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our chapel the next day (Sabbath); but he did not fulfil his solemn promise. The Tuesday morning following he was counted unworthy of any more offers of grace. That awful truth, Behold the figtree which Thou cursedst, O Lord, is withered away,' is again verified. There is a general gloom created throughout the town at the awful event."

We may well say "Lord what is man!" and again, "All flesh is grass, and all the glory of man is as the flower of the field." I see death continually so near me that I am lost in astonishment daily at finding myself alive; so many of my acquaintance dropping off continually on the right hand and on the left,

"I scarce believe I still survive."

Six thousand corpses, at least, have been interred in Warminster church-yard since I have lived! I do not so much regard dying on my own account, but I cannot yet desire it, on account of the needy cause at the Common. I sometimes go mourning all the day long, fearing that their poverty, as it respects this world, will cause them hereafter to be neglected in spiritual things. Again, our little society live in love, zeal, and unity, and we cannot spare one member: we have therefore continual need of putting in a special plea in the court above, that judicial proceedings may not issue against any of us yet. And we trust that long-sparing mercy will not be lost sight of by any of us. We all seem desirous of toiling a little longer together in the kingdom and patience of Jesus, before we go hence to be no more seen: and we seem to have more work to do. Lord, in Thy sovereign hands are the issues from death; hear we humbly beseech Thee, our prayer, and let our cry come up to Thee. Spare Thy people and bless Thine heritage, govern them and lift them up for ever. let us live, so will we glorify thy name. N.B.-The prayer was answered.

At the chapel all goes on well, we have not lost of our glorying in the Lord. Nothing is yet

any

doing as it regards the new church: the vicar says that in every thing else he succeeds easily, but as it respects this transaction, obstacles are always intervening.

I have lately painfully witnessed two cases where, after living and walking in the ways of God for forty or fifty years; the parties acted, to say the best of it, very foolishly if not sinfully, and thus dishonored the blessed cause which they had so long espoused. Does not this make one fear the of old age? consequences Whether these events are owing to decayed or decaying faculties, or other infirmities, He only knows who knows all things; and probably aged people only know aged people's circumstances. Lord save us for thy mercies' sake. We had better die than dishonor thy name and cause! Read LUKE xvii. 1, 2.

"November 11th, 1829. This morning departed this life our aged father and friend Mr. James Ludlow. For a long period he cordially supported Methodism in this town, and occasionally officiated as a local preacher. When we were separated from the Methodist society, and had no place of refuge, he kindly provided two places of worship for us at the Common, and preached there himself as often as his health would permit: and the people loved him. I can never forget his christian kindness manifested to me and to the cause of God in times of persecution. He was a sincere lover of my soul; his counsel and sympathy, when I so much needed help, were always at hand: for more than twenty-five years my affection remained undissembled and unabated; and I owe, and shall for ever owe, to him and also to Mrs. Ludlow, a large spiritual debt, which this record can but feebly pay.

"November 12th, 1829. This evening we began at the chapel the children's experience-meeting, in the same way as is recorded Dec. 1, 1822, with only this difference, the reward for saying a hymn or portion of scripture is only a halfpenny instead of a penny; this plan makes the stock hold out longer. We are obliged to adopt this mode because the children come in such

numbers. At first I thought of limiting it to our own people's children, but this was overruled by other assistance coming forward. About sixty children attended the first evening: we hope to continue it at least for a few months during the winter. Our chief object is, personally to apply divine truths to the children's hearts; so every one is questioned as to whether he or she prays daily-whether he loves to hear or read the bible-whether he thinks of Jesus Christ-of God's law-of his own soul-of heaven, hell, eternity, &c.-whether he abstains from bad words and actions, from Sabbath-breaking-whether he honors his father and mother, &c.? Now this is properly speaking, religious education, which certainly is the only essential education. If we can succeed here the work is done. It is truly lamentable to see how much depravity still prevails among educated Sundayschool children. We certainly do not not want learned but virtuous children. By far the greater part of the poor must inevitably be poor still; they must be laborers. No education whatever will exempt them from partaking deeply of the original sentence, 'In the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread.' It is only sweet religion that softens and sanctifies their daily toil: give them this, and you give them all in all.

Great Shepherd and Bishop of Souls, we humbly beseech Thee to bless this work; sanctify both it and us; still suffer the little children to come unto Thee and to us, and forbid them not! Cause their hearts to burn within them while we are talking together by the way, and while we are endeavouring to open to them the scriptures. Thou hast said of such is the kingdom of heaven;' so be it Lord,-let that kingdom now appear in their hearts and ours, and we will bless Thee and bless them. It is all we want. Amen."

CHAPTER XIII.

PAROCHIAL STRIFE AS TO ALTERING THE PROPOSED SITE OF THE NEW CHURCH, THE LAYING THE FOUNDATION THEREOF;

INFANT BAPTISM COMMENCED AT THE CHAPEL; AND FEARFUL RIOTING AMONG THE LABOURERS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.

"DECEMBER 10th, 1829. There is at present a great agitation in the minds of the leading inhabitants of this town, owing to the following circumstance. The vicar has given notice of a public meeting to be held on Monday next, with a view to alter what has so long been agreed on, namely, the proposed purchased site of the intended new church. The committee have disagreed among themselves; the subject therefore is to be referred to a general meeting. The vicar says that he must build it in the centre of the Common. That he is sure it will never answer the desired end to build it at Sambourne; that is, he must come nearer to us than at first he intended. His opponents say, No! it shall be nearer the town, if altered at all. Hence a schism is already begun, how it will end nobody knows. It is all your fault,' say they, 'for had you not built a chapel the vicar would not have wanted a church!' To help them in this dilemma, the vicar's opponents have proposed to borrow or to buy our chapel (that is, I suppose, if they can) for the use of the vicar, and thus end the controversy. Indeed they have gone so far as to say that the vicar fears our growing success, and therefore he intends to come to close quarters in the business. Circulars are rapidly issuing from the press, pro and con., on the

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subject. Both parties are powerful and (they say) obstinate: unprofitable strife is already generated and more is expected. We have agreed to take no part whatever therein, but carefully to watch unto prayer every moment, casting all our care on Almighty God, who we trust cares for us. The words of the first lesson read last Sunday morning abide with me[ISAIAH V. 1,] 'My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill, and he fenced it, &c.' The words ' and he fenced it' have a lively cheering influence on my mind: divine light shows me that while the vineyard is fruitful, God will surely fence it. We therefore, all of us, keep at our post continually, trusting alone in the Captain of our Salvation and working with all our might; and although the darts are flying backwards and forwards, not one of them is as yet aimed direct at us. In this transaction, this, I say, is to be steadily our motto throughout, humblewatchful-quiet. Heavenly Father, we humbly beseech Thee, to keep through Thy own name, them that have believed on Thee in the world. Continually hide us in Thy pavilion.

'Make us, O uniting Son,

One, as Thou and He are one.'

The children's experience-meeting goes on well, from eighty to a hundred attend, all saying out of book a hymn or chapter. We all rejoice in the work, we hope that it is the Lord's, and ever will be. O for more grace and for all love."

"December 13th, 1829. Improved the death of Mrs. Frances Jervis, widow, aged seventy-four, from the following text (one of her dying expressions), 2 TIM. iv. 7, 8., 'I have fought the good fight, &c.' She was one of the members of the Methodist society who first took me by the hand, and watched over me, and fed me with the sincere milk of the word, when I was a feeble lamb, unable (spiritually) to feed and protect myself: so I am under personal obligations to her to a large amount. I gladly therefore bestowed