WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

OCTOBER, 1851.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF MRS. MARY STOATE,

OF WILLITON, SOMERSET :

BY THE REV. ROBERT BOND.

MRS. STOATE was born at Roadwater, in the parish of Old Cleeve, Somerset, in the year 1775. Her parents* anxiously endeavoured to train up their children in the fear of God; and the pains taken, especially by her mother and grandmother, seem to have led her, when quite young, earnestly to desire to be a child of God, and an heir of the kingdom of heaven. As she grew in years, she became more deeply convinced that she was "born in sin and shapen in iniquity;" and that, without a change of heart, she must be lost forever. These convictions were confirmed and deepened by hearing the Wesleyan Ministers preach from time to time at the house of Mr. James Symons, late of Bilbrook, near Dunster; until, at length, anxiety increased to anguish of spirit, and, like the publican of old, she cried, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" The atonement of Christ was now her only ground of hope, and she resolved never to rest until she should find " redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins." This she sought in agony of spirit, and at length found, to the joy of her heart. While she was hearing the late Rev. Cleland Kirkpatrick preach at Bilbrook, faith sprang up in her heart she reposed her weary and sin-sick soul on the Redeemer,

* Her father, the late Mr. John Thorne, of Williton, was brought to the knowledge of the truth under the ministry of the Rev. John Crickett, in the year 1794. In those days of severe persecution he boldly took up his cross, and cheerfully followed his Divine Master through evil as well as good report. He greatly valued communion with the people of God, and was regular and conscientious in his attendance upon the public and social means of grace, until the time of his last sickness. His steadfast integrity, fervent zeal, and humble resignation to the will of God, will long be remembered by those who knew him. When asked, a few days before his death, by one of his grandaughters, who has since joined him in the skies, "Are you happy?" he replied, with joy beaming in his countenance, Happy! Very happy! I long to be gone." She then said, "Angels are beckoning you away;" when, raising both his hands, he responded, "Jesus bids me come." In this peaceful and triumphant state he continued a few days longer, when he fell asleep in Jesus, September 14th, 1826, in the seventy-sixth year of his age.

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and obtained peace in believing. Her sorrow was now turned into joy; her mourning was exchanged for praise and gladness; and she returned to her house justified, and happy in the Lord. This important event took place when she was seventeen years of age; and from that period to the close of her life, it is believed, she never "wickedly departed from the Lord," but "cleaved" to Him "with full purpose of heart;" exhibiting a consistency of character which ornamented the religion she professed, and brought glory to Him who had "called " her "out of darkness into His marvellous light." "Come and hear,'" she writes in her journal, "all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul.' O how sweet is Christ to me! He is all my salvation, and all my desire.' In darkest shades, if Thou appear,

My dawning is begun :

Thou art my soul's bright morning star,

And Thou my rising sun.""

For some time prior to her marriage, she resided with a respectable family, to whom this change in her religious views and feelings gave no little concern. When it was discovered that Mary attended the meetings of the despised Methodists, she was admonished on the impropriety of having "such associates," and was told, in a tone of decision, that it was expected she would desist from any further connexion with them. This attempt to deprive her of her Christian liberty, and of spiritual privileges which she much valued, and from which she had derived unspeakable benefit, was, after earnest and importunate prayer, respectfully but firmly resisted. Her reply was, in effect, that every part of her duty should be faithfully and conscientiously discharged, but that she must not be denied the privilege of serving God according to the dictates of her conscience; that, by Divine grace, she owed her spiritual happiness to the people from whose society and worship it was now attempted to separate her; and that, having deliberately and prayerfully joined them from a principle of duty, she must resign her situation, which would be a very painful proceeding, rather than violate her conscience, and thus sin against God. It is just to state, that the yoke of restraint was removed, and that no effort was afterwards made to induce her to break her religious engagements, or to abandon the people whom she had joined in Christian fellowship. It is not improbable that her decision in this respect raised her in the estimation of those with whom she resided, and led them to regard more favourably the religious community which they had treated with unmerited contempt. At all events, her conduct was guided by scriptural rules, and was therefore agreeable to the will of God. In the pages of inspired truth it is written, as with the point of a diamond,— "Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me, and of My words, in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." "If," says one, "in order to please those who are

opposed to vital godliness, we abandon God's ordinances and followers, we are unworthy of anything but hell."

In the year 1802, the subject of this record was married to Mr. John Stoate, a respectable member of the Wesleyan Society, who still survives. Being a decided Christian himself, Mr. Stoate resolved to obey the Divine injunction, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; " nor had he ever reason to regret the decision he had taken. For forty-four years Mrs. Stoate sustained the conjugal relation with exemplary prudence and unremitting affection. "She looked well to the ways of her household, and ate not the bread of idleness." "The heart of her husband safely trusted in her;" and she did him "good and not evil all the days of her life." "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised."

At the period of their union, Methodism in their neighbourhood was but in its infancy. Persecution, too, ran high; and the opportunities of Christian fellowship were comparatively few. Often did Mr. and Mrs. Stoate journey to places eight, nine, and ten miles distant, in order to enjoy the privilege of sitting under the faithful ministration of the Gospel; for, in those days, "the word of the Lord was precious;" and, when "found," it was "the joy and rejoicing of their hearts."

In order to benefit their neighbours as well as themselves, their own dwelling at Williton was opened for the preaching of the word of life; and it is pleasing to state that "some seed fell into good ground," and sprang up, producing "first the blade, then the ear, and after that the full corn in the ear; "" much of which was ultimately gathered into the garner of God. Subsequently a house of prayer was erected in the village, and became the birth-place of many precious souls, and the scene of many delightful manifestations of God's power and glory. For a number of years Williton has been the residence of the Superintendent Ministers stationed in the Dunster Circuit.

Mrs. Stoate always welcomed the Ministers of the Gospel to her house with the most cordial hospitality. She regarded them as the servants of God, "the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ; " and, for the great Master's sake, she felt it an honour, as well as a happiness, to receive them as her guests. In this respect she imitated, and seemed to unite in her character, the careful Martha, the loving Mary, and the benevolent Phoebe. Nor did she forget to make mention of her Ministers in her prayers to God, "that utterance might "be given unto" them, and that "the word of the Lord," through their instrumentality, might "run," like a swift chariot, "and be glorified."

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As a mother, she was supremely anxious to train up her children in the nurture and discipline of the Lord; to implant the fear of God in their hearts, while they were soft and ductile; and to establish a firm foundation on which their future character might be raised. In