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would next occupy the pulpit. During the interval he was full of concern, and when the time came round he was there again, manifested much feeling at the public service, remained for the after prayer-meeting, begged to be prayed for, sought and found salvation, and the next Sabbath-day went to the Sabbath-school, and asked to be allowed to teach the infant class. This man had previously been a ringleader of a club of infidels, and a cause of great wickedness in the neighbourhood. He and his scoffing band used to perform a mock oratory, and in every other way to heap ridicule upon our holy religion. But God laid hold upon him with the mighty power of saving grace. The club was broken up, and the conversion of its leader became the topic of general conversation, and made a profound impression throughout the district. He lived the Christian's life and died the Christian's death. When dying, while his friends in Jesus were gathered round him, he threw up his wasted arms and cried, "Victory, victory through the blood of the Lamb!" No wonder that the youthful preacher, whom God had thus signally honoured, felt encouraged to go on and

"Tell to sinners round

What a dear Saviour he had found."

From occasional memoranda of incidents in his life which he began at this time, and which now lie before me, I might cull many deeply interesting extracts which would be of great spiritual profit to numerous readers of the Magazine, and especially to youthful Christians, but the space to which a memoir is necessarily limited forbids me yielding to this temptation. Suffice it to say that, while his recorded religious experiences give evidence of a genuine and earnest piety, he was not exempt from the imperfections, the temptations, and the conflicts to which we are all more or less subject. His natural buoyancy of spirits often degenerated into levity, and his reserve into hauteur and pride. Over these tendencies he mourned, and he sought, by earnest prayer and the diligent study of the Scriptures, to gain the dominion over all sin. He panted after the fulness of God. One of his favourite verses at this time was—

"Why should my foolish passions rove?
Where can such sweetness be,

As I have tasted in Thy love,
As I have found in Thee ?"

Two things occasioned him special regret. The first was his resignation of the office of local preacher. In June, 1824, for some unexplained reason, he sent in his plan. He says, "What severe anguish of spirit I have endured on account of my rash, and imprudent, and wicked conduct in sending in my plan! Surely I then 'left off to behave myself wisely.' I trembled while I wrote the resignation, but sin and temptation had such influence upon me that I did what I knew to be perfectly wrong. How piercing was after-reflection! But surely the brethren manifested much love and sympathy. When I received my plan again, I felt I was in the right. My mind was much relieved, and, having re-assumed my office, may I, through grace, walk worthy of so high a calling! May I be instant in season and out of season;' rebuke, reprove, and exhort with all

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longsuffering!" What a lesson of admonition is this to young local preachers! This was a pivot on which his destiny for life turned. Had it not been for the Christian kindness of his seniors, his own rashness might have involved him in all the sorrows of a fall from holy steadfastness. But he was restored in the spirit of meekness, and his services retained for the Church of Christ. The second matter was one which retarded him much in his spiritual progress. This was the companionship of an attractive, genial, but worldly young man, Previous to meeting with him he had been on full stretch for the kingdom of heaven. He rapidly grew in grace. God was "the spring of all his joys." His "peace flowed as a river, and his righteousness abounded as the waves of the sea." But this young man's influence over him was very detrimental to his piety. How true it is that "one sinner destroyeth much good!" The errors of our youth lay the foundation, if not for after deviations, at least for lasting regrets. The influence of this worldly companion checked his spiritual growth, and prevented his speedy development into that very highest Christian excellence which, as a grand ideal, he had hitherto set before him. How careful young Christians should be as to their companionships!

But though he had to sing (and I wonder who has not!)—

"Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love,"

yet he humbled himself before God, and the joys of salvation were restored unto him. Then, with renewed energy, he proclaimed a Saviour's love, until, by the voice of the church, he was called into its highest ministry. He had for some time been impressed with the conviction that it was his duty to sever himself from secular pursuits, and to devote himself wholly to Christ in the ministry of the Gospel of reconciliation. These convictions deepened as he read the life of the amiable Spencer of Liverpool. That life, so abruptly and sadly terminated, was highly beneficial in its influence upon him as he contemplated the devoted piety and eminent usefulness of the sainted dead. At this time he states that Mr. D―s (I suppose the Rev. I. Davis) took great interest in him, and made all the requisite arrangements for his introduction into the itinerancy.

In the year 1825 he was appointed as a supply to Chester, of which the revered Thomas Allin was then the superintendent. He was received with great kindness by the Chester friends, and he here met with Mr. Lynn several times, who had been very useful in this circuit. During part of this Conference year he was away at Burslem, but returned to Chester on February 10th, 1826. His health at this time was very feeble, and his heart often sank in despondency. He felt that the ministry was a very solemn trust. Four days before he died, when reviewing his life, he writes :-" Poorly was I prepared for such a work. A lone young man in the world, with no preparation, and no friends in the world to guide and cheer me, but raw and inexperienced; left alone with God." Surely our young Timothys should enjoy very largely the affectionate and prayerful sympathies of our societies. He studied hard to acquire useful knowledge, and to turn it to good account. As an illustration of this, we give an extract

from his journal:-" August 25, 1825. In reading the History of Greece,' I was surprised, this morning, at the intrepidity and patriotism they displayed in defence of their country. It is recorded of Cynægirus, the brother of the poet Eschylus, that he seized one of the enemy's ships with his right hand as they were pushing it off from the shore. When that was cut off, he laid hold with his left; and that likewise being chopped off, he seized it with his teeth, and so was killed. Now, if these Grecians were so courageous for their country's cause, how brave and zealous ought not Christians to be for Christ!"

Having much travelling and preaching to do, he had not those opportunities for the culture and discipline of his mind which he desired. Indeed, his studies were necessarily restricted almost solely to theology. He was then and always a diligent student of the oracles Divine. He also read the works of Doddridge and Law, and Fletcher's life, besides other religious and historical works. He was very fond of history, and in after years illustrated and illuminated his sermons with historical facts which he had treasured up in his memory while a preacher on probation. Even in these first days of his public ministry he was made useful in the conversion of sinners. He always kept this before him as the main object of his profession, and at Chester, Offgreen, Sanghall, and Two Mills he speaks of having enjoyed many soul-refreshing seasons.

His second appointment was to Ashton-under-Lyne. The spirit in which he entered upon his labours in this circuit may be gathered from the following extract:- -“June 3, 1826. God has now fixed my wanderings at Ashton. How holily and justly ought I to behave in the station I now occupy, and yet how feeble I am! Undertake for me, O gracious Saviour! guide me by Thy counsel, sanctify me by Thy Spirit, and preserve me by Thy power!"

In a strange town, amongst strange people, he naturally felt some bewilderment, but he soon discovered many pious souls who were "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ." These encouraged him in his "work of faith and labour of love." The Rev. W. Shuttleworth (who still lives, a venerable servant of God) was his superintendent, and the sainted Francis Newbery was his senior colleague. While in this circuit he was oppressed with a strange notion that he should die in early life. The presentiment, as is more frequently the case than we generally suppose, was a false one. Nevertheless, he suffered a serious illness this year, which, as his journal abundantly testifies, was sanctified to his spiritual good. He notes the great pleasure hé had in preaching at Ashton, Mottram, Newton, Mossley, Hurst, and Dukinfield; and referring to a sermon preached at the last-mentioned place, on January 25th, 1827, by the Rev. W. Shuttleworth, on the restoration of the Jews, founded on Rom. xi. 15, he says of it, "Strong reasoning, extensive acquaintance with Scripture, and clearness of argument were exhibited." He also speaks of the pleasure with which he had listened to a sermon on Ps. cxlvi. 8, by the Rev. F. Newbery. It is a great treat for ministers to hear each other. These opportunities were always regarded by him as high privileges. They were the oases in the desert, the sunny spots in life's chequered

scenes. But he had his times of darkness and humiliation. Satan harassed him greatly during the former part of his residence at Ashton, on two grounds: 1st, with reference to his station. He thought the members were very unsociable; but closer and more extended intercourse with the people broke the force of that temptation. "The more I know of the members in the circuit, the more I see worthy of admiration; therefore I am not only content with, but thankful for my station." And, 2ndly, regarding his own qualifications for the ministry, both as it related to physical and theological ability. But he overcame that trial through faith in the all-sufficient grace and unfailing promises of a covenant-keeping God. He was stimulated to increased devotedness by perusing the lives of Wesley and Nelson, respecting whose unwearied labours and lofty piety he breaks out in the following exclamations :-"If none but such as live as they lived will inherit eternal life, who then can be saved? If no ministers but such as imitate them in point of diligence, zeal, faith, and love, will be acknowledged by Christ at the last, who amongst us will be saved? They preached three, four, and five times a Sabbath, and some weeks twenty and thirty times. Where shall we find their successors now? What shall we say to these things? I confess I am at a loss what to say. Lord, direct me!" Before leaving this circuit he took a retrospect of his brief ministerial career, of which he says, "How often did I think that if I were a circuit preacher, freed from the corroding cares of life, and wholly given up to the work of the ministry, then should I be truly pious and happy; nothing to do but read, pray, sing, visit, and preach week after week. How delightful the prospect! thought I. But now I am a circuit preacher, I am often weary in well-doing, sometimes tempted to desist preaching. God be merciful to me a sinner! Though under the influence of temptation, God will not suffer me to perish. I know he will not. I feel that he is drawing near; the light appears on the top of the hills; soon it will reach my disconsolate mind; the clouds will disperse; the rains of refreshing grace will descend upon my soul; and all the fruits of righteousness shall spring forth to the praise and glory of God. Sorrow may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." No wonder, when the ministers of Christ have such experiences, that an apostle should exhort the saints in Christ Jesus, "Brethren, pray for us." The minister has trials peculiar to his solemn and responsible vocation, and should be specially remembered in the prayers of the churches.

His

At the Conference of 1827 he was appointed to the North Shields Circuit, under the superintendency of the Rev. Thomas Robinson. It then included Blyth, and, by special arrangement, my father exchanged for half a year with the late Rev. W. Innocent, who was labouring as a supply in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Circuit. appointment to Shields was a very agreeable one, though here again the chastening hand of God was laid upon him in a serious affliction. He was brought nigh to death; and there are Christian sisters still living at North and South Shields who nursed him in his illness. His soul was happy in the Lord, and when restored to health he won the hearts of all the friends by his diligence in duty and his affability of manners. God honoured him with seals to his ministry here.

Public testimony has recently been given to this delightful fact. His affliction was greatly sanctified to him, for he says, on his recovery, "I am perfectly happy in the love of God. All my past sins are pardoned. The Spirit bears witness with my spirit that I am a child of God. I feel such a degree of confidence in God that I can commit all into His hands. I wonder why I should ever have doubted his willingness or ability to save. My heart is full of love to God and man." He records a very singular incident as having transpired during his residence in Shields, which will not be without interest in these days, when there is so much discussion as to the propriety of priests or ministers receiving confessions.

"February 26, 1828.-Yesterday I was met in the street by a woman who had received the sacrament over-night. She stated that she was impressed that it was the duty of such as she to confess their sins to such as me. I was a little surprised, at the first, on the supposition that she thought ministers could forgive sins. I asked her if she was particularly impressed with her sins, to which she replied that she had left off some of her sins, and that she could make a prayer, but she thought she did not pray aright. I asked her if she met in class with us. She replied that she was not able to buy tickets. I informed her that we did not sell them, but that they were merely tokens of membership; and that when given, the members, if able, gave of their substance, but if unable, they participated in all our church privileges without that. After further conversation, and inviting her to my class, we parted. This conversation made a deep impression on my mind. I was pleased with the simplicity of the woman. I retired to consider the case, and to devise plans to promote more extensively the interests of religion amongst us, and offered up prayer to God on this and other subjects. The Lord direct." Here was a case of Christian casuistry which would puzzle many a more experienced minister than he was at that time.

The next Conference (1828) removed him still further north, and stationed him for one year in Glasgow, where we then had an interest, and where he made many lasting friendships, and, above all, found in his first wife, Miss Eliza Watson, a congenial companion, and a helpmeet indeed. On the 26th January, 1829, they were united in the dearest of earthly bonds by the Rev. Wm. Thomson, then, I believe, a minister of the Relief Church. Accompanied by his excellent partner, who, though brought up in the Presbyterian faith in the Lowlands of Scotland, very soon accommodated herself to Methodistic usages and English customs, and who won golden opinions for her amiability and unostentatious piety, he removed to the Manchester Circuit in 1829, and resided at Pendleton, where the writer of these lines, his firstborn, first saw the light of day. This was the last year of his probation, and the third of the Rev. A. Jackson's superintendency of the Manchester Circuit. He speaks with pleasure of services held at Manchester, Salford, Pendleton, Culcheth, and Hope Town. Yet it is evident from his journal that he had great spiritual conflicts.

His first circuit, after being received into full Connexion, was Sheffield, where he again enjoyed the superintendency of the Rev. Thomas Allin, with the Revs. S. Lyon and W. Baggaly for his col

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