would be away when it was wanted. Happen this kind of talk, Sir, is not very pleasant to you, I know it isn't to some young people. It's like going over a stubble field; they'd rather run among grass and flowers."

"It is quite agreeable; I shall be glad to hear you talk on, Mrs. Simpson," said the young man.

"Why, Sir, when a body's a bit of a journey in hand, one has some thought about the end, at starting; and one thinks a bit about it all the way on. And thoughts havn't a long way to travel to get to the other end of life. I was both pleased and sorrowful with reading about that rich young man coming to the Saviour to know how he could get eternal life. Poor young man, he could do anything besides part with his money. No, he wouldn't go to heaven, he couldn't take his money with him. But if he could it would have been worth nothing. I like to have that treasure in this earthen vessel, as will be worth something when I get there."

"Then do you think rich people can't get to heaven, Mrs. Simpson ?"

"No, I don't think so; but I hardly know how to explain it. I wish you would, Brother James. You see I'm no scholar, Sir."

"Thank God, it does not require much scholarship to be a true Christian," said James. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,' is the sole test. Love to God must be enthroned in the heart. And all love of power, authority, applause, riches, or any other object, not in entire subserviency to God, and love to Him, must not enter in. The Saviour only selected riches as a specimen of the rest. Wesley expresses it nicely,—

'Is there a thing beneath the sun,

That strives with thee my heart to share?
Ah, tear it thence, and reign alone

The Lord of every motion there.'

Poverty itself is exposed to the same test."

"Thank you, friend," said Mr. Fairborne, "Your views are right, that is so far as I know. It is but lately that I have begun to think seriously on these matters. I have not much wealth at present; but I am to have some. But it will not be the greatest enemy to keep me out of heaven. I think it dwells more in my head than in my heart. But I have many vile feelings and thoughts that ought not to be there. But how must I get them out? Pray, have you read John Nelson's life,-or part of his life ?"

"I read it with great pleasure and benefit when I was young; since then I have not looked into it," said James.

"It is a charming little book. I have sent for a number of copies; and you shall be welcome to some, either to read or give away.'

They both thanked him cordially, and he further expatiated on its merits. Betty looked at Mr. Fairborne with sparkling eyes, and said, "Sir, I make many blunders, I know, but I like to talk about the grace of God in the heart. I think I'm safest there. You say you have many thoughts and feelings as you wish to get out of your heart. Why, did you ever know of a soul coming to the Saviour for

NN

salvation, as didn't feel these things? If these bad things weren't in the heart, we needn't come to the Saviour at all. But we come to Him on purpose to get shot on 'm; and He's promised to pardon and cleanse our vile hearts, and make 'm fit for Him to live in. Ab, I'm thinking, when farmers are fallowing for corn, what work we have to get the weeds and rubbish out. We have to knock the clods, and rake, and pick, over and over again; and after all, we often leave some rubbish in. So, I'm thinking we must break up the fallow ground of our hearts, and rake and pick by examination, and prayer, and faith, and get all the rubbish in heaps, and burn them by the Spirit of God. For the same Sun of Righteousness as 'll burn the weeds of sin 'll make the good seed to grow."

"Thank you for your instruction. It seems to me very much like plain Gospel truth. It is quite a new subject to me; I find in it the Bible, a Saviour, religion, and religious people, and it all concerns me as much as any one else; and I intend to look after my interest. I have learnt something since I came into your comfor table cottage, made especially so by the piety found in it; but though my head is better, my heart I think is worse."

He then got up, wished old Betty to give his kind regards to her husband, and bade them both good morning, putting a piece of money at the same time into Betty's hand.

"I beg pardon, Sir," said Betty," but pray will you be in Kingsly on Sunday? We've Mr. Swordly. All about heaven, and Gospel matters, come right warm from his heart, just like meat when it's brought right from the fire to the table."

"Yes, I shall, I shall. I quite reckon upon being there. Good morning."

Betty looked after him up the road, and then turned into the house, saying,

"Now isn't that a nice young gentleman ?"

"Yes, indeed he is. There is nothing of the broad-acre assumption, or the frivolous, profane dash about him, we sometimes see.'

Yes," added Betty, "he's smitten by the Spirit, and wounded too, ready for the balm of Gilead. I hope he'll get cured on Sunday morning; I think he does'nt look very healthy, James. Do you think so? Here James, take half of what Mr. Fairborne has given me,"

"No, no, Betty. Keep it yourself."

"What! while you need it as bad as me? No, no ;" and she put five shillings into his hand, as his half of the gift.

"But about poor Kate; bless her, she keeps popping into my head. She is a good creature; they had better have a millstone hung round their necks than injure her. I'll see her the very first oppor tunity. I wonder how her mother feels."

Connexional Affairs.

CHAPEL DEBTS.*

MR. EDITOR,-I have read with much pleasure, in the March Number of the Magazine, the letter of your correspondent, " Calington," on Chapel Debts. Any one who is at all conversant with the affairs of our Churches must be well aware that there is no one matter which more deeply affects the prosperity, of our various Chapels than those ugly things known by the name of Chapel Debts," and their entire extinction would be hailed with joy by many anxious trustees.

The plan proposed, of each member in the Connexion contributing one halfpenny or more per week, is an excellent one, if it could be acted upon, and, as stated, would realize a very handsome sum for the object; but I beg to differ with our Cornish friend as to the distribution of the fund when raised. If all are contributors, all should be eligible to be participators in it, if needing help. Many Chapels are already settled on trusts, in which, from a variety of circumstances, it would be difficult to make any alteration; many are also settled on trusts as nearly similar to the Model Deed as possible; and all these Chapels are, in my opinion, as much Connexional as those settled on trusts strictly in accordance with the Model Deed. Some Chapels, too, no doubt, are not settled on any trust whatever, for want of funds; and, besides, it has been named in Annual Assemblies that a revised Model Deed would be required to meet the views of the various now united churches. If the matter is vigorously set about, and all contribute according to their means, and the cases of all Chapels with debts requiring aid are eligible for consideration, it will, in my opinion, be one of the greatest temporal blessings that could fall upon our Churches, and eventually, in a wonderful manner, operate to their spiritual advancement. That Callington's" suggestion may meet with a hearty response from the entire Connexion is the sincere wish of

Rawtenstall.

Yours truly,

A. FENTON.

Review and Griticism.

Methodism As It Is. Parts XIV., XV., XVI. London: W. REED, 15, Creed Lane.

THIS work loses none of its interest. The author has now arrived at the period immediately antecedent to the expulsions of 1849, and

We insert this communication, from a respected correspondent, to keep the Churches awake to a subject of vast importance; but there are great objections to giving Connexional aid to Chapels not secured to the Connexion, for the pur. poses for which they were built.-ED.

graphically describes many of the circumstances by which they were preceded. The following extracts will gratify our readers:

A DILEMMA.

"A little more latitude was allowed in olden times in other matters than censure on moral character. At the Conference of 1803, when Jabez Bunting, Daniel Isaac, and Robert Newton were received into Full Connexion, it was ascertained, that, during the preceding twelve months, a practice had grown up of obtaining licenses to preach under the Toleration Act, for the mere sake of claiming exemp tion from unpleasant offices, military or otherwise. By this means improper persons acquired the character of preachers and teachers, the State suffered injury, and the equal rights of honest citizens were prejudiced. The Quarterly Meeting, therefore, of the London Circuit took the matter in hand, and passed a series of resolutions which were reported to the Conference. These resolutions bore the names of JOSEPH BENSON, chairman, and JOSEPH BUTTERWORTH, secretary. Their purport was, to expel from Society any member who should take out a license without the previous approval of the Quarterly Meeting, or any member who, having already taken out a license, should claim exemption from service on account of it; it being considered by the meeting, that, as local preachers were not wholly set apart for the work of the ministry, it was not consistent with the spirit of the Toleration Acts that they should claim exemption. That last reso. lution was to this effect: That the above resolutions be printed in the Methodist Magazine, and circulated generally throughout the Methodist Connexion.' The question was asked, 'What is the opinion of the Conference concerning the resolutions in the Quarterly Meeting held for the London Circuit ?' The answer was, -'We highly approve of these resolutions, and do agree and are determined to adopt them, and to enforce them throughout the Connexion.' It seems never to have been perceived, that these resolutions formed an important precedent, and that the Conference in adopting them was sanctioning that precedent. That body had formerly enacted, that no new thing should be done, or attempted to be done, on any account or occasion, till first approved by the Conference. Was this, or was it not, a new thing? If it was, it was a violation of order, and, as such, to be condemned and reprehended, not approved and agreed to, adopted and enforced. But, if it was not a new thing, but merely the exercise of a recognized power, what then? Why, this-that the power of expulsion and the determination of the circumstances under which it should be exercised, appertain to the Quarterly Meeting of each Circuit. At any rate, the Quarterly Meeting of the London Circuit distinctly enacted, that such and such acts should be regarded as offences, and that the offenders should be expelled; and the Conference deliberately approved of the same. Now, of whom does the Quarterly Meeting consist? It consists of the circuit preachers, the stewards, the leaders, and, generally, the local preachers,-a combined court of ministers and laymen, as indicated in this case by the signatures of BENSON, a minister, and BUTTERWORTH, a laymen. There is no escape, therefore, from the conclusion, that, in 1803, the Conference admitted the right of the Quarterly Meeting, of the local laity in conjunction with the stationed preachers, to decide who should be expelled and for what. Whatever were the views of young Jabez on this subject, old Jabez, with his Pastoral Supremacy, taught another lesson; and his fear before the eyes of Mr. Bell, would not allow him to put a proposed resolution involving a desecration of the Sabbath." pp. 447-48.

AUTHORSHIP OF THE "WESLEYAN TAKINGS."

"Now that he is numbered with the dead, and the survivor is indifferent to results, we will take the liberty of indulging our readers with a literary secret. So far back as 1814, or so, a friendship was formed between Jonathan Crowther and James Everett, the former Classical Tutor at Woodhouse-Grove School, the latter stationed in the Bramley Circuit, near Leeds; added to these, Robert Wood, stationed at Woodhouse-Grove, forming a trio. Some pleasant tales of friendship and gossip might be recorded here, which we pass over. Mr. Everett, during his

first supernumeracy, carried on the business of Printer, Stationer, and Bookseller, from 1825 to 1834, in Manchester, when he was again moved into the itinerant ranks by a resolution of Conference, moved by Dr. Bunting and seconded by Dr. Warren. Mr. Crowther was stationed in Manchester during Mr. Everett's residence there. Old and continued friendship, into which Methodism has made so many painful inroads, was more firmly welded. A gentleman, knowing Mr. Crowther's acquirements in the classics, wished him to give instruction in the same to a young relative. Mr. Everett was consulted in the case, and gave his decision in favour of it, as it would not interfere with Mr. C.'s ministerial duties, and would be beneficial in a pecuniary sense in the support of his family, he being able to further the education of his two boys at the same time. Mr. Everett proposed to him also a local History of the town, as a Hand-Book for visitors, which was undertaken and completed, entitled, 'Panorama of Manchester;' Mr. Everett himself furnishing the materials, and writing portions of it, being at the sole expense, and guaranteeing his friend a share in the profits. Conversing one day on the subject of the Methodist ministry, Mr. Everett suggested sketches of ministerial character, stating all that could be said in favour of the ministry, mingling the remarks with such hints, suggestions, and criticisms, as would not only raise the character of the preachers in public estimation, but furnish materials for improving candidates for the ministry. Each was to write a sketch alternately,-the sketches were to be published monthly-and the work was to be entitled 'WESLEYAN TAKINGS.' Both of the men were actuated by the purest motives. A dozen characters were marked out to lead the way as the Twelve Apostles of Methodism. Two numbers were published by Tegg, of Cheapside, London, embracing Jabez Bunting and Richard Watson, with as many asterisks as answered to the number of Letters in each surname, seven in the one, and six in the other; the first written by James Everett, the second by Jonathan Crowther. Both of the subjects were instantly recognised, and named by the public. The likenesses were pronounced correct, and the only feeling, as far as we know, in connection with that of approval was, that of curiosity as to authorship. The two writers who, in friendship, had moved on like David and Jonathan of old, were at length separated. Jonathan Crowther went to the East Indies, and James Everett, with renewed health, again entered into the regular work of the ministry. The latter, however, had not relinquished the design of aiding his ministerial brethren, and saying as many good things of them as he conscientiously could,-maintaining moral and Christian character intact, whatever might be the failings pointed out. He, at length, recast the sketch of Mr. Watson, written by his friend, and left that of Mr. Bunting as he had originally penned it-completed, unaided, the Twelve at first agreed upon-and wrote out as many outlines as comprised ONE HUNDRED, chiming in with the Centenary of Methodism,' at the close of which the first volume was published, which was succeeded by a second. It is a remarkable fact, that matters went on smoothly till the first volume was published. Then the storm burst forth; Jabez was in a fury; his own sketch was as laudatory as it was possible to make it ;-every thing offensive being kept back of set purpose, much of which was both known and felt, and which has since appeared. Years rolled over-Jabez had received his meed of praise, full to overflowing; he eat his morsel alone, and seemed quietly to enjoy it. But when the volume came out, and he found himself with the TWELVE, in company with Adam Clarke, Daniel Isaac, William Bramwell, and two or three others, it was not to be endured; and less so, when his friend John Bowers, to whom, according to the writers of the Fly-Sheets, he had been so much indebted in ridding him of his liabilities, by soliciting subscriptions on his behalf, was the subject of a little gentle criticism. Had Jabez known Jonathan's copartnery with James, in the first two sketches, what would have been the course of events as to personal history? Would he have been sent to India? Would he have been ——? Some other secrets and Literary Curiosities' will turn up in the DIARY, being more 'free and easy,' and less historical in its character, than in the first volume." pp. 457-58.