The joy of God's salvation he never lost. As he had received Christ Jesus the Lord, so he walked in him till the day of his death. His steady aim was to continue steadfast in the faith, that he might finish his course with joy. He continued to be a member of the Conference connexion, until a few years preceding his death, when he seceded from that body, and became a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Association at Lumbutts, in the Todmorden Circuit.

That " Imany are the afflictions of the righteous," is a scriptural truth confirmed by the experience of God's people in every age, and especially so by that of William Uttley. On the 16th of August, 1813, the king of terrors" entered his family circle, and the desire of his eyes" whom he tenderly loved, was taken away "at a stroke." She had for a short time been slightly indisposed, but there was nothing apparent which could possibly excite apprehension of speedy dissolution. In six hours from the commencement of her illness, death's cold hand was laid upon her, and her spirit returned to God who gave it. By this bereaving dispensation of Divine Providence, he was left a widower, and the father of five motherless children.

Nothing particular occurred in his life during the four following years, but what is common to individuals in similar circumstances. In the year 1817, death once more visited his habitation, and deprived him of one of his sons who had endured a lingering affliction. He was then enabled to say, "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." But God, whose ways are not as our ways, and whose thoughts are not as our thoughts, had still greater trials for him to endure in the loss of other children. Some time in the year 1824, one of his sons, a promising youth, about seventeen years of age, left his father's house in perfect health, with a horse and cart. In a few minutes from the time he left home, the horse by some means took fright, the cart was overturned, and the youth killed upon the spot. The father's feelings on that occasion could not be expressed by himself, or described by another. As a parent, he could, and in effect did exclaim with David, "O my son Absolom, O Absolom, my son, my son," but as a man of God, he with Eli could say, "It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good." From about this time he would recite, with

great feeling, the hymn beginning with

"God moves in a mysterious way,

His wonders to perform :

He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm."

As in the tempest

Another painful bereavement still awaited him. tossed sea, one rolling surge follows another in quick succession, so sorrow's waves were rolling forward with irresistible impetuosity, dashed upon our departed friend, and half overwhelmed his sinking soul. One of his sons, in the thirty-second year of his age, resident in Halifax, had been on a visit to his father, when on his return a severe thunder storm came on, he was struck by the lightning, and

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in an instant fell lifeless to the earth. The loss of this son, at this time, and under such circumstances, was a severe shock to the father's mind. Although for a season he appeared to be "walking in darkness, having no light," still he continued trusting in the name of the Lord, and stayed himself upon his God," and was kept from fainting in the day of adversity. In passing through his fiery trials, he was not consumed, but refined as silver is refined, and tried as gold is tried. He by happy experience proved that "The trials of Christians, when sanctified, are happy pains, profitable losses, sweet bitters, and exalting abasements."

On September the 16th, 1841, he received his last Society ticket. From his venerable appearance, and the richness of Christian experience, it was then thought probable that he would not be for any length an inhabitant of this lower world, and such was the case; for a few days previous to his class receiving their next quarterly tickets, the weary wheels of life stood still, and he had gone the way of all flesh.

About three weeks before his decease, he was detained from the class of which he was the leader, through slight indisposition; but in a few days he was quite restored. At the following class meeting he was more than asually animated, and said, that during his short affliction he felt that he was ripening for his approaching dissolution, and enjoyed a blooming hope of a glorious immortality. In his class he seldom spoke of his past state of mind, dwelling chiefly on his present experience.

For a long time he had felt an impression that his death would be sudden, hence he saw the necessity of being always ready, not knowing the day nor the hour when the Son of Man cometh." His experience and aim was an excellent practical illustration of the following lines:

"To see our Lord appear,

Watching let us be found;

When Jesus doth the heavens bow,

Be found-as, Lord, thou find'st us now."

The long expected moment arrived, and the anticipated event was fully realised, when our brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ," suddenly crossed the bounds of time, and his happy soul escaped to bliss. On Monday evening, November 29th, 1841, he went to his class for the last time. The first hymn he gave out begins

"What are these arrayed in white,
Brighter than the noonday sun!
Foremost of the sons of light;

Nearest the eternal throne?"

Having sang three verses of this hymn, he prayed with such holy solemnity of mind, that he appeared to be " quite on the verge of heaven." That his mind was deeply impressed with the probability of his speedy departure from this vale of tears, is the conviction of

all who were present on that occasion. While engaged in prayer, he said, we all know that we must have a dying hour, but we know not that we shall have a sick bed.' These words were uttered in such an emphatic manner, and were accompanied with such a depth of feeling, that they produced a lasting impression on every mind, and a thrilling sensation in every heart. After prayer he gave out three verses of the hymn beginning with

He then related his experience, saying, 'I have felt much lifted up while you have been singing. I feel at home when I meet with you.' A respectable and highly esteemed friend, who recently, on a bed of sickness, had decided to give her heart to God, was present at the class this evening for the first time. When he saw her enter he was much excited, and in an ecstasy of joy he exclaimed another come to thy unworthy servant.' His mind appeared to be wholly engaged with heavenly things. After speaking a few minutes, he closed by saying, I feel unworthy to speak to any of you.' Having spoken these his last words, he without moving from the place where he had been standing, was going to sit down, when two persons rising took hold of him, and moved him to a chair; in less than fifteen minutes the vital spark" took its flight, and the object of his desire, and the subject of his frequent prayer, was fully realised

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Thus died our much respected friend William Uttley, aged seventyfour years, thirty-eight of which were spent in the service of Jesus Christ. By his death his relations have been deprived of an affectionate friend; the church of one of its brightest ornaments; and the world of a "burning and shining light." "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." His death was improved at Lumbutts, on Sunday evening, January 2nd, 1842, to a very large and deeply affected congregation. "Mark

the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace."

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MEMOIR OF THE LATE MATTHEW HARPER.

OF TREKENNER, IN THE PARISH OF LEZANT,

COUNTY OF CORNWALL.

By Mr. J. Harley.

THE subject of this memoir was born November 9th, 1823, and finished his earthly course Dec. 31st, 1841, after a short sojourn of eighteen years in this vale of tears. His childhood and boyish days were spent without any very serious thoughts respecting the salvation of his soul. His natural disposition was exceedingly amiable, and being of a very cheerful and lively turn of mind, he engaged with his young companions in the sports and amusements common in the neighbourhood. Thus his early years glided away.

In the year 1839, a neat and commodious chapel was erected at Rezare, in the parish of Lezant, and opened for divine worship in connexion with the Wesleyan Methodist Association; in the erection of which chapel our late excellent friend, Mr. John Harper, the father of Matthew, took an active part. Soon after the dedication of this temple, the Head of the Church visited the society and congregation assembling there, with a very gracious outpouring of his Holy Spirit. Many young persons became deeply interested in the spiritual welfare of their precious souls, and sought and obtained redemption in the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of all their sins. This revival was not like many of our glorious revivals, a very sudden and impetuous torrent of holy influence, but was gradual and apparently slow; moving forward silently, and deepening as it went. First, there was a great spirit of hearing, then marked attention among the crowded congregations, while listening to the word of salvation; the silent tear was soon seen to roll down the cheek of one and then another, and there was seriousness of manner out of the house of God. Some began to pray who had never prayed before-the Bible was no longer a neglected book-some who became decided to serve God, pressed the subject on the attention of their companions, and invited them to join the people of God; their language was, "Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten: and the answer of many was, "We will go with you." The old members were delighted to witness the change, and welcomed with joy the young disciples. In short, many souls were truly converted, and enabled to rejoice in God their Saviour. Several continue to this day stedfast in the faith; some have wandered back to the dark mountains of sin and folly; and some have fallen" asleep in Jesus."

"This

Our dear young friend was led during this revival to resolve, God shall be my God; He shall be my guide even unto death!" And many times afterwards he had cause to exclaim in the language of the poet

"O happy day that fixed my choice

On thee, my Saviour and my God;
Well may this bounding heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad."

He was gently drawn by the cords of love. The Holy Ghost moved upon his heart, and called him to seek the Lord: he was not disobedient to the heavenly call, but yielded to be saved by grace—he obtained the remission of his sins through faith in the atonement of Jesus. I am not in possession of any information as to the exact time of his conversion; it was not many weeks however after his heart was fixed to serve God. As to the fact of his having experienced that change of heart known in the Scriptures of truth as "the new birth," I have abundant testimony. His constant experience was-' I know that I am a child of God'—'I know that I am passed from death unto life'-'I know that my sins which were many are all forgiven me'- and with confidence he could therefore exclaim, I know that if this earthly house of my tabernacle were dissolved, I have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." He had this knowledge in himself. The Holy Ghost bore a direct, clear, strong, and permanent witness to the fact in his heart he felt assured, from the conviction produced on his mind, by the heavenly messenger, that he was a son of God;' and could therefore look up, and with boldness say, “Abba Father—my Lord and my God." He felt a complete change had taken place: "Old things were passed away, and behold, all things became new."

In July, 1841, it pleased God to lay on him the hand of affliction, which proved an affliction unto death. During the whole of his protracted sickness, he was patient and submissive to the will of God: never murmered, never complained; he was always cheerful, calm and happy.

1

He

On Wednesday, 29th of December, he was much worse. however rallied a little on Thursday morning; when the enemy of souls came in upon him as a flood, and told him he had been deceiving himself. A friend who was present, encouraged him to look up to the cross he had a very severe struggle with the adversary; but he triumphed through the blood of Jesus. The dark clouds vanished, and the light of glory broke in on his heart.

Friday morning he was much worse again; and in the afternoon the last struggle the last conflict commenced; for three or four hours he was held forward in bed, and even then it was with extreme difficulty he fetched breath. Alluding to this difficulty, he once or twice exclaimed, it is hard work to die.' At length exhausted nature gave up the contest with the last enemy, and death conquered the body; but angels caught his happy spirit, and bore him to those climes of eternal glory, where death is unknown: just before he escaped from earth, his countenance brightened up, and he said, 'Christ is precious, Christ is precious. Thus leaving behind him a glorious testimony that he is gone to Jesus. His widowed mother has lost her only son; but the family of God in heaven have received an addition to their number. He is not lost, but only gone before-early in life he has commenced an eternity of joy:

"With songs let us follow his flight."

A few traits in his character as a Christian are worthy of notice. He loved God supremely! The house of God above every other place; the