were, in the strain of their address, "unlearned men." They had to commune with the common people, and to instruct them in the first principles of the oracles of God. Repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ were the almost exclusive topics of appeal; for as wise master builders, they laid the foundation broad and deep in those fundamental verities of the Christian faith. I have often been roused to admiration by the homely feeling, the simple phraseology, the conversational flow, the affable grace with which my venerable father was wont to preach the gospel unto the poor. I recal particularly the occasions, when quite a boy, I have attended him on the week evenings to preach in the houses of the neighbouring villages. How apt was he to teach there; and to condescend to men of low estate; and to proclaim the glad tidings of the kingdom of heaven! His Methodistic simplicity of discourse, into which he was initiated at the beginning, was never relinquished. As he aimed at nothing "too wonderful for him," so he shunned that abuse of plainness, which descends to the trifling and the low. Frivolity and jocoseness he deemed unbecoming the grave responsibilities of the pulpit. He conjoined simplicity with godly sincerity. And he that had ears to hear, could not refuse to understand. His heart always warmed with his work. He had a zeal for God; and the service of the sanctuary was conducted with a fervent spirit. Perhaps he sometimes passed the limit which prudence and good taste would prescribe. I have heard him, when I have trembled lest the strong man should be instantly bowed down, so intensely excited and enthusiastic was he. Whether in the body or out of the body, I verily believe he could not tell. But he was evidently caught up into heavenly places. Such a door of utterance, such a height of exultation, such a revealment of celestial glory, that the congregation, as if animated by one spirit, and overshadowed by the power of the Highest, have audibly responded to the mighty energy of saving truth. His voice favoured the feeling that glowed within him, so that as he spake the fire burned. No chapel so large that he could not with perfect ease penetrate and fill. And it remained firm and unimpaired to the last. His devotional exercises were extraordinary examples of fervent, effectual prayer. He poured out his soul before God. He came with boldness to the Throne of Grace. The frigid reciter of "a beautiful form of prayer," would have been shocked at the freedom and ardour with which he urged his suit. But the Christian is a privileged man. He is a citizen of no mean city. He may draw near unto God. He may come even to his seat. He may enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus. His name is no more called Jacob, but Israel, for as a prince he has power with God to prevail. I have His sermons were richly stored with evangelical matter. admitted that he was unversed in the lore of the schools. And, it may be further conceded, that he was not familiar with the discoveries of science; with those marvellous phenomena, which natural philosophy and metaphysical investigation have disclosed. An acquaintance with these may now be said to be indispensable to any minister who regards himself as "set for the defence of the gospel," inasmuch as the present age is "better" than "the former times," not merely in the improved wants and enlarged expectations of the hearers, but in the amazing facilities that are afforded to enable the preacher abundantly to meet them. My father, therefore, untaught in the wisdom of this world, was the more restricted to the original and inexhaustible resources of the sacred book. Of its precious contents he was a daily reader, a diligent student, a reverent disciple, and a faithful witness too. He quite delighted, after citing the opinions of false prophets and seducing spirits, to magnify the sayings of this book, and to confront the adversary with, "Thus saith the Lord." Chiefly, however, did he exemplify the apostolic protestation :-" God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." The dignity of that sufferer, the sufficiency of that atonement, the appalling grandeur, the demonstrated divinity of "that sight," were the sublime themes upon which he habitually discoursed, and which elevated his conceptions to their loftiest reach. The cross was to him the focal point, where alone all the perfections of the Godhead converged and harmonized; and Calvary, the "lovely, mournful" spot, where alone, God the offended lawgiver, and the avenging judge, was revealed as a just God and a Saviour. Of the innumerable texts from which he preached, there is but one that I can positively say was an everlasting favourite with him, and it was the joyful acclaim :-"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but have everlasting life." When applying this passage he seldom omitted to quote the bard of night; and, at this moment, the ringing tones of his sonorous voice are present with me, as I fancy I hear him rehearse the lines : "Talk they of morals? oh! thou bleeding Lamb, Thou Maker of new morals to mankind, The grand morality is love of Thee!" He excelled as a "son of consolation." In Methodist terminology, his preaching was mainly experimental. The Christian life, the life "hid with Christ in God," the believer as a stranger and sojourner, "persecuted but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed," he depicted with intense feeling and with individual application. He thus intermeddled with the heart's sweetest and saddest emotions; and never did good Samaritan pour in oil and wine with tenderer care or more encouraging tone than he. The beautiful words in 1 Peter v. 10 were repeatedly selected when he designed to comfort them who were in any trouble, and a few months before his departure I heard him in Salem Chapel, Manchester, draw water, with great joy, from this well of salvation. He preached for immediate effect. He earnestly proclaimed a present and a full salvation. Now, now-behold now-were the terms in which he pleaded with the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell among them. And how solemnly did he warn those, who, being often reproved, might suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. And with what yearning sympathy did he direct and console the trembling penitent, "Fear not, I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. Come, for all things are now ready." He occasionally wound up in vindication of his own fidelity. "Where fore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." The textual method of handling a subject was, I think, invariably pursued by him. His sermons were written only in outline; but their delivery evinced that "his barns were filled with plenty," and that he spake out of the abundance of the heart. The few minutes before he left his study were always spent in communion with the Lord of the harvest. As a pastor intending by that term the care which a minister cherishes for his flock at their own homes-I have no fear of awarding to my father excessive praise. That which came upon him daily, was the care of all the churches. He not only taught publicly, but from house to house. He went about doing good. The absent members he diligently sought out. The one lost sheep how eagerly did he go after it until he found it! The sick, the infirm, the bereaved-were they hindered on the Sabbath-day from going up to the house of the Lord?—the morning of Monday was sure to bring the sympathizing minister to their solitary and dejected abodes. And the poor-ah! they lost a generous and an unashamed friend when he died! For my father truly considered that the Gospel mission principally regards the humbler classes. They form by far the larger portion of the community; their privations commend them as the preferable objects of benevolent aid; they are expressly entrusted by the Lord of all to the succour and liberality of the Church; and though the skin be tawny, and the accent rude, the same blood-bought spirit indubitably certifies to their high original and destiny. In the administration of the affairs of the Church he was a watchful overseer and a strict disciplinarian. "Let all things be done decently and in order," was a maxim which he thoroughly approved and habitually kept. How much of the improvement, financial as well as spiritual, which generally attended his circuit appointments, might be traced to this source, cannot be told; but we are not ignorant that "confusion," and " every evil work," are in natural league and inseparable compact. His unswerving adherence to the rules and policy of the Connexion sometimes upraised the troubler of Israel, and excited the antipathy of "Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence." At Bolton, where father travelled in the year 1835, and where "the treacherous dealers dealt very treacherously;"-a lofty minister and a lordly layman subsequently agreeing together to alienate the sanctuary, that they might transfer it to other and interested occupants-he had to encounter harsh usage and malicious persecution. But there were true men who disdained to connive at that spoliation, and verily they have had their reward! My father's personal and relative qualities will for ever enshrine his name in the dearest affections of his children. True, it is one of them who bears this testimony, and it will occur to the reader, as it is not overlooked by the writer, that filial relation and attachment will be the ready prompters of a partial and indulgent delineation. Yet, if character is to be fairly portrayed, should there not be the condition of frequent observance and unconstrained intimacy? And if domestic life is to be unveiled, who so competent to attest the virtues of husband and father as one who has mingled in the same scenes, and dwelt in the same sanctuary? As a son, I have a personal interest and gratification in whatever relates to the worth of my glorified parent; but how abashed should I be to perpetrate a single line which the living original did not express and authenticate! Self-denial was a prominent feature in his moral aspect. He pleased not himself. He used to lay great stress on what he called "the first lesson in the school of Christ;"-if any man will be my disciple let him deny himself. And both in his public and private capacity, in every relation and engagement, he rigidly conformed to the Master's great precept. He was temperate in all things. He kept under his body and brought it into subjection; and I lately heard him cite the reason assigned by the apostle, "lest after having preached to others, I myself should become a castaway." He had a manly disdain, no less than a Christian aversion, for the dainties and luxuries of this present evil world. He not only "endured hardness," but admired and cherished it. No doubt herein lay the secret of his continued health, and kindly old age; of his even feeling and genial content. He always rose early and never retired late. He preferred plain food and simple raiment. He avoided all needless and selfish expence. For his children's sake, and for the church's sake, I can testify that comforts and privileges which he ought to have enjoyed, were cheerfully foregone by him. But his tastes were primitive, and he preserved them uncorrupt. He conscientiously abstained from tobacco, snuff, and all intoxicating drinks. The last he did formerly use, but the new light of the Temperance movement induced him to put them entirely away. This happened in the year 1838, when, as the result of a Temperance Meeting held in the Ashton New Connexion Sabbathschool, and at which addresses were delivered by two of his sons, he avowed himself a convert to the principle of Total Abstinence. Not less significant of him was his untiring industry. Bodily and mentally, he was a rare pattern of sustained and blithesome activity. His nimble and rapid walk, after threescore years and ten had ripened him into patriarchal glory, was the surprise of all who saw him. And, it truly indicated the undecayed vigour and liveliness of the inner man. His eye was single, his resources were illimitable; and, impressed with the uncertainty of life, and the responsibilities of its approaching issue, he did practically resolve, "I must work the works of Him that hath sent me while it is day, the night cometh when no man can work." Great, good man! If he had an anxiety, which a sense of duty could not transmute into a spring of delight, it was the apprehension lest, possibly, he might not hold out and labour on to the end! It was painful, sometimes, to hear him reluctantly advert to anticipated cessation and unprofitable retirement. Such was his desire, actively to finish his course; such his disinclination to be burdensome; peradventure too, such was nature's recoil from the sickness that is unto death! "For who, to dumb forgetfulness a prey, This pleasing, anxious being ere resigned, Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind?" The Rev. P. J. Wright has kindly furnished me with the following, which I believe was father's last allusion to this melancholy theme. He writes, "At an early stage of the sittings of Conference (at Longton), I was walking with your venerable father, and amidst other conversation I inquired whether he intended taking another circuit. His reply was, 'Brother Wright, I should like to die in the harness!' Mr. Wright adds, "His wish might have been prophetic. He did die in the harness. Honour to his memory! It is a joy to you to have had such a father, and a joy to the Connexion to have had such a minister." Helpful to his industry, and essential to its beneficial exercise was his love of order and punctuality. The time, the place, the manner, whatever lent propriety and fitness to the performance, were duly appreciated by him. He was not a Methodist in name only, but in Ideed and in truth. He belonged to the original fraternity. His appointments were sacred obligations, and "it is required of a steward that he be faithful in all things." His exactness in commencing public worship at the stated time was everywhere noticed. No matter how few were present, they were entitled to the benefit of their punctuality, while the absentees, who formed in procession during singing and prayer, ought to be reminded, if not reproved, that they were disturbers of the peace and solemnity of God's holy and beautiful house! He possessed a catholic spirit. It was his happiness to begin, continue, and end his ministry in the Methodist New Connexion; and for its doctrines, polity, and worship, he was ever ready to acknowledge a decided preference. His best friends and kindred belonged to the community; he had known and loved it from the beginning; his chief joy flowed from its enlargement and increase; its days of darkness made him exceedingly sorrowful, the reproaches of them that reproached it fell upon him, and when "the boar out of the wood wasted it, he was foremost in the ranks of those who withstood the adversary to the face, and brought to light his mischievous devices. More than this, I should ill-discharge the debt of gratitude I owe to my father's memory did I not here recognize the fact, that his children were trained to value and esteem that religious denomination with which they were identified-to revere its ministers, and delight in its people above any other, and to seek their highest privilege and reward in a steadfast adherence to the faith and hope of their pious progenitors; and his joy was full when he heard of his children walking in the truth. But he had a largeness of heart which embraced all them who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. He rejoiced to extend the right hand of fellowship, and to bid others who followed not him, God speed in the name of the Lord. In domestic life he was a pattern of all the household charities. As a husband and a father the writer would be greatly perplexed to point out a more excellent way than that which he exemplified. He had his children "in subjection," and "he ruled well his own house," but the law of the house was the law of love, and authority derived its constraining efficacy from the conspicuous excellence of his own example. Prompt, not only to relieve but to anticipate every want; |