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tinued a consistent member of the same until his death. His last illness, which was very painful, was borne with exemplary patience and fortitude. Throughout the whole of his affliction, he was quite resigned to the will of God. His end was eminently peaceful. J. G.

August 2d.-At Runcorn, in the Warrington Circuit, aged eighty-five, James Potter, an old disciple, having been a member of the Methodist society about sixty years; during the greater part of which he filled the office of Class-Leader with acceptance. It was under the first Methodist sermon he heard, that he was convinced of sin; and, in three months afterwards, he obtained peace with God through Jesus Christ. His decease was occasioned by a gradual decay of nature; and he thankfully entered the valley with ascriptions of praise to "Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever." J. P.

August 8th.-At Congleton, John Jackson, Esq., aged seventy-three. He had been a member of the Wesleyan society about thirty-six years, and filled, with fidelity, the various offices of Class-Leader, Trustee, and Steward. As a Magistrate, he sustained the character of administering justice with mercy, to the general satisfaction of all parties. His last affliction was short; but he was found ready.

J. B. H.

August 11th.-At St. Neot's, aged thirtythree, Mr. Thomas Cooper. In his seventeenth year, he sought and found the pearl of great price, and gave himself to the Lord and to his church. Having proved the value of religion himself, he felt desirous of bringing others to an experimental acquaintance with the truth; and as a Local Preacher, he laboured for more than ten years, with fidelity, acceptance, and success. He suffered much during his protracted affliction; but he knew in whom he believed, and expired, resting on the atoning blood and gracious mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

W. W.

August 15th.-At Redruth, Richard May; who for many years was an acceptable Local Preacher and Class-Leader in the Redruth Circuit. He was converted to God in the year 1814, in the great revival with which Cornwall was then so signally favoured; and continued, till the day of his death, "steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord."

J. G.

August 21st.-At Overton, in the Swansea Circuit, aged seventy-four, Mr. David Beynon ; who for upwards of fifty years was a highly consistent member of the Wesleyan church in Gower, and forty years a valuable Local Preacher. When he was about twenty-two years of age, he was convinced of the evil of sin, and of its fatal consequences; these convictions led him to seek deliverance from his burden of guilt, when shortly he was enabled to believe in Jesus Christ, and to obtain a sense of the favour of God. A class was, ere long, committed to his care; and, until affliction prevented, he con.

tinued faithfully to fulfil the important office of Leader; as a Local Preacher, he was fervent and diligent, true to his appointments, and, by his humble and loving spirit, he secured a large share of public esteem and Christian affection. His last illness, though protracted, was borne with Christian resignation: frequently would he repeat,

"Other refuge have I none,

Hangs my helpless soul on thee, Leave, ah! leave me not alone,

Still support and comfort me."

He in whom he trusted did not leave him; confidently relying on the merits of the Saviour, he obtained support, the fear of death was taken away, and his prospects of heaven were bright.

T. B.

August 22d.-At Holmfirth, aged seventythree, Benjamin Butterworth, Esq. He had been a consistent member of the Wesleyan soci✩ ety for thirty-nine years, was a Trustee for three of the principal chapels, and a liberal contributor to our various funds. He was diligent in business, honourable in all his transactions with the world, and exemplary in the various relations of life, having brought up a large family in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," all his children being valuable and respected members of the society. During a painful and protracted affliction, he displayed the greatest patience and resignation; and died in sure and certain hope of being for ever happy with the Lord.

T. H.

August 23d.-At Farnley, in the Bramley Circuit, aged thirty, much beloved and respected, Mrs. Martha Farrar Schofield, third daughter of the late William Newton, Esq., of Farnley. She was brought in early life to a knowledge of her Redeemer, in whose blood she found the remission of sins, and was enabled to maintain a steady and devoted attachment to the cause of Christian philanthropy, by the distribution of religious tracts, and as an active Collector for the support of our Missions in foreign lands. Her disposition was amiable, which was displayed both in her conversation and life. In her bereavements, which were many and painful, she was able to realize the fulfilment of that divine promise, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." Her confidence in God led her through things temporal, without forgetting those which are eternal; and when human power ceased to avail, she felt resigned to the will of her Redeemer, in whom she could rejoice. Her sufferings were very painful; but she endured with Christian resig nation and fortitude, and she could exclaim,

"More than all in thee I find!" Her end was peaceful and triumphant.

J. G.

August 26th. In the Stockport North Circuit, Mrs. Boothby, aged eighty; an "old disciple," who for more than sixty years followed her

divine Saviour with undeviating steps. Though altogether unlettered, yet, taught by the Spirit, she became remarkably conversant with the sacred Scriptures, which were the richest treasure of her heart. Appropriate verses of that holy book were her daily food and solace. She valued a Gospel ministry. A sermon, if not full of Christ, was in her esteem without savour. The class-meeting, which was held in her house, was of late the only means of grace which she could enjoy. Though feeble and infirm, her experience was always rich and edifying. She had imbibed much of the Spirit of her blessed Master, and was eminently meek, humble, and patient. Her trust in the great atonement of Christ was firm and unwavering. Her peace was deep, and her "joy unspeakable, and full of glory." Some of her last words were, "Jesus is precious. I am firm upon the Rock.

My Jesus to know, And feel his blood flow, 'Tis life everlasting, 'tis heaven below.""

She died in the full triumph of faith.

J. K., sen.

August 27th.-At Key-street, in the Sittingbourne Circuit, aged seventy-eight, Mr. John Fordred, father of the late Rev. John Fordred, Wesleyan Minister. He was sincerely attached to the doctrines and discipline of the Methodist body, and on various occasions was called to support the latter, which he did with Christian promptitude and boldness. Some time previous to his death, he retired from public life; but even then his mind was frequently engaged on behalf of the cause of God. He "preferred Jerusalem to his chief joy;" and continued till

the day of his death to evince much concern for the welfare of Zion and the glory of God. During his last hours he waited with calm patience the coming of his Lord, and testified the grace of God. His soul, firmly resting on the atonement of Christ, realized the full and precious salvation. W. S.

Sept. 1st.-At North-Marston, in the Aylesbury Circuit, Elizabeth Faulkner, aged seventytwo. She had been a uniform member of the Wesleyan society twenty-four years. In the latter part of her life, she suffered much from bodily weakness, and this prevented her from attending the public ordinances of religion as otherwise she would have done; but a class-meeting was held weekly in her house, which she greatly enjoyed. She bore affliction with patience, and her mind was kept in peace, resting in the Redeemer's love, and hanging upon his cross, till he called her to himself. J. B. W.

Sept. 18th.-At Wigan, William Highton, aged seventy-seven; having been a member of the Wesleyan church forty-six years. His mind was first wrought upon through the conversations and fervent prayers of a poor, but pious, Wesleyan who visited his house, gathering rags. Powerful convictions seized his conscience, and he wrestled with the Lord for the forgiveness of his sins. It was whilst thus engaged at the bottom of the coal-pit where he laboured, that light broke in upon his soul; and in that light he saw light. He endured much persecution from his fellow-labourers with exemplary meekness and patience. His last affliction was long and painful; but his mind was kept in perfect peace. He felt he was upon the Rock, and his hope was full of immortality. L. P.

POETRY.

CHRIST STILLING THE TEMPEST.
BY MRS. HEMANS.

FEAR was within the tossing bark,
When stormy winds grew loud;
And waves came rolling high and dark,
And the tall mast was bow'd.

And slumber settled on the deep,

And silence on the blast;

They sank, as flowers that fold to sleep
When sultry day is past.

And men stood breathless in their dread, O Thou that, in its wildest hour,

And baffled in their skill;

But One was there who rose, and said
To the wild sea, "Be still!"

And the wind ceased, it ceased! that word

Pass'd through the gloomy sky: The troubled billows knew their Lord, And fell beneath his eye;

Didst rule the tempest's mood, Send thy meek Spirit forth in power, Soft on our souls to brood!

Thou that didst bow the billow's pride,

Thy mandate to fulfil,

O speak to passion's raging tide,—
Speak, and say, "Peace, be still!”

1036

MY MOTHER'S BIBLE.*

THIS book is all that's left me now;

Unbidden tears will start:
With faltering lip, and throbbing brow,
I press it to my heart.
For many generations gone,
Here is our family tree:
My mother did this Bible own,
And, dying, gave it me.

Ah! well do I remember those

Whose names these records bear; Who round the hearth-stone used to close

After the evening prayer,
And speak of what these pages said,
In tones my heart would thrill:
Though they are with the silent dead,
Here they are living still.

My father read this holy book

To brothers, sisters, dear;
How calm was my poor mother's look,
Loving God's word to hear!
Her angel face,-I see it yet!

What thronging memories come!
Again that little group is met

Within the walls of home.

Thou truest friend man ever knew,

Thy constancy I've tried;

When all were false, I've found thee
true,

My counsellor and guide.
The mines of earth no treasures give,

That would this volume buy;
It teaches me the way to live,-
It teaches me to die!

*From an American Paper.

WESLEYAN MISSIONS:

ÖR, INTELLIGENCE ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY, AND ALSO OF THE STATE AND PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD UNDER THEIR DIRECTION: EXTRACTED CHIEFLY FROM THE 66 MISSIONARY NOTICES," AND FROM OTHER SOURCES PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARIES.*

POLYNESIAN MISSIONS.

DEATH OF JOSIAH TUBOU, KING OF THE FRIENDLY ISLANDS.
FRIENDLY ISLANDS.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. John Thomas,
dated Nukualofa, Tonga, March 16th, 1846.

SINCE I last wrote you, solemn and important events have been permitted to transpire at this place. Josiah, the King of the Friendly Islands, has been removed by death from his people and family, and from the church militant on earth, (we hope,) to the church triumphant in heaven.

Tubou, the late King, was the son of the great Chief Mumui, who was the Tuikanokubolu, or " Governor-in-Chief" of all the Friendly Islands, at the time

of the "Duff's" visit here some fifty years ago. Mumui is represented to have been a very mild and humane man. He took the Missionaries brought by the "Duff" under his own care, and did what he could for them, in those days of gross darkness at Tonga. In his last illness, which took place soon after the Missionaries arrived, he is reported to have sent for these heroic men, to sing hymns by him when near death. Shortly after his death, his eldest son, Tuku-aho,

* Our readers are earnestly requested to avail themselves of the opportunity to procure the entire copy of the "Wesleyan Missionary Notices," published by the Secretaries of the Society, and sold at the Centenary-Hall, Bishopsgate-street, and at 66, Paternoster-row, London. Our selections from this invaluable record of the progress of the Gospel in heathen lands must, of necessity, be brief: we are therefore very desirous that the "Notices" should receive an extensive circulation among all classes of the religious public.

(spelt "Toogahowe" in the account of the "Duff's" voyage,) was appointed to fill the office of his father, then departed; but the innocent and unoffending inhabitants of Tonga, as some would make the world believe they were, moved, not with love or loyalty, but, like some of old, with envy, most treacherously murdered the unoffending King while sleeping on his own mat. After many years of war and bloodshed, peace was again made, and the son of the assassinated King, whose name was Tubou-toa, was called to the office of Governor-in-General, which event, I think, may have taken place about the year 1812. During his reign, which did not last more than about eight years, the islands were far from being in a state of peace, owing to the pride and envy of various Chiefs, who had many people at their command, and were impatient of any restraint, however mild and reasonable. Attempts were made by the King (which, though assisted by his friends, proved too feeble) to bring the Chiefs of Tonga to a sense of their duty; but, notwithstanding many lives were lost on both sides, (which was especially the case in the last of their wars in their heathen state, that is known by the name of the Tau-i-he-ango, or "the war in the ango,") the radicals of Tonga would not yield, or, if at any time they did yield, it was to serve themselves, and more effectually weaken the hands of those whom a wise Providence had placed over them. Tubou-toa died about 1820; after which, for several years, no Chief was appointed to the office of Governor-in-Chief, but each Chief reigned as a King in his own chiefdom, and over his own people.

In the month of May, 1826, Tubou, the subject of this brief memoir, professedly embraced the religion of Christ, of which he had heard a little, partly by means of foreigners who were here, and especially from one of his own men named Langi, who about that time returned from Tahiti in company with two Teachers who were appointed to the Feejees. There were others, however, who had professed Christianity before this time but it was the day of small and feeble things with the whole of them, yet not to be despised, as the event has shown.

Towards the end of 1827, the "heresy "(as the true religion was called) was gaining ground over Chiefs and people; and, some of the devil's chief Priests having turned also, the other Chiefs and Priests began to be concerned

about it, and meetings were called, in order to know what to do to put a stop to the dreadful evil with which they were now threatened. At length they concluded that these evils had been permitted to come upon them for their wickedness towards their head Chiefs, whom they had been taught to identify with their gods; and, in order to cure Tubou of his heresy, they, like faithful subjects of their master the devil, proposed making him King, hoping by this means effectually to secure their purposes. It was, indeed, a well-baited hook, a deeplaid plan to cure him of religion. The devil has baits of all kinds, but he does not always succeed; yet he does succeed with some. "Ye shall be as gods," succeeded with the best and greatest of women that ever lived. On the 7th of December, 1827, the Chiefs of Tonga being assembled at the west end of the island, called Hihifo, with the greatest (heathen) seriousness and apparent devotion: Tubou was called Tali-aiTubou, after the family god, which was a great worldly, as well as divine, honour done him; and he thus became the Tui-ka-no-ku-bolu. For a short time he absented himself from the public means of grace, which led some of his heathen subjects to believe they had succeeded in winning him over to their party; but a few weeks convinced them that in this they were mistaken: he was still a worshipper of the true God, and a seeker of salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This conduct of his gave offence to many of his professed friends, at least; for no man is really a friend to another, whatever his sentiments are, if he prevents his salvation. The newmade King soon found the word of Christ to be true," If any man will come after me, let him deny himself," &c. (Matt. xvi. 24.) His heathen friends persecuted him, and those who with him had abandoned the gods of their forefathers; and in various ways endeavoured to harass and perplex them. This persecution, though at first mild in form, was found a source of great temptation, and did afterwards assume a more serious aspect; so that Tubou considered at one time, that he should have to abandon the island, in order to escape the enemies of God and religion; and a large canoe was actually launched for the purpose of securing, by flight, his own life, and the lives of the Missionaries of the Lord Jesus Christ, who had jeoparded their lives by coming to live with him. This took place before he was made King. However, the Lord

did not permit the enemy so far to prevail. Tubou rather gained ground by the opposition that was made, and numbers joined themselves to the persecuted worshippers of the true God; for the name of Methodist they had not heard: it was the religion of the Bible that they were taught, and to which they adhered.

On the 10th of January, 1830, Tubou was received into the church of Christ by baptism, which ordinance was administered to him by the Rev. N. Turner. Out of four of his children who were baptized at the same time, only one survives: the others have passed safely into the world of spirits, having died young. Tubou chose to be named Josiah, after the pious King of Israel of that name, who was a zealous reformer of his day. It had been well, if Josiah of Tongatabu had possessed that zeal for God and for the spread of true religion, that distinguished him after whom he was named: then might this guilty land long ere this have been all Christian. However, although he was not what we should have rejoiced to have seen him, yet he had something good in him towards the Lord our God; and had he had the advantage of a different training from his youth up, he would have done much bet ter. "But where little is given, little is required."

Tubou has been, however, the firm and constant friend of the Missionary of the cross, and the friend and lover of good men of whatever name. That he had faults, no one will attempt to deny who knew him: he had also some good qualities, for which we may glorify God

in him.

As a Governor-General, he was most mild and unassuming in his manner; so mild, indeed, in his government, that his conduct appeared culpable. Scarcely any attempt was ever made to bring the Heathen under; but most likely he had, or thought he had, sufficient reasons for not doing it; so that they were left to act just as they pleased, each Chief and his people in their respective districts and even in the village in which the King resided, many of the inhabitants of which were his own relatives, the same line of conduct was pursued; and he put up with many inconveniences himself, and appeared to expect others to do the same, when they were annoyed by disorderly persons, rather than give pain to such persons, or any cause for offence. The same feeling governed him as to his family; so that he could hardly bear to see the

children chastised. He was a man of peace, and strove to promote peace: the wars, therefore, with which Tonga has been visited during his reign, must not be attributed to King Tubou. His kindness and love for peace laid him open to the fair speeches and flattering words of cunning and designing men hence, being deceived, he was induced to do what he was afterwards sorry for, both in the wars, and in supplying men to go with his professed friend, Captain Henry, of Tahiti, for the purpose of cutting sandalwood for him; which kindness was abused; and the poor unsuspecting men were so employed, that, on their return home, all were expelled the society. The King himself left it at the same time, feeling, as he did, he was as much to blame as they were; and his conscience could not endure for them to suffer, while he, who had been the cause, should be free.

As a Christian, he was most regular in his attendance on the means of grace, not only at the preaching on Sundays and week-days, but he would always be early in his attendance, especially at our early prayer-meeting. I may say, scores of times, when there have not been five persons present at the beginning of the service, one was sure to be the King. If there was any one thing that ruffled his temper more than another respecting the service of God, it was when he saw his people careless in their deportment, behaving amiss, or going away before the service was over: on some such occasions he has not failed to speak to any that might be near him, which would be well taken from him. In his family he was always at home: he was, indeed, quite a lover of his family; he delighted much in his children; and might often have been found, when his wife was busily engaged in some other affairs of the family, in charge of one or two of them, especially his youngest son, who is named after him, and who has been a very troublesome child to mother and father. That same child was taken ill some months before his father was; and, it being judged necessary to bring him to us, both father and mother accompanied him, and the father lay down upon the floor with him for several hours, waiting the result of the medicine, which in a few hours proved favourable, and all rose up and left us for their own home often in the chapel the father took charge of the child; and, on going home, the child might have been seen riding pickaback,

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