I would rather see you working at the most laborious employment, and reduced to the lowest degree of poverty, and yet living in the enjoyment of real religion, than see you in the most prosperous circumstances, and destitute of the life of God in your soul.

"O pray that the zeal of God's house may eat you up! Labour all you can to promote God's glory; visit the sick, especially the sick poor; if this duty be a cross, take it up. Conduct yourself in a becoming manner before all men; let your words be few; think much, read much, pray much. Let your principal book be the book of God. Desire to know its contents, not that you may be able to cavil about particular tenets; but in order that your judgment may be informed, and your mind be renewed. Do not treat sacred things in a light and trifling manner. The Bible contains a revelation of the mind of God to inan; do not hastily make up your mind about peculiar tenets, against which some of the most holy men now living have raised their voice. Do not lightly esteem the Preachers of God's word. I should be very much grieved to hear you say anything disrespectful of them. O John! I should consider it the greatest honour to have a son that lived and died a Methodist Preacher.

"I am of opinion that those, in general, who are for so much refine ment in religion, content themselves with the form of it, and leave the power and spirit of it for the enjoyment of others.

"I conclude, by praying that God will bless and preserve you from every evil, and make you holy and happy. I am your affectionate father, "Cole-orton, July 24, 1815." "WILLIAM KIDGER."

From this period John

This letter produced the most happy effects. acquired a love of reading, and began to think closely on what he read and heard. Alluding to this period, he says, in a letter to a friend,— "My mind was roused from its natural dormancy. Before this period, I was in the habit of believing all I read, and heard, without examination: but then I met with persons who overturned all my received opinions. By this means I saw the necessity of thinking for myself." Having abandoned the erroneous opinions he had entertained, and received a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit, he believed it to be his duty to preach the Gospel; and he was admitted on the plan, as a Local Preacher. His talents were respectable; and he was highly esteemed in Lichfield and its neighbourhood. He entered on the sacred work, under a full conviction of the worth of immortal souls. His manner in the pulpit was peculiarly solemn for it was his anxious wish to reach the consciences of his hearers. His views of the sacred function will appear in his own words: "I feel," says he, "that a Preacher of the Gospel needs much religion : for when he goes beyond his own experience on the subject of personal godliness, he can but feebly enforce the truths upon which he expatiates. A person may have some idea of the warmth of a climate, by ascertain

ing the latitude in which it lies; but he can give the best description of it who has felt its warmth in his own person. Christ is frequently spoken of under the idea of a sun: it is especially upon his Church that he shines; and all the members of it feel his genial rays in proportion as they live near to him." Many of the Preachers who knew our young friend, thought that he ought to be employed in our itinerant work; and the late Mr. Benson advised him to hold himself in readiness for the various examinations through which the Preachers have to pass, prior to their entering into the ministry. But he was prevented by his revered father; whose chief objection was, a fear lest he should run before he was sent of God. He continued, however, to preach in a local capacity, with great acceptance and considerable usefulness, to the end of his life. After residing at Lichfield two or three years, he returned to his fa ther's house, where he continued till March, 1820, when he entered into business for himself, at Belton, a village in the Loughborough Circuit, a short distance from Cole-orton. The Itinerant and Local Preachers were hospitably entertained at his house, he was a liberal supporter of the cause of Christ in that neighbourhood, and a great friend to the poor and the sick.

In August, 1820, he was married to Miss Burton, daughter of Mr. James Burton, of Swannington: He and his amiable partner conducted themselves with so much propriety, as to gain the confidence and esteem of those with whom they transacted business. They were remarkably conscientious in the sanctification of the Sabbath; and though frequently pressed, by some of their customers, to infringe upon its sacred duties, they resolutely refused. On one occasion, John was closely pressed on the Sabbath day for an article in his shop, when it was said, that it would be wanted very early on the Monday morning, and that it had been forgotten on Saturday night. He replied, that he would rise at any hour after the termination of the Sabbath; but that sooner than transact business on the Lord's Day, he would lose all that he had in the world.

The career of this excellent young man was but short. He attended a Missionary Meeting at the Griffydam Chapel, on April 20, 1825, when he was called upon to second a resolution on a subject very congenial with the ardour of his soul,-the general out-pouring of the Holy Spirit on all Christian Missions. He entered into the subject with considerable fervour. I was present on the occasion, and witnessed with delight the glow of pious feeling in my young friend. On returning home from this Meeting, he felt some symptoms of ill health; and on the next day he was seized with the scarlet fever, accompanied with an affection in the throat. His complaints baffled the power of medicine; and after nine days of severe affliction, he departed this life in the triumph of faith. He died April 30th, 1825, aged twenty-nine years.

From the whole, it appears our young friend lived to Christ. In all things he walked circumspectly, labouring "to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward man." He had been made a blessing to many souls in Belton and its vicinity, and I believe felt the force of the apostolic caution, " Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed." He remarked on his death-bed, that he frequently had been invited by travellers to accompany them to the inn, and spend an hour; and though there might have been no harm in this, yet he had invariably refused, because, he added, he thought it best to "abstain from all appearance of evil."

As he lived to Christ, so in Christ he died. In one of his last letters to his sister, after exhorting her to strong confidence in God, assuring her that "they who trust in Him shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved," he said, "I still feel my greatest pleasure in working for the good of souls. The words of the Poet are the language of my heart:Happy, if with my latest breath,

I may but gasp his name!

Preach him to all, and cry in death,

Behold! behold the Lamb!'"'

His desire was granted, and he now rests from his labours.

MEMOIR OF MISS SIMPSON,

Of Spaldington-Grange, near Howden:

BY THE REV. JOHN BUSTARD.

MISS SIMPSON was born at Willitoft, near Howden, in the county of York, on the 8th of March, 1801. She was favoured with a Christian education, and, in early life, was a subject of gracious impressions. A desire for religious conversation, a love for prayer, and for the public means of grace, were seen in her whilst even a child. When entering upon her seventeenth year, she began to evidence less interest in spiritual concerns; and for twelve months, she appeared to be more occupied with "the things that are seen." From this state of apathy, and forgetfulness of God, she was, at length, through divine mercy, powerfully awakened.

On a Lord's Day morning, when hearing Mr. Maskill preach, at Spaldington, Miss Simpson and several other persons were convinced of their sinfulness and consequent danger; and while he was preaching at her father's house, in the afternoon of the same day, she was so powerfully affected, as to be unable to conceal from those around her the perturbation of her mind. On that day she dedicated herself to the service of God, and for twelve months sought the Lord with a devotedness to her object, and a consistency of deportment, which would have honoured n Christian profession of considerable duration. During this period, she occasionally experienced a degree of spiritual consolation; and it was often suggested to her mind that this was a proof of her acceptance with

God; but a fear of being deceived, induced her to make justification, and its evidences, the general topic of her conversation whenever she was in the company of pious persons. The Lord approved of her sincerity, and graciously manifested his pardoning mercy to her soul, whilst she was pleading for that blessing at a prayer-meeting, one Sunday morning. Then her sorrow was turned to joy; and her gladness was greater than the wicked feel when their corn, and wine, and oil increase.

The care of Miss Simpson to prevent deception, prior to justification, and the clear and full manifestation of that blessing to her soul at the time of receiving it, tended to establish her confidence, and to preserve her from painful reasonings during her subsequent life. She did not indeed consider her justification, at the period now mentioned, to be irreversible, whatever might be her future conduct; for, though justified by faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ, without works, she knew it was necessary that her faith should not only continue as a living principle, but that it should work by love, and be manifested in a holy life. There is cause to regret, that some persons profess to hold fast their confidence, whilst all around them justly fear, that their confidence is presumption, and ought to give place to godly sorrow, and to fruits meet for repentance. But this was not the case with Miss Simpson. Her uniform piety, in her father's house, with Christian friends, and before the world, was such as adorned her profession, and commanded general respect. Her conscience was tender, her motives were hallowed, and the presence of her God was generally realized. She deemed it necessary to hold strict "converse with departed hours, and ask them what report they bore to heaven." This was strikingly manifest, in relating her experience in her weekly class-meeting. There she avoided those general expressions in which some people indulge; yielding little profit to others, and rendering it difficult for Class-Leaders to give suitable advice. Her Class met on a Thursday evening: and she frequently began by stating what her experience was on the preceding Friday; then the experience of Saturday, and of each succeeding day to the time of their meeting.

Miss Simpson maintained a close walk with God, and enjoyed intimate fellowship with him. There is reason to believe, that, in general, she daily employed more time in secret prayer than some professors, with equal opportunities, do in a week. She rigidly practised self-denial. The duty of fasting, or abstinence, was observed by her twice a week, so long as her strength would allow it. Her parents, knowing that her constitution was delicate, were afraid that she would carry this too far, and therefore endeavoured to dissuade her from it. But few persons are in danger of an excessive attention to this duty. We would caution the few against extreme mortification; and, at the same time, we would ask the numerous professors of religion who neglect it, whether excessive

strictness be not less pernicious than lukewarmness and inordinate selfindulgence?

The subject of this memoir appeared to prefer the prosperity of Jerusalem to her chief joy; evidencing an ardent concern for the conversion of sinners, for whom she earnestly solicited salvation. The easy fluency with which she frequently addressed the throne of grace, and the unction felt by those around her, proved that "prayer ardent, opens heaven," and "lets down a stream of glory on the consecrated hour, of man in audience with the Deity."

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Though professing a public spirit, she displayed a modesty which secured the esteem of those around her. like a tree planted by the rivers of water," bringing "forth fruit in its season," her "leaf did not wither." Her Christian profession was always green.

In visiting the afflicted, however contagious the disease, and in relieving the necessitous, as far as her means would allow, she realized the truth of those words: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." When persons have applied at the door for relief, she used to follow them, and speak to them respecting their salvation, and exhort them to seek the Lord. When visited occasionally with affliction, she rarely complained; appearing more awake to the sufferings of others, or to be engrossed by her spiritual concerns. On one occasion she said to her father, that the sudden thought of death, and of the agonies that might accompany it, sometimes gave her a momentary shock; but that she had not the least fear of the day of judgment, or of its results.

On the 24th of March, 1825, she left Spaldington-Grange, to pay a visit to York; and proceeded from thence to Tadcaster, on the 29th,. where, in a few days, she closed her holy life.

On the 2d of April she wrote, " Glory, honour, and praise, be given to my adorable Saviour, for ever and ever! I was unwell this morning, but, blessed be his name, I feel myself happy in his love. For some time past, my soul has been drawn out in strong desire to be entirely renewed soul so in righteousness and true holiness.' I have sometimes felt my blessed, that I was ready to conclude the Lord had indeed entirely sanctified me to himself. At other times I have had doubts respecting it; supposing that if I did indeed enjoy the blessing of perfect love, I should be more spiritually minded. Yesterday was a good day. In the morning my soul was humbled before the Lord, and in the afternoon I. enjoyed much of his love. I did not experience so much ecstasy of joy, as that

'Speechless awe which dares not move,
And all the silent heaven of love." "

It appears that this was the last record of her religious experience. On Tuesday, April 5th, she retired, after breakfast, for prayer. At one o'clock the servant went to call her to dinner, and found her on her knees before God, Her cousin (having received information from the