Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

end was drawing nigh. She did not regret this, for existence was becoming a burden to herself, and she felt prepared for her change. About half-past nine on the morning previous, the Messrs. Tuxford, her medical advisers, saw her, but apprehended no immediate change. We retired to rest about halfpast two in the morning, leaving her composed and inclined for sleep, but at six o'clock were awoke only to witness her breathe her last. She died in the fifty-first year of her age.

"Toils and ills

Henceforth are past;

Thou mayest lean On His unchanging throne who was thy trust,

Even from thy early days! 'Tis well! 'Tis well!

Saviour of souls! I thank thee for her bliss!"

REV. THOMAS SEYMOUR. JUST when going to press, we learn from a Belfast newspaper that our beloved brother, the Rev. Thomas Seymour, a most devoted Christian minister, who had faithfully laboured on our Irish Mission for thirty years, died on Wednesday, the 17th January. We have received no particulars of his dying moments, but we are fully assured that his ransomed spirit is with the Lord. May Jehovah be the refuge of the widow and the fatherless!

THOMAS PARKIN, WELL known in the Leeds and Barnsley Circuits as a consistent member and an earnest local preacher of our Connexion, fell a prey to apoplexy while giving out the following verse in the Cawthorn Chapel :

"How can it be, thou heavenly King,

That thou shouldst us to glory bring; Make slaves the partners of thy throne, Deck'd with a never-fading crown?” For three days he lingered in unconsciousness, then winged his flight to heaven on the 30th of November, 1865, and in the sixty-eighth year of his age. Barnsley, Jan. 8, 1866. E. W.

ALEXANDER TURNER,
GORNAL WOOD.

ALEXANDER TURNER departed this life on Thursday, October 5th, 1865, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. Our dear brother was afflicted with asthma for about twenty years; for sixteen years he never knew the comfort of lying on a bed, yet not a murmur during that period ever escaped

from his lips. He was, indeed, a patient sufferer, one of the Lord's jewels to show forth his praise, and one of the excellent of the earth. His end was peace. W. PACEY.

W. NAISBIT,

BRANDON COLLIERY.

FROM the best information I possess, brother Naisbit was born near Middle Rainton, in the parish of Houghton-leSpring, in the county of Durham. When a youth, he was much attached to music. Sent by his parents to the Sabbath-school, he became convinced that he was a sinner, and when he arrived at manhood he was more fully awakened to see his perilous condition; and now he most earnestly sought salvation by faith in Christ. He was for some time a member with us at Oakenshaw, and laboured in the Sabbathschool. About the year 1859 he came to Brandon, when he entered our society and school. In the school he seemed to be quite at home, and was several times made superintendent. He often addressed the children, with tears streaming down his cheeks, exhorting them to seek religion. He came to Brandon soon after he lost his first wife, and was somewhat distressed by his bereavement. Here he became acquainted with her who was afterwards his second wife. During the last twelve months he was in my class, where I had an opportunity of hearing him speak of the things of God. His enjoyments were not of the richest kind, but he evidently laboured to follow Christ fully. It pleased God to call away his dear wife, to whom he was fondly attached. Now it was his eyes were more fully opened to see the beauties of religion, and its rich fulness to fit man both for living and dying. He now spoke of heaven as if his soul realized a portion of its bliss. His last meeting with his class-mates will not soon be forgotten, when streams of light and love seemed to come from the throne, and he himself appeared nearer to his friends in heaven. He was soon after attacked with disease, which, in about twenty days, ended this mortal strife. During part of the time he was deprived of reason, but when sensible he trusted in the atonement of Christ. On the 9th of March, 1865, he departed this life, to be with Jesus, which is far better. His death was improved to a numerous and attentive congregation. W. PARKINSON.

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]

THE METHODIST

V CONNEXION MAGAZINE.

MARCH, 1866.

Theology and General Literature.

ENT FAITH AND MODERN SCEPTICISM.

A SERMON BY WILLIAM COOKE, D.D.,

AT THE CONFERENCE HELD AT NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, 1865, · PUBLISHED BY THE REQUEST OF THE CONFERENCE.

all died, in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen of, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them. And ving obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not rfect."-Heb. xi. 13, 39, 40.

en and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." iv. 35.

(Concluded from page 87.)

.. Faith in God is one of the highest offices of reason, and an of the sublimest philosophy.

E is a prevailing sentiment, among unbelievers that faith is distic to reason, and that as the one flourishes the other must However, true this may be as to the dogmas of superstition parious religion, it is utterly false as to the religion of the Bible. athenism, Mahometanism, Mormonism, and Popery fade before ht of reason, equally do they wither before the light of revelaBut He who has given to man the faculty of faith as well as of n, has ordained that both shall flourish most when exercised conly. Nor can they be separated without injury to both and Istice to truth. For faith, in its very act, is a rational appreciation vidence; it builds up knowledge on the most solid and durable ndation, and it takes in the widest circle of truth; and in so doing nce enlarges and invigorates all the intellectual powers. We say Faith in God involves, in its very act, a rational appreciation of dence.-Hence it is distinct from credulity, which is belief withit evidence; from scepticism, which is unbelief though evidence at hand; and from infidelity, which is the rejection of evidence ufficient to convince. In each of these there is either the neglect

K

[graphic][merged small]
« AnteriorContinuar »