rished by those who knew them, and were enabled rightly to estimate the principles which formed their character, and governed their lives. The memory of the just is indeed blessed: truly shall the righteous be had in everlasting remembrance.

Of one, thus belonging to the excellent of the earth, I have now to furnish a brief account. And this I am able to do chiefly by means of extracts from a sketch of his own life, written by himself, and found among his papers after his decease. The first extract is dated Feb. 1st, 1831, and contains a brief review of his history and feelings from his earliest youth, down to that time. Though it is only a sketch, yet it is one in which the man himself may be seen, just as he was. He says,

"I was born in Broseley, July 27th, 1770. Early in life I remember that I experienced divine and powerful impressions, which were not altogether disregarded. As I grew in years, I greatly feared lying, swearing, and many other sins to which boys of my own age and acquaintance were only too much addicted. I would thankfully ascribe my own preservation to the restraining grace of God.

"My father required his children to be regularly present at the services of the established Church. I also occasionally attended the preaching of the Methodists, and felt that 'the word preached' came to my heart not in word only, but in power;' and the effects of this were visible in my conduct at home. I saw that it was necessary for me to seek the salvation of my soul; but as they among whom I lived neither saw nor felt things as I did, I met with little encouragement, but rather opposition, from them. However, I was enabled to persevere, though as yet my views of religious subjects were very obscure; and, in particular, I little understood the great doctrine of a present salvation, by the grace of God, through faith in Christ. I was deeply convinced of sin, and earnestly desired deliverance; but as yet I saw not how it was to be attained.

"In the year 1788, my father sent me to London. When I was settled there, I inquired for the Methodist chapel, West-street, and regularly attended the services there. By these, my convictions of sin were deepened; and as I earnestly desired to flee from the wrath to come, I sought admission into the society; and I now feel exceedingly thankful that, from that time to the present, I have been a member of Christ's church. I was diligent in the use of the means of grace; for I greatly loved them, as well as felt the obligation of attending them. I profited much by the ministry of the word. I was not only impressed, but enlightened and instructed, by it. On one occasion, I particularly remember a sermon preached by Mr. Bradburn. It came home to my conscience, and caused me to feel more sensibly than I had ever felt before, my lost and undone state as a sinner. This brought on a great horror of mind; and for a considerable time, even when on my knees for mercy, only blackness and darkness seemed to pervade my soul.

But from this horrible pit and míry clay,' I cried unto the Lord; nor did I cry in vain, for, in love to my soul, and for the sake of Christ my Saviour, he cast my sins behind his back, and delivered me, setting my feet on a rock, and establishing my goings. I was enabled to believe in Christ, and to rejoice in a sin-pardoning God. Condemnation was removed from my mind, and the Holy Spirit witnessed with my spirit that I was a child of God. This was indeed an important period of my life. Without such a change of heart I was fit neither to live nor to die. If I had not been renewed in the spirit of my mind, I should not have had the fruit of the Spirit in my life; the carnal mind, which is not subject to the law of God, would have prevailed over my best resolutions; and I should have lived and died without being made meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. But thanks be unto God for the unspeakable gift which was then bestowed upon me.

"After experiencing this great change, wrought in my heart by the divine Spirit, wisdom's ways became to me ways of pleasantness, and I delighted in the society of those who resorted with me to the sanctuary of God. As I had comparatively few interruptions from worldly cares, my religious privileges were numerous, and sources of great enjoyment to me. I had no occasion to envy those who sought for pleasure in the gaieties and amusements of the world. I praised God that I possessed a happiness far beyond any which they thought they enjoyed; and it was one which did me no harm, but rather good, not only then, in the time of my youth, but all the days of my life.

“After residing five years in the metropolis, I was called to return home. This was at first very painful to me. They who are 'passed from death unto life,' 'love the brethren;' and I was very strongly attached to my religious associates, whose society I had thus to relinquish. But I did not forget them, neither did they forget me. After I had returned to my native place, I was frequently, for several years, favoured with letters from my London Class-Leader, Mr. George Cussons. The good counsel and advice given me in these epistles were very useful to me, especially after I had myself become the Leader of a class, to which office I was appointed in the month of November, 1797. I had then been married and settled in business about three years. I found that it was very needful to give heed to the apostolical precept: Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.' Like many others, I had losses in trade, and both for my family's sake, and for the sake of religion, I had to strive hard, and to pray much, carefully practising diligence and self-denial. But God, in his providence, was very good to me, and brought me safely through many trials and conflicts. I frequently look back on those times, and on the years which succeeded to them, with much thankful

ness.

There were fightings without, and fears within; but I was

heard and helped. Truly have goodness and mercy followed me all the days of my life.

"I desire particularly to record my sense of the value of Christian communion. I have always found it to be necessary to my spiritual welfare. With me, to be a member of Christ's church is a matter of great moment. I see that the established ordinances of religion are to be regarded both in the light of duty and privilege: for if we, through indifference, neglect them, we deprive ourselves of the blessings promised in the observance of them. The ministry of the word, the sacrament of the Lord's supper, meetings for prayer, class-meetings, I have attended from a conviction that they are, by God's appointment, essential to my spiritual growth, and to my establishment in the faith of Christ. I have now had my name enrolled among the Wesleyan Methodists about forty-two years. I have regularly attended the ministry of the word among them. I cordially believe the doctrines that I hear preached, and I highly approve of their established discipline. I trust that I love and honour all that love the Lord Jesus Christ, to whatever denomination of Christians they belong; but I feel particularly attached to those among whom my lot is cast, and whom, I believe, God acknowledges and blesses, giving them an important, and even a conspicuous, station in the whole household of faith.

"In taking a view of my past life, many things pass through my mind. I see, on the one hand, my own unfaithfulness, and many short-comings in duty. But I also see the mercy and forbearance of God, and his wonders of providence and grace. When I look at these subjects, I feel great cause for self-abasement before God. But I do sincerely praise his great and holy name, that he has kept me to the present period, so that my face is still Zion-ward.

Here I raise my Ebenezer,

Hither by thy help I'm come.'

Oftentimes have I felt my heart cheered, as I now feel it cheered, by the delightful words of St. John: Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God!'

"In closing this sketch, I would humbly and earnestly say, respecting the remainder of my life,

The next entry in the journal thus occasionally kept by Mr. Hartshorne, is dated October 26th, 1833 :

:

"It is now more than two years and a half since I wrote the preceding account, and I am yet in the house of my pilgrimage, seeking

after the rest that remaineth for the people of God. O God, my heavenly Father, I give praise to thee, that thou hast kept me, so that I have not forsaken the good and the right way, the way that leads to joys on high. I would not overlook my present mercies, (for thou hast given me all things needful richly to enjoy,) but be still praising thee on account of them. Thou art the giver of all the good I every day receive; and every day would I bless thee, that so I may praise thy name for ever and ever. Thou not only givest me what I now enjoy, but thou hast promised to me everlasting blessedness when time shall be no more."

In the next extract, Mr. Hartshorne expresses his opinions and feelings in reference to what may be termed the connexional trials through which Wesleyan Methodism had recently passed.

"Feb. 16th, 1837.-Since the last entry in my journal, upwards of three years of my earthly pilgrimage have passed away. During that time I have received much spiritual good, and have found that, in waiting upon God, my strength has been renewed; so that I have gone on, running without being weary, and walking without fainting.

"I feel very thankful for the means of grace with which I am favoured, as well as that I am still a member of that religious society with which I have been connected so many years of

my life.

"The Wesleyans (however opposed by mistaken men) are evidently raised up, in the order of divine providence, to preach the great doctrines of grace, in connexion with the principles of general redemption, and to spread vital godliness, spiritual, experimental religion, throughout the world. I venerate the name and memory of Mr. Wesley, under whose ministry I so often sat, in my earlier years, with delight and profit, and from whose hands I have received my societytickets. Nothing has so much impressed me of late, when I have been reading his Journals, the records of his labours and sufferings, as his patient, enduring perseverance in his great work. And now that I am approaching the close of my own pilgrimage, and have to look at all things with the feelings of a dying man, I rejoice to see his sons in the Gospel, and their sons, aiming at the same objects, and in the same spirit. They preach the same doctrines, they maintain the same discipline; and God is employing them, along with other branches of his church, in spreading the glad tidings of salvation by Christ, among all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, even to the remotest parts of the globe. My heart is gladdened when I see that the work of God is thus prospering and advancing. How much has been done since I first began to run the race set before me! Besides what has been accomplished by the instrumentality of others, how many Heathens and savages have become genuine Christians, truly converted men and women, and members of the Wesleyan society, since I became a member myself! Well may I say, "What hath God wrought!' The language of my inmost soul is,

'Haste happy day! the time I long to see,

When every child of Adam shall be free.'"

That Mr. Hartshorne sincerely loved the people with whom he had so long been connected, and whose character and plans he had had such good opportunities of examining, I can state from my own personal acquaintance with him. He sustained the office of CircuitSteward by various appointments for many years, and watched over the interests of the cause he had espoused with a truly parental solicitude. When attempts were made to alter the valuable constitution of our societies, and undermine the whole fabric, his soul was grieved within him. Attempts to sow discord among brethren occasioned deep sorrow to his affectionate heart; and when he witnessed the endeavours which were made by some in their mistaken zeal to stop the streams of charity from flowing in their accustomed channels, he at once largely increased his own subscriptions to the different institutions of Wesleyan Methodism, and at the same time prayed earnestly that those who had, as he firmly believed, erred and strayed from the right way, might be brought to a better state of mind, and reclaimed to the society to which they had belonged, and from which they had derived so much spiritual advantage. When the highest legal functionary in the land delivered the judgment which confirmed the connexional trusts of the Wesleyan chapels, he rejoiced as though he had himself found great spoil. He was a man of a truly public spirit, and the interests of the church at large were to him the same as his own. His house was long the home of the Wesleyan Ministers, whom he respected and loved for their work's sake. Blessed by Providence with a comfortable independency, he spent the latter years of his life in doing and receiving good." One of the most anxious wishes of his heart, when I first became acquainted with him, was the reduction of the debt which burdened the chapel in his native place, and of which himself and another aged person were the only surviving Trustees. "I want," he said, "before I go hence, to see the house of God in easy circumstances." His wishes were amply realized. The debt was much diminished; new Trustees were chosen; and, what was better than all the rest, he had the pleasure of seeing, not only an increase in the congregation, but the revival of the good work of the Lord, in the conversion of sinners, as well as in the spiritual establishment of such as "had believed through grace." He rejoiced, likewise, in what he considered as one of the effects of the revival and extension of true religion, in the general improvement of the moral condition of the place which gave him birth. He had lived long enough to see that where the professors of religion are faithful to their calling,where they are consistent in their character, persevering, and at the same time meek and patient, in their zeal, and alike careful to maintain the inward power and the outward form of godliness,-though they may be opposed at the beginning, yet they shall, sooner or later,

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