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Mr. Grimshaw, of Haworth, in Yorkshire, was a good though very strange man. His church was close by the public-house, and he often slipped out during the psalm before the sermon, and came back in time, driving before him some sheepish-looking additions to his congregation whom he had found drinking next door.

The well-known Fletcher, of Madeley, a Swiss gentleman, but a vicar of the English Church, rendered essential help to Methodism in many ways. His writings are most valuable, while the holy lives of himself and his wife have served as examples to thousands.

Thomas Coke, a highly-educated Welshman, joined the Wesleyans more thoroughly than

yet Nelson, whose mind deserved a better education, almost exhausted himself in speculations about a future life. The aching void in his earnest heart could only be filled by God, and the common-places he heard when he expressed his deep thoughts to his shallow advisers only raised his contempt. His daily work as a stonemason left his mind free for these puzzles, and he became more and more serious. Naturally, he refused to join the drunken sprees to which he was often invited; for that invitation interrupted him in arguing with himself, What am I? Why was I made? Where am I going? When his mates hid his tools and otherwise annoyed him, so that he might not work if he would not play with them, he solemnly fought two or three,

any of the others, for he gave up his church, and travelled like Wesley. To him belongs the honour of founding the Wesleyan Missions. He begged money for them from the most unlikely people, and spared no pains to establish them. After travelling, writing, preaching, and begging all over Great Britain, he offered himself for the foreign work, at an advanced age. But the willing mind was accepted instead of the deed, and the faithful servant obeyed the summons "It is enough; come up higher!" before his ship reached India.

John Nelson will serve as a good example of the lay-helpers. A stalwart Yorkshireman, good-tempered and healthy, is hardly a likely subject for low spirits or nervousness;

not in a rage, but just to put a stop to their tricks. As he was no mean opponent, they soon learnt to let him alone.

From church to chapel he wandered, till he had tried all but the Jewish synagogue, and still he was unsatisfied. At last he was employed in London, and the Lord Whom he had sought so earnestly directed his steps to Moorfields, where he heard John Wesley, and felt at once that he could lead his soul to Christ. To his dying day he was an enthusiastic friend and follower of Mr. Wesley. After his conversion he was fearless in doing right, refused to work on Sunday, even at the Exchequer building, (it was then customary to do the King's business even on the Lord's

day,) and lost no opportunity of warning his comrades. As soon as possible, he went home to Birstal, where he strove by word and example to continue the good work he had begun by his letters. At first his friends called him mad; but by and by a little flock gathered round him, and he became by unconscious degrees their preacher and leader. He wrote to his "father in Christ," and Mr. Wesley came down to his help as soon as he could, encouraged and advised him, preached, met the Society, and went on to Newcastle, greatly cheered by finding so many Methodists, only one of whom had seen Wesley. Nelson soon found that they "that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Amongst many other annoyances, he was pressed for a soldier, and when he refused to fight, he was imprisoned in a horrid dungeon. Here he preached through his grating, almost all day long, to a succession of small congregations. Throughout he remained quiet, respectful to authority, but firm; when brought up for trial, he defended himself well; and as he reproved the officers, etc., every time they swore, they at last grew tired of him, and let him be. He was an earnest and successful preacher, and at times Wesley took him as travelling companion. They wandered together through Cornwall, often suffering great privations; and the cheerful way in which the "gentleman born" submitted to such trials filled the hearty Yorkshireman with admiration and respect.

Sometimes they journeyed for hours without being able to get even a crust of bread; but they "blessed God for blackberries," which they gathered on the way. Inns were scarce, and to some of them they were refused admittance, lest the mob should injure the house in seeking for Wesley. Night after night the two friends slept side by side on a cottage or barn floor, Nelson insisting on giving his great-coat to Wesley for a pillow, while he himself enjoyed the accommodation of Burkitt's Notes on the New Testament. Early one morning, Wesley seeing that his companion was awake," clapped him on the side, saying, 'Brother Nelson, let us be of good cheer; I have one whole side yet, for the skin is off but one side."

Nelson travelled much, and met with great opposition from clergymen; as he was a thinking man, he generally got the better of them when they tried to argue against him, and this aroused their fury. Both he and his wife were outrageously beaten, and almost killed; but the martyr-spirit was graciously

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poured out on the little flock at that time, and it was the rarest thing to hear of any being driven back to the world for fear of "them which kill the body."

We said that Mr. Wesley went to Newcastle from Birstal. The colliers here were as degraded and heathenish as those at Kingswood, and there was a shocking disregard of morality and even decency. Children even in their teens were running about with scarcely enough rags to cover them, some with a piece of coarse blanket pinned round them like the Kaffirs. Walking to a convenient spot in the low part of the town, Wesley and his companion John Taylor sang the Old Hundredth. A congregation soon gathered, many of whom seem to have heard the Gospel then for the first time in their lives. At the end of the service Mr. Wesley invited them to another at five; at which a larger congregation gathered than had been seen even in Moorfields. This was the beginning of the good work which took deep root in Newcastle. It became one of Wesley's favourite homes. He opened an orphan-house there. Grace Murray, a pious and energetic woman, was appointed mistress of this establishment. She was one of the female preachers, of whom there were several in the early days of Methodism. Wesley wished to marry her; but to his great disappointment she gave her hand to John Bennet, one of his helpers. The injudicious and unwarrantable interference of friends, who thought it would hinder Wesley's usefulness if he had a wife, brought about this result. Allowing that their views were correct, they should have trusted that God could arrange that matter as He saw fit, even if they had obeyed the timehonoured and Apostolic precept to "mind their own business."

That Mr. Wesley was specially prepared and strengthened for his work is evident, for he went through enough to kill two or three ordinary men. Long exposure to the wet in Wales brought on a severe fever; but the Lord was very gracious to him, and though he was most seriously ill, he suffered very little, and soon recovered. On another occasion he was seized with feverish symptoms. Yielding to advice, he consented to go to bed, on condition that any who came to speak to him about their souls should be shown up to his room. Fifty or sixty did so; after which he had a number assembled in the evening, and held a meeting. The next thing ought to have been, according to human calculation, a night of high delirium; but he tells us, "By the bless

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ing of God I slept well, to the utter astonishment of those about me, the apothecary in particular, who said he had never seen such a fever in his life." And well he might! We

may fancy how heartily Wesley sang,-
"Oft from the margin of the grave

Thou, Lord, hast lifted up my head;
Sudden, I found Thee near to save;
The fever own'd Thy touch, and fled!"

ONE

Blind

NE day a dishonest fellow was detected in the very act of pilfering. The thief managed, however, to elude the grasp of those who sought to detain him, and set off at full speed. Having succeeded thus far, the rogue had very little doubt concerning his complete He knew that he was fleeter of foot escape. than most men, whether in the police force or not. He was well acquainted with some lurking-places where he could for the present lie hid, and was sure that in certain lanes and courts there dwelt none who would assist in his detection, and many who would help to conceal him. So the thief bounded along without any painful apprehension. But the cry, "Stop thief," had aroused many, and the rogue was driven from the course he had intended to take. He still kept among narrow streets and lanes, similar to his frequented haunts, but he was not familiar with these. At length, turning from some men in front who appeared disposed to seize him, the rascal plunged into a court which seemed likely to answer his purpose. But there was no way out! He had already climbed over several walls, dropping down into unknown courts, and lanes, and yards. But here was no wall he could climb, and no open door into which he could enter in time. All the cunning of the thief was in vain. Before he could again reach the entrance of the blind alley his pursuers were upon him. So he was marched off to gaol. Honest people, who were working hard for their livelihood, were thankful that, for a season, there would be one rogue fewer at liberty, and the dishonest folk enjoyed the fun of seeing a fellow-creature in trouble. Now it so happens that there are in the world many blind alleys in addition to those which are formed by partition-walls and house-sides. Some of these cannot be seen by passers-by, yet wrong-doers painfully know when they get into them. There may be no handcuffs employed, nor policemen on guard, yet there is no way of escape. Wrongdoers, of all sorts, are on their way to some blind alley.

Recklessness leads to a blind alley.-There are some people whose vanity is gratified by

an extravagance which surprises their acquaintances. We read of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, dissolving a famous pearl in vinegar, and then drinking the mixture, to the amazement of bystanders. The proud Queen found pleasure in showing to those around her that her resources were such, that what they thought priceless she could afford to waste. There are those in our times who act in a somewhat similar manner. They seek, most likely, their own gratification more directly than the Egyptian Queen did, yet not without added pleasure from the wonder and expostulations of friends. But such are on their way to a blind alley. Young ladies and gentlemen thus make "ducks and drakes" of the money their father hoarded, until they have to advertise for situations. An artisan, very strong and skilful, will be the "hearty good fellow" of his little world, until in old age he finds a refuge in the poorhouse. Such cannot step back in their course.

Untruthfulness leads to a blind alley.— When unlimited cunning and absolute unscrupulousness are combined, it is astonishing what feats of falsehood are sometimes performed. The money employed by the impostor is counterfeit, but his hand is always well filled and exceedingly expert. So he contrives for some time to make what is worthless answer his purpose, and appears to succeed better than the slow sort of people who can only make use of sterling coin. But detection will eventually take place. Clerks or maid-servants have sometimes stood very high in the estimation of their employers, though really unworthy. But just when the pretenders expected to attain the much-coveted position, they found themselves in a most wretched situation, and with no way of escape. Base cunning had for a time succeeded, but at length meets with its just reward.

Sinful gratification leads to a blind alley. -Look at the miserable sot whose bloated countenance indicates the ceaseless inward gnawing which urges the wretched man to sacrifice everything to gratify his longing for strong drink. How shall he escape from the terrible position he has reached? It will re

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tion of Divine Wisdom. It will not prove sufficient for any of us merely to purpose avoiding such an unhappy termination of our course. We must cry to God for help, and we must approach Him as those who are deeply convinced of their need. "If thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.... Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path." Blessed are they who gain such aid, and who so walk. Their path shall be made plain until they stand on Mount Zion. B. S.

ΟΝ

He

N the 9th of April, 1413, Henry of Monmouth was crowned in Westminster Abbey, by Archbishop Chicheley. signalized his advent to power by acts of clemency and generosity,-releasing his ward, the Earl of March, and putting him in possession of his heritage, and obtaining the deliverance of Henry Percy, the young son of Hotspur, and restoring him to his position and patrimony. He also caused the body of Richard II. to be removed from Langley, and interred by the side of his wife, Anne of Bohemia, in Westminster Abbey.

His next action was such as cannot be recorded with so much satisfaction. The King manifested a violent animosity against the Lollards, and persecution was suffered to rage with uncontrolled fury. The clergy represented that the principles and intentions of the Lollards were opposed to the royal prerogative, the national constitution, and popular rights.

was

Sir John Oldcastle, commonly known as Lord Cobham, was one of the most prominent, zealous, and influential of the religious reformers. He had been admitted to intimacy and even friendship with Henry when he "Prince Hal, " and the King from esteem for his friend, made earnest efforts to defend Oldcastle from the subtle malice of the priesthood. The King recommended the prelates to make use of the legitimate weapons of argument, and promised himself to ply his own powers of persuasion. The pressure of clerical influence, however, became so over

powering that Henry could not succeed in his effort to shield his friend, and at length, perhaps in somewhat an unchivalrous and cowardly manner, abandoned Oldcastle to his fate. Sir John was condemned to the flames, but succeeded in effecting his escape from his prison in the Tower.

It was then affirmed that Oldcastle and his friends contemplated a violent and treasonable attempt against the throne, and purposed even the seizure of the King's person. Rumours were propagated that twenty thousand persons were rallying round the standard of Lollardie and Sir John Oldcastle; but when the hour of the predicted outbreak arrived, only a few scores of people were found at the rendezvous in St. Giles's Fields, and it is most probable that these inoffensive persons assembled for worship. Though no conspiracy was ever proved, nor resistance to authority offered, thirty individuals were arrested and hanged, and their bodies burned. Oldcastle escaped into Wales, and, notwithstanding the offer of an immense sum of money as a reward for his capture, he remained untouched.

were

Four years afterwards, however, he was betrayed, and seized by Lord Powis, and afterwards condemned to be hanged for treason, and burned for heresy. This barbarous sentence was carried into effect; and, by the influence of Oldcastle's cruel and malicious ecclesiastical enemies, the latter part of the sentence was first executed, and he was roasted alive in chains over a

The late King on his death-bed had charged his son to occupy the attention of the people with foreign wars, in order that they might be diverted from too close a scrutiny into their sovereign's title to the throne. Such an injunction, doubtless, coincided also with the martial and ambitious spirit of Henry V. Influenced by these motives, the questionable claim to the French crown which had been asserted by Edward III. was reaffirmed.

France at this time was in a very miserable and distracted condition, owing to the mental

voted liberal supplies. Elaborate preparations were made for the campaign abroad, and for the administration of government at home during the absence of the King. John, Duke of Bedford, the King's brother, was appointed Regent, and various measures were taken for the preservation of the public peace.

A fleet of fifteen hundred ships, carrying a force of thirty thousand men, sailed from the southern ports on the 10th of August, 1415. Such had been the ardour of the King, that