at him; but, in the midst of all, he escaped uninjured, and the God of DANIEL delivered him out of their hands. Incessant and laborious in his own more restricted sphere of duty, he nevertheless justly appreciated the more extended labours of those who were entirely devoted to the service of the sanctuary. He loved Methodism, and he loved its Ministers, and therefore cheerfully contributed to their support. The principle adopted by Infidels, and zealously circulated by them to serve their dire purposes, and attempted to be defended by misapplying certain texts of Scripture, -that Ministers ought not to be supported as a distinct body, by christian societies, he utterly disclaimed; and though at that time deriving his own support from the labours of the loom, he regularly, for several years, whilst the Society was small, contributed one shilling weekly at his Class-meeting. As a Preacher, his talents were peculiar; for, although plain and unadorned, his sermons were attractive and useful; and even the manner in which he pronounced his text, frequently produced very deep impressions. A divine unction attended his ministrations, and those who most frequently heard him, loved and revered him the most. For about twenty years together, he preached every Monday evening at the Chapel in Warrington; the Travelling Preachers only visiting it at that time once in three weeks. His manners were simple and unassuming; and his general carriage was modest and cheerful. The families where he occasionally lodged, cherish his memory with the most lively feelings of affection and regret: and his more wealthy friends in different parts of the country paid a sincere tribute to his usefulness and excellence, by proposing, about twenty years before his death, to receive him by turns into their houses, and contribute respectively towards his support; that he might be relieved from manual labour, and devote the decline of life wholly to the work he so truly loved;—a proposal which he gratefully accepted, and which was, partially at least, continued to the end of life. His public labours did not prevent his attention to domestic duties: he had formed the resolution of JOSHUA, that, "As for him and his house, they would serve the LORD." His children were therefore trained up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD; and he and his family regularly assembled to hear the holy Scriptures, and to offer up prayers and praises to the God of all grace and mercy, His diligence and industry were not confined to his secular concerns, nor even to his laborious exertions in public preaching. He was always employed; for, if he was not working at his loom, or travelling, or preaching, or conversing, he was sure to be found reading or meditating, or praying, or forming the plans of sermons, of which he had written more than fourteen hundred. Not having been favoured with a liberal education, he strove to increase his knowledge, particularly of Divinity, by improving every opportunity for reading and study. At one time, he and some of his early friends had meetings, similar to what were formerly termed "Prophesyings" in the Church of England, and which they called "Improvement-Meetings;" for the purpose of reading, and of assisting each other to understand the sacred Scriptures. About seventeen years before his decease he had a slight attack of paralysis, from which he soon recovered so as to feel but little inconvenience from it. A second and severer attack, some years afterwards, was more painful in its consequences for although he was again enabled to resume his labours, his bodily strength was greatly lessened; and the infirmities of age came on more rapidly. A third paralytic stroke, in December 1822, rendered him incapable of public duties, and considerably injured his memory and speech. During his last and long affliction, his bodily sufferings and strength varied considerably at different times, but his mind was always tranquil, and he constantly spoke with clearness and certainty of his acceptance with GOD. Of himself he spoke in the most abasing and humiliating terms, whilst his soul breathed gratitude and love to his God and Saviour. About three weeks before his death he suffered very greatly in body, and to those about him appeared to be so near his end, that they expected him, almost every moment, to breathe his last. Whilst in this state his son-in-law, with whom he lived, said to him, 66 Father, you suffer very much; but in a little while you will be free from suffering and pain, and enjoy an eternity of happiness." Affected by the expression, he exclaimed, "Delightful thought! O the word ETERNITY. Delightful thought! Delightful thought!" His son-inlaw then repeated the lines composed by the Rev. CHARLES WESLEY, during his last illness: : "In age and feebleness extreme, Who shall a helpless worm redeem ? To which he responded with indescribable feeling; and added, "O, a smile from JESUS is every thing!" He then earnestly prayed that the LORD would dismiss his spirit, and take it to himself." Under the influence of the ecstatic feelings which he experienced, he called to his son-in-law, saying, "I am full of peace and love!" On Saturday morning, August 30th, 1823, he closed his eyes, and engaged fervently in prayer. Some of his words were, "Come, Death; come, LORD JESUS,-Glory!-Glory!-Angels,-Angels,coming-coming to take me to ABRAHAM's bosom." These were his last words. Thus lived, and thus died WILLIAM YOUNG, MEMOIR OF MR. WILLIAM BOURNE, Of Belper: BY THE REV. THOMAS WOOD, A.M. MR. BOURNE was born in the year 1747, at Eastwood, in Nottinghamshire. From a child up to manhood he was accustomed to attend the services of the Established Church, and was preserved from what, at that time, he deemed gross acts of immorality; so that his character, in the estimation of the world, was unblemished. When about nineteen years of age, he was strongly inclined to receive the Sacrament of the LORD's Supper: an additional excitement to which was the example of a young person of his acquaintance, who attended that holy ordinance. In the year 1770 he entered into the marriage-state, with a female who did him good, and not evil, all the days of his life. He continued under the influence of his early habits, imagining that he was a religious man: but at the same time he was without any correct knowledge of his fallen and ruined condition by sin; neither did he understand the real necessity of repentance from dead works, or feel his need of salvation through faith in CHRIST crucified. Though he was a bigoted Churchman, yet he could, without any scruples of conscience, pay visits on the LORD's day, receive visitors, spend what he deemed a comfortable hour in conversing on worldly business, general topics of amusement, or any other trifling subject. On other days of the week he could enjoy a game at cards, go to horse-races, attend plays, and such like entertainments, decming all these innocent pleasures. Though he thought himself right at this time, yet afterwards he was brought to see his awful mistake. The year 1782 was a period of vast importance to him; for during that time he adopted correct principles, cherished gracious feelings, and entered on the performance of religious duties in a spiritual manner. Though he had imbibed strong prejudices against the Methodists, yet providentially he was brought under the sound and awakening ministry of that venerable servant of GoD, MR THOMAS SLATER, a Local Preacher. The way in which he was led to hear him, was singular. Having a party of friends at his house on a Sunday afternoon, among the various subjects which occupied their attention, one of the company introduced the name of MR. SLATER, saying, he was to preach that evening at Belper in the Market-place; and, 'what was rather remarkable, most of them agreed to go and hear him. Through much persuasion, not wishing to give offence, MR. B. consented to go with them. They went; and the text was, "If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" He stood at the outside of the congregation, that he might not appear to take any interest in what was going forward. However, on being a little amazed how a farmer could find so much to say without having any part of it written down, he began to give more attention, and soon perceived that he could not contradict what was advanced. He was clearly convinced that he did not come up to the standard of the righteous as then described; and, to the astonishment of his friends, ⚫ when the discourse was concluded, he went up and shook hands with the Preacher. From that time, being convinced he was in an unsaved state, he saw it was high time to awake out of the sleep of sin, and to seek the salvation of his soul. His convictions were not so keen as those of many persons who have lived in the commission of bold and open crimes; yet they were sufficiently deep and painful to force him out of every false refuge, and to show him the absolute necessity of obtaining the mercy of God, through the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Before he heard the Gospel preached with power from on high, he had read DRELINCOURT On Death: and being somewhat alarmed by the perusal of that work, he thought it necessary to prepare for another world. He therefore got a form of prayer, which he read every night in his family; he also regularly received the Sacrament in the Church; and endeavoured to live in charity with all men. However, when it pleased God to open his understanding to the truths of the Gospel, and awaken his conscience to a feeling of his lost condition, he saw that he must give up either religion or the world. He wisely relinquished all fashionable follies and vain amusements, and heartily embraced the Gospel in its doctrines, precepts, and promises. He sincerely and firmly believed, that CURIST died for the sins of mankind; that he, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man; that he was no respecter of persons, his invitations being given to all; and that he did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Under the influence of these views of the christian religion, he entered on the practical performance of the important duty of private prayer, in the prosecution of which his heart was so fervent that he wrestled with the LORD, and was enabled to lay hold of the promises containing the spiritual blessings which his condition required. The pleasing result was, that through believing in JESUS he was filled with peace, and joy, and holy love, in so much that he recommended CHRIST and salvation to all around him. It was his delight to talk of the goodness of God to sinners, and to preach CHRIST to all with whom he had any intercourse. He thought his feet were so established on the Rock, that nothing could ever move him from his steadfastness, or diminish his strong consolations in the LORD. Not being aware of the stratagems of the great enemy of souls, he was soon unexpectedly brought into a field of spiritual conflict. SATAN exerted his utmost policy and malice to destroy the confidence of this young convert, and bring him again into bondage. All his nearest friends forsook him: one in particular, who had been strongly attached to him and his family, declared, that if he would not desist from going to the Methodists, he would not have any further intercourse with him. However, in all this severity of assault and formidable opposition, the LORD enabled him to hold fast his faith, conscience. and a pure SATAN being a wise practitioner in schemes of ruin, when one fails he has recourse to another. The family of MR. BOURNE Continuing to increase, and his business not affording sufficient profit for its comfortable support, a temptation was thrown in his way to engage in another employment. This new concern taking considerably more money than he expected, he applied to a near relation for assistance: but he, pretending he could not afford him the aid required, advised him to draw bills on credit, in order to overcome his difficulties. He took this advice: the consequence of which was, that he soon fell into disgrace, and was separated, for a season, from holding intercourse and fellowship with the members of religious society: yet he never departed from them in affection. He also purposed, through the blessing of Providence, to make full restitution to those who had unhappily sustained loss by his means. In the course of a few years, a friend of his, knowing the difficulties under which he was labouring, unexpectedly sent him a very consolatory letter, proposing to him a situation of some importance, of which he accepted. Leaving a part of his family at the old concern, he went to his new situation, where he continued about six years. While here, his way was opened to advantages of a superior kind: he therefore resigned his new concern, and returned to the former place; where he pursued the path which Providence had presented to his view, and which, through the divine blessing, led to results far beyond his expectation. After this change, both of place and secular pursuits, he was brought into easy circumstances, for which he expressed the liveliest gratitude to Almighty God. Having formerly compounded with his creditors for seven shillings and sixpence in the pound, he was now legally free from their further demands; but feeling his obligation in the sight of God to "owe no man any thing," when the time arrived at which he was able to pay the remaining twelve shillings and sixpence, he gladly availed himself of the opportunity of rendering to all their due, and often declared that this was the happiest period of his life. Here, however, considerable obstacles were presented: Some of the younger creditors, having failed in business, had changed both their employment and residence. Others were dead; and when their heirs were ascertained, they frankly confessed that they were unacquainted with the existence of any such debt. One of the creditors in his advanced age having become a waiter at an inn, MR. B., |