his last affliction, which continued about three months, he suffered almost constant, and often severe pain, under which he was resigned to the will of God, and retained an unshaken confidence in Him to the last moment of his life. T. I. March 9th-At Weston-Favell, near Northampton, Mr. Thomas Ireson, aged 31. He was a man of fervent piety, and a zealous, faithful, and useful Local Preacher. His health had been in a declining state for about nine months; during which time he enjoyed almost uninterrupted tranquillity of mind, and a constant sense of his acceptance with God. His end was peculiarly glorious and triumphant. W. T. March 14th.-At Burslem, Mr. Elijah Sant, in the thirty-third year of his age He was converted to God about five years ago; and from that period to his death adorned his profession by a holy life. While he enjoyed health, (and even when in a very weak state of body,) it was his constant practice to visit the sick, and such as were in distress; though, frequently, such visits were attended with danger to himself. He lived as though he were conscious that his pilgrimage would shortly terminate. His last affliction was peculiarly severe; but while he underwent extreme bodily suffering, his consolations greatly abounded. Revolving in his mind, a little before his death, that he was about to leave an affectionate wife, and three beloved children, for a moment he seemed to cling to life; but while a friend was praying, he was completely freed; and being filled with holy triumph, he cried out, "Now every tie is broken, and I am now ready to go to Jesus." Turning to his weeping mother, he exclaimed, "O mother! if you did but feel what I now experience; but it would overpower you;" alluding to his own rapturous feelings, and the enfeebled frame of his beloved parent. From this time his confidence was greatly strengthened, and his mind kept in perfect peace. In his last struggle, he appeared to be buffeted by the enemy; but, on crying to God, he was heard; and so powerful was the influence he felt, that he sprung up in bed, and for several minutes continued shouting, "Glory," with a strength apparently more than human. W. H. March 15th.-At Calais, in France, the Rev. William Martin, of the London East Circuit. For several months his health had been in a declining state, in consequence of which he was advised by two eminent Physicians to spend the winter in the south of France, in the hope that the softness of the climate might conduce to his recovery. The disease, however, became jn-` creasingly strong; and having given up all hope of the restoration of his health, he resolved to return to his native land, that he might, if such were the good pleasure of God, die in the bosom of his family. He arrived at Calais on Tuesday, March 14th, and intended to embark the next morning for Dover, accompanied by his faithful friend, the Rev. Walter O. Croggon, of Charenton; but it pleased the Almighty, in the mean while, to terminate his sufferings by a peaceful and happy death. Mrs. Martin was at Dover, anxiously awaiting his arrival. The following is Mr. Croggon's account of the last days of this excellent servant of the Lord Jesus; -"March 15th, 1826. Mr. Cook arrived at Paris with Brother Martin last Thursday; but in such a state of weakness as convinced all who saw him, that his end was near. On Saturday morning we left Paris, and arrived that day at Grandrilliers, where we spent the Sabbath, but it was with great difficulty that we reached the place. We intended to proceed late on the Sunday evening; but on putting his foot on the step of the coach, Mr. Martin said, I cannot go: we therefore returned to the Inn, and rested another day. On the Tuesday he appeared to be refreshed; and said he would proceed in the evening; accordingly we took our places, intending to go part of the way to Calais; but on arriving at Montreuil, be said he would go on to Calais, where we arrived yesterday, about four o'clock in the afternoon. I took him to the nearest Hotel,-Quillian Hotel, Rue Neuve. Two men carried him in a chair. He drank some coffee, when I undressed him, and he lay down and fell asleep, after requesting me to arrange every thing for crossing the Channel in the morning. I then sought Captain King, of the King's Packet Boat, made the necessary arrangements, and on my return found Mr. Martin still asleep. After some time he awoke, when I proposed that we should unite In prayer, to which he readily acceded, and joined very heartily in the petitions which were presented to the Lord of heaven and earth. About eleven o'clock I lay down on a bed, which had been placed at the foot of his, that I might watch him through the night. I had not lain long before I heard him cough in a manner different from that to which he had been accustomed. I immediately went to his bed-side, and found that he breathed with difficulty, and was greatly altered. I proposed to seek some medical man; but he replied, with great feebleness, yet with the calmness of a Christian,' He can do me no goed; I will not see him; I will not take any thing from him. Of what advan. tage can he be to a man that is dying of a consumption? I then procured some tea, of which he drank several times; his cough in a great measure left him, and his head began to perspire. About four o'clock he struggled, and I thought his hour was come; but he recovered himself and asked for some bread; of which he ate a small slice, and drank some more tea. He then requested me to sit down, as he thought that he should be able to sleep. I did so; and he dozed, occasionally speaking about God. About a quarter past five he asked for some more tea. I gave him a little. He sat up, and drank it, lay down again, and in a little while breathed his last without a struggle or a groan. No one of earth was present but myself; but the angels were present to carry his happy sprit to Abraham's bosom. It was a solemn night. In the course of the evening we conversed, as far as he was able, on the consolations of divine truth. I referred to seeing the promised land, and observed that, 'Not Jordan's stream, nor death's cold flood, Can fright us from the shore.' Ah,' said he, 'that is beautiful!' I spoke of the love of Jesus; and be replied, very distinctly, I do love him. He repeated the Psalmist's words, My heart and my flesh fail; but God is the strength_of_my_heart,' &c. I heard him say, Bless the Lord: God is good,' &c. His mind was occupied entirely with the things of eternity, and now he is rejoicing before the throne." W. O. C. His remains were interred in the burial ground connected with the City-Road Chapel, London, on Saturday, March 25th, attended by the Preachers of the four London Circuits, and by a large concourse of people, who testified by their tears the deep regard which they felt for this distinguished Minister of Christ, thus prematurely removed from his numerous family and the church of God. March 19th.-At Newport Pagnell, Bucks, the wife of the Rev. John Stevens, Wesleyan Minister. She endured a very heavy and severe affliction for seven months with great patience, fortitude, and resignation to the will of her heavenly Father. The last words she uttered were, I shall be in heaven to-night!" and instantly breathed her last, J. F. ON SEEING AN AURORA BOREALIS AT SEA. Increasing in splendour, it burst on my sight, And hast thou not seen, o'er the waste of the mind, They may dazzle with brightness, and play round our heads, That beam must emerge from the Fountain of Light, And allure back the heart that had wander'd from God. THE CONDESCENSION OF CHRIST. JESU, by highest heavens ador'd, The church's glorious Head; Thou would'st the least of all appear, A servant to thy servants Thou, ORIGINAL And shall a worm refuse to stoop, I give my vain distinctions up, I lay my greatness by; Happy if I their grief may share, HYMN: BY THE REV. CHARLES WESLEY, A. M. TIR'D with the follies of maukind, And all their miserable ways, Shall I not cast thein all behind, And fly the vile degen'rate race? 'Scape to the desert or the cell, And bid the evil world farewell? Foolish, alas! the hope, and vain, While from myself I cannot fice: I bear about the wretched man; The evil world remains in me; And who for human baseness groan, I only murmur at my own. At evils which myself increase; If I have given my passions vent; Printed by Mills, Jowett, and Mills, (late Bensley,) Bolt-court, Fleet-street. Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine, FOR MAY, 1826. BIOGRAPHY. MEMOIR OF MR. THOMAS ROBINSON, AND OF HIS BROTHER, MR. WILLIAM ROBINSON, OF BRIDLINGTON-QUAY. It seems now to be admitted, that Mr. Wesley and the Societies raised by him have effected a great moral and religious alteration in the views and habits of a considerable portion of the population of this country. Great direct and palpable good has been produced by them; but their operation has not been confined to their own immediate sphere. Where their influence has not been acknowledged, it has nevertheless been felt; and where they have not been able to persuade, they have excited a spirit of jealousy and of emulation, whose effects have been powerful and extensive in quarters to which they had no personal access. The Establishment and its dissidents have, alike, derived benefit from the activity of the Wesleyan Methodists; not only in a strictly religious point of view, but in those various civil relations in which mankind stand to each other in the gradations of society. Whether the salutary consequences of Methodism shall continue to operate (as we trust they will) or its spirit shall decline, and allow the bulk of the nation to relapse into superstition and immorality, Methodism will be a subject of historical inquiry, and the materials of which its Societies have been composed will furnish matter for investigation and disquisition. It will always be a source of pleasure to know, not only the religious views, but the habits of those who were among the earliest agents engaged in a work of so much importance, and the means they employed for its propagation and support. It may be observed in the history of Methodism, that it was indebted for the extension of its influence to the private Members of its Societies, as well as to those public Preachers who were entirely devoted to the work. And it is remarkable, that to Mr. Wesley's assistance were raised not only many who abandoned all secular employment to officiate as the Ministers of religion; but many who, retaining their ordinary vocation, promoted by their property and their zeal, if not so obviously, yet perhaps no less effectually, the cause in which they were all embarked, Although the Methodists addressed themselves to the poor, and were instruments of great and most extensive good to them, many individuals of most respectable character and station united themselves to the VOL. V. Third Series. MAY, 1826. Y |