honourable mention may be made of John Massey, Thomas and Henry Smith, and John Farmer, late of Osgathorpe. These, and others, who might be named, were much blessed under the word, and have been fine ornaments of pure Christianity, more than half a century. I knew many of them personally, and can bear witness to their deep seriousness, uprightness, and Christian simplicity. John Massey is still spared; but cannot long remain in the church militant. Before his conversion he was a mighty champion for the devil, and, such was his strength and resolution, that, when his anger was moved, he was the terror of the whole country; but the lion became a lamb, and the captain of unruly mobs a preacher of peace and good will to man. This is a mixed world, where the best of men have a portion of afflictions and comforts. Mr. Hall, when young, had a painful trial in the loss of a beloved wife and child; but he bore it as a Christian, and under a full persuasion that God cannot err, resigned himself wholly to his blessed will. He afterwards entered a second time into the matrimonial state, which proved a blessing both to him and his beloved partner. She was well qualified, in every respect, to make him comfortable; and her kindness to all the preachers will not soon be forgotten. They had several children, who died in their infancy. One, who lived to mature years, was a daughter of much affliction, but died happy in God. The widow of Mr. Hall, and three of his daughters, are still living, and while they lament the loss of an indulgent husband and a tender parent, are endeavouring to follow him as he followed Christ. Our friend lived to see Methodism established in many places in his neighbourhood; and, as long as he was able, paid the societies frequent visits, and endeavoured to keep up the life of religion among them, by earnest exhortation and fervent prayer; and he not only taught them sound precepts of practical godliness, but set them a good example in his life and conversation. The preachers made his house their home as long as he lived, except a few years after the death of Mr. Skirmer, when, at the particular request of his sister, they took up their abode under her hospitable roof. The Rev. Walter Sellon lived with Mr. Hall several years, and was frequently visited by that great and good man, the Rev. John Fletcher, of Madeley. His house on those occasions, and especially when the venerable itinerant preachers met those pious clergymen, was, as Mr. Dexter expresses it, a Bethel, or House of God; for they were all of one heart and soul, and all engaged in one great and glorious work, namely, that of saving souls from death. But, after many years' success, in those parts, Mr. Sellon removed to a living at Ledsham, in the county of York. There he was buried in the shades. The Lord did not own his labours as heretofore, nor could I ever learn, from any authentic source, that his ministry was rendered remarkably useful to the people. It is a dangerous thing to go out of the way of Providence, and many who have done so have had bitter cause of repentance, Mr. Sellon still maintained, and faithfully preached, the doctrines which he had so ably defended with his pen, retained his love to Methodism, and walked circumspectly; but, in my opinion, the glory departed from him when he left his lovely flocks in Leices tershire. Mr. Sellon retained an affectionate regard for Mr. Hall, as long as he lived. Several letters of that great man, now in my possession, afford ample proof of this. In one of his letters, dated August, 9, 1790, he says, "I hope God is carrying on his work among you. May his blessed Spirit be upon your assemblies! Peace be with you and your's. May God grant us a happy meeting before his throne, if we never more meet in this world." In another, dated Sept. 8, 1790, requesting Mr. Hall to spare him his man-servant, he says, "I think he would suit me very well, and, having been so long in your house, I hope he is better than the common run of servants. After all, this appears as if I was breaking the tenth commandment, by coveting my neighbour's servant. But I do not desire it against your will, nor to your inconvenience." Again, September 28, 1790, he writes as follows: "It was with great pleasure and satisfaction that I received your's, to which I give the speediest answer I can. My first letter, I thought, might have miscarried; but, having no answer to my second in so long a time, I concluded you were dead, which gave me a good deal of concern; though I trust had it been so, you would have been happy in the blissful presence of God. Mr. Overton, the young man that was with me at your house, is ordained, and preaches at York. He was appointed to attend five condemned malefactors at York Castle, and preach the condemnation sermon. It pleased God so to bless his word, that they were all five converted, and went triumphing in Christ to the gallows! His education has cost me a great deal of money, but I hope it is well bestowed. The people of Mr. Wesley's society follow him to a church he has three miles out of York, in great numbers. He is so carressed that I am in fear lest he should be puffed up. But God is able to keep him. I got him educated at Cambridge, with a design of taking him for my curate, but some gentleman, who contributed to his education as well as I, thought his talents should not be buried in a country village, and so they got him to York. My Christian remembrances to all friends. The peace of God be with you all." The last time Mr. Hall heard from him was April 29, 1791. In this last letter he says, "Illable as I am to write, I endeavour to give you a few lines, to inform you that I have been so ill with the stone and strangury, that I have not been able to get out to church but once since Christmas, till Good Friday. Thank God, I am at present easy from pain, but I am forced to get up to twenty times in a night, which has weakened me so that I can scarcely go about the house. I can get no relief from this disorder yet. If I do not soon, it must certainly bring me to my end. Ás I am never likely to see you on this side eternity, may the blessing of God be with you and your's. Do not cease to pray for me, for my trials are great. However, it is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good. With my kind respects to yourself and family, and your sister Skirmer, and all friends, I am your's, affectionately, " WALTER SELLON." Mr. Hall was an upright man, but he had very humbling views of himself. In our love-feasts, when he related his experience, it was, generally, with tears of gratitude to God, for his goodness and mercy; and he seldom omitted, on those occasions, to speak of his own unworthiness to receive any favour at the hands of his heavenly Benefactor. He was remarkably fond of the Holy Scriptures, and had read them so often, and with so much attention, that there were but few passages but what he could recollect, either in the Old Testament or in the New. I sincerely wish all our people were more familiarly acquainted with those sacred books, for they are able to make us "wise unto salyation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus." 2 Tim. iii. 15. Our hymns were greatly admired by Mr. Hall. He considered them to be, what they really are, the most rational, scriptural, and experimental compositions which have ever been used by the Christian church, from the commencement of Christianity to the present day. He often gave out the following verse: "In suffering be thy love my peace, In weakness be thy love my power; And also this, "Pierce, fill me with an humble fear; Thee may I always nearer feel." He never wavered in his religious opinions, nor rambled hither and thither, after this or that great man, like many whose religion appears to be more human than Divine; and who discover more attachment to certain men than to God himself. To the very last he believed the doctrines of Methodism to be the doctrines of the infallible records of Holy Writ; and he was edified under the word of the weakest of God's messengers, and yet set a proper value upon men of learning and great talents. Mr. Hall, like his sister Skirmer, (see Methodist Magazine for the year 1803, p. 20,) was remarkable for watching Divine Providences; and when he had any important affairs on hand, made it a constant practice to lay them before the Lord, that he might be directed by unerring wisdom. Those who follow his example in this respect, may rest assured, that their way through life will be safe and prosperous, and that their end will be peaceful and happy. He was of a sympathizing temper, and could weep with those who wept, and rejoice with those who did rejoice; but his greatest joy was the prosperity of Zion, and his greatest grief the abounding of iniquity. His house was always open for prayer, and it gave him much pain to see some of his thoughtless neighbours unwilling to attend; but he ceased not to pray for them, and to warn them to flee from the wrath to come. At length nature declined, and he found it exceedingly difficult either to speak to, or pray with, the people; but as the outward man perished, the inward man was renewed day by day. He was remarkably happy some time before his death, both in the class-meetings and the prayer-meetings; though his bodily weakness was such, that his friends were obliged to lift him up from his chair. The last sermon he heard was delivered by Mr. Lewis Andrews, from these words "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it." Rev. ii. 17. He said it was a blessed sermon to him, and, indeed, one of the best he had ever heard. But this is often the case with our pious hearers; they generally think the last sermon they hear is the best, and the last preacher the greatest. 66 It is rather singular, that Mr. Hall lived all his days in the house where he was born; and he often spoke of the goodness of God to him in that respect, saying, "I have not been tossed up and down in the world; but my lines have fallen in a pleasant place, and I have a goodly heritage." He was long conversant with death and eternity. I remember some of his simple sayings on those subjects, when I travelled in Ashy circuit, for they made a deep and lasting impression on my mind. After the sermon, on a Saturday evening, he would say, "Well, Mr. Edmondson, I have one less sermon to hear, and you have one less to preach." Again, "Another week is gone. What a long time a week will appear when we come to die." I once had a temporal transaction with him, in which he tried me very much, by what I deemed an unnecessary delay. It was relative to the conveyance of some houses in Burton-upon-Trent, for the enlargement of our chapel. When I was at a distance from him, I thought, I will give him a warm lecture upon the subject, the next time I see him; but, such was his meekness and simplicity, that I was always disarmed when I came into his presence, and was constrained to speak to him in the gentlest manner. Some of our good friends have blamed him for a delay, which prevented our having the premises; but, when I consider his age and infirmities, with the difficulties which attended the affair, I fully acquit him. 6 Miss Hall observes, "For twelve months past I have frequently heard my dear father express himself thus, Glory, glory, glory, I feel my only trust and confidence is in Jesus Christ, and in him only."" He often repeated this passsage, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." İsai. xxvi. 3. And added, "What must I have done if I had not been acquainted with this blessed word of God." During the last three months of his life, he frequently expressed himself thus; "I have done with this world. Let me go to my blessed Jesus." The last Sabbath he lived he said, "By another Sabbath I shall be where congregations ne'er break up, where Sabbaths never end." In the night he said, "O my God, how shall I do to bear the glory, when I come to view the Saviour face to face, without a veil between. This world is too little for a happy soul." On the Tuesday night before his death, he said, "I have done with this world; glory, glory, glory." Miss Hall said, “ Father, we cannot part with you yet." He replied, “Why, love, to take you, and your dear mother, and my other children, and their children to glory, is my greatest wish concerning you all." A day or two before his death he said, "You may sing this over me when I am dead, All glory to Jesus on high, anFather, other has entered his rest,' &c." His daughter replied, it will be poor singing for us," to which he answered, "Nay, love, it will be blessed singing, for me to be lodged in Emmanuel's breast." A short time before his death he desired to see his grandson. When his mother brought him into the room, he put his hand upon his head, saying, "John, my dear child, remember, my greatest wish concerning you is, that as you grow up, you may be a father to the fatherless, a husband to the widow, and a pillar in the church of Christ, never to go out any 6. more." On the morning of Mr. Hall's death, which was Sept. 17, 1813, Mr. Dexter, a pious relative, called to see him; and perceiving that the lamp of life was about to expire, said to him, 7 |