Holy Spirit, and are happy to state that the Lord is quickening his people, and giving us some evidences of his favour, in the restoration of backsliders, and the conviction and conversion of sin ners. We have seen the little cloud, and we are earnestly expecting the Lord will shortly pour all the Spirit of his love. February, 1844. WORCESTER. TO THE EDITOR,-DEAR SIR, As the time is arrived for laying before you an account of my labours, I forward to you the following extracts from my note-book : Jan. 28. Preached at Worcester twice, and led my class. After the evening service we held a prayer meeting: the Lord was present to bless his people. 29. This evening attended a prayer meeting. 30. Went to Droitwich; had a good congregation; many appeared to be under serious impressions. We continued in prayer for some time, when some of the members resolved to seek a deeper work of grace, that they might be more spiritual and useful. 31. Returned to Worcester, and preached. God was with me to support and comfort my soul. Feb. 1. Preached at Whittington to a small company; but we experienced the fulfilment of that promise," Where two or three are gathered together there am I." 2. Prayer meeting at Worcester: a small number present. 4. Preached at Worcester twice. At the class held our monthly prayer meeting. At the conclusion of this service, visited a dying man, who, before his affliction, went astray; but in his distress he called upon the Lord, and was heard. While with him, in company with some of our friends, he received such a manifestation of God's mercy, that he appeared to forget his pain, and praised God. Now," he said, "I know that in Gilead there is balm and a Physician, for he has cured my soul." 66 5. Preached at Wichenford; had a good time; at the conclusion, two friends prayed. Arrived home a quarter past eleven-my body was fatigued, but my mind was encouraged. 6. Went to Droitwich, and preached. Had a small company, owing to a teetotal meeting being held at the same hour. Arrived at home about half-past ten. T. VASEY. was 9. Visited some of the friends directed to the house of a poor man who was on the point of death, and whom it was thought was deceiving himself. All I could get from him was, that "he hoped God would save him as well as others-Christ was able to save him." Talked and prayed with him for some time. In the evening attended a prayer meeting. 11. Preached at Worcester twice, and led my class, concluded the day's services with prayer. At the close of the day felt much encouraged, because God had supported and blessed my soul. 12. Employed this morning in visiting the sick, and those that were absent yesterday from the means of grace. Evening, attended the prayer meeting: a larger number present than usual. Praise God for this. 13. Preached at Droitwich to a good congregation. We continued in prayer until about nine o'clock. Only one left before the whole was concluded, and that one was compelled to leave. 14. Preached at Worcester; had liberty while engaged in this service; there appeared to be a good feeling; the congregation was very attentive. 15. Went to Whittington; had only eight, besides the inhabitants of the house, to preach to. 16. Not being very well to-day, did not attend any place for public worship. Visited two families. 18. Preached at Worcester, and led my class. This was a refreshing day. God's people were led to rejoice. We have not had the prosperity that we desire; yet we are thankful for what we have had. As to the past we have reason to be thankful, and we will take courage. I am, your's, &c., T. C. JOHNS, PRINTER, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. THE WESLEYAN METHODIST ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE. APRIL, 1844. MEMOIR OF THE LATE MRS. ELIZABETH RODGERS, OF JAMAICA. By John H. Rodgers. (Jamaica Wesleyan Methodist Association Missionary.) THE subject of the following brief biographical notice was born at Kingston, Jamaica, on the 27th of August, 1786. Her mother was an African, and was brought to the Island of Jamaica during the horrible reign of the slave trade; but she happily soon obtained her liberty, and became a wealthy and respectable member of the community. Her father was a Scotchman, a respectable merchant at Kingston, under whose tutelage she was provided with a liberal education. At a very early period of her life, when exposed to the follies of youth and the dissipations of society, and when the cause of true religion in this Island had but comparatively few followers, she determined on casting in her lot with the people of God. Her conversion to God occurred under the ministry of the Rev. Bradnock, one of the preachers sent to Jamaica by the Wesleyan Conference. She became a member of his class in the year 1796. She suffered much persecution from her family on account of joining the Wesleyan Methodists; but her religious resolutions were invincible, and she was afterwards made the means of leading her mother, brother, and sisters to seek an acquaintance with God; and to her great joy, they became members of the Methodist Society. Her mother died in London the 30th of April, 1836, and one of her sisters died in London about six years ago. The other branches of the family are still living witnesses for Christ; glorifying him with their bodies and spirits. During the early period of her Christian career, she had to combat many unexpected difficulties, arising out of the severe and long-continued persecution which the Wesleyan Methodists, in this Island, had to endure. This disgraceful persecution consisted of many iniquitous proceedings. The motives of the Missionaries were impugned by the civil authorities. Their chapels were peremptorily ordered to be closed, and their ministers were imprisoned in unhealthy jails. So riotous were the impious white inhabitants that those who worshipped God M could not meet without endangering the lives of both preachers and hearers; being oftentimes, on such occasions, assailed with large stones. The civil authorities refused them protection. By the acts of both the House of Assembly, and the Corporation of Kingston, preaching to the Negroes, or people of colour, was prohibited on pain of incarceration in jail, and other heavy penalties. But happily, the diffusion of Divine truth was not to be retarded by human enactments and hostilities; for, subsequently, the enemies of the Missionaries were compelled to submit to the growing influence of the peaceable and renovating tendency of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Having to endure this "great fight of affliction," those members of Society who were resolved "earnestly to contend for the faith," had to resort to private houses that they might worship God; not daring to be heard praying or singing in any part of the city! Notwithstanding all these difficulties, the subject of this memoir and others were diligent in the use of all the means of grace. "They chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." The attachment of Mrs. Rodgers to the doctrines of the Wesleyan Methodists was formed in early life. She was often heard to say that such was her love for the Wesleyans, that she would not give up her communion with them for any earthly consideration whatever. The doctrines of the Trinity, the Personality and Deity of the Holy Spirit, the Humanity and Divinity of Christ, Justification through faith in His atoning blood, the Witness of the Spirit, Entire Sanctification, and Christian Perseverance, were truths which she heartily believed, taught, and defended. Her adherence to these doctrines was much confirmed by her marriage to Mr. Henry Rodgers, a talented and respectable mechanic, who held various important offices in the Conference Society; and spent his time and talents in its support and defence; but who, like many others, had to suffer many things from the unscriptural and dogmatical conduct of its agents. Her zeal in the prosperity of the cause of God was ardent and persevering. She frequently mourned over those who were far from God. She directed their attention to him who is set forth as the propitiation for the sins of the world. To comfort the afflicted-to console the destitute-and to afford cheering consolations to the dying, were duties in which she took a very lively interest. Connected with these particulars in the history of the deceased, we may mention that humility always characterised her deportment. She ever desired to lay low at the foot of the cross. The office of class leader was, on many occasions, tendered to her, but she repeatedly, from a sense of incompetency, declined the office: although those by whom she was well known were satisfied of her ability for the work. However, after the death of her leader, sister Henrietta Richards, (with whom she left the Conference Connexion, to join the Association), at the unanimous request of the other members of her class, she, after much prayer, consented to take charge of that class, and faithfully discharged the duties of the office of leader to the time of her death. By her removal from earth to heaven many have lost a much valued friend; the elder branches of her family have lost a truly affectionate and much valued sister, and her children have to mourn the loss of a wise, pious, and most endeared parent. She paid particular attention to the intellectual, moral, and religious education of her children. She regarded Sabbath schools as a great blessing to the rising generation; hence, her children, if not prevented by sickness, were always in attendance at the Sabbath school. Her parental exertions for the spiritual welfare of her children were crowned with the Divine blessing. To her great comfort, she lived to witness, among other pleasing fruits of her pious labours, the public reception of one of her sons as an itinerant preacher into full connexion in the Jamaica Wesleyan Methodist Association. Her sickness was of a lingering and painful character, but it was endured with exemplary Christian fortitude and resignation to the will of God. She was never heard to murmur during the whole of her illness, but submitted calmly to the will of her heavenly Father, knowing that her afflictions were fatherly chastisements, tokens of her Maker's love,-that they were intended to work within her "the peaceable fruits of righteousness," and ultimately to work out for her a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Her children rested much on her mind, but she at length committed the keeping of their souls to God in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator. During the last stage of the decline of her life, she spoke interestingly and satisfactorily to all who enquired after the hope that was in her. Her confidence in the redeeming blood of Christ was strong. She triumphantly adverted to its efficacy in reference to her own salvation, and rejoiced greatly at the fact, that death was not to her an eternal sleep," but the gate-way into the mansions of the redeemed. Happy in the prospect of her dissolution, she incessantly acknowledged her unworthiness and the all-availing efficacy of the blood of Christ to secure her salvation. To a religious acquaintance who was conversing with her on this topic, she replied: "I nothing have, I nothing am, My treasure's the bleeding Lamb, 66 On the Sabbath before she expired, many of her Conference friends came to pay her their parting respects. On one occasion several of the members of the Conference society, and members of the Association met at her bed-side, and severally and unitedly engaged in singing and prayer; while they were supplicating the Divine blessing, the presence of God was powerfully felt. The place was filled with the Spirit of glory and of God. Every heart glowed with a sense of the joy which the Christian religion imparts to the faithful dying Christian: but such joy is only a prelude to higher raptures at the right hand of God. After the Sabbath, she remained calm and thoughtful, waiting until her change should come. A short time before her death, she spoke of the unspeakable happiness she felt in relation to eternal things, and testified that she had victory through the blood of the Redeemer, exclaiming, Glory to God. She desired much to see the writer of this before her death; but the distance prevented his arrival at Kingston in But time. Expecting his arrival, at every step she heard in the hall she raised her dying head to see if her wishes were to be satisfied. before he arrived. "Angels beckoned her away, From this period she was unable to converse, but remained com.. posed, until, without a struggle or a groan, she fell asleep in Jesus, on Thursday, the 18th of October, 1843, in the fifty-seventh year of her age, forty-seven of which she uninterruptedly spent as a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Society. Her remains were numerously and respectably followed to the tomb by her family and Christian friends of various denominations. On Sunday, the 19th of November, her death was improved by the Rev. Mr. Baxter, in Church Street Chapel, who, according to announcement, took for his text, Acts xxvi. 8, 'Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?" The chapel was crowded with attentive hearers. The sermon was deeply affecting and highly interesting. MEMOIR OF THE LATE MR. JOHN JOLIFFE, By Mr. W. R. Brown. THE subject of the following brief notice resided at Milford, in the parish of Tremayne, in the county of Cornwall, and he has left upon record the following particulars concerning his parentage and early history. His statement is as follows: "I was born, in the parish of Tremayne, on the Tuesday before Midsummer day, 1773. My parents attended the Established church, but, nevertheless, were strangers to vital godliness. My mother was awakened to a sense of her danger by the death of her sister. She was led by this to think of death, and to enquire- Am I fit to die?' This enquiry ended in a conviction that she was a sinner, and as such, unfit for death. In this distressed state she knew not what to do. She had heard that the Methodists had a place of worship in a neighbouring parish, but her prejudices prevented her, at that time, from going to hear them. She at length resolved to go to the parson of the parish. To him, therefore, she went, and made known her case. He told her, 'that she was nervous, and that the best thing she could do was to go home and put a plaster on her back!' She tried to convince him that she was not nervous, and that the plaster would be of no use to her. But this was to no purpose. She could get no better advice from him. She then left him, with her mind more distressed than when she went. When the Sabbath came, she knew not what to do. To go to church was of no use, and she did not like to go and hear the Methodists. She, however, left her house, not knowing where to go. |