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company of Calmuc confessors, the patriarch seized his staff, which he had long laid aside, and notwithstanding the distance and his infirmities, by the help of friends who supported his steps, he reached the camp. There, after beholding with his own eyes what God had wrought for these poor savages, and having heard them sing in their native tongue various hymns that spoke of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow, he broke out into a transport of joy, and returned home thanking and blessing God. Two days after"wards he closed his eyes, and departed in peace, having seen the salvation of the Lord thus come to the outcasts of Tartary."

MEMOIR OF RICHARD W.

Richard W was born in the township of W-, near C-, in Lancashire, on the 31st of May 1804, being the eldest but one of eight children. His father was by trade a stone-mason, having several workmen in employ, and he himself began to learn the trade at ten years of age. In September 1817, his father died, leaving a wife and seven children, most of them very young. The family were now thrown into distress, and were searcel able to procure a living.

But Richard being a good workman, and his earnings very considerable for his yearssome of the elder children also beginning about this time to learn to weave-his widowed mother was enabled in time to provide pretty decently for her family. Their circumstances kept improving till Christmas 1823; when Richard, with a young friend, left home, unknown to his mother or any of his relations, merely leaving a letter to inform them whither he was going. His unkind and undutiful behaviour was a source of much sorrow to all his family, as it was afterwards to himself. After having met with employment for some time by the way, he proceeded to London, in and near which place he continued to work at his trade (except when prevented by sickness) up to September 1827. During this interval, he wrote several times to his family, and sent them money; but though repeatedly and earnestly pressed to return home, he declined doing so, till he was induced by the declining state of his health. While absent, it pleased God to visit him twice with sick. ness-one time he was confined to his room seven weeks. His illness, which ended in a consumption, was brought on by severe cold caught in the rain. I should have mentioned that, while at home, he had been taught to read and to attend to his religious duties;

but though, up to the time of his leaving, he had been a steady young man and a dutiful son, yet he shewed no signs of genuine piety. And so destitute was he of all true religion in the illness, to which I have just alluded, that, as he afterwards told me, though brought almost to death's door, he could not recollect that he ever offered up one sincere fervent prayer to God for mercy during those seven weeks of confinement. But when he began to recover a little, and was made acquainted with the situation he had been in, he became alarmed at the dan.. ger he had so narrowly escaped'; yet he was still ignorant of his guilt and misery, and of the way of salvation. The life he led in London, though better perhaps than that of many persons in his situation, when left to themselves, was yet without God and religion; and when he came to reflect on it afterwards, it gave him the deepest concern. Having for some time tried in vain the aid of medicine, he was recommended to return home, to see what benefit he might derive from his native air. And accordingly, in September 1827, he returned home, to the great joy of his mother and family.

But he was too far gone in a decline to receive any benefit from the change. He became weaker and weaker, and more and more reduced up to the time of his death.

He was able, however, for some months to attend Divine worship in the house of God; and he now began to feel deeply concerned about the salvation of his soul. The chief part of his time was spent in reading, meditation, and prayer. The Bible was his delight. He read and studied it diligently, and prayed over it fervently. When he came to any passage which he did not well understand, he would go into the weaving shop to his eldest sister, to ask her opinion of it; or, when he was not able to go, he would call her to him for that purpose. For some time before his return, the family had been accustomed to have evening prayer, and after awhile he felt a desire to lead in their devotions, which he did, and continued to do, as long as his strength would permit. His poor mother, overjoyed at the happy change which was evidently wrought in him, told me when I next called, that the first time he engaged in prayer, she was both surprised and delighted to hear him.She thought it was the most beautiful and affecting prayer she ever heard.

When I first visited him, I found his spiritual views somewhat dark and confused; but he had a great desire for instruction; and it was evident that the good work of religion was already begun in his soul. He seemed to be labouring under deep convictions; and

yet he told me, he did not feel so sorry for his sins as he wished to feel, nor as he believed he ought to feel. "But (says he) I pray to God for the pardon of them, and for a deeper repentance." I encouraged him, as well as I was able, to persevere in the way he had begun-to be earnest and frequent in seeking, in the appointed way, the help and direction of God's Holy Spirit-and then he might rest assured that He would guide him into all necessary truth. When 1 called to see him in the last week in February, he said that, though he felt sorry for his sins, he was afraid he did not feel sufficiently so, but still prayed for a deeper repentance, and a more lively faith in Christ, through whom alone he looked for salvation. He observed at this time, that, if it pleased the Lord, he should wish to recover for the sake of his mother and family; and yet he was afraid if he did so, he should again fall into his former evil courses; and therefore, rather than that should be the case, he would wish to die at present, if it was the Lord's will.

I saw him again on the 21st of March, and found him much weaker in body, but more comfortable in his mind. He told me with much evident satisfaction, that he was fully resigned to the will of Providence,

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