THE MISSIONARY. COMMUNICATED BY A. G. JEWITT. He left his native land, and far away He left a home, around whose humble hearth And who still lov'd him as a fav'rite child. He left the scenes by youthful hopes endear'd, The woods, the streams, that sooth'd his infant ear, The plants, the trees, that he himself had rear'd, And every charm to love and fancy dear: All these he left, with sad but willing heart, Though unallur'd by honours, wealth, or fame; In them, not even his wishes claim'd a part, And the world knew not of his very name. Canst thou not guess what taught his steps to stray? 'Twas Love!-but not such love as worldlings own, That often smiles its sweetest to betray, And stabs the breast that offer'd it a throne. 'Twas love to Gon, and love to all mankind; His Master bade the obedient servant go, And try, if he in distant realms could find Some, who His name and saving grace would know. "Twas this that nerv'd him when he saw the tears His aged mother at their parting shed,'Twas this that taught her how to calm her fears, And beg a heavenly blessing on his head. "Twas this that made his father calmly bear A godly sorrow, deep but undismay'd,And bade him humbly ask of God in prayer, His virtuous son to counsel, guide, and aid. And when he rose to bless, and wish him well, And bent a head with age and sorrow gray, E'en while he breath'd a fond and last farewell, Half sad, halfjoyful, dash'd his tears away. "And go," he said, "though I with mortal "I bid thee go, though human tears will steal, "From eyes that see the course thou hast to run; "And God forgive me if I wrongly feel, "Like Abraham, call'd to sacrifice my son." And he is gone! With ardent steps he prest, And did he go unfriended-poor-alone ? Desire to see its peaceful shade expand? 'Tis not for me to answer questions here; Let ev'ry heart its own responses give; And all to whom their fellow-men are dear, Bestow the bread by which their souls may live. God the only Source of Happiness. O what a world of grief and care Afflictions great, and pain severe, In vain we grasp earth's gilded toys, Come then, my soul, to Jesus fly, His arms are open wide; What though thy sins oppress thee sore, Believe in him-and peace Divine To thee shall then be giv'n; His grace o'er all thy powers shall reign, And make thee meet for heaven. Thus shalt thou pass the wastes of life, Then in those glorious realms above, Printed by T. Cordeux, 14, City-Road, London. J. A. THE METHODIST MAGAZINE, FOR MARCH, 1821. BIOGRAPHY. · MEMOIR of the late MR. THOMAS HADLEY PRESTAGE, DEAR SIR, PREACHER OF THE GOSPEL. To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine. At the request of the friends of our late dear brother Thomas Hadley Prestage, I have drawn up a memoir of his life, for insertion in your Magazine: but I should have been glad if it had been written by an abler pen. The materials which his journal affords are worthy of the talent and labour bestowed on many a distinguished biographical account; and would have formed no mean part of our religious biography, had the subject of them continued to move in that extensive sphere of usefulness from which he was so early taken away by an all-wise, though to us, mysterious Providence. The usual limits allotted in your valuable Miscellany to subjects of this kind, pointed out to me the impracticability of my noticing, and enlarging, on some pleasing features of mind in the subject of the following memoir. I have therefore confined my remarks to his religious experience, and his progress in the work of the ministry. That the blessing of the Lord may rest upon this humble attempt to increase the spirit of true religion, is the prayer of, dear Sir, yours, very respectfully, H. R. GRIFFITHS. Camberwell, October, 1820. The remains of the humble and pious seldom fail to be instructive, and profitable; and when these exhibit rare moral qualifications, they excite an unusual degree of interest, and generally make a good impression on the mind, "Which wears a lasting date." VOL. XLIV. MARCH, 1821. * T Ardent piety, and vigorous mental powers, were distinguish able in the subject of this memoir, and parily appear in his journal and letters. From them, as they make known his Christian experience, considerable extracts have been made, in the hope that they will lead many to seek for an increase of the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. Mr. Prestage was born on the 2d of May, 1796, in Eaglestreet, Red-Lion-square, Holborn; but he removed from thence at an early age with his family to Snow-fields, in the Borough of Southwark. He was the eldest child of parents who were not in circumstances to afford him many of those advantages which are essential to the early improvement of the mind; but, while a portion of their slender income could be spared, they gave him occasional opportunities to acquire a slight knowledge of the elements of learning. However, he was soon deprived of these few privileges; and, in his eleventh year, was put to work with his hands for the bread which perisheth. This measure, though reluctantly yielded to by his parents, was by them deemed necessary, there being six children, and the family dependant for its support on the labour of the father. He was now withdrawn from a day-school; but his parents, who were ever watchful over the morals of their children, placed him in the Crosby- Row Sunday-school, belonging to Southwark chapel. Here he derived some stimulus for learning, and became more acquainted with those moral and religious duties, the exemplary discharge of which dignified the remainder of his short life. He continued in the Sunday-school (except during a short interval) from a scholar until he became a teacher :-and, from a teacher of children until he became a teacher of men. In general, when men have been called by the Most High, early in life, to fill a distinguished place in the Church of Christ, they have, at some time in childhood, felt the quickening, yet gentle operations of the Holy Spirit;-though, probably, not then recognized as such: as, "Of old,* before the lamp grew dark, The child of Hannah's prayer MONTGOMERY, The following striking impression made on the mind of Mr. Prestage, when a child, and which greatly influenced his conduct at that age, may be regarded as the dawning, to him, of the light of the knowledge of the glory of God shining forth in the face of Jesus Christ. When he was about to do any thing 1 Sam. iii. |