PREFACE. We have now, by the assistance of Divine Providence and Grace, brought our labours to the conclusion of another Year; and gladly avail ourselves of the opportunity afforded us, by the completion of an additional Volume of this Work, to present to the Subscribers our grateful acknowledgments for their continued patronage. "To please every man for his good to edification," has been our sincere and unremitting desire; and we indulge a hope, that our efforts have not been altogether unsuccessful. Numerous as are our Subscribers, and diversified as are their views, their circumstances, and their habits, it cannot indeed be expected that our pages have been equally acceptable to all; but we trust that the different classes into which our Readers are divided, have severally found a reasonable share of matter adapted to their peculiar taste. To our Correspondents, who have favoured us with their kind assistance, our warmest thanks are also presented. We are at a loss for terms to give adequate expression to the sense we entertain of the value of their services; and we only regret, that, in some instances, we have not been able to comply with their wishes, by giving publicity to their communications. Being limited to a definite number of pages every month, we are sometimes compelled to omit the insertion of Articles in every respect worthy of public attention. An intimation was given at the conclusion of the last year, that a change would take place in the Editorship of this Magazine before another volume had been conducted through the press; and in the Number for September, the reasons for that change were distinctly stated. The Editor, to whose superintendence it is now confided, cannot indeed hope to follow his gifted Predecessor "with equal steps; " but he nevertheless feels the advantage of finding his path marked out before him by so able a Guide. The Magazine will still be conducted upon the admirable plan which was laid down by the REV. JABEZ BUNTING at the commencement of the present Series, and filled up by him with such acknowledged ability, till the termination of his editorial labours in the month of August. It is a source + of great encouragement to the present Editor, as it must be of satisfaction to the Subscribers, that, while the sole responsibility necessarily rests upon himself, the valuable assistance of MR. Bunting, and of the REV. RICHARD WATSON, is kindly promised in the general management of the Magazine: and, with such assistance, he trusts that its successive Numbers will continue to possess legitimate claims to public countenance and support. May the blessing of " the God of all grace" attend this endeavour to promote his glory; "that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together!' Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine, FOR JANUARY, 1824. BIOGRAPHY. MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. JOHN KING: BY HIS NEPHEW, THE REV. WILLIAM TOASE. MR. JOHN KING was born at Guisborough, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, June 11th, 1752. His early life was distinguished by the strictest integrity, and the most ardent love of truth. He regularly attended divine service in the Church of England, to whose forms of worship he was always very partial. When about eighteen years of age, under the ministry of MR. JAMES BROWNFIELD and MR. JACOB ROWELL, he was awakened to a sense of his lost condition as a sinner; and was constrained to cry to God in fervent prayer for salvation. After being in deep distress of soul for six weeks, he was brought, through faith in the sacrificial atonement of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, into the liberty of the Gospel, and received the testimony of his adoption in the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT. 2 Being now sincerely concerned for the salvation of his neighbours, and believing it to be his duty to do all the good he could, MR. KING began, almost immediately, to exhort sinners to flee from the wrath. to come; and was soon called to exercise his gifts as a Methodist Local Preacher. In this capacity he continued to labour with acceptance to the people in general, and with profit to many who were brought to God by his instrumentality, for about twelve years. During this period he introduced preaching into many new places in the neighbourhood; and though exposed to much persecution, steadily went on his way without fear, trusting in Him who hath said, "Who is he that shall harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good." In the year 1783, being called forth by the voice of Divine Providence, and the desire of that portion of the Church of God to which he belonged, MR. KING entered upon the work of an Itinerant Minister, in connexion with the REV. JOHN WESLEY; and was stationed in what was then termed "The Dales Circuit."-In a letter, dated Barnard-Castle, Sept. 3d, 1783, MR. KING says to his Parents :VOL. III. Third Series. JANUARY, 1824. B "I arrived safely here, after a very pleasant journey. The Society is composed of a plain and loving people, who have provided a convenient house for the Preachers. The number in Society is about one hundred. I attended the five o'clock meeting this morning, which was the most comfortable season I have known for some time. I was enabled to pray with much assurance. I never should have entered on the important work of an Itinerant Preacher, if I had not believed it to be the call of GOD. I do hope this will be proved to be the case, by God's blessing on my labours." In another letter, dated April 2d, 1784, MR. KING writes as follows: Yesterday I finished my second round in the Circuit. Do not, my dear Parents, be uneasy about me; but freely give me up to Gon, in whose hand I am safe. When I think of you, I go on my way weeping and praying, and am led to believe that we shall all meet in heaven. Indeed there is no doubt of it, if we pray much, and look to JESUS." These brief extracts show with what views MR. KING entered on the work of the Ministry. Though he left his home and parents with regret, when he had given himself up to God and his work, he was resolved to be faithful; and he kept his vow. In August, 1784, MR. KING was stationed at Scarborough. Under the date of January 14th, 1785, he writes: "I am well in my station, and want nothing that is necessary for my comfort. We have many sincere friends in this Circuit, and I trust we have the hearts of the people in general. In the larger places we have an increase of hearers, and good is done. I long for the salvation of the inhabitants of my native country. I have often prayed for them all, and I trust God is raising up the seed that has been sown." From Scarborough MR. KING was removed to Plymouth-Dock, where he was appointed to labour, in conjunction with the late MR. JOHN MASON and DR. ADAM CLARKE. The thought of so long a journey, on horseback, appears to have given him some uneasiness; but he cheerfully submitted. This was a year of great prosperity; and MR. KING always looked back to it with a grateful remembrance of his colleagues, and of the people. Soon after his arrival at Plymouth-Dock, he wrote a letter to MR. WESLEY, of which the following is an extract. It appears to have been written under some severe trial: I believe God will do one of these two things; either he will remove the affliction, or he will give me grace to bear it, so that I shall be unhurt by it; yea, that it shall work for my good, and I shall, 'Like Moses' bush, mount up the higher, And flourish unconsum'd in fire.' I had often doubted my call to the Ministry, which caused me to preach with heaviness. I sincerely prayed to the LORD, that if I had done wrong in coming out to travel, he would forgive me, and send me home again. With much anxiety of mind I went to York, to speak with MR. Mather on the subject of my appointment to Plymouth-Dock; and he was so kind as |