AN INFIDEL SILENCED BY A COUNTRYMAN. TAKING a ramble one lovely summer's day, in company with some Devonport friends, over the barren moors and through the fertile glens which render the county of Devonshire so picturesque and beautiful, we came to a lone farm-house, situated just in the centre of a deep valley inlaid with gardens and orchards, and intersected by a branch of the silver Tavy, on the banks of which the ancient Tavy-stoke is built. The house was inhabited by a plain unlettered farmer, a Methodist, who welcomed us to his hospitable board, and interested us, while seated around his oak table, with a recital, of which the following is the substance :— "I was crossing over the moors the other day, when I was accosted by an infidel, in appearance a gentleman, who said, Fine weather to-day.' Countryman. Yes! How thankful we should be to God! Infidel. What! Do you think there is a God? C. (Surprised.) Yes! I do. I. What makes you think so? C. Everything about me makes me think so. If I look up above me, I see the moon, the stars, they tell me they all had a maker, as much so as this watch tells me. 1. Pho! Pho! all things came by chance in the first instance. C. Why don't they come by chance now, then? Why don't we see great oxen coming up out of the ground, and men full grown coming by chance? I. Because the same necessity does not exist. C. Then it never existed. I. But you never saw God! C. No. But I feel him in my heart. I. What a foolish old man you must be to believe in anything you cannot see! (Just then a strong breeze began to blow from the mountain tors of Dartmoor, and the Infidel remarked:) Dear me, how the wind is blowing. C. Do you think there is any I. Yes, to be sure; I feel it. C. Can you see it? I. No. wind? C. Do you believe then in what you cannot see? H. T. Our Correspondent put the words of the intelligent countryman into such forms as to make them express the pronunciation of the labouring classes in Devonshire; and we, thinking that in this case such provincialisms should not be put into print, had to re-write the article; because our correspondent, contrary to our published request, wrote his lines so close together as not to leave sufficient room for requisite alteration. FIRMNESS OF CHRISTIANITY.-The rock of salvation is solidity itself: it cannot be shaken either by the doubts of the sceptic, or the sarcasm of the sneerer.-HALLER. BIOGRAPHY. MR. WILLIAM MATTHEWS, OF SALFORD. WHEN those are called away by death who have laboured zealously in the cause of truth, borne the burden and heat of the day, and become venerable in the Church of Christ for age and Christian attainments, friendship and justice combine-as well for the benefit of the living, as to manifest their esteem for the dead-to perpetuate their memory, recal their acts of devotedness, and record their virtues, which, through Divine grace, shone with resplendent lustre amidst the moral darkness of a sinful world. An event of this nature has occurred in the decease of Mr. William Matthews. He was born in the city of Salisbury, Wiltshire, on the 15th of December, 1778. His parents moved in a respectable sphere; but it does not appear that, when he was at home, cither of them was decidedly religious. While he was young, his mother was removed by death; and from this circumstance may be dated, more or less directly, his deep conviction of the necessity of "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Some time after this, he removed with his father to the town of Wrexham, Denbighshire, where he, with the family, attended divine service in a place of worship belonging to the Presbyterians. He did not, however, continue long to attend there, for he soon afterwards became a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Society; and amongst that people he sought and found the Saviour of sinners; so that in early youth he experienced the great, important saving change. This was the turning point in his existence. From his childhood he appears to have been much given to reading; but now, being converted to God, he gave himself to this delightful exercise more than ever. By this means, he at length became well acquainted with scriptural and theological truth. He also made himself tolerably well acquainted with the principal events recorded in ancient and ecclesiastical history. He also paid considerable attention to the arts and sciences; and in some of them he became tolerably proficient. His habit of reading was so well formed, that he continued to be a great reader to the end of his days. Shortly after his conversion, he, under the following circumstances, made his first attempt to preach the Gospel. About twelve miles from Wrexham there was a place called Wern, to which place a few poor members of the Methodist Society, from different circuits, had removed. Those agreed to meet together as a Methodist class, though they were not at that time recognised by any society, nor had they the preaching of the Gospel amongst them. Their condition in this respect was deeply felt, and many efforts were made by them to get preachers from the neighbouring circuits to visit them. "In those days the Word of the Lord was precious." At length, as a last resort, two of the members went over to Wrexham, soliciting help; but, to their great discouragement, they were again unsuccessful, until Mr. Matthews, feeling much for their condition, said, "Well, then, though I am no preacher, yet I will come over and try what I can do." Accordingly, he, in company with another person, went over, and, for the first time, preached the everlasting Gospel, being moved to do so by the constraining love of Christ, which led him to feel for the solicitous and destitute. Having begun the work, it was not long before he was requested to preach in almost every part of the circuit. It appears that his first efforts to do good by preaching were remarkably successful. At Wern, as well as several other places, the Word of the Lord, as preached by him, did truly run, and was glorified. Through the revival of religion which then broke out, the congregations in many places were so enlarged, that the houses in which they worshipped were far too small to accommodate the numbers that wished to attend, and chapels, or larger places of worship, became indispensably necessary. Much of the good done in that revival still remains; and there are several persons yet living, who speak of Mr. Matthews as the Lord's servant, by whom they were turned from the error of their ways. Most of the old societies in the circuit were greatly increased; in several places new societies were formed, and the servants of God saw great prosperity. The want of places to preach in, led Mr. Matthews to exert himself in another way. The friends, in several of the societies, having set to work to build new chapels, Mr. Matthews entered zealously into this work, and rendered every assistance in his power. His zeal, exemplary piety, and talents, did not pass unnoticed by the authorities of the circuit. He was called, according to the usages of the Methodist Connexion, to leave his home, and go out as an Itinerant minister. All the preparatory steps were taken, and he expected to go abroad with the late Dr. Coke, as a Missionary. The doctor wrote for him to meet him at Bristol; but at that moment his father interfered, and would not consent to his going-stating that he was too young to enter into such a serious undertaking. He submitted to his father, and continued to employ his talents as a local preacher. From this time, Mr. Matthews entered more fully into worldly business, and in this he was blessed with considerable success. His temporal circumstances at one time were exceedingly good. But, when that was the case, it was his greatest ambition to seek the prosperity of the religious denomination to which he belonged. He seems literally to have made the cause of Christ his own. For six of the chapels in the neighbourhood of Wrexham he became a trustee, and, for a while, the greater part of the burden, as to expenses, rested on him; but in this respect he did not let his right hand know what his left hand did. He supported Methodism because he believed it to be the cause of God. His liberality has made a very deep impression on the minds of many of those whose lot it now is to live and lament his loss. But what is best, while he is remembered with gratitude on earth, his reward is on high. Mr. Matthews' labours to do good, however, were not confined to his own personal exertions; he strove in many ways to get others interested in the cause of Christ, and to labour for its prosperity. The members of his classes were frequently solicited and encouraged to lay themselves out for usefulness, and to seek the salvation of souls. Whenever he saw promising young men, either in his own classes, or elsewhere, he made it his duty, and it certainly was his delight, to render them every assistance in his power in the cultivation of their minds, and in their general preparations for doing good. Several persons, who are now preachers of the Gospel, speak of his instructions, and advice as having been of great service to them. On this subject, the Rev. William Edwards, Wesleyan minister, under date of March 17th, 1849, has written to the following effect:"Our acquaintance commenced about the time when Mr. Matthews began to preach. He, and an intimate friend of his and mine-a Mr. J. Whitehead, who became an itinerant minister in our body, who some years since was taken to his reward-used to come from Wrexham to Wern, in the neighbourhood of Oswestry, a distance of twelve miles, to make known to us, who resided there, the good tidings of salvation. Under their ministry, my soul was much blessed and edified; and also by their pious conversation. High days they were to me, and some of the happiest of my life, when they favoured us with their company. By these excellent bre thren I was urged to speak for the Lord, and I yielded at length to their entreaties, to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and Church of Christ; and, having obtained help of the Lord, remain to the present. Mr. Matthews was of great service to me in helping me forward in the Divine life. The advice he gave me respecting holiness of heart, watchfulness, and perseverance in well-doing, are still fresh in my recollection. The books he lent me, his prayers for me, and the counsel he gave me--always the most suitableI shall never forget. We have travelled miles together, to and from our appointments, and spent many an hour in his house, and I can affirm, that his conversation was always peculiarly interesting and profitable, especially to a stripling like myself, just drawn from the allurements of a vain and wicked world, to seek my happiness in the Lord. To me he was a valued friend; his experience, his reading, and intelligence, being far superior to my own. After I became an Itinerant minister, in 1813, we corresponded but little, yet, I had the pleasure of paying him a few visits, and can truly say I always found him a sincere, unchanging friend to me, a faithful servant of God, and, as such, I trust he is now enjoying a great reward in heaven." In his private character he was really benevolent. It was his joy to magnify the religion of the cross, by doing good unto all men, especially unto the household of faith. Several instances could be adduced, in which he was truly kind to the poor; one of which is sufficient. A young man, who was a member of his class, and a local preacher, being very ill, Mr. Matthews not only paid great attention to his spiritual wants, but manifested great concern to have his temporal necessities supplied. His house was open to him as long as he could walk there; and when he was too weak to do so, a daily supply of all he needed was sent to his own home. The best medical advice in Wrexham was got for him, and when that failed, and Mr. Matthews heard of an eminent physician, who resided about twelve miles distant, Mr. Matthews sent the sick man regularly, in his own conveyance, to the physician, as long as there was any hope of his recovery. The whole of the expense he most cheerfully paid. In him the poor and the needy had always a friend. About the year 1822, after long continued and earnest prayer, he was privileged to witness the conversion of his father. Up to that period, his father had been a man full of business, and given up entirely to a worldly spirit. During a season of affliction, his father was convinced of sin, and his mind became greatly distressed about his situation. Mr. Matthews strove to explain to him the doctrine of justification by faith, read some of Mr. Wesley's sermons to him, and employed other means for his benefit. One day, when Mr. Matthews was praying in his chamber, he heard an unusual noise in the adjoining room, and, having hastened to ascertain the cause, he found his father rejoicing in a sense of the pardoning love of God. This blessed assurance he retained to the day of his death, which took place about the month of June in that year. In the year 1830, Mr. Matthews removed from Wrexham to reside in the town of Manchester. The kindness of his character, together with his unblemished reputation, as a man and a Christian, had so won for him the affections of the people, that his removal from Wrexham was generally lamented. In Manchester he united himself with the Wesleyan Methodist Society, and amongst them he laboured with his usual zeal and assiduity. 14 The agitation which took place in the Methodist Connexion in the year 1835, was a source of much grief to him; and he frequently suffered a great amount of mental distress on account of the violent proceedings which then took place. When the disturbance began, he had been a member of the Methodist Society about forty years, and consequently he had formed many strong attachments; the severance of which gave him considerable pain. Indeed, all his predilections and prejudices were in favour of Conference Methodism; consequently, when the crisis came, he suffered greatly. He had ever considered the "Concessions of 1795 and 1797" as solemn compacts made between the Conference and the people, and had looked upon them as the magna charta of Methodism; but he was astounded and grieved when he saw the preachers systematically violating, what he considered as the most solemn agreements, by recklessly expelling, from the Society, members and officers without either charge or trial! For some time he stood in the breach, and strove to prevent a division, until his attachment to the violated principles on the one hand, and unkind treatment on the other, drove him openly to declare, that there was no hope of reconciliation. He then, greatly disgusted, left the Conference party, and became a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Association. Having enrolled himself as a member of the Association, he gave himself most earnestly to labour for the establishment of its societies in the Salford Circuit, and also for the establishment of the Connexion in general. At the commencement, he and three others were appointed to take suitable premises, for the Salford Society, for a Sabbath-school and place of worship; and in making the needful arrangements he laboured most earnestly. He was appointed one of the class-leaders; and as a leader, his efforts were vigorous and successful. He also gave himself, with increased energy, to his favourite work of preaching the Gospel. Having been appointed one of the members of the first Connexional Committee, he laboured in that capacity with great zeal and exemplary diligence. From the first, the welfare of the Association was exceedingly dear to him, and, as long as his health permitted, he was ever ready to do what he could to promote its prosperity. In the autumn of 1847, he was attacked with the then prevailing epidemic, influenza, which was accompanied, in his case, by rheumatism. The attack was severe, and the consequent pain was extreme, frequently robbing him of sleep for several nights together. To his friends, he appeared to be sensibly wearing away; but, for his own part, he cherished hopes that he should recover. These hopes however, proved, in the end, delusive. Though he was thus afflicted, he still took a very lively interest in the affairs of the Society. In the latter end of the year 1847, when the Annual Circuit tea-meeting was held, such was his desire to know the state of the Circuit, that, though he was then very weak and feeble, he resolved to attend. It was with considerable difficulty that he reached the school-room where the meeting was held. After tea, the friends-supposing it would be the last meeting of that kind he would ever attend-voted him to the chair. In his opening address, as one about to leave them, he exhorted the brethren most feelingly to be kind and affectionate one toward another, to bear one with another, and to live in constant peace and concord; adding, that otherwise they could not expect to see prosperity. While he was speaking, great solemnity prevailed in the meeting; and all present seemed to receive what was said as his last advice. His services, as a local preacher and class-leader, were continued as long as he could in any way perform the duties. The last time he preached, was at the village of Winton, in the Salford Circuit. He was then very poorly, and really unfit to endure the labour, but he thought it was the call of duty, and therefore he would go. His last text was 1 Tim. i. 15. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." Then he, for the last time, testified publicly to the truth and acceptability of that report which he had been publishing between forty and fifty years. His class was met by him regularly at his |