remainder, among whom was the master, after continuing on the wreck a considerable time, were, on a partial abatement of the storm, providentially delivered from their perilous situation. On the following day, the storm having subsided, some of the inhabitants, (as is usual after any vessels have been driven on shore, or wrecked,) descended to the beach, when the dead bodies of our fellow-creatures, which had been washed on shore, demanded from the sympathies of their natures, a Christian burial-among them were the bodies of those who had been lost from the vessel before us-these were soon recognised by their surviving shipmates. Such, however, was the lordly-mindedness, or brutality, or both, of the unfeeling master, that he refused to own them, and with oaths and curses, persisted in denying them. This conduct may, indeed, appear singular, but by refusing to acknowledge them, he saved the expence the parish would have charged on him for the interment of his unfortunate men. Such proceedings did not pass unnoticed by his fellow-men, neither, it would appear, did it escape the cognizance of Him whose eyes run to and fro in the earth, beholding the evil and the good.'

After this unnatural act, he proceeded with his men to endeavour to remove the timber from their vessel. The tide having ebbed, the vessel was left nearly or quite dry. Ilaving descended between decks, they peceived the timber, by the heeling of the ship, was heaped on one side. The master, observing a degree of timidity on the part of one man, to hazard himself, by poising the timber, seized, in a rage, the hand-spike from his hand, and with an oath, demanded if he was fearful of going to hell before his time. Scarcely had he concluded the impious question, before the timber he was attempting to move, fell from its position, and caught him by the thighs against some other pieces, with a weight which must have fractured both his legs. His case now became truly piteous. The deck being above them, it was impossible to raise the timber by which to extricate him. No time, however, could be lost, the tide had already begun to flow-his crew, more feeling towards him than he had been towards their ship-mates, attempted, by every means within their power, to release him, but in vain. The tide flowing fast upon them, they were, however unwillingly compelled to abandon him to his fate. Burthened with the load of a guilty conscience, and groaning beneath the pains of broken limbs, and the heavy pressure of an enormous weight still lying upon him, he sat until, by degrees, the water rising higher and higher, put a period to his mortal existence.

THE GRACE OF GOD MANIFESTED.

To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine.

DEAR SIR,

The death of the young lady who is the subject of the following

account, has produced a very considerable sensation in the mind of a large circle of persons in this town, by whom she was known and beloved. When her funeral sermon was preached, many were much affected, and there is reason to believe, serious impressions were produced. It is with the view of giving permanency to those impressions, as well as of producing them in others who were unable to obtain admission at that time, (and who amounted to some hundreds) that this account is handed to you for insertion in your very useful Magazine. Its early appearance will oblige the relatives of the deceased, and also yours, with much respect and affection, JOHN BICKNELL.

Colchester.

An Account (particularly of the last Illness and Death) of Miss ANN CANDLER, daughter of Mr. William Candler, of Colchester, who departed this life, May 11, 1820, aged 22 years.

Not to eulogize our departed friend and sister, but to advantage her survivors, is the design of this memorial. The example of an intelligent and respectable female at the age of 20 years, resolving to renounce the gaieties of the world, and consecrate herself to God-turning her back, in consequence of such resolu tions, on every worldly pursuit and amusement, and uniting her hand in Christian fellowship to a people whom it has been thought fashionable to despise-and to see this young woman two years afterwards, exemplify on the bed of sickness and of death, the succour and triumphs of that religion which she had made choice of; reads a lecture interesting to all, but more especially so to those, who, like herself, are just risen into all the bodily and mental vigour of life's best estate. They, in common with our late friend, find themselves surrounded with a variety of objects which are calculated to excite their desires and engage their affections, and which, by thus binding them down to earth, render them indifferent to more glorious pursuits. Preachers may point out the vanity of such objects, and anathematize those who seek in them their chief good; but the judgment of youth is easily imposed on by the flattering appearances of life; their affections are easily captivated by the representations of their lively companions; t requires no little resolution to act against the general practice, and to break off connexions, which, setting aside the concerns of the soul, are pleasing and even endearing-in short, the world is present; it is seen, and it is felt; but eternity is distant, and is known only by report; the world is an object of sense, eternity is only an object of faith; such are the considerations, which tend, in no inconsiderable degree, to maintain that total or partial disregard of heavenly things, which every minister has to deplore in his hearers, but which not his most zealous efforts can fully overcome. But great is the power of example, and particularly

of such an example as we are now recording; it demonstrates the existence of an influence upon the mind more efficient than that of every worldly attraction combined; an influence which successfully counteracted the ardour of youthful passions, and the solicitations of gay associates; an influence, which enabled its subject for ever to break allegiance with sin and satan, and to take refuge from the snares of evil and the wrath of heaven, in that sanctuary of holiness and peace, which is opened to us in the gospel. May this example not be lost on her surviving acquaintances!

Miss Candler had the happiness of being descended from parents who fear and love God, and who, therefore, could not be unconcerned about her salvation. Suggestions on Divine subjects were often made to her mind from a very early period, both by their instrumentality, and by the immediate operation of the Spirit of God; the impressions so produced, were, in her case, as in most, sometimes very transient; at other times somewhat more durable. It pleased God, however, about two years and a half before her decease, to visit her with those impressions which were so powerful as to produce an entire surrender of herself to his service, and so permanent as to render the duration of that act, co-eval with the duration of her life. The existence and operation of these convictions will appear from the following extracts from two letters, written about the period alluded to, to a young friend.

"I thank you, my dear Eliza, for your note; it would be altogether impossible for me to describe the pleasure I felt while I was reading it. I thought, Well, the friend whom I have loved as a sister, is about to offer unto God an acceptable sacrifice, I mean yourself in the flower of youth; we indeed, every moment, stand in need of the protection of a Supreme Being; but, O my friend, in the slippery paths of youth, when the pulse of life beats high, and we picture to ourselves a world in colours fair and fascinating, how much, then, we need the guidance of an Almighty hand, else should we not precipitate ourselves into never-ending misery? O, my friend, the Lord has blessed us with conviction, let us not grieve his Spirit; the devil will do all he can to prevent us from being devoted to God; but to conquer the enemy of mankind, we must be frequent and earnest in prayer, "for satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees." For my part, I feel more determined than ever to give up the vain and empty trifles of this fleeting life, being convinced that there is nothing in it, which can give one minute's real pleasure; while the happiness that flows from religion is unspeakable and everlasting.'

The other letter is equally satisfactory in evincing a determination to give up herself to God.

"You have, I doubt not, been tempted to think (I am sure I have) that if you were to become religious, you would have to give up all the pleasures of life; but no, it is not so, our pleasures

will be infinitely increased. In my opinion, a real penitent is much happier than those who are not sorry for their sins, and yet have every thing the world can give. I have often thought how disgraceful it is for us to think, Well, when we get old, we will serve the Lord.' O let us think so no longer; there is nothing in which God delights more than in seeing those who are in the vigour of health decidedly devoted to his service; and can we be unwilling to please so good, so wise a Being, a Being to whom we are indebted for every blessing we enjoy?"

It was this deep and lively sense of the importance of religion, both as her duty and her happiness, that induced her to become a member of the Methodist Society, that she might possess herself of the helps which are to be derived from the communion of the faithful, a step than which there is not one that can be taken by a sincere seeker of salvation, that is more calculated to preserve the operations of grace which are already commenced, and to carry them on to maturity. That there are so many persons, both in our congregations, and in those of other denominations, whose minds are enlightened to discover the beauty of religion, and their own want of it, and whose hearts are often affected with their state, but who neglect to avail themselves of the benefits of churchfellowship, is matter of unfeigned regret to every minister of Christ. Year after year do some of these persons remain in a state of indecision, tossed to and fro between the church and the world, decidedly attached to neither, and hence disowned by both. Such conduct is dishonourable, and it is unhappy. Who respects the man that conforms to every company; "is always worldly with the worldly, and sanctified with the saints?" But consistency and uprightness are sure to be admired; whatever the world may have to say against a zealous Christian for a time, by steadiness and perseverance, he at length lives down reproach, and becomes an object of their veneration and esteem. The infelicity of such half-measures is not less indisputable than their disgracefulness; these lukewarm professors have too much light in their understandings, and too many checks of conscience, to relish the pleasures of sin. And as to the joys of religion, they are exclusively the portion of those who have broken their covenant with hell, and have avouched the Lord to be their God. In this respect, our deceased friend acted the part of wisdom; resolved to be on the Lord's side, she, at the same time, adopted the most likely means of giving effect and permanency to that resolution, by enrolling her name among the living in Jerusalem. And it is much to be desired, both for their own comfort, and for the honour and spread of Christianity among others, that all who are convinced of the necessity of experimental piety, would unite themselves to that religious community, which ever it may be, whose doctrines shall appear to them, on mature examination,

to be most consonant with the word of God, and whose churchprivileges and discipline, they believe, on a similar examination, most calculated to build them up in holiness, and to prepare them for the Church above.

Miss Candler never repented of giving herself to God and to his people; it was not indeed until her last illness that she could speak with confidence of possessing that joy in the Holy Ghost, and that lively hope of future glory which the gospel offers to all believers, and short of which no awakened person ought to stop; but that she had not received the grace of God in vain, her conduct testified to the satisfaction of all who knew her. The levity of spirit, and gaiety of behaviour, by which she had formerly been characterized, were exchanged for a temper and a conduct worthy of the gospel; and since her decease, many remarks written by her on various occasions, have been found, which give proof that God was gradually detaching her spirit from the present world, and preparing her for that transition from time into eternity, which we are now about to contemplate.

Miss C. was confined to her bed for about a month before her death; during this period her sufferings were very great; but so far from repining, she expressed an unwillingness to be in any other circumstances than those in which God had been pleased to place her. On Friday, May 5, six days previous to her departure, her father and mother, seeing her in a composed state of mind, and wishing to be quite satisfied that such composure arose from a sense of the mercy of God through the blood of the Lamb, asked her pointedly respecting her experience. Ann replied, "she had long loved God and his word, his cause, and his people, though she sometimes had her fears whether she was altogether safe for eternity." Her father said, "God will save you if you love him, for we are told that we love him because he hath first loved us;' and added the apostolical advice, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' This advice she was soon enabled to comply with, and believing on the sacrifice of the Son of God, as having been offered up for her, was filled with peace and joy, and exclaimed, "I am happy in his love." From that happy moment, every doubt was removed, the light of God's countenance shone upon her mind without one intervening cloud, and during the remaining days and nights in which her enraptured spirit was labouring to disburthen itself of its mortal tenement, she was employed, as often as she could speak, in glorifying God for the great things which he had shewn her, and in exhorting all who saw her to secure that religion, the supports and triumphs of which she so fully experienced.

Her medical attendant had, by this time, given up all hope of her recovery; but this intelligence, instead of producing any degree of alarm in her mind, was received by her with entire