being called up, they all kneeled down to prayer, at which time his fervor of spirit was visible to every one present. But in particular parts of the prayer his whole soul seemed to be engaged in a manner, which evidently showed how ardently he longed for the full accomplishment of their united desires. And when Mr. Broadbent was praying in a very expressive manner, that if God was about to take away their father to his eternal rest, he would be pleased to continue and increase his blessing upon the doctrine and discipline, which he had long made his aged servant the means of propagating and establishing in the world: such a degree of fervor accompanied his loud Amen, as was every way expressive of his soul's being engaged in the answer of the petitions.

On rising from their knees, he took hold of all their hands, and with the utmost placidness saluted them, and said, "Farewell, farewell!

A little after, a person coming in, he strove to speak, but could not. Finding they could not understand him, he paused a little, and with all the remaining strength he had, cried out, "The best of all is, God is with us ;" and then, lifting up his dying arm in token of victory, and raising his feeble voice with a holy triumph not to be expressed, he again repeated the heart-reviving words "The best of all is, God is with us."

Seeing some persons standing by his bed-side, he asked, "Who are these?" and being informed who they were, Mr. Rogers said, "Sir, we are come to rejoice with you; you are going to receive your crown." "It is the Lord's doing," he replied, "and marvellous in our eyes.' On being told that his sister-in-law, Mrs. Wesley, was come, he said, "He giveth his servant rest." He thanked her as she pressed his hand, and affectionately endeavored to kiss

her. On wetting his lips, he said, "We thank thee, O Lord, for these and all thy mercies: bless the church and king; and grant us truth and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, for ever and ever!'

At another time he said, "He causeth his servants to lie down in peace." Then pausing a little, he cried, "The clouds drop fatness!" and soon after, "The Lord is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge!" He then called those present to prayer: and though he was greatly exhausted, he appeared still more fervent in spirit. These exertions were however too much for his feeble frame: and most of the night following, though he often attempted to repeat the Psalm before-mentioned, he could only utter

"I'll praise — I'll praise ! "

On Wednesday morning, the closing scene drew near. Mr. Bradford, his faithful friend, prayed with him, and the last word he was heard to articulate was, "Farewell!

A few minutes before ten, while several of his friends were kneeling around his bed, without a lingering groan, this man of God, this beloved pastor of thousands, entered into the joy of his Lord. He was in the eighty-eighth year of his age, and in the sixty-fifth of his ministry. At the desire of his friends, his corpse was placed in the new chapel, and remained there the day before his entombment. His face during that time had a heavenly smile upon it, and a beauty which was admired by all that saw it.

"With poverty of spirit blessed,
Rest, happy saint, in Jesus rest;
A sinner saved, through grace forgiven,
Redeemed from earth to reign in heaven!
Thy labors of unwearied love,

By thee forgot, are crowned above;
Crowned through the mercy of thy Lord,
With a free, full, immense reward!"

C. WESLEY.

WILLIAM GRIMSHAW.

REV. WILLIAM GRIMSHAW was born at Brindle, in Lancashire, September 3d, 1708. His youth was noted for its levity and dissipation. In his eighteenth year he entered Cambridge University, with the intention on the part of his friends of obtaining a preparation for the gospel ministry, but little promise did his collegiate life give of his future usefulness. Upon his graduation, however, in 1731, such was the low estimation of the spiritual preparation for this high vocation prevalent at this time, he was ordained a deacon, and entered at once upon the duties of his office. He performed the outward functions of his ministry with correctness and punctuality, and his conscience was satisfied, little interested in the present, or everlasting, religious welfare of his flock, or even of his own soul. In the year 1734, Mr. Grimshaw was roused from his perilous state of insensibility, by the powerful convictions of the Holy Spirit, and he began, with the utmost anxiety, to seek the salvation of his soul.

"He prayed much and waited long, before he experienced that peace of mind which is the effect of a lively faith in the Redeemer. But there was an immediate and great change in his outward deportment. He was no longer a trifler. He had now neither time nor taste for amusements and diversions. He attended diligently to the duties of his charge, arned h$ parishioners of the wrath to come, pressed upon them the necessity of a religious course of life, and carefully catechized their children; knowing, and feeling in himself, the terrors of the Lord, he endeavored to persuade others of their danger. But it was some time before his own experi

ence warranted him to invite the weary and heavy laden to apply to Jesus, that they might find rest to their souls."

For a number of years his experience was not sufficiently deep or satisfactory to himself to secure abiding peace, although a manifest and happy change had been wrought in his heart and life. He was in "heaviness through manifold temptations," and found the more difficulty in discovering the beautiful and consoling simplicity of the doctrine of justification by faith, through the lack of pious associates and advisers, with whom he might compare experiences, and from whom he might receive light and sympathy.

"In the midst of all his discouragements, he persevered in prayer, and in the study of the Scriptures; and in due time, when he had learned by painful experience the depravity of his nature, his utter unworthiness and insufficiency, his prayers were answered. His progress for a time was gradual, like the light, which, from a faint and scarcely discernible dawn, shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Then he gladly renounced all dependence upon himself either for righteousness or strength. He believed and was made whole. The voice of that blood which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel, proclaimed peace in his heart. As the season of his consolation approached, his preaching became more savory, experimental, and successful.

"In the year 1742, he was removed to the perpetual curacy of Haworth, near Bradford, in Yorkshire, to preach to a people, who, when he first went among them, were very ignorant, brutish and wicked. But very soon, by the blessing of God upon his ministry, this wilderness assumed the appearance of a fruitful field, and the desert rejoiced and blossomed like the rose.'

Thorough and deep was the work of grace in the heart of

this good man, his whole being seemed to be consecrated to his master's service. He was accustomed, at different periods in his experience, to draw up with his own hand forms of covenant with his Redeemer, in which he would re-dedicate himself to his Lord's service. The following was written. in 1744:

"Eternal and unchangeable Jehovah! Thou great Creator of heaven and earth, and adorable Lord of angels and of men! I desire, with the deepest humiliation and abasement of soul, to fall down at this time, in thine awful presence, and earnestly pray that thou wilt penetrate my heart with a suitable sense of thine unutterable and inconceivable glories! Trembling may justly take hold upon me, when I, a sinful worm, presume to lift up my head to thee- presume to appear in thy majestic presence on such an occasion as this! What is my nature or descent, my character or desert, that I should mention or desire to be one party, in a covenant, where thou, the King of kings, art the other? I blush even to mention it before thee. But, O Lord, great as is thy majesty, so also is thy mercy. If thou hold converse with any of thy creatures, thy superlatively exalted nature must stoop infinitely low. I know that through Jesus, the Son of thy love, thou condescendest to visit sinful mortals, and to allow their approach to thee, and their covenant intercourse with thee. Nay, I know the scheme and plan is entirely thine own, and that thou hast graciously sent to propose it unto us; as none, untaught by thee, could have been able to form it or inclined to embrace it, even when actually proposed.

"To thee, therefore, do I now come, invited by thy Son, and trusting in his righteousness and grace. Laying myself at thy feet with shame and confusion of face, and smiting upon my breast, saying, with the humble publican, God be merciful to me a sinner! I acknowledge, O Lord, that I have been a great transgressor. My sins have reached unto heaven, and mine iniquities have been lifted up to the skies. My base corruptions and lusts have numberless ways wrought to bring forth fruit unto death. And if thou wert extreme