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ual enjoyment, through his instrumentality. Rarely, it would seem, did he preach without some visible good being done. He was the means of saving scores, if not hundreds, of souls, by leading them to the Lamb of God; and some of the spiritual offspring thus given him have already recognized and greeted him on "the eternal shore."

About 1858 my father removed from Kirkby-Malzeard to Huddersfield, where he laboured as class-leader, local preacher, and in other ways, in the Buxton-Road Circuit. After a two years' residence at Huddersfield, he was induced to repair to Manchester, to undertake an agency; and here he remained up to the time of his death. While in Manchester he identified himself with the Society and congregation associated with the New Islington chapel, in the Grosvenor-Street Circuit. The years he spent in connection with this Circuit, and in the surrounding district, were amongst the most important of his life. Many and various were the objects he sought constantly to promote; such as the preaching of the Gospel, prayer, class and cottage-meetings, Bible-classes, and Sunday-schools; and these occupied all the time he could spare from his daily duties. He was especially active on the Sabbath, which often was with him the busiest day of the week. He was "diligent in business," yet "fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,"a fine example of Christian activity and earnestness.

By nature his constitution was robust and vigorous, particularly in the earlier years of his life; but for some time prior to his death he was not strong. This was owing chiefly to an accident which befell him whilst residing at Kirkby. Malzeard, and to the circumstance that Manchester never suited his health. For eighteen months he was almost wholly laid aside from active engagements; various causes operating to bring about that fatal issue, carrying sorrow to many hearts, which took place on Monday morning, April 5th, 1869, when he exchanged mortality for life, aged fifty-three years.

In the prospect of death my father was calm. He did not in his last hours converse much on his religious state, in consequence of severe pain; but there was no need that he should: his life had declared the power of the "Gospel of the grace of God," and he had been a faithful witness for Christ, a "living epistle, known and read of all men." A short time before his departure he said to his wife, "I am going." "Yes," she replied, "going to heaven;" to which he rejoined, "Praise the Lord, I am!" At times, when the pain which he suffered was extreme, the ejaculation, "Lord, help me!" escaped his lips. He often asked his wife to aid him in keeping his mind "stayed on God," and in "perfect peace:" "Yes," said he, "that is it; perfect peace." The words, "Come,

Lord Jesus, come quickly!" concluded his utterances of prayer and hope, and brought his earthly pleadings to a close. His death took place sooner than was expected. He was not worse in health than he had been for some time, until twelve o'clock on Sunday night, when he began rapidly to decline. At half-past two the "weary wheels of life stood still," and his emancipated spirit, freed from the encumbrances of the flesh, rose to the everlasting mansions of the redeemed.

Having given a brief sketch of his life, we may now mention a few of those traits of my father's character for which he was remarkable.

1. He was a man of much prayer.

"Thrice blest, whose lives are faithful prayers,

Whose loves in higher love endure;

Whose souls possess themselves so pure,

Or is there blessedness like theirs?"

To come to the throne of grace was his delight: he could not breathe freely and fully anywhere else. Here was his life's spring, his life's happiness. Often did he wield the power of prayer with strange and wondrous effect. From the date of his conversion to God, it was his wont to rise at midnight, in order to hold intercourse with his Heavenly Father. Three times a-day did he bow the knee at the family-altar, offering up thanksgivings and intercessions for himself, his household, and "all men." His "effectual fervent" petitions have often been answered: it is confidently believed, by the members of his family, that one of the children was raised up from the very brink of death as the effect of his earnest supplications.

2. He was scrupulously conscientious. It was his constant aim to have "a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men." In him the "moral sense" was very susceptible, and would not allow him to tread on doubtful ground. His endea vour was, not to calculate how far he might go without doing wrong, but to keep as much out of danger as possible by invariably doing what was right. He was just, straightforward, honest,-a specimen of what Christian business-men ought to be, especially in these days of loose commercial morality, worldly speculation, and craving for wealth. He would rather wrong himself than others; and he no doubt at times suffered, in a pecuniary point of view, through his strict adherence to honesty and truth. But in so doing he had a rich reward in himself; and his own peace of mind was more precious than "thousands of gold and silver." The eulogy of a popular writer, pronounced upon one who was dear to him, may be quoted as appropriate in relation to my father: "He was a man into the four corners of whose house

there had shined, through his pilgrimage by day and by night, the light of the glory of God. Like Enoch of old, he had walked with God,' and at the last he was not; for God took him.' If I could only see such men now,-men of fearless truth and simple faith,— with such firmness in holding on to the things which they believe; in saying and doing only what they thought was right; in seeing and hating the thing they felt was wrong, I should have far more hope for this British nation, and, indeed, for the world at large." Here may be inserted also a characteristic letter from Mr. Edward Brooke, of Huddersfield, not long since passed away, whose friend he was for many years. Mr. Brooke says, "He was one of the best of men, kind, honest, just, sincere, and upright in all his dealings. As a Christian, he was one of the best men I ever knew; I know of no man like him at the present day,-a great deal to say; but I repeat it, I don't. I was particularly attached to him, and he to me, to the last."

3. But the foundation of all his other excellencies was, his deep, uniform piety. Goodness and usefulness, rather than greatness, were his constant aim and his deliberate choice. And truly he chose the "better part." No one who conversed with him could fail to see that he was "a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost." The path in which he moved was "as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." He loved to get near to God, and Christ, and heaven-to walk on the threshold of paradise and breathe the atmosphere of heaven. Christian light, love, and power, were the elements which went to make up a character symmetrical and beautiful. Temptation seemed to have little or no power over him : the world appeared dead to him, and he to it; and his faith was strong-" strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

It may not be inappropriate here to insert a few passages from a diary that he occasionally kept, which will serve to illustrate many of the foregoing statements. These extracts refer chiefly to the later years of his life. Much more than has been preserved was written in earlier years; but it has been misplaced or lost.

"January 15th, 1868.-I herewith express my gratitude to Almighty God for His preserving and watchful care over me through another year of my mortal life. It has been a year of great trial, personal affliction, and family bereavement-of a beloved son. Yet in my greatest distress proportionate grace has been bestowed, and I raise my 'Ebenezer' and say, 'Hitherto hath the Lord helped me.' In the strength of grace I do dedicate myself afresh to God, and will live henceforth to His glory, seeking for yet higher attainments in holiness, that I may be filled with all the fulness of

God.' Glory be to God! O, my Father, preserve me unto eternal life!......

"I lift my eyes of faith to the gracious, bleeding Lamb, and claim Him as my only, but all-sufficient, Saviour. By His grace I dedicate myself, body, soul, and spirit, a living sacrifice' to God and His service. And now glory be to Thee, O thou Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Do Thou preserve me blameless unto eternal life!"

Again he writes, early in January, 1865 :-"Many are the mercies, temporal and spiritual, which I have received from Thee, O Lord! I must acknowledge that I have done very little in return, little even compared with what I desired to do. But Thou hast enabled me, though feebly, to work for Thee.......... My soul crieth out for the living God;' yea, for all His fulness cries.' Amid trials and tribulations I have been enabled to urge on my way, and by a naked faith' I have trusted in the blood of the Lamb. Whilst I write, my soul is fired within me.......Many have been the foul temptations of Satan; many from the world; and many from quarters where least expected; but,

'Like Moses' bush, I'll mount the higher,

And flourish unconsum'd in fire.'"

From several other records, bearing various dates in 1866-7, I select the following sentences -"May God wash me in His cleansing blood from every stain, stamp His image on my heart, and fill me with Himself!...... May it please Thee, O Thou blessed God, to accept of me, for Christ's sake. Glory be to Thee, O Father, for the precious blood of Jesus Christ Thy Son, which I claim, and which cleanseth' me from all sin !'......Lord, enlarge my heart, and

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'Let all my powers Thine entrance feel,
And deeper stamp Thyself the seal.""

Under date of April, 1864, he says, "I, Francis Tesseyman, subscribe to the Jubilee Fund the sum of five pounds, for myself, wife, and family,-five on earth, and three in heaven. This I do for the following reasons:- For my creation and preservation; for my conversion to God; for His preserving me in the faith; for His again and again raising me from a bed of sickness; for His giving me a son to preach His Gospel; and, above all, for the great love of Christ to me and to all men."

4. As a preacher he was practical, affectionate, and earnest, ever seeking the salvation of sinners and the edification of the Church of God. He shunned everything approaching to display in the pulpit. Often has he urged the writer of these pages to "preach Christ only, Christ earnestly, Christ fully." All kinds of subjects

were brought forward by him in his discourses; he taught, exhorted, and warned, declaring "all the counsel of God." His preaching was sometimes impassioned, and always impressive; and good almost invariably resulted therefrom. He had a passion for saving souls; and often has he exclaimed: "If I had a thousand tongues, they should all be engaged in praising God, and making known the knowledge of His salvation."

"Being dead," my father "yet speaketh" by an earnest and laborious Christian life, by a consistent example, and by a triumphant death. He was faithful to God, and God was faithful to him. "Usefulness, holiness, happiness," were the three steps by which he wished to ascend to heaven. To him earth was but an ante-chamber where he might robe himself for the splendours of the holy city and the palace of the great King. His whole earthly course proclaimed, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." When the summons for his departure arrived he was not surprised. "I am ready to be offered," was legibly and unmistakably written on his brow; "Christ in him, the hope of glory," was to the end the abiding treasure of his heart. Thus, when the Master called, he was enabled to say, "Here I am; 'Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!'"

"WHOM DO MEN SAY THAT I THE SON OF MAN AM?"

(MATTHEW XVI. 13-19.)

THE life of the Lord Jesus was characterized by several clearlymarked periods; and on close inspection it is obvious that those periods were not only recognized, but were regulated, by Himself. They indicate the points of arrival and departure in the development of His purposes in relation to the instruction of His disciples, and the accomplishment of His redeeming work. The influence of His person, His teaching, and His miracles, had produced in Galilee an amount of enthusiastic admiration which threatened to involve Him in political complications, and from the midst of which it was necessary for Him to retire. Hence His journey to the north, along the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and castward, by the sources of the Jordan, to the neighbourhood of Cæsarea Philippi. In this seclusion He avoided those public demonstrations in His favour which a continuance of His work in Galilee was likely to produce. Having awakened an intense interest concerning Himself, He removed from the scene, that calmer reflection on the part of the people might lead to a sounder judgment respecting His character and actions. The disciples also required

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