of satisfaction. Take heed that you are not discouraged by the passing events. Look beyond men and things to GOD your SAVIOUR: he is our grand exemplar. Evanescent clouds and driving storms do not alter or retard the progress of the orb of day; and JESUS is always the same. In this imperfect state we may reasonably expect to meet with a few derangements of our plans. The fall appears to have affected every sublunary object: hence trouble and distress are incident to this life; but in heaven no evil will have place. Our business is to work while it is day; the night cometh.-As you steadily proceed in the providential path of duty, the right way will open to your view. The glorious beams of divine truth shall irradiate your happy spirit, and conduct you to greater degrees of holiness and usefulness on earth, till the shadows of time shall be superseded by the glorious realities of celestial day."

About two months after the date of the foregoing letter, commenced that protracted illness which ultimately removed him from the toils of human life to the rest that remaineth for the people of GOD. Being a stranger to sickness, and intensely engaged in the duties of his office, he was not, perhaps, sufficiently careful of his mortal part. "Nor did he count his life dear to himself, so that he might finish his course with joy, and the ministry he had received of the LORD JESUS." After having been employed till late in the evening at a considerable distance from his residence, he returned home. The weather was very unfavourable, and he took cold, which brought on a fever; under the severity of which he for five weeks continued to labour, till his debilitated body was no longer able to follow the vigorous motions of his soul. Here, therefore, his race as an itinerant was run. At the CONFERENCE of 1817, he was placed on the supernumerary list; and being advised to try the air of Devonshire, he repaired to Exeter. He frequently entered the pulpit of our chapel there, and preached to crowded audiences the word of life. In the month of March, 1818, his trials were increased, and he felt for the first time the keen sensations of a bereaved parent in the loss of an only child, a lovely boy of about nine months old; but observing, "what the LORD does must be right," he submitted and adored.-Shortly after this, by special request, he removed to Teignmouth, a watering-place a few miles below Exeter, partly for the benefit of his health, and partly for the purpose of introducing Methodism there. The effect of his visit to Teignmouth, as connected with the interests of religion, futurity must fully develope: at present a preacher is stationed on the spot, and a society formed. No improvement, however, was made in his health, and he returned to Exeter worse than when he left it a few weeks before. Although his health was gradually declining, he nevertheless continued his occasional

labours both at Exeter, and at other places in that Circuit, till August 1818, when, with the consent of the CONFERENCE, he came into the Tiverton Circuit, and took up his last earthly abode in Collumpton.

Here the writer's acquaintance with Mr. RUSH FORTH COMmenced. An union of spirit was then formed, which grew increasingly strong while they had the pleasure of seeing each other face to face; and which even death itself has not dissolved. It will, he trusts, be perpetuated and consummated in that heavenly world, where there shall be no more sorrow nor sighing, and where sin and death shall never enter. The next day after his arrival here, being the Sabbath, he preached twice, and at the conclusion of the evening service he administered the LORD's Supper (for the last time) to the Collumpton Society, and feelingly commemorated the dying love of his REDEEMER. This was indeed a refreshing season from the divine presence.Almost every LORD's day he preached twice, and generally once or twice in the week beside, though scarcely able to walk to the pulpit without assistance.-In the month of October, 1818, he thus writes, for the last time, to his Swansea friend, then at Liverpool:

"I am appointed to this Circuit, (Tiverton,) in lieu of a second regular Preacher. I statedly preach three or four times a week, though my health continues to be in a very dubious state. I am much afflicted with a species of rheumatism in my right thighjoint, which makes me exceedingly lame. I reside at Collumpton, and chiefly supply this place on the Sabbath; so you see I am not quite neuter in the work. Methodism at Collumpton is rather respectable and strong, in proportion to the population of the place. I am very comfortable in my situation, and trust in the LORD. I sometimes find a difficulty in being resigned to the divine procedure in my case. Afflictions and privations are serious things; but the LORD is sufficient. Perfect acquiescence in the will of God is the best moral evidence of piety. It is truly great to suffer patiently. It is an easy matter to talk about resignation, when we have no trials; but being brought to the test is the thing;-here we sink to disgrace, or rise to glory. You find, no doubt, that a steady perseverance in the way of duty is safe and comfortable, and that the LORD directs your steps. Only attend to the word and providence of GOD, and the HOLY SPIRIT shall lead you into all truth, and conduct you in the right way. Take heed that in preaching you attend to the great design of the Christian ministry, namely, to explain the Scriptures, and to convert sinners to righteousness;-not to display talent, or merely to deliver a fine address. Remember the eye of

GOD is upon you. The applause of men is a poor trifle. Let the glory of God be your object."

"Thus (adds the gentleman who favoured the writer with the above extracts,) ended my earthly intercoarse with my dear friend; one whom I much esteemed while living, and whose memory I revere now that he his dead. I am not without hope of meeting him again; the interchange of mutual affection is only suspended, not annihilated; it will be renewed, when the shadows of time shall have vanished before the brightness of eternal day."

From the above date, he continued to labour here, and at Tiverton, with the assistance of Local Preachers, who usually read the hymns and prayed, though his labours became subject to more frequent interruptions on account of the accumulating pressure of his bodily afflictions. But when engaged in his delightful work of preaching, he seemed to forget that he was mortal; and such was the fervour of his loving soul, while in the pulpit, that he was frequently carried beyond himself, and scarcely any thing but violent coughing and sleepless nights would convince him that he was a dying man.

In February, 1819, his affliction assumed the most serious aspect, and about this time the public labours of this useful man' were closed in Tiverton chapel. Being now completely laid aside by the great Head of the Church, and no longer able to do the will of GOD, he was called to suffer it, and that in no common manner. The progress of his complicated disorders was narrowly watched from day to day by his beloved friends, whose minds were alternately under the influence of hope and fear. Upon the arms of fervent prayer, both in public and in private, he was borne before the throne of grace. The best medical advice was had; but the decree, "Thou shalt die and not live," had passed the lips of Him who giveth account of himself to none. This was a season of severe suffering; every inch of his spiritual ground was disputed, though unsuccessfully, by the common enemy of GoD and man. But he was strong in the LORD, and having put on the whole armour of GOD, he was able to stand against the wiles of the Devil. On the Rock of Ages he was firmly built; on the truth as it is in Jesus he confidently relied; and from the faithfulness of his Covenant-GOD the powers of darkness fruitlessly attempted to move his steadfast soul. As was his day, so was his strength; the supporting power of divine grace was afforded; and he proved by experience the sweetness of those truths which he had so frequently delivered to others.

On the Saturday previous to his death, he desired a few of his friends to meet in his house for prayer, in which he heartily

joined, and in the most emphatic manner repeated that verse in one of our hymns,

In the forenoon of the following Tuesday, he was assisted for the last time to "the chamber where the good man met his fate;" previously to which, he conversed with his afflicted partner on the happiness of escaping safely from this world of sorrow and affliction. Towards the evening of the same day, he conversed with several of his friends on the most important subjects, and to one in particular he warmly recommended the religion of the heart; at the same time he most significantly placed his hand on his breast, and said, "that will support you." About eleven o'clock he was somewhat revived from a stupor in which he had lain about two or three hours, and took a separate and final farewell of each present, accompanied with suitable and affecting exhortation. He dwelt much on the meetness and qualification necessary for the enjoyment of the society in the world of blessedness above. Soon after this he sunk into a state of insensibility, interrupted, however, by frequent attempts to raise his faltering voice in praise to GOD. Sharp was the last conflict, and severe the struggle; but all was well. The good fight of faith was almost fought, the course was nearly finished, when he said, "I shall soon be at rest!"-" My dear REDEEMER!-my dear REDEEMER!"-These were among the last expressions of the dying saint; and on Friday morning, May 21st, 1819, his triumphant spirit left our darkness for the light of day.-On the following Thursday, the friends from different parts of the Circuit assembled at Collumpton, for the purpose of paying their last sad tribute of respect to the memory of their beloved Pastor and Brother in the LORD, when his mortal remains were committed to the grave. His death was improved in the evening of the following Sunday, by the writer, in the presence of a large congregation. JOHN SNOW MANLEY.

Collumpton, Feb. 1820.

SKETCH of MR. RUSHFORTH'S CHARACTER.

"The memory of the just is blessed ;”—and, in proportion to the piety, usefulness, and edifying example of departed friends, we ought to revere their worth, and furnish the testimonials of our grateful remembrance. I have, therefore, attempted a delineation of the Character of my late esteemed friend, MR. THOMAS CHARLES RUSH FORTH, which I have been requested to send, to be subjoined to the Memoir of that useful Minister of CHRIST, transmitted from Collumpton.

I had the advantage of a personal acquaintance with the subject of the foregoing memoir; and from its first commencement, whether present or distant, our hearts were knit together as the heart of one man. Our intercourse was that of mutual confidence, of common sentiment, and of unrestrained affection. He possessed a large portion of the materials that form the basis of true friendship; and to know him was to love him. In the character of a FRIEND, he united all the excellencies of so valuable a name. He had the ability to counsel wisely, which he did without any mental reserve, or useless caution; and his observations on men and things were always manly, firm, and upright. He feared not to give offence, where he saw that it was his duty to be faithful. He constantly recommended a careful employment of time, and encouraged the ardent pursuit of the best and most useful attainments. He had acquired a fine literary taste, and had read and studied some of the best of our English authors; but his acquaintance with them was never the subject of ostentatious display. In company with intelligent friends he appeared particularly at home, and seemed never so happy as when engaged in useful and edifying conversation.

was then that the stores of his mind were brought to bear upon different subjects, and every topic discussed received some new illustration from him, or was placed in a better light than that in which it had been before contemplated. The ardour and originality of his mind could not remain long concealed; and in the pursuit of spiritual or intellectual good all the powers of his soul were seen to be deeply engaged.

As a MINISTER, he was faithful and urgent in his applications of divine truth. His hearers generally retired blessed and edified. He had a large acquaintance with the doctrines of Revelation; and these he unfolded in the most animated and energetic strains. His talents were acknowledged, by the unequivocal testimony of most classes of hearers, to be of a superior cast; and he was therefore generally acceptable. He delighted in the work of the Ministry, and displayed an ardent zeal in the cause of his LORD and MASTER, which led him out to exertions beyond his physical powers. When weakened by pain and protracted illness, if he expressed a wish to live, it was in order to be more extensively useful, more active and diligent in winning souls to CHRIST, and in endeavouring to "bring many sons to glory.

As a CHRISTIAN, his piety was unaffected, genuine, and fervent. In his estimation, religion was of little worth unless it brought the humble assurance of the divine favour and blessing; and this was the test by which he exhorted all to try their actual state and profession. What he felt himself he wished others also to enjoy; and in proportion as he found them happy in GOD, he rejoiced in their possession of "like precious faith." He was a keen