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heared the better land, his experience was more and more of "glory begun below." His death was in perfect acvelance with his life. His path shone brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. To those who visited him he was everready to talk of his high enjoyments, and of the glorious prospect beyond the grave. The thought of meeting with old friends, and, above all, of being in the presence of his Saviour, was to him delightful. A radiant smile played over the old man's countenance, as he clasped his hands, and exclaimed, "All is well;

all is well."

"Religion's holy hopes kindle a joy

That makes old age look lovely." It was no small privilege to visit him. His faith in the "all-atoning Lamb" was as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. In him were fulfilled the words of Eliphaz the Temanite, remeeting the end of the righteous man : Ta shalt come to the grave in a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in in Lis season. On the day of his death, his son, thinking he might be incapable of speaking as he drew near death, requested him to express by signs if he still felt the same happiness. "O, you need not doubt; all is well," said the dying saint. In this spirit of unshaken confidence in his Redeemer, he passed triumphant to the skies, January 15th, 1864.

S. D.

DIED, at Glasgow, on Wednesday, 28th September, 1864, MR. WILLIAM STEWART, sen., in his sixty-ninth year. In early life he sought the Lord, and was made a partaker of saving grace through faith in the Divine atonement. He then united himself with the Wesleyan Methodists; and, having given himself betimes to the love and service of Christ, he steadfastly pursued his way. It pleased the Most High to call His servant, through the greater part of his life, to endure affliction in no small measure: yet, in the midst of all, he was graciously sustained, and kept from murmuring. Earnestly desirous that the children God had given him should enjoy the comforts of religion as he did himself, he instructed them out of the

RECENT

JANUARY 13th, 1863.-At Southport, Charlotte, relict of the late Mr. William Makant, formerly of Halliwell, in the BoltonNorth Circuit. Her natural disposition was

Scriptures, and carried their cases to the Lord in prayer. Nor were his prayers unanswered. Long ere his eyes were closed in death, he had the unspeakable happiness, with the pious partner of his life, to see nearly all the members of a numerous family converted to God, and usefully employed in the service of His church; two of his sons, Charles and David, being devoted to the work of the holy ministry.

As years increased and strength declined, his opportunities of attending Divine service in the sanctuary became fewer. Yet, when permitted to be present, he rejoiced in the privilege of worshipping God with His people. The ordinances of the Lord's house were precious, and the communion of saints was sweet. Many "times of refreshing" he enjoyed in the class-meeting; and the gracious counsels which he was enabled to give to those committed to his care will long be remembered with gratitude. In the family, the church, and the world, his cheerful temper and Christian conversation won for him a large amount of esteem and affection, which, now that he is gone to glory, will be cherished for his memory during many years to come.

His last illness was but brief, although, during a long series of years, his system had been much enfeebled by frequent returns of a painful and debilitating malady. When asked, as the end was evidently drawing nigh, if he felt Jesus near and precious, he emphatically answered, "Yes." "Are your feet upon the Rock?" one said. "Yes," he replied again. His mind was occupied with sacred things, even in its wanderings; and, when unconscious of what he said, he requested that the family should join with him in worship. Gently and sweetly, without a murmur or a groan, he breathed his spirit into the hands of his Saviour; and the sorrowing members of his family, while bedewing with their tears the inanimate clay, received into their hearts the consolation of the Holy Ghost, and found abundant relief in the blessed prospect of meeting him again in a world where pain and parting are unknown. D. S.

DEATHS.

genial and kindly; and at the age of sixteen she gave herself fully to God, and became a conscious and happy partaker of the Christian salvation. Thenceforward to the

day of her death she was an humble and consistent follower of the Lord Jesus, adorning His doctrine in all things, and especially in those things which belong to the more quiet and unobtrusive side of Christian duty. For many years before her death she was the subject of much bodily weakness, and no stranger to other sharp trials. But "in patience she possessed her soul," resting with childlike faith on the promises of the everlasting covenant, and fortified against fear by perfect love. The end came unexpectedly, but her lamp was lit, and her vessel full of oil with her lamp. "All is peace; sweet peace;" she said to her daughter. Then, after fifty years' watchfulness and fidelity, she passed in with the Bridegroom to the marriage supper, and the door was shut.

T. A.

July 3d, 1864. At S. Pierre-Port, Guernsey, in his ninety-first year, Mr. George Wincey. He was a native of East Cowes, Isle of Wight, and early the subject of the strivings of the Holy Spirit. In his seventeenth year he was made happy in the pardoning love of God and admitted to the Society. For the lengthened period of seventy-three years he maintained an uninterrupted communion with the Wesleyan Methodists; fulfilling also the duties of a trustee for more than half a century. He was of a meek and quiet spirit; a pattern of Christian simplicity and humble love; universally esteemed for his integrity and consistency. His path was "as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." In his protracted illness he suffered patiently, and often testified of being filled with peace and joy. Not long before his departure, he said, "Blessed Jesus! His name is called 'Jesus,' because He saves His people from their sins. Jesus Christ is my Redeemer. Praise the Lord!" With calmness he committed his loved ones to the care of Providence, and his own spirit into the hands of his Redeemer, and thus sweetly fell asleep. W. S. B.

October 8th.-At Colchester, aged seventythree, Mr. John Ary. He had been a member of the Wesleyan-Methodist Society upwards of forty years; and for many years he was a class-leader and superintendent of the Sabbath-school. Adorned with "a meek and quiet spirit," he was deeply attached to Methodism, and ready for every good word and work. His piety was simple and unobtrusive, but deep, and eminently practical; and the blessed influence of his example was felt through the entire neighbourhood where he resided. During a long affliction he was graciously sustained, and frequently longed to depart, and be with Christ. At length he literally fell asleep in Jesus. R. M.

October 15th.-At Underbank, in the Todmorden Circuit, Mr. Gilbert Lacy, aged

fifty-seven. He was awakened under the ministry of the late Rev. Charles Cheetham, and joined the Society in 1831; since which time he continued ever loyal to the church of his choice, and filled several of its im portant offices with fidelity and zeal. For more than two years, his health was failing; but for several months prior to his decease, his friends observed his deepening piety and increased ripeness for heaven. On his dying-bed he witnessed a good confession, and not long before his departure repeated several times, though in a scarcely audible whisper, "Glory! Hallelujah!" Without a lingering groan or struggle, he fell asleep in Jesus.

J. T. S.

November 8th.-Mr. John Dawber, of Glentworth, in the Lincoln Circuit, in the eighty-first year of his age. For more than thirty years he maintained a consistent Christian profession. He died in great peace, leaving behind him a memory that is blessed, and an example that is precious.

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H. H. C.

November 28th. At Mansfield-Woodhouse, Mrs. Thrutchley, in her seventy-fourth year; having been a member among the Wesleyan-Methodists more than half a century. Her father had the honour of opening his house for Methodist preaching at Chellaston, in Mr. Wesley's time, and of receiving a visit from that apostolic man. Although she had the advantage of a religious training, she did not become decided until some time after her marriage, when she and her husband, about the same period, were deeply convinced of sin. She was timid; but her views of the atonement were clear, scriptural, and efficacious. She was a good wife, "looking well to the ways of her household;" and an excellent mother, imposing a godly restraint on her children, who have "risen up to call her blessed." She rigidly observed the Lord's day, and regularly attended the week-night services: the night of the preaching was, indeed, surrounded by an air of sanctity, in the estimation of her family; and that whole day bore some resemblance to the Sabbath. Her last affliction was peculiarly painful; disease triumphing, to some extent, over the mind, as well as over the body. But when, about a week before her death, this cloud dispersed, she was quite happy; and in this frame of mind she continued. One day, during the solemn exercise of prayer, offered by her son, she exclaimed with emphasis,

"Just as I am-just as I am!" Her last words were, "He is precious; He is precious!" And she, who had all her life dreaded dying, (not eternity,) sweetly fell asleep, and did not "see death."

H. J. S.

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WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE..

FEBRUARY, 1865.

MEMOIR OF SARAH,

WIFE OF THE LATE REV. WILLIAM ASH:

BY MR. ISAAC BATE.

THE uses of Christian biography are so well known as to need neither statement nor advocacy. The pleasure with which we enter into details of personal history and character is of the nature of an instinet; the amount of gratification being proportioned to the quality of the particulars offered.

MRS. ASH was born, March 18th, 1800, at Glazedale, then, and until recently, within the Whitby Circuit. Her father, Mr. John Watson, was a respectable farmer, and succeeded in acquiring considerable property. Hence the daughter's position in society was always good; and, in addition to an abundant supply of temporal blessings at home, for which she was always ready to express her fervent thankfulness, she had a large circle of relatives, of various degrees of affluence. Her education was suited to her early position; and her habits, from her youth, were orderly, frugal, and becoming. She had the unspeakable advantage to enjoy a good mother's culture and example, and these were blessed to her in many ways. Referring to the decease of this beloved guide and guardian of her youth, which occurred in 1854, she notes that her "dear mother peacefully fell asleep in Jesus, aged ninety-five; having served God faithfully nearly sixty years, twenty of which she was a member of the Methodist Society." The prayers which the daughter offered, and the tears she shed, in behalf of her father, became, doubtless, a "sacred discipline" to deepen her own piety, and were honoured in promoting her own soul's health.

As Mrs. Ash has left a journal extending over nearly forty years, in which are recorded the principal events of her life, with many of her most devout breathings, her secret experiences, and her spiritual conflicts, the account to be given of her will not be derived from dubious or merely probable data. Though not trained in childhood under Methodistic influences, yet, as Methodism has for generations held a very prominent place in the religious economy of "the Dales," she was early drawn into association with its enlightened and evangelic agency. As a proof that its less prominent machinery, added to the

TOL. XI.-FIFTH SERIES.

H

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