circulation of the Scriptures in different tongues is reviving the light, and giving life to many fallen and corrupted Churches in different parts of Christendom; while extended school establishments, in various parts of the world, are pre-occupying the minds of many thousands of the children of pagans with principles opposed to every form of Gentile error, and to every superstitious practice. Such are the views which are now spread before every contemplative mind, interested in observing the 'signs of His coming,' to whom, finally, shall be given 'dominion and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, and nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away; and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.'

"For the coming of that kingdom, let us more devoutly and fervently pray; knowing that every endeavour of ours at home, and even the more important and arduous labours of our brethren abroad, can only ripen into successful issues by the special blessing of God. In a spirit of humble dependence upon him, let all our engagements, whether of counsel or exertion, be conducted; and for those especially who are bearing the testimony of Jesus' in foreign lands, let us lift up our hearts, that they make full proof of their ministry, and in every place make manifest the savour of the knowledge of Christ,' and present the Gentiles an offering to God, 'sanctified by the Holy Ghost.""

During the spring of 1821 Mr. Watson visited several large towns in different parts of the kingdom, for the purpose of affording assistance at the anniversaries of auxiliary and branch missionary societies. He also prepared the report of the general society, for the annual meeting, which was held at the City-Road chapel, London, on Monday, April 30th. Colonel Sandys, from India, a tried friend of the society, occupied the chair on this occasion, in the unavoidable absence of Mr. Butterworth, who was in a state of ill health. The applications for admission to this meeting were numerous beyond example. Mr. Watson read the report, which described the prosperous state of the society's affairs. The number of missionaries was increased to nearly one hundred and fifty; the stations occupied were more than one hundred; and upward of twenty-seven thousand members were united in Church fellowship, under the care of the missionaries, and the fruit of their zealous labour. W. H. Trant, Esq., and Colonel Munro, both recently returned from India, bore testimony to the necessity of missionary exertions in that benighted region, and encouraged the society to more extended and vigorous efforts. The Rev. William Ward, of the Baptist mission at Serampore, then about to return to India, spoke at considerable length, and in a manner worthy of his high character, both as a man of God, and an able missionary. He described in strong terms the difficulties with which he and his brethren had to contend when they commenced their labours in India. The Hindoos were in a wretched condition. "Such was their ignorance and hardness of heart," said Mr. Ward, in his emphatical manner, that, before we could make any progress in our work, we had a conscience to create." It is difficult to conceive of zeal and piety more pure and elevated, and of a catholic spirit more genuine and expansive, than those which appeared in Mr. Ward upon this occasion. He declared his reliance for the success of all missions to be upon the promised effusions of the

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Holy Spirit; and hence, he connected the progress of the work of God abroad with the ceaseless prayers of the Churches at home. In expressing his Christian regard for the agents of the society whose cause he was then pleading, he said, "The Wesleyan missionaries yield to none in love to their Saviour, which is so essentially necessary to keep alive the missionary flame. And they yield to none in another grand point, which is the freeness of their invitations. Blessed be God, they feel no hesitation in their offers of mercy. This is their darling theme; and it suits the missionary cause extremely well. They depend entirely upon Divine influence. Their eyes are always fixed on that; and feeling that they are but weak instruments in the hand of God, they go forward in their simple career, looking to God for his influence; and, blessed be his holy name, that influence is not withheld." In full accordance with these sentiments, Mr. Ward, a few days after this meeting, requested as many Wesleyan ministers, then in London, as could conveniently attend, to meet him at the mission house in Hatton Garden, at a given time, that they might commend him in united prayer to the Divine protection during his voyage to India, where he had long laboured; and that, on resuming his ministry there, it might be rendered abundantly successful by the blessing of the Lord the Spirit. It is needless to add, that his request was complied with. The heart of Mr. Watson clave to this distinguished missionary; and their kindred and sanctified spirits have now met in a happier region, where their former anxieties and labours in the cause of Christ are amply rewarded.

At the anniversary just referred to, there was an unusual display of Christian liberality; the contributions amounting to upward of one thousand pounds. A spirit of holy triumph and zeal pervaded the vast assembly at the public meeting, which was greatly promoted by the preparatory religious services. This fact arrested the attention of Mr. Watson, and drew from him the following remarks, which he inserted in the missionary notices:- "The three sermons, usual on this occasion, were this year preached on Thursday and Friday, April 26th and 27th, in the chapels of City-Road, Queen-street, and Lambeth, by the Rev. Messrs. Buckley, Robert Newton, and Lessey, jun. We take this opportunity of remarking, that we are more than ever convinced of the great importance of connecting such services with the public meetings of missionary societies, whether in town or country. They greatly tend by the Divine blessing to produce a serious and hallowed tone of feeling; to chasten and sanctify that high and cheerful excitement which naturally results from the happy intercourse of large numbers of friends with each other at these anniversaries, and from the speeches addressed to them, when so assembled, on some of the most interesting and often delightful topics to which the attention of human beings can be directed; and to maintain those great principles by which alone the purity and permanence of missionary zeal can be secured, in their proper position of paramount authority and obligation, as essentially identified with whatever is sacred and amiable in our holy religion, and founded. upon the peremptory injunctions of Divine revelation. For public meetings, as affording the very best facilities for the communication of important intelligence, both as to the incipient success, and as to the still existing

necessity of missionary labours, we are sincere and decided advocates. We believe they are greatly blessed by Almighty God, not only in the excitement, but in the proper and efficient direction of benevolent zeal and activity; and that if they were neglected or discouraged, a large portion of our present means of doing good must at once be (in our judgment, most foolishly and criminally) abandoned. But if missionary sermons, without meetings, would leave the work in most cases but half done; we fear, on the other hand, the missionary meetings, unconnected with sermons, suited to the solemn occasion, and with other special and appropriate exercises of social devotion, would soon lose, by such omission, more than half of their present blessing to ourselves, and of their eventual utility to those for whose illumination and salvation they are principally convened. For the various information on missionary topics, and for the free and spirited displays of Christian eloquence, which characterize a good public meeting, we are best prepared when we take time and pains to sanctify' the whole system by the word of God and prayer.' Much of this holy influence, we trust, was felt in our late general meeting, as the result, under God, of the three annual sermons to which we have referred; and of those which were preached in various chapels on the subsequent Sabbath."

Scarcely had the stir and hurry of this memorable anniversary subsided before we find Mr. Watson again itinerating through the country, as the zealous advocate of the Wesleyan missions, and the bearer of intelligence respecting their success and prospects. The following letter discloses a part of his plan and proceedings

To Mr. William Walton, Wakefield.

London, May 4th, 1821.

MY DEAR SIR,-In my various wanderings this spring, I have not Deen nearer to you than Manchester, or I should have done myself the pleasure to call upon a family for whom I feel, and shall continue to feel, an unabated respect and affection.

On Sunday, the 13th, and Monday, the 14th, I shall, God willing, be at Sheffield; and on Tuesday shall have to pass through Wakefield, on my way to Bradford, to attend the missionary meeting there at two o'clock in the afternoon, and preach in the evening. On the Sunday following I must be at Nottingham; so that I shall have to pass through Wakefield a second time.

I cannot suffer these opportunities to pass, without spending a few hours, either in going or returning, or both, if it were only to say that I have a very grateful remembrance of your past kindnesses to me; and that I shall always feel happy in a few hours of your society, and that of your excellent family. I pray that I may find you all in health and peace.

The bustle of our public meetings in London is nearly over. Our own meeting on Monday was a noble one. Two gentlemen from India (Mr. Trant, and Colonel Munro) attended, and gave an important testimony in favour of missions in India; and assured us that from all they had observed, after a long residence in India, the superstitions of that country are giving way, and the kingdom of our Lord must be triumphant.

Want of time, and very pressing daily engagements, have prevented me from writing to you, though I have often intended it. This, however, you must impute to any thing rather than want of respect.I have availed myself of every opportunity of inquiring after your welfare.

I have been lately in various parts of the country; and find that this year is one of the most prosperous in the connection, we have for a long time had. Many parts of Kent have had extraordinary visitations. More than two thousand souls have been added to the societies in the Potteries of Staffordshire; at Liverpool six or seven hundred have been added; and in many other places there has been great prosperity. Thus is the Lord remembering Zion, and building the wall in troublous times.

We have had much sickness in our family since I saw you; but we are all better; though neither Mrs. Watson nor Mary is very well.We have learned, however, I trust, that He who cannot err must do all things well. To him be praise and glory. To-morrow I leave town for Bristol; and I shall not be at home again before I see you; as I cross the country, and take Worcester and Birmingham on my way to Sheffield.

My kind regards to Miss Walton and Miss Ann, with my best wishes of every kind; and also to my old friends the doctor and Mrs. Ellis.

CHAPTER XV.

The Conference of 1821-Letter to Mr. Walton-To his Daughter-Mr. Watson's Appointment to the Office of Resident Missionary Secretary-Becomes a private Member of a Class-Letter to the Rev. Robert Young-Missionary Tour in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire-Letter to Mrs. Watson-Mr. Watson's Contributions to the Wesleyan Magazine-Doctrine of the witness of the Spirit-Sermon on Man magnified-Begins to write his Theological Institutes-Missionary Report for 1821-Mission in Ceylon-New-Holland-NewZealand-Western and Southern Africa-Income of the Missionary SocietyMr. Watson visits Cornwall-Letter to Mr. Walton.

MR. WATSON attended the conference of 1821, which was held in Manchester, uncertain as to the place where his future lot would be cast. At that time London was only divided into two circuits; and as he had been stationed in both of them, he could not, consistently with the rules of the connection, be re-appointed to the metropolis as an itinerant preacher. The friends in Birmingham were anxious to secure his labours, and urgently solicited his appointment to their circuit. In consequence of the growing extent and importance of the missions, it was necessary that the society should employ a second resident secretary, in order to their efficient and successful management: Mr. Watson's long experience, established character as a public man, distinguished ability, and active habits, all pointed him out as eminently qualified for that very responsible situation; and the committee pressed the conference to fix him in that station. During the sitting of the conference, and while the question of his destination was

undecided, he addressed the following letter to his excellent and affectionate friend :

To Mr. William Walton, Wakefield.

Manchester, July, 1821. MY DEAR FRIEND,-Thinking that it might interest you to know how we are going on at conference, I send you a slight sketch. Mr. Marsden has been elected president, and Mr. Newton is the secretary. We are going on well, and harmoniously. The increase in the societies has been upward of nine thousand at home, and about one thousand three hundred in our foreign missions. Blessed be God!

Our finances are also very rapidly improving. More than sixty persons have offered themselves as travelling preachers, and most of them for the missions; so that we shall have no lack of men, if we can but get the money to send and support them.

Where I shall be placed, I do not yet know; whether London or Birmingham. However, I can say that I only wish to be where I may best serve the great cause of Jesus Christ.

While I am writing, the preachers are speaking of good Mr. Benson; and many interesting anecdotes have been mentioned respecting his great character and extensive usefulness. "Our fathers, where are they? and the prophets do they live for ever?" May we also be ready!

I shall, all being well, be at Bradford on Sunday; but as the president has issued an order that no preacher shall go away on Saturday before the afternoon, and that every one that leaves the town must return on Monday morning, I shall not have an opportunity of calling to see you, which I should have been most happy to do. However, be assured, that whether present or absent, I have an unabated affection for you all. May you live daily in the richest enjoyment of the blessing of the Gospel of peace in all its fulness!

Present my kindest regards to Miss Walton, and Miss Ann; and to our mutual friends, Dr. and Mrs. Ellis. I shall be happy to hear from you during the conference.

After the comparative claims of the missions, and of the Birmingham circuit, had been fully heard and balanced in the conference, it was determined that Mr. Watson should remain in London, as one of the resident secretaries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society; an office which he sustained with the highest credit to himself, and advantage to the mission cause, for the space of six successive years. This appointment was suited to his declining health; and it secured to him greater leisure than he had enjoyed for several years. His duties were, indeed, numerous and urgent; but he was freed from the cares and engagements of the itinerant ministry, and generally spent his evenings in his study. The time which he could thus command, he devoted to the composition of valuable theological works, by which he rendered essential service to the cause of true religion. Higher objects were secured by this arrangement than either he or the conference at that time anticipated. He surrendered himself in prayer to the Divine guidance and direction; and his confidence was never disappointed. His way was made plain before him; and his Lord con