uniform and sterling piety, his steadfast and unwavering attachment to the cause of Christ, his never-failing benevolence of heart, and fascinating kindness of spirit and manner towards all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, procured for him most justly the admiration, esteem, and love of his numerous friends. For myself I can truly say, that I regarded him with mingled feelings of affection and reverence. He was one of the few survivers of the elder generation and school of Wesleyan Methodists; and one cannot cherish a better wish for their successors, than that they might be richly imbued with the same spirit, tread in the same steps, and exhibit the same bright and edifying example of 'things' true,' 'lovely,' and 'of good report.""

BRIEF MEMORIALS OF MRS. AGAR :

PREPARED BY THE LATE REV. JOSEPH ENTWISLE, SEN.

THIS estimable lady was born in York, on the 22d of March, 1764. Her father, Mr. William Hawkswell, was awakened under the ministry of the Rev. John Wesley; to whom he ever afterwards evinced an ardent and filial attachment. To the support of Methodism, which he regarded as the work of God, Mr. Hawkswell felt it alike his duty and privilege liberally to contribute. It is worthy of remark that many of the early Preachers visited his house,-men of God, who were useful to every family that received them for their Master's sake. In these auspicious circumstances, Miss Hawkswell in her childhood imbibed an earnest attachment to Methodism; and this continued, in unabated strength, to the close of her earthly pilgrimage. To those early days she was long accustomed to allude; and the names of many servants of the Most High God, who had tabernacled in her father's family, were engraven in her affectionate memory. Among these were Mr. John Nelson, Mr. Thomas Rankin, and others, who, having finished their course of labour, have long since entered into rest. It may be added that, in following years, she rejoiced to see a long succession of faithful men, animated by the same spirit, and zealous in the same cause.

Miss Hawkswell received her first deep religious impressions, while listening to addresses delivered by the Rev. William Hunter (an eminent Christian and Minister) to the children who attended a Saturday-afternoon meeting at Peasholme-Green chapel. In the year 1780, when the Revds. Thomas and Joseph Taylor were stationed in the York Circuit, she was more distinctly convinced of sin; and, through faith in the atonement, she was made a happy partaker of the pardoning mercy of God. A consciousness of this blessing, there is reason to think, she ever afterwards retained. She frequently adverted to the clear and indisputable assurance of adoption into God's family, which she then received. Filled with peace and joy through believing, she felt the meaning of St. Peter's words,"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him

not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." She at once united herself to the Methodist Society, then small and (in the world's esteem) uninfluential; and she continued a consistent and attached member upwards of sixty years. Through life she was wont to express her gratitude to God, that this had been the means of introducing her to many of the excellent of the earth, whose conversation, advice, and prayers, she found of inestimable value.

In 1784 Miss Hawkswell attended the Conference at Leeds; when she was edified with the conversations of Mr. Wesley, Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher, Miss Ritchie, and others of Mr. Wesley's special friends. Very few survive, to whom these eminent persons were known; but their names will ever be had in remembrance among us. A lasting impression was made on Miss Hawkswell's mind, by the solemnity with which the saintly Vicar of Madeley, on taking leave, pronounced a benediction on his assembled friends.

Miss Hawkswell became the wife of Mr. Agar, as recorded in the preceding article, in 1787. The union was crowned, by the favour of God, with the greatest happiness. For more than fifty-four years, she was ever ready to encourage him in every "work of faith and labour of love." Nothing afforded her higher gratification than to witness the prosperity of the cause of God, to which her attachment was unwavering. In her sphere of action she strove to promote this object; and she was prompt to encourage the kindred but more public efforts of her beloved husband. For the Ministers of the Gospel she had a sincere and truly Christian affection, "esteeming them very highly in love, for their work's sake." It was her peculiar delight to minister to these servants of her Lord. Under her roof Mr. Wesley sojourned, during his last visit to York. She had then two young children, one of whom, Joseph, became a Minister of Christ. pious nurse brought the infants to that venerable man of God, who laid his hands on them, and besought for them a blessing from Him that dwelt in the bush.

Α

Mrs. Agar possessed a superior mind; yet she entertained the most humbling views of herself. To this it may be attributed, that she was never prevailed upon to undertake office in the church, although few persons were better qualified.

Her last illness commenced on Friday, June 4th, 1841; when, after a very restless night, medical aid was called in. It was hoped by the family that she would soon recover, as on former occasions; but the disease baffled all human skill. Her mind was kept in perfect peace so gracious was her heavenly Father, that every doubt and fear appeared to be removed.

"Not a cloud did arise, to darken the skies,

Or hide for a moment her Lord from her eyes."

During her affliction she exercised entire resignation to the will of God, whom she knew to be her Father and ever-compassionate Friend. Once she said, with much feeling,

"When all thy mercies, O my God!
My rising soul surveys,

Why, my cold heart, art thou not lost

In wonder, love, and praise?'

Blessed

I can say, with Mr. Fletcher, 'I want a gust of praise.' Jesus! Blessed Jesus!" After waking out of sleep, she repeated that scripture," Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." A little water being given to her, with the remark that the water of life is a well which can never be exhausted, she said,

"Insatiate, to the spring I fly;

I drink, and yet am ever dry:

O, who against such charms is proof?

And who that loves, can love enough ?"

Whenever an observation was made on the probability and desirableness of her recovery, her only answer was, "The will of the Lord be done. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." "I am in great peace," she again said: "all is Rock!

I thirst for a life-giving God,

A God that on Calvary died!
I gasp for the stream of Thy love,
The spirit of rapture unknown;
And then to redrink it above,

Eternally fresh from the throne.""

When visited by one of her Ministers, she observed, "My whole trust is in the Redeemer. I have never forgotten your admonition, when exhorting us to attend to Mr. Fletcher's advice to make much use of Jesus.' She was greatly animated by the text,-"I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." It was then observed that "everlasting strength is the Lord's;" to which she at once added, "and everlasting love." Subsequently, raising her hands, she repeated the following harmonious lines, her energy rising as she proceeded:

"Vying with that happy choir,

Who chant thy praise above,
We on eagles' wings aspire,
The wings of faith and love:
Thee they sing with glory crown'd;
We extol the slaughter'd Lamb;

Lower if our voices sound,

Our subject is the same."

To one of her family she said, "I thought a little time ago the messenger had come." And when another whispered,

"Angels beckon me away,
And Jesus bids me come,"

In

she continued, "Yes! come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!" accordance with her desire, her family surrounded her bed; and she

fervently joined in the solemn petitions then offered up to Heaven. Mr. Agar said, "Jesus is precious to you, my dear; "when she He further observed, "When you pass replied, "Yes, very!" through the valley of the shadow of death, He will be with you." She faintly rejoined, "He is." Two hours after this, the conflict ceased: she quietly surrendered her spirit into the hands of Him whose she was, and whom she had long delighted to serve.

Eulogy of the dead is not the great purpose of Christian biography; nor may its subjects be represented as faultless. Yet it may be said of Mrs. Agar, that, while devoted to her family, and conducting its affairs with exemplary order, she was ever willingly attentive to the poor and needy; that she rejoiced in her opportunities of communing with the excellent of the earth; and that, having served her generation by the will of God, she fell asleep. To timid and discouraged Christians, who often write bitter things against themselves, and fear that they will at last sink in the swellings of Jordan, this record may afford comfort. In her final hour the Lord was a very present help." She had often anticipated "the pain," but she experienced "the bliss," "of dying;" escaping with triumph to the realms of light and glory, to be for ever with the Lord.

DIVINITY.

THE STRUCTURE OF PROPHECY.*

THE Bible forms a perfect whole. All the parts correspond, reflect mutual light, and balance each other as a complete system. The truths of the Bible, like the stars of the firmament, revolve around a common centre, and keep each other in their due place and distance. Prophecy forms a large part of the Bible......... The whole of the Scriptures, looking to the future as well as to the past and to the present, are stamped with the Divine mind of their Author, with whom a thousand years are as one day; and who embraces not only all the ages of time, but the past and the coming eternity, in one unbroken and continuous view.

The attempt to cut out prophecy from the sacred writings would be equally vain and impious. The continuity of life throughout the whole prevents such an excision being effected, without obliterating the Bible itself. Yet it is not uncommon to neglect prophecy on the ground of its being hard to be understood; and many stand aloof, impressed with fear, as they behold one after another bewildered, of those who have attempted to pry, by the assistance of revelation, into the secrets of futurity.

* From the recently published Treatise of James Douglas of Cavers, Esq.—See "Select List," page 1087.

It is, however, the neglect of prophecy which gives rise to the chief heresies concerning prophecy; and the same observation holds good with respect to doctrine: if any truth be disregarded, some exaggerated form of error comes to supply its place. We are neither to add to the Word of God, nor to diminish aught from it. The neglect of prophecy eventually does both; since it consigns a large and most important portion of inspiration to rest in silence and darkness. But, as Addison observed of rooms shut up and deserted in a house, that they soon acquire the reputation of being haunted, filled with strange sounds, and tenanted by unreal apparitions, so neglected prophecy soon finds interpreters to give their own comments on what has been deemed too mysterious for explanation; and eyes, which at first beheld nothing in the darkness of futurity but mist and vacuity, soon perceive with Saul, under the direction of the Pythoness of Endor, mighty shapes ascending, and hear voices predictive of future

Each prophecy has not only its own prophetic import, but unites its current to the great stream of prophecy; yields its own light, be it greater or less, but receives its chief illumination from the constellation of predictions with which it is associated. "No prophecy is of private interpretation," or rather, of self-solution. It is not to be placed apart, but blended and harmonised with all the predictions that have preceded it, and all that are to follow after.*

Each prophecy is thus to be connected with all prophecy, and all prophecy with the general tenor of the Scriptures; while the Book of God's Word is to be placed in accordance with the Book of His Providence ;-inspiration giving the grand design of God's purposes, and events disclosing the precise how and when these purposes are to be carried into effect, in the evolution of God's predetermined plan. Viewed thus, history and revelation shed a mutual light upon each other. The series of events, complicated and chaos-like when considered apart, in themselves, are all bound in harmony and order to the throne of the Eternal; and prophecy is found, not reserving its illuminations and its consolations for any particular period of the world's history alone, but commencing, like the morning star, to

* Will the reader compare, with this important statement, a single passage which occurs in No. XXVIII. of “Horæ Biblicæ," Wesleyan-Methodist Mag., 1849, page 189 ?

"The doctrine that prophecy is not of self-solution,' may be illustrated in various lights. Each section is a part of the whole; and a full exposition requires a knowledge of the great SYSTEM. It is no less certain, that he who professes to exhaust the subject should know all the bearings of prophetic truth. History,' says Dr. Arnold, in one of his sermons, is especially idías émiλúrews.' What the historian relates of Babylon is to be understood of Babylon only. Prophecy is KOLVĤS ÉπIXÚσEWS:' for example, 'It does not relate exclusively, or even principally, to the Babylon of history; but to certain evils of which Babylon was once the representative, and of which other cities may be the representatives.' To the anxious student these may appear to be allied views, rather than rival exegeses."