those Christians of whom it is pleasing to think, as having, by a long course of consistency, honoured his generation and the Church of Christ. About three weeks before his death he visited the Hilsborough grave-yard, that, with his feet on the spot where his body was soon to lie, he might exercise himself in devout meditation on that eternity the realities of which he was soon to experience. His conversation with parties about him in that receptacle of the dead was, in the language of one who heard him, an "impressive sermon." On the day following this visit to Hilsborough his last affliction commenced; and from the moment he was seized he had a presentiment that his "sickness would be unto death.' 99 He received the summons to enter within eternity's solemn veil without any dismay. "His mind was tranquil and serene; My several visits to his bedside were seasons of much spiritual profit, at the first of which I administered the emblems of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. We all felt that "The chamber where the good man meets his fate, Is privileged beyond the common walks of life; Quite on the verge of heaven." The calm serenity, holy confidence, and vigorous hope which beamed on his countenance, involuntarily induced the prayer, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." When incapable of speaking, a few hours before he departed to his rest he joined us, by the motion of his tongue and the expression of his countenance, in singing his favourite hymn, commencing with "There is a fountain filled with blood.' He lived the life of the Christian, died his death, and doubtless now enjoys his heaven. M. MILLS. MRS. BAILEY, HUDDERSFIELD. IN writing the character of individuals who have departed in the faith of the Gospel, there is frequently some difficulty experienced. I regret that this duty has not fallen upon some one better qualified to put forth the true character of one whose religious career, from beginning to end, was that of a holy, humble, and blameless Christian. My mother was truly a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ, and for a long period enjoyed the favour of God; and, although she laboured under a severe affliction for upwards of thirty years, she was never heard to murmur. Mrs. Bailey's parents not being possessed of experimental godliness, she was not favoured with the advantages of a religious education, which so many in the present day enjoy. In early life she manifested a most amiable disposition, and it was one of her greatest enjoyments to attend the house of God. She was steady and circumspect in every part of her conduct, taking care that youth did not betray her into paths of vice. She made it a point of duty never to visit any places of worldly amusement, but always endeavoured to shun that which was evil, and cleave to that which was good. About the year 1820 she became acquainted with some friends belonging to the Methodist New Connexion, and began to attend the High Street Chapel, Huddersfield; but she did not long enjoy that blessed privilege, for in the year 1828 she had a severe affliction, which continued until it pleased the Lord to remove her to the Church triumphant in heaven. The precise time of her conversion I have not been able to ascertain, there being nothing marked about it. The growth of grace was gradual, until she realized peace, joy, and assurance. She was satisfied that her change was real, and that her heart was right in the sight of God, and could say, "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee." She was affectionately concerned for the spiritual welfare of her family. Her life was one of devotion to the service and glory of God. The holy Bible was her chief study, and she derived from its precious promises rich consolation and joy. Christ was her continual theme. She was also a woman of prayer. In the spirit of prayer she daily lived; it was her highest delight, in the retirement of the closet, to hold converse with her Lord and Saviour. Among the graces that adorned her character was that of humility. She loved to sit at the feet of Jesus, and there she learned of him who was meek and lowly in heart. It was a blessed privilege, as many can now testify, to spend an hour in her company, to hear her relate her experience, and converse on divine things. In the year 1858 it pleased the Lord с to lay his afflicting hand on her eldest son, and soon remove him from this vale of tears to his throne on high, prepared for them that walk uprightly. This was too heavy a stroke for her enfeebled energies to bear, for it was soon evident to all who knew her that she would soon join him in heaven, where parting would be no more. Every day appeared to bring her nearer the close of life, and she was fully convinced that the time of her departure was at hand, but this created no fears on her part. She was secure, and calmly awaited her end. Death to her had no terrors. The world had lost its charms, and the joys of heaven allured her home. She gradually be came weaker, and appeared anxious to be with Christ. The day before she died she said to her family, who were standing around her bed, "I am only going a short time before you ;" and, looking steadfastly at her aged partner, she said, "You will soon follow me home to heaven, where we shall meet to part no more;" then, addressing her children, saying, "I have prayed many years for you, that not one of you may be lost, that every one of you may follow me to glory." On inquiring if she would like to see her son and daughter, who were residing at a distance, she said, "No; I have given them up to the Lord." On her aged partner inquiring if she was happy, she said, "Yes; I long to depart and be with Jesus, and I hope you will not murmur ; I shall be far better than being here." She then closed her eyes and prayed as follows: "Blessed Jesus, thou art good; thy mercy and goodness endure for ever; thou art a friend and a rock in a weary land; thou wilt bring us to thy banqueting-house, and thy banner over us will be love; thou art a hiding-place from the storm, and a wall of fire around thy people. Whom have I in heaven but thee? There is none upon earth that I desire beside thee." She lingered until the following day, and her desires increased for entering into rest. Heaven, with all its glories, burst on her enraptured vision. She knew she had a building of God-a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. She finished her earthly career on the 10th day of August, 1859, aged 64 years. sleepeth in hope of the resurrection of the just. May we all become followers of those who inherit the promises ! She JEREMIAH BAILEY, HUDDERSFIELD. My father was born May 4th, 1788. He became a member of the Church in 1833. He met in the class of the late J.Berry, of Ashinghurst-the late Benjamin Whitely was the leader; after that he met in the Tuesday-night class, Mr. Henry Brook being the leader. He began to be ill in November, 1852, and suffered a long affliction with patience and resignation. I often said to him, "Father, you are not afraid to die ?" and he replied, "No; to die would be gain to me;" and he often said, "Great peace have they that keep thy law, and He also nothing shall offend them." said, "I am ready any time when the Lord sees fitto call me. Victory, victory through the blood of the Lamb! I am waiting the Lord's appointed time." On Sunday, April 29th, 1860, the day of his death, as I stood by his bedside, I said, "Father, you are very poorly;' he said, "Yes, but I shall soon be in heaven, with those that are gone before. What a happy meeting we shall have! we shall meet to part no more! You will soon have done with your father on earth, but you have a Father in heaven. I have given you all up to Him. must all strive to enter in at the strait gate, and meet your parents in heaven. The Lord bless you, the Lord bless you!" These were his last words to his family, and having said this he fell asleep in Jesus. S. HIRST. You ROBERT COREY. ROBERT COREY was a man of eminently "meek and quiet spirit, which is, in the sight of God, of great price." For many years he did honour to our society in Dudley, and was much beloved by all who knew him. Several years ago, repeated strokes of paralysis deprived him of his strength, and for a long time he was confined to his room, and as helpless as a babe. But that grace which had shone so conspicuously in his conduct whilst in health was not less strikingly developed in the time of affliction and sorrow. Perfectly resigned to the will of God, he sought and found succour from above, and could say, with Job, "Though thou slay me, yet will I trust in thee." At length his Lord came, and on Saturday, November 10th, 1860, he left a world of sin and suffering to enter into rest, in the 52nd year of his age. W. B. MR. ALCOCK Was born in the city of Chester, November 25th, 1823, where both father and mother were not only members of the Methodist New Connexion Church, but were among its most active and successful labourers. Their children were therefore trained to a regular attendance on Christian ordinances, and were subjected to a mild yet firm and well-sustained discipline, in which the influence of an affectionate, intelligent, and deeply pious mother was especially felt. Thus "trained up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," the great principles of religious truth and duty were early fixed in the mind of Mr. Alcock, and exerted a corresponding influence. He honoured his parents, feared God, avoided youthful excesses, and found greater delight in the ordinances of the house of God and the company of his people than in the pleasures and companionships of the ungodly. Having come to Manchester in the year 1844, he sought and found a religious home in Peter-street, where he regularly attended public worship, and soon became an active and efficient teacher in the Sabbath school. But though a lover of religion and of good men, and while securing the esteem of Christian friends by the amiableness of his spirit and the respectability of his character, it was not till the year 1849 that he was brought to the knowledge of salvation by the remission of his sins. This change took place in connection with revival services then held in Peter-street Chapel, and in which the Rev. Henry Piggin was engaged. The circumstances immediately connected with this change, and the feelings with which it was accompanied, are stated in a letter addressed to his parents, March 22nd, 1849, wherein are seen the overflowings of a heart in which the varied emotions of wonder, and joy, and gratitude, and zeal, and longing for the salvation of others, struggle for vent, and burst forth spontaneously, without regard to order, yet strikingly characteristic of the newly-born child of God: "Manchester, March 22, 1849, "Dear Parents,-The subject-matter of this small note is the joyful and precious communication to you of my Conversion from the power of sin and the world to a child of God, through that medium, His Son, and my Saviour, by whom I am accepted, and have the witness of the ever-blessed Spirit, that I am indeed born again. Old things are passed away, and all things are (indeed) become new. "This glorious change I will attempt to describe, by the aid of the Divine Spirit, by whom I have been renewed. "This day fortnight I was far away (like the Prodigal) from the favour of God and peace of mind, which are the result of believing in Christ. On Friday last, about four o'clock in the afternoon, I was overwhelmed with a sense of the goodness of God to me. All my past career as a rebellious sinner, and the long-suffering of God, were vividly present to my mind, and then came the sufferings and atonement of my Saviour. My feelings were unutterable. I was at business and surrounded by others, so that I could not fall prostrate in body before my offended God; but I did fall prostrate in spirit. And while in this state of humiliation and agony of spirit, Jesus appeared to me as an all-sufficient Saviour, and with trembling I took hold of his salvation; yes, glory to God, and I have it now. Oh, father and mother, rejoice with me; it's the best news I shall ever have to give you. Sunday came, and with it more peace; and the week following, when spent in revival services, my soul magnified the Lord. My conversion seems to be specially in answer to the prayers of God's ministers and people. On the Sabbath we had a love-feast, and my soul was so full of peace and joy, that I was obliged to get up and tell what God had done for me, And, although my description was feeble, I do not regret what I said, and I believe never shall; it gave relief to my mind. My peace and joy still abound. May I be kept humble as in the dust! May shame and pride never take hold of me, and may I be zealous in the service of God! I write with trembling, knowing that my strength is not of myself. Still, I know in whom I have believed, and that He has sustained his servants in all ages, I trust he will keep me faithful unto death, "Let us remember, dear parents, that all our family are not in the way; let us be more fervent at the throne of grace,' that these of our flesh may be brought to God They are very dear to us. May the Holy Spirit quicken the seed which was sowed by you in their early days, that it may yet bring forth fruit! What a blessing is this salvation! To-night I go to class for the first time. I feel anxious for the time to arrive. May it ever be so, to the day of my death! You may read this to my brother and my dear sister, and you may tell the substance of it to the preachers, Messrs. Addyman and Stokoe; it will cheer them in their work and labour of love. And in conclusion, my prayer is that I may be kept faithful, and that I may not by any means bring dishonour on the Church and the cause of Christ. With love to each, your affectionate son, "GEORGE." Having thus become the subject of a new life, and feeling the constraining power of the love of Christ, he cheerfully joined Christian brethren in works of faith and labours of love. One of those brethren thus writes:-"I became acquainted with our late brother, George Alcock, in the year 1847. In 1849 we had some special religious services, in which the Lord, in very deed, blessed us. At the end of these services we had a love-feast, and at which our late brother spoke, to the great joy of the Church. We rejoiced on his behalf, and encouraged him to press on in the heavenly road. From that period our acquaintance ripened into Christian friendship. Residing near each other, we had frequent conversations about heaven and heavenly things, and often went together, on Saturday afternoons, either to Alderley Edge or Bowdon. One of these delightful excursions I shall never forget. As we were about entering Dunham Park, and were viewing the landscape before us, we repeated together those beautiful lines "When I can read my title clear To mansions in the skies,' &c., and had a gracious visit from on high. We could indeed say, 'Did not our hearts burn within us with the love of Christ, while we talked of him by the way ?'" His labours in the Sabbath-schools were now unremitting, and greatly conduced, in connection with those of his coadjutors, to raise the school to a state of greater prosperity than it had before known. His contributions to the support of the ministry, and in aid of circuit and Connexional funds, were liberal, and cheerfully rendered; as an instance of which it may be stated that, when the stand ard of contributions to our Mission Fund was much lower than it now is, and his resources were not great, on an application made to him by Mrs. Lockett, he at once gave his name as a subscriber of £1 per annum. was Having by his business talents, together with industry and integrity, secured an honourable position and encouraging future prospects, he. in 1852, was united in marriage to Miss Griffiths, a daughter of highly-esteemed friends in Chester. A union founded on mutual esteem, and entered into, as it was, in the fear of God, and with a perfect harmony in religious views and habits, promised to be, what it became till broken in upon by disease and death, productive of increased mutual happiness. Little more, however, than two years had passed before health began to fail, owing, as is supposed, to his having been put into a damp bed when from home on business. At first, the progress of disease insidious and slow. The enemy, which had secured a lodgment, lay hidden; unsuspected, and therefore unresisted. Little more was experienced than a feeling of unusual exhaustion after the labours of the day or the week were ended, but by which his activities in the Church were diminished, and at length, with the exception of attendance on public ordinances, were entirely prevented. Disease having so far developed itself as to excite apprehension in some of his friends, though not in him, he was induced to remove to Altrincham five years ago, in the hope that it might facilitate his restoration to health; but though it doubtless retarded the progress of disease, each succeeding year brought an increased weakening of the tottering tabernacle. Respecting his spiritual state, and his religious expériences during this period, it must suffice to observe, that though his frequent absence from home, his prostration of strength when there, and his retiring habits, prevented frequent and free intercourse with Christian friends, yet, whenever he was led, on the visits of those friends, to the expression of his feelings, they were found to be those of deep self-abasement, humble confidence in Christ, as his only and all-sufficient Saviour, love to him, and to his people, and his service; entire resignation to the will of God; and a pleasing prospect of eternal life. Wherever he might be on the Sabbath, unless necessarily prevented by inclement weather or aggravated disease, he was found at least once in the house of God; and on the last Sabbath but one before his death, and though in a state of weakness which caused his presence to create surprise, he was seen in his usual seat, a devout and attentive worshipper. The following passages, expressive of his deepest feelings, occur in notes written to his beloved partner during the last few months of his life "Our ways are not God's ways; and I sincerely desire to have my will entirely resigned to his, as I know, and at times deeply feel, he does all things well; not only well for me, but for you also, and for all who put their trust in him."-"I am wishful to experience a clearer individual interest in that Providence which for a time is separating us. Above all, I desire a clearer baptism of the Holy Spirit, and that I may abide in Christ, and Christ in me. How indifferent we are to these only sources of satisfying joys! May you and I be blest of God with more hungering and thirsting for spiritual food and life!"- "Heard Mr. Pope this morning. He preached an excellent sermon from 'I am the bread of life.' May you and I eat of this bread, and enjoy union and communion with the Father of our spirits in Christ Jesus!"-" Much of my strength is now gone, and only a wise and unerring Providence knows the future of my days. But whether few or many, I wish to live in a prepared state. At times, I feel assured all is right, being able to rejoice in a conscious peace, springing from that Rock which is the foundation of my hope-the rock Christ Jesus. At other times I feel dead to all spiritual life, and hear, or read, and pray in a lifeless way; when again the still, small voice brings a promise to my famishing soul, as the bird brings meat for her young, and I am again happy in the assurance of my peace being made with God. I trust you will realize all the comforts of the new and better covenant." Sentiments equally satisfactory were expressed by him to friends who visited him, one of whom writes: "I am happy that I saw him the last Sabbath he spent on earth, in company with the Rev. C. J. Donald and brother Lockett. We sang, read, and prayed with him, and can rejoice in his sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection." Mr. Lockett also testifies: "A few weeks since, I found an opportunity to ask him of his hopes; when, in reply, he said, with modesty, 'I am upon the Rock; and whichever way this sickness ends, all is well.'" An Independent minister, who visited him when from home, writes: "It gives me pleasure to remember his words in the day I saw him. He knew that 'death would be gain.'" The Rev. J. Addyman took tea with him four weeks before his death, when they had a very delightful conversation regarding our dear friend's religious experience and prospects. He said, "I am not afraid of death. I feel perfectly resigned to the will of God, and can rejoice in hope. Still, if it pleases God, I should like to recover; and I will tell you why. My past life seems a blank. I have been so timid and so much afraid, lest in anything I should dishonour God, that I have been a mere cipher. I see I have been wrong, and I want to recover, that I may work in God's cause, and thus, in some small measure, redeem the past." He then added, with great sweetness, "But the Lord's will be done!" Mr. Addyman also visited him the day before he died. He was then in a state of great feebleness, but firmly expressed his trust in God, and seemed specially to enjoy the season of devotion connected with this visit. He often referred with pleasure to the last sermon he ever heard from his young friend, Mr. T. Addyman. The subject was on heaven, which was very congenial to the thoughts and feelings of one who was already on the suburbs of that better land. And when nature was failing, and wishes could be expressed only in the softest whispers, as though conscious that he was about to join the celestial choirs in their anthems of adoration and praise, and longed to begin the song on earth in anticipation of those loftier strains, and feeling that though the vocal organs failed, yet the heart retained its power of "making melody unto the Lord," he requested his beloved partner to play for him on the piano, "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow," &c.; and when told that she was unable to sing, he assented, but added, "The Old Hundred." It was played; his happy spirit supplied the words, while his heart responded in emotions of warmest gratitude. But the end was not yet come. This interval of calm was followed by difficulty of breathing so |