "wept not so much on account of her recent conflict, nor because she doubted her acceptance for a moment, but she wept for joy, because the sentence of condemnation, which had pressed heavily upon her spirit, was now removed."

The Sabbath following she met in the class held in her father's house, and expressed her thankfulness to God for the gift of His Son, and the enjoyment she felt in the forgiveness of her sins; as also, her determination, by the grace of God, to be faithful to the end of her life. She ever after manifested a strong attachment to Christ and His cause, and during the whole period that she was a member of the church on earth, her Christian experience was clear and satisfactory; by the grace of God, she obtained the victory over her besetment-irritability of temper. In her class she often said, "I am a sinner saved by grace. I feel I love Jesus, but I want to love Him more. He has saved me from my sins, from my easily beseting sins. I feel He is precious. I wish to be holy, as He is holy. I have no other desire but to glorify Him with body and soul, which are His." During the last year of her pilgrimage with the church on earth she prospered in holiness and piety-in love to God and His Gospel. She invariably manifested deep solicitude for her neighbours' conversion, praying that the little class in which she met might soon be augmented by their conversion to God, and union with His people; a prayer that has, at least to some extent, been answered since her decease; and she was ever earnest in her prayers to God for the conversion of her brothers and sisters; may this desire of her heart soon be realized.

About six months previous to her death, she remarked to a friend who had been ill, "I thought you were going to heaven before me, but I now

think, being so poorly, that I shall get there before you." In all her protracted affliction she expressed her resignation to the will of God, "I am willing either to die or live." Her youthfulness, and the flattering complaint-consumption-under which she laboured, held out hope to her friends that she would recover. Her confidence in the wisdom of the Divine procedure was strong; this led her to express her firm faith, that her Godwhatever the issue of her present affliction-was too wise to err-too good to be unkind. July 2nd, 1848, was the last Sabbath she attended her class, when she stated that she felt religion to be good; that she had peace with God through Jesus Christ; and a hope blooming with immortality, and eternal life. Her gratitude to God was unspeakable, for that she had been led by His Spirit to give her heart to Him, while in youth and health. A fortnight later, as she was not able then to attend her class, her leader visited her; and on his observing to her that she was very unwell, she said, “Yes, or else I had been at my class. I had intended to have been there." "Well," replied her leader, "you will soon have done with this world; you will soon be in heaven, where we hope to meet you; we have often met and prayed together in the church militant, and we hope to meet in the church triumphant." He then asked her, "Do you feel happy in God this morning?" she replied, "Yes." "Are you afraid to die?" "No!" she

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replied. "You do not doubt your acceptance with God then?" She said, No, I feel all condemnation removed; I feel I have a bright prospect of heaven. I feel Jesus is mine."

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The night before her death her mother-in-law asked her, "Do you now feel happy?" She still replied with confidence, "My prospect for heaven is bright." Then she earnestly engaged in prayer. Her mother said to her, Ann, you often said you had no anxiety about living or dying, feeling reconciled to the Lord's will, how do you feel on these matters now that your sufferings are so acute? you have now, I presume, a desire to depart and be with Christ which is far better?" Then, while struggling with death and almost unable to speak, and with her last words, she replied, "O that I were but in heaven!" Soon after, she feel asleep in Him whom she loved, on Thursday, August 3rd, 1848.

Her death was improved in our chapel at Appleby, by the Rev. E. Wright, to a numerous and deeply attentive congregation, from "I heard a voice from heaven, saying, Write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them."

ISAAC NICHOLSON.

RECENT DEATH.

DIED, at Bury, Lancashire, February 10th, 1850, Mr. Thomas Haslegreaves, aged sixty-three years. He had been a consistent member of the Methodist Society upwards of forty years. He was very highly esteemed by his employers, as an upright, quiet, and industrious servant. He was ardent in his attachment to Sunday-schools; very regular and punctual in his attendance at the Sabbath-school to which he belonged. As a husband and father, he was faithful and affectionate. After a long and very painful illness, borne with Christian meekness, he died in peace. "The memory of the just is blessed."

J. TOWNEND.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

BURSLEM.

TO THE REV. R. ECKETT,-DEAR SIR, TWELVE months have elapsed since we took our place among the churches of the Wesleyan Methodist Association. This event has been followed by consequences impressively significant of Divine approbation-consequences which, to some extent, have formed an answer to the prayer with which you concluded, the account of our affairs, in the number of your periodical for March, 1849; and which I hope, in future times and in eternity, will be realized in all its amplitude of desired good.

At our Christmas quarterly meeting, we found that the number of members returned for Burslem was 308, and for Longport 63, making a total of 371 for the Circuit; which number, compared with the statement in the Magazine for March, 1849, shows an increase to the Society of 168 souls. This increase includes some who aforetime had been members, but who had ceased to run well. The greater portion, however, consists of individuals not previously in membership with any Church of Christ; and many of them, according to their own account, persons previously notoriously profligate and vicious. They are therefore positive accessions to the Church of the Redeemer drawn from the ranks of sinners. All glory to God who has thus caused his grace to triumph! for we reckon, "neither is he that planteth any thing, nor he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase." It gives me pleasure to add, that many of the souls thus brought into the fold of Christ are giving evidence of their sound conversion to God; and the members in general, so far as we know, are all so living as to prove that they are desirous of fleeing from "the wrath to come." God grant that they all may be conducted to the right hand of Him, in whose presence is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore. We have prospects of additional triumphs. Our congregations manifest a spirit of hearing: often

times on a Sabbath evening the chapel is crowded, and deep seriousness pervades our assemblies. The Word, frequently, comes not in word only, but in power, and in much assurance, and in the Holy Ghost. The Sabbath-school also is doing its part as a nursery for the Church; many of the elder scholars are becoming members of the Church.

Looking at our affairs in another aspect, it is to us a very gratifying fact, that we have brought no burden upon the Connexion. When we had the pleasure of seeing yourself, in company with the Rev. John Peters, as the deputation to inquire into our affairs, it will be in your recollection, we did not pledge ourselves to more than fifty pounds, as the amount of our annual contributions; indicating that we should have to draw upon the Connexional funds for the difference betwixt that sum and the amount of the preacher's salary. Not one penny, however, have we had occasion to ask for; the expense, of bringing our minister to us, and of his subsequent support, has all been defrayed from our own resources. This is pleasant to us. I consider this a subject of gratulation; more especially because none of our other pecuniary interests have suffered. The benevolent Society's funds, Trustee collections, School contributions, have all been sustained, and placed ahead of some previous years; besides these, we have had Missionary collections made among us this year, for the first time, as a part of our systematic operations. We also are providing private rooms for adult classes in the school, and vestries for the society's use, and an orchestra for the singers. We are building what we call an octagon end to the western side of our chapel, which, when completed, together with the painting of the chapel, will cost us about three hundred pounds: all this is to be paid for, so that no additional obligation shall be brought upon the trustees. Besides, we have furnished a house for the residence of our minister.

At our school sermons, which were

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