blood of Christ, and found the forgiveness of her sins. In 1844 she removed to a situation in Allendale Town. She carefully stipulated for liberty to attend the Primitive Methodist chapel on Sabbath days, and diligently availed herself of that privilege. Her Christian deportment will not soon be forgotten. In 1847 she was married to the writer, who found her a faithful and affectionate helpmate. In 1850, while officiating at a public tea party at Allenheads Primitive Methodist chapel, she took cold, which laid the foundation of the disease which terminated her earthly career. Some time after this she removed to the north-west coast of Ireland to join her husband, who had an appointment there as mining agent. There her health gradually failed, and she was with difficulty removed to her native land. After her arrival she appeared to rally for a time; but after locating at Workington, in the Whiteham circuit, her complaint gained fresh strength, and baffled all medical skill. Her sufferings were protracted and severe; but though she was long detained from the house of God, her confidence in his goodness, and the sufficiency of Christ to support her, never failed. She often said to her husband, "All is right; all is well; it is the Lord's doings, and he cannot err." While thinking of her children natural affection would triumph for a moment; but she soon recalled herself, and committed them to the care of the all-wise and gracious One. Her sufferings were extreme for a few more days, and then, in the full assurance of faith, she resigned her peaceful soul into the hands of Jesus. She expired March 14th, 1857, in the thirtyninth year of her age, leaving a husband and three children to lament their loss. NICHOLAS PHILIPSON.. 14. Mr. STEPHEN HOARE, of Brentford, Middlesex, entered into the joy of his Lord on Sunday, March 22nd, 1857, aged seventy-two years, after twelve years' affliction. He lived according to the course of this world for more than threescore years. He was brought to God principally through the efforts of brother J. Holroyd. For the last five years he was identified with our society in the neighbourhood in which he died. His leader, brother T. Bailey, speaks of him in high terms. He manifested a special interest in the financial and spiritual state of the society. At his death he was favoured with an unusual degree of confidence in the atoning blood of Jesus. May his family follow him to the world of glory. WILLIAM BIRKS. POETRY. THE CRUCIFIXION. CITY of God! Jerusalem, Why rushes out thy living stream? The turban'd priest, the hoary seer, The Roman in his pride, are there! And thousands, tens of thousands, still Cluster round Calvary's wild hill. Still onward rolls the living tide: There rush the bridegroom and the bride; Prince, beggar, soldier, Pharisee, The old, the young, the bond, the free; The nation's furious multitude, All madd'ning with the cry of blood. Still pours along the multitude, Still rends the heavens the shout of blood; But on the murderers' furious van, Who totters on ? A weary man; A cross upon his shoulder boundHis brow, his frame one gushing wound. Yet who the third? The yell of shame Is frenzied at the Sufferer's name; [torn, Hands clench'd, teeth gnashing, vestures The curse, the taunt, the laugh of scorn, All that the dying hour can sting. Yet cursed and tortured, taunted, spurn'd, REV. GEO. CROLY. THE PRIMITIVE METHODIST Magazine. AUGUST, 1857. BIOGRAPHY. 1. Mr. JAMES NIXON, one of the earliest members and office-bearers in the Primitive Methodist Connexion, was born at Goldenhill, in the neighbourhood of Tunstall, Staffordshire, February 18th, 1785. His mother, being left a widow with nine children, was not able to give him a day-school education; but she sent him a distance of two miles to the Wesleyan Sundayschool at Burslem. He had served his apprenticeship to the pottery business when he was sixteen years old. The fear of God often exerted a powerful influence over him in his childhood, yet he unhappily grew up in sin, and drinking and fighting ranked among his youthful follies. His natural disposition led him to defend the weak and oppressed, and he not unfrequently fought hard in their behalf. About the twentieth year of his age he was, however, brought to engage in warfare of another kind, and to fight manfully under the banner of the Lord Jesus. He was deeply convinced of sin, and for a time appears to have despaired of obtaining mercy; but a pious man said to him one night, after they had been at a meeting together," James, do you not believe that Jesus died for you?" I do," he replied; "I dare not disbelieve that." 'That's it," rejoined his friend; "believe it over and over again, till you feel he died for you." After my father had parted with his friend, and was walking homewards, he was enabled to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, was justified freely by the grace of God, and received the witness in himself that he had passed from death unto life. This happy event occurred March 4th, 1805. Soon after his conversion, he was brought into condemnation by giving way to anger against a fellow-workman who had done him wrong. He laboured under a sense of guilt and deep distress for about two hours, when he knelt down in his workshop, and presented his case before God, who had compassion on him in his misery, and graciously turned his sorrow into joy. He ever afterwards retained his confidence. Mr. James Steele, his class-leader, was a wise and holy Christian, and from him he VOL. XV.-THIRD SERIES. 2 G received seasonable sympathy and advice. He dedicated the powers of his body and mind to the service of God; denied himself all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and lived soberly, righteously, and godly in the world. He took up his cross, reproved sin in rich and poor; and, being clothed with power from on high, he was a terror to evil doers. When he got a new suit of clothes, in simplicity and godly sincerity he spread them before his heavenly Father, and prayed to be saved from pride in wearing them; and, till he exchanged earth for heaven, he was plain in his dress and simple in his habits. Being occasionally troubled with wandering and vain thoughts while at work, he resolved to try a remedy, which happily proved effectual. By committing to memory in the morning passages of Scripture and verses of sacred poetry, when his thoughts were inclined to wander during the day, he succeeded in engaging them in contemplating the passages and poetry he had learned for the purpose. He could have made proficiency in any ordinary kind of learning at this period of his life; but his spare hours were spent in visiting the sick, and attending to other religious and benevolent exercises. In due time he was called to the office of a local preacher. He possessed good natural abilities; but, through his lack of learning and mental culture, he never became a popular preacher. His preparations for the pulpit consisted in prayer and devout searching of the Scriptures; and, if he was not fluent and popular, his word was delivered with power, and in demonstration of the Spirit, and he had souls for his hire and seals to his ministry. I find his name with preaching appointments on one of the early plans of the Connexion; it is a small written plan, commencing September 22nd, 1811. He was punctual in attending his appointments, however remote from home, or however severe the state of the weather. In about six years after his conversion, he was put away from the Wesleyan Connexion, partly through his zeal for camp-meetings, and his fervent manner of worshipping God; but without any charge affecting his moral character. This was graciously overruled for good, as a wider door of usefulness was opened for him in connection with his friend Clowes, and he was a means of strengthening and enlarging the infant societies afterwards designated Primitive Methodists. On June 27th, 1818, he was married to Miss Mary Barlow, a pious and worthy woman, who departed this life in peace May 22nd, 1847. They were blessed with seven children, five of whom survive. I cannot state the exact time at which my father became a class-leader; but it was in the early part of the Connexion's history, for his class was repeatedly led by Mr. Clowes, after returning from his early missionary excursions. He was an efficient class-leader. The members proved him to be a friend that cared both for their temporal and spiritual welfare; he often bore them upon his heart before the Lord in his closet devotions. He taught them to be present at the time appointed for beginning the meetings, to pray for each |