then closes what proved to be his final record. Had he been actually aware of his approaching end, the language could scarcely have been more appropriate. He says, "I feel I have nothing to boast of,— nothing to glory in, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Every year makes me more fully sensible of my unworthiness; and more than ever do I feel that I am indebted to Christ Jesus my Lord for all I have, and for all I hope for in eternity. I feel thankful this day for all the loving-kindness of my merciful God. If I should be spared another year, may I live more fully to Him who died for me! This day I enter upon my seventieth year." To this entry he has appended his name, as though to put his seal to his final testimony to the faithfulness of his covenant God. Though the summons was comparatively sudden, it found him not unprepared. His "lamp" was trimmed," his "light burning;" and he himself like unto those servants who "wait for their Lord, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately." 66 During the forenoon of Wednesday, September 2d, he attended a Committee-Meeting of the Wakefield Branch Bible Society, in his usual health. On returning home, he complained of indisposition. Medical aid was speedily procured, but in vain. A severe bowel-complaint produced in a few hours utter prostration of strength; and it was soon apparent that his days on earth were numbered. But to one who had lived in the daily contemplation of an eternal state, there was nothing alarming in the near approach of "the last enemy." His soul was reposing in unshaken confidence upon the atonement. He knew "in whom he had "believed;" and trusting in Him, he was made finally "more than conqueror through Him that hath loved us." The intelligence of his danger was received by him with perfect calmness. He only replied, "The will of the Lord be done!" After the first few hours, he was mercifully spared much suffering, and retained his reason to the close. The Rev. T. Short, calling on the evening of Thursday, proposed prayer, to which he gladly acceded, and responded fervently to the petitions offered up; and in reply to the hope expressed, that he now, "on the bed of languishing," experienced all the consolations of that Gospel he had so long proclaimed to others, he answered, emphatically, "I do." The remainder of that night he spoke but little: nature was nearly exhausted. But it was manifest to those around that his soul was engaged in communion with his God. At one time, a few hours before his departure, it was thought that his spirit had escaped, so perfect was his repose; but, on approaching his bedside, it was evident he was absorbed in prayer: his hands were clasped, and his eyes raised heavenward, while his lips, faintly moving, gave token how his last moments were employed, even when the power of utterance had failed. It seemed as though his perception of outward things had then ceased, but only to fix his eye of faith more steadily on things unseen. He appeared calmly and patiently awaiting the dissolution of "this earthly house." About half-past two on the morning of Friday, September 4th, 1846, he exchanged mortality for life, aged sixty-nine years. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." The following sketch of the character of Mr. Leach, as it appeared towards the close of his laborious and useful life, has been furnished by the Rev. George B. Macdonald : "My observation of the character of the late Rev. William Leach was limited to the last two years of his life. I had known him personally for many years; but it was only during my residence in Wakefield that I became intimately acquainted with him. I found him, on the whole, hale and vigorous, and singularly free from the infirmities of advanced life. There was a cheerfulness in his spirit and conversation quite refreshing, and which, in some instances, contrasted strongly with his constitutional gravity of countenance. He had recovered from the affliction which made it necessary for him to retire from the regular work of a Methodist Preacher, and at times questioned whether he ought not again to endeavour to discharge the full duties of the itinerancy. He felt, at first, his retirement from his former active service and prominent position in the church of Christ, most painfully; but after some of the convulsive struggles of our irritable nature, he submitted himself' humbly to the divine will. And he had much around him to make him happy. His wife and daughter cheered him at home with their sympathy and conversation; and when in the town or villages, kind faces were turned towards him, and a hearty welcome was given him into every house. There was in him no decay of intellectual power: his memory, perhaps, may have suffered a little, but his understanding and judgment were mature and vigorous. And his mode of living may in part account for this state of mind. He was regular and orderly in all his habits, and to the end of life an early riser,—' up and stirring in the morning often ere the sound of any bell awoke men to labour or to devotion: in summer, as oft, with the bird that first rouses, or not much tardier, to read good authors till the attention was weary, or memory had its full fraught.' He kept his mental powers in use by diligent reading, careful reflection, and edifying conversation; and they were unimpaired to the last. Ministerial and pastoral duties were his daily delight and occupation. He visited the sick attentively and frequently; and the sound of his voice made the heart of many a widow to rejoice. He kept a list of aged and infirm members of the society, and regularly visited them. He was successful as a Class-Leader; and many rejoiced in the privilege of receiving every week the instruction of so experienced a believer. But preaching was his delight, and Christ crucified the great theme of his ministry. On the last Sabbath-day of his life, he preached twice, and with much energy, and deep feeling. By his own request, he had nearly forty Sabbath-day appointments on the last Plan of the Wakefield Circuit which contained his name. And no man was ever more conscientious about fulfilling his appointments. No state of the weather, and no slight indisposition of body, would deter him from discharging with scrupulous punctuality what he regarded as sacred duties. Thus active, holy, useful, beloved, he passed his last days, living in the confidence, affection, and veneration of the Ministers in the Circuit and a large circle of friends. I shall long retain the pleasing recollection which I have of Mr. Leach, as exhibiting to Christian Ministers in their retirement from regular duties, how happy, and useful, and honoured a veteran soldier of Christ may be, whilst employing all his remaining energies in the service of his heavenly Master." BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 9. DIED, April 11th, 1844, at Rugby, Warwickshire, in her eightyfifth year, Mary, relict of the late Mr. Henry Smith, of City-road, London. She had been a member of the Methodist society about fifty-three years, and was firmly and affectionately attached to it. She was a person of superior mind, of great decision of character, and of retiring and simple habits. From her many infirmities, she was, for several years before her decease, deprived of the public means of grace; but her spiritual exercises in private were constant and fervent. She often spoke in terms of great affection of her esteemed friend and Class-Leader, Mr. James Mackie, of London, and regretted much the loss of his Christian advice. She took great pleasure in the perusal of the Wesleyan Magazine, and looked forward with something like anxiety to the delivery of each successive Number. But her great delight was in reading God's holy book; and so well stored with it was her mind, that when any member of the family asked where some particular passage was to be found, she would at once point it out. She was exceedingly cheerful, and always ready to impart instruction. To her grandchildren she would relate religious anecdotes suited to their capacities, and of such a character as to impress the youthful mind with the great importance of early devotedness to God and his holy cause. Without interruption, she was for many years permitted to look forward with hope and joy to that eternal state of rest prepared for all that love the Lord Jesus; and it was not until nearly the close of life, after suffering intense pain for several successive days and nights, and being destitute of sleep, that the enemy of souls assailed her with great power, so that she had to pass through a severe conflict. She wrestled in earnest prayer, and was victorious. "I have conquered!" she exclaimed, exultingly; and, with joy and gladness, praised the Lord. From that moment, her confidence in God, and reliance on her Saviour, were unshaken. Her last moments were eminently peaceful, and spent in pious ejaculations, and repeating the blessed promises of Scripture, on which her faith reposed. With a countenance beaming with a heavenly smile, she calmly fell asleep in Jesus. CHARLES JUDD. DIVINITY. THE WITNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THE BELIEVER'S ADOPTION. BY THE REV. CHARLES PREST. (Continued from page 265.) CHAPTER III.-REVIEW OF THE OPINIONS OF DIVINES RESPECTING THE WITNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THOUGH, in our attempts to elucidate the important subject of the witness of the Holy Spirit, we have not to venture unaided upon theological discovery, yet we have the difficulty of selecting our guides. On the principles stated in the preceding chapter, we shall have to reject the assistance of several, both ancient and modern, expositors, of whose help, on some other subjects, we are glad to avail ourselves, and the value of which we unhesitatingly and fully acknowledge; and to endeavour to form our opinions in accordance with those which have resulted from laborious, spiritual, and therefore well-adapted, examinations of the truth of God. In doing this, it will be necessary to notice many of the various explications which have been given, and the different interpretations of those texts of holy Scripture which, in our estimation, directly teach the doctrine. We hope to do this candidly and fairly; and by so doing, to remove mistake, to caution against error, and to prepare for the reception of that exposition which we conceive to be the true one. The texts to which we now more particularly refer are, Rom. viii. 16: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God;" and Gal. iv. 6: “ And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." Other texts will require consideration in a subsequent part of the inquiry. These passages are by Pyle, and some others, understood as having exclusive reference to the transition of the church from the servile to the filial state,—from the Mosaic to the Christian dispensation. This interpretation, however, is defective, and does not comprehend the entire meaning of the Apostle. Dr. Adam Clarke observes, in his note on Rom. viii. 1, "The Apostle has not been dealing in general matters only, but also in those which are particular. He has not been pointing out merely the difference between the two dispensations, the Mosaic and the Christian; but he marks out the state of a penitent under the former, and that of a believer under the latter. The last chapter closed with an account of the deep distress of the penitent; this one opens with an account of his salvation. The now, therefore, in the text, must refer more to the happy transition from darkness to light, from condemnation to pardon, which the believer now enjoys, than to the Christian dispensation taking place of the Jewish economy." VOL. IV.-FOURTH SERIES. 2 D Wall, in his "Critical Notes upon the New Testament," and others with him, assign the privilege disclosed in these passages exclusively to the apostolic age, and make it consist in special revelations to the Apostles, and probably to some of their contemporaries. This opinion assumes, that it was then required and vouchsafed to accomplish some purpose peculiar to that period; that it was incident to, or necessarily connected with, the apostolic ministry and primitive experience; that it answered its designed end; and that it has therefore ceased. This we deny, discovering no such limitation or special reference in the inspired teaching of the Apostle. On the contrary, we observe that this privilege is associated with others which Christianity yields to all its faithful subjects; privileges of a private and personal character, arising from its ordinary saving operation, and which cannot be proved to have belonged to any specific period, without admitting that the enlightening, justifying, corrective, and sanctifying process of the Gospel belonged also exclusively to that time. Now, to quote Dr. Whitby, "to say that all these operations of the Holy Spirit were peculiar to the first ages of the church, and therefore have now ceased, is in effect to make the dispensation of the Gospel cease." * The operations of the Holy Ghost, which work the conversion of a sinner, are not extraordinary and peculiar to primitive times, but are the ordinary privilege of the faithful in all ages; because, without these gracious influences, no sinner could be converted or saved. "The memorial of that most gracious and glorious dispensation, the Christian church wisely and piously hath continually preserved, obliging us at this time peculiarly to bless God for that incomparable and inestimable gift, conferred then most visibly on the church, and still really bestowed on every particular member duly incorporated thereinto. say, bestowed on every particular member of the church; for the evangelical covenant doth extend to every Christian; and a principal ingredient thereof is the collation of this Spirit." + "This promise (Luke xi. 13) assures to us the continual presence and influence of the Holy Ghost, for all the purposes of guidance and direction, of and assistance, of comfort and support, in our Christian course." Every man, in every age, that obtains a knowledge of salvation by Jesus Christ, is as really a partaker of the saving graces of the divine Spirit as the Apostles were. There is but one salvation for them and for us. But this salvation was wrought in them, and is now wrought in us, "by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost." (Titus iii. 5.) The nature of every man is depraved, his corruption universal, and can alone be sanctified by the Holy Spirit ; without which sanctification, neither the Apostles, who were equally sinners with ourselves, nor any of the posterity of fallen Adam, could or can be admitted to the enjoyment of God. It matters not, therefore, in what age of the world we live, or what character we sustain; we have one common nature through original sin, and one common grace |