reliance upon the Atonement, so that his mind was kept in "perfect peace," and not unfrequently his cup of holy joy was full to overflowing. "Several times," he says, June 5, "my soul has been exceedingly filled with consolation, especially in the night season, even in my sleep. One night, in my sleep, the whole of the 67th Psalm was opened to my understanding in a most delightful way. The bearing of the spiritual prosperity of individual Christians and of the Christian church collectively, upon the conversion of the world, passed before my mind in a manner which I cannot describe. O how I was comforted and encouraged." On earth, however, there is no unmixed cup of bliss; in his most favoured seasons, the believer finds something to keep him in mind that this is not his rest, that he is still in the wilderness, though Canaan is in prospect, and its joys already anticipated. So my dear father immediately adds:

"I have had this week an unusual sense of mental feebleness. I cannot read and study to my satisfaction. Once or twice I have been led to consider that my work, in public at least, is nearly finished; and I grow so dull of hearing, that it is irksome to me to meet a class; and in conversation I am under the necessity of asking again and again what is said. Well, my times are in thy hands,' O Lord. Do with me as seemeth good in thy sight; only be with me. When my strength and my heart shall fail, be thou the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Amen."

The

Having learned that his venerable friend, Mrs. Agar, was dangerously ill, he hastened to York on the 14th of June, to see her. "On my arrival," he writes, "I found she was gone to her eternal rest; she had died in great peace early in the morning. All her children were about her, when she departed this life. She had been a consistent member of our society sixty years. Mr. Agar, now turned eighty, bears his loss like a Christian. family and preachers request me to preach her funeral sermon, on Monday, to which I have consented, if God will. Mrs. Irving, of Bristol, died last week-a Christian indeed. And Theophilus Lessey has finished his course. How mysterious are the ways of God. He, a man of extraordinary ministerial abilities. about fifty years of age, taken away in the midst of his usefulness.

And I, who can do little for the glory of God and the benefit of man, am still spared on earth. O may I live to God alone, and be habitually ready and waiting for his coming: and

'O may I triumph so,

When all my warfare 's past;
And dying, find my latest foe
Under my feet at last.'"

On the following Friday, on his way to Wighill, a village two miles from Tadcaster, he was overtaken by a thunder-storm and heavy rain. He took so severe a cold that he was unable to fulfil his appointment at Aberford, on Sunday, and it seemed doubtful whether he would be equal to his work on Monday night.

Two days' rest and nursing having somewhat relieved him, Mr. E. ventured to York on Monday, June 21st. The Chapel in New street was crowded out of respect to Mrs. Agar, who was highly esteemed by all her Christian friends, including many who were not connected with Methodism. He remarks, "I felt physically and men tally inadequate to the task; however, I cast my burden on the Lord, and he sustained me. I was favoured with assistance out of the ordinary way. When speaking of the society in heaven, and of their employments and enjoyments, my views were enlarged, and every thing of which I spoke seemed to be present. I felt unutterable things."

On the 24th of June, my dear father rode in his gig, accompanied by Mr. Elsworth, of Tadcaster, to Cawood, in the Selby Circuit, eight miles distant from his own residence, to attend a Missionary Meeting. The ride seemed to refresh him, and he much enjoyed the meeting; but on his return, in getting out of the gig, his left side gave way, and he fell against the wheel twice.

He

came into our house, and after sitting for some time, was able to walk home, though with some difficulty. On retiring to bed, he fell against the chair twice on rising from his knees; and his left side was so feeble that it was a considerable time before he could get to bed. But his mind was calmly stayed upon God, and kept in perfect peace. He lay awake much of the night, but "felt himself safe" in the hands of the Lord, and was enabled to say, "Mould as thou wilt thy passive clay." He

regarded this affection of his left side, as the effect of a slight attack of paralysis, and thought it might probably be the precursor of another. But his submissive language was, "Well, it is the Lord. My times are in thy hands, O Lord.' I have few ties to earth. My public work, it is probable, is nearly over. I deeply feel the necessity of setting my house in order in all respects. My worldly affairs are settled; my soul is happy in God. I have a good hope through grace.' Glory be to God." On the following Sabbath, he was so much better, that he thought he might venture to preach at Tadcaster in the evening, as no suitable supply of his lack of service presented itself. "It appears to me,” he remarks, "that I shall be in the path of duty in taking the pulpit. I rely on divine aid. I would not be presumptuous or imprudent; yet I am justified in my resolution once more to preach Jesus, the friend of sinners, and My gracious, condescending, faithful, and unchangeable Friend. In him do I trust."

He was graciously assisted in preaching, and sustained no injury. In his journal he briefly but gratefully records the goodness of God, and in the true spirit of a faithful minister of the Lord Jesus Christ, adds:—

"Happy if with my latest breath,
I may but gasp his name,
Preach him to all, and cry in death,
Behold, behold the Lamb."

The next day, the Quarterly Meeting was held: he took a lively interest in the affairs of the circuit, and had always attended these meetings; but on this occasion he deemed it prudent to remain quietly at home. He notes the circumstance in his diary, adding:—“Feeble and faint in body, but happy in my God and Saviour."

In writing to Mrs. Taylor, after alluding to his late seizure and giving a brief account of its nature, he says, "This morning I have received the plan for preaching during the Conference. I am pleased that I have no appointment. I should very much like to see my brethren once more. It is the fifty-fifth Conference since I first attended in Manchester, in 1787, and I have been absent only five times. It is very doubtful, however, whether it would be prudent for me to go this year. I have no business to do. Were it not at Manchester, I

should decide at once to remain at home. I will write again. I live in the will of God. He will do with me what is right, and what is best. Goodness and mercy

have followed me hitherto, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Sometimes the prospect of a protracted life of physical and mental disability for usefulness, is presented to my mind as a probable thing. This, however, I can leave. I firmly believe that the very hairs of my head are all numbered.' 'The best of all is, God is with us.""

It will excite no surprise that such a gloomy prospect should occasionally be presented to his mind, when it is considered that his eldest brother, whose case has already been recorded, was a helpless paralytic for two years before his death, and that his first seizure was of much the same character as his own. Neither will it be a matter of surprise that such a prospect should sometimes produce feelings of depression. That this depression was by no means the result of any thing contrary to perfect resignation to the divine will, is apparent from the following extracts from his journal :—

66

Thurs. July 1.-Much improved on my left side. Were it the divine will, I could wish that while I live, I may have ability to do something for the glory of God and the benefit of man. When I think of being a helpless paralytic, my language is, ‘O Lord, let this cup pass from me. Yet I can say, 'Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.' Only be thou with me, O Lord, in the fire and in the water. A consciousness of unworthiness might justly discourage me, were it not for the merciful plan, and the blood of the Covenant. The 189th hymn expresses my present views and feelings,—the whole hymn, and especially verse 6:

'Fix'd on this ground will I remain,

Though my heart fail, and flesh decay;

This anchor shall my soul sustain,

When earth's foundations melt away;
Mercy's full power I then shall prove,
Lov'd with an everlasting love.""

Four days after, the doleful tidings arrived of the sudden death of Mr. William Dawson, for whom my father entertained a high respect. He was accustomed to note down all such solemn events, and it could not be that

under existing circumstances he should omit the mention of this. Having quoted Mr. Dawson's last words,

"And publish with our latest breath,
Thy love nnd guardian care,"

he adds, "So ended the life of one of the most popular and useful Local Preachers in our Connexion. He had a good report of all men; for above forty years he adorned the Gospel, and preached it with uncommon success. My mind is deeply affected. The church and the world have sustained a heavy loss. To me, who am several years older than he was, it is a loud call to be also ready. O Lord, 'in death remember me." Amen."

As the Conference drew near, he continued to improve, and regained such a degree of vigour, that his medical friend thought he might safely go; and indeed that the change of air and scene might even be beneficial, provided he did not sit too long at once in Conference, and that he avoided excitement and fatigue.

Accordingly he proceeded by railway in company with the Revds. Dr. Newton and Messrs. Cusworth and Hanwell to Manchester, where he was kindly received by Mr. and Mrs. Chappell and family, at whose house he was most hospitably and affectionately entertained during this Conference,-the fiftieth and last he attended.

The following brief extracts from a pretty copious journal, written during this Conference, some of which serve to illustrate his character, will not be unacceptable to his numerous friends.

66

Sat. July 24.-It is fifty-four years since I was called into the ministry by Mr. Wesley, and by his permission attended the Conference in my native town. Hitherto hath the Lord preserved and helped me. Glory be to his holy name! O may the short remnant of my days be consecrated to the service of my God and SaviAmen.

our.

"July 26.-Formerly I was actively engaged in the business of the Conference: now, the reverse. The love of my brethren, and a desire to cast in my mite of inflence to prevent evil about the gown, induced me to come, especially as it is my native place. I am satisfied that I did right; and I thank God, that there is a prospect of peace and harmony.