March, 1861. He was very regular in his attendance at the class-meeting, and seemed to derive great benefit from communion with his Christian friends. His experience was clear as to the fact of his acceptance with God -not on the ground of any works of righteousness of his own, but as the result of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, embracing a full reliance on the great atoning sacrifice. He often repeated and sang the words of the poet

"I the chief of sinners am,

But Jesus died for me.'"

After our young friend became a member of the Church, he was observed to be very thoughtful and diligent in his studies. He toiled hard to obtain the best gifts, that he might be in a position to labour with greater acceptance and success, both in the Sundayschool and in any other sphere of usefulness to which he might be called; and on many grounds we have reason to believe, if his life had been spared, that he would have been a blessing to the Church of God. At one time we were looking forward with pleasure to his becoming a local preacher.

Fidelity, however, requires us to mention one step which he took which could not be approved, and which, we fear, was connected with a partial fall from grace. We mention this as a warning to other youths. In the early part of 1861, our young friend was anxious to improve his temporal circumstances, and, as he was assured that he would do this by removing to the city of York, he resolved to do so; but this step was not approved by his best friends, and was contrary to the conviction, wish, and entreaty of his honoured father. Still he went.

In

this he did wrong. Certainly, in a peeuniary point of view, the temptation was great, and no doubt he thought he was doing what would be for the best. It is to be feared, however, he was not then in a good state of mind, and was too much influenced by self-will and mere worldly considerations. The

following extract of a letter to one of his dear companions will, I think, justify the foregoing statements. He says:-"I have almost lost the love of God from my heart, by not watching unto prayer; but I know that God is merciful and kind, and, although I have backslidden from the good old way, I feel that he is ready to forgive

a lost and hell-deserving sinner. I feel there is still hope for me, and I intend to seek the recovery of my salvation, and to give God my whole and undivided heart; and I know and believe that he will not turn any away who come to him through his Son." Our friend observes, "This pious resolve, in the strength of Divine grace, was at once put into practice, for shortly after he informed me that in the city of York he had joined a class-meeting, and that he could now rejoice in the fact that God had indeed restored unto him the joy of his salvation. We may, I think, fairly conclude, if God had spared his life, that he would have been a very useful man. But it has pleased our Heavenly Father otherwise to dispose of him, to place him in a position of the highest honour, where there is no temptation, no sorrow, and no death. Surely we can have no difficulty in saying with approving hearts, Thy will be done.'"

The following is an extract of a letter which our friend wrote at York, dated August 31st and September 6, and which he sent to his brother Thomas, who had been his constant companion through childhood and youth. Thomas had had to pass through severe affliction, for only about twelve months before, as the result of an accident, he had suffered the amputation of one of his legs. These letters will serve to show the state of John's mind after he left home. He says:-"I can look to God as my Father, to Christ as my Saviour, and to Heaven as my eternal home. I must tell you, I have joined a class here, and God has indeed blessed me. He has indeed restored unto me the joy of his salvation. My soul has seemed to return to its rest. I have read the following lines of the poet with deep interest, and, I hope, have caught something of the spirit which they breathe:

"Sweet is the confidence of faith,
To trust His firm decrees;
Sweet to lie passive in his hand,
And know no will but his.
"Sweet to rejoice in lively hope,

That, when my change shall come, Angels shall hover round my bed, And waft my spirit home.' "This is my present experience-I can rejoice in hope. But oh, my brother, the struggles of the past! To tell you the truth, I have been in slippery places. I often think, What a thing it would have been if I had

given way to the awful temptations that beset me; I should now have been undone. I do thank God that he has restored and saved me, and that I am now pressing onward.

"I hope to hold fast the beginning of my confidence steadfastly unto the end. I often think of the following verse"Shall I give up the hope I received at my birth

The promise of heaven for the trifles of earth? Ah, no! though by sin and temptation beguiled,

Thou still art my father, I still am thy child.' "May God bless and keep you, my brother!"

When our young friend wrote this letter, little did he think that his end was so nigh, and that it would be brought to such a sudden close. On the 27th of September, while attending to his duty on the Lendal iron bridge, over the river Ouse, at York, the bridge fell, and instantly he was crushed to death. The pains of death he could not feel; his removal was like a translation. We may hope, in his case, that sudden death was indeed sudden glory.

The shock to his parents and brother of such a catastrophe was almost overwhelming; but the many expressions of sympathy which they received from the people with whom he lived, from his employers, and the men with whom he worked, and, above all, from the good man with whom he met in class-these united testimonies of sympathy and of esteem for our young friend were very soothing, and contributed at least something to heal the wound which so great a shock had produced. The following are a few lines from his class-leader addressed to the bereaved father ::

According to your request, I now send these few lines concerning your late son, who was a member of my class. I could have no doubt of the genuineness of his piety. His experience was spiritual, sound, and full of promise. He was zealous for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. The very night before the lamentable event which removed him from earth to heaven, he expressed a strong desire to be more useful in bringing poor sinners to the Saviour; and he joined heartily in singing the following

verse

"He is fitting up my mansion, which eternally shall stand,

My stay will not be transient in that holy, happy land;""

and the next day he went to take possession of the mansion which Christ, our great forerunner, had provided for him.

“In youth and health he left his home,
Not thinking death was near;

It pleased the Lord to bid him come,
And in his presence to appear."

MR. ISAAC WARD.

OUR brother, the late Mr. Isaac Ward, was born in Nottingham, on the 14th Feb., 1802. His mother died while he was very young, and he was brought up with an aunt, his mother's sister. When only six years of age he was sent to the East-street school, and attended Hockley Chapel. Very early in life he was the subject of religious impressions, and, when only thirteen years old, began to seek in earnest the salvation of his soul.

In 1815 that useful body of Christians, the Primitive Methodists, came to Nottingham. Their services were conducted at the first in a room in Narrow Marsh; but the room becoming too small, they soon removed to a larger one, in Broad Marsh.

In this place a great work of grace broke out, when hundreds came to hear the word of life; and to many that word proved the wisdom of God and the power of God in salvation. Amongst that number was our lately departed brother, Isaac Ward; he was graciously converted to God, and very soon began to show the genuineness of his change by his zeal in his Master's cause. When not more than fifteen years of age he began publicly to exhort sinners to "flee from the wrath to come." He continued with the Primitive Methodists, and in the capacity of a local preacher, until about fifteen years ago, when, in consequence of some unpleasantness that transpired, he left them, and offered himself to Parliament-street church and congregation.

He was received, began to meet in class, and was placed on the plan as a local preacher. He united himself, I believe, with the late Mr. King's class; and when that good man died, he became his successor. From that time until his death he has continued to labour amongst us in the capacities of local preacher and leader, with considerable efficiency and success.

Our brother, I understand, has been a man of generally good health

all his life; but, a short time ago, unfavourable symptoms manifesting themselves, he sought medical advice, when, to his great astonishment, the surgeon he consulted told him that he was suffering from disease of the heart, and that it might terminate fatally at any moment.

He was greatly shocked at this intelligence, but in a short time recovered his composure, and with his friends cherished the hope that, with care, his life might be spared for many years. Having been informed by a mutual friend of his state, I called upon him the Saturday before he died. I found him, though not quite well, still well enough to be able to follow his occupation. During the conversation I said, "Well, brother Ward, how do you feel in the prospect of death?" He immediately said, with impassioned earnestness, "Oh! bless the Lord, I am quite ready!" I parted from him with the hope that death was yet distant, and that he might still be long spared to us, but I was mistaken. On the third day from that Saturday he was no more. On the following Monday, after a hard day's work, he retired as usual to rest; but about two o'clock in the morning he had a violent attack of his disease, which resulted in his speedy dissolution. When seized, he said to his wife-now his widow, who is left to sorrow over her loss, and yet to rejoice at his gain-"Jesus is come for me." He subsequently said, from time to time, during the few hours he lingered in suffering and pain, "Jesus, I shall soon be with thee;" "I shall not be long, Jesus;" "These are the swellings of Jordan." Towards the last, being greatly distressed with much pain, he manifested so strong a desire to be gone that his beloved wife exhorted him to patience, when he immediately said, "I am not impatient; the Lord is very good." Soon after this he ceased to live on earth, and began to live in heaven. He died a little after 11 o'clock on Tuesday morning, November 26th, 1861. T. C.

ELIZABETH GLOVER DIED at Sealand, near Chester, Oct. 15th, 1861, aged twenty-four years. Our late beloved sister sat under our minister in Pepper-street Chapel from nine years of age, and, though for some

always delighted in the true, the just, and the good. Sweet in temper, gentle in manner, and skilful and unwearied in all domestic duties, she was the life and joy of the family circle. Nevertheless, she was conscious she had not the life of God within. For this, especially during the last twelve months, she became exceedingly anxious, and in public worship, in class, and in private prayer, she sought the blessing with all her heart. Yet she was not fully satisfied on this momentous subject until her last illness. Then, especially, she was permitted to draw very near to the throne of God; to him she made known her great want, and then the love of the Almighty Father was made known to her through Christ. Then doubt and fear gave way to the full assurance of faith. Sin was all gone, and she was filled with the life of God. Then, lifting her hands toward heaven, she cried, aloud, "Shout! shout!-glory! the victory is won-the victory is won, glory! glory!" She was happy in God. Then, "Bless the Lord!" was constantly on her tongue, and her room was often filled with songs of praise. She sang very sweetly the first two verses of that grand hymn

"Lo, he comes with clouds descending, Once for favoured sinners slain.' "'

Also

"There is a land of pure delight Where saints immortal reign.'"

The verse

"Could I but climb where Moses stood,'' fully expressed the desire of her ransomed spirit. In this blessed state of mind she conversed with her friends. "Serve the Lord, and we shall meet again never to part. No, never, never, no, never. Jesus! glory! glory! Happy! happy! I am dying! I am going home! No night there! endless day! endless day! Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever!" Thus, as a wise virgin, she was ready and waiting. Then Jesus spake, and the last fetter of mortality was snapped asunder, and her liberated spirit went home to God.

December 13, 1861.

MRS. BOTTOMLEY.
"Friend after friend departs-

Who hath not lost a friend?
There is no union here of hearts
That knows not here an end."

YES, "who hath not lost a friend ?" Where is the individual who has never had to mourn the loss of a friend by death-who cannot point to the grave as holding the precious dust of some dear one? Where is the family that has never been invaded by this "king of terrors," that has never been plunged into sorrow and tears by the death of one or more of its beloved members ? Earthly connections, alas! must be dissolved-human friendships must cease! "The fashion of this world passeth away." "But we sorrow not as those without hope, concerning them that sleep in Jesus." No; "blessed are the Idead which die in the Lord." "The memory of the just is blessed." The name of our late sister Bottomley will not soon be forgotten by our friends at Brighouse; it will long be cherished by them with affection and esteem. From the year 1828 she had been a consistent follower of Christ, a member of our Church, and a liberal supporter of the cause of God. She was regular in her attendance on the means of grace; she valued her connection with the Church, and took special care of all her tickets of membership, which, soon after her decease, were found neatly laid together in a drawer. The following statement of her excellent qualities is quoted from a letter addressed by the Rev. P. J. Wright to her bereaved husband and family:" She was distinguished for superior domestic arrangements, the shining cleanliness of her house, generous hospitality, good-will to the ministers of Christ, active industry, continual attention to the comfort of her husband and children, humble piety, and sincere attachment to the cause of God. Peace to her memory! She sleeps in Jesus, and is blest." Her departure from amongst us was very sudden. Up to Saturday night, September 14, 1861, our sister appeared in her usual health and good spirits; but on the Sunday morning, at half-past seven o'clock, she was found alone in her room, stretched on the floor, speechless and unconscious. She had been seized with a fit of apoplexy. In this state she continued until half-past one o'clock in the morning of the following Thursday, when, in the 65th year of her age,

she ceased to breathe, and her redeemed spirit fled away to a better world. Occasionally it was thought that she was conscious, but of this her sorrowing family could never feel quite sure. I visited her, spoke to her, and prayed with her, in the hope that she might be comforted while passing through the valley of the shadow of death. Her salvation, however, depended not on such visits, nor could it be rendered more sure by her power to express her feelings in that solemn hour. We know she trusted in the merits of Christ, and that religion had been with her-as it should be with all-a settled principle and constant habit. Her hope was in God through Christ, and

"Not one object of his care
Ever suffered shipwreck there."
Brighouse, Halifax C. MANN.
South Circuit.

SARAH JUBB.

SARAH JUBB was born in 1779. When about eighteen years of age she was converted to God under a sermon preached in a cottage by one of our early ministers, immediately after the separation from the Wesleyan community, in the year 1797. She was the oldest member in our society at Brighouse-the first convert gained by the Methodist New Connexion in this town. Amid the numerous changes through which, during the long period of sixty-three or sixty-four years, the society had passed, she always remained true and steadfast. She never deserted the church which had thus been the means of her salvation; she never left her first love, but continued a sincere Christian, and, in many respects, her piety was eminent. A considerable part of her early life was spent in service; in one family she lived twelve years, and in this capacity she adorned the doctrines of God her Saviour in all things, and won the esteem of all who knew her.

In the year 1817 our sister entered into the marriage state. Her husband was a pious man, and both walked together in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost. She was a regular and devoted attendant at the house of God; she loved the ministers of Christ, and cheerfully contributed to the support of the Gospel. For more than twenty years a class was held at her house; she deemed it a

privilege and an honour to have it so, and was glad of the opportunity thus afforded for frequent communion with the people of God.

In the year 1845 her husband died; the separation was deeply felt by our sister, but her sorrow was greatly relieved, and, indeed, turned into joy, by the assurance that he was gone "to be with Christ, which is far better." The Bible was a precious book to her; she read it constantly, and with great profit. A little book ("Clark on the Promises") she prized very much, and often said she derived from it much consolation. She always showed a disposition to help the cause of God according to her ability. When she had reached her seventieth year, being then very poor and infirm, her leader told her they could do well without her contribution, and that perhaps she had better devote her class-money to her own purposes. "No," said she; "I shall give all I can, and as long as I

can, to the cause of God." About four years prior to her death, our sister had a fall, which greatly increased her in

firmities, and rendered her ever afterwards a cripple. She was also mostly confined to her house; but she uniformly displayed a patient and cheerful spirit, and often spoke with great confidence and joy of her hope of heaven. It was indeed a pleasure to visit her. Her mind was in a most happy frame, and her conversation was profitable. As her end drew near, her desire to depart became stronger. On the day of her death, October 11th, 1861, though much reduced and very feeble, she sang with great earnestness

"Jesus, lover of my soul,

Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high."

To a friend who called to see her, she said, "Pray with me, I am comfortable;" and then soon afterwards she peacefully fell asleep in Jesus, aged eighty-two years.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."

THE DEITY: An Argument on the Existence, Attributes, and Personal Distinctions of the Godhead. Second Edition, pp. 556. By WILLIAM COOKE, D.D. London: Hamilton, Adams and Co., Paternoster-row; and H. Webber, 21, Warwick-lane.

[COMMUNICATED.]*

THIS is a glorious book. We venture to say, without fear of contradiction, that its equal, on its own theme and in its own department of the argument, has not yet appeared. Its depth of thought is as profound as its style is simple, and its grasp of argument is as comprehensive as its

*This review has come to hand equally unsolicited and unexpected by the author. Indeed, for some time he hesitated as to its insertion. But on considering that-if there be any utility in the volume, the denomination, to which he has had the happiness to belong from a boy of fourteen, will chiefly participate therein; and that, if there be any honour in the volume, that honour, under God, belongs to the denomination which encouraged and fostered his earliest mental efforts-he concluded that he ought to insert it.

indications of research are great. The doctrine of the Divine existence lies at the foundation of all theology. It is the very first that challenges the assent of the religious inquirer. It may be said to be the massive propylæum the gorgeous gateway of a still more massive and magnificent temple. Let the foundation of the Church of God be destroyed, and the whole fabric of religion must crumble into dust. Let the gateway of her sacred temple fall into the hands of the uncircumcised, and the temple itself must speedily become theirs. To stand, then, trumpet in hand, on the walls of Zion, in order to sound the alarm; or, sword in hand, at the gate of the temple, to repel the assailing foe, is to render no unimportant service to the inhabitants of the city. This is precisely the service that Dr. Cooke is now rendering to the Church of God.

Atheism is the adversary against