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whether his external or internal senses were affected by the sights and sounds which he found it impossible to utter. This seems the import of the words, twice expressed, first, in connexion with the phrase "third heaven," and again in association with the word " paradise;" namely, "whether in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell." senses were affected, then he was in the third heaven; if his spiritual, in paradise; heaven characterizing the resurrection-state, and paradise the state of the disembodied just.*

If his bodily

3. Is the happiness of disembodied saints complete?

Viewed in one aspect, certainly; else wherefore are they designated "the spirits of just men made perfect ?" They are completely happy, not only in freedom from sin, but also from infirmity. They are so, likewise, in the subjects of their cognition; all that is lovely in humanity, all that is admirable in angelic intellect, and, to crown the whole, the embodiment and revelation of the glorious Godhead in the person of Christ. No truth is more distinctly taught in Scripture, than the introduction of a purified spirit into the presence of Christ immediately upon its separation from the body. 66 To-day,"

He said Himself to the penitent thief, "shalt thou be with Me in paradise.' And Paul assures us, that "to depart" is "to be with Christ;" to be "absent from the body" is to be " present with the Lord." But there is, also, a sense in which the felicity of the disembodied is not complete; namely, as compared with that of their still future resurrectionglory else they had not been, in that relation, pronounced "imperfect." (Heb. xi. 40.)+ The present body partitions off the celestial world, and obstructs the exercise of our spiritual senses. When this veil is torn, as the veil of Christ's flesh was torn, in death, then also is the veil of the temple rent; and the spiritual senses, unobstructed, expatiate in the mysteries of the most holy place. But that release from flesh which permits the perfect exercise of these senses upon spiritual subjects, suspends intercourse with materialism. In the resurrection, however, both classes of sensation come into vigorous play. The resurrectionbody is "spiritual," or such as shall not obstruct the exercise of the spiritual senses. In that ultimate state of blessedness, the universe-alike of mind and

* A point for examination.-EDITORS.

matter will open to our devout and enraptured contemplation.

JAMES ALEX. MACDONALD.

MARCH 15th, 1858.-At Leddington, in the Ledbury Circuit, Mrs. Rosanna Hicks, in the sixty-sixth year of her age. She was converted to God about twenty years since, and from that time to the period of her departure she closely walked with God. Her amiable deportment, her holy zeal, her unwavering attachment to the cause of God in the midst of severe and shameful persecutions, her devout and constant attendance on the means of grace, and her eminently peaceful death, will long cause her memory to be loved and cherished by a large circle of Christian friends. J. M. B.

March 23d.-Sarah Turner, of Beeley, in the Bakewell Circuit, aged sixty-two. About thirty years ago, under the ministry of the word, she was deeply convinced of sin. For hours together she locked herself up in her room, and wrestled with God till she obtained a clear and joyous sense of the Divine favour. At once she joined the Society, and told her class-mates what the Lord had done for her soul. From that time she continued in happy fellowship with the people of her choice till she joined the church above.-On the death of her husband, fourteen years ago, the care of a large family devolved upon her. The trial, and consequent responsibility, she bore as a Christian. She loved the gates of Zion. Throughout her religious course, she was a steady, cheerful Christian; affectionate, upright, faithful in reproving sin, truly liberal to the cause of God, and a lover of all who loved the Saviour. In her last affliction, which commenced about Christmas, she experienced the comforting and sustaining grace of the Holy Spirit. In the midst of pain, she expressed devout thankfulness to God for dealing so gently with her. On her dying bed she often expressed her joy in hymns of praise; especially,

"My God, I am Thine," &c.; laying special emphasis on the words,"My Jesus to know, and feel His blood flow, "Tis life everlasting, 'tis heaven below." Other verses-such as,

"And if our fellowship below," &c.,

"Then when the mighty work is wrought," &c. -formed the theme of her rapturous song, while nature's strength decayed. J. G.

April 9th.-At Manorhamilton, Mr. Thomas Nixon, (formerly of Sorrel-Field,) aged eightyone. When young, he was brought under conviction of sin, while listening to the ministry of the word of God by a Methodist Preacher; and some time after, while similarly engaged, he was

Is this, however, the meaning of the text?-EDITORS.

enabled by faith to look to Christ, the sin-atoning "Lamb of God," when he experienced peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost. He long held the office of Class-Leader, to the profit of many; and for several years, as Steward, served the interests of the Circuit. Having himself experienced benefit from the preaching of the Gospel in a private dwelling-house, he consecrated his own abode to the same holy cause; and, while many Ministers remember the hospitality there received, eternity alone will reveal the blessed results. While he found that religion did not exonerate him from trials, he proved the sufficiency of Christ's comforting love. At all times he realized the preciousness of the Divine promises, but especially when "in affliction's furnace tried." As he lived, so he died. In life Christ was his only trust; and in the valley of the shadow of death, he felt Christ's supporting grace. T. W. B.

April 17th.-At Temple-Bruer, in the Sleaford Circuit, in the fifty-fifth year of her age, Sarah Susan, wife of M. C. Burnby, Esq. Her illness was of very short duration, and no serious issue was apprebended till a few minutes before she expired. But, though no testimony to the triumphs of grace could be borne at the end, her religion had been amply testified in life, and no doubt can exist that death was eternal gain. She was a devoted Methodist nearly thirty years; deeply interested in the prosperity of the cause, and liberally contributing to its support. She esteemed it an honour to entertain the messengers of the Gospel was active in visiting the sick, liberal to the poor, and ready to every good work. For several years she met a class, and anxiously watched over its members. Nearly her last work was to tell what the Lord had done for her soul, and to hear of His gracious dealings with those of her charge. A. M.

April 19th.-At Cheltenham, Anne, wife of Mr. George Fluck. In her girlhood she attended the Wesleyan ministry in Rotherham, where she was convinced of sin, and reconciled to God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Her first ticket of church-membership bears the date of 1804; from which period, to the close of life, she remained in communion with the people of her early choice. She valued highly the means of Christian fellowship: it was her invariable practice, wherever she sojourn d, at once to connect herself with a class. As a means, this greatly contributed to her steadfastness in the faith. She was an intelligent and devout Christian: profiting by the word preached, she valued the ministry highly in love. She was called to endure much suffering, but " possessed her soul in patience." The last conflict was severe, but short she passed through it "in hope of eternal life," and rested in Christ after a pilgrimage of seventy-two years. S. W.

April 26th.-At Doncaster, Thomas Laverack, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. He was "an old disciple," having been in communion with the Wesleyan Methodists about fifty-five years. Having no advantages from early training, he learned to read the Bible, alnost unaided, after his conversion. From the time he found peace with God, he became a decided Christian, and through a life of many changes and trials held "the beginning of his confidence steadfast unto the end." He was remarkable for plain speaking, and sin was always rebuked in his presence. As a Class-Leader and Local Preacher he was zealous and faithful, and was wont to say he could never do too much for his good Master." In his warfare he had hard fighting; but, valiant for the truth, he overcame evil with good, and "endured hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." Some deemed him, in his conversations about religion, rough and intrusive; but his love to souls, and his aim at usefulness, were apparent to all. A little while before his death he lifted up his hands, as in an ecstasy of triumph, and said,

"There is my house and portion fair;

My treasure and my heart are there,
And"

Here his strength failed; but his faith was strong, and his prospect unclouded; and he sunk into the repose of death, saying, My Saviour! -My Saviour!"

W. B. S.

May 1st.-At Shirley, in the Southampton Circuit, Mr. George Lanham, sen., aged eightyone years. When yet a child, he lost both his parents by death; but he was mercifully cared for by God, and was restrained, by Ilis fear, from a course of open sin. He was convinced of his fallen and guilty state under the ministry of the late Rev. Joseph Taylor, and soon afterwards obtained peace through believing, and became a new creature in Christ Jesus. He was admitted to church-fellowship among the Wesleyan Methodists in the year 1812, and from that time until his decease maintained a consistent charac ter. He greatly valued the means of grace, and experienced the inward power of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter and Sanctifier. In great peace he passed away, to be with Christ.

H. W. W.

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LONDON: PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, HOXTON-SQUARE.

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WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

SEPTEMBER, 1858.

MEMORIALS OF MR. THOMAS HINE, LATE OF STOTFOLD, BEDFORDSHIRE; AND OF MR. JOSEPH HINE, HIS SON, OF NEWNHAM, HERTS.*

Or those who have fallen asleep in Christ, it may be said, that, being dead, they yet speak to us. Their holy lives and peaceful deaths are clear expositions of the nature and advantages of true godliness. The subject of this record has left behind him a fragrant name, which will long live in the affection of thousands.

Mr. Thomas Hine was born at Odell, near Bedford, in the year 1791. His parents, with their family of five children, usually attended the parish-church in that place. This taught him respect for the public worship of God, induced the habit of orderly attendance, and, undoubtedly, laid the foundation of that excellency of character, and usefulness of life, by which he was afterwards distinguished.

In the rural county of Bedford are many landscapes of quiet and placid beauty. Rich woodlands, verdant pasturage, and smiling cornfields meet the eye at every turn; while, dotted hither and thither, are respectable farm-houses, with excellent homesteads. Many of the occupants of these comfortable dwellings are Wesleyan Methodists; and not a few of the hardy sons of toil, by whom the lands are cultivated, belong to the same communion. The writer has known instances in which the master, cultivating his own estate, called his labourers together in the fields, and, before an ear of corn was cut, held a prayer-meeting under the canopy of heaven; all unitedly acknowledging their dependence on the God both of seed-time and harvest, and earnestly invoking His blessing. Happy, if all who are engaged in agricultural pursuits would in this way imitate a practice for which the sanction of very ancient example may be pleaded :"And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lord. bless thee." (Ruth ii. 4.)

* The reader is indebted, for the former of these papers, to the Rev. Robert Maxwell; for the latter, to the Rev. Thomas Wood, 1st.-It will be observed that the son passed to his rest nearly fourteen months before the father. "Lovely and pleasant in their lives" were these truly excellent men; "and in their death they were not long "divided they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions."-EDITORS.

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VOL. IV.-FIFTH SERIES.

3 D

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