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their comfort; and in those earlier days of Methodism in that part of the country, his own liberality often prevented the inconveniences which might otherwise have been occasioned by the comparative smallness of the allowances which they received. His love was not merely in word, but in deed.

"From his situation in life, he was soon requested to become a Trustee, which eventually he was for many of the chapels in the vicinity. He was ever among the foremost in devising liberal things for placing the trust-funds in circumstances of at least freedom from such embarrassment as often seriously impedes the advancement of the spiritual prosperity of the congregation. He clearly saw the value of the mode of settling chapels adopted in the Connexion to which he belonged, and would never support any other. He used to say that no persons should be tempted to do wrong by having the power given them to do it. His known integrity and beneficence always gave him great weight in this (as in every other) portion of the services of the church, and secured for him the respect of all who knew how to value wisdom and goodness. In 1830 the trust-concerns of the Knaresborough Circuit were rescued from a state of almost hopeless embarrassment by his liberal contribution towards an effort to pay off a considerable proportion of the chapel-debts. The success of this

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effort encouraged the Trustees in the Tadcaster and Wetherby Circuits to make a similar one, in which he likewise willingly took a part. Indeed, to all the Wesleyan connexional funds he was a liberal contributor. And the blessing of the poor came largely upon him. His active benevolence was a striking feature in his character. sidering his means, and the expense of bringing up, and suitably educating, a large family, it was truly extraordinary. He practically believed the saying of Scripture, and himself realized its fulfilment, There is that giveth, and yet increaseth.' And he cared for the soul as well as for the body, and was always faithful in giving spiritual admonition and counsel; but such were the wisdom and kindness with which he discharged this difficult, and sometimes even painful, duty, that I never knew any one who was offended by his freedom or zeal. Wherever he went, he always found his way to the house of God, and gladly assisted in its subordinate services whenever he had opportunity. He visited us in the Wakefield Circuit when he was seventy-five years of age, and always attended the seven o'clock morning prayer-meeting. Nor was his attachment to Methodism at all connected with bigotry. He valued its system on principle, not merely for its own sake, but because he believed it well calculated to promote the work of God in the salvation of men. And for the same reason, therefore, he hailed the existence of evangelical piety wherever he found it. He willingly gave his hand to all whose heart he believed to be right with God. The divine love was the rule, as it was the source, of his own. To whatever part of the visible church they belonged, he loved all that loved our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, earnestly prayed that grace might be with them: and when he met with any, he welcomed them as his brethren."

This witness is true. In my father, piety to God was accompanied by good-will towards men. His whole household felt the benignant. sway of his benevolence. Religion was his favourite topic of conversation, but always introduced with such kindness and happy skill that it never wearied any of us. In adopting methods to promote the welfare of his family he was most exemplary, in prayer for them unceasing; and in commanding his children and household after him to keep the way of the Lord, and to do justice and judgment, he approved himself a true son of Abraham. To domestic worship all were summoned, when the Scriptures were read, a hymn sung, and prayer and praise offered to Almighty God. Each child was likewise carefully instructed apart; and while he prayed with them, he taught and encouraged them to pray for themselves. I shall never forget my own feelings on these occasions. The impression is indelible, and the benefit incalculable. And these efforts were successful. Many of his servants were brought to a spiritual conversion, and all his children. Some of the family sought and found religion at ten years of age, and none were more than seventeen without yielding themselves to God, and joining his church.

And I may be permitted to add my own testimony to that of my esteemed friend, given above, in reference to his earnest desire to promote the comfort of his neighbours. He was indeed their friend, both in heart and hand. He not only gave liberally to the needy, but was always willing to render temporary assistance to the utmost of his power, requiring no interest but their grateful recollections and prayers. Such was the strength of his compassion, and such his steady faith in divine Providence, that he has more than once undertaken cases which to others appeared irremediable and hopeless. And if the assisted parties were never able to repay him, he committed his way to his God whom he served, and for whose sake he performed such labours of love. He did not regard the words of his Saviour as unmeaning, when he spoke of recompences at the resurrection of the just. But it was to the spiritual interests of his neighbours that his chief attention was paid. He had known in his younger days what it was to live in the neglect of religion. He knew likewise the absolute necessity of Christian piety for safety and happiness here and hereafter. The impression, that they had immortal souls to be saved or lost, was strong and abiding. A desire to see them led to Christ was in him not a transient impulse, but a steady and habitual passion. He could not bear the thought that any around him should perish, when Christ had died for them, without doing all he could to induce them to flee from the wrath to come. For this he spared neither personal labour nor expense, nor would he leave any plan untried that appeared to have any prospect of success. Sometimes he would request the Preachers to conduct the service in the open air, that the most abandoned, prejudiced, and careless, who never entered a place of worship, might have the opportunity of hearing the calls of divine mercy. Sometimes in company with some zealous and devoted Christian, sometimes by himself, he would visit the neighbouring families by

house-row, and speak closely to each member, if possible, on the subject of personal religion, and urge especially the neglecters of public worship to consider the guilt and peril of their course. On other occasions, he would take with him some of the members of the society to which he belonged, and hold meetings for prayer where permission was given. His station and character gave him influence wherever he was known. Few were willing to disoblige him. And he took advantage of this, with untiring zeal to bring all whom he visited to consider their ways. If he were told that the conversion of certain persons was improbable, his constant reply was, "Success is God's,

duty is ours. If we warn them, we shall be clear of their blood, and we cannot tell where a blessing may light." In several instances I remember to have accompanied him in these visits, (sometimes, I am almost ashamed to say, chiefly from a sense of my duty to him,) and never did we meet with a repulse, never did his faith appear to fail. Often have my coldness and unbelief been rebuked by his charity and faith. Often have I been struck with the mighty difference in effect, between addressing the careless and unconverted in formal heartlessness, and in the spirit of lively zeal for God, and tender love for souls. He not only hated sin in reference to himself, but reproved and discountenanced it wherever he saw it. A testimony in favour of religion he bore with simplicity to poor and rich, learned and illiterate, in the family and social party, in the market, or when alone with individuals. He had conquered the fear of men, which so often bringeth a snare, and was never ashamed of Christ and his words. I have seen him afford relief to hundreds of distressed applicants; but I never knew him to neglect urging on their attention the necessity of prayer, and preparation for death and judgment. To the poor and often hungry families of the Irish Romanists, strolling through the country in quest of work, and asking permission sometimes to lodge in his barn, he would speak on the concerns of eternity, while he gave them food; and sometimes I have known him prevail on some of them to come into the kitchen and kneel down while he, and one or more of his family, engaged in prayer. And with the same freedom would he speak to members of the higher classes, and Clergymen, when he had a suitable opportunity, on subjects connected with religious experience. When travelling alone in his gig, he would not unfrequently offer a ride to the first foot-passenger that he overtook, and would instantly begin conversing on personal religion. If he had to remain all night at an inn, he would invite as many of the family as were willing to join him in family prayer. In his visits to any watering-place, for the sake of his health, he would institute domestic worship in his lodgings. In the friendly party, he acted on the same principle; and such was the spirit in which this was done, that the tone of social enjoyment was rather heightened than lowered by it. There was no dull formality about him. He was naturally lively, cheerful, and even humorous; but all was so sanctified by decided piety, as that both religion was recommended, and the comfort and pleasure of his friends promoted. Almost to the last, he seemed at home in a circle of

youths; and the presence of one so venerable, so pious, and so happy, instead of casting any gloom, rather shed forth a cheerful light on the company, at the same time that it gave a salutary direction to the conversation, and animated the devotional exercises at the close. He told them of many of the pleasing and prosperous incidents of his life, and assured them, even from his own experience, that if they did but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all other things should be added to them. He would expatiate with thankful joy on the advancement which had taken place in his own time in arts and sciences, in literature, commerce, and agriculture, and especially in religion, both at home and in distant lands. And when old age drew nigh, in the days when men without religion, unable to derive gratification from the creature, which formerly they did, say that they "have no pleasure in them," and sink into gloomy discontent, and perhaps moroseness; my father, who had so long delighted himself in the Lord his God, found that religion brought fresh pleasures to him. His was indeed the path of the just, which shineth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day of immortality. No wonder that he earnestly advised others to walk in the way in which he had found, and continued to find, so much happiness.

I have said that my father cordially gave the right hand of fellowship to all the true followers of the Lord Jesus; but it was to the Wesleyan section of the church that his warmest affections were given. Its doctrines he believed to be the plain and powerful truths of the word of God, and of its discipline he was a sincere admirer and a conscientious supporter. No agitations that disturbed the body during his more than fifty years' connexion with it, tended for one moment to weaken his attachment to its polity, or stagger his confidence in its efficiency. With its chief publications he was familiar, and often expressed his thankfulness for the spiritual profit he derived from them.

As he honoured God, so did God honour and sustain him. In seasons of trial, his strength was according to his day. The loss of my mother in 1828,* and of my eldest sister, Mrs. Cowper, of Harwood, in 1830, he was enabled to endure with Christian fortitude, rejoicing that, though taken from him, they had fallen asleep in Jesus. At the Conference of 1839, he was called to resign one who might almost be termed his favourite son, my brother Francis, who believed it to be his duty not only to devote himself to the work of the ministry, but to go to the far-distant parts of the earth to preach the Gospel of Christ even to savages. Very keenly did the heart of the parent feel the pain of separation from one whom he loved so tenderly; but the believer triumphed over the man. "If Francis is satisfied," he said, "of his divine call to this work, I will not, I dare not, hinder him from obeying it." And most mercifully did our heavenly Father, by the arrangements of his Providence, manifest his tender care for his

* A brief Memoir of Mrs. Wilson was inserted in the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine, for 1829, p. 725, &c.

aged servant. Only a few weeks before his death, he had the pleasure of receiving three letters from my brother, who gave in them an interesting account of the manner in which he had become happily settled, notwithstanding the severe afflictions through which he had had to pass. Under the date of June 3d, 1844, Francis thus wrote, from Neiafu, Vavau :—“ Dear and honoured Father,—I had some expectation last year of seeing you before long; but having now become comfortably settled, the Lord having provided a help meet for me, my duty is to stay and preach the Gospel, and save all the souls I can in this part of the world. I may never again see you in the flesh; but it is my steadfast purpose to meet you in a better land. 'He now is fitting up our home:

Go on, we'll meet you there.'

I shall never repent that I offered myself on the Missionary altar, nor will you ever repent that you allowed me to embark in this holy cause. I beg that you will be perfectly at rest on my account, and continue to bear us up at the throne of grace, and even increase your exertions that more Missionaries may be sent out." It may be proper to remark, that the last two letters which we received from the Friendly Islands, and which, while they removed much of his anxiety respecting my brother, cut off his hope of seeing his beloved child again in this world, arrived a very little time before our honoured parent was taken to his rest. Had his life been prolonged for a few months, his heart would have been torn with solicitude by tidings that my brother's health had failed, and that symptoms of organic disease allowed scarcely any hope either of his recovery or return to England; and, in a few more, by the positive intelligence of his early death.

Towards the close of his life, when he had nearly reached his fourscore years, the natural infirmities of age prevented that regular attendance on the public means of grace to which he had so long been accustomed ; but his mind retained its vigour to the last. He delighted when opportunities of Christian converse were afforded him; but the greater part of his time was spent in religious reading, meditation, and prayer. The word of God was the food of his soul, and thus was he preserved in full spiritual vigour, even while the mortal tabernacle was giving way. Along with the Scriptures, he read the Commentaries of Benson and Henry, together with the standard and periodical works of Methodism. The religious biographies contained in the latter were particularly refreshing to him.

The class of which he had so long been the Leader met for his accommodation at Wharton-Lodge. On Friday evening, June 13th, 1845, the members assembled as usual. He spoke to each with great affection and propriety. They little thought that this was the last time his animating and encouraging exhortations would be addressed to them, and that before their next meeting his faithful spirit, delivered from the burden of the flesh, would be with his Saviour in joy and felicity. The Rev. Luke Barlow says, "On the Tuesday and Wednesday previous to his death, I had several opportunities of observing him. I noticed that he was more frequently in his room than usual,

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