was a Local Preacher, came in his stead, and preached to a large and attentive congregation. The Clergyman was one of his auditors, and at the conclusion of the service desired to see him. Being asked by Mr. Geake, (with a design to ascertain his intentions,) if he desired to see the Preacher, he replied, "I do; for he has been preaching so long, and has exerted himself so much, that he must be quite exhausted: I wish him to go to my house, and take some refreshment." Mr. Geake soon returned with Mr. Roberts, to whom the Clergyman offered his arm, and walked through a crowd, principally persecutors, who gazed with astonishment at their Minister conducting two Methodist Preachers to his house in such a friendly manner.

Many more places might be named, in which Mr. Geake was, in connexion with others, instrumental in introducing and establishing Methodism, and in which he had the satisfaction of seeing the work of the Lord prosper. In most of them there are, at present, comfortable chapels, and respectable societies and congregations.

After his settlement at Penimble, it pleased God to prosper him in his temporal concerns; but while he lived in the possession of domestic comfort, and was zealously pursuing his course of usefulness in the church, diffusing, according to his ability, the knowledge of the truth abroad, and supporting the interests of the cause of Christ at home, he was made to learn, by painful experience, the instability of earthly enjoyment. About three years after his marriage, his beloved wife, and second infant, were suddenly taken from him by death. After remaining a widower about two years, he was married to Miss Brunt of Liskeard. In this instance, his connubial happiness was of still shorter duration than before; for in about twelve months he became a widower a second time. In this state he continued for

three years, when he was married to Miss Langmaid, of Polperro, now his widow. In the mean time the preaching which Mr. Geake had established at Penimble was, for the greater convenience of the inhabitants of St. Germain's, removed to the house of his brother, where it was continued for sixteen years; when, in 1809, a room which had been previously occupied by the Society of Friends was taken and fitted up for public worship. In both these places the good seed was not sown in vain. It fell in many instances into "honest and good hearts," and brought forth fruit, so that the congregation and society were both increased.

The same year the Launceston Circuit, which was very extensive, was divided into three; the respective heads of which were Launceston, Liskeard, and Tavistock. In this division Mr. Geake took an active part, believing it would be productive of glory to God, and of good to the cause of Methodism. From this time his labours as a Local Preacher were principally confined to the Liskeard Circuit, (in which he resided,) although he occasionally extended them beyond its limits.

The year 1810 was to him a time of great affliction. The typhus fever,

which raged in the neighbourhood, entered his family; and while he was himself brought by it near to the gates of death, his eldest son, by his first wife, fell a victim to its fury. In this severe affliction, his mind was graciously and divinely supported, so that he felt fully prepared, should it be the will of God to call him hence. This illness seems to have injured his fine constitution, the full strength of which he never regained. From this time he was subject to many serious attacks of sickness; but in all such cases he felt that his treasure and his heart were above. In 1812 he removed, at the particular request of Lord Elliot, to Cuttenbeake, an excellent farm close to St. Germain's, where he spent the remainder of his days.

It had long been the desire of the society in St. Germain's to obtain a chapel. The place which they now occupied was long, narrow, and very low; and, being often crowded, was far from comfortable. The only obstacle to the accomplishment of their wishes was found in obtaining a piece of land. All the efforts which had hitherto been made had failed; but in the year 1825 a circumstance occurred which, although at first it threatened great injury both to Mr. Geake and the society, was so overruled by Providence, as to be the means of procuring what was so ardently desired. A particular account of this circumstance was committed by Mr. Geake to writing, the substance of which shall be related.

In addition to his agricultural pursuits, Mr. Geake carried on the trade of a butcher. The latter part of his business, however, was conducted by one of his sons. He had the privilege of supplying the house of the Earl of St. Germain's (formerly Lord Elliot) with beef, which he always did in the following manner :-a large quantity of meat was taken to the house, and when the housekeeper had selected what parts she pleased, they were weighed by his Lordship's own weights; and the remainder was taken to the ordinary market. When the housekeeper paid the bill at Christmas, she said to his son, "It is always the custom for the butcher to remember the Christmasbox." He replied, "It is what my father never does." Mr. Geake objected to this custom from principle, not thinking it honest, and, therefore, never complied with it. This refusal gave her offence, and she determined on taking revenge. Shortly after, without consulting any one, she sent all the weights, (comprising about two hundred and eighty pounds,) to a blacksmith to have them examined. This man, who had previously lost Mr. Geake's custom through his dissolute conduct, declared a deficiency on the whole of nine pounds two ounces; and accordingly added lead to make them, as he said, agree with the standard. When the Earl was informed of this circumstance, he ordered the smith to bring him a list of the weights he had altered, and the deficiency on each; and sent a letter to Mr. Geake, informing him that his dealings with him as a butcher must cease. Mr. Geake immediately waited upon the Earl, hoping that he should readily

convince him that neither himself nor his son could possibly discover the deficiency. In this, however, he was disappointed. The Earl readily exonerated Mr. Geake himself from blame, but thought his son must have known of the deficiency, or that he was very negligent. Mr. Geake now became deeply distressed on this account, because he apprehended that his family, his character as a Methodist, and the cause of God, would be greatly injured, unless this affair could be satisfactorily settled. Indeed a report of the case had already caused a strong sensation in the town and neighbourhood, and many had begun to reproach him as a Methodist Preacher. In this extremity he made his cause known unto God by prayer and supplication. At length a ray of hope encouraged him to believe that God would deliver him. Many comforting promises were applied to his mind while reading his Bible, which enabled him to rejoice in God. Mr. Geake made two applications to the smith to obtain from him a particular account of the deficiency of the weights; but in the first instance he excused himself with much dissimulation, and in the second refused with insult and abuse. After several days of intense anxiety, Mr. Geake again waited upon the Earl. He said, "My Lord, I am come again on this very unpleasant business. I have had but little rest since I saw your Lordship last; but I have made it matter of prayer to God: he has said, 'Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.' This has indeed been a day of trouble' to me. My Lord, I fear God!" The Earl replied, "I believe you do, Mr. Geake." He continued, "I feel such an impression on my mind that all is not right respecting those weights, that I believe God will bring me through. Will your Lordship give me the statement which the smith sent you, and order your Steward to take the weights to a proper place, extract the new lead, and try them by a proper standard?" To this the Earl readily assented. The weights were first tried by those of a respectable tradesman of St. Germain's; and then, to prevent dissatisfaction on the part of the smith, by the royal standard at Liskeard, in the presence of a large number of respectable witnesses. The result of these trials made it appear that the statements of the smith were utterly false; that by adding lead * he had made the weights one pound eight ounces above the standard; and that when the new lead was extracted, they were found to be correct, allowing only for cleaning, and the waste occasioned by boring holes to insert the new metal. The next day, Mr. Geake and his son had another interview with his Lordship, who was now perfectly satisfied, and expressed his regret at having taken up the matter so hastily, and promised to write a letter expressive of his satisfaction, which he did, giving him liberty to make what use of it he thought proper. Mr. Geake, having expressed his gratitude to the Almighty for this signal deliverance, took the opportunity of explaining to his Lordship; he Much less, indeed, than he had stated to his Lordship.

principles of Wesleyan Methodism, and of soliciting a spot of ground on which to build a chapel. He said, "As a body, my Lord, we are a people who wish to do good: we teach our people to fear God, and honour the King. We are not, as some suppose, enemies to the Church. No, my Lord, ever since I was brought to the knowledge of the truth, I have esteemed the Prayers, Homilies, and Articles, for spirituality, next to my Bible." Mr. Geake then referred him to the late Joseph Butterworth, Esq., to whose character his Lordship bore an honourable testimony. He pointed out to the Earl a spot of ground which he deemed suitable, and it was readily granted. A neat chapel was immediately erected, which stands in the centre of St. Germain's, a monument of the care of divine providence over a good

man.

From the time Mr. Geake obtained a sense of pardoning mercy, and joined the Wesleyan society, his love to the cause of Methodism was ardent and invariable. His zeal, kindled by a hallowed flame of love towards God and man, was never suffered to decline; and he was ever ready, by his talents and influence, to promote the prosperity of religion. In addition to his labours as a Local Preacher and Leader, he took an active part in the financial business of the Circuit, and liberally contributed towards its expenses. He occasionally sustained the office of Circuit Steward, was a Trustee for many chapels, and aided most of our public funds as a subscriber. While his health and strength would admit, he took his full share in the public labours of the Circuit as a Local Preacher; and when, through affliction and the infirmities of age, "the strong men bowed themselves," and he was incapable of taking long journeys, or even of standing in the pulpit, he nevertheless continued to take a few appointments in the neighbouring villages, and to preach at home, as circumstances might require; although it was with extreme difficulty he could ascend the pulpit, where he delivered his sermons in a sitting posture. His attention to his domestic duties, uninterrupted by his public labours, was constant and uniform. It was his daily practice to read the Scriptures in his family, and in an earnest, affectionate, spiritual, and devout manner to pour out his soul to God in their behalf. In the welfare of the young he always felt a deep and lively interest. Their conversion and subsequent piety afforded him much solid pleasure. With their letters on Christian experience he was much delighted, but especially with those which related to the deep things of God. His own progress in the Christian race, his temptations, conflicts, and triumphs in the Christian warfare, he has not recorded: they cannot, therefore, afford consolation and direction to them that follow him. It is certain that he never wavered in his grand pursuit, and never retreated from the battle-ground, till the victory was won. His course was onward; and he steadily "pressed towards the mark for the prize of his high calling of God in Christ Jesus." His experience was generally clear

and satisfactory, especially towards the close of life. To an intimate friend he said, "I do not know whether I have what is called perfect love; but I feel I am quite ready, and have an assurance of going to heaven." This was a happy circumstance, especially as his removal from a militant to a triumphant church was very sudden and unexpected. On the 19th of November, 1834, he had been in his barn most of the day, superintending the winnowing of some corn, apparently in the possession of his usual health. In the evening he walked into the house in his usual manner, humming a tune: having taken his chair in the sitting-room, he said to one of his daughters, "I am sick bring me a bason." It was brought immediately, and, after a slight effort, he sat back in his chair, and instantly expired. He was in the seventy-fourth year of his age.

As a man, Mr. Geake was highly esteemed by his neighbours, and by a large circle of relations and friends. Of this, his being chosen President of the St. Germain's Widows' Annuitant Society for thirty-three years successively, is no mean proof. His natural disposition was open, frank, and generous; his manner and address were pleasing, and won upon the affections of those with whom he associated; he was always found to be a kind and judicious adviser. As a Preacher, he was sound and evangelical in doctrine; plain, simple, and pathetic, yet generally energetic and powerful, in his addresses. To the last his ministrations were acceptable and profitable. As a husband and parent, he was ever kind and indulgent, seeking the comfort and happiness of his household in all things. In the character of a Christian and a Methodist, he was "the friend of all, and the enemy of none." He was hospitable to all, especially to those of the household of faith. In their sorrows he sympathized; their wants, according to his ability, he supplied; and in their society he was always happy. He was never weary in well doing;" but he now "rests from his labours, and his works do follow him."

DIVINITY.

BALAAM'S CHARACTER AND SIN:
A SERMON:

BY THE REV. JOHN BROWN, SEN.

(Concluded from page 505.)

THE review of Balaam's character and sin may furnish us with instructive and deeply impressive lessons on moral and religious duty. 1. In Balaam we have an awful example of hypocrisy. The sincere endeavour to please God, though for want of better information, mis