strongest arguments, as he conceived, which recollection could supply, to prove that he must have been radically wicked even in his last days. Some have thought that on these occasions he furnished divine proof of the uprightness of his character. His memory was unimpaired; and it was thought that the man must be circumspect indeed who knew nothing worse of himself. He had a strange notion that he was suffering under the operation of a malignant influence proceeding from mankind en masse, and even those who as individuals regarded him with good-will were somehow compelled to aid in inflicting the evil. "My helper on Cumberland Circuit, Brother O'Cull, labored with great zeal till some time in the fall of 1791, when he broke himself down so entirely that he has never recovered to this day. True, he sometimes preaches-and preaches, I am told, in a very impressive strain-but he has to speak slowly and in a very soft tone of voice. Indeed, it is in this manner only that he can hold conversation. He resides in Fleming county, in the northern part of this State, and has reared a family. After he broke down, Brother Stephen Brooks, by the direction of the Presiding Elder, took his place on the Cumberland Circuit till next spring. "In 1794, I succeeded Brother Lurton, in August, and returned in November, being superseded by Aquila Sugg. I recollect nothing worth relating that fell under my notice in Cumberland Circuit, that year. Moses Spear was the helper. He lives somewhere in your bounds, I believe. Perhaps you can get some useful information from him. My health suffered frequent interruptions in the past winter. An intermittent headache in the month of March reduced me very much. I am still exceedingly feeble, but try to preach at least every Sabbath. My family are in common health. I know but little about the state of religion in the bounds of this Conference. My expectations are not elated. I think a great change in the ministry must take place before we shall see days of general prosperity. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. God hath not cast away his people. May he speedily revisit us, and cause our reproach to be rolled away! "I am yours in Christ Jesus, "BARNABAS MCHENRY." We now part for several years with this distinguished preacher of the gospel. We shall, however, meet him again-a giant in the itinerant ranks— devoting the prime of his manhood and the evening of his life to the promotion of Methodism. We will follow him to the close of his earthly career, and catch the last notes of triumph that fall from his dying lips. Although the returns of this year do not indicate the prosperity that attended the labors of the previous year, yet "there was considerable religious excitement," and many accessions to the Church. There was an increase of membership on all the circuits. The largest increase was on the Salt River Circuit-the most laborious in the Conference: it was one hundred and twenty-six. On the Danville Circuit, the increase was ninety-three; on the Lexington, twenty-three, and on the Limestone, thirteen. The total increase was two hundred and fifty-five. Up to this period, not a single death had occurred among the itinerants of Kentucky, if we except that of the Rev. Samuel Tucker, who fell before entering upon his work. The first of the noble band who had devoted their lives to the cultivation of "Immanuel's lands," in these Western wilds, was Peter Massie. "Is it not a noble thing to die As dies the Christian, with his armor on? His sepulcher beside the King of kings?" The composure of the Christian in the hour of death has excited the admiration of mankind in every age, since the establishment of Christianity, and in every clime where its ensign has floated and its truths been proclaimed. His motto, "Holiness to the Lord," and his hope, the reward of the blessed-ever impressed with the conviction that "to die is gain"-he has always been able to look upon death, though with feelings of solemnity, yet as the precursor of his rest, and the avenue through which he may enter the abodes of the redeemed. The teachings of Christianity are, that this world is not man's home-it is only the vestibule of his being the stepping-stone of his existence; and that, beyond "the valley and the shadow of death," there is a land where spring is perennial, and amid whose glories he may repose for ever and ever! With the Christian, Death, the "king of terrors," and the terror of kings, is divested of his power to alarm, and is regarded as a friendly messenger, to "break the golden bowl," and to "loose the silver cord" of life. How oft have we seen the Christian die, and, amid weeping friends, heard the last words of triumph as they fell from his expiring lips and floated out on the pure, ambient air of heaven! It was the triumph of the soldier, returning from the empurpled field with victory inscribed upon his banner. The contest had been severe, but the triumph is complete. It is more: it is the inexpressible joy of the child of God, who, with earth's sorrows past, is now standing beside the river on whose banks there grows no living thing, and upon whose leaden waters there floats not a wreck of all that was-looking back, with emotions of pleasure, upon a life that had been consecrated and devoted to God; and then, beyond the swelling stream, to the "land afar off," and, in the light of Revelation, contemplating the glories that await him. It is the rapture of the soldier of the cross, who, with life's battle fought and its warfare ended, leaning his head upon the breast of his Redeemer, bids adieu to earth-the theater of his conflicts-and enters upon eternal rest. If this be so with the Christian who may have filled only an humble sphere in life, may we not expect the faithful minister of Christ, whose life had been devoted to the weal of others, to approach the margin of the river undaunted and composed? It has been often and truly said, that "a man's life is the proper index to his death. Tell me how he lived, and I will tell you how he died." This, as a rule, is correct, with proper qualifications. Apply it to the subject before us, and how gratifying to linger and contemplate his character! Peter Massie was the first itinerant minister of the Methodist Church, identified with its fortunes in Kentucky, to die-as he was the first man, converted in the State, who became an itinerant. He was among the first-fruits of the revival of 1786* in Kentucky. Soon after his conversion, he was impressed with the conviction that he ought to devote himself entirely to the work of the ministry. Feeling properly the great responsibility of the "high and holy calling," and his "insufficiency for these things," he endeavored to drown the voice of conscience, and to suppress his impressions on this subject. The result was the loss of his religious enjoyment-retaining, however, "the form of godliness," and his membership in the Church. While in this backslidden state, "in company with two others, he crossed the Ohio River into the Indian *In Finley's Sketches of Western Methodism, p. 66, the Rev. William Burke, referring to the revivals under the labors of James Haw, says: "Out of this revival was raised up some useful and promising young men, who entered the traveling connection, and many of them made full proof of their ministry, and lived many years to ornament the Church of God. I will name a few of them: Peter Massie, who was termed the weeping prophet, was among the first-fruits." |