surviving friend remembers that he was very zealous and devoted. He often alluded with pleasure to the circumstance that he heard the venerable founder of Methodism preach at the opening of Hockley Chapel in this town. When the separation took place in 1797, he did not immediately join the Methodist New Connexion: the reason of this I cannot state, but I believe a few years elapsed before he did so. His after-life showed that the step, when taken, was a decisive one, and taken from conviction and principle; still he did not become estranged in his feelings from his former friends, or cease to entertain respect for the community he had left. On the contrary, he had ever great esteem for the parent body, and with many of its members, both at Nottingham and in other parts, he continued to hold Christian intercourse and reciprocate the feelings of sincere friendship. Indeed, he was eminently catholic in his spirit, esteeming and loving all whom he believed loved the Saviour. That was the bond of union which he delighted to recognize; he could overlook minor differences if the essentials were there, and preserve, notwithstanding an outward diversity, the unity of the spirit.

As already stated, for want of specific information we cannot give a particular and chronological account of all the occurrences of our late brother's earthly course we cannot trace step by step the history of either his outward or inward life. Nor would such minuteness of detail be interesting or profitable, for there are no remarkable incidents or thrilling events to relate. His course was an even one, each day being an epitome of his whole life.

When a youth he was apprenticed to the late Mr. Charles Sutton; and in his employ, and that of his son, the present Mr. R. Sutton, he continued for many years, until he commenced business on his own account.

In 1800 he entered the married state, with Miss Sarah Street, with whom he lived in conjugal happiness for thirtyfour years. She was a helpmeet indeed to him, and they walked together in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Her health was delicate, and he and his children had to mourn her removal, which was somewhat sudden and unexpected. An account of her life, written by the late Rev. T. Robinson, was inserted in the Magazine for July, 1835.

Our brother did not escape domestic trials. Affliction invaded his habitation,

and sometimes it came in its severer forms. These visitations painfully affected him, for he was no stoic; still the grace of Christ was sufficient for him, and amidst all he possessed his soul in patience, casting his care upon God, who, he knew, cared for him.

As a member of the Church, he was perhaps more a man of peace than zeal. Still he could not be designated an idler. He might work in a different department, and after a different manner to some; but by occupying various posts of usefulness, he showed that quietness is not always inaction. For a number of years he held the office of Circuit steward, and was the acting trustee for Radford chapel, as long as his health would permit him to discharge his duties. Nor did he omit to give, as well as do. His house was ever open to ministers and friends, and their entertainment was always cordial and sincere. He was likewise ready to help the cause in times when pecuniary help was required.

In his personal experience he was a man of very humble views. Very far was he from thinking more highly of himself than he ought to think, but walking humbly, he walked surely; and after starting for heaven when a boy, his feet were still found in the good way when he was well stricken in years; while in his latter end he had the satisfaction to reflect that from that way he had never departed. For sixty years continuously was he preserved with his face Zionward.

Though exemplifying diligence in business, our brother loved retirement, he loved his Bible, and he loved prayer. In the law of the Lord he meditated both day and night. For the last few years of his life, being exempt from the cares and duties of business, he gave himself up almost entirely to spiritual exercises, and most of his time was spent between the sanctuary and the closet. But this was not the commencing of a new course of life with him, it was only carrying to a greater length what he had practised for years. He always began the day devotionally, and during its progress his conversation was in heaven. He lived in the spirit of the Psalmist's prayer, "Lord, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is, that I may know how frail I am." In his correspondence with his son, Mr. Thomas Kirk, of London, extending over many years, he never allowed his letters to be mere business ones; religion, the life of God in the soul of man, is almost invariably

introduced; and ordinary events, whether occurring in his own family or in society at large, are commented upon in a pious spirit. We give one or two extracts to show what spirit he was of:

"Siekness and death fly all around. How needful to be always ready! I wish to be more in earnest for the salvation of my own soul, and also the souls of my own family."

The following exemplifies the interest he took in the spiritual well-being of his family. "I received your letter with one of your brother Edward's inclosed, and I am thankful that you sent it, as I never had the pleasure of seeing it before. I read it with emotions of joy intermixed with grief; with joy, because I was assured that he was in a fit state to leave this world, and with grief, because it brought to my remembrance that I was bereaved of him. But I will not repine; good is the will of the Lord. Mr. R. called upon me the same day you sent me the letter, I gave it him to read, and he actually wept for joy. He said he remembered the time well, and that Edward was at that time a very diffe. rent person to what he was before. He became at once a zealous Christian, exercised himself at the prayer-meetings, and went about to seek for those in distress, and prayed for their conversion. At that time he had a clear evidence of his being truly sanctified to God. may we all partake of the same spirit, and end our days triumphant, as he did."

Oh

Under another date, he writes: "I am thankful that your soul is alive to its best interests. This is the chief concern. Oh that I was more zealous for God's cause, and that I could constantly live in the spirit of faith and prayer! Oh that I might always live near the cross, and experience its power till I have obtained a complete victory over the world and sin!"

Subsequently he thus advises his son: "I would have you be employed in the cause, and if you see it your duty to take the office of leader, do not fail to do so, for you cannot be employed in a better work than that of leading souls to heaven. If the way is open, take it in the strength of the Lord. I wish that my life had been spent more in his service. Time is short; we shall soon have done with our opportunities of doing good. May the Lord help us to work for eternity!"

The following was written after symptoms of approaching decay and dissolution began to show themselves. "I was

so poorly yesterday that I was compelled to go to bed after dinner, and to-day I have not been out at all. My cough is very troublesome, and I am afraid as I am affected thus early it will be of long continuance; but the will of the Lord be done, and I pray that I may be resigned to his will in all things. I feel that I have many privileges and many blessings, and pray that I may not be one of those slothful servants who hid their

Lord's money. Time is on the wing, and it is necessary that we should be up and doing. My life appears but as a dream, and if I should live to the age of the patriarch, I could say like him, 'Few and evil have the years of my life been.' When I try to enumerate a few incidents of my life, they seem like a tale that is told. My memory is weak, and indeed all my faculties are rapidly declining, which is an indication that this tottering tabernacle will soon be dissolved. May I have a house eternal in the heavens !"

The indisposition here referred to proved to be the commencement of a serious illness, concerning which in his next letter, he writes: "I little thought when I last wrote you, three weeks since, that I should so soon be placed in such imminent danger; but it was the Lord's will to show me how frail I am, and to wean my affections from the present world, and fix them on the momentous concerns of eternity. While we have to do with the present world, it requires much watchfulness, and frequent and ardent prayer, to have a sense of God's presence with us. Since I have been confined, I have had many opportunities of reading, meditation, and prayer, which I have found very profitable." He then speaks of having read the memoir of Dr. Payson, and of the peace of mind he enjoyed under the most excruciating sufferings. "When I read such accounts," he adds, "my heart as it were melts within me, and they give me to see what enjoyments I have lost in not living nearer to my Redeemer. I frequently am inclined to think there never was a thorough work of grace upon my heart, or I should have been more zealous to bring souls to Christ. This may be a temptation, but of this I am sure, I have lived far beneath my privileges, and, by God's help, I intend to begin afresh to serve him."

This extract is another illustration of the remark often made, that on the review of life our regrets never are that we have lived too near to God, or done too much for his cause, but that our

short-comings and failures have been so many.

If our brother had doubts of his gracious state, he was the only one that entertained them, and with him they were only occasional visitants, and the result, in all probability, of bodily weakness and decay. He was now drawing very near to his end. Repeated strokes of paralysis shattered his frame, and somewhat impaired his intellectual powers. He was, however, to the last, able to attend God's house, and enjoy the service. On Sunday, Jan. 12, he attended Parliament-street Chapel both morning and evening, and the next morning he joined heartily in prayer with the Rev. M. Mills, who called upon him. In a subsequent part of the day, the final summons came. He had another apoplectic seizure, after which he was never able distinctly to articulate, but rapidly sank into the arms of death. He expired January 18, 1851.

In concluding this brief-too briefnotice of our respected brother, I must say that he was held in esteem, not only in the Church, but by all who knew him. He was without guile and malice; the strictest integrity marked his conduct, and the law of kindness was ever on his lips. In a word, he was in a Christian sense a good man; and having lived to the Lord, he has now entered into rest.

His death was improved to a large audience in Parliament-street Chapel, Nottingham. J. H.

MRS. ALLBUTT, OF HANLEY. On the 18th of December last died, aged 73, Sidney, the wife of Mr. Allbutt, of Hanley, in the Staffordshire Potteries. For sixty years she had been a consistent member of the Church of Christ, and for about fifty years of that time was in communion with the Methodist New Connexion.

The life of a pious female who never left the privacy of the domestic circle can scarcely be expected to furnish striking incidents for the pen of a biographer; and the retiring disposition of the subject of this notice would have led her to wish no other mention of her departure than that "she died in faith," "looking for a better country, that is a heavenly;" and yet we cannot forbear bestowing something more than a passing notice on the exchange of worlds by one whose religion was of a highly practical character, as a wife, a mother and a Christian; and who, moreover, enjoyed a large share of

the affection of many of our old ministers and their beloved partners, who have preceded her in the passage over Jordan.

Being blessed with a pious mother, who brought her up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, she was early the subject of religious convictions, and at the age of thirteen years she made a decided profession of faith in the Redeemer by uniting herself with the Methodist Society at Cherry-street Chapel, Birmingham. To her dying day she rejoiced that she had thus early consecrated her life to God, and loved to repeat the following lines, usually sung at the annual "renewal of the covenant:"—

Oh, happy day that fixed my choice
On thee, my Saviour and my God!
Well may this longing heart rejoice,

And tell its raptures all abroad. She always cherished grateful feelings for the spiritual benefits derived from the many means of grace which were in those days enjoyed by the Methodists, dwelling with peculiar pleasure on the five o'clock Sunday-morning services as a valuable preparative for the duties of the Sabbath; and on the class-meeting and the weekevening service as resting-places upon which the soul could for awhile rise superior to worldly affairs, and recruit itself by Christian fellowship for renewed progress on the heavenward journey. At this time, also, she was privileged to hear the words of life from the lips of some of the fathers of Methodism, whose piety, devotedness and zeal, often furnished her favourite topics of conversation in late years.

On her marriage she removed from Birmingham to the Staffordshire Potteries. This was shortly after the division in the Methodist Societies in 1798; and as her husband joined the New Connexion, she considered that her path of duty lay in the same direction. She felt it a painful trial to part company with the endeared friends with whom she had so often taken sweet counsel, and who had been her companions to the house of God. The change also appeared to involve some temporal sacrifices to a young couple just setting out in life, but it was made on principle, and there is every reason to think it was over-ruled for good.

Business engagements and active service as a local preacher, for many years occupied so much of her husband's time that the moral and religious training of a numerous family was necessarily left greatly to her care. Here her conduct was exemplary. "The heart of her husband safely trusted in her," that she

would "guide her affairs with discretion" and "command her household after her." In her domestic rule, there was not precept only but example: an example of tender conscientiousness, of strict rectitude, of humble piety and earnest usefulness. Her conduct was regulated by the golden rule of doing to others as she would that others should do to her; and so far as she sought to influence by words, it might be said that" she opened her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue was the law of kindness."

She never would relax that bond of family union and order-regular family worship. She did not excuse herself from conducting it when her husband was unavoidably absent. From the first erection of the family altar, the morning and evening sacrifice suffered no intermission.

The imparting of religious instruction to her children began with their earliest years. "Soon as the infant lips could speak," they were taught words of prayer and praise, and were led to talk of the joys of heaven and the things which make for everlasting peace.

Reverence for the Sacred Scriptures, the sanctity of the Sabbath and the ordinances of religion, were most carefully inculcated and sin most faithfully reproved.

To her servants she was a kind mistress. She took an interest in both their temporal and spiritual welfare, as members of her family, and set apart a portion of her time for teaching them to read and write, and bestowing friendly warning, reproof, or advice.

Self-denial was a marked feature of her character. She denied herself, that she might the more abundantly administer to the wants of others. There was always some little saving going on for a benevolent purpose; and her alms were given unostentatiously and with discrimination. She delighted chiefly to minister to the necessities of saints, but she was not exclusive in her charities; and, while health permitted, she constantly visited the sick and afflicted at their own dwellings.

Lastly, her religious opinions were not sectarian. She loved the whole household of faith, and gladly listened to the Gospel wherever and by whomsoever preached; sympathizing warmly with the missionary efforts of all evangelical denominations, and contributing in some degree to the funds of each. Especially she longed for the restoration of Israel, and the societies for the conversion of the Jews had her zealous aid.

Let it not be supposed that the hand of affection only draws this pleasing portrait. One now a minister of the Gospel, who resided several years in her family, writes of her death, "I feel as though it were a loss affecting myself. True, our social intercourse has been interrupted for many long years; but I have never failed to remember her with affection and esteem. Her personal appearance, her domestic activities, her general kindness, her "faith unfeigned," are all fresh in my recollection, as I had the opportunity of observing them some thirty years ago, and they embalm her memory now that she is gone from among us." It is not unbecoming, therefore, to record the practical goodness that made her beloved at home. "Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." "A woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." (Proverbs xxxi.)

Her health, which had gradually declined for two years past, became seriously impaired early last summer. From this time she was severely affiicted; and not the least of her trials was being debarred from the means of grace, on which for so long she had been a regular attendant. She was, however, comforted by the visits of pious friends, which raised her drooping spirits and helped to keep her mind (naturally prone to despondency) fixed on the Rock of Ages.

The last scene was hastened on by an attack of influenza early in December, and for a fortnight she endured a great fight of affliction, during which, at times, her faith seemed to fail under the pressure of bodily suffering, and occasionally she lost that sense of acceptance with God through Christ which she had hitherto possessed. If one day she could say, "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth," at other times she would exclaim, "Show me wherefore thou contendest with me.' Generally, however, she rejoiced in full assurance; and often she repeated,

My soul, through my Redeemer's care,

Saved from the second death I feel, My eyes from tears of dark despair, My feet from falling into hell; Wherefore to him my feet shall run, My eyes on his perfections gaze; My soul shall live to God alone,

And all within me shout his praise.

After a period of depression, she was soothed, on the Sabbath before her death, by hearing from across the street

the singing from the congregation at the Bethesda Chapel. "Heavenly music," she called it; and it seemed to attune her own mind to praise the goodness and mercy which had followed her all the days of her life, and to rejoice in the hope that soon she should "dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." But she had yet again to pass through deep waters, and, like Bunyan's pilgrim, she almost despaired of reaching the promised land, and dwelling in the New Jerusalem. It required the earnest exercise of Christian affection to convince her that "these troubles and distresses were no sign that God had forsaken her, but were sent to try her, whether she would call to mind that which she had heretofore received of his goodness, and to live upon him in her distresses." Presently she realized the promise, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." And thus, like Christian, "she found ground to stand upon, and the rest of the river was but shallow." As she approached nearer the heavenly shores, the coming glory seemed to dawn upon her; and at last, without fear or pain, she stepped out of Jordan into Canaan, and became an inhabitant of Zion. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord."

JAMES MARKS.

OUR departed brother was born at Bradford, in Yorkshire, on the 8th of March, 1795. While a child his parents came to reside at Oldham, in Lancashire; and being members of the Wesleyan body, he was blessed with parental nurture, and regularly attended the house of God and the Sabbath-school connected therewith. Thus far was the boy kept under control. But his mother dying in 1813, and his father marrying against the will of his children, James burst the bonds of parental authority, yielded to the lusts of the flesh, and became associated with all manner of evil; but especially was he guilty of the sin of drunkenness. James being addicted to this vice was exposed to the drunkard's dangers. One night the poisonous cup had been so freely indulged in that, while at the bottom of the moor, he lost all knowledge of his true position. In this unhappy state he wandered far away, not knowing whither he went, and was only restored to self-possession by falling headlong into the broad river in Saddleworth. Such was the depth and coldness of the bath, that the fear excited led him to make a sudden effort to turn round, and

by that means a gracious Providence restored him to dry land again. But unconscious in what part of the world he was, and surrounded by the dark veil of night, he hastened to the first light he saw, which was at the bar-house; here James was not so readily received as he expected, the toll-keeper judging him to be some evil-disposed person. After gaining admittance, however, he was received with great kindness; for the good man of the house, having some acquaintance with his father, James was soon stripped of his wet clothes, and he retired to rest. To this period of his life he would often refer; and with a heart bounding with gratitude would praise Almighty God for preserving him from a watery grave.

About this period the Spirit of God so powerfully worked upon his mind that often he was afraid of retiring to rest, lest Satan should by night hurry him to hell! The distress of mind he endured at this time no tongue can tell. In the year 1816 he took an important step by entering the married state. Yet, like thousands of our unhappy race, he continued to bow at the shrine of drunkenness. But the gracious Spirit of all goodness repeated his visits, and in about a year after James began to inquire "what he must do to be saved." A few of our members, hearing of his state of mind, took him by the hand to hear the word preached. While sitting in the house of prayer, he wept much on account of his transgressions; and at a band-meeting shortly after, so great was his agony, that though his chains fell off, and his soul found liberty, yet was he unable to rise from his knees without help; being "justified by faith, he had peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," and returned home rejoicing. Upon his arrival, observing a great change in her husband, his good wife inquired "what was to do." James sat silent. After a while, taking her by the hand, he said, iu a solemn tone, "Wilt thou go with me to heaven? for if thou wilt not go with me to heaven, I will not go with thee to hell!" At once James united with our people in this town. The little flock was then only nine in number, yet in Greaves-street this small company met together to worship the Father in spirit and in truth. However, the little band had not been long in this room before the owner of the premises considered they had committed an unpardonable sin, for which he ordered them to quit the place. It appears the offence was committed at a love-feast, held on a