mating that the cloud was dispersed, and that peace and joy reigned within." At a subsequent interview, he expressed that he was still happy, and that Christ was his only rock and refuge. On one occasion, when his father was endeavouring to direct his attention to the distinguishing goodness of God towards him, it seemed to arouse him from the prevailing stupor that accompanied his disease, and he responded to the sentiment as if overwhelmed with a sense of his manifold obligations; and, subsequently, his father asking whether he made the Saviour his only refuge, and could rely on his atoning merits as his only title to heaven, his feeble voice, which could scarcely articulate, replied, "I trust I do!" Shortly before his death, in reply to the anxious and affectionate inquiry of his mourning wife, he gave her to understand that by grace divine the fear of death had been removed from his soul, and that he felt that for him "to live was Christ, and to die gain."

He was visited by many kind Christian friends, and was evidently much comforted by their recital of those promises which more particularly bore upon his case, as well as by their earnest addresses to the throne of grace on his behalf. He could seldom speak, but his countenance expressed the feelings of his heart. He thus waited for his change; and on the 27th of January, 1835, in the twenty-fifth year of his age, he exchanged mortality for eternal life.

In his removal, the Lynn society has sustained a real loss. His views of divine truth were very clear; his attachment to the doctrine and Ministers of the Connexion to which he belonged was strong and affectionate; and his desires for the prosperity of the cause of Christ were increasingly influential. It was hoped that he was preparing for usefulness on earth; and that in a few years, intercourse with the church and the world having given him more self possession, and worn away his natural reserve, he would have brought his matured principles to bear upon the interests of religion in his own immediate neighbourhood, by God's blessing, with great effect. It pleased God to appoint otherwise; and it is the consolation of his bereaved friends to know, that they who desired to glorify God in his church militant, shall not glorify him the less for being removed to the church triumphant.

MEMOIR OF MR. WILLIAM ALLIN,
Of Pancross-Week:

BY THE REV. S. W. CHRISTOPHERS.

MR. WILLIAM ALLIN was born in the parish of Pancross-Week, in the county of Devon, in August, 1776. During the early part of his life he was a regular attendant at the parish church, any other ministry than that of the Establishment being comparatively unknown in the neighbourhood. His habits were far removed from viciousness;

and his character was so strongly marked by honesty, frugality, and industry, that he obtained a degree of respectability beyond that of the sphere in which he moved. But while he sought to maintain this position (of which he was not a little proud) by carefully observing the rules of morality as understood by himself, he was not only ignorant of the deep spiritual meaning of the law, but regardless of many of those things which are among its "weightier matters." He had a strong passion for what the world calls "innocent amusements,” and never refrained from its indulgence when the opportunity was presented. Dancing, card-playing, and even cock-fighting, were practised by him with peculiar delight. A circumstance which occurred while these were his favourite pursuits will impressively illustrate the perversions of which a blinded, though not extinguished, conscience is capable. He was solicited on the Saturday to prepare a cock for fighting, but he excused himself by saying that he intended to take the sacrament of the Lord's supper on the following day: at the same time, he promised to comply with the request on the following Monday. His conscience would not allow him to interrupt what he considered as a course of preparation for the sacred table, but he saw no inconsistency in rushing into such scenes with avidity on the very day after his engaging in one of the most solemn services of religion.

When he was about thirty-eight years of age, the preaching of the Methodists excited considerable attention in some of the surrounding parishes, and led to much discussion in that of which Mr. Allin was an inhabitant. He became one of the warmest disputants against what he considered to be religious enthusiasm, and would sometimes declare his sentiments by saying, "I will hold fast my integrity,” and, "My heart shall not reproach me." He loaded the Methodists with unqualified censure; and as his own brother, about this time, was led to join the society, and to seek with great earnestness the salvation of his soul, the feelings of resentment which he cherished against the body were strongly exasperated, and the bitter sarcasms which he uttered only too plainly proved, though he knew it not, and would have denied it had the charge been alleged against him, that he was living under the influence of the carnal mind which is enmity against God.

Notwithstanding these objections, or rather prejudices, he was on one occasion persuaded to hear for himself; and though at first it appeared as though little impression had been made on his mind, yet he attended again and again, till, under a sermon preached by an excellent Local Preacher from that solemn passage, Proverbs i. 24, &c., he was convinced that, with all his self-esteem, he was a guilty sinner before God; and as his brother, about the same time, put Mr. Wesley's Sermons into his hands, requesting him to read them carefully, his convictions were deepened, and his distress was such as frequently to deprive him of sleep. He now became an earnest seeker

of salvation, and united himself to the Methodist society under the influence of a strong desire to flee from the wrath to come. A few weeks after this, while hearing a sermon on 2 Peter i. 19, he felt some degree of confidence in the mercy of God. "I could almost believe," he said, referring subsequently to this period of his life, "that the day-star had arisen in my heart." It was not long before he was blessed according to his earnest desires. He was one day walking in the fields, looking up to God, and in his heart praying earnestly for the removal of guilt and condemnation, and that oppressive sense of the divine displeasure against him as a sinner which weighed down his spirit, and made him go mourning along. As he thus prayed, his soul was so peculiarly drawn out after God that he knelt down, and poured out his soul in vocal prayer. While thus engaged, he was enabled to trust in Christ, and to cry with confidence, "Abba, Father; my Lord, and my God." The burden was now removed. He felt that he loved God as his reconciled Father, and his desire was to glorify him both in body and soul. The sinful amusements once so beloved by him were now the objects of his abhorrence. Often, when passing by any place which awakened recollections of the past, he acutely felt the force of the Apostle's appeal, "What fruit had ye in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?" He was indeed ashamed of them, and deeply conscious that they were vanity and sin.

From the time that he first obtained peace with God he was enabled to hold fast his confidence, and to adorn his profession by a truly Christian deportment. Nor did "present attainments" content him. Leaving the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, he went on to perfection. He had not merely submitted to religion as a duty, but sought it as a blessing; and in this light he continued to regard it. He cried to God, therefore, for more abundant measures of divine light and power; and as he asked according to the will of God, so he obtained the petitions that he desired of him. For many years he professed, with much modesty and consistency, to live in the enjoyment of the perfect love of God; and while urging others to seek the same blessing, and encouraging them by a recital of his own experience, many have realized "the times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord."

For seventeen or eighteen years he filled, usefully and acceptably, the office of Class-Leader, discharging its duties with fidelity, and seeking, in earnest supplication, the spiritual prosperity of those who were, in the order of divine providence, entrusted to his care.

It might be truly said of him that he was "given to hospitality." Nor was his kindness limited to those who were united with him in the same church-fellowship. He had compassion on the poor, and loved to alleviate their distresses and supply their wants to the utmost of his power; while he made his own bounty more extensive by inducing others who had the ability to concur with him in his labours of love.

For Methodism, having found it the instrument of so much spiritual benefit, he ever cherished a strong regard, and evinced the sincerity of his attachment by his subscriptions to the various institutions of the body. In chapel-concerns he took a particular interest, and has been known to give to a large amount for the relief of embarrassed Trustees. He has often been heard to lament the worldly-mindedness of many professors of religion, and the difficulties in which many of the secular operations connected with the cause of Christ were in consequence involved. He was himself "a cheerful giver." One of his favourite maxims was, that persons possessing a portion of this world's goods, are less likely to enrich their posterity by indulging a spirit of earthliness and parsimony, than by exercising Christian liberality and beneficence, and thus connecting what they bequeath with the prayers of the poor, and the blessing of God. He would say to his friends, "If you intend to prosper, if you would insure the divine blessing for yourselves and children, give freely to the cause of God and the poor;" and as he advised others, so he practised himself.

His amiable disposition and manners, connected with his sterling piety, qualified him very especially for the important duty of visiting the sick; and this was a work in which he delighted. He was, from his circumstances, able to contribute to the relief of their temporal necessities; and this he did very gladly; but his chief care was, that his visits might be profitable to the soul. To the consciences of the unconverted he would affectionately but faithfully address himself; and it was his joy to witness that his endeavours were not without fruit.

For about three years before his death he was afflicted with a spasmodic complaint, and suffered much from nervous debility. Even under these circumstances, however, he would regularly ride three miles to meet his class, to the members of which he was very strongly attached. The Ministers of the Gospel always met with a kind reception at his house. Indeed it was evident that he considered it a privilege to receive and entertain them. They came to the village to di charge their ministerial duties, and for that reason his house was open to them for their Master's sake.

For many months before his departure he suffered much from pain, the effects of which were very visible in his wasted form. During his confinement, his friends, who visited him, always found it to be a privilege to themselves to be where a good man was waiting his call to heaven. Though the earthly tabernacle was evidently dissolving, the mind was unchanged. The poor who visited him not only shared his prayers, but his bounty. When, at length, he was unable to go to the house of God, he took care that his household were there, while he remained at home, alone; yet not alone, for his God was with him. He received the intimation that death was very near, with even more

than composure. When told that his medical attendant thought that in a day or two all would be over, he said, "Well, I have no cause o complain: I have lived as long as most men, and have had very many favours." He added, that, on examination, he had no doubt but he had been brought to God in the right way, and that now he was on the sure foundation. On the evening before his death, he said to his sister, "Pray for me: I have peace, but I want to realize more power." He then expressed his thankfulness that his pain was not so great as he expected. He requested her to sing the hymn, "Come on, my partners in distress," &c. ; but her feelings prevented, and she was only able to read it to him. When she had read the hymn and prayed with him, he appeared very happy, and spoke of the increasing preciousness of Christ to his soul. Not long before he died, he said, emphatically, "All is well;" and added, "I hope my friends will be liberal to the cause of Christ." He was fully recollected to the last; and after several expressions, indicative of his peace, joy, and hope, he fell asleep in Christ, December 14th, 1834. It was his particular request, made not long before he died, that the Local Preacher by whose instrumentality he had been brought to God, should preach his "funeral sermon," for the purpose of improving the occasion of his death to the profit of the living. In consequence, a large concourse of people was addressed by Mr. Peter Dryman, (in the open air, as there was no place large enough to contain all who were assembled,) from James i. 9, 10.

DIVINITY.

THE REDEMPTION OF MANKIND:

A SERMON:

Preached in the Methodist Chapel, King-street, Bristol, before the Wesleyan Conference, on Sunday Evening, July 29th, 1838,

BY THE REV. THOMAS JACKSON;

AND PUBLISHED AT THE REQUEST OF THAT BODY.

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."-1 Peter i. 18-21.

THE Lord Jesus is the great subject of the evangelical ministry. "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord." Every blessing that men receive at the hands of God, both in this world, and in that which is to come, is conveyed to them through Christ's