a party was coming along the river-bank in pursuit of him, and his friends entreated him to betake himself to flight without loss of a moment. But he refused to run the risk of being hunted down, and chose rather to face the pursuers, "to let them see," said he, "that He who protects is greater than they that persecute." It happened, however, that the soldiers did not know him; and, not suspecting him to be present in a company of persons whom they met travelling with apparent unconcern in the direction of Alexandria, inquired of the travellers whether they had seen Athanasius. "We have seen him," said one, "just hereabouts! He cannot be far off." The pursuers quickened their pace in hope of overtaking the troubler of paganism, while he also quickened his in the opposite direction, returned to his home, and there remained in secret for a few months; until Julian went to fight the Persians, received his death-wound, and, as he lay on the field, filled his hand with the streaming blood, and flung it towards heaven, uttering that memorable cry, “O Galilean, Thou hast conquered!"

Soon as the last breath escaped, the generals consulted as to whom they should elect for Emperor. Among the impatient legions the name of Jovian was taken up, and rose into acclamation. Jovian was only First of the Domestics, but a favourite of the soldiers; and, to his own amazement, he found himself made Emperor in a moment. Jovian was a Christian. He has been accused of cowardice in submitting to an ignominious peace with Sapor the Persian; but, however that may have been, the issue of events was most favourable to Christianity. He was quickly surrounded by the representatives of Arianism, and by those of Catholic Christianity, soliciting favour; and, without hesitation, he preferred the latter.

Ten years of life remained to Athanasius. They were less eventful than any preceding period. Jovian, who lived but eight months after his accession to the empire, used such vigorous diligence to restore the Catholic clergy to their churches, resisting the efforts both of the Arians and the Pagans to divert him from his purpose, that in that short space of time a complete revolution was effected. Athanasius was summoned to his presence, and contributed by wise counsels to render the restoration of Christianity permanent. Valentinian, successor of Jovian, continued the good work; but Valens, whom he associated with himself as Emperor of the East, was an Arian, and therefore a bitter enemy of Athanasius. An edict from Valens required Athanasius to quit Alexandria again; but the officer who came to execute the sentence found that the inhabitants of the city were so determined to defend their aged Bishop and benefactor, that an insurrection would be the instant consequence of any act of force or authority, and was compelled to desist. Athanasius, however, then perhaps about seventy-five years of age, secretly left his house, and hid himself for about four months in his father's tomb, until it became necessary

for Valens to desire him to return, in order to appease the indignation and impatience of the people. From this time there appears to have been little to disturb his quiet; and, after having sustained the burden of the bishopric during forty-six years, and fought the battle of the truth as few have done, he fell asleep.

There is not any record of the circumstances of his death; but his course was the constant confession of a faith stronger than the heaviest stress of persecution, or the dearest hope of life. He could never be convicted of conduct inconsistent with the character of a minister of Christ. Perhaps he may have been too much disposed towards asceticism; but even that was but the excess of the very virtue which enabled him to endure hardness as a good soldier. Even the great historian Gibbon, whose one defect is contempt of vital Christianity, has recorded an eulogium of Athanasius which may kindle a blush on the cheeks of some unkind though reverend critics of this champion of the truth of Christ.

R.

MEMOIR OF MR. THOMAS COX,

OF TIPTON:

BY HIS SON, THE REV. J. G. COX.

(Concluded from page 496.)

HAVING been converted to God by the instrumentality of Wesleyan Methodism, and realizing in its ordinances all that was requisite for his spiritual growth, and finding in its varied aggressive operations ample scope for active exertion, my father became strongly and steadfastly attached to this the church of his choice. He made himself familiar with its polity, institutions, and working, and was thereby confirmed in his attachment to it. "He was," says Mr. Prest, "a decided Methodist, but not a narrow sectarian. He had true catholic sympathies, combined with a consistent denominational preference. He knew, and acted upon the knowledge, that, however others might have been blessed by the Christian labours of other churches, as the instrument of his salvation, Methodism was the best thing for himself, and that it was well adapted to produce similar effects upon the hearts and lives of others." "When I became acquainted with your father," writes the Rev. W. Williams, he had arrived at mature age, and was in the full enjoyment of life and all its powers. I found him to be possessed of gifts well fitting him to lead his fellow-men; and the success with which he had achieved his social position, and his position in the church, proved that he had used these gifts with earnestness and perseverance. But he had a deep sense of his own deficiencies, and a willing deference to the opinions of

others, combined, however, with a power of making others think as he himself did. This persuasive influence, along with his open countenance and earnest manner, made him, under the Divine blessing, a successful leader, or a most useful ally, in carrying out the projects of the church, as well as a successful advocate for Christ, both in the pulpit and out of it. I admired his humility, his power with God in prayer, his readiness to support a good cause, and his Christian liberality."

Mr. Williams also mentions "the largeness and comprehensiveness of his Wesleyan views and sympathies. He supported all its institutions, so that it is not easy to say which of these had his warmest regard. An inscription in a copy of the volume, which was presented to him at the Centenary celebration, and signed by the Rev. Thomas Hardy, shows in what various modes lay agency is called forth by Wesleyan Methodism. "On this first Centenary of Wesleyan Methodism, Mr. Thomas Cox is one of the Stewards of the Dudley Circuit, a Local preacher and Class-leader, Tract-distributer and Prayer-leader, Treasurer of Tipton Missionary, Tract, and Centenary Funds, one of Tipton Chapel Stewards, and Trustee of ten chapels." The duties of all these offices were discharged with ability and fidelity, and every sacrifice which they imposed was cheerfully made.

Sunday-schools engaged his latest as well as his earliest efforts. Soon after his conversion, he took part in the establishment of a Sunday-school in a neglected village some miles distant from his residence. To this labour of love he devoted every alternate Lord's day, taking with him his mid-day meal, and not unfrequently wading through water to reach the place. In the decline of life he became the Superintendent of the Tipton Sunday-school, which had been for some time in an extremely depressed state. God was pleased, through his assiduous and judicious efforts, to raise it, both as to attendance and efficiency, to unprecedented prosperity.

For many years he took a leading part in the management of the Wesleyan Trust-property at Tipton. A noble and successful movement for the liquidation of the entire debt upon the Trust-property, by which the chapel, Minister's house, and school-buildings were freed from all pecuniary encumbrance, gave him unspeakable satisfaction.

For nearly forty years my father led a large and prosperous class. The writer for several years attended it, and well remembers how punctual was the leader's attendance, how deep his solicitude for the welfare of his members, what fervour, without boisterousness, he threw into the service. His counsels were pertinent and earnest. Without wounding the feelings of the poorest member, and without impairing the spiritual tone of the service, he faithfully attended to the financial duties of his office. The poor and afflicted members he visited and consoled at their own abodes.

His labours as a Local preacher were still more important and useful. Besides punctually fulfilling every ordinary appointment, he was ever ready to aid in the open-air service, or in efforts to introduce Methodism into fresh places. His preaching was free from affectation and from coarseness, from ambitious attempts at a style of address not adapted to his habits of thought, or to immediate usefulness. His manner was natural, manly, and impressive; his topics were the grand and saving truths of Christianity; his language, plain and forcible. In his best days he seldom conducted a Sunday-night service without visible results. As many as fifteen souls, at one of those services, professed to obtain salvation; and the writer gratefully remembers seasons when the power of God has been signally felt in connexion with his faithful discourses and fervent prayers.

After his appointment to offices which gave him a seat in the Circuit Quarterly Meeting, he felt it his duty to attend with regularity, and to take an active part in Circuit business. During the Superintend ency of the Rev. Thomas Stanley, at one of the Quarterly Meetings, without any previous notice of such intention, and in the midst of the despatch of business, the Circuit-stewards resigned their office. My father was requested by Mr. Stanley and the meeting to fill the vacated office; and for many years, at different times, he discharged its duties with his usual sagacity and assiduity. While his position as Circuit Steward afforded him seasons of holy enjoyment and opportunities of enlarged usefulness, it also subjected him to severe trials. The Dudley Society was greatly disturbed by the political excitement which preceded the passing of the Reform Bill in 1832, and by the violent agitation of the Anti-State-and-Church question; so that it was pre-disposed to sympathize with the divisive proceedings of some who at that time opposed the administration of our ecclesiastical discipline. Inflammatory publications were circulated; crowded and excited public meetings were held; the ignorant populace assembled in masses, interfering with the worship of God and the exercise of church-discipline, and offering brutal insults and outrages to the supporters of Methodism. For some months the Circuit was the scene of unholy and riotous strife. On the subsidence of this tornado its desolations were awfully visible. A large majority of the office-bearers left the Connexion, taking with them several chapels, and more than fourteen hundred members. those times of trial and excitement," to quote the words of Mr. Prest, my father "did not meddle with them that are given to change,' but took his full share of the obloquy, sufferings, and sacrifices of those who resisted the unprincipled attempts of 'evil men and seducers' to revolutionize and destroy that system which he gratefully regarded as the work of God. In these times of rebuke he abated nothing of heart, of hope, or of labour. He lived to see his faith justified, and his hope fulfilled, in the revived prosperity and increasing influence of the church of his affections."

"In

He well understood and justly appreciated that grand feature of Wesleyan polity, its Connexional union. He frequently attended the annual District Committee during the transaction of financial business, and refreshed his soul and revived his Methodistic affections at public religious services and meetings held during the Annual Conference. He heartily co-operated in all the magnificent Connexional movements of his day, the Centenary Celebration, the Education, Relief and Extension, and Home-Mission schemes. It may be said of him, as of Hezekiah, "And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered." (2 Chron. xxxi. 21.) "May He," says a Minister who knew him well, "who made the departed what he was, raise up in all our Circuits many such Local preachers, Leaders, Stewards, and Sabbath-school Superintendents!"

At the Conference of 1859 the Dudley Circuit was divided, and two new Circuits, Tipton and Oldbury, were formed. This measure my father had earnestly promoted, not only because he thought it would secure the services of an additional Minister where they were greatly needed, but that it would beneficially concentrate ministerial influence, and facilitate the performance of pastoral duties. He rejoiced in the appointment of the venerable and Rev. William Naylor as the first Superintendent of the Tipton Circuit, and anticipated much comfort and profit from his ministry. But his arduous and faithful career was now approaching its end.

A life of such incessant activity, involving so much mental exertion and excitement, with scarcely any seasons of relaxation, had at length impaired some vital organs; and diseases of the brain and heart were induced. Symptoms of this appeared a few years before his death. Alarming seizures took place, which became increasingly frequent and severe, until he sunk into a state of physical and mental prostration. He bore his sufferings with exemplary patience, evincing, almost to the last, unabated interest in all that concerned the work of God, and often uttering brief expressions of devout sentiment, "I am in good hands;" "The Lord deals mercifully with "O, for more grace!' He gladly frequented the familiar scenes of holy worship and service as long as his failing energies permitted; and it was instructive to witness, amid the wreck of his noble frame and of his powerful faculties, the ardours of a soul ripening for the skies. A short time before his death he was favoured with a most gracious Divine manifestation. For some hours he was filled with holy rapture. Tears streamed down his cheeks: "They are not," he said to one of his daughters, "tears of sorrow, they are tears of joy." He told a valued Christian friend who visited him several times, that he had peace and rest in God; that though not usually the subject of rapturous joy, he could confide in the Lord,

me;