word was from God "in demonstration of the spirit and of power, that his faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." He was completely delivered from the snare of the devil, and intelligently, firmly, and finally established in the great truth that Jesus Christ is God and the Saviour of the world. There was, however, this peculiarity in his case, he was so absorbed and joyful in this truth as to become insensible to his previous convictions of sin and condemnation. In this state of mind he attended class, where the searching inquiries and pointed remarks of his leader reproduced his former penitential experience and sense of unworthiness.

In the agony of his soul and fervency of his pleadings he continued, until the willing, troubled spirit was overcome by the weakness of the flesh, and sleep closed his eyes in darkness and wrapped his spirit in unconsciousness. He slept in the atmosphere of heaven; ministering angels watched over the sleeping penitent and awaited the eventful issue. He awoke refreshed-awoke to speak to God of his sins, and to cry, "God be merciful to me a sinner."

And then and there

The spirit answered to the blood,
And told him he was born of God.

The voice of Infinite love spoke his pardon so clearly and with such marked emphasis, the assurance of his adoption into the family of God was so strong, that in the varied experiences of his future and protracted life he never doubted the reality of his forgiveness, or questioned the fact of his adoption.

The foundation of an intelligent, pious, and useful life was thus early laid. By much reading and study his mind was stored with valuable knowledge. He became a diligent and upright tradesman, and a devoted and persevering Christian. Divine Providence was always a favourite study with him. Having read "Carmel's Hermit" in one of his schoolbooks, he became intensely interested in the subject of the poem, and as his views became matured, he saw God in all His works, and God's hand in all the dispensations of his own life. He thus became profoundly impressed and actuated by the truth that he was not his own; that he was redeemed with the precious blood of Christ; that in God he lived and moved and had his being, and that all the powers and opportunities of his life were from God. He regarded the claims of God as supreme and absolute, and consecrated his all to the service of his Lord and Master, and for the good of his fellow-men.

To benefit these he originated some, and identified himself usefully with most of the benevolent and literary institutions of his native town, in which he was widely known and respected. He was one of the founders of the Mechanics' Institute, and long continued one of its most prominent members. To advance its interests, he was specially requested to deliver a lecture on the "History of Blyth," which he did to an interested and applauding audience. His paper was greatly admired, and he was desired to publish it; and in an enlarged form it was issued from the press. He thus became the historian of his native town.

It would be easy to extend our remarks on the character and doings of Mr. Wallace's public life, but we prefer to return to certain aspects of his

religious life. His Christian experience, with his outward circumstances, was subjected to many and great changes; but for nearly eighty years he feared God and worked righteousness. "Herein did he exercise himself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men."

His early love to the house of God grew with his growth and strengthened with his strength. He had good natural abilities, and these he was ever anxious to cultivate and employ for the good of men and the glory of his Saviour. While yet a youth, he was devoted to Sunday-school work, was appointed as the leader of the chapel choir, and to the more responsible charge of a class-meeting. In these departments of Christian work, and as a trustee, chapel and society steward, and a local preacher, he was in labours more abundant, and was faithful to his multiplied responsibilities. By the suffrages of his brethren he was regularly appointed to represent the Blyth Society in the quarterly meetings, and on seven or eight occasions he had the honour of attending our Conference, as the representative of the Newcastle, Shields, and Blyth Circuits.

In 1841, and during the widely-spread and disastrous Barkerite agitation, Mr. Wallace proved himself to be sound in the faith, and steadfast in his attachment to our Connexional principles and interests. In that crisis thousands faltered and failed, but he sat calm on tumult's wheel, and stood firm as the beaten anvil to the stroke.

Again, in 1867, he was exposed to all the pelting of a pitiless storm. This storm was local in its range and force, but to our loyal friends at Blyth this only rendered it the more trying and painful. But Mr. · Wallace was equal to the occasion; the loss of members was much less than might have been expected, and to this day the Sunday-school is large and prosperous, and the Church, including a small country society, numbers about 150 members. Thus as in our great Connexional struggle, our departed friend maintained his integrity, and was true to his conscience, his Methodism, and his God.

Mr. Wallace was in many respects a remarkable man, and to trace the changes and growth in his religious experience from year to year would have been an interesting and profitable study. But the writer has no data to enable him to do this. Their friendship was founded in early life, but Providence afterwards fixed their lots widely apart, and for nearly half a century their opportunities for personal intercourse were few and far between. Mr. Wallace did not keep a diary, and it was only during the closing years of his life that the early correspondence was renewed. It is, however, quite clear that private prayer was the habit of his life; that the Holy Scriptures, religious biography, and other books of a like character, were his staple reading and study; and that his attendance on the means of grace was as regular and constant as possible. This was the evidence of his piety, and the cause of its sustenance and development. From the following fragmentary notices, referring to widely separated periods of his life, a general idea of his religious experience may be formed:

'My penitential feelings were not extremely painful; they were rather of a solemn kind, the effect of which was to break me away from all

sinful pursuits. I saw the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and was freed from its power."

"This evening' the covenant' was renewed in the chapel. It was a very solemn time. May God enable me to keep my vows."

"I have been reading 'Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul,' and have felt a great stirring of heart. O God, help me to spend more time in private devotions, and work out my salvation with fear and trembling."

"I have taken our Magazine from the commencement of my membership, and Mrs. Wallace and I have made it our practice to read the bound volumes on the Lord's Day, and have been greatly profited by the exercise."

"I feel the need of a revival of religion in my soul, and am anxiously seeking this blessing. O Lord, make me a humble, earnest, and holy Christian."

"My life's voyage has been a long one. The seas have not always been calm, nor the wind always gentle and fair. But I have never wished to put into any port short of heaven, and I am still striving to reach that blest shore. In all the dangers and trials of my long life, I have been enabled to say :

'Though waves and storms go o'er my head,

Though health, and strength, and friends be gone,
Though joys be withered all, and dead,

Though every comfort be withdrawn:
On this my steadfast soul relies-
Father! Thy mercy never dies.'"

"I have warnings which tell me that I may die soon, and in an instant. Several times I have fallen suddenly backwards; yet, strange to say, I have felt no ill effects from these falls. But I cannot, and do not, expect attacks of this kind to pass over without a fatal result. Thank God, I do not fear sudden death. He who has kept me so long will keep me to the end and save me for ever. 'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me.' The Lord is fitting me for the great change, and I have a strong confidence in the blood of the Lamb." “I have been a child of many mercies, for which I am very thankful. I know that death cannot be very distant. Well, thank God, come when it may He has prepared me for it, and I have no fear. I have been reading in our Magazine an account of the death of my old friend the Rev. C. Hibbert. He died unexpectedly, but he died well. His dying experience is expressed in the well-known hymn

"My faith looks up to Thee,

Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour Divine,' &c.

"When in the swellings of Jordan, may our feet be on the same rock. This is my constant prayer. Oh, how I long for perfect purity, and pray.

'My God, my God, to Thee I cry,
Thee only would I know;
Thy purifying blood apply,

And wash me white as snow.'

"My spirit is sometimes depressed, and, with the Psalmist, I have to exclaim, 'Why art thou cast down, O my soul; and why art thou disquieted in me: hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.' May the Almighty God stand by and save me, and show forth in me all His power. Yes, notwithstanding all my fears, He will save me to the uttermost. Having suffered with Him I shall reign with Him, and praise Him forever. My hope is full, oh, glorious hope, of immortality."

In 1878, Mr. Wallace, having buried his beloved wife, removed to Stokesley, to reside with his son, who was Postmaster in that town; there he was waiting for and expecting his final conflict and victory. For some time he had been impressed with the idea that his death would be sudden; and sudden it was. There was no lingering illness-there were no days and nights of pain and langour.

On August 8, 1883, in his usual health he took his accustomed walks, during the night-his last on earth-nothing unusual occurred, and he arose the next morning as was his wont. Soon afterwards the family were summoned to his room, and having kindly ministered to him for an hour or two, his gentle spirit passed away and was caught up to God. "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." His remains were removed to Blyth, and interred in the public cemetery. The funeral was largely attended by the leading tradesmen and other inhabitants of the town, and the Burial Service was impressively conducted by the Rev. P. Baker. On the Sunday following the same esteemed minister preached the funeral sermon from Ruth iv. 10: "The name of the dead." A very large and respectable congregation testified by their presence and interest in the service their regard for the deceased; and it is hoped that the olemnities of the occasion will never be forgotten. ARCHIBALD THOMPSON.

Durham.

MR. STEPHEN GRANT, of Wolverhampton, passed away suddenly on Thursday, November 13, 1884, aged 77 years.

MRS. ANN WILD, beloved wife of Mr. John Wild, J.P., of Southport, exchanged mortality for life October 6, aged 64 years.

On Friday, November 21, 1884, SOPHIA, the beloved wife of the Rev. J. L. HOOKINS, departed this life, aged 28 years. "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."

To the great regret of many friends, Dr. COLLENETTE, of La Plaiderie, Guernsey, "ceased at once to work and live," on November 24, 1884, in his 70th year. A memoir may be expected in our February issue.

On Saturday, December 13, Mr. JOSEPH FEARFIELD, of Stapleford, died suddenly, in his 74th year.

News and Notes.