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GLORIOUS GOSPEL VICTORIES, AND SOLEMN WARNINGS.

language, and among other things said he would "like to have the taking off of that man's head who wears the cloak." On another occasion, as I was passing before the yard gate, he shouted, "Bacon-eater!" I replied, "I never ate any of yours, sir," which rather mortified him. Sometimes what he did not like to say and do himself he put others to say and do for him. But before I left that station he died a most awful death. Previously, he acknowledged that the people he had been persecuting were right. During his last struggle no one could stay in the room with him. Oh ! "the sting of death!" How dreadful the remorse it causes !—that remorse the first pangs of hell-the prelude of eternal torments. To that dying infidel death came with tormenting "sting "-his own sin, unpardoned, unrepented of. Reader, never despise the holy things of God. Beware, lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you."

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The Lord visited He in a most remarkable manner. Many were enabled to testify that God for Christ's sake had pardoned their sins. One person, who had been a backslider about twenty years, was restored to the Divine favour-blessed again with "the joy of His salvation."

A man, whose wife had found redemption in the blood of Christ, threatened to punish her if she persisted in going to the meetings. Unawed by his threats, and trusting in God, on the very night that her husband was going to use her ill she went to the house of prayer. Influenced by some motive, he came to the door where the preaching was; the word reached his heart, and he repaired to his home in deep distress of soul. When his wife returned she found him a praying instead of a swearing man. The next day he went to his labour, but could do no work. In the evening he came to the revival meeting. The power of God was so gloriously manifested that I had to leave the desk and pray with the penitents, this man among the number. Like the jailer, he trembled, fell on the floor, and cried, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Through the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, he found pardon, and went on his way rejoicing in the God of his salvation. Because his enjoyments were very great, the people gave him the title of HAPPY JEM." In that village we have now a nice little chapel. I had many names given me in that place, among others that of "FIRE-MAN," with which I was much pleased, because I loved the holy fire. Precious to me were the words of the Lord, "The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out."

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One memorable Sabbath, about this time, I led a class and preached in the morning from, "Have faith in God," Mark xi. 22. The Lord watered His people with "showers of blessings." Spoke in the afternoon from, "One thing is needful." The word was with power, and many tears were shed. Preached in the evening from, "While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof." Administered the sacrament, and a most blessed influence was felt. Some lay powerless on the floor, while others shouted for joy. Glory be to God.

A few days later I visited many sick people. Some were ripening for glory, others for destruction. What a contrast between saint and sinner in

sickness and death, one going from evil to good, the other from good to evil. When a saint leaves the world his flesh returns to dust, his spirit to rest; when a sinner leaves it his body goes to be consumed by worms, his soul to be tormented by quenchless flames.

n.

One night early in May, after preaching in the Holy Ghost, sinners weeping and one finding peace with God, I slept in a cottage at L At midnight, shrill human sounds falling on my ear, I awoke, got out of bed, and through the window asked, "Who is there ?" "Please come down," said a quivering voice, "there is a woman dying, and we want you to go and pray for her." Hastening down, I accompanied them to an house where I witnessed an appalling sight. The friends of an aged female outstretched and struggling with death, after having lived more than seventy years in sin, were weeping all around. I said to her, "You will soon be in eternity; give now your heart to God. Jesus is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him;' able and willing to save you believe in Him." Said she, "It is too late!" I replied, "No! you are not in hell yet." I tried to pray, but the heavens seemed as brass; God would not hear. She went into eternity, saying, "Too late!" How terribly true the passage," He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."

Not long after I visited others in affliction. One, an aged and very happy female, said the Lord would ferry her across the swellings of Jordan, and that she was ready and waiting to go. Such was her mode of expressing her ideas of the buoying power and all-sufficiency of dying grace. She died in the full triumph of faith-died praising the Lord.

THE DEBT ON THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

CIRCULAR TO THE QUARTERLY MEETINGS.

As we

DEAR BRETHREN,-We are grateful to find, from communications in the Magazine and from other sources, that the anxiety of the Missionary Committee concerning the heavy debt on the Society is shared by many of our friends, and that several liberal offers have been made. are convinced that the object is attainable, we have resolved on bringing the matter before the Quarterly Meetings, as the most likely way to secure the co-operation of all our friends.

It is exceedingly desirable to raise the additional 1/6 per member required this year by larger Donations, or Donations from a larger number of friends, and by greater diligence on the part of our Collectors, in connection with our Public Meetings, that the way may be clear for a vigorous effort in behalf of the Jubilee Fund in accordance with the recommendations of the last Conference.

But if the proportionate part for any Society or Circuit is not thus raised, we beg to remind you of some of the Plans that have been proposed for raising the sum required.

Let the members be solicited to subscribe 1/6 extra, on an average, in one sum, or in smaller sums, weekly or monthly-the richer members contributing more, but all to do something until each Society has raised its part; or let the Members and Sunday Scholars be urged to bring a New Year's Offering, and, if that should not be sufficient, subscribing monthly afterwards, until the required sum for each Society has been obtained.

Or, if this be not practicable, let eight collectors to every hundred members be appointed, who should be requested to continue their efforts until they had collected £1 each on an average.

And if this expedient failed, a large Circuit Tea Meeting might be held, and Donations solicited from our more wealthy friends.

Though our calculations have been based upon the number of members, we believe many persons in the various Congregations, and other friends would gladly assist in such an effort.

The Mission Circuits could do their part by consenting to forego their claim this year to a portion of their Grants.

We now earnestly ask you, dear Brethren, to pledge yourselves as a Circuit to raise, in one way or another, or by combining two or more of the plans suggested, or in some other way more suited to your local circumstances, your part of this Debt. We have not much fear of those Circuits which have hitherto been most liberal coming behind now; but we hope to witness a universal and spontaneous manifestation of zeal and liberality, and that none will excuse themselves from taking their full share in this work. If, however, some are found wanting in the day of trial, the right-hearted and the true must not yield to discouragement, and refuse to do what they can.

The Pastors are requested to forward a copy of the Resolutions of the Quarterly Meetings to the President immediately after the Christmas Quarterly Meetings, as we wish to have the pledges published in the Magazine for February.

CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS THE DEBT.

The following Donations have been already promised :—

A Friend, (Bideford Circuit)........

Mr. Joseph Yeo (Devonport Circuit)

A Friend at Plymouth, through F. W. B. (Ditto)

Messrs. F. and W. Ash, Newport, I.O.W. (if the Debt be paid)

Mr. W. Ward, Merton, (Hatherleigh Circuit)

The following Circuits and Societies have pledged themselves to do their

Intimations have been received from friends in several places that they have done, or will do something; but we are anxiously waiting for definite information.

Correspondence.

ARE THE MISSIONS DOING THEIR UTMOST TO BE SELFSUPPORTING ?

Mr. EDITOR. I am not aware of having anything to qualify, respecting my statement at the Conference referred to by Br. Johns. I think, however, that Br. J., and those other friends " on whom the remark is operating so painfully," must be in error as to the expression then used, and its legitimate meaning. I could not with my present knowledge of the matter have included the Circuits as a whole, on the one hand, or the missions on the other: nor yet the people individually in either case. I cannot now charge my memory with the exact words, but am inclined to think, "In many instances," was the expression used, and that expression I am prepared to substantiate. In most of our Circuits there are persons who only give of their abundance; and if they were to give three times as much it would be no sacrifice to them they would still have the luxuries of life: there are others, many of whom I am acquainted with, who have to use rigid economy and exercise great self-denial, to support, as they do, the cause of Christ. My remark was not confined to the raising of Missionary money, as Br. J. seems to intimate, but to the work as a whole-the raising of money-the enlargement of the stations by taking in new ground-the lessening of the grants -or doing with less Itinerant labour, so that the stations may become self-supporting. If I had been. without strong evidence in favour of my position, Br. J's. statement would have supplied me with it. How many of our Home Missions with small chapels, small congregations, and small societies, have double, and in some cases treble, the amount of Itinerant labour, to what most of our Circuits can command, with much larger chapels, congregations, and societies: and by whom the bulk of our Missionary money is subscribed? Nor is it

new ground, as some of them have been worked for twenty, thirty, or even forty years-have received from the Mission Fund hundreds of pounds, but are no nearer to selfsupport now than they were when taken up-nor yet so near-if the amount of grant speaks anything. In my view, it is a very trifling affair to raise £10 or £20 Missonary money while the station is drawing £40 or £50 from the Parent Fund without any extension of the ground and sometimes worse than this, even giving up of places which had been previously occupied, and a consequent lessening of membership and labour. Many of these stations have had large and repeated grants towards freeing their chapel debts; with flattering prospects held out to the Committee (almost amounting to an engagement) that in a very short time they would become selfsupporting. Many years have since passed, and they are apparently no nearer to self-support. I would never complain because my neighbour has a grander house, or better furniture, or a finer coat, or a much larger sum to live upon, than I have; or that he can rest half of the week, while I have to labour the whole of it, provided he supplies the means himself; but if after I have helped to provide these things for him, he comes to me and says,

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You must continue to subscribe, year by year, towards keeping me in this position," I naturally turn round and say, "I am quite willing to help my destitute neighbour, and set him upon his legs; but if after you have received so much you would still enjoy your luxuries, you must bestir yourself and pay for them."

The circuit referred to by Br. J. can be quickly disposed of, as no one would hesitate to pronounce it, a thorough want of interest, in both preachers and people. The liberality