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Jan. 26th.-At Bideford, the Rev. William Hayman, Wesleyan Minister. The whole of his ministerial career was marked by tokens of the divine approbation; but the Lord crowned the latest efforts of his servant with distinguished honour. In the sphere of his last two years' labours it was his happiness to witness an extensive revival of the work of God; and during that period, upwards of six hundred members were added to the societies in the Circuit. A paralytic affection, with which he was visited about five years before, had rendered his itinerant labours both difficult and dangerous; and he reluctantly consented, at the last Conference, to become a Supernumerary. His death was sudden; but not a doubt can be entertained by any who knew his uniforin piety, that sudden death was to him sudden glory. Thus ended the labours and life of this man of God, aged fifty-one years, twenty-eight of which were devoted to the Methodist itinerancy. He has left a deeply afflicted widow, and seven children. J. A.

Jan. 26th.-In the Sixth London Circuit, Mr. William Palmer, in the forty-third year of his age. He was brought to a saving acquaintance with the truth of God in the Thetford Circuit, under the ministry of the Rev. Josiah H. Walker, then stationed there. For upwards of twentysix years he held fast the blessings which had thus been conferred upon him; and at last, after only a fortnight's illness, died in the full triumph of faith. R. P.

Jan. 29th.-At Hallon, in the Leeds East Circuit, in the seventy-fifth year of her age, Mrs. Catharine Wade. She was one of the surviving few who were honoured with the acquaintance and friendship of the Rev. John Wesley. Sincerely attached to Methodism, she liberally supported all its institutions. She was the last descendant of the celebrated Reformer, Wickliffe; and by her mother was related to Sir Isaac Newton. The Rev. Walter Sellon was her uncle by marriage. It was her constant aim

to obey the apostolic injunction, "Distributing

Her death,

to the necessities of the saints." though to her friends sudden, had been anticipated by her for some time. Her end was peace and joy, victory and triumph. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."

W. V.

Jan. 30th.-At Aslackby, in the Bourn Circuit, Mr. Burrows, aged seventy-four, who had been thirty-six years a member of the Wesleyan society. He received his first religious impressions at Skillington, in company with his late excellent wife, a woman of sincere piety, who died in the faith about twenty years ago. He immediately endeavoured to promote the spiritual welfare of his neighbours; and opened his house for the worship of God, inviting the Preachers to come and help him. He lived to see the blessed effects of this. Many were brought to the Lord, both in his own and in the neighbouring villages; while Bourn and various other places were indebted to Aslackby for having been the means of first supplying them with the faithful ministry of the word by Wesleyan Preachers. His last affliction was painful and protracted.

The week be

fore he died, he made several inquiries about the Circuit, and expressed great pleasure, that a brighter day was dawning upon our Zion. He seemed to place a strong dependence upon the merits of Jesus, and died in peace.

J. W.

Jan. 31st.-At Ashton-under-Line, the Rev. Thomas Thompson, sen., Wesleyan Minister, after a month's illness, in the fifty-second year of his age, and the twenty-ninth of his ministry. He entered on the work of the ministry in the year 1809, and laboured with assiduity, acceptance, and considerable success, until called to his reward. For many years he had suffered considerably from asthma, and entered on his labours in Ashton in August last, in a state of health which led him to fear that his strength would prove inadequate to his work. Yet he continued to take his appointments till a severe attack of rheumatic fever confined him to his bed. He expressed strong confidence in God during the whole of his affliction; and his last words relative to his state of mind were, "I am a sinner, but a sinner saved by grace." He has left a widow and five children to lament his loss; and the loss of one so distinguished by affection and uniform kindness as a husband and a father is to them irreparable.

W. W.

Feb. 4th.-At Bath, at the house of her son-inlaw, the Rev. Robert Sherwell, Mrs. E. Harding, widow of the late Mr. Henry Harding, of Collumpton, in the seventy-first year of her age. About thirty-eight years ago she was led to attend the ministry of the Wesleyan Methodists at Halberton, and became deeply convinced of her sinful state. She immediately joined the society, and soon afterwards obtained a clear sense of sins forgiven. From the time of her conversion to God, she remained a steady and consistent member of the church of Christ, and was highly respected as a woman of strict integrity and of unshaken piety. Her friends are fully satisfied, that she was found ready for the coming of her Lord.

R. S.

Feb. 6th.-At Eglwys-fach, where she had been on a visit to her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Jones, of Bangor, in her sixty-third year. Many years ago this exemplary woman had the afflic tion to lose her husband, who was the master of a trading vessel, which must have foundered at sea, as no tidings of either were ever received. She was almost entirely left without resources, save those which existed in her own active mind; and, to her credit be it spoken, she brought up a numerous family in such a manner as to procure for her the respect and esteem of all classes. She was a member of the Wesleyan Connexion from the commencement of English preaching in Bangor, and adorned her Christian profession. She endured a severe affliction of six months. Her language in moments of peculiar suffering was, "Godliness is profitable unto all things. I can see the hand of God in this affliction; it is working for my good; my soul is ripening for glory." A little before she expired, she said, "Jesus is precious. I feel his love, and am sure of heaven."

T. B.

Feb. 6th.-At Nottingham, Ann, the beloved wife of Mr. Alderman Carey, aged fifty-one. In early life she was a subject of gracious impressions, which led her to join the Methodist society, in connexion with which she continued for four or five years, when she gradually lost her desires for spiritual good, and became ensnared by the allurements of the world. But though the enjoyment of religion was gone, the restraints of religion remained. About twelve years since, former emotions, and feelings of concern for her spirit

ual state, were revived; and her subsequent life proved the sincerity of her profession in again seeking a union with the same religious community. It was a matter of surprise to every one, that, with a mind naturally ardent and active, she could view the prospect of a state of suffering, and the termination of those sufferings, with such calm composure as she manifested at the commencement of her illness. She prepared herself to suffer and to die. In a conversation with her sister, while retaining a considerable degree of health and strength, she said, "The decree is gone forth; and I must shortly die. But all is right. I can leave my happy home, my kind, affectionate husband, and my dear, dear children, without one anxious thought." During a protracted and painful affliction she realized the consolations of religion, and exhibited the mature graces of the Christian character. Her language was that of praise and thanksgiving, until she quietly breathed her last, and entered into rest.

J. C.

Feb. 11th.-At Bosley, in the Congleton Circuit, John Holland. He was converted to God several years ago, and served God in righteousness and holiness until he was removed to a better world. He was a steady, consistent member of our society, sincerely loved our dis

cipline, was warmly attached to the Preachers, and greatly rejoiced in the prosperity of God's cause. He was a diligent Collector for our Missionary Society; a regular Teacher in the Sunday-school; a zealous Prayer-Leader; and spent much of his leisure time in visiting the sick. In his death our society at Bosley has sustained a great loss. To him death was gain.

W. D.

Feb. 14th.-At London, Mr. Joshua Taylor,

aged sixty-six, one of the Trustees of the Great Queen-street chapel, and the oldest Class-Leader belonging to the society here. He was brought to a knowledge of the truth under the ministry of the late Rev. Joseph Benson, and subsequently maintained a constant walk with God. He was a man of a sound judgment; and having studied human nature, and made himself acquainted with the word of God, which was his law in all matters, he was well qualified for the duties which he had to perform. As a ClassLeader, he taught the people to love the house of God, and the Ministers of the Gospel, whom he esteemed highly for their work's sake. In his heart was the law of kindness, which was combined with Christian fidelity, and enabled him to administer faithful reproof and friendly admonition. He was thoroughly attached to Wesleyan Methodism. On his death-bed he expressed his great delight in seeing the improved state of Methodism, in its institutions, and especially in the harmony of the Queen-street society. As death approached, he said, "All is well. That hymn which begins,

'Rock of ages, cleft for me,'

expresses my experience;" and then, as if he beheld Him who has taken away the sharpness of death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers, he said, "I am coming, I am coming" and died. J. W.

POETRY.

A HYMN.

BY MR. THOMAS PRINGLE.

WHEN morn awakes our hearts,
To pour the matin prayer;
When toil-worn day departs,

And gives a pause to care;
When those our souls love best
Kneel with us in thy fear,
To ask thy peace and rest,-

O God our Father, hear! When worldly snares without, And evil thoughts within, Stir up some impious doubt,

Or lure us back to sin; When human strength proves frail, And will but half sincere ; When faith begins to fail,

O God our Father, hear!

When in our cup of mirth
The drop of trembling falls,
And the frail props of earth

Are crumbling round our walls;
When we gaze back with grief,
And forward glance with fear;
When faileth man's relief,-

O God our Father, hear!
When on the verge we stand
Of the eternal clime,
And Death with solemn hand
Draws back the veil of Time;
When flesh and spirit quake

Before Thee to appear,―
For the Redeemer's sake,
O God our Father, hear!

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

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FOR APRIL, 1838.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. WILLIAM RADCLIFFE:

BY HIS BROTHER, THE REV. CHARLES RADCLIffe. COLLECTING a few scattered materials in order to erect an humble monument to perpetuate the memory of a dear relative has been a source of melancholy pleasure. The events of past years seem to glide in rapid review before the eye of the imagination, and the mind dwells with fond affection on every circumstance of former intercourse, and anticipates with hallowed delight that happy period when we shall meet to part no more, in that pure world of love,—

"When we in Jesu's praise shall join,

His boundless love proclaim,

And solemnize, in songs divine,

The marriage of the Lamb."

William Radcliffe was born in the parish of Andreas, in the Isle of Man, February 19th, 1775. His parents were among the first Methodists in that part of the island. His father was a Class-Leader for many years, and his mother was an eminently holy woman. Soon after she obtained the remission of her sins, she sought and obtained the blessing of entire sanctification, and lived in the enjoyment of that perfect love of God which casteth out all slavish fear, for nearly forty years. "Christ crucified" was the great theme of conversation in the domestic circle, not only on Sundays, but every day: so that, from our earliest boyhood, we knew the things of God in theory. My father's class met in the house, and the children were always present, and heard their parents and the members of the class, many of whom were deeply pious, relate their religious experience. It generally happens that, in very early life, children are more immediately under the care of their mother, while the father is engaged in the pursuit of some secular calling, to secure bread for his family. So were we constantly under the eye of a pious and excellent mother, who exerted her utmost ability to promote the spiritual welfare of her family, and of her neighbours, and of all with whom she had any intercourse. She had the happy art of recommending Jesus at every opportunity, to gentle and simple, all day long, without any breach of decorum, and without the slightest admixture of enthusiasm. She was indefatigable in visiting the sick and the afflicted. Brought up by such parents, my brother William knew the way of life from his youth, and from a child was a subject of gracious impressions. When a boy at school, during the hours allotted for recreation, he was VOL. XVII. Third Series. APRIL, 1838.

R

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