"When he arrived here, the Society was not only small in number, but also low in financial circumstances. Under his superintendency, however, it extended its influence to Waterloo and its vicinity, to Goderich, Sussex, Hamilton, York, and Kent; so mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. The chapels, also, were improved under his care. His predecessor, Mr. Maer, had laid the foundation-stone of Zion chapel; but it was reserved for him to complete and open that place of worship.

"A small Society having been formed in Kroo-Town, Mr. Dove put up a temporary chapel for them, principally built with planks of condemned slave-ships; but this small Society so increased in a very short time as to call for the stone chapel which now stands in that place. The people in the mountains having expressed a desire to have a place in which to worship God, he responded to the call, and erected chapels for them at Gloucester, Regent, and Charlotte. Likewise the people in Gibraltar-Town having by their own free will and consent come over to us, Mr. Dove not only received them with open arms, but also erected a stone chapel for their use. The chapels at Kissy, Wellington, and Hastings, together with those at Congo-Town, Murray-Town, and Wilberforce, also received considerable addition and repairs through his instrumentality.

"Under Mr. Dove's superintendency, a petition was sent to the Governor and Council for the land and foundation of the old and unfinished Government church at York; which having been granted to the Wesleyan Mission, he at once instructed Mr. Badger, who was then residing at York, to complete the building. This was shortly afterwards accomplished; and it now stands as one of the best and largest chapels that we have in the colony. There being only a hired house for the occupation of the Missionaries, one of the first things which he did was to purchase ground in Soldier-Town; and, the site having been recommended by an eminent physician as eligible for a residence, he commenced and completed the present Missionhouse.

"Although the employment of trained native agency, in connexion with the Wesleyan Mission here, had doubtless been spoken of by his predecessors, yet no decisive measures were adopted in reference to it before Mr. Dove's arrival in the colony. It was in the cellar or ground-floor of the Mission-house, that a commencement was made to train native agents for the spread of the Gospel. By the providence of God, the vessel that brought Mr. Dove to Sierra-Leone a second time, conveyed instructions for the sale of the extensive buildings called King Tom's. This opportunity he embraced, and purchased those premises for the Training Institution which now stands as an ornament to Methodism in this colony."

For the following interesting particulars concerning Mr. Dove's last days, the reader is indebted to the pen of the Rev. Hugh Jones,

who was the Superintendent of the Croydon Circuit, during the period of Mr. Dove's retirement, affliction, and death:—

"Mr. Dove's Circuits in England, on retiring from Spain, and previous to his settlement at Croydon, were Hitchin, Ashford, and Sandhurst. In each of these spheres he was laborious, useful, and beloved, In Croydon, it was his happiness to witness a noble and generous effort to raise a more commodious and attractive sanctuary, an effort greatly stimulated by his own cheerful zeal and personal liberality.

"His long residence in a tropical clime could scarcely fail to leave its impress even on his naturally robust constitution. Probably he brought with him from a foreign shore incipient disease, slow but sure in its development. There were symptoms of failing health for some time before he was wholly laid aside from his beloved employ. Serious mischief, however, did not manifest itself until the spring of 1858. Returning one inclement evening from a country appointment, he caught a severe cold; aggravated pulmonary disease ensued, other serious complaints also speedily manifesting their symptoms.

"At the following Conference, Mr. Dove was compelled to retire as a Supernumerary, hoping that physical rest and relief from pastoral anxieties might erelong restore him to health. He was, however, much more sanguine than his friends. Fifteen months after his retiring from the full work of the ministry, the weary wheels of life stood still,' and the labourer entered into his reward.

"During the last six months of his life, his weakness, now becoming extreme, would not admit of his attendance at the public means of grace. The last time he was present in the chapel, whose erection had so greatly rejoiced his heart, was on the occasion of the HomeMissionary Meeting in June.

"Throughout his long affliction he appears to have enjoyed a steady peace of mind, clinging to life, as is common with consumptive subjects, and generally expecting to recover. On some occasions, he seemed deeply to feel his being laid aside from those duties in which he had been accustomed so actively to engage; yet, at the same time, expressed his resignation to the will of his heavenly Father. The last letters he wrote were to his African friends, telling them of his affliction, and how mercifully the Lord dealt with him. 'In my weakness,' he says, 'I feel the salvation I have offered to others to be my greatest consolation.' 'We often heard him,' remarks a member of his family, 'praising God for his goodness to him in his affliction.' He felt it a great privilege to have the prayers of God's people. When in severe pain, a few days before his death, he said, –

'Who suffer with our Master here,

We shall before His face appear,
And by His side sit down!'

"On the day he died, he said, 'I feel very ill; it feels as though

life was ebbing out.' Afterwards he remarked, 'I have not a cloud on my mind; and, if I die this night, I shall do so in peace with God and all mankind.' To an inquiry whether he found those great truths he had preached to others to be a comfort to himself, he answered, 'I do; and what a blessing, that I not only know the way, but feel that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin!' To a friend who called upon him and inquired how he was, he held out his hand and, with his usual cheerfulness, replied, 'I shall soon be safely landed.' In about twenty minutes he expired without a struggle or a sigh.”

The compiler of this memoir was privileged to pay frequent visits to Mr. Dove in his affliction. Notwithstanding the most assiduous and tender care and attention bestowed upon him by the warm affection of Mrs. Dove and his niece, and the advantage of skilful medical advice, it became evident that the affliction would terminate in death. But it was most edifying to see how, as he gradually became convinced that the close of life was approaching, he appeared to take a stronger hold on the Divine strength by renewed acts of faith on the atoning sacrifice of Christ; so that, with an assured and blessed hope of everlasting life, he was enabled peacefully to breathe forth his spirit into the hands of God who gave it.

Mr. Dove was beloved by all who knew him. In him goodness was greatness, and commanded universal respect. On receiving intelligence of his death, a meeting of his friends in Sierra-Leone assembled in Bathurst-street chapel, at which Mr. John Ezzidio presided, and the Rev. Charles Knight acted as secretary; when it was unanimously resolved, that a subscription should be commenced to obtain from England a bust of Mr. Dove, or otherwise a tablet, to perpetuate bis memory in that colony.

Besides those pleasing and affectionate testimonials to his character and usefulness already largely quoted in this memoir, the Rev. R. G. Badcock, who had been two years a fellow-labourer, and the Rev. Thomas Brackenbury, who had also been his colleague in the Croydon Circuit, transmitted very gratifying papers for the use of the writer in preaching the funeral sermon. The following characteristic notices, extracted from Mr. Brackenbury's paper, will form an appropriate close to this sketch of the life and labours of this excellent Missionary of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"At the Conference of 1856, it was my privilege to be appointed to labour with the late Mr. Dove in the Croydon Circuit. As soon as our acquaintance commenced, I formed a high opinion of his character as a Christian, and of his fidelity as a Minister. That opinion was confirmed by subsequent intimate friendship. Although he was several years my senior, he treated me with the confidence of a brother; and we laboured together with unbroken harmony and oneness of heart. "His whole deportment was marked by strict propriety. It did honour to his profession and his office. I never saw him commit an

act, or heard from him an expression, that could be deemed inconsistent. It might truly be said of him, that he 'walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.'

"A loving spirit was a prominent and constant feature in his character. The sentiment of his heart always accorded with the song of Bethlehem: Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, goodwill toward men.' He was a pattern of gentleness. He never gave pain. willingly to the mind of another. Selfishness held no lurking-place With in his bosom. Very deeply did he feel the sorrows of others. a voice of real tenderness, and with the tear of true sympathy, he was wont to minister consolation. I can recall instances in which his generous hand, free from all ostentation, relieved the downcast, and made 'the widow's heart to sing for joy.' His sanctified amiability won the esteem and affection of the whole circle in which he moved. 'There is no one but must love Mr. Dove,' is an expression I have heard from different members of our Society again and again. Such tenderness could perhaps only be found in a highly sensitive mind. Just as a tropical plant is the first to feel the effect of frost, so his loving spirit felt most keenly the first breath of unkindness: but even then his bosom seemed a stranger to unholy resentment. The admonition of St. Paul was exemplified in his character: Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.'

"Equally obvious was the spirit of genuine simplicity which pervaded all his conduct. There was the entire absence of ambition. I know not which was more to be admired, his humility or his gentleness. He was content to appear in his unembellished character. In conversation, and, indeed, in all his ministerial acts, there was no attempt at show, no artistic tinsel, no effort to win the mere admiration of his hearers. This disarmed criticism, and made one willing to sit at his feet. It never made him unhappy if it seemed to be thought that another excelled him in gifts, or exceeded him in usefulness. Whoever might be the instrument employed, he was ready to rejoice when the work of God prospered. In the difficult attainment of true self-forgetfulness I have never known.him surpassed.

His

"A deep and even piety was the basis of all the excellence that adorned his character. Like Enoch, he walked with God.' cheerful disposition and his fund of incident made his company always alluring; yet one never left it with the heart unfitted for spiritual enjoyments. He lived for the one purpose of advancing the work of God. The welfare of Zion was dear to his heart. It was remembered in his prayers at the fireside; it was the subject of his conversation, and to advance it he was munificent in his offerings, and his personal exertions were cheerfully put forth. Instances of his usefulness came under my notice while we laboured together; and the general prosperity of the circuit showed that his labours were not in vain.

"His Missionary zeal was a holy passion. In that respect, he set a noble example to his younger brethren in the ministry. The painfulness of his departure is alleviated by the thought that he has been welcomed to the heavenly paradise by a numerous band of converted Africans, who were brought to God by his holy toil."

THE HEALING OF THE PARALYTIC: AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN.

THE case of Job, "the greatest of all the men of the East," has commanded universal attention. His great wealth, and the strokes of affliction which follow each other with increasing severity, until he is utterly overwhelmed, and in the depth of his suffering bitterly bewails the sadness of his lot in terms which, though they may not be justified, yet may be considerately regarded, induce us to look upon him not only with sympathy, but with serious questionings of mind. His history wears the aspect of a representative, a truly symbolic one. Some of the most difficult and obscure principles in the Divine administration are beautifully elucidated, and presented to the careful reader, after he has been brought, by the sympathy which the sorrows of the illustrious sufferer have awakened, into a suitable condition of mind to receive and profit by them. It is remarkable that his character, one distinguished by high moral and religious qualities, is given in the very first sentence of his history. He is declared to be a "man that was perfect and upright;" and yet this man is visited by a succession of the most appalling calamities. Why is this? Does "the Judge of the whole earth do right?" Men would think that for such a man prosperity and power would be indefinitely increased, that his benefi cent influence might be more widely diffused, and righteousness meet with its fitting reward. But the ways of God are not as the ways of men. The principles of the good are to be tried, developed, and elevated; and their power to sustain affliction is to be made known. In consequence of his afflictions, the observers of Job thought they had been deceived. They had previously beheld him with feelings of deference; but now with feelings of suspicion. "A train of merited disasters had overtaken him; the specious hypocrite was disclosed; God was inflicting upon him the punishment of his sin." So they reasoned, because they imagined that affliction and judgment are things inseparably connected; and, as the sufferings were great, the sins which had induced them must have been correspondingly great. Nothing can be farther from the truth than the principles, reasonings, and conclusions of those self-sufficient men. The sequel of the history exposes their fallacy in the most instructive form.