weight; he was truly ignorant, could not read, and earned his living by driving a donkey. How this man got amongst us I did not know, but after coming several times he brought a tall man, one of his companions in sin; in all weathers, and at all the services, the long and short man regularly attended, to the astonishment of all that knew them. The first intimation of a change in the short man was his telling me he was learning to read, and he wanted me to get him a Bible with large print.

66 6

'Why, Clough, are you thinking of learning to read the Bible at sixty years of age?' I observed.

"Ay, I am, and by God's help I will, for it will never do for me to live as I have done.'

"Do you ever pray, Clough?' I asked.

"Do I, ay, mony a time a day; I never go into dunkey cote to yoke it up or give it ought to eat, but I go dewn o' my knees, un many a time a day beside. I hope God will a'mercy on me, un I think He will. That tall man ut comes with me in a wary way too; he's cried mony a hewer obewt his wicked life, un he may, weel for he's bin a swetter, were nother on us reet, nobot wen we com to chapel.'

"Clough got a Bible with large print and soon learned to read it; for three years he has lived a life of faith in the Son of God; and he says his donkey feels the benefit of his becoming religious, for he does not beat it now, and it goes better without thumping,' as he calls it. I called to see him on Friday last, and found his wife very poorly; he seemed much distressed about her spiritual condition; he spoke tenderly to her, entreating that she would not despair of mercy, declaring that if all the world was his own, he would give it to hear her say that her sins were pardoned.

"The tall man that Clough mentioned as crying about his sinful life, resided at a place called Spotland Bridge. In addition to drinking, swearing, and Sabbath-breaking, he had been a scoffer and mocker at the Bible, sneering at, and scorning every one professing religion. On speaking to him after the service one Thursday evening, he seemed greatly distressed, and informed me that, thinking on the wickedness of his past life often made him break

out in sweating and weeping. I lent him several books, and frequently spoke words of encouragement to him; he sought forgiveness in sighs and groans, obtained mercy, and became one of the happiest men I ever met with. Wolfenden, for that was his name, was an astonishing testimony of the power of saving grace. For near four years he walked humbly with his God in newness of life, and then God took him. I said a few words by way of a funeral sermon, for he was a man well known; his widow and a large family of grown-up children were present. After the sermon they all gathered round me, weeping: the oldest daughter, taking hold of my hand, said,

666

Jesus Christ never saved a worse man than my father was; no one knew him as his family did, and you little know what we have had to suffer through him; but for the last three years he has been one of the best of men, and with his last breath he blessed God for this place of worship.'

"After Wolfenden's conversion, he became anxious about his old companions in sin. By his persuasion a tall, elderly man, named Grindrod, who had not been in a place of worship for twenty years, began to attend the 'Destitute.' On his return from service the first night he astonished his wife by asking if there was not a Bible somewhere in the house. The power of the Gospel in this man was amazing; he became humble as a child, and greedily drank in the Word, which soon became to him a word of peace and joy.

"The old man with large spectacles, named Solomon, one of the sixteen that attended the first service, obtained like precious faith, travelled through the country selling his tape, pins, and needles, telling everywhere what the Lord had done for him for three years, then died blessing God for His mercies to him in his old age, and his grey-headed old widow is still with us in all

our services.

"At the conclusion of one of our week-night services, a poor man, in the simplicity of his heart, offered up the following prayer, which well describes the effect the Gospel had on many that were present:

"O Lord! I thank Thee on my bended knees for what Thou

hast done for a lot of the worst men and women in Rochdale. Who could have thought of seeing us on our knees praying; we cannot laugh one at another, for we have all been bad enough, and we are all poor as Lazarus; but if we are poor in pocket we are getting rich in faith, and that's better than 'oth brass ith' world. I saw some rich folks in the market buying fat geese and legs of mutton, but I had to be content with a penny red herring : I thought there's a difference, but I do not envy them, for I daresay they have their troubles of some sort. Brass does not give as much comfort as religion. Jesus Christ sent the disciples to tell John that the poor had the Gospel preached to them, and the Gospel gives more comfort than brass, fat geese, and legs of mutton. I know one thing, it has made a vast difference in our house; my wife had always a sad tongue, which I know to my sorrow, but there is a mighty change for the better; everybody is astonished how she is mended; we now kneel down together every day but six months since we should as soon thought of flying as praying. If this chapel does no more good nor mending my wife, it will have done a great deal; she knows what I am saying is true--for she is knelt here beside me-a -and the religion of Jesus Christ can mend anybody except the devil, for I guess he cannot be mended; if he could it would mend him, for it has mended lots here almost as bad as him. The Lord help us to stand fast, for if He does not we shall tumble.'

:

"While Matthew was praying, I felt my cheeks burning, and was anxious he would conclude much sooner than he did, for I feared that his wife would again make use of her sad tongue' on their way home; yet, singular as it may seen, none present appeared surprised; for if the poor simple ignorant people must pray they must use their own language. I strongly object to studied vulgarity in prayer, but where it is sincere it is more excusable. Matthew is still with us, and may be seen every Sabbath patiently assisting a feeble old man to and from our place of worship."

THE NEW SURREY TABERNACLE.

Mr. James Wells will preach in Hephzibah chapel, Darling place, Mile End, on Tuesday afternoon, October 6th, on behalf of the East London Auxiliary for aiding in the erection of the New Surrey Tabernacle. We hope the faithful ones will rally strongly together that afternoon at three o'clock; and also that they will tarry and take tea in the same place. Tickets 6d. each, may be had of Mrs. Eliz. Salter, 19, Great York Street, Hackney Road. After tea, the friends will leave Hephzibah chapel, and go to Bethel, in the Old Ford road, where, at 7 o'clock that evening, Mr. Wells has also engaged to preach. All right-hearted lovers of the Gospel are earnestly invited that day to manifest their decision for the right Gospel. Our hope is that God will enable our brother Wells to erect a noble and commodious Tabernacle to the honour of a Triune God-a sanctuary which shall be holden under no temporary tenure, but that shall stand even when the Millenium comes; and that from thence the holy Gospel of Christ may go forth until the end of all time. Friends in the country, many thousands of whom have often been cheered, edified, and established in the Truth by Mr. Wells's ministrations, will gladly aid in this seasonable and necessary effort to give accommodation to hundreds who now cannot enter the Surrey Tabernacle.

Preparing for publication. Fourteenth Annual Issue.

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IN

BY A YOUNG

MINISTER.

N the West End of London, some years since, there was a young preacher, highly respected, sincerely devoted to God, and of consistent character: grace was in his soul; but often distressed because he had not experienced the liberty of the Gospel. Rapid consumption seized him; and as he felt fast hastening to eternity, his soul-trouble, at times, was very great. The Lord kept alive a crying, longing, weeping, and wrestling hope; but no deliverance came until the day before he died. The minister who visited him gives the following account of his end. He says: 'On Thursday, I was sent for about ten o'clock at night. When I entered his room, a friend was in prayer for him, with about sixteen persons present, full of the deepest concern. I asked him how he felt his soul? He said, 'All dark; very dark indeed I have many fears of being lost for ever.' I prayed with him; but he added afterwards, Alas! I feel nothing. Nothing of Divine consolation he meant; but the deepest horror, doubts, and fears awfully prevailed. I felt disposed to pray for him again; still his mind was distressed. I was constrained to bow the knee again: the Lord poured out upon me a spirit of prayer; and just as I had concluded with Amen, Amen, he looked up VOL. XIII.-No. 145. ONE HALFPENNY.