"Rapidly approaching towards seventy-three," he writes on Nov. 30, "the time of my departure cannot be far distant. O may I be fully ready. I am endeavouring, in all respects, to set my house in order.' In pursuance of this design, I am looking over all my manuscripts, letters, &c. of which I have great abundance. This induces associations which I trust will tend to wean me from this world, and raise the tone of heavenly-mindedness in me. I meet with letters from many of the fathers, such as Mr. Wesley, Mather, Pawson, Hanby, Bardsley, Thos. Taylor, Benson, Bradburn, Dr. Coke, and others besides many of my co-evals and juniors among the preachers. Most of them have fallen asleep. A few remain. O may I live for eternity." There was much in the locality in which he now resided that tended to deepen these solemn and gracious feelings: there was scarcely a town or village for miles around which had not been the scene of his early labours, and which was not associated with some pleasing and profitable recollections. In most of them, the greater number of his former friends had fallen asleep in Jesus; but in many he rejoiced to find that "instead of the fathers were the children," and not a few of these were in point of age and personal appearance so much like what their parents had been forty years before, that when the reins were given for a moment to imagination, he could easily transport himself back to an earlier age, and almost persuade himself that old scenes were again passing before his eyes. Here and there he found a venerable friend, still remaining, the relic of a former generation, with whom he had taken sweet counsel many years before, and whom he rejoiced to find still holding on his way, ripe for heaven, and rejoicing in hope of glory. He records an instance within a few days of the last date. “Wed. 20.—Preached at Marston; the house was crowded; the people attentive; the Lord graciously present. William Kay, in whose house I preached, is eightysix years old. He stands as erect as a young man: he has no pain; his appetite is good; he sleeps well, and is in as good health as ever he was in his life; but, what is still better, he is happy in God. Sixty-two years ago, he found peace with God through believing, and joined the Methodist Society. Since that time he has retained his confidence in God; and according to the testimony of others has adorned the gospel of God our Saviour. His aged wife, his three sons, his daughter, and the wife of his married son, all appear to be Christians indeed. Forty years ago, I preached here in my turn when in the York Circuit. Interesting associations took place in my mind, producing gratitude for innumerable mercies, and humiliation before God." The venerable man referred to in the preceding extract continued to adorn the Christian profession until he had completed his eighty-eighth year, and after a gradual decay and a short illness, he sweetly fell asleep in Jesus, Jan. 22, 1842, about two months after the decease of the subject of this memoir, and rejoined him in the skies. At this time Mr. Entwisle generally preached twice on the Lord's day, and often two or three times a week besides; and with a degree of energy often exceeding that of his earlier years, so that many of his hearers imagined his physical strength to be much greater than it really was; but while they were congratulating him upon almost undiminished vigour, his own consciousness told him, that his natural force 66 was abated," and that the period of his active labour was fast drawing towards its close. Thus he writes on Jan. 20, 1840 : 66 66 I had additional proof yesterday that nature is decaying, and that increasing bodily infirmities affect my head and enfeeble my mental faculties. My memory fails, my perceptions are indistinct, my thoughts confused, my energy diminished. In a word, I feel like an invalid; and think very probably that if spared another year, the winter will lay me up. The subjects on which I addressed the people yesterday have for many years been familiar to my mind; and yet I seemed sometimes almost bewildered, though my heart was affected, and my desire to do the people good intense. I had a broken night, and to day I feel like a very old man. "My mind is solemnly impressed while I record these things, but not uncomfortable. A deep sense that I am an unprofitable servant humbles me in the dust before God. Still I have confidence in him as my God in Christ. In him will I trust. He will not leave me nor forsake me. O the riches of divine grace!" During the spring of this year, his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Wm. Entwisle, to whom he was strongly and affectionately attached, was married to the late Rev. Joseph Taylor. He makes the following record on the occasion. Wed. April 8.-My dear Mary Entwisle, after being a widow nearly nine years, was married this morning in the parish church at Sheffield to the Rev. Joseph Taylor, a holy man, and useful preacher. I trust it will be for their mutual comfort. I most heartily approve of her marriage, yet I seem to have lost a limb. Well, my God liveth; he is with me, and, I trust, will be with me to the end." On his birth-day this year, after taking his accustomed annual retrospect, he thus expresses himself : - "April 15.-At three o'clock this morning I entered upon my seventy fourth year. How soon shall I bring my years to an end, as a tale that is told! Hitherto I have been the care of divine providence from my very birth. I was preserved from gross sins in the slippery paths of youth, early brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, and to the enjoyment of pardoning, adopting, and renewing grace. At sixteen years of age I began to preach the gospel, and have been employed in that work now above fifty-seven years. I trust the Lord will be with me to the end. “On a review, I am deeply humbled before the Lord under a sense of comparative unprofitableness. I perceive so many defects in my conduct, so many omissions in my endeavours to get and do good, that I may say, It is of the Lord's mercies that I am not consumed, because his compassions fail not.' Were it not that I have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, I should sink in deep discouragement. I the chief of sinners am, but Jesus died for me.' HERE MY SOUL FINDS REST. I feel myself to be laid under infinite and eternal obligations to the Father of mercies. "I cannot reckon on a protracted stay here. My general health is better than that of most of my age, yet I feel every day that I am an old man. The outward I man decays. O may the inner man be renewed day by day. I have a strong desire to live to God alone. have confidence in him as my God, and my Father; and am persuaded that he will never leave me nor forsake me. I endeavour to make death familiar to my mind. I often sing the verses, I the good fight have fought,' &c. I am not anxious about a triumphant exit: I desire not display in death: my concern is to die well. 'Jesus, in death remember me.' Now, O God of all grace and mercy, receive me under thy special care, and protection, and blessing. During this last stage of life, be thou my guide even unto death, and my portion for ever. Amen." During the following month, he visited the Rev. Jos. Taylor, and other friends at Manchester, Mrs. Hill, of Liverpool, and Mr. and Mrs. Agar, of York, where he also attended the District Meeting and preached; and on his return home, assisted in holding Missionary Meetings at Tadcaster, Keswick, and Wighill. These excursions were alike pleasurable and profitable, and contributed not a little to the preservation of his health. Still he found travelling and company to become increasingly inconvenient, and preaching in large chapels followed by new and unpleasant symptoms. After recording some of these feelings, he remarks, "I must submit, I believe, to do less in public, than I have done of late;" but adds with his usual sweet submission, "Me, if thy grace vouchsafe to use, As the Conference approached, a class of feelings arose in his breast, familiar to a Wesleyan minister, but which no other person can so well understand; and some which are peculiar to those who have retired from active labour, which he thus describes : "As an old Methodist preacher, perhaps, I am inclined to be fidgetty at this time of the year. Accustomed to changes for above half a century, a habit has been induced tending to create certain feelings which unsettle the mind. When about to leave a circuit, I was wont to examine and review my conduct, and to humble myself before God under a sense of unprofitableness. When entering upon a new circuit, I renewed former resolutions to get and do good, formed plans of more extensive usefulness, &c. Now, all this is over. It is probable I shall be stationary here till I exchange worlds. O Lord, pre pare me for that last change. O let me finish well. And Whensoe'er I hence depart, let me depart in peace.' Mr. E. as usual attended the Conference, which for the first time was held at Newcastle-upon-Tyne this year. He was kindly entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Bargate and family, whose respectful and affectionate hospitalities he gratefully records in his journal. The change of air and scene, his intercourse with his brethren, who became more and more endeared to him, as the circle of his personal friendship was narrowed by death, and the gracious influence that attended the various religious services of the Conference, greatly refreshed him in spirit, and even gave additional vigour to his body. After the Conference he visited Richard Walker, Esq., at Stockton, in compliance with a kind invitation to spend a fortnight with him and his family by the sea-side at Seaton. The fine sea-breezes contributed still more to invigorate his frame, while the fellowship he held with a number of Christian friends whom he met at Seaton, Stockton, Yarm, and Stokesley, filled him with joy in the Holy Ghost. During his visit to the north, Mr. E. was treated with such marked respect and affection both by ministers and people as greatly affected him; but how far this was from exalting him above measure, or producing in his mind any thing like self-complacency, will be apparent from the following extract, which will shew how habitually he endeavoured to make every thing subservient to the glory of God. "Such evidences of Christian love I have seldom witnessed. This is chiefly owing to my personal acquaintance with Mr. Wesley. This circumstance seems to create respect and reverence in the minds of many. I will not embezzle this talent, nor hide it in a napkin, but endeavour to improve it to the glory of God and the benefit of man. How often do little circumstances make a man popular. When I began to preach in 1783, under sixteen years of age, I was popular at Altrincham, Sale, Middleton, Oldham, Stockport, New Mills, &c. as the lad from Manchester.' Now, in my old age, I am popular in some places, as one acquainted with Mr. Wesley. Twenty-five years after I began to preach, I met with individuals in the Manchester Circuit, who were pillars |