no common order. The project did not answer; and the disappointment, occurring at a period when life seemed to be just expanding into bright day before him, occasioned him the deepest dejection.

Under the conflicts and darkness of this period, his faith for a while seemed almost to fail: he was "well-nigh gone;" his feet "had almost slipped." He feared that he had missed his providential way. Yet out of these very depths he cried unto the Lord; nor did he cry in vain. The Lord had mercy on him; his light and peace returned; but his bodily health yet remained unsettled and feeble; so much so, indeed, that, early in 1829, he abandoned all hope of entering the ministry, and now sought to glorify God in that sphere of life in which he believed his lot henceforward was to be cast. His spirit became tranquil, and brighter prospects appeared.

In the summer of 1828 he had previously engaged himself as assistant to Mr. Dyson, of Huddersfield; with whom he continued on terms of mutual respect and confidence for two years, and then commenced business in the same town upon his own account. Here divine Providence smiled upon him, and rewarded his industry and integrity with success.

On April 7th, 1831, he was married to Miss Jane Webb, of Huddersfield; and found in her one who was every way qualified to minister to his domestic felicity. The union was followed by as large a share of the happiness yielded by the conjugal relationship, as usually in this changing world can be realized. It was a union which, while it brought them continually nearer to each other, brought them also nearer to God.

And now Mr. Jackson, being fully settled in life, and delivered from painful uncertainty as to his providential sphere, gave himself to the duties of his new station; and also-for his love of the work of God had suffered no diminution-to the onerous but delightful labours of preaching in the villages round -Huddersfield, and watching over the spiritual welfare of a class committed to his charge. His labours were greatly blessed to many; and to show the solicitude with which he regarded young persons under the influence of religious impressions, an extract is here adduced from a note which he addressed to a young lady who was especially indebted to him as the instrument, in the hand of God, of her awakening and conversion :

"Your note of last evening gave me unfeigned pleasure; for there is nothing in the world which affords me such sincere and unalloyed gratification, next to my own salvation, as to hear that the Almighty is working upon the minds of others, and still more especially upon those of the young, who may live to be an ornament to the Christian profession, and bring much glory to God. It then becomes a very natural inquiry, How are these gracious impressions to be fostered, and conducted to their desired end; namely, the salvation of the soul? The first step to be taken is, to offer much prayer to God.

It was

aid of Saul of Tarsus,-when, having been met by his Lord on his way to Damascus, he was convicted in his conscience, and Ananias had been directed to go to him,- Behold, he prayeth.' It is, in short, a natural result, that one who is convinced of sin and guilt should seek for pardoning mercy. The next thing is to read the Scriptures carefully, attentively, and with a sincere desire to know the will of God, in order that we may do it; and here again we are to pray that God, by his Spirit, would enlighten our minds, and apply the word to our hearts. The third step is to seek for Christian advice and counsel, that we may be assisted in our progress. Now, so far as this, I think and hope, you have got: and the next thing to be done is, to join yourself to a Christian society, that you may have the prayers of the church in your behalf, and may hear how others have been brought to God; and how, when they were in your situation, they obtained deliverance. I most cordially, therefore, give you the invitation; saying, in the language of Scripture, 'Come thou with us, and we will do thee good;' and as I have been appointed the Leader to a small class, which meets at Mr. Webb's, on the Thursday evenings, at eight o'clock, I am quite sure that the other members, with myself, will be very glad to see you next Thursday; and we will endeavour to direct you in your Christian course." The note concludes with a fervent and scriptural exhortation, that his correspondent would not delay to make a believing application to "the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world."

Mr. Jackson loved his home. In the bosom of his family, his affections found at once their exercise and repose, and rested with as much intensity as is consistent with that supreme love to God which is always due from redeemed creatures. He had not, like many, to seek happiness in transient and external excitements, and a constant round of change; and hence he did not quit his Christian duties and his wife and children, except to attend to the lawful calls of business, and occasionally to recreate, by a visit to a watering-place, a tender and delicate constitution. His habitual infirm health made him serious: and although he did not frown upon those innocent and playful exercises of the mind with which the social circle is frequently revived, nor refuse to join in them; yet, whether at home or abroad, he felt that his great concern was to walk with God. During a period of somewhat threatening debility, he writes thus from Blackpool, in July, 1836:-"This prolonged affliction is intended, I believe, my dear Jane, to draw us both nearer to Himself. I have enjoyed much sweet communion with God since I got here, although it has sometimes been damped by fits of nervous depression. I pray God I may be delivered from this; for it is exceedingly painful to me, and to those about me." From London, some time after, thus:-"I have felt, in my closetduties, more comfort and more power than I ever before experienced in this distracting place; and I do ardently sing,

'Closer and closer may we cleave

To his beloved embrace.""

The extract concludes with fervent aspirations for the future welfare of his children, who were seldom forgotten in his epistolary communications with Mrs. Jackson.

About the commencement of 1837, Mr. Jackson began to be convinced that the close and incessant confinement which his business required was seriously detrimental to him, and threatened to overwhelm his remaining strength and vigour. In order to avoid this danger, he believed it to be his duty to close his retail house at Huddersfield, and avail himself of an opening which appeared in another direction. Seeking the guidance of the same divine hand which had led him all his life long, and simply wishing to promote his health, and consequently prolong his life, for the sake of his family and the church of God, he removed his abode to Leeds, and became a partner in the wholesale house of Messrs. Swain and Webbs. He connected himself, at the same time, with Oxford-place chapel, and became a most efficient Leader and Local Preacher in the Second Leeds Circuit. In the midst of a circle of Christians so long known in the annals of Methodism for their simplicity, piety, and zeal, our friend soon felt himself at home, and was happy. He entered heartily into every design of spiritual usefulness, and lent to it his aid, even while he was "not slothful in business;" thus remembering both departments of Christian duty.

It was here, in the year 1840, that the writer of these lines first became acquainted with him. His person was slender, but graceful ; his demeanour, mild and courteous; the expression of his countenance, thoughtful, but benignant. He had now acquired respectable stores of general information. Considering that he was a diligent man of business all his life, the extent to which he had read was somewhat remarkable, and his judgment had acquired a soundness which was almost beyond his years. At meetings of business he never spoke from the mere love of declamation; and did not make a demand upon the time and attention of his brethren, until he had a well-digested opinion to give, and was prepared to support it with appropriate reasons. In all churchmatters he was a man of principle: not that he was a stranger to feeling as a life and power; but he did not acknowledge it as a law. His love to Methodism was intense: he loved its Pastors, its ordinances, its sacred deposit of evangelical doctrine; and was laudably jealous of everything that might tend, in any department, to impair its spiritual efficiency. Yet his love to Methodism did not weaken his catholicity; for often, on visiting London, he took the opportunity of attending the ministrations of the Rev. Thomas Binney, and of other eminent men, both Dissenters and Clergymen ; and rejoiced in the spiritual gifts which God had given to these, as well as unto those under whose guidance his own lot had been cast.

Our dear friend experienced the early part of the year 1842 to be a season of great profit and growth in grace. He with whom are the issues of life and death had determined, in his adorable wisdom, that the pilgrim's journey should soon end,-end just as it had arrived at the middle, though He mercifully concealed the fact from Mr. Jackson's family. His class was prospering; the members were increasingly quickened with his counsels and exhortations, and perceived a richer unction of grace pervading all his Christian exercises. When not engaged to preach in the country, he was observed to assemble with his family in his pew in Oxford-place chapel, and, with the most profound and rapt attention, would engage in every part of the service, until the close; and then, on leaving that spacious place of worship, which contains the largest congregation in the Connexion, he would frequently remark, as he did once especially to the writer, how great was his solemn delight in so spending these consecrated hours. Nor was the domestic scene out of harmony with the spirit of public worship. In our friend's house "the Sabbath was a delight and honourable."

Commercial business had now for some time assumed that very anxious aspect which it has worn ever since; and whilst its anxieties led many Christian professors to relax their private duties, and their attendance on the means of grace, and in this way drew them from communion with God,-in his case they had no other effect than that of leading him to make his heavenly inheritance more sure. Thus was he found when the messenger arrived.

In the month of June, feeling himself a good deal debilitated and fatigued, he left home, accompanied by Mrs. Jackson, to pay a visit to his sister before mentioned, now residing at Arkworth. The period of a fortnight's intercourse with affectionate friends, and enjoyment of country air, and exemption from business, seemed to have a happy effect upon his health and spirits; yet his mind was chastened and serious. On the Sabbath-day he accepted an invitation to preach in the Methodist chapel of the village. His sermon was marked by a fidelity and unction which arrested and impressed the congregation. One person remarked, "If Mr. Jackson knew he had been preaching his last sermon, he could not have been more faithful." It was his last sermon. On retiring home he felt about as well as usual. He met the members of his class on the evening of Thursday, July 7th, in the usual place. He seemed in a holy and happy frame of mind, and spoke to each person with more than ordinary affection and fidelity. His now-bereaved partner, who was a member of the class, not only remembers this season as the last meeting her beloved husband attended, but as being the most profitable means of grace of the kind at which it was ever her own lot to be present.

On Friday, July 9th, Mr. Jackson complained of feeling ill; but was able to attend to business all the day. He did not reach home

till nine o'clock in the evening: he was then very ill, and continued so all night. On Saturday, however, he was better, and went to business in the afternoon, and during the evening was very cheerful and happy. On Sunday morning, at five o'clock, he was seized with strong symptoms of malignant cholera: the most efficient aid was administered, and on Monday he was considered by his medical attendant much better. He was quite recollected. In the evening, being visited by his brother-in-law, Mr. Thomas Webb, Mr. Jackson desired him to pray immediately on his entering the room. During prayer, our dear friend seemed filled with gracious consolation, and exclaimed, "God is here. He has not forgotten to be gracious." On Tuesday morning, congestion of the brain came on, which induced torpor; yet during the day he was occasionally recollected; and at seven o'clock in the evening remarked, to his anxious and sympathizing partner, "I am in the hands of Jesus, who will do all things well, both for you and for me;" and added, "You know I have taken him for my portion." As the evening advanced, he sank gradually, and peacefully fell asleep in Jesus at a quarter past ten o'clock. He was in the thirty-seventh year of his age, and has left his partner with six lovely children to mourn his loss.

His remains are interred in a family-vault of Queen-street chapel, Huddersfield. The funeral procession, on leaving Leeds, was joined by the chief office-bearers of the Leeds Second Circuit; who, to testify their respect for his character, followed the carriages till they had got beyond the town. The funeral service at Huddersfield was conducted by the author of this brief memorial, in the midst of a deeply-affected congregation of relatives and friends. "Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth, and the faithful fail from the children of men."

MEMOIR OF MR. HIRAM HARTSHORNE,

OF BROSELEY:

BY THE REV. ADAM FLETCHER.

THOSE persons whose character is marked by the evidences of experimental and practical godliness, however overlooked by "men of this world," who understand them not, are nevertheless of great worth: they are the honour of our churches, the glory of Christ, and the reprovers and instructers of men. Enriched with grace, they are blessed themselves, and made blessings to others: they live happily, and when they die, they depart peacefully, and are removed from this world of trial and discipline, that they may reap the fruit of their gracious labours in the presence of their Lord, and in the possession of endless and unspeakable joys. The savour of their spirit long survives; and the remembrance of those fruits of righteousness by which they glorified God, is che