his letters, written after he became a travelling preacher, it would be impracticable to introduce many other quotations in a memoir for a Magazine.

When he contemplated his entrance upon the work of the itinerant ministry, it was with fear and trembling, being anxious to be found in the way of Providence, and dreading to go upon such an important mission before he was sent, or to stay behind when called. Though he had long made it a matter of earnest prayer to the LORD, yet when the time drew near, his language was," My mind is particularly unsettled with regard to my official calling; our preachers much wish me to go out this year; indeed they have been soliciting me to go to Colchester this week, but I have declined, and intend to do so still, unless I see my way clearer than at present. May the LORD Vouchsafe to me especial direction in this important affair, that I may do his will, and glorify his name, whether in continuing as I am, or in changing my situation. May the LORD correct whatever is wrong, in my motives, method, and end, and make me an able minister of the New Testament, an humble, faithful, and zealous preacher of the gospel; and when I return and come to Zion, may I come bringing my sheaves with me. Amen."

At the District-meeting held at the City-Road Chapel, in May, 1817, he came forward to be examined by the preachers relative to his qualifications for the Methodist itinerant ministry; upon which event he notes,-"O GOD, thou knowest that in this I have studied thy will. May it be done in me and by me, through JESUS CHRIST my LORD. Amen." He did not receive his appointment to a circuit at the ensuing Conference in July, but in October following the President directed him to Launceston, in Cornwall. His concern for the glory of GoD, and his anxiety to be found in the way of Providence, were still manifest to those around him. On the morning of his leaving London, the 5th of November, 1817, as he went to the coach-office, he remarked to a friend who walked with him,-" This is an important era of my life-this is a memorable day to me. I am now about entering upon a great work, and am going to be placed in a conspicuous situation; it may redound to my everlasting honour, or terminate in my everlasting disgrace. The LORD knows I seek nothing but his glory. May the LORD preserve me unto eternal life." With these impressions, and from the circumstance of parting with his friends, his heart was too full for utterance; but the breathings of his spirit continued to ascend to the "throne of the heavenly grace."

When in his circuit, Mr. Prestage found his mind comfortable in his work, and had a conviction that he was in the way of Providence, as will appear by the following extracts from his letters. In one letter, after praying for the prosperity of his

friend, he says, "As to myself, though I have no room for boasting, yet I have much cause for thankfulness. I believe the LORD is still with me, yea, the LORD is my portion, saith my soul. I believe my name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and that when I fail on earth, I shall be received into everlasting habitations. I hope you will not forget to pray for me, that I may be

As an iron pillar streng;

Steadfast as a wall of brass."

And in another letter to the same friend, he writes,-" I feel satisfied that I am in the way of Providence, and hitherto the LORD hath helped me. The sphere of life in which I now move, like every other on this side of eternity, hath its advantages and disadvantages. Looking only at the present world, I am conscious of having chosen a mode of life pregnant with unpleasantness; but, looking forward, I bless God for having counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry."

His language, in a letter to his parents, (when they desired to know if he was happy in his situation,) is,-"My wants are comfortably provided for; and as for superfluities, thank God, I am not concerned about them. My chief desire and aim are, to get and do good in my day and generation; and I hope that when as an hireling I shall have finished my day, the LORD will receive me to his heavenly kingdom."

Mr. Prestage continued his ministry in the Launceston circuit until the next Conference, July, 1818, when he was appointed to the Exeter circuit; where he laboured, as also in the former circuit, with general approbation, and to the profit of those to whom he ministered the word of life. His labours, however, were soon at an end. In November, the affliction which terminated in his death obliged him to retire from that work which he valued above life.

Before we contemplate his affliction, let us notice one peculiar trait in his character, namely, his strong affection for his parents, and his great concern for the salvation of their souls: and may all those, whose duty it is to act in like manner, profit by his example; may they hear his admonitions and entreaties in the spirit of faith and prayer, that the same sentiments and affections may be re-kindled in their hearts. He being dead yet speaketh. No opportunity was omitted by him to impress upon the minds of his parents the necessity of a life of godliness; and when he had the pleasure to hear that they were seeking the LORD, like a faithful follower of his Divine Master, he shewed them the danger of resting in means, and pointed out to them that holiness of heart which the Scriptures declare to be the portion of those whose lives are hid with CHRIST in GOD, and without which no man can see the LORD. To this end, he availed himself of every

circumstance calculated to affect their minds; as will be seen by the following quotations. In a letter, dated Launceston, Dec. 1817, after noticing the death of his friend William Beacock, one of our Missionaries in Dominica, an account of which he had just read in the Methodist Magazine, he says, "May we follow him as he followed CHRIST! You will recollect, my dear parents, that when he was at our house, he prayed for your conversion, and for my introduction into the work of the ministry. With regard to myself his prayer is answered, and I hope it will be so with regard to you. Believe me, nothing would afford me so much pleasure, as to hear that you are devoted to the LORD. Respecting the necessity and importance of it, I surely need say nothing: I am persuaded you both desire the one thing needful, and I sincerely hope you will make it the main business of your life." And in another letter he exclaims,-"Oh! how will my happiness be increased, if upon my return to London I find both my perents walking in the fear of the LORD, and in the comforts of the HOLY GHOST! May the LORD answer my prayers in this particular."

He had the happiness to find his prayers answered within a short period of the date of the letter last referred to; and he from that time diligently directed his parents to the path in which they should tread, and dealt faithfully with them in his references to every stage of Christian experience; shunning not to declare the whole counsel of GOD. And that they might build upon a sure foundation, and grow up into the image of their MAKER, he addresses them in a letter from Launceston in January, 1818, às follows,-after noting the rapid flight of time since he wrote before,-"May the LORD teach us so to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. May we catch the golden moments as they fly, and redeem the time by preparing for eternity. It afforded me great pleasure to hear that my father had joined a class; and I hope that the having had his name written on a Methodist class-paper is a prelude to its insertion in the LAMB's Book of Life. Remember, my dear parents, nothing less than a sound conversion to GoD can constitute us safe and happy, either in this world or in that which is to come. Gop looks at the heart, and he is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity with allowance. In that great day for which all other days were made,' the inquiry will not be, To what religious body did you belong?'-but, Whose image and superscription do you bear?' O that we may all bear the image of the heavenly, being renewed after him who created man in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. I make these remarks, partly from a conviction of the great danger there is of our resting in the form of godliness without the power, and partly from an earnest desire that you may possess that pearl of great price, inward possess

religion, the love of God shed abroad in the heart,-without which all our profession is indeed but as the shell without the kernel. And I hope that you, my dear mother, will seek the LORD with all your heart. Often have I prayed for your salvation, and I feel a degree of confidence that it will not be long ere my prayers are answered;-that you will find him of whom MOSES in the Law, and the Prophets, did write, JESUS of Nazareth, the sinners' friend."-And to inspire them with a holy confidence in the bountiful Donor of all their mercies, he writes at another period, after praising God for his kind care,-“What an encouraging doctrine is the doctrine of a Divine and particular Providence. The very hairs of our heads are numbered, and if our ways please GOD, we may rest assured all things are working together for our good. Yes, all things,-painful as well as pleasing, adverse as well as prosperous. I trust you are becoming more and more acquainted with Divine things. If so, I am sure you see the truth of this sentiment. May the LORD write all your names in the Lamb's Book of Life! Amen!"

Let us now direct our attention to his affliction, and his experience under his sufferings.

His first notice of indisposition occurs in his journal, written when in the Launceston circuit; March 28, 1818. "Thus far, he states, "by Divine help, I have come. I trust I shall never stand still, till the MASTER appear. Since I wrote last, I have been the subject of considerable indisposition. This week I have only preached twice. I suppose my illness was occasioned principally by taking cold, together with exertion. But thanks be to him, in whose hand my breath is, and whose are all my ways, I am now better; and I hope to take my appointments tomorrow. O that my deadness to the world, and my devotedness to thee my GoD, may be increased even by this gentle chastisement; and do thou prepare me for going the way of all flesh, through JESUS CHRIST. Amen."

Whether this indisposition led to that confirmed disorder, which brought his body down to the grave, is uncertain; but soon after this period it came upon him, so that by the time of the assem bling of the Conference in the same year, he viewed it as confirmed and alarming; and in a letter to his parents, dated July, 1818, he observes," My complaint is still troublesome, but, no doubt, it is intended to answer wise ends. What I know not now, I shall know hereafter. This I know already, that I am at all times better than I deserve to be. LORD, make me thankful, and keep me humble."

In the interim he continued to seek a greater conformity to the image of his LORD; and on attending the District-meeting at Plymouth-dock, previously to the date of the foregoing letter, he' VOL. XLIV. APRIL, 1821.

remarks in his journal, "This is the first District-meeting I ever attended, at least, in an official character. O that each returning year may find me, if spared, in every respect a more eligible member of these little synods; and at last may I meet the general assembly and church of the first-born, high in salvation, in the climes of bliss! Amen." And in the same blessed spirit he writes to his parents, on the eve of his leaving the circuit for his new appointment at Exeter, as follows:-"O the rapid flight of time! Remark, my soul, the narrow bounds of the revolving year.' I have lately thought on that memorable expression used by St. Paul, the things which are seen are temporal.' By what narrow limits are all our earthly prospects bounded. A few years at most, and the dream of life will be over. All its concerns will be forgotten, and we shall lie mouldering in the clay-cold earth. The things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.' To the latter we should pay the greatest possible attention-should endure, as seeing GoD who is invisible to the eye of sense, so that we may make sure work for eternity, that when we fail on earth we may be received into everlasting habitations. Amen."

Mr. Prestage left Launceston in August, 1818; and came to London to see his parents, previously to his entering upon his new station at Exeter. But, ah! how changed. His frame had already received a severe shock, and was evidently sinking under the power of disease. His once vigorous and animated person appeared like the enervated bearer of an insufferable load. During his stay he consulted a physician, and was bled. After remaining in town a fortnight, he departed for Exeter.

He felt himself comfortable in his new circuit, but his affliction rapidly grew upon him. However, he continued in his labour of love until nature became too weak to endure the fatigues of his office; and in the month of October he contemplated his return home. But he still hoped that the LORD would restore him to his beloved employ; and with this feeling he addressed his parents in the following strain, in a letter dated Exeter, October 28, 1818. "I must confess that sometimes my hopes of recovery are very faint, though I at other times feel a kind of confidence that I shall yet be made whole, and see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. In my best moments I feel thankful to God for the afflictions through which I have had to pass; as I believe they have done me good. I can say with the poet,

LORD, I am pain'd, but I resign

To thy superior will;

Tis grace, 'tis wisdom all divine
Appoints the pains I feel.'

Oh! how valuable are the supports and comforts of religion, when surrounded by the gloom, and oppressed with the violence