"Fought a good fight."

HOLY living is the safest preparation for happy dying; however some may affect to scorn the former, none would despise the latter.

"Oh, let me die his death, all nature cries. Then live his life!-all nature falters there."

He is as wise as he is happy, who, by holiness of life, seeks for happiness in death. Nor is a holy life an unhappy life, as every Christian can testify. "Godliness is profitable for all things.'

"To purest joys she all invites,
Chaste, holy, spiritual delights;
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her flowery paths are peace."

While the man of God is called to "fight the good fight of faith," "so to run that he may obtain," he enjoys even in his earthly warfare": a peace which the world knoweth not," and the end is "everlasting life." Such a life was his, whose character and history we shall briefly notice.

John McBain was born near Balmoral, in Argyleshire. His parents walked in humble rank, and by profession belonged to the Church of Scotland. At the age of seven he was removed to Glasgow, and at that early period was often seriously impressed, though without becoming decided for God. Before he reached his twentieth year he entered the army, and was in the 12th regiment of Scotch Dragoons during the Scotch rebellion. While

in Armagh, he was billeted along with another soldier, with a pious widow, and here the Lord brought him to a sense of his sinfulness and danger. The poor widow used to seize every opportunity of conversing with John and his comrade on the state of their souls, and would often kneel down to

pray with them. John's companion would allow the old widow to pray with them in order to make a jest of it; but these prayers reached the heart of the younger and less hardened soldier. John would retire, when the widow's prayer was ended, into the stables, that he might pray himself. While thus engaged he felt the conviction of sin, he had a troubled heart; he saw his wickedness and danger, he mourned over his guilt, he sought the pardon of God; and after continuing about a week struggling for mercy, he realised a sweet sense of the favour of God, he felt his sins forgiven, and his burden taken away. God had spoken peace to his soul.

Shortly after, John began to preach to the soldiers in the regiment, sometimes in the fields, and sometimes in outbuildings, God often blessing his labours. The permission to preach to the soldiers he readily obtained from Lord William Bentinck, though on one occasion he exercised without first obtaining permission, and on being called up before the colonel and officers, he was suffered to retire without being condemned to punishment, the colonel remarking, that he had heard many preach, but none ever like John McBain.

It was during his service in the army that John married. He chose for his help-mate a very suitable and pious person, connected with the Independents. John here again broke through the rules of his regiment, as he married without asking leave of his colonel. On this occasion he was again called up, but finding that his partner bore a highly respectable character, he escaped punishment.

John continued in the army about twenty-four years, acting as the leader of the band. He had the good fortune never to be engaged in the terrors of war. Owing to an illness brought on by the blowing of the wind instruments, he was discharged with one shilling a day pension.

On resuming private life he commenced business in Glasgow, but shortly after came to reside in Manchester this was in 1823. To be in the service of God, and united to his people, he held as a sacred duty, and hence he joined the Primitive Methodists, engaging as a travelling preacher amongst them.

It is difficult to say the precise

period when he joined the New Connexion; he was, however, an acceptable local preacher, and active classleader in the year 1834. His preaching talent was passable, and his sermons were always calculated to awaken the careless and edify the believer. He was a strict liver. He was no formalist. He soared above the common experience of ordinary professors. In love-feasts, and in the class, he was always zealous to declare what God had done for him. Often have the brethren waited to hear first the pious breathings of good old John McBain before relating their own experience. He would refer to the period when he first joined the army, and tears would gush from his eyes when he spoke of what the Lord had done for the "Wicked Dragoon," and then his tears would be succeeded with a Glory to God! I'm on my journey

home.

John, after remaining a widower some time, married again. This was in June 4, 1844, to Mary Ann Eaton, who was a member of the New Connexion, with whom he lived in happy fellowship till the period of his dissolution.

On the eve of the new year, 1850, John went to tea to our Brother Shipman's, and on returning home took cold, the night being foggy and damp. He was laid up till the first of May, when, being considerably recovered, he went out for the first time after his illness. On this occasion he took the influenza, his illness returned, he took to his bed on the following Friday, never leaving it till the time of his death.

During his sickness his mind was throughout every moment stayed on God. He often expressed his confidence in his Redeemer; and frequently would he clasp his hands and exclaim, "Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, I wish to depart and be with thee;" yet he was resigned and patient. He was willing to bide the Lord's time.

He was visited during his illness by the Rev. John Hudston; he was also frequently visited by Mr. Teale, who not only prescribed for his bodily afflictions, and that gratuitously, but administered to him consolation for the soul. The following is a brief epitome of good John's life and death, as given by Mr. Teale :

"The late John McBain was wellknown amongst us for his humility, consistent conduct, and undoubted piety. He was regular in the means of grace, and as a leader constant in his attendance, and much esteemed by his members. I have occasionally met his class, and ever found him prepared to receive the word of exhortation ; his experience was rich, and evinced a mind imbued with divine truth; his heart was overflowing with gratitude to God for his mercies. In the love-feast, often would he speak and relate some incident of his early life. When young he was a Roman Catholic and a soldier, and always did he thank God who had enlightened his mind and saved him when he was 'a Wicked Dragoon.' During the time of the church's troubles, he was firm and unwavering, not tossed about by any wind of doctrine, or led away by any specious reasoning. He mourned over the mischief that was done. He was eminently a man of peace, and desired to be at peace with all men. Often have I knelt with him at the sacramental table, to receive the emblems of the broken body and shed blood' of our common Lord, and had my devotions excited by the deep utterances and ecstatic joy he manifested. His heart appeared to be so full of love and gratitude to the Saviour, that nature could not contain, and he was compelled to relieve himself by giving utterance to his feelings of joy and thankfulness. His piety was of a cheerful cast. His countenance bespoke the peace within, and his friendly greetings will be long remembered. As age crept upon him he was troubled with a distressing cough, incident to persons of advanced life. He was fully aware that he was drawing near to the confines of the grave; but this did not disturb him. To use his own words, he was going home,' 'going to Jesus.' Age had somewhat bowed his tall muscular frame, and silvered his hoary locks, yet still shewed what a powerful man he must have been when a bold dragoon.' His was a fine structure bowing to the tooth of time, and preparing to fall and mingle with his mother earth. At last he was missed from his accustomed seat, weakness prevented his any longer coming to the house of prayer. Then he was confined to his bed; and at last

the weary wheels of life' stood still. During his illness I had the pleasure of visiting him; he was the same man, humble, confiding, trusting, no complaining, thankful for any little kindness shewn him by the friends; no doubts or fears. He could calmly look the last enemy in the face; the sting of death was removed; the power of true religion was manifested in him, in health, in sickness, in declining years, and in the closing scene of life. His end was peace.

"He died May 22, 1850, and the following Sabbath his mortal remains were interred in the Rusholme Road Cemetery. Like Stephen, 'devout men carried him to his burial.' He is gone to be with Jesus."

JOSEPH STANLEY. Manchester, Dec. 17, 1853.

RECENT DEATHS.

DIED on the 24th of Nov., PETER TULLOCK, of Seaton Sluice. While attending to his duty as a seaman on board of the "William," of Blyth, then lying in the river Thames, at London, he fell from the foreyard and was killed on the spot. Four years ago our brother was brought to a knowledge of the truth, under the ministry of Mr. Pacey, and united with our little church at Hartley, and has continued to give satisfactory proof that he was renewed in the spirit of his mind.

JOHN WALLACE.

DIED, at Armley, in the Leeds circuit, on Wednesday morning, Dec. 7th, SARAH WILKINSON, in the 27th year of her age, having been married only nineteen months. She had met in class, and loved the Saviour from her early age of thirteen years. Her disposition was cheerful, and the law of kindness was on her lips. Hence, her piety shone with peculiar attractiveness. Her zeal was exemplary. She was the secretary of the ladies' sewing meeting, a Sabbath-school teacher, and a missionary collector. Her end was peace. Her last words were, "into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit."

Other losses have been felt by our

friends at Armley. SARAH WADE, many years a consistent member and warm friend of our Connexion, has entered into rest. HANNAH BRIGGS, also, relict of J. Briggs, who forty

years since laboured a short time as a circuit preacher, and subsequently for many years as a local preacher, has joined the blood-washed multitude. P. J. W.

DIED at Blyth, on the 8th Nov., 1853, Mrs. REDHEAD, aged 43. The death of our sister was startlingly sudden; she was seized by cholera at eight o'clock in the morning, and at four o'clock in the afternoon was a corpse. She had been for many years a highly esteemed member of our church, and her removal by death is felt to be no ordinary loss. Though her death was so sudden, her friends have the unspeakable consolation to know that she has passed into a better country, that is, an heavenly.

DIED at Cowpen, near Blyth, on the 23rd of Nov., our venerable and beloved brother, THOS. LAWSON, aged 88. He was converted to God, and united with the Methodists at Plessy, in the year 1786. He had the high privilege of hearing Mr. Wesley preach on his last visit to Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1790. On the formation of the New Connexion he united with it, and continued warmly attached to it to the day of his death. In 1802 he removed to the vicinity of Blyth, where he has resided ever since. was for many years a leader in the Blyth Society, and a trustee of the chapel. He went through his long Christian pilgrimage with an unblemished reputation, and was a man of great moral worth. Had he been a parishioner of Crabbe's, it might have been supposed he had sat for the portrait to which the poet attaches the name of Isaac Ashford, every feature of which represents our venerable friend, except his nonconformity.

He

Good he refus'd with future ill to buy; Nor knew a joy that caused reflection's sigh:

A friend to virtue, his unclouded breast
N envy stung-no jealousy distress'd.

He enjoyed remarkable health, with few of the infirmities incident to old age. He attended chapel on the Sabbath but one before his death. After an illness of five days, he died as he had long lived, knowing in himself that he had in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

DIED, in Hull, on Friday, December 30th, 1853, JAMES CAPES, aged 43. Whilst favoured with health, he cheerfully devoted himself to the great duties and important interests of religion; and religion sustained and comforted him under his protracted affliction, and gave him peace in death.. He was highly esteemed by many of our ministers, and by a large circle of friends. A further account of him will be given in a future number of the MAGAZINE.

DIED on the 2nd January, 1854, EDWARD BENNETT, at Staleybridge, in the 54th year of his age. He was a devoutly pious and consistent member of the church. During a severe affliction he was divinely supported. When asked by Mr. Lynn if he found Jesus precious, he replied, "He is my transport and my trust." His end was peaceful and triumphant.

HUDDERSFIELD CIRCUIT.

J. R.

LATELY we have been called to suffer the loss of several friends; and some have been removed in a very sudden way. A few weeks ago our sister HANNAH HOLDROYD, of Paddock, died after an illness of a few minutes. She gave her heart to God, and joined the

church during the time of Mr. Bradshaw's first appointment to this circuit, and continued till death a consistent Christian, and a warm friend of the Methodist New Connexion.

Dec. 3rd, died Mr. MICHAEL BELL, aged 63 years. He was brought to God under the ministry of the late Mr. Atherton, and maintained his steadfastness to the end. For many years he had been trustee of our Huddersfield Chapel. During his illness, which extended over several weeks, his mind was kept in peace and comfort by a a sweet sense of the goodness of God.

Dec. 20. Mrs. HANNAH WHITE, aged twenty-eight years, niece of the Rev. G. Bradshaw, was taken from her little family under very painful circumstances. She died after her confinement.

Jan. 13. Mr. JAMES BEAUMONT, aged sixty-five years, finished his course. His wife had died two days previous; and, in his usual health, he had left home to pursue his daily avocation, when in less than an hour he, too, was a corpse. He was seen by a boy, shortly after his arrival at the mill, sitting with his head resting in his hands; in a little while his place was vacant, search was made for him, and he was discovered lifeless on the floor. He was a trustee of the chapel, had been a member forty years, and class-leader and superintendent of the school about thirty years. His employers highly respected him as an upright and faithful servant; and he was endeared to the church by his consistent Christian character and loving disposition. The remains of himself and wife were deposited in the same grave together, amidst a large concourse of friends, who by their presence sought to manifest their warm esteem for his memory.

"The Christian Wreath of Prose, Poetry, and Art," pp. 252.

The works published by the Religious Tract Society are, happily, adapted to the times. Fraught with evangelical sentiment, and illustrations of the wisdom, power, and goodness of the Creator, they may be introduced, not only with perfect safety, but with real advantage, into the families of both rich and poor.

The "Leisure Hour" is altogether a superior production, and we should rejoice to see it attaining a circulation such as would supplant the trashy ephemerals which now issue from the press, not only by thousands, but even by hundreds of thousands weekly.

The "Christian Wreath," like its predecessors from the same source, is a beautiful and instructive annual. Its richly coloured and finished engravings are only equalled by the excellence of its matter, full of incident and fact, descriptive of scenes and characters, and constantly aiming to connect refined sentiment with evangelical truth, and to lead the reader to the great Fountain of blessedness. We earnestly recommend it to our readers.

The monthly volumes, on "Modern Edinburgh" and "Successful Men," will repay with large interest the time and money which the purchaser and the reader may employ in making them his own.

"The Child's Companion," the interesting story of "Charles Roussel," and "The Faithful Promiser," are each good, and bear the stamp and aim of the noble institution which sends them forth.

WORKS PUBLISHED BY THE SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. London: Paternoster-row :

"The Child's Own Magazine, 1853." 18mo, pp. 235.

"Notes on the Scripture Lessons for 1853," pp. 148.

"The Sunday School Teacher's Class Register and Diary for 1854." "The Bible Class Magazine." Vol. VI., 1853, pp. 332.

"The New Year's Voice to Sunday School Teachers." By the Rev. P. B. Power, M.A., pp. 12.

Co-operation-a New Year's Address to the Parents of Sunday Scholars." By the Rev. C. H. Bateman, pp. 12.

“Ways of Pleasantness—a New Year's Address to the Young." By

the Rev. W. Meynell Whittemore,

pp. 16.

"Notes on the Scripture Lessons for January, 1854."

The works published by the Sunday School Union are prepared with judgment and care, and are well adapted to aid the pious parent and assiduous teacher in their great undertaking to instruct the rising generation in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and to promote their salvation.

"Sunday Reading for Christian Families and Individuals :" containing short Commentaries-Scripture Histories-Geography-Manners and Customs-Natural History-Travels, &c., Narratives of the Lives and Characters of remarkable Scripture Personages short Biographical Sketches and Anecdotes-Papers on Relative and Social Duties-Sacred Poetry. By John Kitto, D.D., F.S.A. London, pp. 288.

Abounding in good sentiments, and furnishing many illustrations of the sacred Scriptures.

"The Wesley Banner and Christian Family Visitor," for the year 1853. New Series. Vol. 1. London, pp. 472.

There are many excellent articles in this volume. It is conducted with ability, and will prove both an instructive and a profitable fire-side companion.

"Memoirs of an Ex-Capuchin; or, Scenes of Modern Monastic Life." By Girolamo Volpe. London, pp. 406.

An exposure of the tricks and hypocrisy of Monkery, by one who knows the system by painful experience, but who, through the mercy of God, has been delivered from its thraldom, and brought into Gospel liberty.

"The Centre and Circle of Evangelical Religion; being a Scriptural, Rational, Experimental, and Practical Exhibition of the Doctrine of Christian Perfection." By Richard Poole. London, pp. 208.

Mr. Poole is an earnest, laborious, and useful preacher of the Gospelof the revivalist style. We wish there were many more such. His book is a portrait of his own mind, plain, fervent, and practical, composed under an absorbing desire to do good, by leading men to Christ and the blessings of a full salvation. It calculated to be useful.

"Truth Spoken in Love; or, Romanism and Tractarianism Refuted by the Word of God." By the Rev. H. K. Beamish, M.A. London, pp. 474.