in reading the inspired volume, singing the praises of God, and making prayer unto him. Then he had considerable leisure, his attention to the farm not being required so much as afterwards. He continued to prize and engage in these exercises to the end of his days, and the effects were seen in his life and conduct, as well as in his death. Many extracts might be given from his journal, would space permit; a few in confirmation of what has been written of him must suffice : "Had a good class meeting-felt fully fixed to serve God.” "Had a happy prayer meeting, and feel an increasing attachment to the means of grace." 99 "Heard Mr. Williams preach from, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.' Was very much encouraged." "Mr. H. preached. Had a remarkable time. Six persons very much affected; poor Mary, our servant, deeply so." "I feel my mind fully bent to serve God, but feel also that without him I can do nothing." "I feel it very good to wait upon God in my closet, especially before I go to the means of grace." "This has been a good day to my soul, glory be to God! I was enabled to praise him. Very happy in the prayer meeting at Gilly; and during the evening service at the chapel. Received a fresh baptism of the Holy Ghost, glory be to God! After I was in bed I was enabled to praise him with joyful lips." "This was a good day to my soul. In the evening how my heart rejoiced to see my dear brother John in distress, on account of his sin, and seeking the mercy of God. May the Lord carry on his glorious work." "Oh glorious day! I am determined by the help of God to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made me free." The last entry in his journal is as follows: "A blessed class meeting. I have solid peace within; a peace which the world can neither give nor take away." In the enjoyment of this peace he lived and died. We have seen the commencement of his religious life; in its progressive course there were no extraordinary events to which we can refer. He kept on in the even tenor of his way. He experienced painful and trying things in common with the saints. His beloved mother was removed by death, and a very dear brother emigrated to Wisconsin, whose loss he deeply felt; but in the midst of all he trusted in the Lord. He had a besetment, which was his strong love for music; and he regretted when, on reflection, in his sickness, he thought of the time occupied therewith, and that he had not devoted more of his time to the service of God. He took a leading part in conducting the singing in the public worship of God; and he was also very diligent as a Sunday school teacher. He loved sacred things and was attached to godly people. Integrity and uprightness were conspicuous in all his worldly transactions. In his temporal concerns he was very industrious; strictly attending to St. Paul's admonition; slothful in business; " for what his hand found to do he did it with all his might, that he might provide things honest in the sight of all men, and have something to spare for the support of the Gospel. He was affectionate in his family, and it was his great delight to honour his beloved father in all things. The affliction which ended his mortal existence lasted about twelve months, and was of a very painful nature. Throughout this long illness, religion, the things of God, and eternity, were uppermost in his mind. I saw him a few times after my coming into the circuit. I was delighted to witness his patient endurance of suffering and perfect resignation to the will of God. One who had abundant opportunities of observing him throughout his affliction, remarks, "He was a pattern of piety, patience, and resignation. On the Thursday night previous to his departure, his eldest brother being with him, "Not he drew him to the bed-side, and addressing him, with a smile, said, "Dear brother, how happy I am!" adding, "Put your trust in the Lord." He also said to his father, "Father, don't trouble for me, all is right." On Friday evening, being asked, by a friend, if he felt Christ to be precious? be exclaimed, with great energy, while his countenance brightened up with a heavenly smile, "Oh yes he is precious! All is well! All is well ?" On Sunday morning, about two o'clock, he intimated to his brother Alfred, that the journey of life was just finished; and then, filled with rapture at the thought, that he was so near his heavenly home, he exclaimed, " Glory! glory! glory!" He then requested a friend to pray with him; during which holy exercise he was very happy, and rejoiced greatly. Then came an attack of severe pain. After obtaining relief, he said, "Praise the Lord!" He then gradually became weaker; and with a faltering voice at intervals exclaimed, "Glory! glory!" until he fell asleep in Jesus, to awake up in his likeness. His death was improved on the following Sabbath to an overflowing congregation from Rev. xiv. 13. May my last end be like his. J. H. MRS. MARY Sutcliffe, oF MANKINHOLES, Todmorden. DIED, Nov. 22nd, 1846, aged thirty-six years, Mrs. Mary Sutcliffe. She was born in the year 1776, at Old-barn, in the neighbourhood of the place where she died. And from her childhood was of a mild and steady disposition. When she was very young she felt good desires, and was much drawn to reading; but it was not until the year 1810, that she became a member of a religious society. At that time, she connected herself with the Conference Methodists. This step was disapproved by her family, and she had to meet with very considerable opposition: but, knowing it was right to obey God rather than man, she persevered. Previous to obtaining a sense of God's favour, she was the subject of much anguish; but in her deepest distress the Lord passed by and proclaimed himself, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth." She was then enabled to rejoice, and to say, "O Lord, I will praise thee, though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me." The hour of darkness had passed away; Divine light now shone upon her. In the course of her religious life, she was called to suffer many things, but she did not allow any of them to separate her from the love of God. During her last sickness, she often expressed herself as deeply affected with a sense of her own vileness, and the Divine favour. She felt quite willing and ready, nay desirous, to depart, yet she endeavoured to resign herself to God, and often prayed for patience, to suffer all his will; and the Lord granted her request. She endured hardness as a good soldier and at last slept in Jesus. I saw her once or twice during her last illness, and from her state of mind at those times, I should not hesitate to pray, that my last end might be like her's "But is she dead? No! no! she lives, To heaven above, and there receives The long expected prize." ; Our departed sister was very fond of talking on religious subjects, and would frequently introduce them in conversation; she took great delight in reading the Bible; and was very constant in her attendance on the preaching of the Word, so long as she was able. In reference to her attendence at the house of God, she would often say, "I'll go as long as I can; for a time may come, when I shall not be able," and so it did; she was not able to go to chapel, for some months before her decease. E. B. 328 Biography of Mr. William Hitchens, and Mr. Joseph Greenwood. MR. WILLIAM HITCHENS, OF POLPERRO, CORNWALL. DIED, Nov. 6th, 1846, at Polperro, in the Liskeard Circuit, Mr. William Hitchens, aged eighty-two. He was converted to God about fifty years since, under the ministry of the Methodist preachers, who then visited Polperro; and he being then in the occupation of a large farm in the neighbourhood, invited them to his house, where they were always liberally entertained. His large barn was also devoted to the purposes of a chapel; where, so long as he continued in business, the gospel was successfully preached. Our brother also laboured, from an early period, as a local preacher; and his efforts thus to do good, were terminated only a few months before his death. When his age and infirmities rendered worldly business inconvenient, he quitted his farm, and went to live at Polperro; where he could more conveniently attend the means of grace, and engage in such measures of usefulness, as his lameness, and considerable deafness, rendered not impossible. He had his stated days for visiting the sick, and such poor people as were confined to their habitations; and they regularly expected him, to pray with and instruct them. Neither did he cease his labours as a local preacher, within the distance of a few miles. Being unable to ride, it was his custom to leave his home a few hours before the time appointed for the service; walking the whole way by the aid of a couple of sticks. Necessity compelled him to limit these efforts to such places as could afford him a comfortable shelter for the night; but it may almost be said of him, that "He ceas'd at once to work and live." Brother Hitchens was a man of good, general information, of great simplicity of character; and eminently of a peaceable spirit. He avoided contention, "before it is meddled with." But he was able to be firm in what he believed to be right principles; and therefore, though he had been a local preacher and class leader for (it is believed) more than forty years, and had received as well as done, much good in the Old Connexion; yet when, in his belief, the Conference body had left their former principles, he hesitated not to come out from among them; and joined his labours and influence to the Wesleyan Association. The religion he had sought to teach to others, was his support and consolation on his bed of sickness; and he fell asleep in the Lord, having a good hope of a resurrection to eternal life. C. MR. JOSEPH GREENWOOD, OF LUDDENDEN-FOOT. DIED, 10th October, 1846, Mr. Joseph Greenwood, aged thirty-six years. He was a native of Heptonstal; and was, in his early days, a Sabbath scholar, in the Baptist School at Heptonstal Slack. But, as he grew up to man's estate, he neglected the instructions which had been given him, and launched into the thronged, but troubled deep of this world's pleasures. About ten years ago, he went to reside in the neighbourhood of Luddenden-foot; and soon after this, he became a teacher in the Sabbath school; and being thus brought under the influence of the Word, he received deep convictions of sin, and ere long, was brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. From the time of his conversion, he was a steady and devoted member of our Society; and during two years, a Superintendent of the Sabbath school. His piety was deep and solid. His attachment to his leader and the other members of his class, was strong; and his attendance on the means of grace punctual. His last affliction was long and painful. Yet there was no murmuring or repining. He endured" as seeing him who is invisible;" and his end was peace. "Sweet is the scene where virtue dies! E. B. Biography of Miss Margaret Weatherhall.—Recent Deaths. 329 MISS MARGARET WEATHERHALL, OF STOCKTON. DIED, at Stockton-on-Tees, September 15th, 1846, Miss Margaret Weatherhall, aged twenty-nine years. When she was about twenty-one years of age, she was brought to a saving "knowledge of the truth," under the ministry of the Wesleyan Methodist Association. From that time, to the period of her dissolution, she "adorned the doctrine of God our Saviour," by a consistent profession. Prior to her conversion, she had occasionally manifested an improper spirit; but, after she had experienced this great change, she constantly exhibited "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit." To use the language of her mistress," she was all, as a servant, that she could wish her to be. She should be glad to meet with another like her." This is the testimony of the lady in whose family the departed had lived about nine years; and it was confirmed by the kindest attentions. It had been evident, for some time, that disease was making inroads upon her constitution; but, for the last five or six months of her life, she was wholly incapacitated for the duties of her situation, and presented the usual symptoms of consumption. At the commencement of her affliction, her mind was harassed with doubts, respecting her spiritual state; but they were soon dispersed by the bright shining of "the light of life." I had frequent opportunities of seeing her during her protracted illness, but it was often difficult for her to converse. Her mind appeared to be, in general, "kept in perfect peace." When asked, "Is Jesus precious to you? Can you cast your guilty spirit upon him for salvation ? " She invariably replied in the affirmative. On one occasion, she said, "I have a great deal of pain, but must not murmur. It is the Lord's doing, and he knows what is best for me." At another time, I heard her singing,— "We'll range the sweet plains, On the banks of the river; For ever and ever." At length "the silver cord" was "loosed," and the freed spirit sprang into the regions of immortal liberty and glory. In the evening of September 27th, the writer endeavoured to improve her death in a sermon, preached, in Regent Street Chapel, to a deeply attentive audience. W. J. RECENT DEATHS. ON Thursday, May 13th, Mr. John Smith, of the Keighley circuit, departed this life in the fifty-fifth year of his life. Up to the time of the Leeds secession from the Conference Connexion in 1828, he was a member of the Methodist Society. From that time to the union of the Protestant Methodists with the Association, he was united with the Protestant Methodists; since which he has belonged to the Wesleyan Association. He was a valuable and consistent member of our church in Keighley. We have sustained a heavy loss in his removal. His sufferings were protracted, but his end was calm and placid. His end was in every respect such as every Christian must desire. "Let my last end be like his." one. W. C. DIED at Carrickfergus, on the 8th of April, Eliza Mc Gowan, aged twentyShe was a consistent member of the Wesleyan Association. A prominent feature in her character was, devoted attachment to the house of God, and all the means of grace, especially the class-meeting. She had been driven from her peaceful home, by circumstances, much felt by the members of our little Society, yet more extensively felt by this that time was lacking of the main thing, "the undivided heart." She was then the subject of some convictions and awakenings, but her "salvation was not worked out with fear and trembling." About the year 1837, circumstances occasioned the removal of the family from Mellor to Preston. From the very first of her coming here, she was regular and constant in her attendance upon the ordinances of public worship, and so long as her health would permit, she sat in the singers' pew and engaged in its duties. In 1841, an intimate female friend, one who was as her own soul,-who had once known by happy experience, the consolation that is in Christ Jesus to them that believe, but had declined from the ways of the Lord,- -was aroused to deep and serious thought, by the death of a beloved brother, and so brought to seek in God's own way her restoration to comfort and holiness. She was concerned about her companion as well as herself, and sought to bring her to repentance. Elizabeth's friend and companion resolved, that they should have Christ together, or that as companions they must part, giving Elizabeth a week to consider of it. Oh the excellency of decision! This brought our departed sister to a point. On the first Wednesday night after, they went to class together, and on the following Sabbath they both obtained peace in the prayer meeting, after hearing an impressive sermon from these words, "Say unto them as I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die, O house of Israel." Ezek. xxxiii. 11. From this night, Elizabeth was decided in devoting herself to God's service. She made the cause of religion her own, and gave ample evidence that it was her studied endeavour to do the will, and "shew forth the praises of him who had called her out of darkness into his marvellous light." With Paul, the devout utterance of her renewed heart was, "Lord what wilt thou have me to do ?" Her gratitude was very marked and abundant. Its promptings put a tax upon her vocal powers, for songs of praise, more than her feeble frame would bear. These exercises brought on spitting of blood, which she continued to have periodically, and which there is every reason to believe hastened her death. Alluding to this circumstance during her sickness, she observed, "I shall be able to praise God, without spitting of blood, when I get to heaven." While in health her labours were principally devoted to the Sabbath school, and she prosecuted her toils as one that must give an account. She sought out the objects of her charge from the world, endeavoured with much patience and tenderness of affection to impress their minds with spiritual and eternal things, and mourned and groaned in secret places that the apparent success of her endeavours was so scanty. She was a pattern for regularity, uniform consistency, kindliness of spirit, and untiring effort, and her name has left a good savour which will long abide both among teachers and scholars. Our sister Farrow was often a disciple in the school of affliction. It seemed to be the appointment of her heavenly Father, that she should be made perfect through suffering." And to this appointment she evinced a cheerful acquiescence. With David she with resignation said, "My times are in thy right hand." Having for a long period of time been prevented by affliction from attending either the social or public means of grace, at her particular request, the class meeting was removed from the chapel to the house of her widowed mother. On the 16th of December, the first night of the change, she said, "I feel it becomes me to stand ready, for my thread is fast running out," and, with a warm heart, she went on to praise God for past and present mercies. On the 23rd she dwelt much on the temptations of Satan, and expressed herself as having been much harassed under his hand during the week. On the 30th her note and song were changed. She commenced her experience in the beautiful words of our poet-- |