population. From the time of his union with the church of Christ he took great interest in all that concerned the cause of truth, and was very anxious that in all his intercourse with the church and the world, the spirit of the Gospel should be seen in his life. He was always afraid of becoming a stumbling-block or occasion of offence to any. He was soon chosen a deacon, which marked the esteem and confidence in which he was held by his fellow-members; and the duties of which office he, for many years, discharged to the satisfaction of all. "He was ready to every good work,” and "thus purchased to himself a good degree and great boldness in the faith."

The several pastors

who had the oversight of the church during his official connexion with it, would all unite in testifying to the zeal and loving spirit in which, as an officer of the church, he conducted himself among the people. And even when the pastorate itself was vacant he readily and efficiently performed many of its onerous duties. Years thus rolled away, while he was blessing and being blessed, and largely experiencing the truth of that Scripture, "He that watereth others, himself shall be watered."

In the year 1850, he removed from the scenes of his early life, on account of the scarcity of employment, to the place where he died. It was here that the writer of this brief notice first became acquainted with him, as he then began to attend upon his ministry. The writer and many of his people esteemed and loved him for his consistent Christian character, and have often

spent with him many happy seasons of Christian intercourse, which are now remembered with much pleasure when they can be no longer enjoyed, Though a Baptist in principle, he was no bigot, but loved all who loved the Lord Jesus Christ; and with the people among whom his lot was now cast he heartily cooperated in plans of Christian labour. He was very conscientious in the discharge of all the duties devolving upon him as an officer of the church; and therefore, some years before his decease, he resigned the office of deacon because he was no longer able to perform its duties, -partly on account of the distance to which he was removed from the neighbourhood of the people, and partly on account of declining health. The church was very reluctant to accept his resignation, and requested him to reconsider his determination to resign. And in a note sent in reply, a copy of which now lies before the writer, he very feelingly refers to their urgent request, and states that he has reconsidered the subject-made it also a matter of earnest prayer-and then says, "he would deny himself many things to oblige them in this matter, but that he cannot see his way clear to retain office longer; and as it was under the most conscientious convictions of duty that he came to the determination to resign, so now, for their sakes and for their prosperity as a church, he cannot persuade himself to resume office again."

As just hinted, it was more than probable that failing health had much to do with his resignation. From this time he began to com

plain of great feebleness and want of energy, and was reluctantly compelled to cease taking part in Christian labour as he had been wont. As weeks and months passed on he became gradually weaker and weaker. Medical skill seemed unavailing to arrest the progress of disease, till at length he was completely prostrated, and all hope of recovery was gone. As the power of his disease increased, which proved ultimately to be an enlargement of the heart, he was almost altogether confined to his room. Symptoms of the most distressing kind appeared, and he endured paroxysms of the most intense suffering. But not a murmur escaped him, while expressions of the most entire and devout submission to the Divine will frequently fell from his lips. Nothing could be more touching than the feeling expressions of selfrenunciation, and his entire dependence on the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ for acceptance with God. His soul seemed always to lie at the Cross, deriving all its hopes of mercy from Him who died thereon; and often did he feelingly repeat those sweet words of Dr. Watts, as a description of his own state of mind,

Here at thy Cross, my dying God,

from almost constant pain, he said,

"If my heart does not deceive me, I can say, and before God I lie not, I have loved the habitation of thine house, the place where thine honour dwelleth. I think I can appeal to my Maker and say with all sincerity, I have been afflicted in the afflictions of the church; I mean, whatever has made the heart of any lover of Christ to bleed, I have been troubled for them. I have often asked myself if I had any concern for religion, when I have seen others so careless about the means of

grace; I was always anxious not to be a little saint, I mean a dwarfish

one.

'While less than nothing I can boast, And vanity confess.'

Yes, yes, I esteem myself less than nothing, but Christ to be very, very high.

'Oh, to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be.' "

Frequently for nights and days together he was unable to lie down, or even to sit; and sometimes kneeling before a chair, and sometimes standing, or walking, never more than a few minutes in any one position, he spent many wearisome weeks, both night and day. But amidst all this pain and suffering he maintained a cheerful resignation to the Divine will. "Being in an agony," we are told, our Lord

in the midst of pain and suffering, and what a mercy to have a throne of grace to approach, and obtain grace to help in time of need. He then said—" I have been a professor for more than thirty years, and I have always hated hypocrisy. Oh, I hope I shall not be found a hypocrite! Balaam's wish was a good one, but it was not enough,'Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.' He should have been as anxious to live the life of the righteous, and then it might have been said of him, Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.' It is said also, 'It is not lawful to take the children's bread and cast it unto dogs.' I hope I may never take a promise to myself that does not belong to my character. And oh, how sweet, how precious to me have been the promises of God in the means of grace. I cannot understand those professors who slight any means and ordinances of religion."

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He loved prayer. Often, when pain was most acute and the time for family worship had come, he felt as though it would be impossible to utter a word on account of the intensity of his suffering. But when once on his knees, on such occasions, he appeared to forget, or to have lost all sense of pain for the time, and heaven with its blessedness seemed exposed to his view. Again and again did he say, "Oh what liberty I had in prayer! How happy I was! I did not think I could speak a word." It seemed a delight to him to tell how the Holy Spirit had helped him to pray.

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He felt himself as if on the very threshold of heaven, and for the time walking and talking with God. To use the words of Bunyan in reference to his pilgrim, Drawing near to the city he had yet a more perfect view thereof." At other times, tossing to and fro, and finding no rest anywhere, which was so often the case, he used to repeat the words"Though painful at present, 'twill cease before long,

And then, oh, how pleasant the conqueror's song."

The time came when he must die, but death had no terrors for him. He spoke of his approaching dissolution with as much composure as if it was but taking a short journey, from which he would soon return. The writer saw him twice during the last week of his life; the last time, only a few hours before his death. He had been accommodated with sittings in the minister's pew, whose beloved wife then lay dead. On the occasion of this visit, when bidding farewell till we meet in another world, he said-" May God bless you and keep you; we have been four who have sat in one pew in the chapel, and two of us will soon be in heaven ;"-alluding to himself and the minister's wife, who was to be interred on the following day, the day of his own death. In the evening he began to sing some of those sweet songs of Zion which he had often sung in the house of the Lord. Among others"That awful day will surely come," &c. And

"When I can read my title clear To mansions in the skies," &c.

THE Lord Jesus Christ, when He lived on this earth, testified His love to little children. When the disciples tried to keep little children from Jesus, "He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." Jesus is still willing to receive little children, and therefore it is I now write unto you, that you may be led by God's Spirit to believe on Jesus, and trust in Him as your Saviour; that thus you may be happy in life, cheerful in death, and blessed for ever

more.

Little children, you are all sinners, and need a Saviour. Perhaps you do not know what a sinner really is: I will try and tell you. A sinner is one who has done those things which are wrong, and has not done those things which are right; such a sinner you are. God has said in the Bible, "Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord." You have not done 80; you can remember times when you have been naughty, and have not done that which your kind father and mother wished you to do: thus

you have sinned against God. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die."

You have not prayed to God so often as you should have done. You may say your prayers night and morning, but real prayer is more than that: it is asking God to give you that which you feel you need, just as you would ask your father or mother to give you food or clothing. Sometimes, instead of thinking about God when you have knelt down to say your prayers, you have been thinking about other things, and forgotten God altogether: in this you have been wicked. "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."

You have not paid that attention in God's house which you should have done. While the minister has been preaching, you have often been playing and talking; thus you have offended God in His own house, and prevented the congregation paying attention to the service. While your teacher has been trying to teach you the love of Jesus towards poor lost sinners, you have been careless, grieved your kind teacher, and offended the good God who made you. I might tell you of many more sins

which you have committed, but I will not do so, as I would rather tell you the way by which you may find forgiveness and salvation. Because you are a sinner, you deserve punishment; but God, who is loving and merciful, has provided a way wherein you may escape punishment, and receive a full and free pardon. God could not do this till He had punished sin, because God is just, and had said He would not spare the guilty. God therefore gave His Son-His only Son Jesus, to die for sinners, that He might be just and merciful both at the same time. Jesus consented to be punished, that sinners might be pardoned. He

therefore came from heaven to earth, became a babe, and lay in a manger. When He grew up to be a man, He went about doing good, and at last died on a cross at Mount Calvary, in order that His blood might cleanse sinners from all sin.

Jesus will save all who wish to be saved. You are not too young or too little for Jesus to take notice of: but if you repent of your sins, believe in His name, and trust to His grace, He will save your soul, and make you very happy.

Repentance is sorrow for sin. There are two kinds of repentance; one is caused through fear of punishment, the other because we have sinned against God. True repentance is sorrow for sin, because sin is wrong done against a just and holy God. That repentance which is caused through fear of punishment is not true repentance, because when the fear of punishment is gone, we shall sin again. True repentance is a being sorry because we have offended the good God. It is sorrow for sin, because sin caused Jesus to die. This repentance continues all through life, because we are always sinning and always grieving the Holy Ghost. All who love Jesus repent day by day; they cannot sin with delight as others do, but are always very sorry when they do wrong, and would, if they could, always do that which is wellpleasing to God. Little children, ask God to give you His Spirit that

you may be able to repent of your sins.

Faith, without which, dear children, you cannot please God, is a trusting in Jesus, just as you trust in your mother. If your dear parents promised to do anything for you, you would trust in their word, and believe that what they had promised they would perform. This is just what Jesus means when He says, "Believe in me." When you know you are sinful, and feel you deserve to be punished for your sins, Jesus says, "Believe that I am able and willing to save you; that I have been punished for you; that my blood can cleanse you from all sin. Trust in me to be your Saviour, and you shall never perish." My dear children, will you not believe dear Jesus? will you not pray, "Lord, I do believe; help thou mine unbelief?"

Grace is mercy freely given to those who did not deserve it. All who believe in Jesus Christ are saved

by grace; that is, they only deserved hell; but God for His Son's sake gave them heaven. If God had not given them salvation, they could never be saved. No man, woman, or child, can ever arrive at heaven unless Jesus gives them His grace. Ask Jesus, little children, to save you by grace; tell Him you deserve hell, but He has promised to save all who come to Him, therefore you have come that He might save you. When you kneel down by your bed, pray this prayer, "Dear Jesus, I am a sinful little child; I am too wicked to go to heaven, or to love thee of myself; wash me in thy blood, and make me fit for heaven. Create in me a clean heart, and give me a right spirit, so that I may love thee. Keep me from sin, for I feel I cannot keep myself; and at last take me to thyself in heaven, that I may see thee as thou art, and love thee as I ought. Do this for me, dear Jesus, for thine own name's sake. Amen."

When you have prayed thus, then believe Jesus has heard you, and that He will answer you, just as your father or mother would hear and answer you if you were hungry and asked them for food.