wont to say, "he wondered how any man who professed to believe the New Testament could be disloyal."-May we "be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." WILLIAM LEACH.

2. Died, Feb. 19th, 1822, aged eighty, MRS. MARY PORTER, of Norwich. She was the oldest Methodist in that city; having been a member of the Society about sixty-eight years. She, her mother, and her brother, were forsaken by her father, when she was very young; so that she had but little attention from him, either as to her temporal or spiritual interests: yet she was preserved by restraining grace from those sins and follies to which youth is most exposed; and she has often mentioned, with heartfelt gratitude, the goodness of GOD in affording her support and comfort in her early days. About the year 1755-6, she joined the Wesleyan Society at the Foundry in Norwich. It appears to have been under a sermon from Kings xviii.21, delivered by MR.D.WRIGHT, that she was more deeply awakened to a sense of the necessity of experiencing redemption through the blood of JESUS, the forgiveness of her sins; and soon after, while at work in her own house, the LORD graciously visited her with a sense of his pardoning mercy, by comfortably applying those words, "Thy sins and thy iniquities I will remember no more.' It was, however, soon suggested to her, that she had deceived herself; but the words, "Thy sins and thy iniquities I will remember no more," were again applied with power to her heart; together with those words, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Although she was frequently the subject of painful reasonings, and assailed by fears respecting herself, it does not appear that she ever lost her evidence of the divine favour. In 1777, she became (through the entreaty of MR. J. PILMOOR) the Chapel-keeper, in which situation she continued for many years. In this office, she was distinguished for her kinduess and attention to the comfort of the Preachers; by whom she was respected as a mother. DR.CLARKE, who travelled in the Norwich Circuit in 1783, acknowledged, in a letter to her, dated Liverpool, August 5th, 1820, his remembrance of her attentions to him, by sending her some pecuniary assistance. His letter is as follows:"My dear old friend MRS. PORter,

"I was glad to hear by MR. SLATER that you were still alive, in comparatively good health, and happy in your soul. It is saying but little, to say that I

love you; but it is saying what I ought to say, when I tell you, that, if I did not love you, I should be very ungrateful. You were a tender, affectionate mother to me, when I was a little, friendless lad, a stranger in a strange land. I never forgot your kindness, and many a prayer I have sent up to God for your happiness. Give my love to Band any other ofmy old acquaintances who may be yet out of heaven. Wishing you every blessing, I remain,

This is but one specimen of the many tokens of respect which she received from the Preachers, in remembrance of her affectionate solicitude for their comfort.— Her attachment to GOD, to his cause, to the Society in general, and to the Preachers in particular, remained unabated to the end of her pilgrimage. And, for the period of upwards of sixty years, she has afforded an example of patience, industry, meekness, sincerity, steadiness, and uprightness, which is worthy of constant imitation.-As she lived, so she died; a witness of the saving power of JESUS. About three weeks before her death, she expressed herself to me as being quite happy in GoD her SAVIOUR, and in a well-grounded hope of soon being with her REDEEMER. She told me, how she wished her funeral to be conducted. "Tell the young people," said she, "tell the dear children, to give their hearts to GOD in the days of their youth. O how thankful do I feel, that I sought the LORD while I was young. He will not forsake me in my old age!" In this peaceful and happy frame she remained, until her spirit returned to GOD. A few hours before her death, she exclaimed, with astonishing energy, "He is my portion! He is my portion!" These were the last words she was heard distinctly to articulate.

W. STONES.

3. Died, Feb. 21, 1822, aged forty-four, MR. JOHN ORDISH, of Thurvastone, Derbyshire. In March, 1803, he heard a sermon in the open air, and attended a prayer-meeting, held immediately afterwards in a neighbouring house. On that occasion, arrows of divine conviction pierced his soul; and he was awakened to a sense of his accumulated guilt. For six weeks, with deep contrition, he prayed, "GOD be merciful to me a sinner;" and on the 15th of May, he was enabled to say, "O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me." In the posses

ion of this invaluable blessing he lived and died. From the time when he joined our Society, until the day of his death, a period of nineteen years, he never in any instance brought dishonour on the cause of GOD. Before his conversion, he was much esteemed as a steady and amiable member of civil society. Subsequently to that event, he was highly useful and ornamental as a member of the Church of CHRIST. He had the high and holy pleasure of seeing the Society rise from ten to ninety members; and filled, in a way honourable to himself and beneficial to others, nearly every official situation among us. He was a Leader, a Steward, a Trustee, and a Local Preacher. To the superintendence of our SundaySchool he paid punctual and vigorous attention. His assiduity, affectionate solicitude, and uniform mildness, greatly endeared him to the teachers and children. Above one hundred of the latter, by whom thousands of tears were shed on this occasion, and nearly the whole population of the place, followed his corpse to the grave.-I spent two hours with him a few days previous to his death. He was resigned, grateful, and happy. The last sermon he preached was on 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8, "I have fought a good fight," &c. He died, as he had lived, in the enjoyment of an unclouded evidence of the divine favour.

4. Died, at Westminster, Feb. 22d, 1822, aged fifty, MR. Tuos. STRANGEWAYS. Till the age of twenty, he lived after the course of this world; but at that period he was deeply convinced of his guilt and danger as a sinner against GOD. He wept day and night, and sought the LORD with his whole heart, in the means of grace; and he soon obtained mercy, and felt that "the love of GOD was shed abroad in his heart." Being an officer of the Excise, his residence was not of long continuance in any place, excepting at Lambeth and at Westminster, in each of which places he remained for seven years, and was highly respected for the uniform consistency of his conduct. As a Class-Leader at Westminster, he was much beloved; and was in all things an example to his flock.

As

hours together without a wandering thought, and whatever I ask I have.I am perfectly content to suffer, and either to live, or to die." This was his general frame of mind. To his daughter he said, "I am happy: where I am going, there is no pain, no sorrow : if you wish to be with me, choose the narrow path, make the Scriptures your guide, and GOD your Friend." J. CHANDLER.

5. Died, February 23d, 1822, JANE, one of the daughters of MR. JOHN BARKER, of Spaldington, near Howden, aged twenty-five. At thirteen, she became the subject of a deep work of grace; united herself to the body of Christians, whose ministers had long been affectionately entertained at her father's house; and very soon obtained a sense of pardoning mercy. In her diary, written at a subsequent period of her life, she remarks, "I have not to upbraid myself with rejecting the offers of mercy. As far as I can remember, the first time at which I saw the need of a SAVIOUR, I embraced him." Her piety, from its commencement, was decided. Deeply conscious of the importance of inward and outward holiness, she soon became a pattern of christian diligence; and seems to have been progressively preparing for an early heaven. When the insidious disease, which removed her to glory, began to fix itself, she wrote, "I feel a constant resignation to all the will of GOD, and have this week told the LORD, that if he would give me my choice,-sickness or health, life or death,-I would refer it back to him again. I have prayed earnestly that I may stay in the affliction till my soul is fully sanctified. I want all my heart to be filled with GOD." Soon afterwards, she removed to her native village to die, and though the parting, on such an occasion, from the charming society of Hull, proved no ordinary trial, and though her afflictions were severe and protracted, she was enabled so to yield herself to her GoD, as gloriously to overcome. Her death, after many painful conflicts, was triumphant. "Talk to me," said she, "about JESUS." "You will soon be in heaven," replied her affected father, and repeated, "And when to that bright world we rise, And claim our mansions in the skies. This note, above the rest, shall swell, Our JESUS hath done all things well." In an ecstasy of joy, she responded,

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Glory! Glory! He hath done all things well!" Becoming a little more composed, "Ah! said she, "how ashamed I am that I am not more will3 C

ing to suffer, when I recollect what CHRIST hath suffered for me." She added, "Poor POLYCARP, what he suffered! and PETER! and PAUL! how I love to think of those martyrs! how it humbles me! And GOD, who was with them, has promised not to leave me.' Just before her departure, she exclaimed, "O what a scene of glory!Glory! Glory! The precious blood of CHRIST!" and looking upwards, and clasping her hands, rapturously shouted, Glory! glory be to GOD!" and fell asleep in JESUS.

6. Died, Feb. 24th, 1822, at Harrop, near Macclesfield, MR. THOS. HARROP, aged seventy-two. Soon after his marriage, he and his wife were invited to hear the REV. THOS. HANBY. The word came with power; they were both convinced of their fallen and sinful condition; and these convictions were deepened under the Ministry of the REV. DAVID SIMPSON, late of Macclesfield. He now thankfully accepted the invitation of a friend to a Class-meeting, joined the Methodist Society, and shortly found the pardoning love of GOD. He often mentioned with gratitude the sweets of christian communion. From the commencement of his religions career he supported an unimpeached character. For nearly thirty years he filled the office of a Class-Leader, watching for the souls of the people placed under his care as one who must give an account. His deadness to the world, and his devotedness to CHRIST, were obvious to all. He proved his attachment to the means of grace by a regular attendance; and in the early part of his religious life was useful in holding prayer-meetings in different country places. In this "work of faith he persevered, till he was obliged to desist by bodily infirmities. During his last illness, he laboured, for a season, under dejection of mind. This he attributed to his loss of the public means of grace. His deliverance from it he expressed with tears one morning in the following manner: "This is to me a joyful morning; the LORD has manifested himself to my soul, and I feel such a power to cast myself upon his mercy, that I am astonished at his goodness." While the sacrament of the LORD's-Supper was administered to him, at his request, his soul was blessedly raised above "this vale of tears;" and he had an affecting view of the heavenly world. Just as the christian sabbath commenced, he went to mingle

with "the spirits of just men made perfect,"

"Where congregations ne'er break up, And sabbaths never end."

Jos. ROBERTS.

RECENT DEATHS.

Lately, at St. Mary's, on the River Gambia, Western Africa, the REV. WILLIAM BELL, Wesleyan-Missionary. Particulars of this affecting event will be given hereafter.

Lately, at Witney, at a very advanced age, MRS. CONY BEARE, (formerly Miss BOLTON,) an old friend and correspondent of the REV. J. WESLEY.

April 27. At Lancaster, MRS. POOLE. She drank deeply of the cup of affliction, but could rejoice in Him who administered the bitter draught. Her prospects of heaven were glorious.

May 15. MR. THOMAS BLAYNEY, of the Glynn, near Newtown, aged fortyfour. He was a man of genuine piety, and sound judgment in the things of GOD. In his last moments he discovered a most happy frame of mind, and expressed his full assurance of eternal life.

May 22. MRS. STEPHENSON, of Holmfirth, Yorkshire, aged sixty. She adorned her christian profession by patience in protracted afflictions, by resignation to the varied dispensations of Providence, by liberality to the cause of GOD, and by a holy life. Previously to her last illness she had felt her mind particularly drawn to communion with GOD, and described her confidence and consolation as exceeding all she had before known. During her sickness she expressed unshaken confidence in GOD, and great thankfulness that her religion was not to be sought on a death-bed. She was held in high estimation by others for her rectitude of conduct; but her theme was CHRIST, and her hope was founded on the Rock of Ages.

May 24. MR. WILLIAM CARTER, of Bishopstone, in the Whitchurch Circuit. His principles were truly evangelical, his penitence was deep, and his conversion to GOD sound. This appeared in the sanctity of his life, his incessant devotion, his tenderness towards the afflicted, the holy unction which attended his prayers and exhortations, the probity of his conduct, his zeal for God's glory, and his attachment to the ministers, the people, and the cause of GOD. His life was holy, and his death happy.

May 25. At Halifax, after a long illness, which he bore with exemplary patience, THOMAS EMMETT, ESQ. He was a man of unaffected piety, and of great benevo lence towards the poor. To Christianity,