IT has long been a matter of just lamentation to many friends of evangelical religion, that vast multitudes of our peasantry, residing in agricultural districts, are in a state of gross ignorance in reference to all that is spiritual and vital in our holy religion; either disregarding the Christian system altogether, or contenting themselves with observing some of its outward forms. There have been, however, and there still are, many happy exceptions to this; and among this class we sometimes find, not only the actual possession of genuine piety, but also its manifestation to a more than ordinary

extent.

The late George Sparrow, of the Hill of Eaton, near Ross, Herefordshire, afforded a striking and beautiful exemplification of this; although he moved in a very humble sphere, he was enabled, by the grace of God, to act well his part in it, not restlessly seeking or desiring a higher, and thus greatly glorifying the Most High. "It is here that true honour lies."

He was born in the village of Frethern, in the county of Gloucester, on the 26th of October, 1810, and received his education at the National School at Saule, in that immediate neighbourhood.

His first religious impressions appear to have been received in connexion with the Wesleyan Methodists. Quite early in life he joined their society, cherishing towards

that body no small degree of affection, even to the termination of his course; but, after a few years, for reasons perfectly satisfactory to his own mind, he withdrew from their fellowship, and joined the Independent church at Frampton-on-Severn, under the pastoral charge of the Rev. W. Lewis, and, when called by Divine Providence to remove to Foy, a few miles from Ross, he was transferred from that church to the one of the same order in Ross.

He was a man of an amiable and lovely spirit; what is more, he was a Christian of a high order, displaying much genuine humility, a strong faith in God, in His declarations and promises, manifesting a devotional spirit to a great extent, and labouring earnestly to do good in his day and generation. While giving a decided preference to the principles of Nonconformity, he fervently loved good men of all denominations, and in his whole deportment evinced much of the mind and temper of the Great Master whom he loved and served.

That Divine Providence which directs all good men, and "chooses their inheritance" for them, led him into the employ of those who highly estimated his excellent character, and afforded to him abundant proofs of their esteem; nor is it too much to say that his exemplary conduct, as a servant, led some of these to a very high appreciation of those evangelical principles from which

that conduct proceeded. Happy are they who are thus enabled to recommend religion by a holy and consistent deportment!

Although he had had but few intellectual advantages in early life, he evidently had been very diligent in cultivating his mind by reading, reflection, and careful observation, and, what is far better, he was much in prayer, and received copiously of the Spirit of the Most High, and thus he became fitted to be what we seldom see-a peasant preacher. For many years he felt it to be his duty and privilege to speak and exhort in the name of the Lord Jesus; nor was this a presumptuous undertaking on his part, for he had excellent natural abilities and considerable power of utterance; in addition to which, he had long and devoutly studied the sacred volume and the works of good men founded upon it, so that he was enabled to speak, in plain and forcible language and with much pious feeling, "the words of truth and soberness." One of our ministers, who accidentally heard one of his addresses, was astonished and delighted with the propriety and holy feeling with which he spoke; nor was he alone in this, for several persons of very good education partook of a similar feeling. He sometimes laboured in the villages in connexion with his own denomination, and not unfrequently assisted his old friends, the Wesleyan Methodists, in their itinerant work; in both of which he was highly acceptable. Instances are not wanting of men who, when they commence as public speakers on Divine subjects,

are

inflated with vanity, and

thus they greatly injure a cause which they profess to serve. Such was not the case with George Sparrow. He was eminently lowly in spirit, esteeming others better than himself, his whole conduct, as well as his preaching, eminently "adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour;" hence he was honoured of God and beloved by man. "I shall never see his like again," was the testimony of his excellent employer, when he spoke of him after his decease.

Although he was blessed with a' strong bodily constitution, during the last few years of his life he had several severe attacks of a paralytic and apoplectic character, which led him to believe that he would shortly have to put off his earthly tabernacle. He therefore carefully "set his house in order," from a consciousness that he should "die and not live."

The seizures which he had at the latter part of his course were of a most alarming and distressing character, depriving him of both speech and motion for a considerable time; but even then he manifested meek submission to the will of his heavenly Father, and it was a high privilege to visit the chamber of his affliction. During his protracted illness, Christians of several denominations visited him, generally receiving as well as imparting good by what they saw of his spirit and deportment. The clergyman of the parish in which he resided gave him many proofs of the esteem in which he held him, by not only calling and conversing with him, but also by sending him presents of things likely to be useful to him; and on one

occasion offered to administer the Lord's Supper to him, although, as he observed to him, "he was not one of his flock;" but this the afflicted man respectfully declined, at the same time believing the offer was made with the kindest intention. His last illness appears to have been eminently blessed to one with whom he was closely connected, for by it she was roused from a state of indecision, and induced "to give herself to the Lord and to His people according to His word."

In one of the last visits which his pastor made him, he mentioned the passage of Scripture which he desired to be selected as the foundation of a funeral discourse, in case his death should be improved. It was from 1 Tim. i. 15, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." And" should there be a stone," said he, "erected to my memory, this is the inscription I wish to be placed upon it."

It was greatly feared at one time that all power of utterance was completely taken from him, but in answer to many prayers it was to a great extent restored to him for a season; and well did he employ it. But it was destined soon to be succeeded by the silence of death; yet was he not taken unawares, for at the last visit of his pastor he mentioned to him, with great composure, that "he expected his dissolution would be sudden;" and thus it proved, for in three days he was in eternity.

On the night before his departure he was better than usual, and in excellent spirits-notwithstanding, if

we may judge from his conduct at that time, he seems to have had a powerful presentiment that he should soon bid farewell to all earthly scenes and connexions. On that evening his prayer at the family altar was very protracted and fervent; it seemed as though he could not close he had so much to entreat of the Most High. He prayed earnestly for all the members of the church with which he was connected, together with its minister and his family; he prayed also for all the churches of the saints of all denominations, and for the unconverted part of the human family; he then commended to God his beloved connexions and friends, closing the whole by singing the hymn (as far as his voice would permit) which has often been a solace and consolalation to the suffering and dying saint, "Begone, unbelief, my Saviour is near," &c. Only a few hours after this, his last seizure came on; he was soon deprived of the power of articulation, but by expressive signs he took his last farewell of those who were around him; and after some hours' conflict with the last enemy, his spirit was mercifully delivered from the earthly tabernacle, and taken, as we have every reason to conclude, to the bosom of his Saviour and his God. This event took place on the evening of January the 19th, 1860.

According to his own request, "devout men carried him to his burial," at the churchyard, Foy, near Ross; and on the following Lord'sday evening the Rev. W. F. Buck improved his death, at the Independent Chapel, Ross, from the words of his own selection before referred to.

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A general feeling seemed to pervade the assembly that "a good man one "full of the Holy Ghost "-had been taken from the church militant.

The departed held with a tenacious grasp the great principles of evangelical truth, and by experience of their power was a happy man, so far as it is possible to be happy in this vale of tears. He "tasted that the Lord was gracious," and daily fed on Christ as the bread of everlasting life, delighting in communion with God; and for a series of years he commended the Lord Jesus to others by his life and exertions. On some occasions he would walk sixteen miles on the Lord's day, and preach twice, without the slightest pecuniary benefit; and seldom did he speak, but his hearers felt the power of his simple eloquence, the genuine utterance of the heart. It may be confidently believed that, in the revelations of the last great day, the disinterested and zealous labours of this man of God will be seen 66 not to have been in vain in the Lord." W. F. B. Ross, April 4th, 1860.

MR. JOSEPH MELLOR. THIS faithful servant of Jesus Christ was born at a small village near Glassop, Derbyshire, January, 1795. The family subsequently removed to Armfield, near Tintwistle, where they sustained the loss of a pious mother, before her influence or teaching had produced any very deep impression on the mind of her son Joseph. She was called to her rest when he was about five years of age. For some years after this event, he had few opportunities of gaining re

ligious knowledge, or of improving his mind, being engaged in tending sheep on the neighbouring moors. When growing up to be a young man, and when circumstances had become more favourable, he began to attend the Sunday school in connexion with the Independent church at Tintwistle. He was first received as a scholar, when, doubtless, in answer to the prayers of a pious mother, religious truth began to take a firm hold upon his mind. When by diligence and perseverance he had attained some of the qualifications required for a teacher, he was appointed to one of the junior classes. He tells us that impressions were then made upon his mind which never were effaced; that he then began to feel the importance of a religious life, and made a firm resolve to devote himself to the service of God. But the chief means of producing a change of heart was a sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Senior, then minister at that place, from the words, "What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch!" Under that discourse he was led to feel himself a guilty sinner in the sight of God, and that without an interest in the work of Christ he must perish. Then he was led to renounce all selfdependence, and to say

"A guilty, weak, and helpless worm,

On thy kind arms I fall,

Be thou my strength and righteousness,

My Jesus and my all."

He says, he entered into his closet, there to pour out his soul to God in earnest prayer, and to "Search the Scriptures, which are able to make wise unto salvation, through faith

which is in Christ Jesus." He renounced the world, believed the truth, and found joy and peace in believing. A short time afterwards, he made a public profession of the faith by being united to the visible church. His earnest prayer was, that he might be kept from falling from bringing a reproach upon the cause of his Saviour, and thereby giving occasion to the enemies of the cross to blaspheme. Then it was that he entered upon that course of Christian usefulness, that path of the just which was in his case like the shining light, shining more and more unto the perfect day; and though more than forty years have passed away since that time, his name and his consistent Christian character are still remembered with affectionate regard.

In the course of Divine providence, about the year 1822, he removed to Ashton-under-Lyne, having previously entered the marriage state in accordance with the rule laid down in the Word of God, of not being "unequally yoked together with unbelievers." Here he found a home at "Refuge Chapel," under the faithful ministry of the Rev. J. Sutcliffe. Looking out for a sphere of Christian usefulness, his eye rested on a branch Sunday school connected with Mr. Sutcliffe's congregation at Tunnace Hill, a village at some distance, with a rapidly-increasing population, but destitute of the ministry of the Gospel; and, with the exception of that school, destitute of the means of religious instruction for the young. Here he resolved to spend and be spent in the cause of his Divine Master. He became a

teacher of one of the higher classes of young men; and no sacrifice of personal comfort, no self-denying efforts, were deemed too great, that he might be made useful to the souls of those committed to his charge. After labouring some time as a teacher, he was appointed one of the superintendents of the school, which office he held with little interruption upwards of twenty years. He was an example to the teachers worthy of their imitation; piety and zeal, punctuality and perseverance, were witnessed in him in a high degree; he was always at the post of duty, with a countenance beaming with that Christian benevolence which proved that his whole heart was in the work. He had always a word of encouragement for the teachers in times of perplexity and disappointment, urging them to perseverance through evil report and through good report, to sow the seed beside all waters, with the firm conviction that He who had called them to labour, would water it with the dews of heaven. His addresses at the monthly teachers' meetings were earnest appeals on behalf of the neglected portion of the rising generation placed under their care, many of whom had no other means of learning the way of eternal life, and whose salvation, humanly speaking, might in a great measure depend on their faithfulness. Not satisfied with the labours of the Sabbath, he, along with some other zealous friends of the school, attended on the week evenings, for the purpose of instructing, in some of the most useful branches of education, those young persons who chose to avail them