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WHEN first my bark away was borne
On life's tempestuous sea,
No trouble caus'd my heart to mourn,
But all around was glee.

The sun-beams on each wave did smile;
The streamers floated gay;
Sweet music did my heart beguile;
Thus fled the morn away.

Swift down the stream I pass'd the shore;
The sea-gull's note thrill'd loud;

I heard the distant waters roar,
The gale play on each shroud.
Increasingly the broad sea roll'd,
And darkness veil'd the sky;
The mutt'ring winds a storm foretold,
And presag'd danger nigh.

Loud peals of thunder shook my frame;
Anon my courage fled;

The blacken'd clouds around me came,
And centred o'er my head.

The gloomy night came on, and cast
Around an awful hour;

And dismal howl'd each rising blast
That drove the furious shower.

E. TATHAM.

Long I each breaker's force withstood ;-
At length my vigour fail'd;
The tempest rag'd, so heav'd the flood,
Nor skill, nor strength avail'd.
Oh! then, a gulf beneath appear'd;
And sinking, there to lie,
A voice my wretched spirit cheer'd;
“Be still,” it said,”“ 'tis I.”

I look'd! the sea became serene!
The clouds were chas'd away!
My soul reviv'd, and bless'd the scene,
And hail'd the light of day!

"Twas JESUS spoke! at whose command
The raging seas were still;
Who, in the hollow of his hand,

Preserves his own from ill. JESUS! to thee my heart I bow,

Whom winds and waves obey; Through thee I have salvation now, And know the heavenly way. Guide me to yon celestial shore;

I'll dread no blasts that blow; While thou art near, I'll fear no more What storms I meet below. Camberwell.

Printed by T. Cordeux, 14, City-Road, London.

H. R. G.

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Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine:

FOR JUNE, 1822.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. T. LESSEY:

BY HIS SON.

THERE is a mournful pleasure in retracing the course of a life, rendered interesting by a warm and affectionate attachment, and endeared by numerous recollections of the most affecting kind. This feeling is considerably heightened, when the subject of review has been contemplated with esteem and reverence, as the faithful guide of our youth, under whose presiding influence our characters have been formed, and by whose constant inculcation of truth and precept, our steps have been directed into the paths of peace and righteousness. Under the full impression of these reflections, every one of which opens to my soul some fresh view of the magnitude of my loss, I have taken up my pen to write a brief memoir of my late dear and venerable parent; whose memory is cherished with fondness by his bereaved connexions, and whose faithful and energetic ministry will long be remembered with gratitude by many obedient hearers, who mourn "most of all" that they shall "see his face" and hear his voice "no more." It remains for us to tread with diligence the path of holiness and usefulness in which he walked; that thus we may follow him "who through faith and patience now inherits the promises." "The memory of the just is blessed," and we ought to hold up to view examples of divine grace, and to glorify GoD in them. To promote these important objects, and to diffuse and perpetuate the influence of his pious life, is the design of this feeble effort.

MR. THEOPHILUS LESSEY, my late dear and valued father, was born in the neighbourhood of Bristol, in the month of August, 1757. Just at that period, when he most needed a guardian and a guide, it pleased God to deprive him of his father; and that in the most affecting manner. When about two years and a half old, he was severely afflicted with the small-pox. His father, who had never had the disease, dreaded the contagion, and, to avoid it, left the house when the son was first affected; and did not return till every thing, likely to retain infection, had, as it was supposed, been thoroughly purified. However, about six months after the recovery of VOL, I. Third Series. JUNE, 1822.

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the child, (the disease, in all probability, being still prevalent in the neighbourhood,) the parent was seized with the same disorder, and died in a few days. Thus was my father, in his early childhood, deprived of paternal care. His disconsolate mother was left to provide for her child; and to struggle with the trials and distresses of life. But God was her support and comfort. He himself became "the Father of the fatherless, and the Husband of the widow;" so that neither of them wanted any needful thing.

This early period of my dear father's life was distinguished by a special interposition of the providence of GoD, of which he frequently spoke with the liveliest emotions of gratitude. It is thus related by him, in a short sketch of his life, from which the thread of this memoir is taken.

"On the first day of April, being Easter Monday, I was playing with one of my companions on the quay. The tide was nearly even with the street, which tempted us to go into a boat that was fastened to a vessel which lay near it. As we could not move it to any great distance, we did what we could by the ropes to which the boat was attached, and, not attending to each other's motions, being at opposite ends of the boat, I was taken off my feet before I was aware of it, and called to my companion for help. He ran, and caught hold of me; but not being able to prevent my falling overboard, he shared the same fate with me. I had the recollection to seize the side of the boat with one hand, but had no power to take hold of it with the other. While I was in this perilous situation, the other boy was in the river, and had been once or twice entirely under water. Several persons stood and looked on, but wanted either presence of mind, or courage, to attempt our rescue. I was so deeply affected with the danger of my companion, that I lost all sense of my own; and continued erying aloud, He will be drowned! he will be drowned!' At this critical moment, two sailors passing by, saw our situation, instantly plunged into the water, and with much difficulty brought us both out. Thus was I snatched from the jaws of death. ' that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and his wonderful works to the children of men.'"

The paternal grandfather of the subject of this memoir, was a Clergyman of the Church of England; holding a living at West Bagborough, near Taunton. To him he was chiefly indebted for that care and attention, by which the years of his youth were in a great measure preserved from those excesses of vanity and folly, into which thousands are hurried. For some years he resided under the roof of this venerable relative. And although, at the age of sixteen, he describes himself as not having any thing decidedly serious in his views and feelings on the subject of religion, it is obvious from his own reflections, that forcible and influential impressions were sometimes made upon his mind, by the family devotions to which he was required to attend, as well as by the admonitions which his grandfather, from time to time, addressed to him. About this period, he was placed as an apprentice with a coachmaker in the town of Taunton; a situation in which he was exposed to all those temptations, by which the young are so frequently corrupted; the family

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