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cuit, in the thirty-first year of his age. He was blessed with a Methodist parentage, and was led to the house of God by his father, who was for many years a class-leader at Limehouse, and was deeply concerned for the early conversion of his youngest child. His prayers were heard, and his son joined the class of the late Mr. Illingworth. He began to teach in the Sunday-school; and under a sermon by the Rev. H. J. Pope, he obtained a clear sense of pardon through Christ, which he retained to the end of life. At the request of the Rev. W. H. Johuston, the Home-missionary at Plaistow, he began to preach, and to take his share in the effort to evangelize that part of the east of London. On his removal to Deptford he was made a class-leader, the duties of which office he cheerfully performed till disease of a most painful nature laid him quite aside. For several months he was confined to his house, and often suffered from temptation as to the deal. ings of God to him in calling him to suffer so much in the midst of his days. But these, by the power and grace of God, he overcame. At his own request he was taken to Guy's Hospital. When it was found his case was beyond human aid, and when told he could not recover, he said, Well, I know whom I have believed.' Among some of his last words were, "He doeth all things well."

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J. P.

April 25th.-At Hackthorne, in the Market-Rasen Circuit, aged ninety-one, Mr. Thomas Heath. He had been a member of the Wesleyau-Methodist Society for sixty years. During half a century he had preaching in his own house. With great fidelity be filled the office of class-leader for a period of thirty years. In the commencement of his career be had to travel a considerable distance to meet in class; but he allowed nothing to hinder him in a diligent attention to his Christian duties. He was a faithful man, and greatly respected in the village where he lived. He was confined to his bed about twelve months, but as the "outward man" failed him, the "inward man" was ripening for glory. Some of his last words were, "Glory, glory! Jesus, Jesus!" S T.

May 17th.-At Sort port, Amelia Leach, fifth daughter of the late Rev. William Leach. When seven years of age she was powerfully convinced of her need of a Saviour; and found peace in believing. Her mind seems afterwards to have been diverted from this source of rest; but when about fourteen years old, being visited with an affiction which seemed likely to prove fatal, she returned to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and found Him ready to pardon. He continued to be her support during her remaining years of various and great trials; and as death drew near, the Saviour was still found to be her refuze and strength. Although, notwithstanding her sufferings and deprivations, life was desired by her, she cheerfully said, on the failure of remedies, "It is all right. Ty will be done." She acknowledged the source of her power to be thus resigned, and once said, "It is not my oma patience." Her fortitude was, perhaps, the most remarkable feature in her character; and so uncommon in some of its manifestatiors, as to render it very capable of being at times misunderstood. Her sufferings during the last three years of her life were very mach increased, and more especially in the twelve months preceding her death. Ca a remark being made to her that she was a weary traveller, she replied cheerfully, "Yes, I have long thought, each night, 'A day's march nearer home.'" - Abide with me," was a favourite hymn with her She was a devout and regular reader of God's word: a few days before her death, she marked with her name and date, 1 Peter iv. 12, 138: "Beloved, think it not strange," etc. Her natural activity of disposition rendered her afficta (which lasted in some of its forms upwards of thirty years) very much more painful to bear: but the Lord seeth not as man seeth; and in faith she was enabled to say, as she now sees clearly, "He bath done all things well." Nearly the lat word she spoke was, "Patience.”_ Azd she was indeed, "an example of suffering affliction, and of patience." Her last hait hour seemed free from pain; and, when she breathed her last, praises to Gud mingled with the tears of her bereaved friends.

E. L.

LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM NICHOLS, 46, MOXTON SQUARE.

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WESLEY AN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

OCTOBER, 1871.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. WILLIAM WEARS:

BY THE REV. JABEZ INGHAM.

THE late REV. WILLIAM WEARS was born at North-Shields, July 9th, 1798. Though not favoured with pious parents, he was early the subject of religious impressions. He was converted to God through the instrumentality of the late Rev. Daniel Isaac, for whom he ever entertained the highest respect. He joined the Wesleyan-Methodist Society in the year 1811, meeting in Dr. Oxley's class, and receiving his first ticket from the late Rev. John Waterhouse. His first sermon was delivered on March 8th, 1818. The young preacher began in earnest to save souls, great power attending his efforts wherever he went.

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His journal relates the incidents of a Sabbath spent at Whitburn, in the North-Shields Circuit, the last day of the year, 1820, when the "covenant" was renewed at six P.M., and the watchnight commenced at nine P.M.; two services which seem to have produced a powerful influence on his subsequent ministry. Henceforth he records "precious" class-meetings, "yearnings after entire sanctification,' .66 a mind fixed upon the attainment of the great blessing," "the perusal of Mr. Wesley's Plain Account of Christian Perfection,' with earnest prayer, and an answer of peace and love." Increase of grace led to increased diligence in the improvement of the talents with which he was intrusted, and caused him to read with care such theological works as he could obtain. He also cultivated habits of self-denial, rising between four and five in the morning, fasting regularly on Wednesdays and Fridays, and sometimes spending whole nights in prayer. Entries like the following are not rare;-"Rose yesterday morning at three, and this morning at two. I was blessed in my studies, and do not much feel the want of sleep." He also relates that on one occasion, "after much fervent pleading with God, this passage was applied to his mind, I have counted thee faithful, putting thee into the ministry.'

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The authorities of the Circuit were impressed with the idea that the right vocation for Mr. Wears was the ministry. His preach

VOL. XVII.-FIFTH SERIES.

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ing had been owned of God in the conversion of sinners,—he had been successful as a class-leader, and was thoroughly in earnest to do good; but a difficulty was presented in the fact that he was already married. Nevertheless, Dr. M'Allum advised him to offer himself, but without claiming the usual allowances for his then existing children.

At the Conference held at Leeds in 1824, he was admitted as a probationer, and received an appointment to Shetland.

At a meeting of the Methodist ministers of Scotland, at Edin burgh, in June, 1821, the President of the Conference submitted to the preachers who were present a letter which he had received from Mr. John Nicholson, a native of Shetland, strongly urging that a minister should be sent to Shetland. The Conference of that year, held in Manchester, agreed that one of the preachers of the Edinburgh Circuit should visit those islands in the course of the year, and report to the ensuing Conference. This service was undertaken by the Rev. Dr. M'Allum, who says,—“ Mainland is the principal island of the group, and is only to be reached from the other islands by crossing the sea in an open boat of the slightest fabric, like a canoe. The tract is proverbially dangerous, particularly from the strength of its currents, and the swell of its waters. It is called the Roost of Sumburgh. The Mainland, on which is Lerwick, the metropolis of the group, is about sixty miles long, and from sixteen to twenty (?) wide." In reporting on the spiritual condition of Shetland, he wrote:-"What renders the scanty provision that is made for the spiritual instruction of the people the less efficacious, is that in a country where there are no roads or pathways, but which is everywhere intersected with voes, or deep bays,-in a land of rocks and tempests,-it is with great difficulty that the people, thinly scattered over a wide surface, can attend the sermon which once in two or three weeks is preached in their parish church. Nearly every Shetlander is s farmer, and is also during the summer months a fisherman, going regularly to the haaf, or deep seas. The only marketable products are kelp, fish, and stockings, with a few cattle and ponies. Their habitations are heath-covered huts, the rafters which support the roof being naked; the fire on the floor, the chimney an aperture in the roof, and furniture in keeping with the same."

In 1822, the Conference appointed the Revs. John Raby and Samuel Dunn to Shetland, which the following year was formed into a District, with John Raby as Chairman, and Samuel Thompson added to the ministerial staff. Then, in 1824, Mr. Wears started for the same sphere of labour. On the way he was kindly received by Mr. Marsland at Edinburgh, where he tarried three weeks, preaching frequently with great success.

He

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