do justly among men; and, in a village such as Brignall then was, this was deemed the height of religious excellency. Mr. Todd, in subsequent life, often expressed himself as under great obligation to the instructions and admonitions of his mother; who, it seems, taught her children, according to her knowledge and ability, to fear God and work righteousness. But Brignall was a place most unfavourable to the cultivation of an enlightened piety. They had religious teachers, it is true; but these were unhappily more distinguished by their vices than their virtues. The light was darkened in their tabernacle. The threatening of Heaven was realized: "They shall be like Priest, like people." Sin, in its most degrading forms, stalked forth unpunished, and even sanctioned by the immoralities of those who ought to have set a different example. Under these circumstances, Mrs. Todd continued to instruct her children in the various duties of morality; but seems to have had very imperfect notions of spiritual religion. She had, however, the pleasure to see her children rise up and call her blessed, while they were distinguished for integrity, industry, and frugality.

William, who was the second son, discovering some intellectual superiority, received a respectable education, and ultimately became the favourite of the parish Minister, who was very anxious that he should receive such tuition as might fit him for the ministry. Although, as Mr. Todd has often said to me, he had not then a spark of religion, the Clergyman thought him a very pious young man; and arrangements were accordingly made for his receiving the necessary classical and mathematical instruction, in the hope that he would ultimately arrive at the distinction of parish Priest. He was placed under the direction of the Clergyman of the parish, who made almost daily discovery of some new excellency in his pupil. But about the time when his studies were nearly completed, our young student had discernment enough to see the inconsistency of his entering the ministry, when, in fact, he had not even a predilection in favour of it, but felt the whole current of his mind setting in another direction. He therefore stoutly refused to take another step toward ordination. After this we find him in a shepherd's garb, tending the flocks, or employed in agriculture. Having laid aside Virgil and Homer, he entered very heartily into the various pursuits of husbandry, in which he seemed to find more pleasure than in the seclusion of his closet.

Shortly after this, by a series of painful occurrences, the family became considerably embarrassed. William, with his brothers, was resolved still to maintain the integrity of the family untarnished. They spared no pains in endeavouring to extricate themselves from the difficulties in which they were involved. On the farm which their father rented was an extensive and rugged waste, covered with furze and underwood, and situate in Brignall-banks. The cultivation of this ground had hitherto been considered quite impracticable. The

brothers set themselves on clearing it, while all the parish laughed at their folly. But the untiring perseverance of William, in particular, surmounted every difficulty. About fifteen acres of this formerly fruitless waste were cultivated, and it is at this day one of the richest plots near Brignall. The produce of this land in a few years relieved the family from all difficulties, and placed them in comfortable circum

stances.

About the year 1775 a brighter day dawned on Brignall. Upon this village, which had long been enveloped in darkness that might be felt, the Sun of Righteousness arose, with healing beneath his wings. Many became enlightened, and some savingly converted, under the instrumentality of a Mr. Joseph Jackson, then resident in the village. This Mr. Jackson's sister had been living some time with a family in Bedale, a town in the North Riding of Yorkshire. This family had become enlightened by attending the Methodist ministry; and, during Miss Jackson's residence among them, she was brought to God. On her return to Brignall, she manifested the reality of the change of heart which she professed to have experienced, by telling everywhere what God had done for her soul. Having brought with her some of Mr. Wesley's hymns, she spent part of her evenings in reading and singing these in the presence of her brother and others, who marvelled at the striking alteration in her conduct. This heavenly influence very shortly reached the heart of Mr. Jackson, who, being made a new man in Christ Jesus, joined with his sister in making known that Christ had power on earth to forgive sins. They strengthened each other; and thus vital religion was introduced into this benighted village. They were as a dew from the Lord in the midst of much people. They did not consider themselves Methodists, but simply a little band of Christians, who felt anxious that all might be made partakers with them of the divine favour. In their friendly visits, religion was their principal topic of conversation: like the primitive disciples, "they went everywhere preaching the word." Mr. Wesley's hymns were sung and admired in almost every family they visited; prayer was commonly proposed; and during these delightful exercises many were brought to seek after God.

In the course of their visits, these Evangelists came to the house of Mr. Todd's father. Here, with the permission of the family, they conversed, sung, and prayed as usual. These were strange things in Brignall; and Heathens could not have been much more surprised than they were, to hear that men might enjoy "the knowledge of salvation by the remission of their sins." During the very first visit, while these messengers of peace were at prayer, the subject of this memoir was struck to the heart, and literally roared for mercy: "the pains of hell gat hold upon him;" and such was his impression of God's hatred to sin, that he was in an agony, his whole frame being convulsed for the space of half an hour. He used to speak of this as

a sense of the divine displeasure too grievous to be described. His brother Anthony came under the same influence, and shortly found peace. He held fast, adorned his profession, and was gathered unto his fathers full of years and full of honours. William, however, continued in deep sorrow, saying, "O that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments." The Clergyman of the parish, who seems to have been one of those Mr. Wesley calls "promise-mongers," endeavoured to calm his fears, and daub him with untempered mortar; telling him, he had nothing to repent of: but it was all in vain. The arrows of the Almighty stuck fast in his heart, and drank up his spirit.

Mr. Jackson and his sister visited them a second time; but William was still more wretched. He struggled on until, about six weeks after his first conviction, he obtained forgiveness under Mr. Jackson's prayer, when his evidence was clear and his joy transporting. From that day, until his death, he held fast his confidence. This work, we may observe, was begun and carried on by what Dr. Watts calls "parlour preaching." Mr. Jackson and his sister, though favoured with but ordinary mental endowments, introduced their religion everywhere; and all felt the power of their Christianity. They put honour upon their religion by giving it the first place in their affections, and in the social circle; and God honoured them as instruments in the conversion of many sinners. None of these were as yet identified with any particular section of the church. Most of them, however, soon felt the necessity of Christian communion, and joined themselves with a Wesleyan-Methodist class which had begun to meet at Pundergill, a neighbouring village. Those who met in class were steadfast: the rest fell away; and some of them are at this day walking in the way of death, and becoming increasingly insensible to the invitations of the Gospel.

In a few years after this, about 1788, Mr. William Todd went to London, when he entered the late Mr. Marriott's class; and, as he often expressed it, had the high privilege to enjoy for many years the instructions of that excellent man. He several times, while in London, received his quarterly ticket at the hands of the venerable Wesley, to which he often referred with peculiar pleasure. He was variously employed in London for several years.

In 1793 he entered the provision trade in partnership with his brother, John Todd, in High-street, Islington. This was to him the day of small things. Previously to their entering into business they resolved, whatever else they did, to keep holy the Sabbath-day, and to act on principles of the strictest integrity. Having been four years in partnership with his brother, he commenced on his own account, in St. Martin's-le-Grand,-leaving his brother John at Islington, where he realized a considerable fortune, and at his decease left £1,600 in the

new 3 per cents., the interest of which is secured toward the support of a Methodist Preacher to be regularly stationed at Barmingham, near Greta-Bridge.

Before Mr. William Todd went to London, he had thoughts of marrying; but when the matter was nearly concluded, the young lady said, "If you marry me, you must leave the Methodists;" to which he replied, with a characteristic decision evident in all he did, "No, not for the finest woman in the land." Whatever came into collision with his religion, though dear as a right hand or a right eye, he had courage to cast it from him. In the year 1799, however, he took unto himself a wife, who, he used to say, was, in every sense of the word, "a help-meet for him." After establishing an irreproachable character as a tradesman, in London, and realizing a competency, he retired to Barmingham, the neighbourhood of his nativity. This was in the year 1818; since which time he has been "a burning and a shining light," an ornament to his profession. Where he has been best known, he has had " a good report of all men, and of the truth itself."

In the autumn of 1839 his strength failed, and the gradual decay of nature was evident to all around. His feebleness increased. His tottering step and sinking frame seemed to intimate that the summons had come. In the latter end of September he found it necessary that his medical attendant should visit him daily; but this ultimately was not enough. He removed to Barnard-Castle, thinking that there he might enjoy advantages that would facilitate his recovery. His expectations seemed at first more than realized, and on the 1st of November he returned to Barmingham, hoping that his apparent increase of vigour would be permanent. It was, however, soon discovered that he had returned to die. He grew worse from that day. On Tuesday evening, November 5th, having just returned from the Circuit, I visited him. His voice seemed almost gone: he had not spoken for more than an hour, and his eyes were fixed. On my asking him, "Have you any fear?" he feebly, but earnestly, replied, "O no, no, no." On my remarking, “Religion is no cunningly-devised fable;' with all his strength he tried to say, “No, a blessed reality! Praise the Lord!" He said no more for twelve hours. We sat up with him all night; during which time we expected every moment to be his last. In the morning he spake again, and still expressed a settled confidence in God. At day-break I left him, and returned about half-past ten in the morning. He had greatly revived. All he said was praise. As his strength permitted, he quoted portions of Scripture, and of Mr. Wesley's hymns, with which his memory was well stored. He was full of joy. We prayed again. The season I shall not soon forget. He was just on the very brink of the river, and we seemed almost to mingle with the radiant throng that waited on the other side. If ever I felt an ardent desire to depart, it was at that moment. The gale from heaven seemed to fan the spirit, and make us

"For some moments feast

With Jesu's Priests and Kings."

He responded with his might while we were at prayer; and, on rising from our knees, he said, "What consolation! How precious!" The heavens seemed to drop fatness upon him. I said, "I could almost wish to change places with you; the fight is nearly won, and you find your latest foe under your feet at last;" when his whole frame trembled with effort to exclaim, "Glory, glory, glory!" as if, like Stephen, he had a glimpse of the heavenly world. Then he commenced the psalm, "Bless the Lord, O my soul," &c.; a part of which he repeated with peculiar emphasis. His strength was nearly gone, and he said, "Now leave me;" but, as if he expected it would be our last interview, he tried to say, "Peace be unto you :" but the words died upon his lips. He spake no more. About two hours afterwards we were called again to see him. He was just upon the wing, his features composed, his eyes gently closing, his breath almost gone, and the spirit seemed as if perched on the ruins of its tottering tenement, ready to depart one gentle heaving of the breast, and all was over. The countenance seemed as if the beatified spirit had left the impress of its blessedness even upon his clay. A burst of feeling followed, and we retired, each saying, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his."

Thus ended the life of Mr. William Todd, aged eighty-five years. As he lived, so he died,-in peace. There is a fragrance in the recollection of such men, which exhilarates the spirit, and stimulates in the pursuit of those excellencies which raised them above the troubles of life, and enabled them in their last moments to exclaim,

"O grave, where is thy victory?

O death, where is thy sting?"

In the character of Mr. Todd there were many features on which we might dwell with pleasure, and many virtues it would be profitable to imitate. He was a man of strong sense and very industrious habits. He used to say, "Labour and enjoyment go together, both in things temporal and spiritual." A more industrious man I have never known. He was very much attached to agricultural pursuits; and to these he devoted his last strength. He seemed, especially after his retiring to Barmingham, to find his principal pleasure in this. The book of nature, he often said, was his delight; for in this he found so many materials for profitable meditation. He was just what religion made him. With him it must be first, or not at all. He used to say, when a man was converted, he ought to bring his powers of body and mind, purse and influence, into the scale of religion; and would sometimes add, "Before my conversion I was a close-fisted Yorkshireman." His religious opinions and his practice were most happily in unison; and his one concern seemed to be, to live according to the Gospel.