staggered him; but when the letter arrived from the Colonel of the regiment, with the awful tidings, he was struck dumb. My two sisters are yet living, and can testify to the truth of this account, and at least one hundred persons beside our own family can prove our mentioning the hour the spirit appeared, several weeks before we received the melancholy letter, and that the letter mentioned the hour and night he died as the same in which we beheld his spirit.

SIR,

To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine.

T. S.

Ir the following Anecdote is deemed worthy a place in your valuable and widely extended Magazine, it is much at your service. The truth of it may be relied on, as 1 received it from a -person (yet alive) who was an eye witness to the transaction, and who is intimately acquainted with all the circumstances of the I am, Sir, your's respectfully,

case.

J. F.

Lambeth, Jan. 13, 1819. The late pious and excellent Dr. Coke, during one of his visits to the Metropolis, to solicit aid towards the support of the Missions in the West Indies, "among his black lambs," as he used emphatically to designate the poor negroes; called, in company with a friend, upon a gentleman who resided in the neighbourhood of London. The gentleman having stepped out for a few minutes, the Doctor waited in the counting-house his return. his arrival, and being made acquainted with the Doctor's visit, he fell into a most violent passion, called the worthy Doctor by the most opprobrious names, and insisted, in the most haughty and insulting language, that he should instantly quit the place; at the same time observing, he never suffered any beggars upon his premises. The Doctor and his friend immediately withdrew; but the gentleman, not satisfied with this outrage upon decency and politeness, called to a large yard-dog, and encouraged him to seize upon them; but, providentially, they both escaped unhurt. On reaching the street, the Doctor took his handkerchief from his pocket, and having carefully wiped the dust from his shoes, he turned round and shook his handkerchief, with this observation, "Naughty man, I leave this dust as a testimony against you."

Within a few years, this same gentleman, who then was in high repute, became somewhat embarrassed in his circumstances, and shortly after died of a broken heart. Verily "God resisteth the proud, but he giveth grace to the humble."

To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine.

REV. AND DEar Sir,

THOUGH many characters appear cold and indifferent in the pursuit of things which are spiritual, heavenly, and divine; yet

in the pursuit of sinful gratifications, many are all zeal and activity; they appear a perfect componnd of life and fire. The fear of God, the most inestimable of all treasures, is not before their eyes, and they are led captive by the devil at his will. And yet, strange to tell, age after age passes on in this way, and, the living lay it not to heart. But though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not go unpunished. And the Lord, sometimes, moves out of his ordinary course to shew his displeasure at their impiety. If you, Sir, judge the following instance of his justice (which you may rely on as having actually taken place,) worthy of being recorded in your valuable publication, by its insertion you will oblige, dear Sir, your's in affection and obedience, Holbeach, Feb. 1, 1819. THOS. MEASUres.

About a fortnight since, two young men, one named Joseph Gowlett, a sailor, and the other a coal-porter, in company at a public house in Lynn, engaged for a pot of beer to try which could swear the most diabolical oaths; when, to the astonishment of all present, Gowlett, after using the most abominable expressions, became exhausted, and could not utter a syllable; and, dreadful to relate, has remained speechless ever since. A living example to those who take God's name in vain.

THE GRACE OF GOD MANIFESTED.

(The following account had been mislaid, and could not be found, otherwise it would have been inserted in our Miscellany long ago)

A MEMOIR OF JOHN AKERMAN,

Written by his Son, John Akerman.

JOHN AKERMAN was born in the parish of Broomham, Wilts, in the year 1746, and died in the same place, Feb. 14, 1814. He was blessed with parents who feared God, and to whom he acted the part of a dutiful child; and according to the account I have received from one who knew him while he was young, he never ran into any great excess of riot, but was what many term a sober young man. It is certain, however, that he, like all other men, was born in sin, and undoubtedly, more or less wandered from God, and therefore true repentance and a free pardon, through faith in Christ, were absolutely necessary to his salvation. This he was brought to see and feel, and these blessings he sought and found through the Divine goodness, lived in the enjoyment of them for many years, and at last died rejoicing in the God of his salvation. I cannot indeed specify the exact time when his conversion to God took place, nor relate the circumstances that led to it, he having left no diary or other documents respecting it; but, blessed be God, the humble, loving, and thankful spirit, which he manifested, together with the holy conduct which, for * 2B 2*

many years, he maintained, proved that his conversion was real, and his religion from above. He was a steady member of the Methodist society at the above place near forty years, and during the last seven years he sustained the office of a class-leader; and I understand that the friends who met with him were not only satisfied with him as such, but were often cdified by his pious example, his humble prayers, and warm admonitions.

In the spring of 1813, he lost the partner of his life, with whom he had lived in the greatest harmony for more than forty years. This was a painful stroke to him, and it greatly distressed me to witness the bitter sorrow which he manifested on the occasion. He enjoyed, however, a pretty good state of health for several months after this; and it was not till December last that he began particularly to decline. I have now a letter before me which I received from him in that month, in which he says, "I have been very poorly, but am now a little better; I feel my mind happy in the Lord, and I believe my heavenly Father will soon take me to himself. God bless you! Amen." This was the last letter I received from him. After this he felt himself going very fast, and therefore he set his house in order. In the beginning of February he took to his bed, and afterwards conversed but little, his complaint being a nervous fever. He He gave full proof, however, that his faith and hope were built on a rock. Yes, the Saviour, in whom for so many years he had trusted, was with him in the valley of death. About two days before his decease he was asked if he wished to live, and he answered, "No, I wish to die, that I may enjoy the heavenly mansion prepared for me." And when informed that it was probable he might yet recover, he said, "You dishearten me;" for he longed to be with Christ. A friend who sat up with him the last night save one before his death, observed, "It was very pleasant to watch with him, because in the night he was favoured with a little sleep, and when he awoke began to praise God, saying, 'My heavenly Father has sent me a blessing."" "Yes," replied the friend," and he will soon take you to himself." This so affected him that his heart seemed to be full of heavenly love, and his eyes overflowed with tears of joy. An old friend said to him, not long before his deliverance came, "Christ is precious;" "Yes," said he, "and I shall soon find him so;" meaning that he should soon be with him. After the evening service at the chapel on the Lord's-day, (Feb. 13, the day before he departed,) Mr. Blake, a respectable local preacher, with whom he had been acquainted for many years, called to see him, and to him he said, with a strong and clear voice, "Be sure to meet me in heaven. Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation." Mr. Blake observed, when preaching the funeral sermon, that this dying charge rested very much on his mind. After this he said but

little, though he lived and retained his senses till the next morning at eleven o'clock, when those about him saw that the weary wheels of life were about to stand still. He was then asked, "Are you happy?" To which he answered, (not in words, for his voice was lost,) but by lifting up his hand. Soon after this he gently fell asleep in the Lord. Thus lived and died this servant of God, not equalled by many, and excelled by few. Let my last end be like his! Before I close this account, it may be proper to mention a few traits which were conspicuous in the character of my dear father. He was a man diligent in business, strictly honest, and a strong advocate for the golden rule laid down by our blessed Lord, enjoining us to do unto others as we would they should do unto us. And as this was his practice, he was respected by his superiors, though they were not friends to the cause which he espoused. He felt for, and often pleaded the cause of the poor; and visited the sick, as long as he was able. He was a lover of peace: indeed he was a peace-maker, and truly a lover of the cause of God. He was one of the chief instruments in erecting a chapel at Broomham. He was a good neighbour, a loving husband, and an affectionate parent. How often have I heard him (with my dear mother, who was of the same mind) praying thus," Lord bless our children, help them to remember their Creator, &c. May we all in Christ redemption find, and not a soul be left behind!" He has left seven children. O that we may all serve our father's God, that we may spend an eternity with him, and all the blessed company of heaven!

"Far from a world of grief and sin,

With God eternally shut in." Amen!

We are happy to add, that before Mr. Akerman died, he had the comfort of seeing two of his sons engaged in calling sinners to repentance.

MEMOIR OF MR. JOHN ANGRAVE,

Of Hoton, near Loughborough, Leicestershire.

ACCORDING to his own account, at a very early period of his life, serious impressions were made upon his mind, and he was often particularly affected with the thoughts of death. At such times he went into the church-yard, and measured the graves to see if there were any about his own length; and on observing such, he used to say within himself, "Here I find graves of all lengths, and skulls of all sizes." Thus was a habit of reflection and seriousness produced in his mind, and the well known, but too often suppressed truth, that we are mortal, was to him a silent and instructive monitor.

His parents occasionally attended the preaching of the General Baptists, by which both they and he received increasing light concerning the scripture way of salvation. But upon the Methodist preachers beginning to visit the neighbourhood, curiosity induced his parents to hear them; and they approved of and invited them to their house, which was made a blessing to their family in general, but particularly to the subject of this short record, who, though conscious of having derived advantage from the preaching of the Baptists, often said he never was fully satisfied until he heard the Methodists.

He was not the subject of strong conviction or alarming fears: truth did not break in upon his mind as a flood of overwhelming light, but gradually dawned and increased, discovering to him by degrees the fallen state of his soul, and his want of a Saviour, and of reconciliation with God through faith in him. For a time, however, he so far resisted conviction, and yielded to natural propensity, as to seek happiness in worldly pleasure, chiefly that of fox-hunting, of which he became passionately fond, and for three years followed it eagerly. But finding that it was a way of spending time which would not bear reflection, and, that, properly speaking, that is not pleasure which, on retrospect, produces remorse, he relinquished the vain toil, and soon found more than an equivalent in the satisfaction arising from peace with God and the testimony of a good conscience.

In 1770 he married and removed from East Leak, Notting hamshire, the place which gave him birth, to Hoton, the native place of Mrs. Angrave, who had, previous to that circumstance, invited the Methodists to preach in the village, but on account of opposition from family connexions, could not entertain them till her union with Mr. Angrave. After which their house became a home to the preachers.* The late Mr. John Nelson was amongst the first of those servants of God, whose brethren in succession have continued their labours in the place to the present period, and of late years have been accommodated with a chapel.

In 1783 he was made a class-leader, and soon after began to give exhortations in religious meetings: but it was not till many years after this that he ventured to take a text, or appear in a pulpit. In the above offices the writer of this article has had many opportunities of witnessing his fervour, simplicity, and faithfulness, which were ever accompanied with such an evident consciousness of his own weakness, as excluded the appearance of

Previous to this time the preachers had preached in the street, not having any particular place of entertainment.

+ Mr. A. continued to act as a local preacher till he was completely worn out; and though his talents were not of the splendid kind, his labours were very acceptable for many years in this neighbourhood; and I believe many were profited by them. WILLIAM DALBY.