I consented, and the books being closed, I entered the pulpit, and spoke ten or fifteen minutes on the importance of gospel salvation. A more serious and attentive company I never witnessed. I pray that God may render fruitful, also, this handful of seed scattered by his unprofitable servant. "Blessed are they that sow beside all waters." I next called on a very amiable friend, who conducts a small society of his own. With the worshippers here I partook of the Lord's supper, their custom being to break bread together on every first day of the week. At the desire of the brethren I offered a few words of exhortation, and closed the service by prayer. Taking an affectionate leave of these estimable brethren, I proceeded next to my own appointment at Stanley Chapel, a distance of two or three miles, when, after having received a slender refreshment, I preached at two in the afternoon; took tea with my old and highlyvalued friend, Mrs. Kelsall, of Warford; preached again at half-past six in the evening, and closed the day by a profitable conversation on the things of God, reading a portion of his word, and family prayer.

Had it not been impossible for me to arrive at Stanley Chapel before noon, I should have preferred visiting our Sunday school held here, to remaining with the brethren to break bread as above related. It is my usual practice, in all Sabbath day engagements, to visit as many of our Sunday schools as possible, considering, as I do, that our chief hope of success is with the young. Ten or fifteen minutes of religious exercises at the close of a Sabbath morning in a school, in familiar intercourse with the children, I regard, generally speaking, to be of great importance. In the rural parts of our circuit we have several numerous and well-conducted schools. None of these is to me more endearingly interesting than that connected with Stanley Chapel. Like many other remote districts, this neighbourhood was long destitute of efficient Sabbath day instruction for the young. Here Methodism has had a standing almost from its commencement. Long before the Division in 1797 a society existed, and the gospel was preached here many years before the death of Mr. Wesley. Few places stand out more prominently in the early history of the New Connexion than Lindow. John Cash, whose Christian virtues are justly celebrated by the biographic pen of Richard Watson, had his dwelling here. The pious life

and happy death of this holy man afforded timely and practical refutation of the slander then industriously circulated by men of illiberal and contracted minds: that persons who united with what was then denominated the New Itinerancy were doubtful characters, and so far from leaving a clear testimony of their acceptance with God, they "died under a cloud." Thank God, the Connexion has not only outlived these vile insinuations, but that in the present day we recognise in our contemporaries among the Wesleyan body men of more enlarged understanding.

Two days previous to my last visit to this place, Hannah Cash, the worthy daughter-in-law of our venerated brother, John Cash, was happily gathered to her fathers, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Truly she was a mother in Israel, having been united with the people of God about three-score years and ten; the far greater portion of which time she hospitably entertained the ambassadors of Christ. Never did she appear more cheerful and happy than when occasion was afforded her to wash the saints' feet. In tender regard to her long and undeviating attachment to the people of God, a class-meeting was continued at her house to the last; and although she rejoiced when it pleased God so to prosper his cause that a commodious chapel was erected, it was to her a severe trial to have the preaching removed from her own habitation. Hannah Cash was more remarkable for stability of character than eminence of piety. She heard the word of God and kept it. If all who have put their hand to the plough during the seventy years in which she has pursued her unwavering progress, what a praise in the earth would Methodism have been at this hour! Located on the same spot, a wife, but not a mother, beset with trials which it would be painful and almost indelicate to specify, she pursued her course in cheerful submissiveness to the will of God. How few are there in this perverse world of ours, who try by all means to make the best of a bad bargain! Prudence here would alleviate ten thousand sorrows, and prevent an incalculable amount of mischief. In thirty years I never heard Hannah Cash complain. Whenever the day shal declare it, it will, I believe, be made manifest that few among the daughters of Eve have carried a heavier load with a lighter heart than she. Hers was not a superficial and affected gaiety, arising

from unmortified ambition-a rock on which many stubborn hearts have broken-it was the peaceful overflowings of the well of salvation within.

As there were few places in which Sabbath-school labour was more needed than Lindow, so there are few where the benefit of these institutions is more apparent. This fact I was naturally led to notice on my last visit, while improving the decease of this worthy woman. Young men of the age and standing in society of many that were then present, would formerly be assembled in groups in the bye lanes, in filth, ignorance, and idleness, corrupted and corrupting each other-how pleasing the change! how happy in its consequences, both in time and eternity! Was it not in answer to the oft-repeated and persevering prayers of this departed neighbour? You have literally been brought in from the highways and hedges. Let each carefully examine whether he has upon him a wedding garment. Shortly the search will be made by another, and if he shall find you unprovided, it will then be too late to obtain one.

This place is about eight miles from Macclesfield, and is supplied with preaching once or twice every Sabbath, and once a month on week nights. That well-known eminence called Alderly Edge, lies directly in the way. The very appearance of this acclivity, especially when seen through the pelting rain or driving snow, would, I apprehend, almost startle you, yet I am not aware that a single appointment has been omitted by our local brethren in twelve months, although there has been more of hail, rain, and snow than was ever known in the same period of time. When the weather is unsettled or rainy, my own practice-in reference to travelling to distant appointments-is, to watch a favourable opportunity for departure, several hours, perhaps, before the time. Fond as I am of my bed, and there are few in either active Eng land or Ireland more reluctant to leave it than I, yet, if you were opposite my room window, you would see me-or ever the day dawned-rubbing my eyes, and looking out for a favourable interval between shower and shower, and if one offers, I huddle on my clothes, with as much despatch as "Tender Conscience" in the Pilgrim's Progress when aroused from his slumbers in the Castle of Carnal Security by a terrible storm of lightning and thunder; and if the rain forbore two hours, you would find me seven or

eight miles on my way; or, if interrupted by showers, I should be at once shading and resting with the neighbours, if I could find any dwelling by the way-side.

With economy like this, I have seldom had a severe wetting in thirty years. No preacher, whether local or itinerant, ought to defer going to an appointment until he is barely within the possibility of arriving there in time for the service. It is unwise to do so at any time, and when the weather is inclement, it is dangerous. A preacher ought ever to go from the closet to the pulpit.

Many pathetic accounts reach us of extreme suffering among the Irish peasantry, and of hard-hearted bailiffs and landlords; but I fear the whole truth is seldom told us. God forbid that I should withhold either sympathy or relief from suffering humanity, even when it is wantonly incurred; but then I am bound to take the entire case into account. If a man will spend his health in idleness and intemperance, he may well be destitute in the time of old age and affliction. Possibly, the cases you so pathetically relate in your communication may not be of this description. I hope they are not. Nevertheless, it is a painful truth, that more distress among the destitute Irish arises from these evils than from either bad seasons or bad landlords, or even from bad laws. If our fellow-subjects in the "sister island" would but wage successful war against the two Irish giants-Indolence and Whiskey, it would be incalculably better for both landlords and tenants. Nothing is more certain than a perpetuation of misery so long as these monsters are allowed to be at large. Whatever other remedies be applied, all will be ineffectual. Only remove these, and other reforms will follow. Be sober, be vigilant, and and Hibernia will become a happy land.

Unquestionably, it is christianity which is destined to reform the world. Ministers of the gospel are expected to take the lead in the work of reformation; and among these, the missionary is first in the field of labour. To all appearance, Ireland presents a favourable scene of action. The same persevering labour requisite to extend a circuit in England, would, it is presumed, succeed in Ireland. Our English circuits supply a number of devoted agents, whom it has pleased God to bless in the extension of his kingdo at home. When appointments for

to have such a proportion of successful candidates for literary honour in our small denomination.

66

THE QUEEN'S PATRONAGE OF WORKING MEN.-A copy of the new work written by Messrs. Bullock on "Popular Education," was appropriately got up" for Her Majesty the Queen, and presented to Her Majesty by Col. Phipps. The following is extracted from the acknowledgment received from Her Majesty's private secretary:-"It has given Her Majesty much satisfaction to find that two working men, whilst employing themselves in the necessary industrial pursuits of the rank of life in which they were born, could yet find time to give so much attention to a subject of such paramount consequence to the happiness and well-being of their fellow

creatures.

"I have received Her Majesty's commands to thank you for your book, which Her Majesty will have much pleasure in reading. "C. B. PHIPPS."

THE IMPRISONMENT OF THE REV. JAMES SHORE, A.M.-We have here another specimen of the persecuting character of the State Church. Dissenters are plundered and sold up to pay church rates, and a minister who obeys the dictates of his conscience in dissenting from the Establishment, is prosecuted from court to court for successive years, and finally mulcted in enormous fines, and imprisoned for nonpayment thereof. One week, we find the Bishop of Exeter, successor of the apostles, giving his official sanction to the Popish mummeries of a Devonshire convent, and another week pursuing with relentless bigotry an unoffending servant and minister of Jesus Christ, for presuming to preach the gospel out of the pale of the Establishment. Truly, this meek and lowly bishop would make an admirable Bonner, or Inquisitor General! Thumb-screws, racks, and faggots, are the next instruments of ecclesiastical discipline; and had not the law excluded them from his official grasp, he would probably have had them in requisition ere this, as the most effective antidote to dissent.

We are not sorry at the result of this prosecution. It will show an insulted nation its true position in respect to the power and intolerant spirit of a State Church, and good will come out of evil. The conduct of this bishop will help forward the object of the Anti-State Church Society, and rapidly accelerate the day when church rates, tithes, and a State

Establishment will be among the antiquated things that were, but are not.

ELECTRIC LIGHT.-An important discovery has been effected, by which electricity is made available as a substitute for gas, affording a most powerful and beautiful light. Its brilliancy, its entire freedom from smoke, and the absence of all danger from explosion, render it vastly preferable to gas light; and it is by no means improbable but it will ere long supersede the use of gas very generally.

POPERY. THE CONVENT OF THE INFANT JESUS AT NORTHAMPTON. - In behalf of this convent an appeal is made to the Catholic world, proposing a lottery to raise money in behalf of the above proposed establishment. These lotteries are common on the Continent. It matters not to Popery how money is raised, so as it be raised. The means may corrupt the heart and deprave the morals, but that seems of little importance if the Church be but aggrandized.

THE POPE AND THE POOR OF IRELAND. -Amid the loud cries of poverty and starvation in Ireland, the priests are continuing to beg thousands of pounds to support the exiled Pope; and the people in some places manifest both the ability and willingness to give at their call. In the Papists sending money from Ireland to their Pope, and demanding money from England for their poor, we have a concurrence of events which should cause people to reflect!