HYMN FROM THE GERMAN : TRANSLATED BY JOHN BOWRING, ESQ. WHO leaves the' Almighty God to reign How vain are sighs! how vain regret ! Conceal'd of deed, or word, or thought. He comes unlook'd for; and whene'er His rule is wondrous; at His will O then be calm, and tread serene, "Tis gay with flowers; its paths are green, THE RAISING OF LAZARUS : THE sepulchre was gaping wide, A sight of the foul scene within And groaning deep for him who slept, He wept but His was not the tear In power's unquestion'd plenitude, As he stoop'd o'er the dead man's grave, THOMAS BERGUER. Not faster answers to the flash In life, in breathing life, be rose, Health's crimson light o'erspread his His eye was fire, his step was grace; Absorb'd he stood in rapt devotion, Symbol nor sign of outward power, And awe-struck multité des attested Printed by Mills, Jowett, and Mills, (late Bensley,) Bolt-court, Fleet-street. Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine, FOR MARCH, 1826. BIOGRAPHY. MEMOIR OF MR. JOHN KIDGER, BY THE REV. BARNARD sláter. MR. JOHN KIDGER, eldest son of Mr. William and Elizabeth Kidger, was born at Griffydam, in the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Circuit, June 7th, 1795. Educated in the strictest principles of Christianity, he was preserved from the grosser follies of the age, but did not fully embrace the salvation of the Gospel until he was about seventeen years old. At a prayermeeting he was truly awakened, made to feel his wretched condition as a sinner, and began to cry to God for mercy. His amiable mother, not knowing of the anguish of his mind, conversed with him concerning the absolute necessity of a change of heart. He was so deeply impressed with this conversation, and so powerfully affected, that he retired to an out-building to give vent to the feelings of his soul, and cried with the Publican," God be merciful to me a sinner." It was in December, 1812, that he was thus awakened. His convictions continued about eight or nine days; and on the 27th of December, he and twelve or fourteen others, at the same prayer-meeting, were enabled to believe in Jesus Christ, and to rejoice in the pardoning mercy of God. A short period after his conversion, he was removed to a situation, as agent in a colliery, near Alfreton, in Derbyshire. His religious and moral worth was soon discovered, and he was appointed to be the Leader of a Class. In the spring of 1815 he was called to leave his beloved friends in Derbyshire, to reside at Lichfield. Before his removal to this city he enjoyed much of God, and, I believe, walked before him in simplicity and uprightness; yet he had not acquired a very extensive and accurate knowledge of Christian doctrine, and was therefore less capable of encountering the sophisms of those who wrest the Scriptures to their own serious injury. Being occasionally in company with a person who lowered the standard of Christian faith, he was attacked on the subject of assurance; and at length embraced the notion that a man may be in the favour of God and not know it. When on a visit at his father's, he entered into conversation with several of his old friends on that subject, VOL. V. Third Series. MARCH, 1826. M His pious and sensible father saw with grief, that the new views which his son had imbibed, retarded his progress in piety, and injured his usefulness in the church. His bowels yearned over his son, now fallen in some measure from the grace he had once received, and he addressed to him the following admonitory letter, which was rendered, by the blessing of God, a means of John's entire recovery : My Dear John,-Since you returned to Lichfield, I have re-considered the conversation we had when you were at Coleorton, and I assure you, that I do not recollect a single circumstance of your whole life that has given me so much pain of mind. How very different were your visits when you came to see us from Derbyshire! I believe, in those days it was your only aim to receive good and to do good. But the spirit in which you last came, was very different; your aim appeared to me, and to others, to make proselytes to a set of opinions which could not have the least tendency to make people either more holy or more happy. You contend about opinions as if they were your Saviour; but were you as orthodox as the greatest Divine that ever lived, without holiness you would be eternally lost. I would ask you, John, as in the presence of God, What has your new creed done for you? Are you more humble, holy, and happy? Has it created in you a more ardent desire to have souls converted to God? Does the reflection, that mankind in general are hastening to endless ruin, affect you more now, than when you first received Christ? Do you mourn over a perishing world more than formerly? Do you see it to be your duty, more than usual, to visit the sick and the dying? Do you pray more in private, and more in public? Are you more watchful, more spiritual, in your conversation? If your new opinions have produced these blessed effects, hold them fast; but if the contrary, (which I am sure is the case,) frankly acknowledge it to the Lord, and amend your ways. "I want you, my dear John, and myself likewise, to get possessed of that faith which works by love, and purifies the heart; a faith that will secure our justification with God, and be productive of such works as will justify us in the sight of men. "Do not say, that it is our ignorance that prevents us from believing as you do. Detest the thought, that you are the man, and wisdom will die with you.' I recollect a person who spoke at one of our Love-feasts. He blessed God that though he could not say he grew in love, yet hẹ could say he grew in knowledge. The Preacher justly replied, Brother, that is the experience of devils; they grow in knowledge, but to love they are strangers.' "For Christ's sake, John, be watchful; examine yourself whether you be in the faith. God, I fear, has somewhat against you. I am afraid you are falling from God. O that I may be mistaken! I had rather follow you to your grave, than that you should become an apostate. |