leader, he was faithful in the discharge of his duty. As a local preacher he let nothing hinder him from fulfilling his appointments. On these considerations his place in the religious world must be greatly missed. May the Lord help me to follow him as far as he followed Christ, that I may meet him in heaven, for the Redeemer's sake. Amen. W. R. Soon after Phœbus, deckt with splendid gold, But while in youthful days thy mental eyes Where we shall sit, and chant redeeming love, To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine. Should the following short account of " an old disciple" meet your views, I shall be obliged by your giving it a place in your Methodist Magazine.-Your's, most affectionately, Norwich, Aug. 1818. B. SLATER. JOHN SENIOR, the subject of this brief memoir, was born at a small village near Wakefield, in Yorkshire, in the year 1743. He was a subject of early impression in Divine things, for he writes, "When at school, while between six and seven years of age, I felt a strong disposition to sin in a small matter, which might have turned to more serious consequences; but from a conviction and check of conscience from the Spirit of God, was enabled to resist." "At seven years of age I was visited with a clear conviction for sin, and of there being both a heaven and a hell, and I resolved to change my manner of life. This conviction was produced by my hearing my father read a form of prayers; but, alas! these impressions soon wore off, in seeing a want of uniformity in professors." How needful to be circumspect in our walk, when children of seven years of age notice our conduct. I find no more said by Mr. S. till 1771, when he was 28 years old. It was then that he obtained a clear sense of the pardoning love of God. When seeking the Lord with deep sorrow, he was led to read the 17th of John's gospel. Deliberately proceeding with close reflection, the anguish of his soul increased, because he supposed it was all for the disciples; but when he came to the 20th verse, and read, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word," his poor wounded soul took encouragement, he laid hold of Christ, and was enabled to rejoice in him as a sin-pardoning God. Having received his good by the ministry of the Methodist preachers, he deemed it right to unite himself to the body; and from the year 1771, to the day of his death, he was a steady, pious, and useful member of our society. In the year 1777, in the month of May, he removed from Ossett, near Wakefield, to this city, in which he resided for upwards of 41 years, the greater part of which time he was a respectable and useful.class-leader. In the year 1804, brother Senior was visited with a paralytic stroke, on which he writes as follows: "August 12, 1804. This day I was seized with a paralytic stroke. The Lord hath given me health and strength; the Lord hath taken them away, and blessed be the name of the Lord." Brother Senior felt a strong wish to make social visits profitable: and often complained they were not more so. As I wish the few extracts I make from his journal to be useful, I will select one or two on this subject. "April 18, 1807. I have this day been at tea with a friend. My mind is rather uncomfortable. I see it is a difficult thing, in a mixed company, to keep from speaking unnecessary words. It is an easy matter to slide into jesting and foolish talking, and make work for remorse of conscience. ware of this for the time to come.-In my visit this day to Mr. H.'s, I went with timidity and fear; but God was better to me than all my fear; our conversation was agreeable, and chiefly on religious subjects. Help me, O Lord, to have my eye single, that my whole body may be full of light, and that I may not cast a stumbling-block before others." Be "October 4, 1813. Being in company with some of God's people, I thought I saw my former self, which was being soon angry; and I thought it was very unbecoming a follower of the meek and lowly Jesus, who endured the contradiction of sinners against himself. It brought to my mind those words of Solomon, 'He that ruleth his spirit, is better than he that taketh a city.'" When we reflect on the resolutions by which Mr. S. governed his mind, we shall not wonder he made the above reflections. They are as follow: 1. I will this day watch against all evil thoughts, especially in time of devotion. 2. Not to use many words; and when I speak, to do it with deliberation. 3. Never to answer any ques tion that is weighty without first lifting up my heart to God, that I may give a right answer. 4. To speak evil of no man. And, 5. Never to make a visit without contriving to do something for God." As John Senior lived, so he died. Serving God in his generation, he was gathered to his fathers in peace. Some time before his death he wrote as follows: "O Saviour, thou hast undertaken to carry me to the land of promise! How faithful, how powerful have I found thee! How fearlessly should I trust thee! How cheerfully should I follow thee, through contempt, through poverty, through afflictions, yea, through death itself." During the last twelve months of his valuable life, I had the happiness of visiting Mr. S. and I always found him the same man. Founded on the Rock of Ages, his happiness was solid, his joys were real, his hopes remarkably cheering, and his end gloriously triumphant. When in the agonies of death, he cried out, "O! if I had my religion to seek now, what should I do?" But that God whom he had served forty-seven years, was now his great support. The Word of God had long been a particular blessing to him; and, on his death-bed, the 5th of Romans afforded him such strong consolation, as was truly gratifying. Under the strongest sense of the presence of God, he departed this life July 28, 1818, during the time of Conference. To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine. DEAR SIR, Having been intimately acquainted with the subject of the following memoir, for upwards of thirty years; and having attended him for several years, in his various infirmities, and in that affliction which terminated his mortal existence; I take the liberty of communicating to you a short account of his holy life and happy death.—I am, dear Sir, your affectionate brother, Hollinsclough, August 29, 1820. JOHN LOMAS. A Short Account of Mr. ROWLAND HEATHCOTE. Mr. Rowland Heathcote was born in November, 1764, in the parish of Hartington, Derbyshire, and was one of the younger branches of a numerous offspring. His parents were persons of a moral character, industrious, and frugal in their business, which was farming. His father afterwards took a farm in Earl Sterndale, in the same parish. Here Rowland, by industry and obedience, was a child of much comfort to his parents. About this period the Lord having sent the preachers, in connexion with the Rev. John Wesley, who had previously prepared their way into this part of the country, at a place a few miles distant from Sterndale, much good had been done by the labours of these men of God; the minds of the people became enlightened, and many souls were brought to a saving knowledge of Divine things. These persons being filled with love to God, were zealous to promote his glory, and desirous that others might become acquainted with that gospel which they had found to be "the power of God to their own salvation." Prompted by these feelings, two of them, about the year 1787, went over to Sterndale weekly, for the purpose of holding prayer-meetings, and giving exhortations to as many as thought proper to meet with them. The Lord graciously blessed their labours to the conviction and conversion of some souls. Amongst others, our friend Heathcote was brought to experience redemption in the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of sins.. Hearing of the pleasing prospect that was thus opened, (about the year 1789,) the travelling preachers, from the Burslem circuit, began visiting Sterndale once a fortnight. A small class was fformed, of which our departed brother was made the leader; for some time they continued steadfast in Christian fellowship, and a few members were added to their little society. But the person who had entertained the preachers being taken to that rest which remaineth to the people of God, brother Heathcote, who had just begun to occupy his father's farm, opened his house for Divine worship: the Lord condescended to bless his word, and strengthened the faith anu. 1 love of Rowland and his brother class the first evening teady to bear the burdens: eleven were united they had preaching; some of whom continue to this day. members of our society, whilst others have fallen asleep in Christ. The Lord condescending to bless his word, in establishing the minds of our late friend and his brother Joshua in the faith of the Redeemer, they begun to receive the preachers at their houses alternately, and continued so to do, till Rowland's infirmities incapacitating him for business, he gave up his farm. About this time his brother Joshua died: but Rowland, by agreement with & friend, provided for a continuance of the preaching, and, at his death, left an annuity of five pounds for the further support of God's cause in that place. In one part of his pilgrimage, our departed friend passed through some severe exercise of mind, particularly in the fulfilment of his brother Joshua's will, of which he was sole executor; when the affairs were settled, he went on his way rejoicing; zealous for Zion's peace, and the enlargement of Christ's kingdom: he was a man of few words, cultivating peace and goodI will towards all men; and, rather than offend with his tongue, would patiently suffer in his character or property. He had given himself up to much reading, meditation, and prayer; knew how to sympathize with the distressed, and delighted to afford them every relief in his power, especially to such as were of the houseVOL. XLIV. MARCH, 1821. . hold of faith; he frequently visited the sick and the dying, adapting his advice to the peculiar states of each, and directing those who were penitents to Christ, the only refuge for sinners. In the different branches of the farmer's business, he was well skilled, particularly in the management of neat cattle; and when his assistance was needed, by a friend or enemy, he was ever ready, by night or day, gratuitously to render it. A few years ago, he told us in a love-feast at Hollinsclough, that the Lord had sanctified his soul. I never afterwards observed any thing in his conduct or conversation inconsistent with that profession. On the 29th of April last, he sent for me to visit him; I found him labouring under great debility, and requested that medical aid might be procured, to which he consented; but as no permanent relief was derived from it, he said, "My dear friend, do leave me to the Lord; I know I must die; I beg no further means may be used for my recovery. I am in the Lord's hands; he doth all things well-therefore his will be done." I replied, "These afflictions, though painful, will be short and momentary, and are working out for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory:" he said, "Glory be to God, I long to be gone, and to be with Jesus." Sunday, June 4, I found him very weak, and much dejected in mind; it appeared the enemy had been tempting him sorely. I endeavoured to explain the feelings of Asaph in the 73d Psalm: the temptations of the Psalmist seemed to correspond with his own; and when I came to that part of the Psalm where he expressed his confidence in God, he seemed as one alive from the dead; the snare was broken, and I left him rejoicing in God his Saviour. I saw him afterwards two or three times a week, and always found him happy in God. On the 18th of June he was greatly afflicted; on my saying to him, This cup, though bitter, is the cup of salvation, he prayed that the Lord would help him to suffer cheerfully and patiently. I prayed with him, and left him happily waiting till his change should come. He would often say to his friends, "I have nothing to do but to die, and go to Jesus; he has made my peace; the work is done." At other times he would say, "How happy he should be to hail me welcome to the haven of eternal repose." Sunday, June 25, I went to see him, in company with a friend; we found the vital spark nearly extinguished; he knew us, however, and signified he was happy in God. We committed him to the Lord in prayer, and while thus engaged, he once said very articulately, "Amen!" This was the last word he was heard to utter, and soon after fell asleep in the Lord. On Wednesday, June 28, his remains were carried to the grave by four local preachers, attended by many of his friends, and his class, who greatly mourned their loss. Sunday, the 9th |