we should have subjoined extracts from his strictly Missionary addresses.

From the time we reach the summit of the hill of life we are reminded, by a succession of deaths in the circle of our friends and relatives, that "here we have no continuing city." Mr. Candler found it so; and on his friendly and susceptible mind the repeated bereavements he was called to sustain exerted an improving and solemnizing influence. In 1823 Mr. Candler's mother died, at the advanced age of eighty-seven. Always sober, industrious, inoffensive, and punctual in her attendance on the parish church, she approached her seventieth year without any deep conviction of guilt, and with only a general and barren trust in the mercy of God. To please her son, as she afterwards confessed, she began, late in life, to attend the Methodist ministry; and one Sunday evening, in a prayer-meeting, held after the preaching, the eyes of her understanding were opened, and she saw herself an unbeliever, and a child of wrath. Sleep fled from her eyes; she watered her couch with her tears, and mourned over lost opportunities and a neglected Saviour, as one "mourneth over an only son. At midnight she sent for William, and on his entering her chamber, she cried out, "What must I do to be saved?" He and his excellent wife prayed with her, and spent the night in setting forth Christ as "able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him." As the day began to dawn, she was enabled to lay hold on the "Angel of the Covenant," saying, "I will not let thee go, unless thou bless me." At that moment, feeling the saving name inspoken to her heart, and knowing that the Sun of Righteousness had risen on her soul with healing in his wings, she rejoiced mightily in God her Saviour. The gladness of her spirit was impressed on her countenance; her mental faculties seemed to acquire new vigour; and for seventeen years she blessed the Lord for having forgiven all her iniquities, healed all her diseases, redeemed her soul from destruction, crowned her with loving-kindness and tender mercies, and for having satisfied her mouth with good things; so that her youth was renewed like the eagle's. She died October, 1823, a pattern of child-like simplicity, and a monument of sovereign grace.

Mr. Candler's path was that of the just, which "shineth more and more unto the perfect day." During the last twelve years of his life especially, his friends beheld in him a visible growth in grace, and a manifest ripening for heaven. His faith in the blood of Jesus, as sufficient to cleanse from all sin, was strengthened; his knowledge of his own heart and his mastery over himself became more complete; he entered fully into the sentiment, that "Christ is all in all;" the law of kindness was on his tongue; and the religion of his mature years was strictly a religion of love. Instead of saying, "The former days were better than these," he often pointed to our VOL. XX. Third Series. JANUARY, 1841.

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Sunday-schools, our Bible, Benevolent, Tract, and Missionary Societies, in proof that religion was on the increase, and that the time was nigh when Christ should have the Heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. It was his opinion that the poor, with all their drawbacks in respect of comfort and morality, are better fed, better clothed, better educated, and much more moral and religious, than they were fifty years ago. And as for Methodism, in the Colchester Circuit particularly, he always averred, that at no previous period were its doctrines more clearly understood, or more cordially believed; and that, in respect of the practice of morality, the enjoyment of Christian experience, and the peaceable and edifying character of our business-meetings, the former times could not be compared with the present.

To Methodism, as a system of Gospel truth and of godly discipline, he felt warmly attached. Its increasing prosperity constituted a principal ingredient in his cup of happiness; to promote its interests. was one great end of his life; and whatever affected its character, or tended to neutralize its benign effects on society, excited his deepest regret. The erection of the present Colchester chapel, in 1835, was, in his estimation, an event of great importance. Having found Methodism to be the cause of God, and the means of salvation to himself and family, he had long and earnestly prayed that it might be brought out of obscurity, and be permitted to exert its legitimate influence on the population of that interesting town. While the building was in progress, he visited the spot several times each day; and never, we may safely affirm, without lifting up his heart in prayer that God would dwell in it, and would make it the birthplace of many souls. At the opening services his prayers were answered; the powerful presence of God was felt; the assembled multitude "shouted for joy, and gave thanks unto the Lord ;" and he, in the fulness of his holy satisfaction, was ready to say, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Referring to this scene on his death-bed, he said, "How greatly blessed am I! I have been more favoured than David: he wished to build a house for the Lord, but was not permitted. I not only wished for the honour of being so employed, but, with my brethren, I have seen one built, and filled with attentive worshippers; yea, I have often been blessed while worshipping in it myself."

But though Mr. Candler was, from principle, a member of the Methodist society, and was zealous in promoting its interests, he was no bigot. He was a lover of good men; and he cordially rejoiced in the increase of the Redeemer's kingdom, by whomsoever that increase was effected. He often expressed his heartfelt satisfaction at that revival of piety and evangelic doctrine which is going on in the established Church, with many of the Clergy of which he lived on terms of intimacy. Nor was he less forward to acknow

ledge, and to rejoice in, the holiness and usefulness of both Ministers and members in the Dissenting churches. Indeed, one chief reason of his ardent attachment to Methodism was, its anti-sectarian spirit; and he lived and died in the belief that God would, at no very distant period, honour our body by making us the means of moderating the extremes, and of quenching the hostility, which unhappily divide the Protestant communities in the land.

Mr. Candler's health did not begin visibly to decline till September, 1837. Up to that period time had passed lightly over him. He indeed felt, and others saw, that he was growing old; but till then, his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the mighty God of Jacob. That which gave the first shock to his vigorous constitution, was the severe and protracted affliction of Mrs. Candler. For upwards of twelve months she was a subject of excruciating pain; and, in the estimation of her family and medical advisers, her life hung in continual doubt. Though he was comforted by witnessing the triumph of her faith and patience in the fiery trial, yet the loss of sleep to which he was subjected, the daily sight of her sufferings, and the prospect of being separated from one who, by the endearing kindnesses of near half a century, had become almost essential to his earthly existence, were more than he could sustain; and when once the process of decay commenced, a host of infirmities rushed upon him, till his strong-built, muscular frame became weak and attenuated; and his once-animated countenance showed signs of habitual languor, and of latent disease.

But though the "keepers of the house did tremble, and the strong men bowed themselves," and he was afraid of that which is high, he still brought forth fruit in old age, and was, in a spiritual sense, fat and flourishing. Through the whole term of his affliction he manifested the most entire submission to the will of God. No peevish tempers, no worldly regrets, no gloomy fears, oppressed his spirit, or marred the triumph of his faith. If he wished to live, it was that he might present a purer worship and a more acceptable service to God than he had yet done, and might prove a greater blessing to his fellow-men than he had yet been. The review of his past life inspired him with the liveliest gratitude; and when he spoke of death, it was with an untroubled spirit, and in the language of assured confidence. His intellectual powers suffered little or no decay; and it was the rapid mellowing of his Christian graces which first roused the fears of his friends, that his sickness was unto death. To the Rev. Mr. Anderson, of Bures, who highly estimated his character and piety, he said, "I have never felt the solitariness of old age. As my early friends have died and gone to glory, I have immediately identified myself with the existing church, and thus the love I felt for the fathers has been transferred to the children; so that I still feel myself in the midst of my friends." The

ravages of death having been referred to, he said, "When I was young in the ways of God, I used to think, 'If we lose such and such a Preacher from among us, all will be over.' We have lost them; but all is not over yet. The work is the Lord's, and it must go forward till all the predictions and promises in the Bible are fulfilled. When Stephen was taken away, the Lord called Saul. Instead of the three Local Preachers who began before me, there are now a hundred on the ground which our Circuit then embraced; and instead of three chapels, there are now between forty and fifty." Reference being made to the mysterious providence by which the Rev. Richard Watson was called away, while busily preparing a Commentary of great interest to the church, he said, "I see the providence of God in this. God saw what was in his heart, and he accepted his intention. He said to him, 'You shall not live twenty or thirty years longer to polish these writings, but you shall come up at once to glory; and your sermons, instead of being printed so many years afterwards, shall be given to the world now,—and given in such a form as shall remind every reader that what he designs to do, he must do quickly.' By this dispensation I, and hundreds more, who, in the course of nature, must die soon, enjoy those blessed views of Christian theology which we could not else have had. He preaches now in

America."

On Saturday, August 5th, 1838, Mr. Candler was taken much worse; and from that day he may be said to have begun to die. He several times repeated Psalm ciii. 13, "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him;" adding, "I love that verse; for I know something of the tender pity of a father's

On Monday, just as he was recovering from a fainting fit, a friend said, "You are very ill, Sir. But you are not alarmed: you have nothing to do." "O no," said he; "only to be still, and know that he is God." "Nothing can harm you," said his friend. "It must harm the Rock of Ages first," was his prompt reply. The Rev. Mr. R., a young Minister, coming in, he took him by the hand, and said, "The Lord be with you. You belong to God's family. Live near to God; preach the Gospel fully, and bring the people at once to Christ. Consecrate all your ransomed powers to him. The Lord be with you. He will guide you by his counsel, and afterwards receive you to glory!" Then, pausing a moment,

Angels beckon me away,
And Jesus bids me come."

He then waved his hand, and said, "This is the victory which overcometh the world, even our faith." Mr. R., alluding to the recent death of Miss Coleman, who was a grandaughter of Mr. Candler said, "You will see dear Eliza in glory!" "Yes, I shall; but the best of all will be to see Jesus. My first object will be the Saviour!"

Being asked how he felt, he answered, "Perfect weakness." "But your mind is vigorous?" "O yes," he cheerfully responded, “as vigorous as the mind of a boy. He guides me with his counsel, and will afterwards receive me to glory!" After a pause, he said, “These are they that came out of great tribulation. I have a bright

prospect before me, a prospect of eternal day. There waits for me a crown which fadeth not away. This, this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." On reviving from another fainting fit, he said,

"'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me!

After embracing the different members of his family, he said, "The Lord be with you. Bear your spirits up. One generation will quickly pass away after another. May God Almighty bless you! Yea, God will be with you, my dears: he will support you, and overrule all things for your good. O how many are my mercies! I am better off than Kings! No King ever had greater comforts or better attendants than I have. "Tis mercy all, immense and free!'"

The Lord

Mrs. Candler said, "Then you can leave us, my dear, in the hands of God?" The question evidently afflicted him; and he replied, with deep but suppressed emotion, shading his face at the same moment with his hand, to hide the tear which rolled down his cheek, "I have thought about it; and I can leave you in his hands. will be with you, and will take care of you. He is God all-sufficient. Yes, I feel him so." Looking round on all in the room, he said, "Be ye also ready. What a mercy it is to be fully saved into the liberty of the children of God! He led them by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.' The way is right."

"O yes, The

An esteemed friend said, "After serving God for near fifty years, you feel your need of the atonement as much as ever.” as much as ever. That is an important saying of Watson: atonement is the short way to God.'"

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He sent his message of love to the members of his class, entreating that each and all of them would fully devote themselves to God. several who came to see him the day before he died, he said, "O serve God with all your ransomed powers. Give him your whole heart. Let it be an entire sacrifice. How often have I mourned to see those I love putting God off with half a heart! O how they rob themselves in robbing him! God is love. He is infinitely more gracious than most professors believe him to be. I wish all our young people were here. I want them to be fully devoted. If they would but be so, it would be well."

To the Rev. T. S. Monkhouse he said, "The Lord be with you,