Also, as a preacher and pastor, he was held in much affection by the people under his charge and his fellow-labourers in the ministry.

He bore his long and painful illness with Christian patience, and during the last week of his affliction, it being intimated to him of his approaching dissolution by one of his family, he answered with great tranquillity, "Let the great avenger come when he may, I am prepared to meet him;" and verily, when it pleased the Wise Disposer of all things to close the mortal scene, he was all resignation to his Divine will, the cessation of the act of breathing was the only sign of dissolution, and even at the moment his countenance bore an expression no language can pourtray. Unimpaired by illness for the course of nearly sixty-four years, time seemed to have restored to his features and complexion the freshness and bloom of the prime of life. In beholding such a blissful termination of mortal existence, we have a happy illustration that "his end was peace."

Those

Mr. Evans, as a literary friend observed, was a better man, ten thousand times, than those hypocritical Pharisees who "strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." He was a sincere Christian, in every sense of the word: his religion was a strong principle pervading every decision and action of his long and laborious life; it was a principle emanating from a sound knowledge and love of Scripture truth. who were honoured with his confidence, and saw him at different times and under different circumstances, particularly in the hour of sickness and in affliction, can testify with what earnestness he turned to the great source of strength and consolation-with what warmth of feeling he spoke of the redeeming mercies of God in Christ Jesus. It was a theme to which he delighted to give utterance, and in a way which convinced those who heard him, that it constituted the firm, prevailing, comforting belief and support of his own mind and heart.

On the following Monday an immense concourse of his friends, the members of his church, and upwards of thirty ministers of different denominations, congregated at his late residence, to pay the last tribute of respect, by following his remains to the grave. At three o'clock, the Rev. L. Lawrence, of Adullam, commenced the funeral ceremonies, by reading an appropriate portion of the Scriptures, and offered up a truly pathetic prayer; the chapel choir Bang Luther's Hymn (being the desire of the deceased); and the mournful procession proceeded towards the chapel, when the Rev. J. Jones, Rhydri, read and prayed, and the Rev. Wm. Mosses, of Cefn, preached from Phil. i. 21, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." The choir having sung Pope's Ode, the corpse was then conveyed to its resting-place, when the Rev. David Jones, Bethesda, and the Rev. John Hughes, of Dowlais, delivered an oration and prayer. The grave was then closed on a man whose loss will be severely felt by all who knew him, and by whom his memory will never be forgotten. D. L. E.

MR. SAMUEL MOORE WHITE,

CROMFORD.

THE early life of Mr. White was spent among Unitarians, whose sentiments he probably imbibed, but from whom he separated himself

when quite a young man. How much soever we may object to the doctrinal sentiments of his parents, we must do them the justice to say that they laboured to bring up their children in the love of truth, in the worship of God, and in the practice of virtue among men. Nor did they labour in vain, for nothing could be more exact and honourable than the conduct of all their children through life; thus giving another illustration of the words of the wise man"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." It is almost impossible to overrate parental influence in the formation of character, to blame too keenly those parents who neglect to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, or to applaud too highly those who wisely attend to this duty. The well-being of the domestic circle, the purity and harmony of society, the happiness of the parent in the decline of life, and the glory of God our Saviour, are greatly promoted by it. The blessing of God rarely fails to attend such efforts, and the father especially should cause his authority to be respected throughout the whole house, lest the curse which bligthed Eli should fall upon him.

At a comparatively early period, Mr. White heard a sermon in the Independent Chapel, Castle-gate, Nottingham, which induced him to embrace the doctrine of the vicarious sacrifice of Christ, on which he relied ever afterwards with unflinching confidence. An entire revolution having thus taken place in his views of divine truth, especially with respect to the depravity of man, the work of the Spirit, and the divinity of Christ, it is natural to suppose that he at once sought and obtained fellowship with those with whom his renovated heart accorded. It is worthy of remark, however, that he continued to teach in the Unitarian Sunday-school some considerable time after his regular attendance at the Independent Chapel had commenced; which shows, on his part, great love for the pupils of his class, and, on the part of his old friends, great liberality of sentiment, for they cheerfully allowed him perfect freedom of utterance, and, indeed, such was the esteem in which they held his character, that they were glad to accept his services on his own terms.

In alluding to his early experience, Mr. White stated that his feelings were sometimes wounded because little notice was taken of him by the members of the Church to which he belonged. The remembrance of this induced him subsequently to be particularly attentive to young people who appeared to him to be anxious about their souls, who, indeed, require and deserve sympathy and advice, and who not seldom expect more attention than can be obtained, especially in large towns, where Christians, even of the same communion, rarely meet, except for a few hours on the Lord's-day. At length, however, a good man, in humble circumstances, whose name deserves to be remembered, though it is forgotten, entered freely into conversation with him, chiefly with respect to the joys and sorrows of the spiritual life, read with him, prayed with him, and thus kindly and efficiently helped him on his way to the full assurance of faith.

About thirty years ago, he removed to Cromford, and immediately became a member of the Church of Christ, assembling for worship in

Glenorchy Chapel, Matlock, Bath, which at that time enjoyed the ministry of the late Rev. John Wilson. He also became a teacher in the Sunday-school, where he continued to labour and to pray, with great zeal and success, more than twenty years, not quitting it till growing deafness rendered it impossible for him to teach, and, even when laid aside by this annoying infirmity, which, however, he bore with delightful meekness, for some years he kept the school accounts, ordered its periodicals, always prayed for it, often visited it, annually delivered an address to young people, which was heard with gladness and remembered with advantage. Of those who enjoyed his services in the school, some remain among us, some belong to other Churches, many have entered into the eternal world, and, of these, we have good reason to believe that not a few welcomed the spirit of our departed friend into the joy of our Lord. The news of his death, arriving at the Sundayschool during the afternoon of the Lord's-day, occasioned deep sorrow, for every one felt that a good man had departed from us, and yet every one felt happy that the Church had so bright an example of piety to send to heaven.

66

As a member of the Church, he followed I peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." No act of discipline was needed by him. No wilful wounding of any man's feelings, either by neglecting what was right to be done, or doing what was wrong, was ever chargeable upon him. Ever present at the means of grace, he was a pattern to all men, and a living condemnation of those who allow frivolous engagements to detain them at home, or to attract them abroad, when they should be in the sanctuary. It is remarkable, that when he could no longer hear the Gospel, owing to the

calamity which drove him from the Sundayschool, he began to preach it with great vigour and frequency. With great acceptance he preached in the cottage, in the village chapel, and more than once, when suddenly laid aside by illness, the pastor's lack of service was supplied. Deafness drove him from the pew to the pulpit, and it must be recorded that what to him was an unspeakable hindrance, proved an inestimable blessing to many others. At length, however, owing to the hearing apparatus which has been recently introduced into Glenorchy Chapel, he was enabled again to hear the word of life, and the rapture with which he listened to the Gospel, after that long and melancholy stillness through which he had passed, was akin to that which circulates around the throne.

Mr. White's natural disposition was amiable, his intercourse with society limited, his love of retirement and meditation great; his reading, especially of devotional books, extensive; his conversation agreeable and instructive, his prayers eminently spiritual and fervent, his addresses scriptural and pointed; his zeal in the cause of God, at home and abroad, warm and constant; his interest in public affairs above rather than below his station. He had a large and honest heart and a clear head, though his intellect was not able to take comprehensive views of great questions, nor was his character fitted for bold enterprise. Want of energy and of adaptation to the taste of the times were the chief defects of his character as a tradesman. It is, however, matter of great satisfaction to the Church of which he was a member that, in in all vicissitudes of fortune, his life was adorned with the beauty of holiness, his spirit rejoiced in God his Saviour, and, with his expiring breath, he declared, "The Lord is faithful." T. M. N.

I

ABOUT a week or two after I came to Bwas taken by one of our members to see a young man, John Irving, who was in a deep decline. On putting a few questions to him, I found he had not experienced the great change, without which a man cannot see the kingdom of God, and was entertaining the expectation that he should recover. I therefore read a portion of the third chapter of John; showed him what it was to be born again, how he might be born again, and pressed upon him some considerations why he should be born again, and prayed with him. For three or four months I regularly attended him, without perceiving any difference in his views and feelings. He listened to what I said, and answered any question I put to him; but there was no indication of the truth making any impression on his mind. This discouraged me not a little. Instead, however, of lessening, I resolved rather to increase my visits, especially as I found, that though I was apparently doing him no good, the remarks I made to him were making an impression on his mother's mind, and inducing her to attend the means of grace. One day, on leaving him, his mother followed me to the door, to apprise me my previous visit had been blessed to his soul.

This she did, by telling me, that while sitting one afternoon by his bedside, he said to her, "Mother, I am not afraid to die, for I have found peace; and I know when I found it. It was," said he, "that day the minister prayed with me, and pointed me to Jesus, who died, the just for the unjust, and assured me, that if I only looked by faith to Him, I would as truly be pardoned and saved as those Jews bitten by the fiery serpents were, who looked to the brazen serpent on the pole." Deep anxiety for the salvation of his friends and relations soon discovered itself to those around him. Sometimes, when none but his mother was with him, he would earnestly press upon her the duty of repenting and deciding for Christ, reminding her how awful it would be, “if, at Christ's second coming, she should have to take her place with those on his left hand." If any spoke to him of his sufferings, he stopped them, by assuring them they would bear no comparison with those Jesus endured for him. During the nine months he was afflicted, and though some of his bones had come through the skin, he was not heard to murmur, but often to pray and speak of the happiness he enjoyed in looking to Jesus. A few weeks before his death, he

awoke his brother very early one morning, and talked to him most affectionately and impressively on the importance of turning to God; he prevailed on him to promise to attend public worship regularly. Just before his death he was asked by a Christian friend if he still found Christ precious. He immediately opened his eyes, and said, "Yes, yes: He is still precious to me;" and, composing himself on his bed, fell asleep in Jesus, without a struggle, on the 4th of March, 1849. He was in his twentieth year. Soon after his death, his mother gave evident proofs that my visits to her son had been made a blessing to her. Having anxiously and constantly attended him, and been eye-witness of the blessed effects the Gospel had produced on his mind, and the support and peace it afforded him, she was led to think seriously of her state as a sinner, and to look to that Saviour, even Jesus, who had done so great things for her son; and, in looking to Him, she realized peace with God. In April, 1850, she was admitted to church-fellowship.

According to promise, the brother, Joseph Irving, was seen at chapel for a few weeks; but as the impressions produced on his mind by the death of his brother grew weaker and weaker, his promise was lost sight of. Like as "the dog is turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire," so he returned to his evil course and companions. But he was not long allowed to walk according to the "ways of his own heart, by and in the sight of his eyes." The thoughts God had towards him were thoughts of peace, and not of evil. He had knocked at the door of his heart by his dying brother's exhortation; but this proving ineffectual, He visited him with the same disease which had brought his brother to the grave. The best medical advice was sought, but to no purpose; the complaint made slow but sure progress. About nine months after his brother's death it showed itself; and for fifteen months he lingered, spending many wearisome and painful days and nights. He died in his five-and-twentieth year.

From the commencement of his illness I attended him twice and three times a week. At first he appeared to give little heed to what I said, although always respectful; yet, privately to his mother, he expressed his unwillingness for me to pray with him. This did not discourage me, as I had been permitted to see results so glorious arising from my former visits to the family. It was my constant aim to lead him to see that he had exposed himself to the just displeasure of God, by sinning against him, and that he could only be reconciled to him by faith in the Lord Jesus. This I did by conducting him to Mount Sinai, and then to Calvary by placing before him the first great commandment, in its lengths and breadths, and heights and depths, and the curse it pronounced on those who violated it, and by showing him that Christ had endured its curse by dying on the cross. After having continued for some time to press these truths upon his attention, I became very anxious to ascertain whether they were producing the desired effect. I therefore resolved, if possible, to get alone with him, and intimated to the mother the importance of my having private conversation with him as frequently as possible. She cordially fell in with my wish, and left the room VOL. VIII.

66

whenever she was able. These visits fully answered the end I had in view; for God made one of them the means of bringing him to a saving knowledge of the truth. On that occasion he told me he clearly saw his sins, and was deeply distressed before God on account of them, but could not see how he could obtain pardon. I was led to explain and illustrate the passage, "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;" and I well remember his exclaiming with delight, "I see! I see!" when I said, in my closing remarks, 'Supposing your neighbour had broken one of the laws of his country, and was apprehensive of being seized and brought to trial, and a person came and apprized him of one who had paid the penalty; if he believed him, his mind would become composed and happy. So, if you have been brought to see you have broken God's law, and are fearful of the consequences, and you believe Jesus has endured its curse for you, you will have peace." When speaking to any Christian friends, he often referred to this period with gratitude, as being the time he found peace in believing. In both him and the brother, a more complete exemplification of the passage, "being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," I never witnessed. Their affliction was long and severe; their faith was strong and abiding; and their peace throughout was most striking and gratifying to all.

One morning, his mother, going to his bedside, inquired how he had rested; he replied, "Mother, I often lie awake a great part of the night, but none know the comfort I find in looking to Jesus." On Christmas day he said, "Last Christmas I was well, this Christmas I am ill, and have no prospect of getting better; but I am now far happier than I was this time last year." More than once he remarked, that "had it not been for affliction, he would have gone on in his evil course, and that none could tell what might have become of him." If any Christian friend alluded to God's goodness to him in showing him his sad state, and leading him to Jesus, his heart would be so full he could only exclaim, "What a mercy! What a mercy!" Though worn to a skeleton, and some of his bones plaistered to keep the bedclothes from rubbing them, he was not heard to complain, but often to speak of his affliction as a great blessing. For any little kindness rendered him, he was exceedingly grateful. Two or three months before his death he assured his mother he should never recover, and told her to have him laid by the side of his brother. She answered, "Can you part with me and the rest of the family?" "O yes," he replied, "I can part with everything." Often was he heard to bless God for sending me, and making my visits so peculiarly useful to him. Frequently, during his protracted illness, he took occasion to press most earnestly on his father the duty of turning from his sins, and giving himself to Christ; expressing his regret that he himself had not done it when in health. A few days previous to his dissolution, his mother perceiving him to be restless, and hearing him pray, asked if he would like me to be sent for. "O no," said he, "there is no need to trouble him; all is right; I am quite happy; I am ready, at whatever hour the Lord sees fit to call me; I am waiting." Shortly after he

P

exclaimed, "O mother, it is two years on Sabbath, according to the day of the week, since John died! If it was the Lord's will, I should like to go on that day." His wish was not gratified in his dying on the Sabbath, but it was gratified in his dying on the anniversary of his brother's death. The afternoon before he died, being in great pain, I asked him what state his mind was in. He replied in a whisper, "Comfortable; I am resting on Christ, and he supports me." From this time his sufferings were acute, and continued so till about nine o'clock. At half-past seven he said, " Jesus, be with me; help me; hear my prayer; hear the prayers of all this night." One of our members being present, and hearing him utter these words, went to his bedside, and reminded him the members' prayer meeting was just about to be held, and inquired if he would like them to pray for him; his countenance immediately brightened up,

and he appeared eager to express his desire that they would do so. At intervals, during the night, he manifested concern for the trouble he was giving those who were sitting up with him; sometimes he prayed, and at other times he exclaimed, "Praise God; praise the Lord; bless Jesus for pain." Those who sat watching him said his prayers partook more of praise than prayer. He fell asleep in Jesus at halfpast seven in the morning, 4th March, 1851. He was a fine strong young man, six feet high, and bid fair to live long. Does not the death of these two young men say to every young person, "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh?" And should not every young person, while in health, give heed to the counsel of the righteous, especially the dying? For all are not privileged, like these brothers, with instruction and space for repentance on a death-bed.

"LIVE FOR SOMETHING." (See WITNESS for March, page 107.) "LIVE for something,"-make the resolve; Then lift your heart to God,

To aid you with his Spirit's help,
To spread his Name abroad.

"Live for something,"-young children claim Your kind, instructive care;

Then let the needy Sabbath-school
Your early labours share.

"Live for something,"-Oh! take the Tract, Or blessed Book of heaven;

Go forth, and scatter all around

The best, the holy leaven.

"Live for something,"-the widow cheer,
And feed the orphan band;
The sick, forlorn, and destitute,
Take gently by the hand.

"Live for something,"-how Jesus lived,
And scattered blessings round!
Where'er he went, where'er he dwelt,

Poor sufferers comfort found.

"Live for something,"-have you been blest With mercy from above?

Then try to bring a thousand more
To taste redeeming love.

THE DYING CHRISTIAN. Dost thou see that setting sun? How glorious a sight to behold! Slowly, calmly, and majestically he sinks to rest. Now the clouds are burnished with living sapphires! What a mild yet heavenly radiance marks his glorious pathway!

"And though his noonday brightness fades away, His dying beauty far exceeds the day!"

There is no loud acclaim nor pomp of heraldry to denote his exit, as when monarchs leave their thrones. All is quiet richness and superlative loveliness. What scene on earth more fair, more grand, more beautiful?

is a glorious light all, all around! The last shadow is fled and gone, and the kindling glories of the heavenly world now illuminate his pathway. What ecstatic joy now kindles in his bosom, and what enrapturing visions his eyes behold! He sees the light of eternity mingling with time, and feels its joys as a sweet prelude of heaven! His sun sets here, but rises in glory his last hours are his most luminous ones, and his death is but the beginning of that illustrious life which shall have no end! How truly glorious and pleasing are the last hours of the dying good man! Aye, see now how "He views his home, and smiling sinks to rest, And gains at once a mansion with the blest! RESOLUTIONS FORMED UNDER ANGRY FEELINGS.

Never do anything that can denote an angry mind; for, although everybody is born with a certain degree of passion, and, from untoward circumstances, will sometimes feel its operation, and be what they call "out of humour," yet a sensible man or woman will never allow it to be discovered. Check and restrain it; never make any determination until you find it has entirely subsided; and always avoid saying anything that you would wish unsaid.--Collingwood.

A HINT FOR THE SEA-SIDE.

The inhabitants of, and the visitors to, many of our sea side watering-places, are often exposed to annoyance, and sometimes to injury, from the discharge of the town-drainage upon the much-frequented sea-beach. Cast-iron mains are commonly used at these places to conduct the soilage from the sewers and drains a little way out from the land, and these are commonly allowed to terminate at half tide level, or thereabouts, so that they are for half their time discharging noisome and pestilential streams under the nostrils of those who betake themselves to the beach for air and exercise. But ladies with books or with needle-work, and nurses with their charges, are apt to resort to the propped-up and clean-looking round iron pipes for the convenience they offer as seats; and as they sit, they, and the children who play

about them, inhale the poisonous gases which the soilage of the town emits, and many a family returns inland from the sea-side fevered with the stench from the sea-beach, rather than invigorated with the sea-breezes. A few years ago, the writer of these lines brought his family home to London, after a six weeks' residence at a sea-side watering-place, with all his children ill, and one of them seriously so, with fever, which resulted in the measles, brought on, he then believed, and still considers, by the cause alluded to. There were some of the town sewer pipes running out to half-tide distance in the most accessible part of the beach, and upon some of these his children's nurse would seat herself, day by day, with the baby on her lap, and with the elder children playing about her, and with the children of other families similarly exposed to the same danger.-Hosking's Healthy Houses, &c.

MILITARY TACTICS AMONG BIRDS. Some kinds of beasts, as the wild horse, buffalo, and hog, are known to combine against a common enemy for self-defence. I have seen two or three birds attack a hawk or eagle, to drive him away from the vicinity of their nest or chosen abode. But one exploit of this nature remains to be recorded.

I was crossing a wide plain, when I saw a dense flock of birds, some thousands in number, migrating to the north. Soon they were in great agitation, wheeling and circling with much velocity. The precise cause of their perturbation I did not at the first instant perceive. They opened, to form a hollow square, or rather globe, and then closed up with a frightful clatter of wings. They suddenly spread out in every direction, when I saw a hawk among them, endeavouring to catch one for his supper. Again they went through the same evolution, forming a hollow globe, with the hawk in the centre, and closing up with a still more frightful crash. The hawk, being fully defeated, darted away towards a distant hill, evidently happy to make his escape.

HINTS FOR IMPROVEMENT. Charles Butler, a distinguished English lawyer and a fine scholar, ascribes his saving of time to these rules: Very early rising; a systematic division of his time; absence from all company, and from all diversions not likely to amuse him highly; abstinence from reading, writing, or even thinking on modern party politics; and, above all, never permitting a bit or scrap of time to be unemployed.

His literary acquisitions are principally owing to the rigid observance of four rules:

1. To direct his attention to one literary topic only at a time.

2. To read the best book upon it, consulting others as little as possible.

3. Where the subject was contentious, to read the best book on each side.

4. To find out men of information, and when in their society, to listen, not to talk.

MILTON AN EARLY RISER. This famous poet rose at four in the morning during the summer months, and at five in the winter. He studied in the forenoon, exercised in the afternoon, and in the evening sang, accompanying himself on some instrument. He had a fine voice, played well on several instru

ments, and understood harmony; and judging from his "Paradise Lost," he must have been passionately fond of music and the perfume of flowers. He usually retired at nine, and composed awhile in bed.

A TRUE LAWYER.

Alexander Hamilton was once applied to as counsel by a man having the guardianship of several orphans, who would, on coming of age, succeed to a large and valuable estate, of which there was a material defect in the title-deeds known only to their guardian, who wanted to get the estate vested in himself. Hamilton noted down the faithless executor's statement and then said to him, "Settle with these unhappy infants honourably to the last cent, or I will hunt you from your skin like a hare." The advice was strictly followed, and the man who gave it was an ornament to the bar, and to the age he lived in.

ANECDOTE.

An anecdote, affording a good hint to young ministers, is told of Dr. Dwight, to this effect :A young clergyman called upon him for advice as to the best method of treating a very difficult and abstruse point of mental philosophy, upon which he was preparing a sermon. "I cannot give you any information on the subject," the doctor replied; "I am not familiar with such topics; I leave them for young men."

OPIUM, RUM, AND TOBACCO.

A letter from Rev. Mr. Bridgman, of Canton, China, has just been received by the American Board of Missions, in which he states that "there is a great deal of distress in Canton, from famine and the use of opium. Of this drug," he says, "there are coming to China, this year, 70,000 chests, of 130 lbs. each, which will be sold to the people at a sum-total of thirty-five millions of dollars. Thousands, nay, tens of thousands, are falling by this poison. Almost every day, as I pass through the city, I see its victims dying or dead in the streets." This is a terrible picture, even for a heathen land; yet, if the truth must be told, it is not so bad as Christian rum-drinking, tobacco-chewing and smoking! The three hundred and fifty millions of Chinese only pay one-third the sum for opium which twenty-three millions of Americans pay for intoxicating drinks and tobacco. -Cataract.

ONE GOOD WORD EVERY DAY.

A good word is one which does some one good; it may be a word of teaching, a word of warning, or a word of comfort; always a word of truth and love. Speak one such word at least every day.

Our days are few at best; certainly no one of them should pass without an opening of the lips for God. Who can tell the effects of a single sentence, uttered with faith and prayer? It may reach to thousands; it may reach into eternity. As wave moves wave in the ocean, so one word of grace may reach from mind to mind, and thus be producing effects long after the tongue which uttered it shall have turned to dust. Never despair of being useful so long as you have the gift of speech. If you can say nothing else, you may at least repeat come blessed text of Scripture; this may save a soul. That child, that servant, that visitor, that