infirm state of his health, which compelled him to retire from active labour this year, forbad his attending the Conference. In this letter he says:-"Many of our old friends in this town are gone; but instead of the fathers are the children;' and though there are above four hundred and fifty preachers present, such is the supply of lodgings, that many who applied for preachers cannot obtain them. We have been favoured with much of the divine presence. I have seldom seen, in so high a degree, the spirit of unity, peace, and concord.

"I dare say your feelings must lately have been acute. There is something in retiring from the full work of a circuit like retiring from this world. Well, we have a 'good hope through grace.' Brother Gaulter, Brother Sutcliffe, and J. Hickling also 'sit down.' Few are left of those who knew Mr. Wesley. It is cheering, however, to see a succession of faithful men of different ages rising up to fill the places left vacant.

"I am looking forward to a retirement like yours, at no distant period, being now in my 70th year. In some respects my present situation suits me, especially as long walks would try me. Yet, you must be aware that a heavy responsibility and many cares are inseparably connected with the office I now sustain. Well, my soul prospers. This world is nothing to me. I only desire to be where the Lord appoints, and to do the work he assigns me.

"I trust an exemption from the cares, in these days connected with the charge of a circuit, will be favourable to your health. You will have the society of all your children, Mary excepted, at Portsmouth. Alas! I cannot look forward to similar circumstances. I have no prospect of being near any of my children when I sit down. I leave all, however, to Him whose I am, and whom I serve." The sequel will shew the wisdom of thus leaving all to the disposal of his Heavenly Father.

On his return from the Conference, he resumed his labours at the Institution with an ardent desire to promote the spiritual improvement of the students, the intensity of which was increased by the purpose he had formed to resign his office at the next Conference, on account of his growing infirmities. "My memory fails,” he remarks, "my animal spirits flag; my infirmity is

increased by anxiety; and I find that having breakfast, dinner, and tea in a crowd, is injurious several ways; yet my presence is necessary. My way, however, is clear. I am called to get good, and do good now,-always now, -leaving futurity. I feel a strong desire to be useful to the students, and a cheering hope that I shall be so.'

He was the more encouraged to entertain this hope from the good report he received from time to time respecting some of the students who had already received appointments to circuits; and their own grateful and affectionate acknowledgments of the advantages derived from his pious counsels and example. Of many such communications the following extract may be taken as a sample.

"HONOURED AND REVERED GOVERNOR,

"I COULD not allow this favourable opportunity of writing to pass, without troubling you with a line, if it be merely to express my obligations to you, for the numerous, kind, and I now more fully prove, useful advices you gave me, when I had the honour and privilege to be under your more immediate care; for I hope you do not now consider me entirely removed from your fatherly governance. I find myself placed in those circumstances which you have so often depicted—a young preacher, placed in an extensive field of usefulness, a subject of many blessings and enjoyments, and exposed to many temptations and snares. These circumstances you have passed through; and I am grateful that I have been placed in a situation where I could be advantaged by hearing those lessons which long experience and careful observation had taught you. I hope to be preserved from those snares which, it is more than probable, I should have fallen into, had I not had the benefit of preparatory instruction. Long may you live to be the useful and happy Governor of a happy and useful Institution! is the sincere prayer of one who has derived personal benefit from your example and precept."

He was also much encouraged by a manifest deepening of the work of God in the hearts of the students now under his pastoral care. Though much engaged in pursuing the prescribed course of study under their excellent Tutors, there was satisfactory evidence, that their growth in grace kept pace with their improvement in knowledge.

Special visitations from on high were vouchsafed, which Mr. E. could not but regard as tokens of the Divine ap proval of the plans and operations of his servants.

On Dec. 3, he writes,-"For some time I have observed with pleasure a deepening of the work of God in the hearts of the students. Twenty profess to have received a sense of the entire sanctification of their souls -perfect love.' I have no reason to discredit their testimony. I have met them twice expressly on the subject, and given them advices, instructions, cautions, &c."

He mentions the same subject with satisfaction in a letter to Mr. Edmondson six weeks later, after further opportunities of observing the deportment of the young men. Though but a small part of the letter relates to this subject, yet nearly the whole of it is inserted, as illustrative of his character and principles.

"MY DEAR BROTHER,

"Hoxton, Jan. 18, 1837.

"We have indeed, as you say, 'outlived many of our contemporaries.' They are gone to glory. Time appears to me to pass away with increased velocity, and eternity is here. The removal of so many old friends amongst the preachers and people, and especially the nearest and dearest relatives, greatly affects my mind; and, I think, profitably; for I am induced thereby to think almost every waking moment of the heavenly world, and am rising, I trust, in a growing meetness for the inheritance of the saints in light.

"There are two things that afford me great satisfaction in my solemn midnight hours, when looking into the eternal world. 1. My entire dependance for acceptance with God, for all spiritual blessings, and for eternal life, -is upon the great atoning sacrifice; as you and Mr. Wesley express it,

'I the chief of sinners am,
But Jesus died for me,"

2. The Holy Spirit has wrought in my heart a thorough change, insomuch that I find I can be happy, where nothing is seen or heard, but what is holy and heavenly. Nay, more, that I can conceive of nothing so desirable as the place and company and employments above, in the

presence of Christ Jesus my Lord. I give thanks unto the Father, who hath made me meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light.'

"I am now within twelve weeks of the age of man; and my infirmities put me in mind of it. I feel this severe winter very trying. A bad cough and rheumatic pain, &c. tell me loudly that this is not my rest. Is it not among the wise and gracious arrangements of divine providence, that in the decline of life, infirmities increase? Were we as healthy and vigorous at seventy, as at forty, should we not think of building tabernacles on earth?

"Aye! we used to talk of some cottage in the wilderness.' Where my cot will be I know not. I should find pleasure and profit to be near you, were it in the order of providence. I must, ere long, have a temporary dwelling somewhere, unless the Master should call for me. Dr. Bunting lately saw our old friend, James Buckley. He lives in retirement: is shrunk into an old man, comfortable in his mind, though unable to work; and wants nothing in this world to contribute to his comfort, but to be near a few of us, his surviving old friends.

"You inquire, 'How are you getting on with the Theological Institution? We have thirty-one Students, all pious;-some deeply so. For many weeks we have been favoured with an extraordinary influence of the Holy Spirit, the good fruits of which are manifest. Our young men are much blessed in their public labours. They are zealously affected in a good thing. They frequently have early prayer meetings, before the time of being in their studies, which is six o'clock. I assure you, my dear friend, I do all I can to make them hardy, zealous Methodist Preachers. I often tell them of our case at Colne, our scanty board-money, &c. I think it proper for those who enter into our labours, to be informed of what we have endured in former days. * * * * * * "I am, my dear friend and brother,

"Yours affectionately,
"JOSEPH ENTWISLE."

It may not be improper here to introduce an extract from a letter written by the Rev. John Hunt, Missionary to Fiji, upon receiving the mournful tidings of Mr. En

twisle's death. The following paragraphs refer to the period now under review.

"I have always considered it one of the greatest blessings of my life, that I was favoured with a residence in the Institution. I do not now refer to the advantages I there enjoyed in a literary point of view; though for these I trust I am truly thankful; but I am especially thankful for the religious privileges of the Institution; and these were directly connected, not so much with what was taught, as with the men who taught us. It is impossible to describe the anxiety manifested by your late honoured father for the spiritual welfare of those under his care.

"In the year 1836-7, the Lord favoured the Institution with a remarkable outpouring of his Holy Spirit. Many of the students obtained the blessing of perfect love; and a serious and devout spirit was more manifest in all, than it had been for several months previous to this blessed visitation.

"This revival was hailed by your dear father with unspeakable delight. The five o'clock band-meetings and prayer-meetings, Friday fasting, visiting the poor and ignorant in their dwellings, and other things which were the fruits of this revival, were exactly what he wished to see in the Institution.

"These things were the more pleasing to our honoured Governor, as he had been for some time greatly exercised about the spiritual state of the young men; and I have no doubt, the blessing came in answer to prayers offered in this distressed state of mind.

"It was a principle with him, that nothing but entire devotedness to God fits a young man for the ministry. Entire holiness, in his opinion, was as necessary for those who wish to live well, as for those who wish to die well; and no attainments were with him to be compared to this. The death of such a man is a real loss to the world."

Mr. Entwisle had now reached "the age of man," as he often expressed himself in allusion to Psalm xc. 10. The circumstances under which he closed his seventieth year, were calculated solemnly to affect his mind. On the evening of April 14th, the last day of his seventieth year, he took tea at Brunswick Place, at the house of his