SACRAMENTAL THOUGHTS.*

"For we being many are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread.1 Cor. x. 17.

"There shall no sign be given to it, but the sigu of the Prophet Jonas."-Matt. xii. 39.

From "The Table of the Lord."

LONDON-Printed by James Nichols, 46, Hoxton-square.

FOR NOVEMBER, 1838.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF MR. EVAN ARTHUR,
Of Llandinam, Montgomeryshire:

BY THE REV. ISAAC JENKINS.

THE sacred penman says, "The memory of the just is blessed." This is often exemplified in the pleasing character and influence of the recollections which we cherish of the living testimony to the truth and goodness of God which his servants, now departed, bore in the course of their pilgrimage. The friends of the late Mr. Arthur believe that a more extended account of the testimony which he was enabled to bear, will be not less useful to others than it has been to themselves; and under this persuasion the following account has been drawn up.

Evan Arthur was born at Llandinam, a village in the county of Montgomery, in Wales, on September 2d, 1764. He was very tenderly beloved by his parents, who for that reason allowed him, perhaps, too many indlugences, so that he grew up strongly attached, first to childish follies, and then to worldly amusements. He was, however, in the midst of these vanities, not without gracious awakenings and impressions; but these were so resisted and stifled, that from the age of fourteen he appeared to have lost even his former desires after good. When eighteen years old, he was again mercifully visited, and in the services which he attended at church he received strong convictions of his guilty and wretched condition. He endeavoured to quiet his conscience by a more strictly moral behaviour; but the feeling of condemnation still remained. He sought to overcome his distress by worldly pleasure; but the sorrow of his heart infused bitterness in every cup. He was miserable, and knew no one to show him the way of peace. About this time he heard that a Wesleyan Preacher was to preach at a farmer's house in the neighbourhood; and feeling his curiosity excited, he resolved to hear him. He went, and heard a plain discourse, in which the doctrines of the forgiveness of sins, and of the witness of the Holy Spirit to the believer's conscience, were clearly stated. Mr. Arthur scarcely believed what he considered as strange doctrine; but he felt that it suited his own case, and described exactly what he himself wanted. He desired peace within, but continued to seek for it rather by "works of law," than by "the faith of Christ." He sought, therefore, in vain, and continued VOL. XVII. Third Series. NOVEMBER, 1838. 3 F

some time longer in bondage. He was strongly prejudiced against the Wesleyans, and the ministry that he attended afforded him not the help that he needed.

Soon after attaining his twenty-first year, he entered the marriage state; and as both his wife and himself desired to live to the glory of God, they agreed to establish the worship of God in their house. Morning and evening, therefore, family prayers were read, and according to their light, they both endeavoured to please God. But notwithstanding all that he did, his abiding feeling was one of bondage and fear. And a circumstance of a very trying nature having occurred, he saw that as yet his righteousness had not exceeded that of the Scribes and Pharisees. Light poured in upon his mind. The law came home to his conscience. He felt himself condemned before God, and was brought to exclaim, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" For four days he continued in this state, crying earnestly to God for mercy, and was brought at last to see and acknowledge that salvation was by grace, and through faith. Thus pleading the merit of Christ, it pleased God to have mercy upon him, and to send into his heart the Spirit of adoption, thus giving him peace and joy, and, what he had never before possessed, abiding power over sin.

A short time after this, a circumstance occurred which had nearly proved of irreparable injury to him. Meeting with an aged friend, and relating to him what God had done for his soul, he was, unawares, entangled in a doctrinal disputation; and as he as yet knew little of the theory of religion, he was led to the verge of Antinomianism. New views of faith were set before him, which, in his simplicity, he received. He soon found that he was wrong. Speaking of this occurrence in after-life, he said, "My soul became dry and barren, and I entirely lost the sense of God's favour." His deliverance was effected in a singular manner. A very heavy thunder-storm occasioned much alarm in the neighbourhood, and Mr. Arthur, solemnly impressed himself, and feeling that it was not with him as it had been, again sought the Lord, and prayed that the joy of God's salvation might be restored to him. He was heard and answered. He renewed his covenant with God, and again received the peace and power he had before enjoyed.

It was about this time that he was induced again to hear the Methodist Preachers, who occasionally visited the neighbourhood. He could now understand their preaching, and his prejudices against them entirely gave way. His regular attendance soon led to an invitation to the class which met in the house in which the public religious services were conducted. Accepting the invitation, he became a member of the society with which he continued in union to the end of his life.

In 1788, when Mr. Arthur was about twenty-four years old