from exhaustion. There was much emotion in the assembly, and sobs broke the stillness of the great solemnity. At length all was over; the bishop gave his blessing, and was carried away.

His course was not yet finished. He wished to reach the seat of conference at Baltimore, but had to halt under the friendly roof of Mr. George Arnold. This was on the 29th of March, 1816. On the Sabbath he met with the family for domestic prayer. The services were conducted by his travelling companion in the ministry. As they closed, he sank in his chair, and, supported by the arms of his friend, yielded up the ghost, and went to glory.

He was first buried in the family ground of Mr. Arnold, bul was re-interred beneath the pulpit of Eulaw Church, Baltimore, at the request of the people. The members of General Conference, and thousands of Methodists, attended the removal. Bishop M'Kendree delivered to the sorrowing multitude the funeral address. Being dead, however, he yet speaketh, and the Church of Christ may long continue to improve the life and labours of Francis Asbury, the pioneer bishop.

The apostolic life was reproduced in him. A man of ordinary gifts, he was thoroughly consecrated to the Lord Jesus. He was not taught in the schools, but he was mighty in the Scriptures. "Such was his love of study, and his unremitting application, that he amassed an amount of varied learning that was astonishing, when we consider the circumstances under which it was attained. Riding day and night on horseback, and lodging mostly in the cabins of the wilderness, where there were neither books nor facilities for study, and when in the cities and towns holding quarterly meetings, councils, and confer

ences, and having the care of all the churches, temporal as well as spiritual, himself originating and acting as agent for all the institutions of the Church, the wonder is that he was able to prosecute with success any department of study. As it was he made himself acquainted with Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, besides taking a thorough course of reading in theology, church history, and polity, civil history, and general literature." The reference to books and opinions on them noted in his journals are astonishing, and evidence how well he employed his time and how industriously he improved his mind. "He was never in any sense of the word unemployed, was never triflingly employed." He was an early riser, and was out of bed by four o'clock. He gave, when not travelling, ten hours a day to reading and writing. He retired, when he was not engaged in public, at eight o'clock, and after an hour's devotional exercise he lay down to rest in the sleep of God's beloved.

He moulded the character, created the agencies, and stimulated the preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America. Three thousand were ordained by him to the ministry, all of whom received and retained some good impression of the bishop. He preached seventeen thousand sermons, many of which were the seeds of life eternal, and all radiant with salvation for the lost, and holiness for the saved. "What the name of Washington is to the patriot American, a charm and a watchword in whatever pertains to American liberty, the name of Asbury is to the American Methodist in whatever concerns the genius and mission of Methodism." "The beloved Bishop Asbury," said one of his contemporaries, "that true son of Wesley, that apostle of American Methodism, sent out

from the evangelical school of the purest order and best authority of original Methodism in England, grown up with our growth, a pioneer among our mountains and vales, and forests, over our rivers and lakes till our revolutionary war, when he retired for a season, as he was a messenger of peace. He has shown, by the path of love and moderation, the gospel example amid the roar of cannons, and the din of war, and effusion of human blood, and the shout of liberty, that he was a true son of peace. He awaited for the close with the olive branch, when he came from his retirement, and emerged from the clouds, a star of the first magnitude, whose glory has known no eclipse. He steadily shone in our hemisphere till mortality was swallowed up of life. This is that disciple who steadied our helm and commanded our ship. With the affection of a father he conducted our business and appointed our work. A man, dead to the world, of one work-the salvation of souls. The zeal of the Lord's house consumed him till he wore out and expired at his post. In the intervals of conference he made out all the stations alone, often dropping on his knees, then rising and writing down appointments according to the wisdom given him."

But Francis Asbury belongs to the Church of Christ. Though embodying the faith and polity of a sect, he exemplified the Christian and the minister to the Church at large. His character is full of grace, and his conduct replete with instruction. As a Christian, his simple piety, earnest devotion, love for the word of God, prayerfulness and consistency mark him out as a beautiful illustration of the follower of the Lamb.

As a minister, it was the business of his life to preach

Jesus Christ and him crucified in order that he might save souls, and to rule the Church that he might best advance the work of the Redeemer in the hearts of men. His interest in preaching was great. In his journals we meet with such records of experience as those after preaching from this text, "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should called the sons of God." He writes, "It seems as if I was let into heaven while enlarging upon this passage." Again, "By desire of the brethren I preached once on 1 Pet. i. 8. My mind was kept in peace, and my soul enjoyed rest in the stronghold." Again, "It is a grief to me that I cannot preach as heretofore. I am greatly worn out at fifty-five; but it is a good cause. God is with me; my soul exults in God." On another occasion he wrote amidst many hardships, "I feel wholly given up to do or suffer the will of the Lord, to be sick or well, to live or die at any time and in any place, the field, the wood, the house, or the wilderness. Glory be to God for such resignation. I have little to leave except a journey of five thousand miles a year, care of more than a hundred thousand souls, and the arrangement of more than four hundred preachers yearly, to which I may add the murmurs and discontent of ministers and people." While suffering from exposure and weakness, he wrote: "I preached here possibly for the last time. I spoke in great weakness of body, and having offered my service and sacrifice, I must change my course and go to Wilmington. I am happy, my heart is pure, and my eye is single; but I am sick and weak, and in heaviness by reason of suffering and labour. Sometimes I am ready to cry out, Lord, take me home to rest. Courage, my soul!" And he was encouraged.

As a bishop he stood alone, and remoulded the episcopal office to the apostolic pattern. He was the first who possessed the dignity in the Protestant Church of America; and he adorned it by his humility, his sacrifices, and his graces. Though Episcopal Christendom would have disowned his orders and refused him fellowship, Christianity was illustrated by his apostolic character and mission, and Christ was magnified by his office, and labour, and life. He was not a lord over God's heritage, or 'my lord' among his brethren. His position was the election of the preachers, among whom he was primus inter pares.

Take him all in all he was worthy of his high place and of his abiding fame. He is one of the eminent witnesses for the truth who do more for the faith than folios of argument. His example, while he lived, was the commentary upon his doctrine, and his fragrant memory when dead gives interest to the faith of Christ that made him what he was in character and office.

My feet are worn and weary with the march
Over rough roads and up the steep hill-side;
O city of our God! I fain would see

Thy pastures green, where peaceful waters glide.

My hands are weary, labouring, toiling on,

Day after day, for perishable meat;

O city of our God! I fain would rest;
sigh to gain thy glorious mercy-seat.

My garments travel-worn and stained with dust,
Oft rent by briers and thorns that crowd my way
Would fain be made, O Lord my righteousness,
Spotless and white in heaven's unclouded ray.

My eyes are weary looking at the sin,

Impiety, and scorn upon the earth;
O city of our God! within thy walls,

All, all are clothed upon with the new birth.