"the bliss," he also endured the pain "of dying" but when struggling and speechless in the agonies of death, he exhibited to his friends satisfactory tokens of his victory; and entered triumphantly into the joy of his LORD. Boston. WM. WELBOrne. RECENT DEATHS. FEB. 9th, 1824. At Whitby, MR. GEORGE CLARK, aged seventy-six. Some account of this excellent man will appear, in due course, in our Obituary. Feb. 14th. At Belper, Derbyshire, aged twenty-four, MR. JOSIAH BAMFORD, a young Local Preacher, of decided piety and great promise. He died in the faith and peace of the Gospel. Feb. 20th. At Bedford, MRS. ELIZABETH RANSHALL, of London, aged seventy-one. "At an early period of life, her mind was impressed with religious truth, and drawn with the cords of love. She gave herself to the LORD, and delighted in his ways. She was a consistent Member of the Methodist Society for above half a century; and a ClassLeader at Spitalfields for several years. She had very humble views of herself ;-greatly enjoyed the means of grace ;-and was fond of retirement, in which she communed with GOD and her own heart. During her last affliction, the LORD was with her. When the closing scene drew near, she said to a friend,. Musing on my habitation, Musing on my heavenly home, LORD, I long to be with Thee!' She added with much energy, JESUS will save me: I believe he will:-All is right:I know that my REDEEMER liveth.'-She quietly fell asleep in JESUS.-J. H. R.” Feb. 24th. At Bedford, MRS. ISITT, aged fortythree." She was an upright and very valuable Member of the Methodist Society for twenty-five years; and blessedly triumphed over the 'last enemy.'-J. H. R." Feb. 25th. At York, in the eighty-ninth year of his age, MR. RICHARD BURDSALL, who for nearly sixty-two years had been an emi nently acceptable and useful Local Preacher among the Methodists. A short account of him will appear in a future Number of our Obituary. A new Edition of Memoirs of his Life, written by himself, and edited by his Son, the REV. JOHN BURDSALL, has recently been published. We learn that an Appendix, containing particulars of his death, will be shortly printed, and given gratis to the purchasers of the Memoirs. Feb. 27th. At Tavistock, MRS. BERSEY, the wife of the REV. THOMAS BERSEY. "At an early age, she sought and found the converting grace of God. After she became the wife of MR. B., she was rendered eminently useful as a Class-Leader; and in various Circuits was universally beloved for her piety, and her valuable services in the Church of GOD.-T. C." Feb. 27th. At Steller, near Gateshead, MR. JOHN ALDERSON. "He was found dead in his bed; having, on the preceding night, attended a Prayer-Meeting at Blagdon, and retired to rest more cheerful and happy than usual. He was awakened from the sleep of sin, and brought to Gop by faith in CHRIST, about fifty years since; and has long been a respected Class-Leader. His religious experience was sound and clear; and his attendance on the ordinances of GOD was devout and diligent. Sudden death to him was, doubtless, sudden glory.-H. S." March 7th. At Hathern, near Loughborough, aged eighty-two, MRS. PESCOD, widow of the late REV. JOSEPH PESCOD, one of the early Methodist Preachers. "She was a Member of the Society for about sixty years; and itinerated in the Connexion with her venerable husband for twenty-five years. Since MR. PESCOD's death, her house at Hathern has been the home of the Preachers, when they visited the place. She considered herself as belonging to their family, and treated them with all possible affection. She was a woman of early, decided, and persevering piety. Her heart was established with grace; and she generally had strong confidence in GoD. To the poor she was kind and benevolent; and obeyed the Apostolic injunction, Be not forgetful to entertain strangers.' She lived holily, and died in peace. She has left £100 to the Preachers' Fund, as a last token of her love to the cause of CHRIST among the Methodists, and of her sympathy with our worn-out Ministers, and with the Widows of those who are gone to GOD.-W. B." POETRY. SPRING.* HAIL! hail! reviv'd, reviving Spring, Fair type of heaven's eternal year; While nature's works thy praises sing, Lo! gratitude salutes thee here. Swell, gently swell the solemn song; Now pour the bounding notes along; Teach choirs below, to choirs above, To echo back the solemn lay; And, as they praise unbounded love, To join in bounty's holy-day. CHORUS. To GOD, the universal King, Be sacred every grateful choir; In endless hymns all praises sing, That endless bounty can inspire. All lost beneath stern Winter's reign Creation's genial powers appear'd; Spring call'd them into life again,See! budding verdure shows theyheard: In the early periods of Methodism, this Hymn, we believe, was frequently sung. But at the request of a Correspondent, who says that, with the exception of the first Verse and Chorus, it is now not much known, we reprint it entire.-EDITOR. ADDRESS TO THE EVENING-STAR. By RICHARD NISBET, a Lunatic in the Pennsylvania Hospital. O VENUS, lovely evening-star! O! thus should anxious cares infest, And with serene and sober ray, The idle fancies such display, TO RICHARD NISBET, ON SEEING HIS "ADDRESS TO THE EVENING-STAR." (From the "Gospel Advocate.") "I am the Root and the Offspring of DAVID, and the Bright and Morning-Star." Rev.xxii. 16. POOR Maniac! how I pity thee, That thou no other star coulds't see; Man's devious, lonely steps to lead. Star." This ushers in a glorious day, mine! In Reason may "lead to that cold clay, Printed by T. Cordeux, 14, City-Road, London. Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine, FOR MAY, 1824. BIOGRAPHY. MEMOIR OF MR. SAMUEL BEAVEN: BY THE REV. SAMUel lear. MR. SAMUEL BEAVEN was born at Fullway, near Devizes, Wilts, Sept. 7th, 1795. His opening mind was well cultivated, and in him the advantages of a religious education were strikingly exemplified. Though he was not truly converted to God till the sixteenth year of his age, yet he feared the LORD from a child, and was thereby preserved from many youthful vices and follies. Taught by the advice and example of his excellent parents to revere the Sabbath, and to frequent the house of GOD, his heart, like LYDIA's, was gently opened under the ministry of the word; and a deep conviction of his guilt and depravity ensued. But by the power of temptation he was induced to defer the great work of seeking salvation to what he vainly supposed might prove a more convenient season." While in this procrastinating temper, his fears were greatly alarmed by the voice of JEHOVAH, which he heard in the tremendous thunders of the year. 1810. About this time, also, a sermon which he heard preached by the REV. G. WHEELER, Curate of Steeple-Ashton, Wilts, came "in demonstration of the SPIRIT and in power." His language now was, "Guilty I stand before thy face; On me I feel thy wrath abide; "Tis just the sentence should take place, 'Tis just, but, O, thy Son hath died!" Some time after this, MR. WESLEY'S Sermons were providentially put into his hands, which he read with great attention and profit. From them he learned the way of faith in CHRIST more perfectly; and was soon afterwards made a partaker of that peace which results only from the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins. Having now received the "SPIRIT of adoption," he was enabled to "rejoice in the LORD," and for a considerable time enjoyed almost uninterrupted tranquillity of mind. In the same year, (1811,) after mature deliberation, he joined the Methodist Society in the Melksham Circuit ;-was subsequently appointed to the offices of Class-Leader and Steward;-and was very active, conscientious, and useful. VOL. III. Third Series. MAY, 1824. 2A |