to glory," were the last words she was heard to utter; soon after which she entered into the rest which remains for the people of God. J. CAMERON.

4. Died, April 5th, in the island of Guernsey, Mr. Alexander Thom. He was a native of Fifeshire. Having lost his father at a very early age, he was left to the care of a widowed mother, by whose pious instructions very serious impressions were made on his mind; but in consequence of the destitute condition in which his surviving parent had been left, he was compelled at an early period to earn his own bread. When but eleven years of age he was bound appren tice to a shipwright at Berwick. Although he found his new situation far less favourable to religion than his mother's cottage had been, yet his early impressions were never totally effaced. Whilst he remained here, he continued, out of his scanty earnings, to render some assistance to his widowed parent. This was a duty which he conscientiously performed as long as she lived; and in seve. ral instances he deprived himself of the common necessaries of life that he might be able to administer to her comfort. He became strongly attached to his master, by whom he was treated with kindness and confidence; and being the owner of a vessel, then about to sail for British America, he wished his apprentice to take a voyage in her as ship carpenter. It was the time of war; and though he reached the place of his destination in safety, on his return the vessel was taken by an American privateer, and being carried back to America, he with the rest of the crew were cast into prison. In a few months he attained his liberty, and again he embarked for his native land; but as the vessel in which he had taken his passage was entering the British Channel, it was taken by a French privateer, and a second time he became the inmate of a prison. After some time, an exchange of prisoners taking place, he once more landed on British ground, but in a state of almost entire destitution. He had, however, one guinea and a few pence, which he had preserved with the utmost care, hoping that he should one day have an opportunity of sending it to his mother. His first object on landing was to visit her; and for this purpose he travelled on foot from London to Scotland, subsisting on his few pence, and preserving his guinea entire for his mother. Shortly after this he obtained a situation in another vessel, and by a variety of circumstances, was brought to

the island of Guernsey about the year 1787. He then left the sea, and com menced business as a ship-builder. Not long after this he joined himself to the Wesleyan society, of which he continued a steady and consistent member until the day of his death. He was strongly attached both to the doctrines and disci. pline of the body to which he belonged; nor could the misrepresentations of de signing men ever move him in these respects. He distinguished himself as one of the first in establishing a Sunday. school in the island, became a Trustee of the chapel, and had a class-meeting held in his own house for thirty years He was generous and benevolent; ac cording to his ability he contributed to the support of the cause of God, and was ever ready to relieve the indigent and distressed. The salvation of his family lay near his heart, and was the subject of much anxiety, and of comstant and fervent prayer. In the course of life he passed through many vicissi tudes; more, perhaps, than ordinarily fall to the lot of man; but he bore them with great Christian equanimity, being neither greatly elated in prosperity, nor depressed in adversity. The death of a beloved son, about two years and a half ago in the West Indies, together with the infirmities arising from increasing years, gradually impaired his constitution, and eventually brought him to the grave. His religious experience was clear and scriptural, and he lived in the habitual enjoyment of a sense of acceptance with God. His last illness was short, and his end sudden, being occa sioned by the rupture of a blood-vessel. To an intimate friend who visited him during his affliction, and who was with him only a few hours previous to his dissolution, and who had asked the state of his mind, he answered that he was kept in peace, and that all was right with him. In his expiring moments, whilst Mrs. Thom was supporting him, supposing him to be fainting, she exberted him to look to the Lord Jesus. plied, "I do; and he will support all that put their trust in here his voice faltered, and in a few moments he exchanged time for eternity.

He re

JOHN WESLEY BUTTON.

5. Died, April 7th, at Basseterre, St. Christopher's, in the West Indies, Miss Mary Seaton, in the seventy-fourth year of her age. She had been a member of the Wesleyan society more than fifty years; and during the whole of that long period, maintained an irreproach

able character, being careful to adorn the doctrine of God her Saviour in all things. Her parents, James and Lydia Seaton, were both members of the Methodist society, and died in the Lord. Mrs. Seaton was one of the first Class-Leaders in the place; and to her judicious counsels and persevering prayers, much of the piety of her family may, under God, be ascribed. Mary was one of the first class that was formed; and upon the removal of her mother, was appointed its Leader. There is no record of the particulars of her conversion; but it is known that at an early period of her Christian course, she saw it to be her privilege and duty to seek to be "made perfect in love." Though not favoured with any advantages extending beyond a plain education, she possessed a large stock of useful knowledge. She was a woman of observation and thought; and walking as she did in heavenly light, it is not to be wondered at that her understanding was vigorous, her judgment discriminating and sound, and her counsel judicious and valuable. About six months before she died she had a fall, by which she dislocated her arm. This both occasioned much pain, and brought on a state of fever which at last exhausted her little remaining strength. She received it, however, as she received all, from her heavenly Father; and not only bore suffering with patience, but sought to have it fully sanctified. Her soul being attuned to heavenly melodies, she was always cheered and elevated by those admirable hymns with which the Methodists are favoured. Her joy sometimes rose, notwithstanding all her pain, to perfect rapture. Of God and heaven she spoke as delightfully present; and often asked that the beautiful and triumphant hymn, (page 76,) "We know, by faith we know," &c., might be sung to her. Though much reduced in her circumstances, and obliged to be indebted to Christian benevolence in her latter days, she was always resigned and contented. Her humility in every respect was genuine and deep; and her sense of her own deficiency and unprofitableness so complete, that it must have been a source of constant pain, but for the pervading light of God's countenance, and the settled habit of mind which delights to be nothing, so that Christ be exalted, and all in all. It is almost needless to add, that as she had lived, so she died. Her sun set in brightness.

son, of Bradshaw-Brook, in the Northwich Circuit. At a very early period of his life, he was led to resolve to serve the Lord. He did not, indeed, clearly see the nature of the religion of the New Testament; but according to his light, he gave himself to God. When settled in life, his purposes were unaltered. To the sanctity of the Sabbath he paid the strictest attention; he was careful to attend the ordinances of religion with his children and servants; in his family he had prayer regularly; and it was an invariable rule with him, on the evening of each Sabbath, to call together his children and servants, and to spend two or three hours with them in reading the word of God. He generally commenced himself with the lessons for the day, then every child who was able to read a chapter was required to do so; and the same was expected from each servant. If any of the latter were unable to read, they were taught as soon as possible. Not a few who entered his service not knowing how to read, before leaving it could read the Scriptures with tolerable ease. About the year 1816, Mr. Dodson felt a particular concern for the spiritual welfare of his neighbourhood, and haying a pious acquaintance, he conversed freely with him on the subject, and sought his advice. His friend told him that he thought his wishes would be most effectually met by the Methodists. It so fell out that at this time he was in want of a person to serve him in the capacity of miller; and a Methodist Local Preacher, offering himself, was hired. The house occupied by the Local Preacher was soon opened for preaching, and God blessed the word. When Mr. Dodson first saw and felt the effects of the word, as preached by the Methodists, he was greatly surprised. "I heard," said he, "no new doctrine; no doctrine but what I previously knew to be contained in the articles and homilies of the Church; but never before did I hear them in reference to their spiritual meaning, and my own personal salvation." He saw that he had rather feared God than loved him; that with all his attention to moral and religious duties, he had not properly seen the spiritual extent of the law, and the nature of vital godli

ness.

JAMES HORNE.

to "the Holy Ghost, the Comforter." He resolved, by the grace of God, to seek for the full blessing promised in the Gospel. As he sought, the sinfulness of sin became more and more apparent. In the clearer light which he now possessed, he saw that while he had been kept from many evils, (and he thankfully ascribed the glory to the preventing and restraining grace of God,) he was yet, in the judgment of the holy law, a sinner, and that, as such, he needed the pardoning mercy of God. It pleased God to permit him to pass through a severe mental struggle, arising from a deep conviction of the purity of God, the spirituality of the law, and his own natural and acquired sinfulness. He was almost in despair, when, one day reading Peter's question to our Lord, "Lord, how oft shall my brother trespass against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?" and the reply," Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven :" heavenly light accompanied the reading. He saw that man was required to be ready to forgive; and was instantly led to the conclusion, "Such is God. He can forgive; he will forgive ;" and his faith receiving strength as he advanced, he added, "he does forgive," and was at once enabled to rest upon the atonement of Christ, as declaring the righteousness of God, and making way for the consistent exercise of pardoning love. He now received the Spirit's witness to his pardon. "In that day" he began to sing a new song: "O Lord, I will praise thee; though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me;" and he went on his way rejoicing. Mr. Dodson, all his life long, continued a firm friend of the Church. To the doctrines which she taught, and the liturgy which she used, he felt himself greatly indebted; and the further light which he had now received, enabled him the better to understand the one, and with the greater pleasure and advantage to use the other. He knew how to distinguish between the Church, and its abuses and defective administra tion; and while he lamented these last, the spiritual blessings which he enjoyed at once confirmed his attachment to the Church itself, and to Methodism, in which he saw an agency which he believed with Mr. Wesley, was raised up by God himself "to reform the Church, and to spread scriptural holiness through the land." As a Class-Leader and Prayer-Leader, he was diligent and useful; and in promoting Sabbath and day

school instruction, his labours were un remitting. In a circle of several miles in extent from his own residence, he was successful in raising or strengthening these important institutions; and at Halford, Pickmore, Plumbley, as well as at Bradshaw-Brook, his name will long be held in affectionate remembrance. It was at the last of these places that, in September, 1835, he met with an acci dent which probably shortened his days. He had built a new house for himself, and one room in it was particularly marked out for the preaching-room. Passing across the premises on a very windy day, a newly-erected wall fell down, and he was so near as to be much injured by the falling materials. He rallied for a little while, but about twelve months afterwards his strength rapidly declined. He was thoroughly conscious that his end was approaching, but his confidence in God was unshaken. He frequently expressed himself to his friends as being unusually comfortable and hap py.

To the writer he said on one occa sion, "My body is too weak to bear the transports of my mind, so that I have al most to pray that God would restrain his hand." He was enabled, not long be fore he died, to say very emphatically, fully appropriating the words to himself, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be ta God, which giveth ME the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." On the day his death, he repeatedly expressed himself as happily resting on the merit of his Saviour; and a few minutes before his departure, as if rousing up his little strength, he exclaimed with a feeble but distinct voice, "Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!" Soon after, his deathless spirit entered into the rest which remaineth for the people of God.

MYLES C. DIXON.

7. Died, May 5th, at Basseterre, St. Christopher's, West Indies, in the eightyfourth year of her age, Mary Woodley, a free coloured woman, who, for the last seventeen years of her life, had been a steady and pious member of the Methodist society in that place. Having found no one who cared for her soul in her early days, she followed the ways of her own heart, and lived in the common sina of that period of gross darkness. By a train of providential circumstances she was brought to hear the Gospel of light and power, it is believed, "first under the ministry of the late Mr. Gilgrass the message which the servant of God Though late in life, her heart received

delivered. The writer has no means of ascertaining the particular circumstances of her conversion to God; but the work of grace was plainly evidenced in her quiet, peaceable, upright walk and conversation. About a fortnight before her death, the writer heard that she was sick, and went to see her. He found her in great pain, but her soul was full of life and joy. Notwithstanding medical attendance, the complaint continued, and she sunk rapidly. But she presented an encouraging illustration of the scripture, "Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." Her mind was in great peace; though, from the united influence of age and disease, her weakness was extreme. On the day of her death the writer saw her, and found her, as she was just able to say, "waiting for her heavenly Master." She was so exceedingly low that he would not allow her to converse; but, having commended her to God, sang a hymn, during which she evidently changed for death. He then knelt down, and while he was engaged in committing her departing spirit to Him who had redeemed it, she fell asleep in Christ.

JAMES HORNE.

8. Died, May 8th, at Brindister, in the Walls and Sandness Circuit, Shetland, Miriam, the wife of Thomas Sinclair, of Sandness, aged thirty-three. At a very early period she manifested a thoughtful mind, and gave indications of the strivings of the Holy Spirit in her heart. Not long after the Wesleyans bad commenced their Mission in Shetland, she felt a strong wish to attend their preaching; and an opportunity soon occurring, she eagerly availed herself of it, and from that time became a regular attendant. The word preached was accompanied with power, and a work of grace was commenced in her soul, which issued in a scriptural conversion. She was the second in her father's family to join the Methodist society, and nine others have since followed his example. The reality of the change which she professed was evinced by holy tempers, and an irreproachable conduct in the different situations in which she was called to move. In 1827 she was married to Thomas Sinclair, a member of the Wesleyan society; and the same propriety of behaviour which she had manifested under the parental roof, was maintained in the new relations into which she had entered. She was an affectionate wife, a tender parent, and a warm friend. To private devotion she

was particularly attentive, as indeed to all the means of grace. In affliction she was not only resigned, but thankful; and as her weakness became more and more apparent, it became likewise increasingly evident that her spirit was ripening for immortality. Some of her last words were expressive of the strongest confidence in God. When her weakness was extreme, she exclaimed, with peculiar earnestness, "The Lord is a sure rock. I praise God for affliction. I fear not to die; death has lost his sting." The thought of leaving four very young children, at first excited much concern in her mind; but she cast her care upon God, and said, "He who has saved such a sinner as I am will provide for and save them." Having calmly given her dying advice to the various members of the family, she breathed her last in great JOSEPH BINNS.

peace.

9. Died, May 28th, John Jameson, at Cadishead, in the Leigh Circuit, aged upwards of seventy. In his youth he lived according to the course of this world; and when a brother of his who had joined the Methodists, and found salvation, talked to him about eternal things, he excused himself by saying, that he would try to be as good as his brother, without being a Methodist. After some years, however, Richard persuaded John to hear the Wesleyans, and the word came home to his heart: he was convinced of his unrighteousness, and, shortly after, experienced a blessed change. During a period of more than thirty years, he continued a steady member of the Methodist society, and for some years was a zealous and useful Class-Leader. His diligence in attending all the means of grace was unwearied to the last; and when at home, all his spare time, particularly on the Sabbath, was employed in reading and devotion. Though in humble life, he had procured "Benson's Commentary," and his copy had evidently not been a neglected one. His zeal for the cause of God was exceeded by few. He has been heard to say, "I could be content to live upon half-meal, if sinners were but converted, and the cause of religion prosperous.' He was a man of most industrious habits, and honest even to scrupulosity. He was a kind husband, an indulgent parent, and a faithful friend. About two years before his death, he had a paralytic stroke, which not only reduced his bodily strength, but weakened his mental faculties. Nevertheless, though lame and tottering, he was still to be seen, as often

as possible, slowly bending his way to the house of God, in the services of which he had so long and so much delighted. He was only confined to the house one week previous to his death. On the Sabbath, he spoke of going to chapel, but was advised not, as, in his feeble state, it was too far for him. He called on one or two of his Christian neighbours, however, and took leave of them, saying that he thought his end was near. When he had returned home, he collected his grandchildren together, addressed them one by one, and prayed for the divine blessing to rest upon them. When asked by a friend the state of his mind, he replied, significantly, "I am on the Rock." The expression he frequently repeated. The day before he died, his daughter said, "Father, are you comfortable?" He with some difficulty answered, "Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." He scarcely spoke after this; but early on the following morning, and it was the Sabbath, his spirit was freed from mortality, to enter into the heavenly temple, where the worship is ceaseless, and the Sabbath eternal.

C. JANION.

10. Died, Jane 4th, at the WharfFurnace, near Chesterfield, Mary Swift, in the thirty-fifth year of her age. When a child, she was sent to the Sundayschool; and being brought up in attendance on the ordinances of religion, she was often visited by the strivings of the Holy Spirit. She, however, resisted, instead of yielding; and it was not till after her marriage that she became thoroughly impressed with the necessity of turning to God. Even these impressions, how ever, she did not fully obey, till painful visitations occurred in her family, and she found that it was indeed hard to kick against the pricks. Two of her children were taken; and then, both herself and husband resolved to give themselves to the Lord. She joined the Methodist society, and sought for the saving mercy of God. She was constitutionally diffident, and afraid of deceiving herself, and indulged those reasonings which kept her back from resting on Christ for a present salvation. Sitting one evening alone, and meditating upon death, she thought, "Why cannot I now believe? Is not God now able and willing to forgive me all my sins?" She immediately began to pray, and as she prayed, the power to believe was vouchsafed. In spiritual light she saw the sufficiency of the atonement, rested her soul upon it, and was made happy in God. Again and again

she exclaimed, "Glory, glory be to God!” She could not refrain from sending for several of her neighbours, and telling them what great things God had done for her. She found that was no visionary transient peace. It removed the fear of

death, which before had held her in bondage, and enabled her to trust and not be afraid. She was confined to her chamber about seven weeks before death. At first, she found it difficult to give up her husband and family, but she was soon enabled to give up her own will; and then she patiently waited till her change should come. Her confidence in God was strong and steady; even when kept awake, the night watches were neither tedious nor gloomy. She sang the praises of God; and on one occasion said to the Minister who visited her, "0 Sir, they are happy nights!" A few hours before she died, when she appeared to be fast sinking, one of her watching friends happened to say to another, "Poor Mrs. Swift !” She overheard the ex. pression, and with her little remaining strength immediately replied, "O no! not poor, but rich through Christ; rich through Christ!" Soon after she fell asleep. GEORGE WILSON.

11. Died, at Flamborough, in the Bridlington Circuit, June 9th, Mr. John Major, aged forty-four. His parents were members of the Methodist society, and brought him up in the fear of God. In early life he gave himself to God, and to his father's people, seeking and finding the salvation of his soul. When esta blished in life, he plainly proved that bis profession of attachment to the cause of God was both genuine and strong. He received the Preachers with great hospi tality, became a Trustee for several chapels, and held various offices in the society; and as he liberally supported the cause he had espoused, so, by the grace of God, he was enabled to adorn it. His conver sation was such as becometh the Gospel of Christ. For about three years before he died, his health was evidently in a declining state, and it was soon plain that there was no prospect of recovery. His mind, however, was kept in undis turbed serenity, and in conversation with his friends the power and blessedness of religion were plainly evinced. As he drew near to death, he expressed a desire to receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper, and found the Lord's ordinance to be indeed "the means of grace" to his soul. He often said, towards the latter end of his life," If Í had my religion to seek now, I am too weak for the taskit