1. DIED, at Chelsea, near London, Dec. 2d, 1823, aged forty-five years, MRS. ANNE WARREN. From the earliest part of her life she was well instructed in the things of GOD, by parents who were deeply devoted to his fear. Her father, MR. RICHARD WILLIAMS, of Racre, in the county of Denbigh, was a member of the Methodist Society for nearly seventy years. He was the first in his neighbourhood to receive the Methodist Preachers into his house, which he opened for the preaching of the Gospel, that his neighbours, as well as his family, which consisted of nine children, might have the privilege of hearing those doctrines which had been the power of GOD to his own salvation. The Itinerant Preachers regularly spent one day in a fortnight at his house, for more than fifty years. The happy effects of their conversation and ministry upon his large family were apparent in the early conversion of his children; all of whom, with the exception of two, who are now in heaven, still continue pious and useful members of the Church of CHRIST. MRS. WARREN, from a child, knew the holy Scriptures; and soon became wise unto salvation, through faith which is in CHRIST JESUS. She frequently spoke of the blessings, both temporal and spiritual, for which she and the whole family were indebted to the introduction of the Gospel into their house; circumstances which were the subject of special remark, through the whole of an extensive neighbourhood. Her piety was at once enlightened and ardent: she had, indeed, an uncommon clearness of apprehension, and accuracy of judgment, in the things of GOD; and could express her views and feelings in language the most convincing and persuasive. She was married in the year 1806; and, as a true help-meet for her husband, with all the ardour of her soul entered into the work of GOD; a work for which she was peculiarly qualified, and in which it was her highest delight to spend and be spent. From this time, till the latest period of her life, the fervency of her spirit in endeavouring to promote, as opportunity served, the spiritual interests of the female members of the Societies, in the respective Circuits where her husband was stationed, will long be remembered with gratitude; and many will be her crown of rejoicing in the day of the LORD. Her gifts, as a Class-Leader,

were of the highest order; peculiarly calculated to instruct, to admonish, or to encourage, as the various states of the members required: and in prayer especially, she possessed the ability of conveying her ideas and feelings with such scriptural accuracy, and often manifested such strength of thought, and felicity of expression, as were irresistibly impressive. In the education of her children she had the happiest method of blending what was instructive and useful with what was pleasant, and of uniting prudence and firmness in all her commands; endeavouring to impress their minds with the reasonableness of what was required, rather than to enforce it by means which carried in them the appearance of severity; and taking every opportunity to teach and illustrate the doctrine of an ever vigilant and retributive Providence.-The affliction which removed her from the Church of CHRIST on earth was of so deceitful a nature, that though her friends could not but for a considerable time entertain fears that its progress would not be arrested, yet hope from time to time still cheered the way, by holding out the possibility of her recovery. Though she had been more than twelve months under the wasting influence of disease, it was not till within a month of her dissolution, that either she herself, or her friends, began to give up the hope of her longer life; a hope which was especially cherished by the recollection of a very signal answer to the prayers of GoD's people, in her restoration from a severe illness, about eleven years ago, at Macclesfield, when she appeared to be as much beyond the aid of medical skill as at any period of this affliction. These circumstances, together with her extreme debility, were the occasion of her conversing less as a dying Christian than she otherwise would have done; and therefore deprived her friends of much of that instructive and impressive discourse, for which she was peculiarly gifted. It was not, indeed, till within a few days of her decease, that they began to consider her expressions as those of one who was just about to be admitted into the number of the spirits of the just made perfect: and those expressions were SO much interrupted through weakness, that only a few can be collected as illustrative of the state of her mind a day or two before she died. Adverting, on one occasion, to any opinion which might be expressed of

her after her departure, she sald, “if it were possible for me, after I am gone, to hear any thing said in my praise, O, how it would make me blush!" Whilst her children were standing round her bed, she repeated what, indeed, had frequently been the subject of her conversation, and of her prayers: "GOD knows," said she, that I have never desired either the riches or the honours of this world for my children, but have always prayed that they might be rich in faith and holiness, and have left all the rest to him."-She referred also to a special manifestation of the grace of GOD, with which she was favoured about twelve months ago, whilst confined from the public ordinances of religion through sickness. "Last Christmas," said she, "as I was lying alone in the house, all the family being at the Chapel, I had such a luminous and awful view of the perfections of GOD, and especially of the purity and holiness of his nature, that I was overwhelmed with shame, in the recollection of my sinfulness and unworthiness. But just then, I was presented with a most impressive and affecting view of the great Atonement. O! what a sight had I of Calvary! There I saw my SAVIOUR with his arms extended to receive me; with eagerness I flew into them, and found refuge from every fear." Reviewing the whole of her christian life, since her conversion to GOD, she said, "The LORD knows, that ever since I have experienced his saving grace, though I accuse myself of numberless faults, I have never done any thing knowingly and wilfully to displease him; but have always loved him, and always had his fear in my heart." She expressed her high admiration of MRS. SUSANNA WESLEY, the excellent mother of the REV. JOHN WESLEY. "I have ever considered her," said she, "to have been one of the greatest and best women that ever lived." And she instanced in the wise and judicious manner in which she brought up her children; the chris tian prudence and fortitude with which she conducted herself towards many of the parishioners, who came to her for religious instruction, during her husband's absence; and the christian dignity and triumph with which she finished her course. On the subject of obedience to parents, whilst her children were present, she said, "Obedience to parents will always be rewarded with Gon's blessing; and disobedience with his curse." She then related, by way of illustration, in her usual striking manner, the history of a family in a Circuit where we were for

merly stationed; in which the haughty and insolent conduct of the children towards their parent was signally followed by the poverty and degradation into which they afterwards sunk.—After a little while she addressed herself to her husband, as he stood at the foot of the bed: "My dear, we have always endeavoured to live together in the fear and love of GOD, and to help each other in our christian course; for this purpose we were united, and for this we have lived, and have been happy, happy together; and, if departed spirits are permitted to interest themselves in behalf of those they loved on earth, happy shall I be to watch over you, and my dear children." Here she was very much affected, and could proceed no further.-On the day of her death, she was occasionally in great pain, but no murmur or complaint escaped her lips. As her faithful servant was sitting on the bed-side near her, whilst she was in great pain, she looked at her with tenderness, and said, " O Kate, prepare for this, will you?"—and, after a few moments, she added, "I have long considered you as one born in my house, and have always felt the most anxious concern for your welfare, and prayed for your salvation." In the former part of the day, she occasionally regretted that, though she could not entertain any doubt whatever of her acceptance with GoD, she possessed so little of that "strong consolation " which she had at other times abundantly experienced ; and said to her busband, “O! I want more sensibly to feel." He replied, "Your state would indeed be less sorrowful, but not more safe: you have built upon the Rock: you have that faith in CHRIST which can never fail. But though much spiritual joy is not necessary to your safety; yet, perhaps, the LORD may soon give you the desire of your heart." In about half an hour afterwards, as he was sitting on the bedside, she looked at him with indescribable satisfaction and sweetness, and said; "All is peace, and joy, and righteousness!" Then, pointing upwards with her left hand, she added, "There he is!" Soon after she said to him; "Though I have for a considerable time been under the influence of depression of spirit, yet the promises of GOD, and the promises only, have been applied to my mind." Upon his saying to her, "I suppose, my dear, when you pointed upwards and said, "There he is," you had a more than ordinary discovery of the SAVIOUR," she replied, "Yes." Seeing him in tears, she said, in a voice of consolation and of confi

dence," Gon will be with you! "These were among the last words which she spoke; and then, composing herself, as though she had been going to sleep, she seemed to be less and less sensible of pain; till, from an unusual strength of breathing, which, for about a quarter of an hour, gradually diminished, whilst the intervals of respiration became longer and longer, the precise moment of her ceasing to breathe at all could not be ascertained. Thus was the purified spirit of ANNE WARREN delivered from the shackles of mortality, and introduced into the inheritance and society of the saints in light.

S. W.

2. Died, at Mousehole, near Penzance, Dec. 17th, MR. BENEDICT CARVosso. In the year 1771 he was deeply convinced of sin, and for a season sorrowed under the most painful apprehensions of an eternal banishment from GOD. In this state of mind he continued for four months; when by faith he beheld the Lamb of GOD, who taketh away the sin of the world, and received the SPIRIT of Adoption, filling him with peace and joy in believing. From that time he continued to adorn the doctrine of GOD his Saviour, and to hold fellowship with the FATHER and the SON through the SPIRIT. Having given full proof of his conversion to GOD, by his uniformly pious and moral deportment, and especially by his highly exemplary and unvarying attachment to the Christian Sabbath and to the ordinances of God's house, he was deemed eligible to fill the office of a Class-leader, in which situation he continued till death. He was a man greatly beloved by all who knew him; and rejoiced, at the close of life, that through grace he had neither stumbled himself, nor been a cause of stumbling to others. After professing faith in CHRIST for nearly fifty-three years, and serving the Church of CHRIST in various capacities, with the utmost fidelity and credit to himself and to the cause of GOD, he finished his course with joy, testifying his unshaken confidence in the REDEEMER, and his possession of that perfect love which casteth out fear. He was "an Israelite indeed; " and one "of whom the world was not worthy."

JOHN WATERHOUSE.

3. Died, Dec. 18th, MR. JOSEPH PRIOR, of Upwell, in the Wisbeach Circuit. When an infant he was deprived of both his parents; but GOD raised up an unexpected friend, who took care of him till he was old enough to go out as an apprentice. At that time, the particular

care of Divine Providence appeared in his behalf a tradesman took him, and taught him a business, by which he was enabled to gain an honest and comfortable livelihood. And though he had not the advantage of possessing pious parents, nor any to train him up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD; yet, by the restraining grace of God, he was kept in the slippery paths of youth from the pleasing though destructive snares of vice. When Methodism was in its infancy in Stamford,_ the late ROBERT C. BRACKENBURY, Esq., frequently preached there. Under the ministry of that eminent servant of GOD, MR. P. was awakened from the sleep of sin, and brought to an experimental knowledge of the truth as it is in JESUS. Shortly after this, the Providence of GOD opened his way to come into the neighbourhood of Wisbeach. Since that time many of the Preachers, stationed in the Lynn and Wisbeach Circuits, have found a home under his roof, when they have been called to preach at the villages in which he alternately resided. He "put on bowels of compassion;" was to many a friend in need; and often visited the widow, the fatherless, and the afflicted. Being "counted faithful," he was put into the office of a Class-Leader; and the happy effects of his earnest, faithful, and affectionate instructions are gratefully remembered by many, over whose souls he watched. He had the wisdom of winning souls to GOD. His calling in life gave him access to, a variety of characters; and to that facility for usefulness he added an unoffending manner of address. He often introduced the subject of religion to the persons with whom he had to do; and, while in some cases he was successful, he at least gained the attention of most of those to whom he spoke. An instance came under my notice nearly fourteen years ago. Being at a house in a village, where a man was fitting up one of his rooms for the purpose of dancing, MR. P. said, "Friend VIRGO, this would make a good preaching-room." VIRGO replied, "With all my heart." Prayer-meetings were immediately introduced instead of dancing; and, shortly after preaching was established, VIRGO, and many of his neighbours, were converted to GOD. For several years, MR. P. acted as a Local Preacher. While his strength would permit, he was strictly conscientious and punctual in attending to his appointments. His motto, as a preacher, was, "Plain truth for plain people.". As he had received CHRIST, so he continued to walk in him. While he has often lamented to see 2 M

many, like children, tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, and the sleight of men, he was enabled to hold fast the profession of his faith without wavering. He was the subject of long and painful afflictions; but in them he witnessed the sufficiency of God's grace, and a "lamb-like patience armed his breast." During the last five weeks of his life, his feebleness was extreme. When able to speak a little, he observed, that he had nothing to rest upon but the blood and righteousness of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Being asked what was the state of his mind, he replied, "My hope is all centred in CHRIST. I have no doubt of heaven. I want strength to say more for the glory of GoD, and the encouragement of others." The last words he articulated, so as to be understood, were "Brighter and brighter!”-By his death the Church of GOD has lost a most steady and consistent member. Wisbeach.

JAMES BATE.

4. Died, at South Cockerington, near Louth, Dec. 22d, Miss ELIZ. Sleddle, aged twenty-nine years. For nearly twenty years she lived after the course of this world; seeking happiness in vain, because she sought it out of GOD. She had every means of obtaining what some call pleasure; but after a most diligent pursuit, she was constrained to acknowledge the truth of the divine record, that "all is vanity of vanities, and vexation of spirit." At the period above mentioned, she was made sensible of the great evil of sin, and that she stood personally guilty before GoD. Feeling herself in the awful condition of a transgressor of the holy law, she began earnestly to inquire, "What must I do to be saved?" And as a proof that she was truly sincere, she entirely renounced the world, and at once broke off her associations with the ungodly. She was soon convinced of the obligation and import ance of Christian Communion; and though she foresaw that much persecution would be raised against her, in consequence of her acting upon that conviction, yet she "conferred not with flesh and blood," but like MOSES, the servant of Gon, fearlessly "chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of GOD, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of CHRIST greater riches than all the treasures" of this world; "for she had respect unto the recompense of the reward." Having well counted the cost, she resolved at all events to unite herself with the Methodist Society. She "sought the LORD with all her heart," and found him, to the joy of her soul; +

and thus "being justified by faith, she had peace with GOD, through our LORD JESUS CHRIST." From that time she was a pattern of every thing that is good: she patiently endured the opposition she met with, and remained steadfast in the midst of many allurements and strong temptations. She set before her the LORD JESUS as her example, and uniformly laboured to follow his steps. Her whole conduct was such as to put to silence even the tongue of slander; so that even the ungodly were constrained to acknowledge that Miss SLEDDLE was a Christian indeed. She filled with great fidelity and success the offices of ClassLeader and Missionary Collector. For several years her health was much impaired, and at times she suffered greatly; but she was enabled to bear it all without murmuring, and to say in the most trying circumstances, "It is the LORD, let him do as seemeth him good." A short time before her death. Satan was permitted to assault her with violent temptation, which was aggravated by her extreme bodily weakness. But though "the enemy" was suffered to "come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD lifted up a standard against him." The GOD of Peace soon" bruised the adversary under her feet," and made her "more than a conqueror through him who loved her." That religion which had been her comfort in health, afforded her still stronger consolation in sickness and death; and in her "end" was most strikingly exemplified the blessedness of those who "die in the LORD."

S. Wilde.

5. Died, Dec. 23d, at Long-Marton, near Appleby, Westmoreland, in the eightieth year of her age, MRS. MARY BRUNSKILL. This excellent and much lamented woman entered into the marriage-state about the year 1767. At that time, she was not decidedly religious; though she had, no doubt, a measure of the fear of GoD before her eyes. This indecision, however, did not last long. Convictions of the truth began to fix upon her heart; her sins became a burden too heavy for her to bear; and, not knowing how she was to be delivered, she sunk under the weight of her distress into a state almost bordering on despair. Such was the anguish of her mind, that she frequently rose in the night, and wandered abroad to give vent to her sorrow. Like many others, who labour under deep and painful convictions of sin, she thought herself too bad to be forgiven; and therefore strove hard, in her own strength, to make herself better: but she soon

found that attempt to be fruitless. She was, however, determined not to rest without the forgiveness of sins, together with an evidence of it; if such blessings, in her case, were to be obtained. This determination was not a vain one; the Lord at last heard her prayers, and she found peace through believing on CHRIST," whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation for sin." From the time of her conversion, she lived a sober, a righteous, and a godly life; and was one of the few who have a good report of all, and of the truth itself. She had her religious comforts; but they were not of the overwhelming and transporting kind: they were, however, such as made her happy, though they were sometimes partially interrupted by the temptations of the Devil. MRS. BRUNSKILL was a reading woman, and spent much time in that profitable employment. She often derived peculiar satisfaction from the accounts of Missionary efforts in foreign parts. When the piety of a parent is solid, uniform, and consistent, it is seldom, if ever, wholly lost upon children; and in some instances the result is the salvation of the whole house. This was the fruit of MRS. BRUNSKILL's piety. Her husband, who, at first, was by no means favourable to her religious views, and whose prejudices against Methodism were strong, was soon induced to seek admission into the Society; and in the end died well. She had four children. Two died in their infancy; and the two others departed this life rejoicing in hope of the glory of GoD. Thus, MRS. B. lived to see her prayers answered in the final salvation of all those most dear to her heart. The state of MRS. BRUN SKILL'S mind during her last sickness, and in the hour of death, was truly Christian. Some years before her dissolution, she had, in every sense, set her house in order; so that when death appeared, she was fully prepared to meet him. No more in the world, as to its cares and concerns, but wholly taken up with eternity, she patiently waited her end. Her hope was in CHRIST, and death had lost his sting. In this frame she sweetly sunk to rest. The most prominent feature in MRS BRUNSKILL'S character was liberality, especially to the cause of God. For some years before she was admitted into the Methodist Society, she constantly paid both weekly and quarterly subscriptions to the Society's funds, as if she had been a member. For many years she was a subscriber to all our different funds, for the support and spread of the Gospel both at home and abroad; and when the REV. A. HUTCHINSON was stationed

at Penrith, with a view to the extension of the Work of GOD in that vicinity, she supported him for one year entirely at her own expense. She assisted consi

derably in the erection of no less than fourteen Methodist Chapels in the Brough and Penrith Circuit; and to some of them she was the principal subscriber ;— besides sending her aid to several Chapels in other Circuits. At her house the Ministers of GoD always found a hearty welcome, when they visited, in the course of their itinerancy, the place where she lived. Not content with doing good while she lived, she was wishful that her works should follow her after death. By her last Will, she has left to the Fund for the support of Kingswood and Woodhouse-grove Schools, One Hundred Pounds; to the WesleyanMethodist Missionary Society, Fifty Pounds; and Fifty Pounds to our Fund for the relief of Superannuated Preachers, and Widows of Deceased Preachers; besides a very handsome bequest to the Methodist Chapel at Long-Marton, her native village. To enumerate all her charities, public and private, is impossible

They are known only to GOD. In Long-Marton, MARY BRUNSKILL was what the celebrated RICHARD REYNOLDS was in Bristol; and I believe, that, allowing for the difference of their circumstances, she excelled even him. Her property, comparatively speaking, was not great. The secret, by which she enabled herself to be so charitable, was, the adoption of those two excellent rules, so strongly enforced by MR. WESLEY:"1. Save all you can: 2. Give all you can.' " Her house was a humble cottage; and she lived in a plain and most frugal manner, not allowing herself any personal accommodation, except such as, at the close of her life, her great age and infirmities made absolutely necessary.-Why have we not ten thousand, yea, twenty thousand, in the Methodist Connexion, such as she was? If we had, what is it that, by the blessing of GOD, we might not accomplish? Her record is in heaven! ISAAC CLAYTON.

RECENT DEATHS.

March 25th.-At Llanelly, South Wales, in his eighty-second year, the venerable MR. HENRY CHILD, of whom some account will be given in a future Number.

AprilAt Chapel-Town, near Sheffield, in his forty-first year, MR. JOSEPH CHAMBERS. "He was from youth the subject of much affliction, which he bore with a fortitude and resignation peculiarly christian. He was seriously concerned for the best interests of the poor in his neighbourhood; and one of the last acts of his life, just before his final illness, was to order several dozens of copies of the Holy Scriptures to be purchased for gratuitous