bless God, I now enjoy what I never did before: though I dare not say I am in the full enjoyment of entire holiness, perfect love; yet I dare not say I am not. O for faith! I see it is a complete abandonment of myself into the hands of God; a full and implicit reliance on his goodness, mercy, and wisdom in Christ Jesus for salvation. It is to be in God, and filled with God."

At the conclusion of the first year, when retiring from the Institution for the vacation, he wrote to Mr. Hobill: "I cannot but express my gratitude to God for the privileges with which I have been favoured. My views of divine truth have been much enlarged, and, I believe, my experience much deepened. I hope I have learned something of selfdenial and wrestling prayer; I know I have had close communion with God; I never enjoyed religion so much; but yet for closer communion I pine.""

Soon after his return to the Institution, he wrote to one of his friends in the Whitehaven Circuit: "It was rather a strange thought that struck me whilst I was among you; namely, that I knew not where I should finish my course. You had, at least, the probability of dying at home; in the room where you had wrestled and prevailed; on the bed by the side of which you had spent your strength in prayer. That bed is perhaps to become the spot of conflict; but, O blessed association! it is sanctified by prayer. For myself, I know not the scene of conflict; whether a chamber or a pulpit; whether the town or the country; and I care as little only let me

Preach Him to all, and cry in death,
Behold, behold the Lamb!'

I want nothing else, nothing else; and this will be worth every sacrifice, and all my strength. The wonder with me is, not that so many hasten their death by excessive labour for souls; no, but that more do not. O the rousing and awakening thought!-souls are perishing, are perishing every moment; while I write they are perishing, without God, without hope, without a Saviour. Can we stand unmoved at the scene of such a vast procession of immortal and redeemed souls moving to perdition? Jesus, where is our sympathy and love? O give us more !"

About the end of the year 1838, and the beginning of 1839, his health evidently began to be much affected; when a temporary relaxation of his studies, and a short absence from the Institution, were considered necessary for its restoration. He accordingly removed into the country; and, after a residence of about a fortnight or three weeks, being apparently better, he went back to the Institution. His symptoms of disease soon, however, returned with increasing violence; when it was deemed advisable for him to go home, where, it was expected, he would speedily recover. When about to leave the Institution, he wrote thus to Mr. Hobill: "I hope there is no danger of my being

laid aside at Conference; but should it be so, I trust, I shall be able fully and entirely to submit. I see it is one thing to know that God is 'too wise to err, and too good to be unkind,' and another thing to trust in it."

He left the Institution at the end of March; but the summer season, together with proper exercise, not having produced the effect which was anticipated, his Physician, about the end of July, recommended an immediate visit to the island of Barbadoes; and as at the same time a vessel, principally belonging to his father, was going from London to Barbadoes, he considered it as a providential opening. He was sure to have every accommodation that his circumstances required; and a Steward was hired to go with the vessel, chiefly to attend upon him.

The day after he had embarked he wrote thus to Mr. Hobill: "The dealings of God have been mysterious. With what pleasure I once looked forward to this Conference, when I expected fully to enter the work in which my soul delights! It sometimes seems painful when I think of my brethren being appointed to Circuits, and that I shall be left off the list; but I humbly submit to my God. I know all things are and will be ordered for my good; and I am resolved still to live for God, and to be ready for life or death." He sailed from London for Barbadoes on the 9th of August, and arrived on the 16th of September. The means which were thought best, and thus used, were, however, of no avail; for He whose ways are not as man's ways, and who seeth not as man seeth, on the 16th of October, removed him to the land of peace and rest, to be with Himself for ever.

An extract from a letter, written by Mr. Bissell, one of the Missionaries at Barbadoes, on the occasion of Mr. Wilson's death, to Mr. William Wilson, father of the deceased, will perhaps be most satisfactory here:

"Although a stranger to you, I have had the pleasure of your son William's acquaintance for a short time; and ere you arrive at the conclusion of this, you will probably deem my, addressing you no intrusion. It affords me much pleasure to know, that you are not a stranger to that religion which can calm the troubled passions, soothe the wounded mind, and produce resignation to the will of that Being whose wisdom is unbounded, and whose goodness is infinite. You frequently hold forth the word of life, offer pardon to the guilty, joy to the sorrowful, life to the dead, and pour into the wounded mind the balm of consolation and peace. Perhaps you have seen parents deprived of a son who they thought would be the honoured instrument in the hands of God of turning many to righteousness. Constrained by the love of Jesus, he was about to assume the office of the ministry how large their expectations, how high their hopes, with reference to his future usefulness in the church! But just as he is

:

about to enter upon his labours, the divine Being removes him hence, and the stroke is severe by which their expectations are cut off. God only can support and console under so painful a bereavement; and I ardently pray, that He who has seen good to take unto himself your son may enable you to say, 'The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.'

"Your late dear son arrived at this island on the 16th of September; and immediately came to the Mission-house, where he had every attention paid him which his circumstances required. Dr. King, who is a kind, friend of ours, and a skilful Physician, was immediately consulted; who gave it as his opinion, that the Mission-house in town was too hot, and the one in the country not suitable. Mr. Biggs" (one of the Missionaries in that island) "and the Doctor went to seek a suitable place for him, but did not succeed. The Doctor then very kindly gave him a place in his own house. This was, doubtless, much to the advantage of your son, as he had the kind attention of Mrs. King, and was visited by Mr. and Mrs. Biggs: thus, too, he had friends with whom he could converse, which was very desirable during the season of his affliction.

"From the time of his arrival, no hope of his recovery was entertained. From his own statement, he had suffered very much during the voyage from heat. During his affliction, his mind was kept in peace in his conduct he exhibited the fruits of religion, and in his mind realized its benefits. He was docile as a child; no murmuring or repining thoughts were indulged on the contrary, patience had its perfect work; and the trial thereof was more precious than gold which perisheth. On one occasion, when visited by Mr. Biggs, he said, 'How shall I spend this night? I will spend it in self-examination, prayer, and praise.' Soon after, alluding to his affliction, he said, 'It is perfectly right, perfectly right;

"I the chief of sinners am,

But Jesus died for me:

'Other refuge have I none,

Hangs my helpless soul on thee.'

"On the Tuesday previous to his death I saw him, and found his mind was stayed on God. 'I am afraid,' said he, to speak in a trifling manner. God has never left me: no; he is very kind; and I will never leave Him.' On the following Thursday, about five o'clock in the evening, he was taken very ill; and, Dr. King being from home, Dr. Butcher was sent for. A young Clergyman, a friend of ours, saw him, to whom he expressed himself very freely. He had a firm faith in the atonement, and was happy in God. Not long after, he was in much pain for a short season. He desired Mrs. King to pray for him, and to call upon all in the house to do the same. The conflict was brief, the enemy foiled, and the consolations

of religion imparted. He exclaimed, 'O the pain, the bliss of dying!' 'Praise God, praise God!' To Mrs. King, who, to use his own words, was 'like a mother to him,' he said, 'Tell my parents I die a happy death; and then sweetly fell asleep.

"His funeral was attended by a number of respectable persons, and his remains were interred in the Doctor's family-grave in the cathedral."

Thus lived, and thus died, a young man who had promised to be a bright ornament to the Christian church, and an inestimable blessing to the world. Still he is not lost even to the church. He has left, indeed, that part which is "militant here on earth;" but, having crossed the flood, he has only left his "old companions in distress," to join the company of the redeemed before the throne of God and the Lamb.

In presenting a brief sketch of Mr. Wilson's character, the writer would endeavour to lay aside those feelings which are naturally occasioned by personal friendship and close intimacy; and, while bringing to view the more prominent and excellent features which shone with such brilliancy in him, he would strive to show them just as they existed.

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The short space of time which elapsed between his deep conviction of sin and his entrance into the liberty of the Gospel may, perhaps, induce some to say, that his conversion was sudden. To the truth of this statement we assent; but at the same time maintain that it was genuine and clear. Of its truly scriptural character no one, who was acquainted with him, can entertain a single doubt. Its effects were likewise permanent. Frequently has the writer conversed with him on the subject of personal religion, when he was accustomed to say, Never, since I obtained a clear sense of my acceptance with God, have I lost that evidence." His personal piety was of the most ardent character, arising from a heart renewed by divine grace, which breathed supreme and undeviating love to God. His attainments in religion were above the ordinary character. His public and social prayers marked the deep-toned fervour of his piety; his exhortations and sermons manifested the power of religion on the heart; and his social intercourse proved that he had "been with Jesus." The truth of his inward religion was evidenced by a conscientious and careful attention to all the duties which he owed to God. His religion was not merely experimental: practical Christianity formed a very prominent feature in his character; he knew that "pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

By too many persons, colleges, academies, or institutions for the education of young Ministers, have sometimes been regarded as injurious to religion. We request all such to view Mr. Wilson's truly

Christian conduct; and we think that they will see that such institutions may be so conducted as not only not to injure, but as greatly to improve, the piety of their inmates. His close and unwearied attention to study left his personal religion unimpaired; and, at the close of his first year's residence in the Institution, he could say, "I know I have had close communion with God." His fellow-students all loved him for his seriousness of spirit, mixed with becoming cheerfulness; for his uniform conduct, and his anxiety on all occasions to introduce some useful topic of conversation. He was noted for his devotedness to God. He was no trifler. No opportunity of obtaining or of doing good was allowed by him to pass unimproved. As a Christian, though young in years, he stood forth an eminent example to all believers, especially to all youthful believers; and his memory lives high in the estimation of all his acquaintance.

Sincerity was a prominent feature in his character. His love to God and to the souls of men was indeed "without dissimulation." His journal breathes this spirit throughout, and he gave evidence of it in all his conduct. He formed an high estimate of the value of the soul; and in his endeavours to save his own soul, and the souls of others, it might be said, he laboured "with" all his "might."

Charity, zeal, and humility were strikingly exhibited in him. His charity was disinterested, zealous, and active. His zeal glowed with an intense flame. His humility was eminently manifested in all his deportment before God and man. He was docile as a child. One who witnessed most of his conduct observes, "I cannot recollect that since his conversion I ever heard him utter an unguarded expression; backbiting he hated; nor could he bear to hear anything disrespectful said of an absent person, even though that person might not be his friend."

When he was a Class-Leader he was, in the discharge of his duty as such, most faithful and affectionate. The cross of Christ was his favourite theme. He delighted to lead the members to the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness; and while he bade them wash and be clean, he encouraged them by his example and prayers. Spiritual sloth was hateful in his sight. By faith he viewed the fulness of Gospel blessings, and this stimulated him to constant activity and zeal; while, at the same time, he urged and led onward his people to the attainment of the same rich blessings.

As a Preacher he was possessed of very respectable intellectual abilities, and of superior endowments in regard to expression and delivery. As in his class, so in the pulpit, the cross formed his great theme. The crowds which everywhere thronged to hear him, proved that he was acceptable as a Preacher. It was his delight, on most occasions, to expatiate on the love of God, on the ability and willingness of Christ to save, and on the importance of an immediate turning to God; while on other occasions he brought forth the thunders and