father! truly he that winneth souls is wise,' and 'they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.' To this I would aspire, for this I would live, for this I would die." And yet the period of his residence in Leeds was not a happy one. Soon after his arrival there, dissensions arose in the Wesleyan Societies of that populous and flourishing town, which issued in the memorable schism of 1828. The professed cause was the introduction of an organ into the large chapel recently erected, contrary, it was said, to the wishes and opinions of some of the office-bearers; but the real cause lay much deeper, and was nothing else than a secret enmity to the mild and guarded, but firm, pastoral government which was exercised over the Societies by the Wesleyan Ministers, in fulfilment of the trust committed to them by the Founder, in his constitution of the Conference. A tendency to civil democracy had infected some of the less spiritually-minded members with false notions of their position and importance; disappointed ambition, with respect to others, had infused bitterness into their spirit, and a willingness to coalesce with any whose object should be to degrade the ministry, and magnify the subordinate officers. Meetings which were intended for the spiritual regulation and adjustment of the affairs of God's people, were turned into scenes of acrimonious debate and strife; young men of two or three and twenty deemed themselves called to humble and reform venerable and, in some instances, truly learned men, who were as rich in Christian graces as they were in ministerial experiThe best part of the Society wept and prayed in secret; but they could not meet the violence and calumnies of the bitter and misguided with like weapons of warfare, and were obliged to wait the result. ence. John Bumby and another youth, a student likeminded with himself, belonged to a class which was scattered by disaffection; and although they could not then form an adequate judgment on all the questions brought at that time into controversy, they knew the deferential disposition of heart which the law of the Lord Jesus Christ required of them, in respect to a ministry which had been the means of their salvation and conservation; and they were enabled, too, to mark the meek, Christian, and forbearing spirit of the Ministers and of their lay fellow-helpers, in contrast with the spirit of those who, to gain selfish purposes, would lay everything sacred low. The two youths, in the midst of the storm, waited upon the Rev. Edmund Grindrod, received from his hands their regular quarterly ticket, together with his fatherly admonition and benediction: they felt powerfully drawn towards that eminent but then deeply-tried Pastor, and from his teaching obtained principles and counsels which tended in no small degree to form their character for life. That other youth now fills an eminent place in the living ministry. An extensive division took place the people that were left were united more closely by their trials, and unexampled prosperity followed. It is with sorrow the Wesleyan of the present day reflects that similar scenes have been witnessed since; that is, the reviviscence of the same spirit, the same practical manifestations, the same damage to blood-bought souls: though he must likewise remember, in mitigation of his sorrow, that so far they have been followed by similarly enlarged and gracious results. : As was just observed above, John did not stay here very long; for in 1829 we find him again at his father's house, dividing his time between application to study, and brief excursions into neighbouring Circuits at the call of needy and over-worked labourers, or of Missionary Committees. At the Meetings of Juvenile Associations he was then particularly acceptable: his eloquence was very florid and impassioned, and there was something about his delicate youthful ness and unquestioned piety which awakened great interest. On one occasion he was invited to attend and aid at a meeting of this kind in one of the large towns in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The congregation was numerous and respectable. Our friend experienced much excitement and perturbation on the occasion. He had not brought himself there; but being drawn on by others, who felt concern for the perishing Heathen, he felt constrained to brace himself up, and use his powers in the best way for the advancement of the cause. When he was called upon to speak, he commenced a strain of declamation which nothing but a heart that knew the love of Christ could sustain; yet it was conceived in such false taste, that he utterly missed his own real mark. Every form of trope, apostrophe, interjection, and appeal, hurried along in rapid confusion, accompanied by the most earnest action, till the speaker literally panted for breath, and after an address of twenty minutes sat down exhausted. The effect on the congregation was not happy. Many regarded the whole affair as a piece of display: this it was not his best friends know that he had as little of vanity as usually falls to the lot of those who obtain any public notice at the dangerous age of nineteen or twenty. It was simply the result of a great but illjudged effort to meet what he deemed a momentous duty. If any persons were to receive blame, it should be those who had advised and urged on thus prematurely these too exciting and responsible exercises : whatever may be said as to his early efforts among village congregations, it cannot be doubted, that tasks like these involved a too severe strain upon the immature judgment, unfurnished experience, and undeveloped physical strength of a very young man. The remarks apply not to John Bumby only: there were other young men in the same predicament with himself. It was then the fashion to force out at once the gifts and talents of hopeful Christian youth. Our young friend perceived the failure of his speech at the time; and the next day, partly by the reserve of his friends on the subject, and partly by several sinister intimations, he became acquainted with the extent of the disappointment. His pain and mortification were extreme; but his humility bore the test. He bowed before the Lord in private, and asked for mercy and direction. Whether he had much cause or little, he loathed himself in the presence of Infinite Wisdom and Purity. Many would have fled from the spot immediately; but he remained to take a quiet service on the Sabbath afternoon, and preached a sermon remarkable for its modesty and humility. This event, there is reason to believe, was made a great blessing to him. All our best lessons are learned in the greatest pain. His own mature judgment was entirely on the side of the thoughts which are here recorded. And now he was awaiting his providential call. His health was decidedly delicate; his constitution, which was never strong, had suffered from this too frequent demand upon both body and mind; and delicate health is a serious matter to a candidate for the Wesleyan ministry, than which there is not, perhaps, a more laborious vocation on earth. This circumstance created a little difficulty in the deliberations of the York District-Meeting, before which, in May, 1829, he had to appear, to undergo his first examination but the assembled Ministers were so convinced that the Lord had called him, so willing to hope that his health might be strengthened and established by judicious treatment, and so satisfied with his examination in general, that he was fully recommended to the Conference as a candidate, in the usual way. In August he was accepted, and placed upon the List of Reserve for probationers. But, like many other of God's chosen instruments, he became fearful, as his understanding opened, and his conscience became more tender, lest he should be determining his own course, and mistaking a selfish inclination for the call of God. The Spirit's inward impulse and monition seldom take such a form as to shut out all possibility of spiritual and moral conflict, inasmuch as this kind of conflict may have to subserve many valuable purposes in the course of individual sanctification. A few sentences of his own will disclose the state of his mind at this time :— March 2d, 1829.-I preached twice yesterday at Gainsborough the congregations good, especially in the evening, when I had a good time in addressing the young. O that some good may be the result! I feel this morning not very well: my breast is more painful than it has been for some time. The Lord grant to me strength according to my day! O that I may walk in a right path! and neither "full direction need," nor "miss my providential way!" The design of the various providential dispensations of God towards me, I cannot develop; but, doubtless, all will be cleared up at last. Lord, help me to watch and pray, and to examine myself; to devote this day to Thy service! What a hard heart I must have! O break it by Thy grace, and melt it by Thy love! Thirsk, June 3d.-I have been to the District-Meeting at York, and got through that ordeal...... ..I trust that, if I am called to preach the Gospel,-and that I am I have no doubt,— a path will be opened for me providentially into the full employment of the work of the ministry; but O for more piety! I am so dull and dead, so worldly-minded and earth-bound, so trifling and careless, that I am sometimes led, or tempted, to think that I am destitute of the vital spark,-the life of God. Yet still, upon examination, I feel that I have a sure trust and confidence in God through Christ; and that I am a member of His family, and a partaker of His grace. O, had I proceeded as I commenced the Christian race, how different a being should I have been from what at this time I actually am! What Christian devotedness, fervent spirituality, and scrupulous conscientiousness! O Lord, be merciful, be merciful to me, and heal my soul! I do determine now, in the name of that Being, in whose solemn and heart-searching presence I am, from henceforth to live as I have never done before, to live to God, and to God alone. The vows of God are upon me. I must be about my Father's business. Amen. August 6th. It is now the time of Conference; and though many of my friends have expected that I should get an immediate appointment, yet there is no such news, nor do I expect any. I feel perfectly passive, and think, with the medical men |