counsel and prayers have often revived the fainting, cheered the drooping, and enabled the dying to rejoice.

While, doubtless, subject to some of the failings and infirmities common to human nature, our brother nevertheless shone conspicuously as a member of the Church; and to him the appellation of Scripture is appropriately given: "He was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith."

In his class he held frequent communion with God-reading the Scripture and pouring out his soul in fervent prayer. As a husband and a father, he endeavoured to rule well his household, training up his children in the fear of the Lord, and recommending by his own example the excellency of the religion he urged upon their attention. In the social circle he combined cheerfulness with gravity; there was seriousness and piety without sanctimonious gloom. His conversation in the world was that of a Christian. What he professed in the Church, he exemplified in the workshop. His uniform integrity and consistency won the commendation and confidence of his employers; and his courteous attention to all his fellow-workmen, combined with his sterling moral excellences, endeared him to their hearts; and respected by them while he lived, they testified the sincerity of their esteem by pouring forth their tears at his grave, and by crowding the sanctuary when his death was improved. And in the Church his influence was great, his labours were abundant, and his success very great for one in his circumstances. Around him the affection of numbers entwined, and in his death they feel that a friend, a brother, a Christian has been removed. Hence exclaims one who had long enjoyed intercourse with him, "The decease of our late brother has caused me to mourn. As a companion in the way to heaven, I have never met with his equal. He was humble, meek and pure-ever aiming at the salvation of his own soul and the salvation of others. He delighted to speak of the preciousness of Christ's blood, to direct sinners in the way to heaven, and to treasure up in his own mind the contents of the sacred word. He seemed to live beneath the radiant beams of the Sun of righteousness; his conversation always did my soul good."

About Christmas of 1851, the constitution of our brother was shaken by a serious affliction. After four months of affliction, he partially recovered, and him. self and friends fondly hoped his life would

66

long be spared. But the improvement was temporary. His frame was debilitated, and a slight exertion was sufficient to promote a return of his complaint. During his affliction, religion delightfully sustained and animated his mind. When I and my colleague visited him, we found him resting on the "sure foundation." His prospect of heaven was unclouded; his joy in Christ unspeakable and full of glory. A week before his death he attended service at the chapel, when my esteemed friend, the Rev. C. J. Donald, preached from Isaiah xl. 28-31. "The sermon," said brother Brown, "was just adapted to my feeling-it suited my experience. A better sermon I never heard." In the afternoon of the same day the Society was to renew the tickets, when our brother, referring to his affliction, said, that in the furnace he had lost nothing-he had rather gained. His evidence of acceptance with God was clearer than ever, his desires for going forward were more ardent, and he believed he should be a conqueror at last. On the 28th of March he was suddenly seized with a violent pain, and in half-an-hour afterwards he expired. His mind during the whole of the week had been composed and happy; and though the suddenness of his death, and the violence of his pain, prevented conversation with him, he doubtless died in peace, and has entered into rest, in the fifty-second year of his age. His last word was "Peace!" And to be enabled to exclaim "peace" just when the spirit is entering eternity, is it not worth infinitely more than all the wealth of this dying world?

T. CARTWRIGHT. Huddersfield, July 1st.

CATHERINE HAWKINS.

MRS. CATHERINE HAWKINS was born at Kiggon, in the parish of St. Clements, near Truro, in the year 1787. Her parents, who had been converted to God under the ministry of the Rev. John Wesley, were deeply and earnestly pious. They endeavoured, with commendable diligence and fidelity, to instruct their children in the great truths of Christianity, and to lead them into the enjoyment of religion; while, by fervent prayer, they daily sought the direction and blessing of the Holy Spirit for each member of the family. Our departed sister was consequently surrounded from infancy with religious influences. The prayers of her parents prevailed. The blessing of heaven rested on her. she was favoured with

Early in life visitations of

divine grace. Her mind was enlightened. She felt her sins, mourned over and partially abandoned them, began to inquire after the Saviour, and seemed not far from the kingdom of heaven, when, drawn into the society of the gay and thoughtless, the work of conversion, so hopefully begun, was for a time arrested. But fruitless was her search after happiness in worldly pleasures. The voice of conscience could not be silenced, nor the convictions of sin and danger thrown off. There was bitterness in the cup she drank while resisting the Spirit of God. She found youthful pleasures to be "vanity and vexation of spirit."

Again she was led to the house of God, and there her convictions of sin were strengthened. She tasted the wormwood and the gall. Her distress was deep, poignant and protracted. While seeking the Saviour with a broken, contrite heart, she was conducted to a class-meeting. There she met with the object of her long and painful search. She welcomed him with joy, and received him by faith. The burden of sin fell off; her mind was tranquillized; her soul was ravished with joy; it was "joy unspeakable and full of glory," and she shouted again and again the praises of her deliverer. Her conversion to God was as decided as its circumstances were striking; and she does not appear to have ever been disturbed by doubts of the reality or genuineness of the change.

Having been brought into a state of reconciliation with God, her endeavour was to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith she was called, to cultivate the excellences and develope the graces of the Christian character. Assiduously she laboured to keep a conscience void of offence towards God and man. Her attention to the calls and claims of duty was uniformly prompt, cheerful and hearty. She made no boastful professions of godliness, no ostentatious display of piety; but the regularity of her attendance on the means and ordinances of religion, the blended cheerfulness and seriousness of her conversation, and the unobtrusive religiousness of her life, proved her to be a sincere Christian. Her piety was sincere, candid, earnest and humble. She did justly, loved mercy, and walked humbly with God. A life of godliness prepared her for death. A complication of diseases, after having inflicted on her protracted pain and suffering, terminated her existence. During the closing scenes, amidst great physical weakness and frequent visitations of

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pain, her mind was kept in perfect peace. Patience had its perfect work. For those alleviations of her sufferings which the kindness and attention of her family supplied, she was grateful, and frequently spoke of them as expressions of the divine regard. "I have," she said, 'earthly comforts from earthly friends, whom I love; but I am going to that friend who is better to me than all other friends, and who gives me all." Her confidence in the Saviour was strong and unwavering. She enjoyed the full assurance of sins forgiven, "and had a good hope, through grace." "What," she said, "should I do without religion now? Blessed be God, I have it!" "I am going to my eternal home, fully satisfied that I have in heaven a more enduring substance, a crown of glory that fadeth not away." "The eternal God is my refuge, underneath me are the everlasting arms. He says, 'Fear not, I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by my name, thou art mine.''

Sustained by the divine grace and promises, she placed all in the hands of God, and calmly, confidently waited the issue. A few days before her death she said, "I have committed my body, soul, and spirit into the hands of my heavenly Father." On the Thursday prior to her death she appeared to be improving in health; but on the evening of that day a change for the worse took place. She continued to sink. On the Saturday her friends perceived that the time of her departure was drawing near; and on Lord's-day, May 23rd, 1852, she closed her eyes in peace, and entered her rest; exchanging the earthly for the heavenly and eternal Sabbath, in the 66th year of her age. J. G. Truro.

HENRY BRADBURN OF ECCLES.

HENRY BRADBURN was born at Eccles, in the Manchester Circuit, January 2nd, 1828. He was brought to our school and admitted as a scholar when about four years of age, which school he continued to attend regularly until he was prevented by affliction. Nothing of particular interest was remarked in him until he began to grow up, when he was particularly attentive to the instructions of his teacher, ever anxious to get such information as would be beneficial for him, both in time and eternity. At home, his father says, he was a dutiful and affectionate son, and at school he conducted himself with becoming propriety. For many years he filled the

situation of school-cleaner; and, on the Saturday night, when other young persons were taking their pleasure abroad, Henry delighted to be engaged in preparing the school for the coming Sabbath; and it may be truly said of him, that he would rather have been "a doorkeeper in the house of God than dwell in the tents of the wicked."

In the year 1846 he was appointed a teacher in our school, in which capacity he laboured diligently to promote the welfare of those committed to his charge. On one occasion he expressed a desire to the superintendent to be allowed to take the younger portion of the scholars into the vestry on the afternoon of each Sabbath, which request was granted by the teachers' meeting; and Henry might have been found on the Sabbath afternoon with his little flock, telling them of the love of Jesus in laying down his life for little children to save them from eternal death. There was nothing remarkable in his conversion; but he appeared to have been one whose heart the Lord had opened. For many years he was a member of the Church, and his experience in the class was generally short, but lively and scriptural, often expressing a desire to be made instrumental, in the hand of God, in doing good.

He was particularly given to private prayer; and it was usual with him in the morning, although he had more than a mile to go to his labour, and to be at his post by six o'clock, long before that hour to spend some time in his closet pleading with God. He also delighted much to be in company with those of the members of the Church who were more advanced in years than himself; and he took pleasure, also, in visiting the sick.

For about two years before his death it was evident his health was declining, and he was often prevented from attending the Sabbath-school and other means of grace, in which he took so much delight. For about a month before his death he was entirely confined at home, during which time he was often visited by the conductors and teachers of the school. At all times he appeared perfectly resigned to the will of God. On one occasion, when visited by his leader, who was also the superintendant of the school, Henry requested him to tell the scholars from him to give their hearts to God; as he said he should not be able to go himself and tell them any more. another time, when his leader visited him, he was suffering much from a difficulty of breathing and a severe cough; but his soul was perfectly happy in God,

At

and after his visitor had commended him to the care of Jehovah by prayer, Henry exclaimed

And if our fellowship below

In Jesus be so sweet,

What heights of rapture shall we know, When round his throne we meet !

He was visited by the writer and another teacher a few days prior to his death, when he said he thought the night before that he should have gone home; "But," he exclaimed, "the Lord has spared me a little longer, for some wise purpose."

After this, his cough became very troublesome. His father was supporting his head, and when he had recovered a little he repeated the following verse:Oh, what are all my sufferings here,

If, Lord, thou count me meet
With that enraptured host to appear,
And worship at thy feet?

The repetition of which appeared to raise his soul from earth to heaven, and he said, "In heaven there will be no troublesome cough, no sickness there. Praise the Saviour, 'twill soon be over!" The day before his death he expressed a desire to receive the Sacrament, which was administered to him by brother Thos. Edwards, one of our local preachers, his leader, and other members of the society being present, when Henry expressed his conviction that he should no more drink of the fruit of the vine until he should drink it new in the kingdom of heaven.

Early in the evening of the following day, December 22, 1851, his happy spirit took its flight from a world of suffering, of sorrow, and of sin, and rose triumphant to its God. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints! CHARLES COWAP.

HANNAH BROOKS.

THE early history of the subject of this memoir is involved in much obscurity. The exact period of her birth, the place of her nativity, and the names of her parents, cannot be ascertained. Her age can only be inferred from her indentures, which cannot now be easily deciphered. It is thought she was born about the year 1754. Being deserted by those who gave her birth, she was found, I am informed, in a grove, with a paper attached to her clothes, on which was written the name "Georgiana;" and from this circumstance she received as her maiden name, Georgiana Groves. Her clothing, when she was found, the name inscribed on the paper, together with other circumstances, indicated

that she had descended from some who move in the higher circles of life, and who, to conceal their shame, resorted to the cruel and unnatural course of deserting their offspring. She was taken by some one to the Foundling Hospital at Shrewsbury, where she remained until the twelfth year of her age. Here, however, she grew up in total ignorance; no one taught her even the alphabet, and she knew nothing of the Scriptures, the Saviour, or the plan of salvation. Alas that she should have been neglected during the most critical and hopeful period of human existence !

At the above-mentioned age she was removed from Shrewsbury to Ackworth, in Yorkshire, and soon after taken to market to be engaged as a house servant or an apprentice. A circumstance took place there of which she ever after spoke with deep and grateful emotions, recognizing, as she clearly did, the watchful eye and providential care of Jehovah. One person in the market was anxious to engage her, but there was something in his looks which excited her aversion; she had a presentiment of danger, and "with strong crying and tears," begged that she might not be placed under his power. Moved by her tearful eyes and earnest entreaties, they complied with her request.

The master turned away

in a rage, and engaged boys who were standing by. These she afterwards learned he cruelly murdered. This she believed would have been her lot, had not God in mercy interposed, and delivered her from the hands of "the bloody and deceitful man."

She was apprenticed to another master, with whom she remained nine years. Here she had good raiment and employment; the master was kind, but the mistress cruel. Here, as at the foundling hospital, her education, morals, and the interests of her soul were entirely neglected; and at the age of twenty-one she was unable to read the alphabet. She had never been to a place of worship, except once at a prayer-meeting; and for going this once she was so opposed and persecuted that she resolved never to go again. And she knew no more of the Saviour, the plan of salvation, the value of her soul, and the future state, than if she had been born in a heathen land, among an "untutored savage race.' This, however, was more her calamity than her crime, owing not so much to the obstinacy of her depraved nature, as the unfavourable circumstances in which she was placed; and she thus becomes more an object of pity than of censure.

The term of her apprenticeship being expired, she left Holmforth, resolving to seek employment elsewhere, that she might see more of the world. She came to Saddleworth, and the very first night she was again preserved from "the snare of the fowler," and kept amid the dangers which threatened her destruction. Being a stranger in a strange place, and among strangers, she fell into the hands of one of those depraved and subtle beings who lie in wait to deceive the simple and unwary, and with fair speech and flattering lips seek to ruin the innocent, and aid the libertines in the accomplishment of their purposes. But she suffered not in the evil time, for she "neither gave her honour unto others, nor her years unto the cruel." And for this deliverance she was ever thankful; and through life, after her conversion, ever sang of that overruling providence which

Through hidden dangers, toils and snares,
Had gently cleared her way;
And through the pleasing snares of vice,
More to be feared than they.

In Saddleworth she entered the service of Mr. Robert Winterbottom, with whom she resided five years. It was during this period that she thoughtlessly took a step that laid the foundation of future trouble, and formed an engagement which through life plunged her in poverty and sorrow. There was a young man, a Matthew Brooks, in the employment of the same master. He had been a sailor eleven years, and of his family, country, or kindred, she knew nothing, for on these points he refused to give her the least information; and yet, having no one to consult, no friends to caution, direct, and advise her, she thoughtlessly formed an engagement with him, and they were ultimately married. So fully was she persuaded that the step was wrong, and that the union would prove a source of strife and unhappiness, that she said, if, on the morning of her marriage, as they were leaving the house, her mistress had but said, "Hannah, you had better not be married," she would then have refused his hand! Nay, she even longed on that very morning, for some one to give her a hint or a caution of this character. How important in such matters to act cautiously, seek divine direction, and resolve not to be "unequally yoked together with unbelievers!" About a year after her marriage she gave birth to a child. During her confinement her husband left her, and in her weakness she had to struggle and toil to maintain herself and her infant daughter. He soon returned home,

but only for a short period; for he again left her, enlisted into the army, and was absent from his family many years. And thus by a reckless husband she was harassed through life and severely tried. During his absence she went out to do house-work, and by this means secured a livelihood.

In this character she was employed by several religious families, who were accustomed to attend the Methodist chapels and were members of the Methodist community. They maintained family worship, the Scriptures were read, the songs of Zion were sung, prayer offered up, and religious instruction imparted to wife, children, and domestics. On these occasions Hannah was often present. It was a new scene to her; it awakened the religious sentiment in her heart, and led her to thoughtfulness and prayer. The same families were accustomed to have preachings and prayermeetings in their dwellings, and at these services Hannah was present. The word preached came with power, and under the prayers presented to God she trembled and wept. The impressions thus produced on her mind were deepened by the death of one of her children, and by dreams and visions of the night. While thus" sorrowing after a godly sort," she began to despair of mercy. Fearing that she was for ever lost and undone, she resolved to put an end to her existence; and on one occasion left home for that very purpose. But he who in the days of old said by his inspired servant to the jailor, Do thyself no harm," by his providence prevented her from doing the fatal act. She was now invited to meet in class, and these means of grace she found to be of essential service. She was directed, cautioned, encouraged and comforted. She heard others speak of "their sense of sins forgiven," the " peace of God which passeth knowledge," and the "good hope through grace" in the possession of which they " rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory." She longed for the same blessings, and resolved to seek for and secure the "pearl of great price." Often when alone she wept, wrestled with God in her dwelling, pleaded the promises and the merits of Christ, and once left her dwelling and climbed one of the highest mountains in the neighbourhood, that she might there "with strong crying and tears unto him who is able to save," wrestle with God until he revealed himself to her as ready to pardon. While in this state of penitence, she accidentally, or rather providentially, met with the following verse,

What has my drowsy, foolish frame
Brought on my soul this day?
My Jesus cried, and I denied,
And now he's gone away.

Fearing she was lost, she heard the following passage: "Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." Misapplying this text, she concluded she had often resisted divine influence, and therefore the punishment threatened was sure to befal her. Under a sense of her guilt and danger, she began to cry earnestly for mercy, and prayed from morning until evening, but found no relief. Thinking her case was hopeless, she began to absent herself from the house of God, and neglect the means of salvation which infinite wisdom has in mercy appointed. Still she could not resist the divine influence of which she was now the subject. One day, while trembling for her safety, she imagined she saw the Saviour on one side, and Satan on the other, and heard a voice saying, "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve." Immediately she replied, in a manner peculiar to herself, "Thee, Lord, thee will I serve." She then feil on her knees, wrestled with God, and believed on Christ to the saving of her soul. Pleading, she prevailed; and at length obtained the long-sought blessing. "Being justified by faith, she had peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." And now she went 66 on her way rejoicing, full of joy and peace through believing." "Abba, Father, my Lord, and my God," was her confident exclamation; and she sang with melody in the heart

My Jesus to know, and feel his blood flow 'Tis life everlasting, 'tis heaven below; In the heavenly Lamb thrice happy I am, And my heart it doth dance at the sound of his name.

She now resolved to apply her mind in learning to read, that she might be able to search the Scriptures which testify of Christ. She commenced; and in a very short time, with but little aid, and by a peculiar method, she was soon able to read with tolerable accuracy. The plan she adopted was this: she would ask the name of a letter, then look at it attentively, keep repeating it until it became fixed in her memory; then she began with a second in a similar way, and then a third, and so on