Society, and said she wished she could call the teachers and distributors together, that she might exhort them to be faithful in their important duties. In course of her sickness she was subject to strong temptations, but she was firmly fixed on the "Rock," and, notwithstanding the raging winds and waters, she stood immoveable; there were storms without, but a calm within. We saw her a short time before she died; she was very weak and unable to converse. We said to her, "You still find Christ precious?" She whispered, "Yes," "You are nearly home." "Yes." "You will see Jesus." She said, "Yes." We then sang, "Though often we are weary," "What is this that steals upon my frame ?" and one or two other hymns, which she seemed to enjoy very much. Seeing her struggling to speak we bent down, and what do you think she was trying to say, reader? "I am happy; I am happy!" Important and heart-cheering words coming from a person in her condition. In the room, at the time, were her mother (who is now on her way to heaven), her leader, and several other friends; we all felt it very solemn, but very "good to be there." We knelt down and prayed, and then bade her farewell, believing we should see her no more till we saw her in heaven. A few hours after we left she began to sink rapidly, and then, by "a death-like sleep A gentle wafting to immortal life," she passed away. Her last words were, "I am almost home; I am almost home." She is at home now; yes, at home ;-she has finished the rough journey of life, and is entered into rest;-she rejoices in the presence of her Father; sees Jesus "as He is," and enjoys the fellowship of angels, and of the "spirits of the just made perfect.' Her death was improved by the writer to a large and deeply attentive congregation on Sunday evening, February 21st, from 1 Cor. xv. 49. May God help us all to be "followers of them, who, through faith and patience inherit the promises." Recent Deaths. JAMES WHITTLES. DIED at Dalston, in the Carlisle Circuit, on the 10th of May, 1864, MISS ELIZABETH RODNEY, aged forty-five years. She had been a consistent member, for upwards of twenty years in the above Society. She loved the sanctuary of God's house, but was often prevented from attending by bodily affliction. In April, 1863, while sitting under the word one Sunday evening, in the Chapel, she was seized with a pain about her heart, and became worse. She grew very ill, and continued so until her death. She was visited by a great many of the members, who prayed and talked with her, and the language of her heart was, "For me to live is Christ, and to die will be gain." The writer asked her a week or two before she died, if she was still trusting in her Saviour; she said, "Yes, when I gave my heart to Him, I gave it for ever." The day before her death she cried out, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly;" and, just about two hours before her happy spirit took its flight, she requested a hymn to be sung. That beautiful hymn, "All is well," was sung accordingly. Her last word was "Jesus," having_uttered which her happy spirit took its flight to its home in heaven. She was interred in the Dalston (new) Cemetery, on the 13th of May, by our much esteemed minister, the Rev. H. Hirst. J. RODNEY. DIED on the 11th of May, with a good hope of the better life, MR. JOHN MUSSON, Wellington Place, Belper, a worthy and consistent member of the Methodist Free Church. "Devout men carried him to the grave." G.H. FAMILY RELIGION. Miscellaneous. WE are only partially known abroad, but at home, in the "undress of life," we can scarcely be unknown. It is reasonably expected by the church and the world, and by our families, that if we are Christian professors we should "show piety at home," not merely on the Sabbath, but every day; not merely by a short chapter and a prayer once or twice a day, but by our general temper, language, and conduct. It is un reasonable for them to expect perfection in us, but it is equally unreasonable for us to expect that our families will give us credit for possessing that religion which, although we have professed, we have never exemplified fairly among them. One, speaking of the influence of his parents' religion upon him in early life, said, "My mother talked the most, but she was so bad-tempered, her religion quite disgusted me; my father talked but little, but his Christian temper and spirit appealed most powerfully to my heart." We remember reading of an interesting child, whose father, though a high professor, was very irritable and severe. The child feared him, but could not love him. One day, when the mother was administering some religious instruction, the child said, Mother, do you think my father will go to heaven ?" "Yes, my dear," said the mother, "I hope so." Then I think," said the child, "I don't wish to go." O ye Christian parents, watch your tempers, bridle your tongues, and exhibit the Christian at home, lest your sincerity should be most suspected where you are most known, and your example be most injurious where it should be most beneficial. Let your children, servants, and relatives know that your religion is not like artificial flowers or paintings, which the more closely they are examined the 66 more defective they appear; but rather like the living, blooming flowers, the immediate workmanship of a Divine hand, which the more closely they are investigated the more they are admired. INTEGRITY REWARDED. THE following statement, which the Edinburgh Witness has from a most intelligent correspondent, is full of interest:-"Morethan half a century ago the affairs of a worthy draper in the town of Coleraine, in the county of Londonderry, got embarrassed. He sent his son, who assisted him in the business, to Manchester and Leeds to arrange with his creditors. The young man was harshly received; and, after having failed to effect a settlement, arrived at Liverpool on his way home. His honourable spirit was lacerated by the treatment he had met with, and, dreading still more the disgrace and reproach he expected to encounter on his return to his native town, he, in a fit of desperation, enlisted as a private soldier. The young draper's regi ment was ordered out to India, where his good conduct 8000 brought him into notice, and the excellent education which he had received paved the way for his promotion. He rose step by step until he reached the rank of colonel. He served his country with honour, and in course of time gave two sons to the military service, having first given them to the Lord, and imbued their youthful minds with Christian principles. Their valour and mili tary accomplishments shed lustre on that earnest piety by which they were characterized. The two young soldiers to whom we refer were Sir John Lawrence, now the Governor. General of India, and the late Sir Henry Lawrence, known as the saviour of Lucknow. Both of them have done honour and good service to their country, and neither o them was ashamed of the cross of the Lord Jesus. It is gratifying to find that neither piety nor humble birth will prevent talent and worth reaching the highest offices and honours in the gift of the British crown. The grand uncle of the Governor-General of India still lives as a respectable small farmer in the north country of Antrim, about two miles from the fashionable watering place of Portrush, and five miles from the Giant's Causeway." CONSTANCY IN HOLY DUTIES. Ir is easy to keep that armour bright which is daily used, but hanging by the walls till it be rusty it will take some time and pains to furbish it over again. If an instrument be daily played upon, it is easily kept in tune, but let it be but awhile neglected, and cast in a corner, the strings and frets break, the bridge flies off, and no small labour is required to bring it into order again. And thus so it is in things spiritual, in the performance of holy duties; if we continue them with a settled constancy, they will be easy, familiar, and delightful to us; but if once broken off, and intermitted, it is a new work to begin again, and will not be reduced to the former estate, but with much endeavour and great difficulty. THE PREACHING THAT CON VERTS. "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me."-John xii. 32. Other preaching may please, amuse, and entertain; but the love of Christ attracts, astonishes, draws, breaks, melts, subdues, and changes the heart. St. Paul knew this, and determined to preach "Jesus Christ and Him crucified." In the light of his dying Saviour's cross, the sinner sees and feels "the exceeding sinfulness of sin," the height and depth of the love of Christ. There, and only there, ΙΙ he beholds his sin atoned for, his guilt cancelled, the law magnified, justice satisfied, God glorifiedjust in justifying the ungodly who believe in Jesus.' There he is conquered, disarmed, won by the love of Christ. In a moment the prayer of faith ascends, the tears of penitence fall, regeneration of heart is effected, consecration of himself to God is made; "I am the Lord's❞— he becomes 66 a new creature in Christ Jesus." What made the preaching of Berridge, and Hill, and Whitefield, and Wesley, so efficient to the conversion of souls, but that the love of Christ was the burden of their theme? They glorified Christ in their preaching, and the Holy Spirit glorified their preaching in the conversion of multitudes now with them "before the throne of God and the Lamb." Never shall I forget seeing the late great and good Rowland Hill, of London, now in the city of God, preaching in a market town in England on its market day. Like I can the Apostle Paul, standing on the steps at Athens, Mr. Hill was mounted, in the midst of the market-place, in a lumber waggon of a farmer from the country, a man standing at his back holding up an umbrella to protect his head from the rays of the summer sun. yet see him as he then and there stood and preached, for upwards of an hour, the love of Christ to the thousands gathered around him. What volume of voice, what vehemence, what emotion of heart, what earnestness, what tears were his! Not an inch of the high-born gentleman, his ripe scholarship, his far-spread fame, or any one thing that was Rowland Hill's, could be seen, but only the "radiant glories of the Crucified One," in the greatness of His love to man." To see such another sight and hear such another sermon, I would go far. Oh, that our pulpits all may be filled by men possessing the spirit of Hill, and his mantle fall on the ministry of the Gospel throughout the land and world. CHANGE IN THE MEANING OF WORDS. How many words men have dragged downward with themselves, and made partakers, more or less, of their own fall! Having originally an honourable significance, they have yet, with the deterioration of those that used them, or about whom they were used, deteriorated or degenerated too. What a mul titude of words, originally harmless, have assumed a harmful meaning as their secondary sense; how many worthy have acquired an unworthy! Thus "knave" meant once only no more than lad, (nor does it now, in German, mean more;) a "villain" was no more than peasant; a "boor" was only a farmer; a "varlet" was but a serving-man; a "menial," one of the many, or household; a "churl," but a strong fellow; a "minion," a favourite. Sylvester says, "Man is God's dearest minion." "Timeserver" was used two hundred years ago, as often in an honourable as in a dishonorable sense, for one "serv. ing the time." "Conceits" once had nothing conceited in them; "officious" had reference to offices of kindness, and not of busy meddling; "moody" was that which pertained to a man's mood, without any gloom or sullenness implied. "Demure" (des mœurs-of good manner) conveyed no hint, as now, of an over doing of the outward demonstrations of modesty. In "crafty" and "cunning" there plied, but only knowledge and skill; was nothing of crooked wisdom im 66 craft," indeed, still retains very often its more honourable use-a man's craft being his skill, and then the trade in which he is skilled. Poetry. WORK IS HOLY. BY THOMAS KNOX. WORK while life is given, Work is the will of heaven, For work is holy! What, though thy lot be hidden, Act as beneath His eye- Cleave to thy humble place, Scorn naught as plain or mean, That work is holy! Work while life is given, Nor shrink though hardship scars; True suffering fits for heaven, There sin alone debarsFor work is holy! Angels' ears now listen Thy earth-spun plaintive tale; When they thy scars unveil- They'll know these are the proof While other brave ones fell; Work while life is given, THE GOLDEN YEAR. BY ALFRED TENNYSON. We sleep, and wake, and sleep, but all things move, Ah, though the times when some new thought can bud Yet seas that daily gain upon the shore Have ebb and flow conditioning their march, And slow and sure comes up the golden year, When wealth no more shall rest in moulded heaps, And light shall spread, and man be like a man, Shall eagles not be eagles ? wrens be wrens? Fly, happy, happy sails, and bear the press, But we grow old. Ah! when shall all men's good Religious Intelligence.-United Methodist Free Churches. BLACKBURN: DEAR MR. EDITOR,—I have been asked to send a few words to you for insertion in your interesting Magazine, and now embrace the opportunity. We have We had a fine day for the laying of the foundation-stone of our new Chapel at Great Harwood, on Saturday, May 28th, and a very large gathering to do honour to the Society and occasion, and to witness the ceremony. The procession was a very long one, preceded by the brass band, headed by Joseph Place, Esq., carrying the beautifusilver trowel, and James Beads, Esq. carrying the mallet. The Revs. G. Robinson, A. Hands, J. S. Withington, and J. Edgar, the local preachers, leaders, Sunday school-teachers, &c., left the old Chapel about four o'clock, and proceeded through the Marketplace to Churchfield house, the resi laid the foundation-stones of three new Chapels in this Circuit since this year came in, and taken the roof off to enlarge, raise higher, and put an end gallery into a fourth. So that you see if we are only doing very little else-and I am sorry to say we are not doing much in the way of conversions-yet we are doing something in the way of getting ready for doing better, by-andbye. |