ness.

as a man of superior understanding, and of great piety and uprightThe whole of his conduct, both as a man and a minister of Christ, was calculated to produce and strengthen that impression. An intelligent friend, (John Marsden, Esq.,) who sat under his ministry in Manchester, and enjoyed unrestrained intimacy with him, thus speaks of him at this period:-"I had frequent opportunities of viewing him in various situations previous to his appointment to our circuit. I had heard him preach upon particular occasions, and speak at missionary meetings; and I admired him as a man of superior intellect and talent; but still more did I admire him, when I sat under his regular ministry. I then found him to be a plain, practical preacher of the Gospel, elucidating its truths in a manner calculated to enlighten the understanding, and affect the heart. He possessed an energy which I know not how to describe. It was the energy of mind; not evidenced by loud speaking, or violent action. On some occasions particularly, there was a dignity in his manner which was impressive and commanding beyond description. He sometimes gave utterance to sentiment and language beyond what might ever be expected from human nature. But, in my estimation, it was not even in the pulpit that he shone with the greatest lustre. In the more private means of grace which we as a body enjoy, he appeared, not only as the gifted minister, but as the devout Christian. I wish I had the ability to describe him in the meetings of the classes and the bands. He related his Christian experience with a simplicity and humility which I never saw excelled; and he approached the footstool of the Almighty, when pouring out his soul in prayer, with a fervency and devotion which, while it evidenced his own self abasement, manifested, most powerfully, the exalted views which he entertained of the Divine Majesty and holiness, and the sufficiency and perfection of the Redeemer's atonement."

It might be expected, considering Mr. Watson's talents and reputation, that applications would often be made to him, from circuits both near and remote, to preach occasional sermons; but he could only take a very limited portion of this kind of service. The general delicacy of his health rendered him ill able to endure the fatigue of long journeys; and the nature of his complaint made travelling particularly inconvenient. He had also a deep conviction of the responsibility which rested upon him as a Christian pastor, to whom the care of a large flock was committed. No man was more willing to oblige and serve his brethren, in this and in every other way; but he felt that he ought not to leave his own people and congregations, except in cases of necessity, which would justify him in his own conscience. He was therefore generally to be found at the post of duty in his own circuit; and his great regularity secured for him the confidence of the congregations, as well as their esteem and love.

CHAPTER XXI.

Missionary Report for 1827-Anniversary of the Missionary Society in 1828 -Benefit of the Scriptures-Mr. Watson publishes the fifth Part of his Theological Institutes-Remarks on Calvinism-Anecdote of the Rev. Rowland HillThe Conference of 1828-Attempts to subvert the Methodist Discipline--Mr. Watson publishes his "Affectionate Address"-Pamphlets of the Rev. Daniel Isaac-Two Replies to Mr. Watson's Address-Character of those Publications -Letter on Mr. Watson's early History-Letter on his future AppointmentReport of the Missionary Society for 1828-Letter to Mr. James Nichols-Mr. Watson.publishes the last Part of his Theological Institutes, and presents that Work to the Connection-The Conference of 1829-Tribute to the Memory of Thomas Thompson, Esq.-Mr. Watson's Removal to London-Address at the Ordination of Missionaries-Letter to the Rev. John Hannah-Report of the Missionary Society for the year 1829-Persecution in Jamaica.

EARLY in the year 1828 the annual report of the Wesleyan Missionary Society was published. It was written by Mr. Watson, before he left London; and a copious outline of it was read at the anniversary of the society in the preceding spring. It states that sixteen missionaries, most of whom were married, had been sent out by the committee in the course of the year. The total number of mission stations, in different parts of the world, was one hundred and thirty-eight; and the number of missionaries employed by the society, one hundred and eighty-eight. The number of members of religious society, under the care of the missionaries, was thirty-four thousand eight hundred and ninety-two; being an ingrease, during the year, of two thousand and thirty-four. Of the aggregate number of members, twenty-seven thousand six hundred and six were negroes and people of colour in the West India colonies. The returns of the number of children in the mission schools were incomplete; but upward of sixteen thousand were actually reported as under religious tuition. The income of the society was £43,235. 7s. 9d. The report thus concludes:

"These exercises of charity to man, and expressions of love to Christ, are the efforts of the living; but, by one subject of solemn recollection, we are reminded that they are the works of a short and uncertain day. The loss of our late general treasurer, Joseph Butterworth, Esq., which took place during the preceding year, cannot but be urged upon our thoughts, on presenting another annual report to our subscribers and friends; and the committee feel that they but express the sentiment of the whole society, while they record their grateful testimony to the excellent character and public usefulness of their departed and venerated friend. To the cause of missions, and to the concerns of this institution, he especially devoted himself. His counsel, his influence, and his exertions, were all consecrated to its service: it had his cares; it was identified with his joys and hopes; and he surrendered, without regret, the engagements of public life, in the anticipation of having a larger portion of time to devote to its extension and success. That purpose He who determines the ways of men did not permit him to live to execute; but by that affecting expression of his interest in objects connected with the salvation of men, he at once showed the deep and solemn regard he maintained for things of eternal moment, and left to us an edifying instance of perseverance in these

benevolent cares to the end of life. The committee, who laboured with him in the regular management of these missions, can never forget the warmth of his zeal, and the prudence of his counsels. Knowing that the work was of God, and that it had his glory and the accomplishment of his designs for its objects, and deeply affected with the vice and wretchedness of man in every part of the world, he was the first to lead to new and hopeful enterprises of missionary zeal, and the last to doubt whether the effort would be crowned by the blessing of God, or be supported by the liberality of his people. The loss of such a man while life seemed still to promise years of usefulness, is a subject of sincere regret; but his example lives; his example of faith in God; of love to the family of Christ, however distinguished by names and forms; and of charitable exertion in the holy cause of extending the kingdom of Christ, and of filling the world with its truth, and saving influence. Happy are the living who thus connect themselves with interests which know no limit but eternity; and happy are the dead, the fruit of whose prayers, and liberality, and efforts, is following them to that pure world, where the extended plans of heaven in the redemption of our race are clearly known, where they are adoringly contemplated, and in which they all terminate.

"In conclusion, the committee again commend this great and growing work to the affectionate cares and support of the friends of Christ. The exertions of those ministers who have pleaded the cause of the society on the various deputations to different parts of the country specially demand acknowledgment; as well as the active management of the different branch and auxiliary societies by their respective officers, and the diligence of the collectors, on whose generous devotion of time and labour so much depends. They are happy to have marked no serious indications of weariness in this important branch of well doing, in any part of the kingdom, although some places, doubtless, still fall below their capabilities in their contributions. It is, however, a subject of the highest satisfaction to observe, that what once was thought to be an evanescent feeling, is settled into deep and permanent principle; thus affording the pledge, that no enterprise which has been begun shall fail for want of support, and that no door of access to new labours shall long stand open, without calling forth the means necessary to send ministers to enter into it. This principle, resting as it does on duty, on promise, on hope, must be strengthened by every reflection, and by every serious reference to the word of God, and to the state of the world. Never did the powers of light and darkness present themselves in a contest so wide spread and so determined. It is no longer to a sleeping world we call; but to a world awake for good or for evil. The aggressions made upon the territories of the common enemy have roused his vigilance; the torches of truth have been carried into the recesses of pagan, popish, and Mohammedan darkness; and the world is in a state of hope and fear. It is in this condition of things that the Church is becoming more eminently militant, and is taking up her more advanced posts, in which more is to be done, and perhaps more is to be suffered. But the noblest ambition is roused, the ambition of blessing men; of turning the world's darkness into light, and its tumults into peace. The prospect is sublime; because the effects connect themselves so little with visible agency, and so much with God. A few

societies, composed, for the most part, of persons little and unknown;contributions flowing in from ten thousand channels, but with a stream small and noiseless, having their hidden sources, for the most part, among the pious poor;-men, sent forth simply to preach Christ, to establish schools, to translate the Scriptures, to converse with meekness, and to persuade by example; scatterred over vast continents and distant islands; few, among the many myriads of aliens from God and truth;-here is no array of power, no consultations of worldly policy, no march of crusading armies; yet the slumber of ages is disturbed, the chain of the captive breaks, the clouds of error dissipate, the light of universal day dawns, and the demons of idolatry and superstition retire before it, or brandish a feeble, though malignant, defiance. Invisible as the secret and far-working power is, such a power is there, and it is the power of God. Invisible is that influence, which, spreading over the expanse of the waters of the ocean, rolls them in their bed, and heaves them in submissive tides upon their shores; yet who recognizes not an unseen agency, and who bows not before its majesty? So the Spirit of God has gone forth over the hearts of men; and the first gentle heavings of feeling and opinion are but prelusive of that mighty flowing in of nations to the Church of God, predicted by the prophet, at the sight of which she shall fear and be enlarged,' and with prostrate awe acknowledge that this is the great work of God. If God then be for us, who shall be against us? In his name we have gone forth, and have not returned empty; in his name let us go forth again to the prayers and the labours of another year, and doubt not, but steadfastly believe, that He who has never deceived our trust, will fulfil that word unto all his servants in which he has caused them to hope. To him be glory for ever. Amen!"

Mr. Watson accepted the pressing invitation of the committee of the Wesleyan Missionary Society to attend the anniversary of that institution in the spring of 1828; and delivered an admirable sermon in its behalf, at the chapel in Great Queen-street, on the morning of Friday, May 2d. His text was Eccles. xi, 1-6; and the sermon will be found in the second volume of his works. It was delivered with an energy and a glow of pious and benevolent feeling which it would be difficult to describe. The attendance was very large; and the wasted form of the preacher, and his pallid countenance, indicative of intense suffering, created a deep sympathy in the assembly. He preached on the morning of the following Sunday, at the City-Road chapel, on Rom. iii, 1, 2: "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God." The principal subject of this discourse was, the benefit arising from the possession of the Holy Scriptures, as an acknowledged revelation from God; and one of the remarks upon which he dwelt at some length was, that these oracles make other oracles vocal. While men remain ignorant of God, every object in nature is full of mystery, and the dispensations of Providence are inexplicable. Whether the universe was formed by chance, or has existed from eternity, or how it came into existence and was arranged, the greatest men have not been able to determine; and they have been equally at a loss to discover, whether the events of life are the result of chance, or of a blind and inexorable fate. Even the dictates of

conscience are powerless and unintelligible. But when the sacred oracles make the Almighty known, as the Creator of all things, the God of providence, the righteous Governor of the world, and the Saviour of men, his voice is heard on every side, and in every object and event. Created nature declares his power, and wisdom, and goodness; every personal and domestic comfort speaks of his bounty and love; the various calamities by which men are visited indicate the sinfulness of sin, and God's displeasure on account of it; and every succeeding day of human life declares the Divine patience and long suffering. The Rev. Barnabas Shaw, one of the intrepid missionaries from Southern Africa, heard this sermon; and in his speech at the public meeting on the following morning, adverted to it with lively interest, and supplied a beautiful illustration of the doctrine which it contained. Speaking of the savage tribes, among whom he had so successfully laboured, and having referred to Mr. Watson's sermon, he said, "From the representations of some travellers, one might have supposed that the heathen were a kind of angels, and the country they inhabited a sort of paradise; but we know they are not happy, they are not moral, they are not honest; but are living in darkness, without God and without hope in the world. The Gospel has given them correct ideas of God and of his works, which they had not before. They had never heard of God. When they heard of that great Being who created all things, and had once caught the idea, they began to think and speak of him. One of them said, after hearing the Gospel, 'When I stand by the sea shore, and see the tremendous waves rising, and hear them dashing on the rocks; and when I come on the following day, and see that all is still and calm, and the sun is shining upon the ocean; then I think how great must He be who made that vast and mighty water. And when I see the mountains in the desert, rising one above another, I think how great must be that God who made them; and I seem to hear a voice, saying, Go, and pray to him; go, and call upon him who made the sea, and the mountains, and the fountains of water.' Thus, after they have heard the truth, day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handy work."

Mr. Watson was in such a state of infirm health on the day of the public meeting as to be unable to take an active part in its proceedings; but he participated in the feelings of holy joy which were generally cherished on that interesting occasion.

Early in this month he published the fifth part of his "Theological Institutes," completing his view of the doctrines of Christianity. He had already vindicated the Scripture doctrine of redemption by the death of Christ, and had proceeded to speak of its benefits; and he here inquires whether or not those benefits are attainable by all men. This inquiry leads to a discussion of the whole Calvinistic controversy; in which he takes the Arminian side. This controversy, in fact, lies within a very small compass, though it has often been drawn out to great length. The whole is resolvable into this one question,-“ Are the decrees of God, according to which the eternal states of men will be determined, absolute or conditional?" Calvin taught that the endless destiny of every man was unalterably fixed by God from eternity, by his own sovereign will, irrespective of the personal conduct of his