came forward and zealously exerted himself to aid in this commendable attempt. Although so young, such was his activity and devotion in the accomplishment of this object, that he was chosen secretary; and when the trust was formed he was elected one of the trustees. If anything could justify over-exertion, there was a complete justification in the necessity for a place of worship in the locality where it is situated; it now constitutes a prominent ornament of the neighbourhood, and is evidently exerting an influence on even the style of the new buildings that are springing up around it. The necessity and success of the enterprise are demonstrated by the fact, that already there are 580 scholars on the school books. This was a purely missionary effort, and one worthy the imitation of many of our old circuits. Let Leeds, and Nottingham, and Manchester, and other towns that have a large population look around for a site on which to build a sanctuary for the Lord.

In attending to the numerous engagements devolving upon him from the church and from business, William Fenton did not allow indisposition to deter him from attempting the thorough discharge of duty; there was a buoyancy of spirit that bore him far beyond his strength. He was conscious that he was doing too much, and that rest was necessary; but with the characteristic of such natures, he could not stop nothing short of physical impossibility would check him, unless some authoritative voice had commanded him to desist, and shown him how he was to desist. The slightest word that, to a less sensitive mind would have fallen powerless, to him became a goad that drove him onward. There are men so constituted, that when engaged in a cause that interests them, they toil beyond their strength, knowing they are doing so, and foreseeing the issue, but cannot of themselves cease labouring. Ye fathers in Israel, when you meet with such, and see them destroying themselves, compel them to desist; chain them, expatriate them, do what you will with them, only arrest them in their self-destructive career. Hear the testimony of our departed friend :— "I am not so well as I could like to be; I feel so wearied at the close of each day by one thing or another, that I have not strength for aught; when the excitement of the present period, with respect to our church, has passed away, I trust I shall feel the better for a little rest. The truth is, the strain on my mental powers has been too great for my physical strength, and I have often had my brains whirling with the multiplicity of things they have been required to attend to. I doubt not but, after a week or two of relaxation, I shall be all right." The anticipation here expressed was not realized, as it was found necessary he should enter on a new department, in the firm of which his father was partner; he had to undertake the travelling, which it was hoped would cause a diversion of thought; but owing to the extending operations of the business, and the total unconsciousness of his relatives of the malady that was undermining his health, the pernicious excitement was kept up. The real state of his health would probably have been more apparent had it not been for the hopefulness inspired by his expected union with a member of my class, who seemed expressly adapted to sooth and restrain him, and who was truly worthy of the deep affection he cherished towards her. He looked forward to

a home of his own, where he should be happy. The preparations were being rapidly made, the house taken, the furniture ordered, much already made, the bridal day fixed! He was seized in the latter part of January with what all deemed a trivial and temporary sickness. The Lord ordained this sickness should be unto death. He fell the martyr of an overworked brain, for when the first symptoms were subdued, it became apparent there was a substratum of disease that could not be so easily removed. During the greater part of his affliction he was in a state of delirium, in which his mind was occupied incessantly night and day with business, the concerns of the church, Sabbath schools, holding imaginary conversations with various individuals for promoting the prosperity of the school and the church. In his lucid intervals he suffered acute pain, but enjoyed great consolation. On the morning before his death, while looking at his mother, he said to her, "I wish I were in heaven!" She said, "Would you like to leave your father and mother, and Ellen?" He answered, He answered, "I should not mind much." He dwelt very much on the Holy Scriptures. The day before his death he tried to sing that beautiful hymn which has so often been sung by Zion's pilgrims

"When I can read my title clear
To mansions in the skies."

He

A few hours before his death he said, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." then paused. His mother added, "He leadeth me by the side of still waters." "Yes," he exclaimed, with joyous energy, "He does lead me by the side of still waters; oh! when I preach again, I will take those words for a text." Soon after, he suddenly ceased to breathe, and he was not, for God had taken him. Thus did William Fenton terminate his probation, on the 17th of February, 1853, aged twenty-five. His body was interred in the public cemetery on the Monday following, when he was followed to the grave by a large multitude of all classes who had known him while living, and mourned his death as a general loss. His death was improved by the writer in South-street and Park chapels, when the attendance of unusually large audiences showed the deep interest that had been felt in this excellent young man.

My own estimate of his character was, that there was an harmonious blending of affectionateness, conscientiousness, energy, sensitiveness, intelligence, and buoyancy of spirit. The natural defects and tendency of such a character were, to a great extent, controlled and corrected by a knowledge of the Scriptures, and by a living faith in the blood that cleanseth from all sin: thus, it was seen in the warehouse, and in religious meetings, that he had acquired great self-control. In answer to a letter written by him to the Rev. J. H. Robinson, in which he described all his failings without reserve, Mr. Robinson thus writes:"I was glad to receive a letter from you by the last mail from Europe, and so far from complaining of its length, I should have been glad if it had been twice as long. I was surprised at some of your remarks respecting your own conduct (and depreciatory thereof) towards myself while in Sheffield. The fact is, no one could give me less trouble than you did, and certainly no one gave me more efficient help in various

ways than you did. There were two occasions on which I thought you exhibited a little petulance of feeling; but, so far as I was personally concerned, I never had the least cause to complain of you in any respect; but on the contrary, felt towards you a growing esteem and attachment to the last." The following testimony was given by Mr. Shore, his father's partner, with whom he was intimately associated almost every day for the period of eleven years :-"I do sincerely sympathise with all your family; indeed, if the dear departed one had been my own son, I could not have felt more. It is a great consolation that, during the whole term of our acquaintance, such was his uniform gentleness of disposition, that not one unpleasant word ever passed between us.'

This memoir cannot be concluded more expressively than by a few extracts from some of his own letters, which, being written without the remotest anticipation of publication, unfold the workings of his mind, and disclose his real character in the undisguised utterance of the feelings and sentiments awakened by the circumstances through which he passed. On one occasion, on his journey to Scotland, when on board the "Princess Royal," alluding to his timidity in praying before strangers, he writes:-"I confess I was tempted to forego prayer on my knees before strangers, and was some minutes ere I could remove the influence of these rebellious emotions, but resolutely determined to overcome, and felt the benefit; for I experienced such a calm, peaceful feeling come over my spirit, that I felt conscious my Heavenly Father was overshadowing me with His protecting Spirit, and felt assured He would be with me throughout the journey." On his last journey, in January, his mind seemed in the fullest assurance of Divine love. He thus writes:-"I do not know why I feel so trustful and confident in the guidance of Providence as I do just now, but I feel every day that I have some manifested proofs of His fatherly care over me and my little affairs, and this feeling makes me happy-yes, unspeakably happy." The following selections are taken from a multitudinous correspondence, and will be found to be more illustrative of his character.

Last summer he thus writes :

or less

"I do not like travelling at all; there is so much bustle, anxiety, and vexation, that all other advantages do not compensate for the drawbacks to this mode of life. And then the sudden separation from society to which one is deeply attached and well known, to be placed among strangers who know nothing of you, and care less, gives me such a chill that dispirits me entirely. When reflecting on these things, however, I rise above them again, and determine to discharge my duty to the best of my ability, remembering that reunion with those I love will be sweeter and more precious to my soul."

In another letter he says:

"My head swims on account of excitement, and the circumstances in which I find myself placed, preclude all study and continued thought, rendering it difficult to collect myself. My prayer is, that God would give me grace to enable me to prepare myself for the proper discharge of the duties now devolving upon me, that by his aid I may become a successful and useful servant to my present employers; should prosperity smile upon my path

in after years, I may be found prepared to contend with the world, and pass through it with credit to myself and all who stand connected with me."

At another time he writes:

"While taking a walk, I thought if, in the order of Providence, you should be removed to a better world, I could resign you, painful and distressing though it might be... I wish to be enabled faithfully to discharge my duties on earth, to fit my spirit for its better home. I think I never prayed more humbly, nor with such lively feelings of gratitude as I have done this past week. I prize religion more than ever, and shall cultivate its high principles a deal more than ever I have done."

Again he writes:

"The path of duty is not always the most pleasant to tread, but by walking therein we find our pleasures enhanced; for self-denial, when accompanied by depending meekly on Providence, enables us to enjoy our blessing when restored to us with greater depth of feeling."

In speaking of his success in business on his journey, he thus writes:

"I will tell you to what I attribute my good fortune. Every day in the morning, and every evening, I have especially sought the blessing and guidance of heaven upon my day's labours, and poured out my heart in gratitude for the preceding day's mercies. Thus have I felt and obtained special grace and strength to help me in discharging my present duties, I have found, in travelling the towns and districts, I have acquired information, obtained friends, and found superior society in many places; but the great drawback' to travelling is this, one is exposed to the vicious conversation of immoral persons who move in commercial rooms, causing the heart to sicken, the affections to revolt with disgust. Added to which, there are many little ceremonial observances carried to such an excess as to be exceedingly irksome. I assure you that I feel quite fettered many times at the overstrained politeness manifested and required in a commercial room. The happiest moments I have spent have been in my room at night, reading my Bible, pondering over my heart and condition, and in prayer to my heavenly Father."

Another time he writes:

"I have to preach on Sunday evening next, for Mr. Burrows, in our chapel. I trust I shall be blessed with an enlarged measure of the Holy Spirit, while so seriously and solemnly engaged. True it is, the feelings that at present influence my heart are more cheering than they were a short time since, and I begin to realize a greater sense of spiritual happiness. I have been humbled under the hand of my God, and I begin to feel the benefit of these workings within. I have marked out for myself a higher and nobler course for my future life. I am determined to become complete master over myself, so that I may be a more useful and better man. I thank my heavenly Father that so far I have been able to make some progress in the working out of my intentions. Oh, I do not wish it to be said, "thy goodness is like the morning cloud, or as the early dew," but to become like the steady refulgent light of the sun, shining more and more, until the end of my life."

In an after-letter, he says:

"I wish to content myself with my present position, believing that I have indeed been specially blessed by heaven during my present tour; so far success has attended my exertions beyond my most sanguine expectations. Perhaps my thoughts and aspirations have never been so steadily directed to what is good and holy, as during the time I have been absent from home. I have

had fewer emotions that have caused pain or created anxiety this time than in any previous period of my life; and at evening and morning, when in conversation with my Maker, I have felt a greater freedom in drawing towards him than I have ever before experienced. In looking round, therefore, on my earthly position, although I find much to watch over, and great cause for anxiety and care, I feel that every thing I see calls for my warmest praise and gratitude to my God."

The valued friend to whom these communications were addressed has been unexpectedly separated for a season from one who would have been an affectionate husband. The parents have been severed from a dutiful and considerate son; the church militant has lost the services of a zealous soldier of Christ; but the general assembly of the just in heaven has received the accession of another believer who has washed his robes, and made them white, in the blood of the Lamb.

ESSAYS, &c., ON THEOLOGY AND GENERAL LITERATURE.

AN EXHORTATION TO THE HEIRS OF SALVATION.

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal Life."-Jude 20, 21.

THE Apostle Jude greatly loved and valued those Christians to whom he addressed this epistle. Thrice in this one chapter he calls them "beloved." This appellation shows his complacency in them; he loved them because he knew they were beloved in the Lord. He congratulates them as the called, the sanctified, and the preserved, and contrasts their blessed state with that of those who were "sensual, having not the Spirit." But he does not, however, deem them above the need of exhortation. He saw that their faith was in danger. Corrupt men had crept in among them, "who turned the grace of God into licentiousness, even denying the Lord that bought them." It was therefore particularly needful that he should put them on their guard. Accordingly he says, in the third verse, "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you, that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." In the 17th verse he breathes a tender concern for them, and reminds them of the words spoken by the apostles concerning the dangers and mockers of the last times; and then in this precious exhortation enjoins upon them and us those duties which, if practised, will effectually preserve the soul from apostacy. "But ye, beloved, build up yourselves," &c.

To carry out this exhortation, we must edify one another-pray in the Holy Ghost-live in love-looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

I. THE APOSTLE ENJOINS MUTUAL EDIFICATION.- "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith." Believers