ing himself. On these occasions, sometimes from a text of Scripture, and at other times from occurring circumstances, he would press upon the people the truths of the Gospel in the most earnest and affectionate manner. Thus did he, in conjunction with some others, labour on for many years, till at most of the places spiritual children were raised up, and the worship of God permanently established. It is not to be supposed but that, in the course of these labours, he met with considerable persecution; he had his share of this with the rest of his primitive fellow-labourers; but none of these things moved him, neither counted he his. life dear to him," so that he might be instrumental of good to the souls of men. "Persecution for righteousness," he considered as a distinguishing trait of the followers of CHRIST; hence he endured it with fortitude, and it had the effect rather of stimulating him to greater diligence, than of lessening his exertions.

From the commencement of his Christian course, he was of a very sympathizing spirit, hence the sick and afflicted were always especial objects of his solicitude, and subjects of his prayers. The number of these, of all ages and classes, which he visited during upwards of half a century, is almost incalculable. When in health, he made it his general practice to see several of these daily; and on a Sabbath, he would frequently visit six, eight, or ten of them. In his latter years especially, he devoted all his leisure hours to this work of faith, and labour of love; and in the course of the last few months of his life, when he was upwards of 74 years of age, it is a fact, that besides exhorting and praying regularly at eight or ten houses in a day during the weck, he has often on a Sabbath walked six miles or upwards, in quest of the aged and afflicted, who were rendered incapable of attending the public worship of Gon. For visiting the sick he seemed to have a peculiar talent, and whether that talent was neglected, let those who knew him best judge. In the performance of this duty, he evinced such a condescending, sympathizing, and friendly spirit, that he was welcomed alike both by rich and poor; and he could pray with and address each, without any restraint or difficulty. He also frequently addressed the healthy, when he met them on the road, or saw them at their homes or elsewhere; pressing upon them, in the most affectionate manner, the necessity of an immediate preparation for death and eternity. He likewise manifested great concern for the rising generation, and often conversed with children on the subject of religion, urging them to an early attention to its various duties. He earnestly cautioned them against the vices too common among children, and told them of the awful end of a life of sin, and the blessedness, both in life and death, of those who fear GOD, and keep his commandments. Hence many, who are now grown VOL. XLIV. APRIL, 1821.

to years of maturity, respect him for the advice he gave them when children; and there are not a few young persons who remember him with great esteem, and delight in repeating his sayings.

He was, for a considerable time, engaged both as a Local Preacher and Class-leader; but declined both offices many years ago. With his reasons for this, his biographer is not acquainted, but supposes that he did it in order to be more at liberty for his favourite work of visiting the sick and aged; a work which, next to his own salvation, he considered to be to him of the greatest importance. Hence it seemed to absorb nearly the whole of his attention, and it is not unlikely, that he was of opinion he should be more useful, wholly acting in this sphere, than in the other, or in both connectedly. He was one of the first Methodists in the neighbourhood of Holmfirth, and had the happiness and honour of hearing many of the first Methodist Preachers, among whom were Wesley, Mather, Nelson, Pawson, Hopper, Murlin, Allen, Shaw, and many others, who are now gone to their reward. He often walked ten or twelve, and sometimes twenty miles, to hear these primitive Preachers dispense the word of life. Next to the Scriptures, the writings of the ancient Christian Fathers, and of some of the Puritans, were most read and esteemed by him. Among the former, the devotional pieces of St. Austin, and of the latter, the works of the pious Joseph Alleine, were his favourite books. Many of the sayings of both these he had treasured up in his memory, and frequently repeated them to his friends, and to those whom he visited; and of most of them he had learned the truth by his own experience. Mr. Baxter's works, and Mr. Pawson's sermons, he also read with peculiar pleasure and profit; other books he doubtless perused, but those mentioned he most esteemed. He was not, however, what is called a great reader; but he read to great profit, as he always seemed to do it with a view to spiritual improvement. His mind appeared to be constantly in a devotional frame, and to enjoy almost uninterrupted intercourse with GOD; hence he declared to a friend, a short time before his death, that in a pilgrimage of upwards of fifty years, in the course of which he had experienced many conflicts and trials, yet he could say, to the honour of the grace of CHRIST, that in all that time he had never spent a whole day without enjoying, more or less, a sense of the Divine favour. If at any time (he added) he had been brought into heaviness, he never left off wrestling and striving with GoD in prayer, till he had again obtained a clear sense of his acceptance through the BELOVED. Christian, go thou, and do likewise.

In the Spring of 1819, he removed with the family of his son from the neighbourhood of Holmfirth, to near Tintwistle, in Cheshire. Here he followed the same course of uniform piety

which he had done in Yorkshire for more than fifty years. Indeed, to use his own expression, he now felt, as if in a new world; and hence he laboured, if possible, more abundantly than ever in the work of his LORD; So that visiting the sick and the aged, and exhorting all, to whom he had the opportunity to speak, to prepare for death and eternity, seemed now to be all that he had to live for; and it was his whole wish to spend and be spent in this blessed employ. At Tintwistle he regularly visited the workhouse, besides several private houses, praying at each; and would frequently take a route of several miles in quest of poor sinners, conversing with them on their spiritual interests in the most earnest and familiar manner, and imploring the Divine blessing on them by prayer. This practice he continued till within about a week of his death.

Having now lived to a good old age, the time of his departure was at hand, and he was suddenly called away to receive the Crown of Righteousness; suddenly to himself, as he did not seem to have any presentiment of it previous to his illness, but especially so to his friends, who had not the most distant thought that his valuable life was so near its close.

On the 16th of Nov. 1819, he left home to visit his friends at Holmfirth, a distance of about 13 miles. He performed the journey very well, but on arriving at his son's house, after retiring to rest, he had a severe attack of the gravel. His pains were very acute for several hours, but he experienced Divine support, and before morning felt very much better; on which account he expressed his gratitude in the strongest terms, and tears of joy flowed from his eyes. He rose at nearly his usual hour, and spent most of the day in visiting his friends, and in exhortation and prayer. The next night he rested well, and the following morning felt so much better, that he resolved to return home On taking his final leave of Holmfirth and its neighbourhood, the scene of his former labours, he called at many places, and gave them his last, his best advice. At one house where he called, he went into the work-shop, where he addressed the servants and children, in the most feeling manner, at which they were greatly affected. At another, he went in, and after common civilities, said, "I have but a few moments to spend, let it be all prayer."-He prayed, bade them farewell, and retired. To a friend whom he met on the road, he observed, "I was like to come to Holmfirth once more, to give them another warning, and I have done it faithfully."

On his journey, he had another attack of illness, so that it was with considerable difficulty that he reached home. On his arrival, he grew worse, and his complaint assumed an alarming appearance. Medical aid was called in, and prescriptions administered, but it was of no avail; the complaint was too formidable * 2 K2 *

to be arrested in its progress, and all hopes of his recovery were soon extinguished.

A Local Preacher, who resides at the place, has kindly communicated the following account of his last illness:-He says, "I regularly visited him during his sickness, and found him perfectly resigned to the will of God. I asked him if prayer should be made for him in our chapels, at which he seemed well pleased; but said, "let it be in resignation to the Divine will." On expressing his strong confidence in Gon, I asked him in what he trusted for salvation; to which he immediately answered by repeating the following verse, viz.

"The Sunday morning before his death, I visited him, and found him in great bodily pain; but he observed, I find his grace sufficient for me.' In the evening I saw him again; his pain was much alleviated, on which account he manifested uncommon gratitude, and said, if I get better, I will keep a day of thanksgiving.' This alleviation, however, was but temporary, for on Monday the doctors gave him up. On being apprised of this, he did not seem in the least alarmed, but observed, I am fully ready;' and on seeing his son and daughter weep, he said, 'do not weep, my work is little, and will soon be less; it is the will of GOD.' I saw him again in the evening, when he seemed quite sensible of his approaching dissolution, and requested that his removal might be improved from St. Paul's triumphant declaration in the prospect of death, viz. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith,' &c. &c. desiring that Mr. Dawes might do it at Hatfield, Mr. Senior at Tintwistle, and Mr. Cooper or Mr. Crabtree at Holmfirth; a request, which after his death, was complied with in the presence of large congregations. Death,' he observed, is like coming out of prison, and going into a palace; I shall soon be with Wesley and Pawson, Alleine and Baxter, and all those good men around the throne.' In this happy state of mind he continued for a day or two, waiting with patiencethe appointed time when his change should come. A few hours before his death, the disorder (which had for a short time been less severe) resumed all its violence, so that it became evident the mortal tabernacle was on the very point of dissolution, and that he was struggling with his last enemy. In this contest, which, though short, was severe, he experienced Divine support, and manifested perfect resignation to the will of God. I read to him the 23d and 27th Psalms, and he observed that they delighted him very much. He now prayed that we might all escape

MEMOIR OF MR. THOMAS BEAUMONT.

those things which shall come to pass, and at last be counted worthy to stand before the Son of MAN. He added, "Thanks be to GOD, who giveth us the victory through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.' This was an affecting scene-nature strugglinggrace triumphing-friends weeping-and the Christian shouting victory through the blood of the LAMB. His tongue now began to faulter, but the last words we could distinguish were those of prayer and praise; shortly after which his lips were scaled in death, and the immortal spirit took its flight to the paradise of L GOD. This was on the 25th of November, 1819."

The friend who gave the acccount of his last illness justly adds, that in his death we have a comment on those words of the Psalmist, viz. "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace:"-May my last end be like his !

The writer of this sketch has also been favoured with a letter from the Rev. Mr. Senior, the Independent Minister at Tintwistle, (who, it appears, visited him daily during his sickness,) in which he writes of him in the strongest terms of commendation. Speaking of him while in health, he says, "Though of a different persuasion, we could love as brethren, and walk hand in hand to Zion; indeed, (adds he,) his manners were so winning, his conversation so interesting, and his mind so benevolent, that any who knew him could not but respect him, and find pleasure in his company." He concludes the account of his last illness, (which corresponds with that already given,) by saying, "his faith was strong, his comforts great, and his prospects animating; at the command of Gon he left the world in peace, for that state of bliss which he looked and longed for, through the merits of his SAVIOUR. Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his."

It now only remains to give a few of the more prominent traits of the deceased's character.-He was a man of much prayer; his mind seemed constantly going out after GOD in holy desires and heavenly aspirations; hence he often repeated the following saying of one of the ancient Christian Fathers, as peculiarly applicable to his state of mind, viz. "O LORD, thou art my GOD; unto thee, and after thee, do I breathe and aspire, both day and night." This being his constant frame, it is no wonder, that besides his private devotions, he should be engaged in prayer regularly eight, or ten, and sometimes even twenty times in a day; indeed, so much was he employed in this blessed exercise, that in his latter days he was known, in some places, by the appellation of "The Praying Old Man." Of him it might be truly said, that he "prayed without ceasing."-He was remarkable also for true Christian simplicity; few possessed more of the spirit of a little child than he did; hence he could stoop to the meanest, and be familiar with the poorest; while with those of higher rank he could converse with freedom and confidence. The