exclaimed, 'oh, don't talk about my poor mother—she is dead, she is;' and then he buried his face in his hands, and sobbed again. 'I sat silent for some minutes, all but mingling my tears with his, for I saw that the depth of his nature had been touched, and the one sacred emotion, which had survived three years of depravity in London, love to his lost mother, had been revived, and that this gave hope of recovery to virtue. 'Taking out my net purse, I let him see a sovereign at one end and some silver at the other, and laid it upon the desk.’ 'I looked at him with pity, and said, 'the great God in heaven is the Father of the Fatherless,' and he hears the prayer of the poor and needy when they cry unto Him. 'Now stand up and hold your hand over my purse, as though you were stealing it.' He did so, and I told him to look up and say after me, my Father in Heaven, lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil.' He did so with a tremulous voice, and I requested him to say it again; and then, with tears, but with energy, he prayed again, still holding his hand over the purse, 'lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.' 'I then left the room, and did not return for quite five minutes. He was seated in the same position, his eyes swollen with crying, but the hard criminal expression had left his countenance. Addressing him abruptly, I inquired, 'How is it that you have not gone? Why do you stay here ?' 'I couldn't go,' he replied; 'I was thinking of my poor mother.' 'But you told me that you could not help grabbing things; and didn't you see my purse there?' 'I couldn't touch it, sir. I canna pray and steal too. O, my poor mother!' 6 After some further conversation I gave him relief for the night, and in the morning secured his admission into a refuge for outcast boys. He behaved well for several months, and gave evidence of holy desires. He left upon employment being obtained for him, and he continued for more than a year in well doing, About that time he wrote to his relations, one of whom obtained his admission into a business house in his native town in Yorkshire, and he is now married and in prosperous circumstances.' 1. Standing by a purpose true, Heeding God's command, Honour them, the faithful few, All hail to Daniel's Band; Dare to be a Daniel Dare to stand a lone! Dare to have a pur-pose firm, Dare to make it known. Many mighty men are lost, Who for God had been a host, Many giants, great and tall, Hold the gospel banner high! Satan and his host defy, And shout for Daniel's band. 81 82 Obituaries. OLIVER, the youngest son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Blamires was born at Gomersal, in Heckmondwike circuit, December 16, 1851, at which place he died August 6, 1873. From infancy he was taught "The things pertaining to salvation." He became a scholar of our Sabbath-school, in his native village, when he was but four years old, and remained in connection there with until his death. At the age of sixteen he was converted to God, and soon after became a teacher in the Sabbath-school. As he showed capacity for great usefulness, he was soon requested to take several offices in connection with the school and society. He became so important to our Gomersal society and school, that when the illness which ended his earthly life took place, the question "what shall we do if Oliver die ? was seriously and frequently asked. But God can still, as of old, carry on his own work, although some of the workmen die. For nearly seven years, that is, from his conversion to Christ to his departure to be "with Him," he lived a consistent Christian life; he not only professed the "doctrine of Christ," but "adorned" it; and consequently he was respected by all who knew him, and greatly beloved by those who knew him best. His disposition being very amiable, and his conduct seasoned with Christian gentleness and courtesy, it is not to be wondered at that he was a person highly esteemed, and worthily so. He was truly a pattern to other young men in practical Christian living. Nothing seemed too much for him to do, or to suffer for the cause of his Lord and Saviour. And all this was done, on his part, without parade or ostentation. But "the time of his departure came just when he could be worst spared. The chapel at Gomersal having been taken down, enlarged, and beautified, his presence seemed more than ever indispensible. But "the Master came and called for him," and this being at the commencement of the opening services, a gloom rested on every service. A malignant fever broke out in the village, and numbered our deceased brother amongst the first of its victims; but as he had lived so he died-beautifully illustrating that sweet promise of our heavenly Father, "My grace is sufficient for thee." His sufferings were great, but not great enough to elicit from his lips one word of impatience, or dissatisfaction with his lot. Although his earthly rospects were bright, yea, somewhat flattering, yet he never, during the whole of his last illness, expressed one wish to recover-only in accordance with the will of his heavenly Father-which will became early enough indicated in the increasing premonitions of death. His end came, and he met it as the man who is "ready" does meet death. Grace had often made him smile in life; but in death he shone brighter than ever before. He repeatedly and sweetly sang of "the realms of the blest" during his illness; assured his friends that he was "going to heaven;" and only an hour or two before he died, he broke out in an earnest manner and sang, "Refining fire go thro' my heart," &c., singing the whole verse repeatedly. A short while after this, he calmly "fell asleep." The loss of the relatives, society, and school may be seen when we remember his excellent character and the offices he honourably filled. For several years he had played the harmonium, and been the conductor of the scholars in singing; had been the Society Steward nearly two years, and Assistant Class-leader almost a year. He died in "the faith," and had not only "hope," but "peace in death." "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace." May the mourning relatives and friends, reader and writer 66 Triumph so, When all our warfare's past; G. H. BEELEY. CHARLES COX, the subject of this brief memoir, was born of pious arents, members of our own Connexion, at Hempstead, Essex, May, 1841, He removed from his native place to Baker-street, Orsett, on the Gray's Mission, about seventeen years ago, where he became convinced of sin and converted to God. It was soon discovered that he was likely to become a useful man; hence, in 1858, he was put upon the plan as a local preacher, and successfully laboured in that capacity to the end of his earthly career, leaving behind him, in his own church, seals to his ministry and souls for his hire. He held, also, for a considerable time, the offices of station steward and class-leader, until a new chapel was built at Grays, when his brethren deemed it necessary, he being the only suitable man, to remove him from the leadership of a class to the superintendency of the Sunday-school. In less than two years he, with the assistance of teachers whom he loved, and by whom he was much beloved, succeeded in the formation of a school, numbering from 150 to 200 children. Little did he imagine while labouring amongst them just one week before his death, that he was giving them spiritual instruction for the last time, as fortyeight hours before his death he appeared not to have had the slightest intimation of it. He left his work on earth for his rest in heaven on Sunday, Nov. 3, 1872. He was a man of an even temperament, sound judgment, and constant zeal; his whole deportment liberal, affectionate, and just; his walk and conduct exhibited genuine Christianity, for he was a living epistle read and known among men. His sudden removal from our midst is a mystery, which eternity alone will unravel. No man held more important offices, and no man's services seemed more required in connection with the church than his; but his race was run, his work done, and the victory won for ever. His mansion awaited an inhabitant, and his crown, glittering with glory, was ready to adorn the conqueror's brow. Devout men carried him to his burial, and hundreds of mourning friends wept around his sepulchre.. ROBT. HARVEY. VARIETIES. GREAT SINNERS. THE despisers of religion or religious people may be classed among the lowest and meanest sinners in God's universe, and if they do not speedily repent of their heinous sins and turn to God, they will be cast into the nethermost hell. LABOUR BRINGETH WARMTH. If you wish to have warm souls, you must labour hard in the vineyard of the Lord. True soul-warmth only comes through earnest working for Jesus. The souls of laborious Christians enjoy a great amount of sweet, comfortable rest and sound sleep or repose, which the cold, starved souls of idle believers know nothing about. If MY CHILDREN DEAR. you be good, you will do good, and by doing good you will get good, and the more good you get the happier you will be. Think of this, my children. |