the world; and when they are just about going out of it, they bethink themselves, and step back, as it were, to do something which they had all the while forgot; namely, the main business for which they came into the world, to repent of their sins, and reform their lives, and make their peace with God, and in time to prepare for eternity."

FOR OUT-OF-DOOR PREACHERS. (From Wolverhampton.)

BESEECH the Divine blessing upon all who go out into "the highways and

hedges." Last Sunday night, a wanderer heard the truth, followed it up, and in three quarters of an hour, after earnest pleading, found acceptance. Again, last night, a stranger was picked up in the street, induced to stroll, taken into the house where the pleading in the previous case had been heard, was stirred up to a feeling that on that night Christ might be knocking at the door of his heart for the last time, when he spontaneously fell upon his knees; earnest prayer followed; and in about the same time he rose a child of God. Praise the Lord! Halle

lujah!

MAY 10th, 1855, at Alhampton, near Castle-Carey, BETTY BARNES, an aged pilgrim to Zion. When yet in youth, she was made the partaker of Divine grace. But, in passing through the chequered scenes of life, she lost her hold of her heavenly Guide, and, for a season, wandered out of the way. In this state she could not rest, and for many years before she closed her lengthened pilgrimage, she had returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of souls. In His fold, and beneath His care, she spent the rest of her time. At the beginning of this year her aged partner was summoned away, not without hope that in his last affliction he had found mercy of the Lord; prayer having been made oft with him and for him. In advanced age, and when no longer able to direct her steps to the house of God, Betty was often subject to saddening depression; but in hope she believed against hope, and waited for God. When her last affliction came, there came also grace in the time of need; and in the midst of considerable and protracted suffering, she was delightfully resigned and happy. Christ was precious. The fear that hath torment had fled.

MAY 13th, at Ditcheat, in the CastleCarey Circuit, MRS. SARAH KNIGHT, relict of James Knight, Esq., surgeon, of CastleCarey, in the seventy-first year of her age. At the commencement of her widowhood she retired to the village of Ditcheat to

Her

reside with a pious friend, where she became an attendant on the Methodist ministry, with which the village has been favoured from the days of our Founder. "Faith cometh by hearing." Mrs. Knight's attendance on the ministry of the word, through the Divine blessing, resulted in decisive piety. She "first gave her own self to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God." Her appreciation of the advantages arising from an union with "the church of the living God" she showed by a punctual attendance on the means of grace, to which it entitled her. labours of love were silent, and her welldoing unostentatious; but she did not forget to visit the Saviour in His suffering and afflicted members. Nor ought this brief record of one who sleeps in Jesus to be without mention of the high and affectionate esteem in which she held those who were over her in the Lord, regarding them as the ambassadors of Christ,stewards of the mysteries of God. During the special services held in the village,-according to the appointment of the Conference, at the beginning of the year 1855, notwithstanding the severely inclement weather which prevailed at the time, she was present every evening of the series; and it is believed that she experienced at that time a renewed effusion of the Spirit of holiness. It was by a rapid process that the Divine Architect saw fit to bring to dissolution the earthly house of her tabernacle. But the spirit, calm

and serene, as in the pavilion of the Divine presence, was kept in perfect peace. During the brief period of her affliction, scarcely a fortnight, her prostration was extreme; so that she had hardly strength to articulate distinctly; yet her mental faculties, assisted doubtless by Divine grace, were clear and undisturbed.

NEAR Bromyard, in the Hereford Circuit, June 4th, MR. JAMES WOOD, in the seventieth year of his age. He joined the Methodist church in early life, for upwards of fifty years was a zealous Local Preacher, and for many years a Class-Leader and Trustee. Simple in manner, and earnest in spirit, he gained the love and esteem of those who knew him. His house was long a house for preaching and the Preachers' home, and his attachment to Methodism was firm and unflinching. During his last illness he was anxious to leave a good testimony behind him, that his final hour might bring glory to his God. On the day before he died, being Sunday, the Superintendent Minister went to see him. Ho had not spoken for two days previously; but when the Minister entered, he recognised him his countenance was lighted up with a smile; and, mustering all his remaining strength, he uttered, "I am very happy." The Minister then asked if he should pray with him: he said, "Yes." These were the last words he spoke. The next morning his happy spirit

"Took its last triumphant flight

From Calvary's to Zion's height."

On the 26th of the same month, MR. JOHN BUCHANNAN, of Annahilla, in the Aughnacloy Circuit, county of Tyrone. He lived after the course of this vain and sinful world, following the propensities of a degenerate heart, until he had passed his twentieth year. He was, however, graciously saved from those gross immoralities into which many young persons at that time, and in his own neighbourhood, recklessly plunged. At this critical period of his life, he was arrested by the warnings and invitations of a truly Christian matron; and through her instrumentality he was induced to attend the ministrations of the word of life. He very soon gave evidence that he was a con

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vinced and contrite sinner; nor was it long until he was enabled to exercise that faith in the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the trust of the heart-broken and contrite. The immediate result was joy and peace in believing. As the Wesleyan was the church of his vows and consecration, he said, and fully acted upon the saying, "This people shall be my people, and their God my God;" for he believed that the ordinances and institutions of Methodism were sufficient for instruction in righteousness, and for the growth and development of all our spiritual powers. Where Christian principle was concerned, he was firm as a rock. The value he placed on the sacred Scriptures was evidenced by his daily reading, not in a desultory, but in a consecutive, manner; nor could the demands of business, however urgent, divert him from this his favourite employment. He also read with great care and high appreciation our periodical and standard works. In the sanctification of the Lord's day, he was a striking example: anything bordering on its profanation grieved his spirit, and called forth immediate reproof. He attended to the command, and found the promise true, as given by our Lord in Matt. vi. 6. In the closet he wrestled and prevailed: here in communings with God he sought for the grace and wisdom necessary for the duties of a Class-Leader, an office which he long and usefully filled. In his temporal affairs nothing ambiguous or doubtful ever appeared. He was valued even by the irreligious for his integrity and uprightness. He practised self-denial, and thus recommended the scriptural and salutary course of keeping his body under, and bringing it into subjection, that so in all things God might be glorified. To his house he welcomed the Ministers of the Gospel, esteeming them very highly in love for their work's sake. His contributions for the support and extension of the work of God at home and abroad, were given with regularity and cheerfulness. In his relation of husband and father, his conduct was at all times most exemplary. The family-group collected by his desire just a fortnight before his dissolution, proved the deep concern he felt for those so dear to him; the wife of his youth, the sharer of his joys and

sorrows, sons, daughters, and daughtersin-law, all of whom (as well) belonged to the household of faith. Having signified to them his persuasion that his end was drawing near, he instructed them in the management of their temporal affairs, and urged them to cleave to the Lord. He requested his sons to pray, and prayed himself with more than wonted power and enlargement. He then read the hymn beginning,

"When I can read my title clear;" adding, "This hymn fully expresses the language of my heart." Soon after his remaining strength gave way; and now the passive graces were called forth. Nor was anything more conspicuous at this trying time than his humility, and love for prayer. His eldest daughter mentioned, as cause for encouragement, the long time he had spent in the service of his Divine

Master. He said, in reply, "On that I place no dependence. I have nothing to boast of; nothing to spare." She then said, "Would the saying of Mr. Wesley suit you,

'I the chief of sinners am,

But Jesus died for me.""

He at once, with considerable emphasis, responded, "That will do; that will do: none for me but Christ." Thus was this servant of God found when he heard and obeyed the summons, and his redeemed and purified spirit passed to the realms of eternal bliss, to be for ever with the Lord. He was preceded but a few short weeks to the heavenly paradise by two of his grandchildren, who had given unmistakable evidence of a genuine work of grace, in their early conversion to God, and ripeness for the enjoyments and employments of heaven.