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were the objects of the divine love and protection, and I was afraid of being a naughty boy. But this conscientiousness began to be weakened when I was about seven years old. I became associated with children somewhat older than myself, and not so well instructed as I had been. Through the influence of their company, I lost much of this tenderness of spirit; and my reverence for the Sabbath, and respect for the authority of my mother, were sensibly impaired. I soon lost the comfort of believing that I possessed the divine approbation. But young as I was, and amused when along with my companions, the seeds that had been carefully sown in my mind prevented me from being happy. I well remember that, when alone, I was wretched. Without directly knowing the cause, yet as I knew that I was doing wrong, so I felt the torment inseparable from guilt. I frequently suffered from alarming dreams, in which I seemed to be placed on the verge of the bottomless pit; and these feelings were kept alive by the instructions which I received at the Sunday-school to which my good mother sent me, and, I may say, especially by the example of the Teachers, whose consistent lives strongly recommended religion to me, and enforced the advice which they gave. But I experienced the power of an evil nature, and, though I approved of what was said to me, I was still disobedient: my whole spirit and behaviour were trifling."

When he was about ten years of age, he experienced the powerful strivings of the good Spirit; but his thoughtlessness prevailed, and he went on as he had done previously, and continued to be as unhappy as ever. His own narrative, however, may be resumed :—

"When about fourteen years of age, I went one Sabbath evening (it was on the 5th of February, 1801) to the Wesleyan chapel, which my mother was accustomed to attend. The whole service was deeply impressive. The word came to my heart with power. I saw the beauty of religion, and I felt its necessity; so that I resolved to trifle no longer, but to give my heart to God at once, and for ever. I saw that I must be decided, and that if I would seek the Lord while he was to be found with my whole heart, I must join his church, and observe his ordinances. On the 7th of February, therefore, I began to meet in class, and thus became a member of the Wesleyan society. In the following month, my distress of mind had so much increased, that my very life felt as if it were a burden to me, and I sought for relief where alone I knew it was to be obtained. My prayer was addressed to God for the pardon of my sins, and for that joy and peace in believing to which the Gospel called me. One evening, at the meeting of the class, I was indeed weary and heavy laden; and as my distress continued after the meeting, I and James Allen found a solitary place in the fields, and there we earnestly prayed together; I may say, we wrestled with God, till I was enabled to come to Christ, and so to find rest to my soul."

Young as he was, his conversion was clear and sound, and in its evidences as satisfactory to others as, through the peace with which it was connected, it was to himself. He found that the ways of that

heavenly wisdom of which he had been made a partaker were indeed pleasantness, and that its paths were peace. His inclinations were completely changed. The society of those who neglected religion no longer afforded him any pleasure. Even those who had not made up their minds to be devoted to the service of God, were no longer, he felt, safe companions for him. Practically, his language was, "I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts." He, therefore, thus wrote:

"At this time, there were not many about my own age who saw the necessity of a decided profession of religion: there were, however, a few, and before long our number greatly increased. This was not 80 productive of benefit to me as it might have been, had I been more on my guard; but with me, at that period, the sin that doth easily beset' was a light and trifling spirit; and, through unwatchfulness, this occasioned the loss of that sense of pardon in which I had rejoiced. Shortly afterwards, while engaged in my ordinary occupation, I was led to meditate very seriously on those important words: 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.' I felt that I was guilty of many defects; but I felt at the same time that I might look to Christ for mercy, and claim an interest in his blood. I was led to see that I was accepted of God entirely for his sake; and that therefore, even if my spirit was darkened through inward unwatchfulness, it was my duty and my privilege not to rest in such a state, but to come in humble penitence to the blood of sprinkling, and claim my interest in my Saviour's merits. I did so, resolving to walk henceforth more warily; yet, not seeking peace from my own resolutions, but only in his blood and righteousness.' I found that I had taken the right way. The Lord restored unto me the joy of his salvation. And I thus became wiser by experience, and better able to guard against the wiles of the devil.' At this period it was usual for my friend, James Allen, and myself, with a few others, (among whom was the late lamented Theophilus Lessey,) to go into the fields, in quest of retired places, where we might pour out our hearts before God; and often his blessing was graciously afforded us. Indeed, it was principally by the praying spirit in which we lived, that we were able to withstand temptation, and so to prosecute our Christian course, as to go on our way rejoicing."

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Mr. Marsh proceeded no farther with the account which he had commenced; but sufficient is known of his history by his friends to enable them to continue it, at least in its outward events, and in such a manifestation of his inward disposition as is afforded by them. From the beginning, happily for himself, he was decided. He felt that he "had chosen the good part ;" and knowing that what he had chosen was the "one thing needful," by the choice that he had made was he ever afterwards governed. He was diligent in attending the means of grace. He regularly met in band with some other of his young friends, at five in the morning, winter as well as He was industrious in seeking to acquire useful knowledge,

summer.

reading and writing much, and for this purpose always rising early. So anxious was he to secure this as a regular habit, that he resorted to a variety of useful contrivances for the purpose; and throughout his life he experienced the advantages of the practice which he had commenced with so much resolution while young.

When seventeen years of age, he began to "call sinners to repentance" as a Local Preacher; and continued to do so with zeal and success for the three following years. The talent which he discovered, and the fruit with which his labours were blessed, led those who were "over him in the Lord" to believe that he ought to be employed in a wider field; and as this was in accordance with the convictions of his own mind, in the year 1807 he was proposed to the Conference, and accepted, as a candidate for the full work of the ministry. In this he was engaged for thirty-eight years; thirty-one in the regular itinerancy of Methodism; and seven, including three different periods in which the state of his health rendered a partial withdrawment necessary, as a Supernumerary. Through all these years, his ministerial services were acceptable, and crowned with the divine blessing. Sinners were awakened from their slumbering carelessness, wanderers were reclaimed to the fold, and the "churches" over which he was called to watch "were edified."

His first appointment was to Ulverstone, then a Home Missionary station. He experienced here many difficulties and privations. By exposure to inclement weather, sometimes without the opportunity of changing his clothes when wet, and occasionally by having to sleep in damp beds, he contracted a painful disorder, from which, more or less, he suffered through life. But he steadily persevered, in every Circuit taking heed to the ministry which he believed he had received of the Lord, that he might fulfil it, and at length, when it should please God to call him hence, finish his course with joy. His last appointment was to Perth. This was connected with a decisive mark of the esteem and confidence of his brethren, among whom he had for so many years laboured, as he was chosen to be the Chairman of the District. But while here, his health so completely failed, that he was never afterwards able to undertake the full discharge of the public duties of the Wesleyan ministry. This was to him a mysterious dispensation of Providence. With matured wisdom, and established piety, he appeared to be better prepared for useful labour than ever; and just then was he laid aside, and called to desist. But he had not chosen his own path, and of that submission to the divine will which he had so often preached to others, he now furnished an example. It was the settled language of his heart, "It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good!" And in thus "submitting himself unto God," he was strengthened and encouraged by the abundant consolation that was imparted to him. He said that it seemed as if he had never enjoyed such rich communications of heavenly light and comfort, as were vouchsafed to him in this affliction. He could testify, "Thou anointest my head with oil, and my cup runneth over." He was thus brought to make a renewed and unreserved surrender of himself to

God, and declared that he now experienced, as he had never done before, what is meant by the "perfect love which casteth out fear.” In this delightful state of resignation and repose, he was preserved to the end of his mortal life.

A few of the principal features of the character of Mr. Marsh, as they appeared during the more active portions of his life, may be mentioned before we come to the narrative of his latter days. He possessed an affectionate and amiable disposition, his mind was vigorous, his imagination lively, his memory retentive, and his judg ment discriminating and sound. Wherever he was known, he was both loved and respected. It is, however, to the religious aspects of his character that we must now chiefly look. His mind was decidedly spiritual. His stores of knowledge were ample, and his conversational powers respectable; so that he was always an agreeable companion in the social circle. But he was useful likewise: for it was always evident that sacred subjects were uppermost in his thoughts; and these he would introduce so judiciously, and converse on them so fluently and impressively, that it was obvious that he was not speaking as if by rote, as in mere form, but out of the abundance of his heart, and on topics with which his own experience had long rendered him familiar. He was frank and honest. If he observed anything which he thought to be wrong, he would openly state his opinion. Everything like magisterial assumption he carefully avoided; but he was equally careful that his love should be without dissimulation. On one occasion, fearing that he perceived some tokens of religious declension, he thus wrote: "I have been much struck with the silence of our friends at -, on the subject of religion. Is it because they have none, or do not like to speak concerning it? Are they going to the same heaven with us, or is our friendship to end in death? These are awful thoughts. May God quicken us! How unconcerned we go, upon the brink of death!" He was truly humble. One of his letters to Mrs. Marsh may be quoted as illustrating this view of his character. It was written in May, 1822. "My mind is depressed, because of the little which I seem to know of God. I fear my heart is too hard to feel as it ought. Sometimes I think that the last twenty-two years have witnessed declension rather than increase. I weep, and say, 'My leanness, O my leanness!' I can do nothing but mourn before him with grief as bitter as ever I felt. If ever you prayed for me, pray now, that I may be better as a Christian, and more useful as a Minister. I wish my sorrow to be as deep as my unworthiness, and break down my hardness. I sometimes fear that long familiarity with solemn and awakening truths has a tendency to prevent their due effect on my own mind. Blessed be God, I trust that this is not entirely the case. O live near to God, pray, read the Scriptures, live in the habit of self-denial, cleave to the blood of sprinkling, get a cloudless sky for your own sake, for my sake, for God's sake. I have dishonoured him by my want of diligence; and yet to think that he is my Father still! Henceforth I trust that increasing earnestness will demonstrate my thankfulness.

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paid my debt to him for you and my children. I have not prayed enough for my unconverted relations, nor for the church of God. 0, what should I do if there were no blood of atonement? Christ, as an atoning victim and sacrifice, appears my only refuge. Excuse these broken sentences. They come from my heart. I trust I have seen the worst of my deceitful heart, and that the most unprofitable days of my life are past, and that better are in store for me. I feel more of a settled calm, and that I am bent on having in me all the mind that was in Christ." Thus severely did he judge himself, writing in the fulness of his heart to his dearest earthly friend. He realized the feelings of the Prophet, when thus reviewing the past. To himself, shame and confusion of face; but to the Lord his God, mercy and forgiveness! His resignation has been mentioned. Frequently and long was he called to drink deeply of the cup of affliction. years, the state of his health was precarious and infirm. beloved and an amiable wife, and all his children except one. was borne with patience, and with an unwavering reference to the appointment and will of God. He left it to his Sovereign Lord to choose his path for him, whether of labouring or suffering; and through the grace of his Saviour said, with him, "The cup which my heavenly Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" Nature might shrink from pain, and bereavement, and mystery; but he endeavoured to live by faith, seeing the divine hand in all things, and in every dispensation acknowledging the wisdom and love of God, and his right to chasten and try his creatures as should seem good to him. It may be briefly added, that he was truly an upright man; that in all the domestic relations of life he was affectionate and kind; and always ready, as he had opportunity, to do good to all. In his ministerial character he was judicious, knowing when to be firm, and when to yield. A Minister who was his colleague in two Circuits has given in few words a correct description of his public character: "He was one of the most sensible and prudent men I ever knew." To the study of the holy Scriptures he was conscientiously devoted. Of course, his reading was by no means confined to them; but such was his regard for them, and the attention he paid to them, that he might be truly termed, "a man of one book." In his private devotions, he read them through once every year. At Shepton-Mallet, where his labours were very successful, he wrote to a friend, "I find the study of the plain Bible to be the best preparation for profiting souls. This is the plan I am now pursuing; and many persons have said, It is this Bible-preaching that does all the good.'" In his pulpit discourses, he was methodical and clear. It was always evident that he spoke under a full conviction of the truth and importance of what he was saying. He could be both a "" son of thunder" and a "son of consolation." Much, also, might be said on the subject of his disinterestedness. He entered on the work of the ministry from a conviction of duty, and from a desire to be an instrument in God's hands of saving souls. To this great object he consecrated himself unreservedly. For this he was willing" to spend

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