who should have been as a leader of the people, only caused them to err more widely. The Clergyman was an abandoned drunkard, disregarding all the laws of propriety. He resorted to low pot-houses, and too often went into the pulpit, and engaged in the solemn services of religion, in a state of visible intoxication.

Such was the state of things when the Methodist Preachers first visited Willenhall. Their reception was such as might have been expected. Not only were they "loaded with reproach and shame,” but when they stood up in the open air to call sinners to repentance, they were assailed with various missiles, both offensive and dangerous. But they persevered, believing it to be their duty to go "where they were wanted most ;" and where could they be wanted more than at Willenhall, such as Willenhall then was?

It is not known how soon after their first visit Mr. Read became one of their hearers. It may easily be imagined that his feelings would prompt him to listen to them as soon as the report of their preaching was conveyed to him. He was just prepared for such discourses as we know they would deliver. His constant inquiry was, "What must I do to be saved?" and he could not hear them long without receiving the scriptural reply. The way of salvation by faith in Christ was clearly opened to his mind; and though the particulars of his conversion are not now known, yet he always referred to this period with grateful joy, as that in which the burden of sin was removed, and his soul filled with joy and peace in believing. He was now enabled to love God, and, being "born of God," he had power over sin. He became truly a new creature in Christ Jesus.

A small society had been already formed at Willenhall by the Ministers who had preached there; and no sooner had Mr. Read felt the power of the word of truth, than he became one of its members. Nor did he ever waver in his attachment to the branch of the militant church with which he had thus become connected: the union was only severed by his removal, many years after, to the church triumphant.

His active mind soon led him to seek for opportunities of usefulness; and his attention was particularly directed to the children who, because of the neglect of their parents, were growing up in a state of wickedness and practical Heathenism. A Sunday-school was formed; and though, at first, the number of both Teachers and scholars was small, yet Mr. Read and his associates in this good work persevered, and soon found that they were not labouring in vain. Other schools were opened in the immediate neighbourhood, and Mr. Read gladly gave his advice and assistance, and rejoiced to see a generation arising which promised to be, by the blessing of God, very different from the one which had preceded it. For upwards of twenty-five years he laboured assiduously in this work of Sabbath-instruction, and lived to witness both its extension and its happy effects.

He

For more than thirty years Mr. Read had the care of a class. felt the responsibility to God and his church which thus devolved on him, and not only sought to be faithful in the discharge of the duties to which he was now called, but to prepare himself for doing this in the most efficient manner. He believed that he had now an additional reason, not only for maintaining his religious experience uninjured, but also for seeking richer blessings. He was par

ticularly careful to enforce all his exhortations and instructions by his own example. He was no Pharisee. He knew that he was saved only by the free grace of God, and that the life he had to live was to be by the faith of Christ; but he had clear and impressive views of the purity and extensiveness of the law of God, and of the necessity of a diligent and exact obedience to it. To all Antinomian pretensions he was a declared enemy; and therefore was he the more attentive to his own conduct, that it might be evident that he did not "make void the law through faith." He set apart a portion of each day for reading the Scriptures, self-examination, and prayer. His pocket-Bible and a larger edition of the New Testament which he kept in his closet, bear marks of having been read often and carefully. Perhaps few Christians read and studied the word of God more diligently. He desired to "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing," and therefore read the Scriptures regularly and devoutly, that he might be always "increasing in the knowledge of God." This practice contributed much to his stability and spiritual-mindedness, and caused him to be "fruitful in every good work."

Mr. Read was a Wesleyan Methodist on principle. When he first heard the Preachers who visited Willenhall, he was so far awakened to a sense of his lost condition as a sinner, that he was seeking, according to the light which he possessed, to flee from the wrath to come. He attended also, as we have seen, the ministry of the Rector of Darlaston; but it does not appear that he was instructed how to seek for justification as a personal blessing. The good Rector was a decided Calvinist. Now, when Mr. Read heard the Methodist Preachers, he believed that their statements respecting the universal mercy of God in Christ were more in agreement with what he had read in Scripture, than those which referred to personal election, and its true associate, reprobation. This preaching suited his feelings likewise, as directing him to seek for that sense of pardon which should at once give peace to his conscience, and renew him in the spirit of his mind, by enabling him to say, "We love Him because He hath first loved us." And, in addition to this, Mr. Read found in the discipline of Methodism an invaluable supply of need. He felt that he required, in that spiritual conflict on which he had entered, all the assistance he could obtain. He saw the advantages that were to be derived from regular religious fellowship, and at once resolved to avail himself of them; and having made his choice, he never afterwards wavered. Neither the poverty of the members, nor the fewness of their numbers, nor the supposed disgrace of being connected with them, made any impression on his mind. Had he desired excuses for withdrawing himself, occasions, unhappily, were not wanting. For some time the class at Willenhall was supplied with Leaders from a distant part of the Circuit in which the town was included: some of them "fell from their steadfastness," and brought disgrace on the society with which they were connected. These instances of human weakness and depravity injured the infant cause, and occasioned much grief to Mr. Read; while they furnished, likewise, pretext for unholy triumph to the opponents of Methodism. But these occurrences did not move him. He knew how to distinguish between the cause itself, and those who acted inconsistently with their profession. If there were some who were not what they ought to have been, there were more whose sincerity

was undoubted; and the truth which he believed and obeyed, remained unaltered. He therefore held on his way, and waxed stronger and stronger, rejoicing in his union with a section of the visible church of Christ which he believed to be truly scriptural in its character, and which furnished to its members so much of the benefit for the sake of which the church itself was instituted.

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Mr. Read was a laborious and a liberal man. What services he could render to the cause he had espoused, he never refused. He earnestly desired, and actively endeavoured, to promote the divine glory in the advancement of the best interests of his fellow-creatures; and, as it had pleased God to prosper him, so he was a cheerful giver." He willingly contributed, according to his ability, both to the particular funds of the Circuit, and the general institutions of the Connexion of which he was a member. The Trustees of the Willenhall chapel were materially assisted by him in placing their pecuniary concerns in good circumstances. For the last two years of his life he doubled his subscription to the Theological Institution; and when the Missionary Committee, in 1841, were labouring under financial difficulties, through the very prosperity with which God had favoured them, in blessing his own word, and extending the borders of his church, he raised his subscription from £10 to £20, and accompanied the Minister then residing at Willenhall to such members of the society and congregation as he believed to be able to increase their contributions, and met with very encouraging success. When the new regulations of the Conference in reference to the Auxiliary Fund came into operation, he not only conformed to them himself, but employed all his interest to induce others to do so. Indeed, when any special effort in support of any branch of the work of God in the Circuit appeared to be necessary, he was invariably found among the most liberal contributors, and would often cheerfully say, "Make use of me while you have me."

But his liberality was not confined to the support of these the more general interests of religion. He was a friend to the poor and needy; and to those who laboured under the pressure of unforeseen difficulties he often rendered efficient aid. Sometimes, indeed, the objects of his bounty wickedly deceived him; but this neither steeled his heart, nor closed his hand. Acting upon principle, he continued his course of benevolence, leaving those who had defrauded him to settle the matter with their own conscience and with God.

Mr. Read was a man of few words, but of great steadiness and punctuality. When he gave a promise, or entered into any engagement, his word might be depended on. An instance, seemingly trivial, may be mentioned; but it shows the opinion formed of his character by those who knew him. When his only child was at boardingschool in Northamptonshire, he had promised to visit her, and fixed the day when she might expect to see him. The appointed day had arrived, and was fast approaching to its close, and no tidings were heard of Mr. Read; so that, at length, the lady of the house, addressing Miss Read, said, "We shall not see your father to-night." The reply was, "I am sure he will come, unless something has very unexpectedly occurred to prevent him; for he never deceived me.' afterwards he came; and it then appeared that he had been delayed on the road by some accident which had occurred to the vehicle in which he travelled.

Soon

It may be observed, that he was frequently appointed to fill various important offices in the Circuit to which he belonged, and that he always discharged the duties thus devolving on him faithfully and satisfactorily.

Mr. Read was thrice married. The illness of his last wife was very painful and protracted. For several years she was deprived of nearly all muscular power; so that she required as much attention and assistance as a helpless infant. When once laid on the sofa, she could not change her posture without aid from others; nor could she either dress or feed herself. In these trying circumstances, the affection, kindness, and patience of Mr. Read never failed; and although there was a servant whose specific duty was to attend on her, yet, when he was at home, he devoted himself assiduously to the task, doing all that he could to alleviate her sufferings, and contribute to her comfort. There is no doubt but that his own health was permanently injured by the anxiety and fatigue through which he passed, while endeavouring to soothe his wife in the afflictions which only terminated with her existence. It was observed, however, that when his strength was failing, his spirituality was increasing. As he approached "the inheritance of the saints in light," it was evident that his heavenly Father was making him still more "meet to be a partaker" of it.

His last illness was short, and connected apparently with very little pain. He was confined to his bed only two days. His constitution had been for some time secretly giving way; and when the effects became visible, their advance was rapid. To a person who was frequently with him during this brief period, he said, "My hope is in Christ. I rely on the atonement. I rejoice that there is a Mediator between God and man. I have no doubt." His prospects beyond the grave were bright and cheering; and his unshaken faith in the merits of his Saviour, and the promises of the Gospel, enabled him to triumph fully over "the last enemy." To a lady who had visited him when he had begun to be ill, and who said, in taking leave of him, "If we do not meet again on earth, we shall meet, I hope, in heaven;" he replied, solemnly, but with evident joyousness, "I do not doubt it."

He died on the 18th of September, 1842. In the morning of that day he lifted up his eyes, and, raising his hands, exclaimed, with a loud voice, "Praise the Lord!" But this was the last effort of expiring nature. In the course of the few following hours he was observed to be inwardly engaged in praise or prayer, and occasionally he endeavoured to speak; but he was unable to give any further expression to his feelings; and having remained thus for a brief period, he peacefully slept in Christ. He survived Mrs. Read only two months.

A sermon on the occasion of his death was preached in the church by the Minister, the Rev. G. Fisher; in which he spoke with much Christian affection of the deceased, and deplored the loss which not only his immediate friends, but the whole town, had sustained by his removal to a better world. In a codicil to his will it was found that he had directed that his household furniture should be sold, and the produce of the sale put out at interest, one half of which should be given to the poor, in bread, every Christmas-day; and the other half added to the annual Missionary collection at Willenhall. His stock was likewise to be sold, and the produce applied towards the liquidation of the debt on the Willenhall school-rooms.

MEMOIR OF MRS. VIRTUE VEY,

OF ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND :

BY HER HUSBAND.

AMONG the valuable sayings of divine wisdom, the one which delares that "the memory of the just is blessed," holds a prominent position, teaching us, as it does, that one of those sources of instruction and encouragement which it has pleased God to leave open for the edification of his church, is to be found in the religious experience and example of those in whose lives the doctrines and precepts of Scripture have been exhibited. In the same volume we likewise read, that "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints:" a statement which directs our attention to their dying hours, in which, by the consolations they enjoy, and the victory over their "latest foe' which is granted to them, they glorify God to the very close of their earthly course. The Saviour to whom they committed themselves for time and for eternity, is seen to

"Bring their soul triumphant through,

To wave its palm before his throne;"

and his all-sufficient grace is magnified, and survivors are not only comforted under their bereavements, but strengthened in their resolution to persevere in the path which has so holy and delightful a termination. Their desire is,

"O may we triumph so

When all our warfare 's past;
And, dying, find our latest foe
Under our feet at last!"

Mrs. Vey, of whom a brief memoir will now be given, although not one of those persons in whom what may be termed the more active graces of Christianity were especially exemplified, was, nevertheless, in the retirement of domestic life, a sincere and consistent follower of the Lord Jesus, and furnished an instructive example of meek and lowly piety, and of patient resignation to the divine will in periods of suffering. Her death, too, was more than peaceful; timid as she had often appeared to be, yet when her flesh and heart were actually failing, she was favoured with a complete victory over "the last enemy, and departed from this world to the "better, that is, the heavenly country," in the full triumph of faith and hope.

"

James and Mary Butler, the parents of Mrs. Vey, were natives of Port-de-Grave, Conception-Bay, in the island of Newfoundland, where they still reside; and, having arrived at "a good old age," are patiently waiting for their removal from the church militant to the church triumphant. They were among the first-fruits of Methodism in that place. When the Rev. Mr. Black, of Halifax, Nova-Scotia, visited Newfoundland in 1791, he found at Port-de-Grave a small Wesleyan society, which had been formed chiefly through the instrumentality of my father, Mr. George Vey, a Wesleyan Local Preacher, who had laboured in the midst of many disadvantages, but whose labours it had pleased God to crown with encouraging success. Among the first who