of the mighty thinker and writer while crossing the "valley of the shadow of death." Mr. Dickinson writes: September 12.-This morning I read for the Archbishop the sixty-ninth Psalm. His appetite grows worse. When his dinner was brought, he said, Oh! how I loathe the thought of eating.' Yet in these little things he shows very strongly the influence of his life-long habit of forcing all his inclinations and actions under the rule of reason; and he is so considerate for others so fearful of giving trouble. When he could scarcely bring himself to eat, he said to his attached servant, who seemed distressed,-'But pray do not think I am finding fault; I know the fault is in myself.' It has become extremely difficult to move him from the sofa to the bed; and it is touching to see how he tries to control the outward expression of suffering, lest he should cause distress to those about him. While the perspiration streams down his face from agony, he restrains every murmur of impatience, and says to us repeatedly 'Yes, yes, I know you do all you can. The pain cannot be helped. During the night I heard him often murmur-Lord, have mercy on me!' "Oh, my God! grant me patience!' "Sunday, September 13.-This morn-' ing he looked as if his last hour was drawing near. About one o'clock a friend standing near, said—“ This is death,' supposing that all was over. One of his daughters stooped down and kissed his forehead. He awoke, and in the confusion of sudden waking said, with a little nervous irritation- Oh! you should never wake an invalid!' Some time afterwards he sent for his daughter, and said "I am afraid I spoke petulantly just now, and I am very sorry for it; I beg your pardon.' If ever the fruits of the Spirit-gentleness, patience 'were manifest in any one they are in him. In the afternoon he was rather better. Archdeacon West, his domestic chaplain, came out and read prayers with him. He said-' Read me the eighth chapter of Romans.' When Dr. West had finished the chapter, he said-'Shall I read any more? No; that is enough at a time. There is a great deal for the mind to dwell on in that.' He dwelt especially on the thirty-second verse: 'He that spared not his own son,' &c. In the very last sermon which he had preached, he had enlarged on this as the conclusive and satisfactory proof that afflictions were not sent in anger, but in love; and he now recalled for his own comfort the train of thought by which he had so lately tried to comfort others. He has had this chapter read to him frequently during his illness. "On the 14th of September he received the Lord's Supper with the Bishop of Killaloe, Archdeacon West, and several other friends. At his desire all the servants who wished were admitted to join, and all the members of his family united with him in the solemn service. It was a scene never to be forgotten by any who had witnessed it. A calm, earnest attention and solemn peace rested on his face; he spoke little, but evidently the soul was communing with God. A little before this, one of the friends in attendance on him had remarked that his great mind was supporting him; his answer, most emphatically and earnestly given, was, 'No; it is not that which supports me. It is faith in Christ. The life I live is by Christ alone.' I think these were his exact words. "His countenance had acquired an expression most remarkable; the appearance of extreme age was gone; a beauty of youth, or rather full manhood, seemed to rest on it: but the brow had a smoothness and calm which had never even in his brightest days been observed there. That calm never left it-even through hours of intense pain and weakness: it seemed to speak of the peace that passeth understanding. None who saw it can forget the majestic re pose of that form, as he lay motionless on the low couch on which the waterbed was placed, a fur cloak thrown over him." We again quote from Mr. Dickinson's journal : "September 15.-This morning his son read to him the fourth chapter of 2nd Corinthians. He followed the chapter with tears and silent prayer, and at the end pronounced an emphatic Amen. Towards evening he said— This has been a terrible day. Oh! this tenacity of life is a great trial. Do pray for my release if it be God's will.' "September 16.-After breakfast I read to him Hebrews 2. He was much moved, and, when I ended, said with emphasis- Every chapter in the Bible you read seems as if it were written on purpose for me.' 66 September 22.-Amongst other friends, Mrs. Henry Senior came out to see him to-day. When she was leaving, he said Give my love to Nassau, and give him, from me, my "Lectures on Prayer." Ask him, from me, to read the second lecture.'. "Sunday, September 27.-The Archbishop's brother-in-law, Rev. William Rope, read prayers to him to-day. In the evening, at eleven o'clock, there was a hæmorrhage from the leg. A messenger was immediately dispatched into town for the physician. He lay quite calm and still, asking after ten minutes Is the bleeding still going on? I hope so. He evidently felt thankful, as believing that his release was near. The bleeding had greatly abated before the doctor arrived. When he came in he said I think we can stop it, my Lord.' The Archbishop answered, in his old natural manner-'I am afraid so.' "When the doctor left, having succeeded in stopping the haemorrhage, the Archbishop said to me- Is not this a very unusual hour for the doctor, to come?' I answered, Yes; but we sent for him expressly when the bleeding began.' And he replied-Oh! you had not told me of that. Did you suppose I was afraid to die? * 66 Thursday, October 1.-This morn. ing he listened attentively while several of the Psalms were read to him. He was moaning very restlessly in the night, and once when I went to his bedside and asked, 'Is there anything you wish for, my lord?' he answered, 'I wish for nothing but death.' "October 2.-When I was trying to soothe him to sleep by reading aloud an article on Uninspired Prophecy,' he unexpectedly stopped me when I came to the mention of Lord Chesterfield's well-known prediction of the French Revolution, and he observed, 'Oh! that is not a case in point: that was quite wide of the mark;' and he went on minutely to state the particulars of the so-called prophecy. 66 'It was on the night following this, I think, that another of his chaplains was watching beside him, and in making some remark expressive of sympathy for his distressing suffering and help lessness, quoted the words from Phil. iii- 21, Who shall change our vile body.' The Archbishop interrupted him with the request, Read the words.' His attendant read them from the English Bible; but he reiterated, Read his own words.' The chaplain not being able to find the Greek Testament at the moment, repeated from memory the literal translation, This body of our humiliation.' That's right,' interrupted the Archbishop, 'not vile; nothing that He made is vile.'. "The pain now began to diminish, and he lay in a calm and scarcely conscious state for the last two or three days of his life. 66 On the 8th of October, at eleven in 6 the forenoon, Mr. Dickinson, who was sitting by him, perceived a change come over him. He whispered, The struggle is nearly over now, my lord; the rest is very near.' He then went to call the members of his family, who were all on the watch in the next room. They all came in, and his eldest daughter knelt at his side and repeated one or two verses of Scripture-prayers from the Psalms, which we thought he heard and understood. He opened his eyes and looked around, but was unable to speak. The pulse became each moment weaker 1 OUR QUARTERLY OBITUARY. 11 THE REV. GEORGE STEWARD. THE Rev. George Steward was born March 15th, 1803, at Highley, in Shrop shire. When a very young man he went to London, as tutor in a gentleman's family. There he became seriously ill, and was savingly converted to God. He united himself with the Methodists, and at eighteen became a local preacher. On the death of his father, he was summoned home, to settle the family affairs, and to carry on the farm. It was not long before he returned to London, to find his way soon into the ministry. From August, 1828, to August, 1829, Dr. Bunting was the president of the Wesleyan Conference. He soon found out George Steward, and prized his worth. By him, early in 1829, he was appointed "Presi dent's Assistant," dwelling in Dr. Bunting's house. In 1829, he was appointed to his first circuit, This was at Melton Mowbray. There he remained three years. Though his ministry was rather adapted to those who move the masses than to the masses themselves, in this circuit he secured so much of the sympathy of the poorest, that numbers were greatly indebted to his labours, and retain their connection with the Church to this day. Several of the best and most influential members of "Society" in Melton Mowbray circuit are the fruit of his ministry. Whilst connected with the Wesleyans, he officiated successively in various circuits, the last being Glasgow, from 1851 to 1853. During his ministry at Leeds, George Steward published his first book, "Religion, the Weal of the Church and the Want of the Times." The last great disruption of Confer ence Methodism was marked, in 1849, by the expulsion of Messrs. Dunn, Everett, and Griffith. Until this, his attention had never been seriously drawn to Methodist polity. Studying it now, he saw it to be his duty to withdraw from Methodism. This he did in 1853, and vindicated his course in "The Principles of Church Government, and their application to Wesleyan Methodism," which appeared in the fall of 1853, and soon reached the second edition.. Towards the close of this year, Mr. Steward became Pastor of the West Clayton Street Congregational Church, Newcastle-on-Tyne. During the first year of his ministry, the Church increased at such a ratio that it was likely to more than double itself in four years. Afterwards there was little or no progress. Subse quent events have shown that the responsibility of this cannot be placed on the head of this eminent minister. There were then in the Church unhappy elements, which, by the providence and grace of God, have since disappeared, but which then seriously hindered progress. The heart of the minister was sore discouraged; and, in September, 1860, he resigned, and went to reside on the banks of Ulleswater. 66 During his residence in Newcastle, God showed him great and sore troubles. With some domestic sorrows a stranger doth not intermeddle." It is allowable to mention a grievous sickness in 1858, which was signally blessed to the elevation and purification of his character. Henceforth, "he became another man, looked steadily at the four last things,' conversed with God as his friend, and saw His glory, and became inspired with thoughts of the reality, extent, and power of Christ's mediatorial kingdom, such as, then and ever, sustained and solemnised his soul." The leisure at Ensemere, Pooley Bridge, received high consecration. He there elaborated his book on Mediatorial Sovereignty." In 1864, grievous loss was sustained through the notorious bank failure at Leeds, and he was obliged to leave that beautiful home. He lived awhile at Middlesburgh. In April, 1866, George Steward went to Jersey, on a visit to a very old friend, Dr. Morley, of Leeds. He was not well, and his intention was to reside on the island for a time, if it suited his health. More than once he preached for the Congregational minister at St. Helier's. He became, however, poorly. (A post-mortem examination revealed an old-standing malady,―ulceration of the colon.) One day he was sick, the next suffered a little pain; then he was better, cheerful and talking, laying down plans of work for the future. On Monday, the 14th of May, inflammation appeared. Further advice was called in. Through the night he suffered much. On Tuesday, he was free from pain, but his breath was short, and there was profuse perspiration. In the afternoon, Mrs. Steward read to him Psalm cxlii. He remarked on the identity of the Old Testament piety with that of the new. He spoke with his usual force and clearness. Then the doctors came, and tried a last experiment. He lived for about five hours after this, wandering a little, but sweetly wandering over his old fields of thought. He said: "God reconciling the world to Himself in Christ! so wonderful!" These overshadowing realities; why are not passing things brought into harmony with them?" Again and again, he said: "These grand realities!" Again: strange! I cannot express myself." Again: "The Head of the Church takes care of each one of His poor members: and they shall fill the earth." Yet once "The foundation is everything." At last he said it was time to sleep, and turning on his side. he fell into a deep sleep; from which, without even a sigh, he passed away. His widow, one son, (another is in South Africa,) and daughter followed him to the grave. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Brelade's, one of the oldest and most picturesque of the Jersey churches. A few days before his last illness, George Steward had visited it, and with it had been exceedingly charmed. His chief mental and moral characteristics are thus briefly sketched by one who knew him intimately and long: 'Time fails to tell of the reverence, simplicity, comprehensiveness, and fervour of his public prayers and of his power on platforms. I close rather with some record of his many and singular private virtues, but this not set in due order: the purity, consistency, and kindness of his demeanour; his watchfulness of spirit, his love of good and elevating talk; his deep, philosophising interest in political and ecclesiastical affairs; his highmindedness; his liberality; his child-likeness; his impatience of falsehood and wrong; his catholicity; his sympathy with the ignorant and feeble; his unworldliness; and, even more than all, as leaving the latest impression of more: 66 66 So him, his brave endurance of heavy trials, during which he said to a friend, that he cared for nothing but the study of truth and God. Recollections of these will rush upon the memory of all who knew him well." THOMAS BRAINERD, D.D., PHILADELPHIA. In our number for October last, will be found a memoir of John Brainerd, the brother of the better-known David Brainerd, founded on a biography recently published by a descendant of the former, Dr. Thomas Brainerd, of Philadelphia. It now appears that the biographer himself has been gathered to his fathers, and we are indebted for the following particulars relative to him to an eloge, pronounced at his interment by the Rev. Albert Barnes. Thomas Brainerd was born in the northern district of New York State, and, descended from Puritans, was the subject of Puritan training in his own father's hamlet. From 1823 to 1825 he was employed as a student of law and a teacher in the academy at Rome, in Oneida county, where he was brought to the knowledge of Christ. The instrumentality of the change was the preaching of the Rev. Charles G. Finney. When brought to make a profession, he gave up the study of the law and went to Andover. He subsequently spent some time associated with the Rev. James Patterson in a great revival work at Philadelphia; after which he proceeded westward and was successfully engaged as editor and pastor in Cincinnati. Here he was closely associated with Dr. Lyman Beecher, and largely profited by the intercourse. Most faithful was Dr. Brainerd in the pulpit. The simple truth of the Gospel was the burden of his preaching. He had uncommon command of the English language. He chose the right words for the right place. He well understood the power of the English tongue, especially in its terse Anglo-Saxon elements. In this he resembled Lyman Beecher and Daniel Webster both. His preaching was such as secured respect and attention. He was orthodox, he was liberal, yet tenacious of truth, never shrinking from so presenting truth as to act on the conscience of the hearer. He lived and laboured for revivals. He was a most efficient pastor. In the house of mourning he was a most sympathising, judicious visitor, But Dr. Brainerd was too large a man for one church only. He could not but go abroad, .could not but assist other men. He would never have been satisfied if he had not acted on a large sphere. Philadelphia owes this man of marvellous activity much. Our denomination owes him much more than we are aware. In all our prayer-meetings we have seen and admired the wonderful tact, sagacity, and power of the man in giving a right and profitable direction to the devotion. Wider still in the sphere of action, he was a true patriot. It was a family trait. It came from revolutionary times. Most remarkably was Dr. Brainerd excited, quickened, and clothed with power by the remarkable events of the late conflict. Never man threw his heart into affairs as he. He saw the struggle coming. He felt the value of union and the evils to result in a divided empire. With all his heart and soul he threw himself into the struggle. He used no ambiguous terms, no doubtful language, no cold expressions toward the Government. I think I may say he exerted more influence than any other man among us during the struggle. He was the soldier and seaman's friend. He was always at the refreshment saloons if his presence could cheer and comfort the departing or returning regiments. In the hospitals he was ever ready to minister to the sick and wounded. His labours were not only up to but beyond the measure of his VOL II.-NEW SERIES. T T |