death, and died with the composure of a true Christian, rejoicing in hope of everlasting life.

A. F.

March 24th.-At Trevean, in the St. Just Circuit, aged forty-five, Mr. Francis Bone; having been a member of the society about twentythree years. Under the ministry of the Rev. John Waterhouse he was deeply convinced of sin, obtained forgiveness, and was enabled to rejoice in God his Saviour. His profession was steady and consistent. He directed his attention to the benefit of the rising generation, and acted as Superintendent of the school as long as health permitted. For the last nine years he was called to pass through great affliction; but was never heard to murmur at the dispensation. In his later moments, he said to a friend, "Christ is precious, precious:" shortly after, in the full triumph of faith, he passed from earth to the paradise of God.

S. T.

April 5th.-At Barnard-Castle, aged seventynine, Mary Blakelock. During the long period of fifty years' connexion with the Methodist society, she was uniformly consistent in her Christian deportment. In the midst of the weakness and decay of nature, God was the strength of her heart, and she died in humble dependence upon Christ for salvation and eternal life. J. K., 2d.

April 7th.-At Lynn, Mr. Thomas Broadbent, aged eighty-one. He had been a member of the Methodist society for sixty-four years; and, when young, laboured for some time in our itinerant work, with fidelity and success. In the year 1799, he desisted from travelling, but continued in connexion with us, and, as a Local Preacher, Leader, Steward, and Trustee, was of service to the church. Kind, conscientious, and upright, he was highly respected. His last affliction was protracted; but he bore it with patience and fortitude, and spoke sweetly of the things of God while he had strength. His end was calm and peaceful. W. B.

-April 10th.-At Minehead, in the Dunster Circuit, Ann, the wife of Mr. Robert Williams. In early life she joined the Methodist society, and soon obtained, through faith in the atonement of Christ, a sense of God's pardoning mercy. As a wife and mother, "the heart of her husband did safely trust in her. She looked well to the ways of her household." She was attentive to the means of grace, and maintained a happy consistency of Christian profession and character to the end of her days. During a severe illness her soul trusted in the Lord: she said, "I am lying at the foot of the cross." She conversed freely about death and eternity, and with holy composure resigned her husband and five children into the hands of God. She said, "Jesus is precious. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin." By her death the society has lost a useful member, and the Ministers of the Gospel a kind and generous friend.

J. S.

April 10th.-At Can-Lane, in the Wolverhampton Circuit, aged seventy-seven, Mary,

wife of Mr. Thomas Hayward. She received the forgiveness of her sins through faith in our Lord Jesus about forty years ago, and proved herself to be a sincere and humble follower of Christ to the end of her days. She always manifested great interest in the cause of God, and was ever ready to support it liberally. To her house the servants of her Lord, and especially his Ministers, were ever welcome; and in her removal the church of Christ and the poor have sustained a great loss. She endured frequent and severe afflictions with much patience, and died in peace, trusting in Him who loved her, and gave himself for her. J. G.

April 11th.-At Uckfield, in the Lewes Circuit, Michael Brooker, aged forty-three. He was brought to God by the preaching of the Wesleyan Methodists, and joined that section of the church nearly eighteen years ago. He continued, to the close of life, a humble, steady, and useful member; and died in the triumph of faith. W. C.

April 15th. In the Bristol North Circuit, Mrs. Elizabeth Wood, wife of James Wood, Esq., and relict of the late Thomas Roberts, Esq., of Bristol. She was the daughter of Mr. Edward Stock, who was the personal friend of the Rev. John Wesley. When a child, she often enjoyed the privilege of standing between the knees of that venerable man, whose prayers in her behalf were answered in her early conversion. Under the powerful ministry of the Rev. Joseph Benson she was brought to God, and joined the Methodist society in 1794; of which she continued, through life, a steady and consistent member. She highly esteemed the Ministers of God's holy word, and was kind to a numerous circle of poor who shared her liberality. In 1815 she was appointed to lead a class, which office she fulfilled acceptably for many years. Her last illness was attended with severe suffering, which prevented her from conversing much; but when she spoke of her experience, she expressed an entire renunciation of self, and an implicit reliance on the atonement of Jesus Christ. Towards the close of life she was evidently ripened for heaven. She manifested great affection towards all around her, thanked her attendants for their kindness, and, shortly before her departure, exclaimed, "I am happy, happy, very happy! Jesus is mine, and I am his!" J. B.

April 16th.-At Wittin, near Blackburn, aged forty-four, Mr. Henry Howarth; who was a Class-Leader, and a Local Preacher. He died in peace and holy triumph. S. A.

April 21st.-At Cheltenham, in her seventyfirst year, Hannah, the beloved wife of Robert Middleton, Esq. She had been a consistent follower of her Lord and Saviour, and united to the Methodist society, nearly half a century. During the last two years she had been a constant sufferer from acute pain in her head; but this she endured with exemplary Christian patience. She has been heard to say, when in great agony, "Though the pain I suffer is extreme, I do not desire it should be removed till the purpose for which it was sent by my

heavenly Father be answered." At length a violent paroxysm came on, and in a few hours, trusting in God, and committing herself to her great Redeemer, her sufferings ceased, and she fell asleep in Jesus. R. M.

April 21st.-At Market-Raisen, aged thirtynine, of pulmonary consumption, Ann, wife of Mr. Edward Towler. She had been a member of the Wesleyan society for several years; adorned her profession by a holy life, by the zeal which she always manifested in the cause of God, and by the interest she took in the prosperity of the church generally, and of the Methodist section of it in particular. Occasionally, during her affliction, she expressed a wish to live; but only that she might more fully "answer life's great end;" and as her days drew towards their appointed close, she experienced that He in whose redeeming mercy she had found safety, and joy, and hope, during health, was her stay and refuge in the prospect of death. She died in great peace.

May 24th.-At Catterton, in the Tadcaster Circuit, Mary Ann, wife of the Rev. Thomas Brumwell, of Burton-upon-Trent, in the twentyfirst year of her age. Early in life it pleased God to awaken in her mind a deep and painful sense of her sinfulness, which induced her to seek the mercy of God. During her protracted affliction she exemplified the truth of that religion which she had professed. She was resigned to the will of the Lord; and though frequently enduring great pain, the words of complaint seldom fell from her lips. On the morning of the day of her death, after a rest less night, her peace of mind was somewhat interrupted by a conflict with the enemy of souls. Satan seemed to be making his last and most desperate attempt; but she held fast her confidence, and triumphed. As the lamp of life was glimmering, and nature expiring, she raised her trembling hand, and said, "Victory, victory!" and then, after a short pause, added, "Through the blood of the Lamb." In this happy frame of mind her immortal spirit passed from this suffering world to the blessedness of heaven. T. B.

May 29th.-At Slade, in the Swansea Circuit aged thirty-nine, Mr. Henry Tucker, brother of the Rev. C. Tucker. He was a consistent mem:

ber of the Methodist society for several years, endured a heavy and protracted affliction with great resignation, and died in peace, soon after saying, "O my Lord, there is no way to the Father, but by the Son: he is the way, the truth, and the life." C. T.

May 31st.-At his residence, in Earl-street, Westminster, the Rev. John Smith, 3d, aged forty-eight. He commenced his ministerial labours in connexion with Wesleyan Methodism in the year 1824; and from that period, until his lamented decease, travelled in the following Circuits:-Taunton, Sherborne, London East, Louth, Barnstaple, Bristol North, Bristol South, First Manchester, Exeter, and the Seventh London,-in each, on account of his walk with God, his holy example, and the success with which it pleased the great Head of the church to crown his labours, "his name is as ointment poured forth." The affliction which terminated his earthly career was severe and sudden. During the last five or six days of his life, he was almost perpetually under the influence of powerful delirium; but, in the midst of its most painful wandering, the ruling principle of Mr. Smith's mind, when in full health and ministerial activity, was pleasingly, though mournfully, conspicuous. Incessantly was he engaged, either in addressing the public congregation, meeting the society, administering the Lord's supper, renewing the tickets, or visiting the sick, until the "weary wheels of life stood still." His Physician was much impressed with the entire spiritual tendency of all he uttered, when, through the pressure of disease, reason was dethroned; and stated to the attendants, that it was the most remarkable case he had ever witnessed. All that the heart of affection could dictate to soothe, or professional skill suggest to relieve, were in kind and continual requisition; but the decree had gone forth. Some of his last words were, "Absent from the body, present with the Lord." J. S. S.

June 13th.-At Loughborough, in the eightyfirst year of her age, Mrs. Sarah Wilson, mother of the widow of the late Rev. Ebenezer Stewart. Mrs. Stewart was instrumental in the conversion of her mother soon after she herself found the Lord. From that time the deceased had been a member of the Methodist society, and walked with God. She bore her affliction cheerfully, and was thankful for every attention paid to her. For the last six months it has been apparent that she was ripening fast for glory. Her end was tranquil and happy.

S. F.

THE Bill for an enlarged and permanent Grant to the Roman Catholic College at Maynooth having passed the House of Commons, and been read for the third time, by a large majority, in the House of Lords, will, in all probability, before our readers see these observations, have become the law of the land; to which, therefore, all British subjects, acknowledging the paramount authority of the New Testament, will have, so far as they are concerned, conscientiously to submit. By a very great number of persons, the measure, in every leading stage, has been decidedly opposed; but the opposition has been, throughout, constitutional. We fear that we must say, that to the knowledge, on the part of the promoters of the Bill, that the opposition would be constitutional, and only constitutional, its want of success has greatly to be ascribed. Seditious agitation, with threats of rebellion, could not constitute any part of the plans of those who read in the word of God, "Let every soul be subject to the higher powers;" and, "For this cause pay ye tribute also." To ulterior measures, indeed, in case of the failure of constitutional opposition, they can have recourse; but we fear, likewise, that reference to those ulterior measures would either have produced no effect at all, or an effect which they would have regretted to witness. If, however, the opposition itself were right, then are the ulterior measures now demanded. Hitherto, the grand principles of the British constitution, as permanently established in 1688, and confirmed by the subsequent parliamentary settlement of the crown, have been scriptural and evangelical, that is to say, avowedly Protestant, and the executive administration (not referring to any subordinate measures) has been in accordance with that higher administration by which (to employ the language of a prayer largely, and by authority, repeated during the late war)

VOL. I.-FOURTH SERIES.

"nations and empires rise and fall, flourish and decay." The government of the world is on the shoulder of the sovereign Mediator, to whom is committed all power in heaven and earth, who is the Prince of the Kings of the earth, King of kings, and Lord of lords, and who must reign till he hath put all ene mies under his feet. Not only does he propose, as the end of his administration, to save individuals unto life eternal, but to put down, here on earth, all opposing rule, and authority, and power, so that the kingdoms of this world may become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ. Nor does he thus reign by the mere exercise of his own omnipotent power. He reigns in his church, and by the instrumentality of his church will he accomplish his holy and benevolent purposes. There are those who shall seek the establishment of antichristian principles, or, (in the decisive language of Scripture,) they "shall make war on the Lamb;" but the issue is plainly stated: "The Lamb shall overcome them: for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful," words which sufficiently furnish the "notes of the church." And to this church it is said, "The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted." (Isai. lx. 12.) The threatening is not addressed to individuals, considered merely as such it does not refer to the awful punishment to be inflicted on "them that obey not the Gospel," when our "Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire." Its reference is to nations, refusing to serve the Lord Christ in his church; and the evils denounced are those of national declension and decay,— to the process of "putting down all rule, and authority, and power" which is not exercised according to his will, and for the promotion of the purposes of his own supreme administration. A nation which

3 D

allies itself with the adversaries of the Saviour, and which lends its strength to antichristianism, conducts an administration whose objects are opposed to those which his government is directed to secure. And if Protestantism, such as Luther first preached it, is true, then is the Popery which he opposed unscriptural and antichristian; and out of it, all the people of God are positively required to come, lest they be partakers of its plagues.

What, then, is the duty of Protestant Christians on the present occasion ? First, opposition to the measure by all those peaceful methods which are open to them, as Christian citizens, by the law of the land. And this they have already done. They have solemnly protested against the alteration of the Protestant constitution, and the alliance, now for the first time contracted, with the principles and professors of the Papal system. The Emancipation Bill was a different measure, and admitted great variety of opinion. Some might think that, practically, and on the principles on which many rested their support of it, it was opening the way to the present measure; while others, however opposed to Popery, generously wished to overlook the decided opposition to Protestantism in Papal countries, and the refusal, by the civil and ecclesiastical powers of Popery, to grant religious liberty, in their respective dominions, to Protestant professors, and to reduce all civil disabilities, under which Romanist subjects of Great Britain might labour, to the lowest possible degree compatible with that Protestant ascendancy with which the title to the crown is solemnly associated. The Emancipation Bill, as contended for by them, had for its object the removal of civil disabilities from Romanist British subjects; the Maynooth Grant Bill, in its present form, directly allies the British Government and Legislature with Romanism itself: and against this it was the duty of Protestant Christians to protest. And nobly have they performed it. But they have failed; and what more have they to do? The weapons of their warfare are not

carnal; but they are not less powerful. They must now pray, beseeching Almighty God to overrule even this measure for good, and to cause the wrath of man to praise him: they must pray that the mistakes of those who are high in power may be corrected; that they who administer our national affairs may see the necessity of a practical reference to the higher, the supreme, administration of evangelical providence; and that, in times of difficulty and danger, forsaking the wisdom of a visible and secular expediency, they may seek the guidance of truth, and the guardianship of the God of truth. Their earthly rulers have refused to hear them,-some of them, we believe, mistakenly; many of them, we fear, through the influence of false philosophy, and a deep-rooted dislike to the evangelical principles which do really constitute essential, positive Protestantism; but though their petitions to man have been unheeded, they must only be the more earnest in their petitions to the throne of the heavenly grace, that this deep and threatening cloud, so darkly shadowing the hitherto undoubted Protestantism of the empire, may even yet pass away, and that true Protestant ascendancy, by which the God of the Bible was honoured, and liberty to read and obey the Bible secured to all, shine forth all the brighter for its temporary obscuration.

Its

And as the Maynooth Bill differs essentially from the Emancipation Bill, so must it be dealt with differently. When the latter became law, opposition ceased, and no attempts were made to effect a change. But the Maynooth Bill changes the constitution of the country, and by connecting it with the foredoomed Babylon, fearfully endangers our national prosperity and power. repeal, therefore, must be steadily kept in view. If Protestantism be religiously true, the maintenance of true Protestant principles, favourable as they are to light and liberty, and connecting as they do the national administration with that of the Prince of the Kings of the earth, is essential to our national stability and improvement: all favourers of alliance