ments and active exertions, freed from debts which had before greatly retarded the progress of the work. During the autumn of 1826 a fever prevailed in Lynn, where he was then stationed; and while engaged in visiting the sick, he took the contagion. For several weeks his life was despaired of; and though it was spared, yet his constitution received a shock from which it never recovered. Long walks, and exposure to the night air while in the Ipswich Circuit, during the years 1831 and 1832, made further inroads on his health, and laid the foundation of a cough which was finally fatal. A succession of trying events, while at Reading, hastened his disorder to a crisis. Not long after his arrival in the Circuit, one of his children, a lovely boy of two years and a half, was removed by death. In May, 1834, while at the District-Meeting, a blow, accidentally received, broke two of his ribs. In the fall of the year several dangerous symptoms began to appear. On the 26th of October, after preaching with great difficulty, he was unable to pursue the labours of the day, and his kind friend and brother, the Rev. A. Douglas, occupied the pulpit in the evening. He struggled on, however, until January 18th, 1835, when he attempted to surmount his weakness. In the morning he bade us "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness;" and in the evening his last effort was exhausted in an endeavour to enforce the solemn expostulation, "How long halt ye between two opinions?" From the pulpit he went to the table of the Lord; but so completely had nature failed, that he was only able to invite the communicants to approach. With this solemn service his public labours were closed. About the same time another of his children was removed by death and while attending her funeral, he was seized with an inflammation of the chest. By the kindness and assiduity of his medical attendant, the violence of the disorder was checked; but it left symptoms so alarming, that he was advised to leave his Circuit for a few months, and try the benefit of his native air. To the honour of his Reading friends, they promptly responded to this call on their sympathy; and one friend generously proposed to board and lodge the young man who should supply his place. The kindness and generosity of these friends served greatly to relieve his mind in the time of affliction; nor can his bereaved family ever forget the kindness shown both to one so dear to them, and to themselves. In February Mr. Rowe left Reading for Oxwich. During the sum-. mer months his health was slightly improved; and the hope of his recovery again dawned in the breasts of his family. - In August his family followed him into Wales, hoping soon to witness his recovery; but Infinite Wisdom saw fit to disappoint their expectations. His cough became more violent, and was accompanied by profuse night-sweats. But his confidence was unshaken, and his undisturbed. The simplicity of the Gospel plan of salvapeace 1 I tion was strongly impressed on his mind, and was a favourite theme of conversation. The last sentence he ever wrote was in the album of a young friend; and this expressed the sentiments that lay nearest his heart: "Possessed of all earthly good, without religion, you would be an infinite loser. Dispossessed of all, with religion, you would be an infinite gainer. Godliness unites both. By a simple act of faith you gain it,-repeated, you retain it.Then heaven!" There is something peculiarly impressive in the approach of the Christian to the grave. While passing through the dark valley, and drawing near the confines of eternity, (and, unlike the sinner, he is fully aware of its importance,) he is then thrown more than ever on the first great principle of religion,-faith in Christ. He commits himself afresh to the Saviour; beholds the promise of his eternal inheritance; claims and obtains the assistance of his eternal Friend; and passes into paradise, leaning on his Beloved. Thus it was with my dear father. He had subjected his life and heart to the strictest self-examination. He had, by faith, renewed the assurance of his personal interest in the glories of eternity. He had cast himself on the almighty love of Jesus; and his mind, though bowed down with affliction, and sometimes harassed with temptation, continued steadfast. "I have lately," said he to a friend, "been examining the foundation of my hope; and it is rock; blessed be God, it is all rock!" In the last few days of his life he experienced great suffering and bodily pain; but the truths he had faithfully preached in life, forsook him not in death. He cast his anchor within the vail, and realized the promises. He fell asleep in Jesus, December 12th, 1835, aged fifty years, leaving behind him a beloved wife and five children to mourn for their loss, yet not as those without hope. : and Mr. Rowe's powers of mind were of a very respectable order; bis social character and domestic habits greatly endeared him to all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. As a Christian man, avoiding both negligence and ostentation, he walked with God, and by consistent uprightness proved that his professions were sincere. As a Wesleyan Minister, he was faithful in all the relations in which he stood both to his brethren and the people. He fed the flock with diligence; and that he might do this, he maintained his own communion with God, and was careful in the work of searching the Scriptures To the young he was particularly attentive, and observed the old Methodist rule of "meeting the children once a week." His temper was peaceful, and he always endeavoured to follow both peace with all men, and holiness. His sermons, though plain, were clear, sound, and impressive; and, as he had an abiding conviction that all his sufficiency was of God, leading to earnest prayer for the divine blessing, his pulpit labours were greatly blessed to the conversion of the careless, and the comfort and edification of the people of God. I should be unworthy of such a father if I withheld my grateful 1 acknowledgment to the God of all grace for having blessed me with a parent who, to all his other excellencies, joined the tenderest affection and care for his children. For several years I enjoyed the benefit of his tuition, and even to his last sickness he afforded his parental direction and advice. He now rests from his labours, and has joined the innumerable company who have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." "There entertain him all the saints above, In solemn troops and sweet societies, MEMOIR OF THE LATE MRS. WHITAKER, Of Wardle, near Rochdale : BY THE REV. JOHN MOWAN. MRS. WHITAKER was born near Wardle, a village in the Rochdale Circuit, about the year 1757. Her parents were members of the established Church, and were remarkable for their regular attendance at public worship, and for strict integrity of conduct. It was also their care to bring up their family in an evangelical regard for the ordinances and Ministers of the Gospel: a duty this which may be regarded as one of the most important of those to which parents are called to attend; one, the neglect of which often proves ruinous to the children, and to the happiness of the families to which they belong; but which, when properly performed, produces in the youthful mind a disposition which becomes an honourable feature of character in future life. Thus, too, is the heart prepared for the reception of the Gospel in its saving power, and a way is frequently opened for extensive usefulness. So it proved in the case of Mrs. Whitaker. She has frequently observed, that when very young, as she has seen the Methodist Preachers pass to the house where they preached, she has envied the family the happiness and honour of entertaining them. But though she maintained great propriety of behaviour, and often felt the gracious drawings of the Father, it does not appear that she gave her heart fully to God until after her marriage. About this time she became deeply impressed with the kindness of Providence towards her, and with her own sinful unworthiness. This led to a consideration of the greater riches of redeeming love, and to a conviction of her ingratitude and guilt as a sinner before God. She felt and confessed herself unworthy of the least of his mercies; and, while she freely devoted herself to his will, she implored mercy through the blood of his Son. The particulars of her deliverance from guilt, and her adoption into the family of God, are not known; but the reality and power of a divine change were clearly evidenced by her future conduct. About this time she also joined the Methodist society, and maintained the closest attachment to that branch of the church of Christ to the close of a long and valuable life. " About 1788, with her husband, she removed to Wardle, Methodism in the neighbourhood was still in its infancy. It appears that up to this time the Preachers had not preached in the village. She now saw that an opportunity presented itself, at once of gratifying her longcherished wish, and of being useful to her neighbours, by opening her house for the reception of the Preachers and the ministry of the Gospel. In this purpose Mr. Whitaker cordially united; and the pious pair had the pleasure of seeing that the Lord blessed his word to the conversion of sinners. A society was soon formed in the village, in connexion with which many have been brought to God, and made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. Mrs. Whitaker rejoiced in these tokens of the goodness of God; but she was soon called to experience that all earthly joys are precarious. In the noontide of life an attack of apoplexy laid her beloved husband prostrate in death. He had been a consistent member of the society for some years; and though she had the consolation of knowing that he was prepared for his sudden removal, the anguish of her bereavement was deep and keen. With the sorrows of widowhood too, there devolved upon her no small weight of care concerning her rising family, a farm, and an extensive woollen manufactory, which Mr. Whitaker had conducted. On this trying occasion she cast her burden upon the Lord, and he graciously sustained her. Her trials and difficulties seemed only to call forth more fully the energies of her mind. She acknowledged the Lord in all her ways, and he directed her paths, and gave his blessing to the labour of her hands. To promote the stability and further extension of the work of God, a chapel was erected in 1810. To this she was a generous contributor. The liberality of other friends helping, (among whom ought to be noticed the Rev. John Leach, then a venerable Supernumerary Preacher, residing in the Circuit, who gave the noble sum of one hundred pounds,) a substantial and neat sanctuary was raised for the worship of God. The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that many of the surrounding population were born there.* The chapel, and the consequent prosperity of the work of God, increased the pleasing interest which Mrs. Whitaker felt in the cause. She was careful to see that every thing was done decently and in order Her house continued to be the home of the Travelling and Local Preachers, where, like a true mother in Israel, she ministered to their comfort, and in a most affectionate manner often encouraged the timid, and lifted up the hands which hung down. * On her death-bed, Mrs. Whitaker bequeathed thirty pounds more to liquidate the debt remaining on the chapel. Occasionally the steadfastness of her religious principles was put to the test. But nothing moved her, for she knew in whom she believed. With the greatest decision of character she held fast her profession, shunning no cross, and neglecting no duty, through either worldly compliance, or the fear of man, which SO: often "bringeth a snare." Her compassion and liberality to the poor were extensive. In the abodes of the sick and the wretched she was no stranger; and while her hands freely relieved their wants, her lips administered consolation to the righteous, or admonition to the improvident and ungodly. Much of her alms, however, was done" in secret." She was eminently the friend of the poor; and with strict propriety we believe it may be said of her, "When the ear heard her, then it blessed her; and when the eye saw her, it gave witness to her, because she delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had noñe to help him." As a friend she was sincere, warm-hearted, and faithful. While perfectly free from censoriousness, she never allowed a false delicacy to prevent her from pointing out to those she loved, what she thought wrong in their spirit or conduct. Her communion with God was regular and intimate. Her secret devotions had due time allotted for their performance; and strengthened by these refreshing seasons from the presence of her Lord, she was enabled to hold on her way rejoicing. She had family-worship three times a day, allowing no business or the company of any stranger to hinder. At these exercises the Scriptures were read and a hymn sung, until a beloved son, who took great delight in these duties, and conducted the singing, was removed by death. This bereavement affected her so much, that she could never again summon up her spirits to sing the songs of Zion at the family altar. After the death of her husband, she felt her responsibility to God as the sole head of her family, and invariably conducted the worship herself. This was done with great simplicity and earnest solicitude for the best interests of her household, making special supplication for each individual as circumstances required. As a proof of her near communion with God on these occasions, ónce, after pleading earnestly in behalf of a grandchild who had shown some pleasing indications of early piety, and who was then sick at Burnley, she rose from her knees, and said to her family, "God has done some good thing for Jane: he has either made her better, or taken her to himself." A messenger some time after brought word that about that time the child died happy in God. In her observance of the Sabbath she was highly exemplary and strictly conscientious. It was her care to make previous arrangements, that her household might have due opportunities of attending public worship, and of keeping the day holy unto the Lord. With sacred delight she enjoyed the public ordinances, and took the liveliest |