house that the accident happened, of which, as we shall presently have occasion to relate, the consequences were so fatal.

From a paper which the writer of these lines has perused, it appears that the mind of Joseph began, at this period, to be seriously impressed with a sense of his condition, as a fallen creature. The ripening years of manhood had sobered his judgment. "The trumpet's loud clangor" was now unheeded, and the hostile beat of drums was exchanged for the quietude of domestic enjoyment, and the pursuits of an industrious calling. He was not regularly apprenticed to any person, but was engaged in the service of Mr. Peter Law, of Chelsea, a man of exemplary piety of the Baptist denomination, and by trade a painter and glazier. In the employ of this worthy person, Joseph Mitchell acquired a competent knowledge of the trade, and became a neat and excellent workman. But it was not only with relation to the things of this life, that his views were changed. The unseen realities of eternity became the object of his serious contemplation. This was produced by a remarkable dream, with which it pleased the Almighty to visit him. It respected the final Judgment. He imagined that the day of doom had arrived, and that he was placed before the eternal throne. The trump of God resounded through all nature. The books were opened; and the dead, small and great, were there. But, though surrounded by the population of ages, he thought the eye of the Judge was especially fixed upon him. After having been permitted to view the heavenly host, he conceived himself transported far from light and heaven. Then he saw the portals of perdition. He heard the unavailing groan, and thought of the undying Ever and anon, the forms of lost spirits, cursing and accursed, flitted before his sickening sight. Penetrated with the liveliest horror, he averted his eyes; when one like the Son of Man drew near, and beckoned him away. He followed the Lord: he cast himself at his feet, and implored mercy. His mind was then comforted, and he appeared for some time to enjoy the felicities of heaven.

worm.

On awaking, he was much disappointed, in finding that his happiness had departed. It was but a dream. It appears, however, to have made a deep and salutary impression. In a memorandum found after his decease, he observes, "For some weeks the effect was powerful; convincing me of a place of torment for the wicked, and of happiness for the blessed. Formerly, when persons reproved me for sin, I laughed, and had long endeavoured to persuade myself, that there was no such place as hell. But now, so altered were my views, and so strong the conviction of its existence, that I wished I had never been born." It does not appear that these convictions were of long duration; for, mingling with worldly company, he was shorn of his strength, and became weak as other men. "In this state," says he, "of open avowed transgression, I continued four years; conscience often smiting

and

me, though I did not think myself so bad as I afterwards found to be the case."

In the year 1805, having chosen the place in which his forefathers resided for his future abode, he followed his avocation in Chelsea; generally on his own account, though occasionally in the employment of others; and in November, in the same year, he married Rachael Bennett, who, for nearly twenty years, has been the affectionate partner of his life, and the attentive parent of their numerous family. In the course of the following year, the Lord, who is rich in mercy, was pleased again to visit our late friend with the influences of divine grace. He was excited by the Spirit of God more powerfully than ever, to seek the salvation of his soul. Every idea of mending his condition, or improving his morals, by the strength of his own resolutions, was abandoned. "The sin-convincing Spirit blew, and blasted every flower." Fear and trembling were the portion of his cup. The catalogue of his sins, to use his own expression, resembled a closely-written letter, exhibited before his face; and like him who saw the hand-writing upon the wall, "his thoughts troubled him, and his knees smote one against another." On one occasion the terror of his mind was so great, that existence became a burden. If he saw a horse or a dog, he wished to share its nature. Now it was, according to his own acknowledgment, that he began for the first time to pray to God with all his heart. "In a few moments," says he, 66 a ray of hope darted across my mind. It was faint, yet it gave me great comfort." Here, however, he did not rest. Having heard and read of the forgiveness of sins, he felt a strong desire to enjoy it. One Thursday, while at work in an uninhabited building, this was especially the case. He then retired to the attic floor, and, falling on his knees, pleaded with the Lord for the manifestation of his pardoning love. Like Jacob of old," he was left alone;" and, like him, he prevailed. The burden of his sin was removed. He went down to his house justified; nor could he refrain from declaring aloud what great things God had done unto him.

It was a few weeks before the occurrence of this happy event, that he joined the Society of the Wesleyan Methodists; " in which," with his accustomed humility, he states, "I have continued with much unfaithfulness feebly to follow my Redeemer unto the present day; and trust soon to see his face, and praise him for ever."

The preceding observation is believed to be the last of a spiritual nature, which our friend Mitchell committed to writing; and as it was put to paper so lately as the month of February last, it may be considered as a happy indication of that calm and peaceful state of mind, under the influence of which it seems evident he uniformly lived.

Such was the delightful and holy path in which our late companion walked. He was in the prime of life. He knew the joys of connubial

felicity. He was surrounded by a family of nine children, of whom the eldest was rising to mature age; and though opulence was not within his reach, domestic comfort was around his table. He ate the meal of temperance and satisfaction; and at peace with God, and his fellowcreatures, his pillow was without a thorn.

But what man is he that liveth and shall not sec death? and what is life but a thread, more fragile than the spider's most attenuated web? Of this we are now to adduce a melancholy proof, with reference to our late brother Mitchell. On the 14th of April last, while engaged in his occupation, he fell from the first floor of a house into the area below; a height of thirty feet. He was taken up in a state of insensibility, and conveyed to St. George's Hospital, Hyde-Park Corner; when, upon examination, it was discovered that the injury received was mortal. His left arm was broken, he had received a severe contusion on the head, and the spine was fractured. He informed a friend, who went to see him, that the moment he recovered his senses, his mind was possessed with calm confidence in God, accompanied with an assurance of his favour, which kept him in perfect peace.

Having adorned the doctrines which are according to godliness, by a life of sacred activity in the cause of truth, he was enabled during this fiery trial to witness a good confession, to the unspeakable benefit and pleasure of the numerous friends who went to see him. To say that he was freed from every murmur and complaint, is not sufficiently expressive. None but those who are taught by experience, can conceive aright of the power of that divine principle by which he was upheld. The earthly house of his tabernacle was beginning to dissolve; but he knew that he had a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. As far as human skill is concerned, his shattered frame was ruined beyond repair. The spinal joint being dislocated, his limbs were paralyzed. One hand, however, retained a portion of its wonted power, and that was frequently raised in gratitude to God. With the Psalmist he could say, "Thou hast made the bones which thou hast broken to rejoice." To a neighbour who came to see him about the third day after the accident happened, he said, "I feel the most entire acquiescence in the divine will. I have no murmuring or discontented thoughts, and am persuaded, that what has happened is for the best. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him." Then raising up his pale and bruised hand as high as he could lift it, and looking up, he exclaimed, “I know that my Redeemer liveth; and that, though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." On the visit of another friend, he clasped his hand, and with sweet composure observed, "All is well! I am happy! and what more could I desire?" He afterwards said, "O, I have been favoured with such bright and glorious prospects, and such manifestations of the goodness of God, that I cannot describe

my

them!" Upon a subsequent visit, he continued to dilate upon the visitation of providence, by which he had been overtaken, and with the dig. nified confidence of unshaken faith, demanded of those around him, "Do you think heavenly Father would have suffered this affliction to befall me, had it not been for the best? no; he would not." He also repeatedly declared, that he had learned more, with respect to the knowledge of God and divine things, upon the bed of suffering, than he had done all his life before.

It is unnecessary to state, that, with respect to professional advice, he received the first surgical help in the kingdom. Under the personal care of Mr. Brodie, nothing was omitted which could soften and alleviate his, condition; but, from the first, it was declared by the medical attendants, that he could not survive the accident. All, therefore, that could be done was, to smooth his passage to the tomb; and in that praiseworthy act, we feel it right to say, that every thing which humanity could suggest, or friendship require, was sedulously performed.

In this helpless condition, with "one eye on death, and one full fixed on heaven," he lingered, contrary to general expectation, six and twenty days; when, without any material alteration in his appearance, excepting a gradual sinking of the powers of nature, and without the least abatement or suspension of his spiritual tranquillity, he resigned his spirit into the hands of God who gave it, on the evening of Thursday, May 10th, 1825, and in the thirty-seventh year of his age.

On the occasion of his interment, which took place on the Wednesday following his decease, a sensation unusually powerful was excited in the neighbourhood in which he had lived. His remains were conveyed to the burial ground adjoining the new church of St. Luke, in this parish. The procession was composed of his afflicted widow and children, followed by a body of the Local Preachers connected with the London West Circuit, who came to pay the last sad tribute of their respect and love. The streets through which they had to pass were lined with spectators, in whose countenances might be perceived the deepest sympathy and regret. And on Sunday evening, the twenty-ninth of May, the Rev. William Henshaw delivered an impressive discourse upon the melancholy event, in the Chapel at Sloane-Terrace. The congregation was large, almost beyond precedent, and was profoundly attentive, while the Preacher enforced the words of the Apostle, contained in 1 Thess. chap. iv. verse 14, to the end. May the solemnities of that evening be remembered with joy in the ages of eternity!

While no disposition is felt to eulogize our departed friend, a few lines may be devoted to his general character. With respect to his station in society, it was in the class of operative mechanics that Joseph Mitchell was called to move; and, from the concurrent testimony of applauding numbers, rarely do we find the duties of that station more properly per

formed. Nor does he appear to less advantage as a member of the church of Christ. His religion was practical; and the seriousness of his mind was habitual and uniform. His piety lasted all the week. In his intercourse with men, his speech was seasoned with salt. Equally distant from levity on the one hand, and moroseness on the other, he adopted the happy medium which the cheerfulness of Christianity inspires; and whether in the company of equals or superiors,' he was never ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. Indeed, he had a singular faculty of introducing serious remarks in a way which, so far from giving offence, was almost sure to win the heart of the hearer. Perhaps it was to the faithful discharge of this Christian duty, coupled with his excellent and regular life, that he was indebted for the popularity to which he attained. For it is a fact, that though our late friend was known merely as a common workman, no person similarly situated, has, within the recollection of the present generation, been more universally esteemed among the inhabitants of this vicinity. He lived and died steadfastly attached to the doctrines and discipline of the Gospel, as taught by the late Rev. John Wesley, and his numerous successors in the ministry. Grateful to God for the spiritual blessings he enjoyed, our Brother Mitchell felt himself called upon to labour in the word and doctrine. Some years since he was appointed as a Local Preacher in the London West Circuit; and has, during the time he has been so engaged, occupied the pulpits in most of the chapels of the Wesleyan Methodists on this side of the metropolis. His preaching was plain and faithful. Anxious to communicate some spiritual good to his hearers, he shunned not, according to the ability which God had given, to declare his whole counsel. The affectionate desire which he felt to benefit his brethren, was evident on every occasion; among whom the members of his class may be particularly noticed for their spiritual prosperity he was deeply concerned; and for them he travailed in birth again, that Christ might be formed in them.

Nor does it add a little lustre to the character of our late brother to state, that the duties he owed to the church were performed when his secular concerns were of the most pressing kind, and called for almost incessant application. And it ought to be mentioned to his honour, that, by the grace of God, he was enabled to keep a conscience void of offence; and by industry abroad, and rigid economy and self-denial at home, to provide things honest in the sight of all men. By these means he enjoyed the confidence and regard of every person with whom he associated in trade, or by whom he was employed as a tradesman. In these respects, we seldom meet with an instance in which the apostolical injunction is more finely exemplified,-" Diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord."

Every feeling mind will be gratified with the information which will