extinct. His experience was of a calm and steady character, like the morning light, which shines brighter and brighter to the perfect day.

At Ubley our friend commenced a Sabbath school, which is still in existence: individuals are now to be met with in that neighbourhood-respectable members of civil and religious society-who testify that they owe, under God, their temporal and spiritual blessings to his judicious counsel and religious instructions.

In the year 1826 Mr. Rich entered the matrimonial state with one of the daughters of the Rev. James Jay, Wesleyan minister. Soon after this he removed to Compton Martin, two miles distant from Ubley. Still he continued his attendance at the Sunday school, until he went to reside at Worle, where he terminated his earthly career. At this period Worle was proverbial for crime and wickedness. The reader will not marvel at this when informed that the juvenile population were trained up to Sabbath desecration, and that the village for some time had been destitute of a Sabbath school.

Our brother's feelings and exertions at this time will be best seen from the following extract from a letter which I have received from Mr. Clegg, one of the leaders at Worle, in which place he has spent nearly his whole life. He says: "I remember very well, that about eighteen years since we had a small society here, consisting of nine members, and that in consequence of the leader of this little band being about to leave for America, we were in great anxiety and fear for the result. It was at this time that Mr. Rich came to reside here; we looked upon him as sent by God, and hailed him with delight, for we found in him a man after God's own heart. He was at once appointed, by the superintendent of the circuit, to take charge of the class; his heart was engaged in the work of saving souls, of building up believers in the faith, and of improving the character of the neighbourhood generally. He resuscitated the Sunday school, in which work he found some ready helpers, some of whom he has left behind to lament his loss. His ardent zeal never tired; it was ever devising something new. To advance the interests of Zion he instituted a singing class, in which science he excelled. This induced many to come and hear the Word, who otherwise would have remained away. Prayer meetings were commenced, and held during the week in cottages, and from that time the old barn, which served both for school and preaching room, became better attended, and continued gradually to improve. But now Satan began to tremble for his kingdom, and stirred up strong persecution against us. The Sabbath evening congregations were exposed to great annoyance, and even danger, arising from tumultuous assemblies gathering together during religious service, for the purpose of creating disturbance, throwing stones, dirt, &c., as they returned home. To stop this persecution, Mr. Rich was under the necessity of summoning the ringleaders before the magistrates, and they would have been punished severely had not our friend begged for their acquittal, on the ground of their promising good behaviour in future, which they did. This step had its desired effect; as a congregation we have since been able to meet and worship our God unmolested; and several who were then among our persecutors have since become converted into saints,

"We had long felt the want of a more convenient house of prayer, and many were the hours we spent in considering how the want might be met. In the beginning of the year 1836 we set about soliciting subscriptions towards this object; a site of ground was procured, the trust formed, and the foundation stone laid amid joy and gladness; in these feelings none shared more largely than our late friend; the undertaking had his money, his time, and his influence; principally under his management the superstructure was brought to a state of completion, and made ready for opening. But here, for the sake of our common Christianity, I will draw the veil over some acts of despotism which caused the heart of this devoted man of God to bleed, as it did the

hearts of us all. Suffice it to say, that after much prayerful deliberation, as an oppressed heritage of God, we sought and found refuge in the Wesleyan Methodist Association. The chapel was ultimately opened for divine worship, on Sunday the 9th of April, 1837, amid the sympathies and best wishes of the various dissenting churches in the neighbourhood. The several preachers appointed by the Annual Assembly to labour amongst us have invariably gained the affections of the members, and have been respected by the public generally; nor have their labours been in vain; God has prospered the work of their hands. In proof of this I could call many living witnesses; others have gone from our ranks to heaven, and are now ascribing salvation unto God and the Lamb for ever.

"As a Sabbath school superintendent, Mr. Rich was punctual in his attendance, and ardently devoted to the interests of the rising generation; as a leader he was faithful and indefatigable, and in the affairs of the circuit generally his services were invaluable under trying circumstances he was calm and dignified; where others would have deserted he adhered faithfully to his post.

"We have been on terms of the closest intimacy for nearly twenty years, but in no instance have I seen him in a bad passion, but I have many times seen him in tears. I could say much more, only my feelings will not admit of it. I am touching a tender chord; our loss as a church seems irreparable. I know not how his place is to be supplied; but we must not murmur, for his master, having other work for him to do in a wider sphere, has said, Come up hither; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'"

The subject of this memoir was generally beloved by those with whom he came into contact; the outlines of benevolent feelings might be seen in his countenance; his manners were clothed with softness and dignity, and his general uprightness and intelligence gave him a moral influence, which procured for him the respect of the wise, and the veneration of the ignorant. His counsel and sympathy the poor and injured of the village frequently sought in seasons of distress and trouble. His affability rendered him easy of access, so that they freely detailed their circumstances, and they also highly appreciated his advice; for "he opened his mouth with wisdom, and in his tongue was the law of kindness." Charity was a distinguishable feature of his character; if he heard of a family being in want, they were almost sure to have his helping hand; to his sick and needy neighbours he would often send something suitable from his table. Only such as have resided in that locality can form a proper conception of his usefulness in securing the peace of families-in rendering the dispositions of individuals more mild and amiable, and in promoting the temporal and spiritual interests of the villagers generally.

In his domestic relations he exhibited a pattern worthy of imitation. He ruled his house well, for he "commanded his children and household to keep the ways of the Lord." He was not one of those-of whom there are too many-who consider that they have nothing more to do with their servants than to see that they perform their manual work faithfully. On the contrary, he considered them as members of his family, and felt solicitous for their 'spiritual good. He did not aim at forcing obedience, but to draw them with the cords of love; nor is it undeserving of being recorded, that almost without an exception every servant who entered his employ became the recipient of saving grace and a member of the church. He did not allow family worship to be attended to merely as a form, but as a priest in his house he offered up morning and evening sacrifice. Few things displeased him more than for individuals to be descanting upon the failings and want of talent in ministers of the gospel; especially if in the presence of children; he considered such conversation calculated to abolish every vestige of Christianity, and to convert

Christian families into schools of infidelity. The Sabbath at his house was a day of delight; it was kept holy unto the Lord; the hour of seven on the morning of this day found our brother in the chapel at the prayer meeting. He was a man of devotional habits, and possessed the gift and the spirit of prayer; whenever he exercised, either in the public or social means, there was felt such an overcoming power, as showed that he was intrusted by "the Holy Ghost with a key that opened the wards of the heart."

About a year and a half before his death he was called upon to endure one of the severest earthly trials which can befall a parent, in the loss of his eldest son, an amiable young man, who was walking in the fear of the Lord. The writer of this memoir was present when the father received the last parting sigh of his beloved James; nor will he soon forget the childlike submission this father then evinced to the divine will. He had a tender heart, and sad things were apt to make a deep impression upon him; he felt this stroke bitterly, yet he did not murmur, but like Aaron, when his two sons were taken away, "He held his peace, because the Lord did it." A few hours subsequent to the decease of this youth, as the bereaved father and I sat conversing in the parlour, I well remember his saying, "My grief can be known only to God and my own soul. I feel myself bereft of one of my greatest earthly comforts, but were it possible I would not recall my lad; there is mystery, but there is wisdom too, in this visitation." Here my friend's heart failed, and for a minute the tears flowed from his eyes, but the next minute he wiped them away, saying, "Mr. Newton, what should we do but for religion, its promises, its prospects, and its heaven!" As coming events frequently cast their shadows before them, so our late brother's intercourse with society, and his calm superiority to the world, told that his separation from his son would not be long. For some time previous to his affliction he became increasingly spiritually minded; his life became hid with God; his conversation was in heaven; he lived in a pure and lofty atmosphere, "far above the din and stir of this dim spot." "The last time we returned home together from the Tuesday evening class," says a member, "Mr. Rich turned my attention to the stars, and brought forward some beautiful associations and conjectures connected with the grand spectacle above us, and then closed his observations by saying, "Very soon and I shall know all about these things."

Ten days before he burst the shell, to take his flight from earth to heaven, he addressed to the writer a letter, which now lies before me, and which I shall carefully preserve as a memento of one to whom I was ardently attached, but whose hands are now motionless, whose eyes are dim, whose voice is silent, and whose friendship I have lost. When my friend wrote this epistle he was in his usual health: it closes as follows:-"I am resolved, by the grace of God, to be less careful about worldly riches; I see so much of their evil tendency to harden men's hearts, and lead them far, far away From God."

In the month of October, 1846, Mr. Rich was called from home, to attend the funeral of a relative who had constituted him one of her executors. Upon his return he found Mrs. Rich (who for some time previously had been in a weakly state) confined to her bed. After a few days the domestic servant was also taken ill, and alarming symptoms of typhus fever began to exhibit themselves. The following week intelligence came announcing the death of another relative at a distance, and demanding his immediate presence, to take the management of the funeral: this he was unable to obey, further than to see the remains of his deceased relative laid in the grave. During his absence he took cold, and upon his reaching home complained of shivers; this, with an afflicted house, and the removal by death of his two relatives, appeared to overwhelm him: still he concealed his state from the partner of his bosom, fearing for the consequences. Next day he became worse, and medical advice was sought. This was on Saturday, and on the following

Monday delirium ensued. After this he had but few lucid intervals, but there was piety in his very wanderings, which indicated how closely his mind still cleaved to God. During one of the bright intervals that occurred Mrs. Rich was conducted, by her nurse, from her sick chamber, to see her dying husband for the last time in this "vale of tears." Upon asking if he had a sure hope of heaven, he replied, "Yes," and then placing his hand upon his breast, added, "Christ is here."

For about twelve hours before his departure he was collected and pretty sensible of his nearness to the eternal world, and was much engaged in exclamations of praise, triumphantly shouting, "Glory be to God! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!" Fixing his eyes intently upon Mrs. Reeve (a member of his class, who during his sickness had been his constant attendant), he addressed her, saying, Mind those words of the great Apostle, 'Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord,'" Our sister asked, "Do you feel Christ to be all this to you ?" "Yes I do," was his immediate reply. Soon after this he sung

"Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,

Till the storm of life be past;
Safe into the haven guide;

son.

Oh receive my soul at last!"

Whilst singing these lines to one of his favourite tunes, he sunk in the arms of death. This was about half-past ten on the morning of November 10, 1846. The intelligence of Mr. Rich's death diffused a feeling of gloom over the village. His remains were followed to our chapel by a large concourse of people, and laid in the same grave as had received the dust of his first-born In that grave their bodies now repose, whilst their souls are basking in the paradise of God, safe from every harm, triumphant over every evil; they have exchanged the sorrows of earth for the joys of heaven, and from the vault of heaven even now a voice seems to sound, and fall in accents sweet upon the ear: it is that celestial voice that commanded the beloved disciple, when in the Isle of Patmos to write, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.' THOMAS NEWTON.

MR. GEORGE ATKINS, OF SANDBACH.

DIED, at Sandbach, on Saturday, January 1, 1848, in the faith and hope of the Gospel, George Atkins, aged 69.

He was born of honest and industrious parents, at Stone, in Staffordshire, on the 16th of December, 1779. He was about seven years of age when the Gospel was introduced into Stone, by the energy and zeal of the Independents, who first preached in the open street, then under the roof of Mr. Joule, a flour-dealer, who was induced to open his house for their reception; chapel building being, of course, an after concern. George Atkins' parents, John and Elizabeth Atkins, were some of the first fruits of this missionary effort. They formed part of the infant church, and lived and died in communion therewith. Two of their sons, William and John, afterwards became members of the church at Stone, and their deaths were severally improved by the preaching of a funeral sermon an indication of the esteem in which they were held by their brethren. James, another brother, became a Methodist, and died some years ago, at Sandbach.

George seems to have spent his youthful days in thoughtlessness and folly. His leader, Ralph Downing, senior, says: “Our acquaintance commenced in childhood, and continued till his death, a space of upwards of sixty years.

When we were about fourteen years of age we learned to dance. Many, many nights have we spent together in the dancing-room. This led us into other follies, for which we both have had to mourn before God. We were workmates as well as playmates up to October, 1797, when he left his native place, and removed to Sandbach. I followed him the ensuing year, when we renewed our acquaintance. We worked together, slept together, ate together, and were companions in sin and folly. In 1807 a revival of religion took place in Sandbach. Upwards of 80 were added to the small society in that town in about six months. George Atkins joined the society at this period, but did not continue long a member. He married an unconverted woman, and during a union of upwards of thirty-three years, he never gathered courage to decide for the Lord and abide the consequences. In March, 1842, he became a widower, and the Sunday following he was seen at the Wesleyan Methodist Association chapel. Mr. Downing, his former and subsequent leader, then spoke to him about joining the Society. Mr. Atkins said that he had made np his mind to "join." That day fortnight," I believe," says his leader, "he came to class. His mind was filled with distress and gratitudewith distress for having continued so long sinning against God, and gratitude that his life had been so long spared. In six or eight weeks he found peace. He seemed to give himself up fully to the Lord. He was universally respected in his class, and perhaps never did we speak or pray but we all felt benefited. I do not know of any blot upon his character, from the time of his joining the 'Society till his death; and, upon a review of the whole of our acquaintance, I do not remember one instance of deceit, or low cunning, or dishonesty, in his conduct."

His last affliction was but short-of about ten days' duration, though his health had been declining for some time. During his affliction he uniformly expressed himself with calm and unwavering confidence. His leader had an interview, of two hours, with him on Friday evening prior to the watch-night, December 31, 1847. This was felt to be a very precious season, especially during prayer. He said very little after this. It was next morning his daughter, seeing his end draw near, , knelt down beside him, and said, "Father, you are going." He said, "Yes." She said, "Father, you are dying." He again said Yes:" and after a short pause he raised his voice and said, "With boldness I am going to glory." These were his last words. He breathed his last at ten minutes past eight, on Saturday morning, January 1, 1848. His remains were interred on the 5th, and a funeral discourse was preached on the occasion, by Mr. Downing, senior, to a large audience on Sunday, January the 30th, 1848. R. C.

66

MR. JOHN BISHOP, OF CARRICKFERGUS. THE subject of the following memoir was born in the Scotch quarter, Carrickfergus, in the year 1774. His father was a member of the Established Church, his mother a member of the Presbyterian Church. He derived great benefit from attending the Sabbath school. When a child he was a subject of the strivings of the Holy Spirit. His disposition was meek, quiet, and consequently amiable. His manners were kind and obliging. He was the friend of all, and the enemy of none. His feeling in this respect was strongly exemplified by the fact that he would never suffer any person to speak ill of the absent, in his presence, unreproved. He would always put the best possible construction upon anything which might appear censurable. His conversion was not like that of the Philippian jailor, but like that of Lydia. He sometimes observed that he could not recollect the time and place in which he found peace with God. It was not, however, a circumstance totally concealed. Some of the circumstances of that event were recollected with grateful acknowledgment of the Divine goodness. His religious career