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sideration gives a peculiar and intense interest to the spiritual conflict in which we are engaged, both to secure our personal salvation, and to extend the kingdom of our Lord. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." But this fact, while it shows the difficulty of the enterprise to which we are summoned, need not appal or depress us. If we go forth to labour for Christ in the spirit of self-renunciation and entire self-dedication to Him, we shall prove that He is mightier than all the hosts of darkness, and that the Spirit, whom He has sent down from the throne of His glory, can not only keep us unspotted amidst all the allurements of evil, and enable us to overcome the stratagems of Satan, but can subdue the hardest heart to penitence, and cleanse the foulest from every stain of sin.

But the secret of our strength lies in communion with God in Christ. We must "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." Our own Christian graces must be preserved in freshness and vigour by waiting upon Him. We must, especially, be men of faith,-men whose whole hearts are surrendered to the great facts of the Christian scheme, and penetrated with the certainty and the momentous character of those states of retribution to which we ourselves, and all around us, are hastening. And we must seek in earnest prayer, before we enter upon our work for Christ, the living energy of the Spirit. Amidst the accumulated difficulties which on every hand retard the work of genuine conversion, it is He only who can lead men to the Saviour. It is a beautiful and instructive statement of the sacred historian, relative to the labours of the Christian teachers who introduced the Gospel to the Syrian Antioch: "And the hand of the Lord was with them; and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord." The recognition of the Spirit's agency, while it should chasten and humble us, should also inspire us with holy confidence; and the promise of our Lord, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world," assures us that that agency shall be put forth, if only we seek it in fervent and persevering prayer. Thus coming forth from the Divine presence, with the light of God's countenance shining upon our souls, and feeling, at the same time, that we ourselves are nothing, we shall be enabled to plead with men on behalf of Him who loved them so as to give Himself for their redemption, and who sees in the salvation, the purity, and the eternal triumph, of all who receive Him, "of the travail of His soul," and is "satisfied."

Yonge Park, London.

H. W. W.

14

OF YORK:

BY THE REV. W. H. RULE, D.D.

AMONG the honourable women whose memory is cherished in the homes of Methodism, and whose holy influence is acknowledged in circles far beyond, the late HELEN LEAK, of York, occupied a distinguished place. Mr. Henry Bell, of Portington, in the parish of Eastrington, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, was her father. Her grandfather, Henry Bell, born at Lincoln Flatts, near Howden, in 1730, but in due time settled at Spaldington, and his wife Mary, became Methodists in early life, when Spaldington was included in the Hull Circuit, and made their house the home of the preachers who visited that place. He was one of the earliest planters of Methodism in England, and may be regarded as founder of the Howden Circuit; for it was at his suggestion that a pious man named Richardson was induced to take up his abode in Howden, for the special purpose of providing a home for our preachers on their occasional visits to that neighbourhood, and, in their absence, watching over the infant Society, then only just formed.* Having succeeded well in his business, he purchased the hamlet of Portington, near Howden, containing three farms, with the old Hall, and cottages; removed thither from Spaldington, resided in the Hall, placed his son Henry in the "Grange" farm, and his other two sons in the remaining farms. This elder Henry Bell attained to a venerable old age, and passed away as calmly as if he had but fallen asleep. His wife, who was a lady of superior mind, and was marked by great decision of character, was of one heart and soul with himself. She had a strong persuasion of the future prosperity of Methodism, and of this persuasion one incident in her life gave a proof worthy of remembrance.

When, about the year 1797, a cottage and garth (garden?) in Howden, was on sale, the members of our Society there, people in rather humble circumstances, who had to meet for worship in an "upper room," approached by outer stairs, thinking the site would be suitable for the erection of a chapel, a person of the name of Weddale went over to Portington Hall to consult Mr. Bell on the matter; but Mr. Bell not being at home, Mrs. Bell at once sanctioned the purchase, making herself answerable for the money, which she paid accordingly. She advised them to trust in Provi

A Memoir of Mr. Henry Bell appears in the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine for the year 1841, p. 800.

↑ William Dyson, Esq., of Clifton, relates this fact, and writes, "......at once undertook to sanction and recommend the purchase." Her grand-daughter,

dence for further help. Mr. Bell and other friends gave such help. A small chapel, measuring about twelve yards square was erected on the ground, and the cottage appropriated to the residence of a minister. Some persons thought this a wild speculation, but God blessed it greatly. A larger edifice was erected in 1832, after Howden had been made a Circuit town.

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Mrs. Leak's maternal grandfather was Mr. Edward Wade, of Sturton Grange, near Leeds, who also, with his devoted Christian wife, entertained the early Methodist preachers, and in many ways assisted to advance the cause of God. Religious services were held in their house. There is a Memoir of Mrs. Anne Wade in the volume of this Magazine for 1806, under the expressive heading then usual: "The Grace of God manifested." Their daughter Eleanor became the wife of Mr. Henry Bell the younger, and mother of the subject of this Memoir. This Mr. Bell was educated in Hull, under the care of the Rev. Joseph Milner, A.M., well known as the author of a History of the Church of Christ," and as Vicar of the Church of Holy Trinity revered for his personal piety and faithful ministrations. His pupil was intended to study with a view to taking holy orders in the Church of England, but as he did not yet show any sign of change of heart, nor feel any call to preach the Gospel which he had not learned to understand, and his attention was turned to agriculture, he took up his abode again at Portington, his native place, and accepted his vocation as a farmer. But his mind had been well prepared by early training at home, and by the teaching and example of Mr. Milner at Hull; the result being that he was awakened to sincere concern for salvation under a sermon by the Rev. Joseph Benson, and further impressed and instructed by the Rev. Robert Johnson. He then joined the Methodist Society at Portington, entered into the enjoyment of personal religion, and soon proved himself a faithful follower of his Heavenly Master by labouring diligently and devoutly in His service. He became a Local-preacher of more than ordinary gifts, clear and pointed in his teachings, and greatly beloved in a wide circle of fellow-labourers and friends. By the blessing of God on their united efforts, Howden became an important Circuit, and the influence of the Bell family was happily felt in many parts of the East Riding. The Circuit flourished, and some of the ablest ministers of those days were stationed at Howden. Dr. Newton, Dr. Beecham, and others like them looked back in after life with pleasure on their connection with those

Mrs. Leak, in a paper found after her decease, writes, "......, in the absence of her husband, purchased land." The accounts agree substantially, and the latter warrants the statement as here given.

Societies. As the estate of Portington gave right of sepulture in the parish church of Eastrington, the names of several members of the family remain there, and among them are to be seen those of the late Mrs. Leak's father and mother.

Helen Bell, then, was of honourable descent, and was nurtured from infancy in the bosom of Methodism in its primitive fervour and simplicity. Fenced about with examples of living piety, she was preserved from the less favourable influences which discourage and repel the younger members of a family when a Society decays through the unfaithfulness of its members, or when denominational jealousies breed contention, or when low party-spirit puts on the pretence of zeal. Her home was happy. The sunshine of heavenly peace continually cheered it. Temporal prosperity, hallowed by the fear of God, filled it with comfort. Sanctified intelligence made it a fit school for childhood, and the girl that was to grow up into a useful womanhood found mental food in a well-stored library, where, without constraint or check, she indulged herself in various reading, now in poetry, then in history, and again political, but sacred often, which enabled her to join in conversation with the elder members of her family, without any temptation to vain display, which all her life was contrary to her character. The good old grandfather lived long to keep up the standard of godly living in the quiet hamlet of Portington, and the following picture of him is found in her papers :

"Among my earliest recollections is an aged man who used to ride daily to our garden-gate, and greet us with his sunny smile. His dress was sober drab. His cheeks still wore the rosy hue of health and temperance. Not bent with age, but small and wiry in figure; his yellow grey hair divided on the forehead, and curled in the neck. He was my father's sire: loved by all as scarcely ever an old man was. When Mr. Wesley visited the neighbourhood where he lived, he with some other persons embraced the truth, and became to his latest hour its warm supporter. With a gentleness one could not see but love, there was that earnest industry that, at the time I speak of, had made him the sole proprietor of a small hamlet where he resided, at the old-fashioned Hall, and his three sons, of whom my father was the eldest, at three farms around him, each vying with the other to deserve best his love...... Well do I remember his slightly tremulous voice in the prayermeetings, when he began with, My God, the spring of all my joys.' Amongst his grandchildren one scene will never be forgotten. On his eighty-sixth birthday all assembled for tea. When it was over, he arose and spoke. He told us of the goodness of God, and his impression that it was his last birthday, and

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requested us to follow him to his grave, and meet him in heaven. A Wesleyan minister then gave out the hymn,

'Away with our fears! The glad morning appears

When an heir of salvation was born!

From Jehovah I came, For His glory I am,

And to Him I with singing return.” ”

About the year 1826, and onwards to 1880, there was a genuine revival of religion in the East Riding of Yorkshire, mainly, as it appears, through the instrumentality of the late Rev. Joseph Mortimer. It spread rapidly; many penitents crowded into the classes. The public services partook of the character common to such visitations of the quickening grace of God, and in the year 1828 Helen felt the power, and participated in the blessing of those awakenings. But her constitution was very sensitive. Nervous, gentle, and thoughtful as she was, self-suspecting, and of tender and jealous conscience, she became a subject of anxious fear, while others were full of confidence, and sometimes she was painfully depressed. Her friends became concerned,-almost alarmed,— and it was well for them, as for herself, that a visit to Hull put her in the way of a confirmation of the Gospel truth she had received at Portington. At Hull she pursued her devout inquiries, and persevered in prayerful self-examination. At the same time she had communion with a relative whose principles were in agreement with her own, and whose mental constitution appears to have been congenial with hers. This was her cousin, the Rev. J. King of Christ Church, who was, for that time, her guide and comforter. Two sermons of his, delivered on the same day, were the means of confirming her faith in Christ, and leading her into assurance of the liberty of a child of God, which she had sought, but not yet perfectly enjoyed. The text in the morning was:"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened." (Ephes. i. 18.) In the evening the discourse was on the words of comfort:"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." (Isai. xlix. 15.) The preacher struck the right chord. Perhaps the Divine Comforter guided him: certainly she heard aright, and the statement of Divine truth which at that time she needed most was effectually presented to her mind. The "eyes of her understanding" were indeed "opened," and she drank in consolation through the ministration of a preacher who, trained in Methodism from his childhood, was well qualified to follow up the teaching which had convinced her of sin, and who continued to instruet her daily in the way of salvation. In point of

VOL. XXII.-FIFTH SERIES.

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