two sermons in connexion with the ninth Anniversary of the Leeds District Auxiliary Missionary Society. He remarks on this occasion:-"O what changes since I left this circuit in 1794! Very few of my old friends remain: I did not see more than six! Ah! how soon, according to the course of things, shall I also gather up my feet, and sleep with my fathers. Mr. Baxter observes,- It is a great work to learn to die safely and comfortably, even the work of all our lives: my turn is near, and this preparation is my study. But it is the communication of life, light, and love from heaven that must make all effectual, and draw up our hearts, and make us ready; for which I daily wait on God, at the brink of the grave and door of eternity.' On the following day, Monday, Oct. 20th, he attended the Public Meeting. "Several excellent speeches were delivered; interesting statements were made; and a good Christian feeling was evident. There was a little display, and some real oratory; but perhaps too much desire in some to appear eloquent. My principal, if not only fear is, lest a false taste should be created among our young people by the flaming, figurative style of those who take a world of pains to get up speeches. At any rate, the danger is of sufficient magnitude to induce in pious minds watchfulness against the evil. If the simple character of Methodist preaching be lost, the glory will depart from us." On Sun. Dec. 8, Mr. E. preached at Clayton Heights, morning and afternoon; and at Horton at night. He had prepared for these services with great care. In the evening at Horton, five minutes before the time of commencing the service, the sermon he had prepared was completely taken from him; nor did he find a power to fix upon any other subject. "I seemed," he says, "perfectly at a stand. My soul cried to God for help. Rom. viii. 1, was brought to my mind. I have often preached on that text, but not lately: nor did I find any power to arrange a method of enlarging upon it. All I felt to encourage me was, confidence in God that he would help me. I went into the pulpit: the congregation was large. I cast myself on the Lord, and implored his aid; and he was pleased to assist me rather out of the common way. I hope some good was done. The Lord has made me deeply sensible this evening of the truth recorded 2 Cor. iii. 5. O may I feel equally my own insufficiency, and that my sufficiency is of God." "Dec. 21.-This week I have read with much spiritual profit the Life of Mr. Benson. The extracts from his Journal especially have been made useful to me. I could see the man as he really was in private with his God. Often was he discouraged, both as a Christian and a preacher. While applauded by listening thousands who heard his eloquent sermons, he often retired and humbled himself before God, under a deep sense of his defects. One thing has impressed my mind: he often observes, that had he lived nearer to God, and prayed more, he should have been more useful as a preacher. Others, who like Mr. B. have been eminent for piety, gifts, and usefulness, have made similar reflections. May I improve by their remarks. It is my desire. I often resolve; but make little out either as a Christian or a preacher. O for more of the spirit of prayer." Jan. 25, 1823, my father received a letter from my brother John, dated Baltimore, Nov. 20. Not having heard from him for thirteen months, during which time the yellow fever had made fearful ravages in Baltimore, he had felt many fears respecting him. It was a great relief, to learn that he was alive and well; and that having obtained an income which supported him comfortably, he was happily married. The following valuable advices to his son William, occur in a letter dated March 6, 1823: 66 'Let me advise you, William, to 'give yourself continually unto prayer.' In your vacant hours be much with God under the fig-tree. You will find this will turn to good account. The light and knowledge acquired in that way are of a divine character. Some eminent divines have declared that they have obtained more knowledge upon their knees in half an hour than in long study and much reading. Those preachers are generally most useful, certainly most happy in their own minds -who maintain the closest walk with God. Grotius regretted on his death-bed the time he had spent in laborious trifling, and wished he could change with J. Urick, a pious man who spent eight hours every day in meditation and prayer. My William, your father is endeavouring to do what he recommends to you." The visits of Mr. Entwisle's "old friend," the rheumatism, becoming more and more frequent and protracted, he was recommended by a medical gentleman of considerable professional skill, to spend a few weeks at Buxton, and try its celebrated waters. It is questionable whether he could have been induced to do this by the prospect of mere relief from suffering, to which he had become inured, and which he had found so salutary in its operation; but the complaint having now begun to interfere seriously with the discharge of his ministerial duties, the hope of again becoming efficient was a powerful inducement to adopt the recommendation of his friend. He therefore repaired to Buxton with Mrs. E. in the beginning of June, and spent a fortnight there. He thus expresses himself after his arrival:— "I came to this place not for the sake of retirement or pleasure, but with the sole intention, if the Lord will, to use the waters here, with a view to future labours in his vineyard. I value health and life only for the honour of God, and for the good of my family and the church. It is a cross to me to suspend my regular labours. I love my Master's work better than ever, and long to be wholly in it. If it were my Lord's will, I should like to realize what the poet expresses, 'My body with my charge lay down, However, I am in the hands of God. Let him do with Sun. June 15, Mr. E. preached at Buxton: the congregation was large and attentive: his subject was Justification by Faith. Many invalids from distant places who were in quest of health, were present; some of whom appeared to be unused to the public worship of the Methodists. “With a view to these," Mr. E. says, “I endeavoured to be as explicit as possible in explaining the subject: and being persuaded that some present had long heard our preaching, and yet were not justified, I pressed on them the necessity not only of a clear understanding of the doctrine, but also of an experimental knowledge of the truth of it. I hope some good might be done. I think particular attention ought to be paid to our watering-places, in the appointment of preachers." The Conference this year was held at Sheffield. Mr. E. was most hospitably entertained at the house of Mr. W. Staley. Two circumstances occurred to invest this Conference with peculiar interest to his mind. 1. His esteemed brother-in-law, the Rev. Henry Moore, was elected President. 2. His son Joseph was received on trial as a travelling preacher, and appointed to the Wednesbury Circuit. His heart was deeply affected with gratitude to God, that he had now two sons in the itinerant ministry. Many of the brethren," he remarks, congratulated me on the appearance of two sons on our Stations. My prayer to God for them is, that they may be examples to believers in every thing that is holy and good,and that they may make full proof of their ministry." 66 66 At this Conference Mr. E. was appointed to the Birmingham Circuit, with the Rev. Dr. Taft, and the Rev. John Bicknell as his colleagues. On Monday evening, Sept. 1st, he preached his farewell sermon at Bradford, to a large and attentive congregation, on Rom. v. 2; and on the following day "had a sorrowful parting" with his beloved daughter and her family, and with many attached friends and spiritual children. During the three years he had spent in this circuit, the Lord had been pleased to own his labours and that of his colleagues with an extraordinary degree of success. Upwards of a thousand persons had been brought to a saving knowledge of the truth; and the work of grace had been deepened in the hearts of believers. It had been a "time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord," which could not soon be forgotten. To the old and established members of the Wesleyan Society in Bradford and the neighbourhood, the names of Entwisle and Stoner are as "ointment poured forth," and their memory is precious. And yet in the review of even this prosperous period, Mr. E. felt deeply humbled before God; as will appear from the following brief entry in his journal: 66 6 Tues, Sept. 2.-Rose early; I look back on three years spent here, and cry God be merciful to me a sinner!-yet with gratitude for many, many mercies." CHAPTER XVI. FROM SEPT. 1823 TO SEPT. 1826. CIRCUIT. BIRMINGHAM On Tuesday Sept. 2, Mr. Entwisle left Bradford with feelings of deep and affectionate regret, spent that night among his relatives at Manchester, preached at Congleton on Wednesday, and on Thursday evening arrived at Birmingham, the appointed scene of his future labours. The state of religion here painfully contrasted with that he had left behind at Bradford. There was much wickedness in the town; the Methodist Society bore but a small proportion to the population of the place; piety was at a low ebb; and a spirit of disunion unhappily prevailed, which presented a formidable obstacle to the success of his ministry among them. Many causes of discouragement presented themselves to his view upon his entrance into the circuit; but believing that the Master by whom he was employed would be his helper, he would not yield to discouragement, but commenced his labours in a spirit of "calmly fervent zeal," in the full persuasion that if he were faithful, God would prosper the work of his hands. The following are his own statements on the subject, shortly after his arrival :— "I am now settled in my new circuit. I feel much on account of leaving my old friends at Bradford amongst whom I laboured with so much satisfaction and success. In the society here the tone of Christian feeling generally runs low. The population of the town is said to be about 120,000; and yet there are not 1500 in our society. In Bradford, which is so much smaller a town, there are 1100. There are, indeed, several popular Dissenting ministers here who have large congregations. How far conversion-work and the power of religion may prosper among them, I do not yet know. Religion, I fear, is in a low state in our society here: some leading |