WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

SEPTEMBER, 1863.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. WILLIAM WORTH:

BY THE REV. W. H. CLARKSON.

To live well, rather than to live long, should engage the continuous and anxious attention of all mankind; especially, as so many reach a lengthened age only to do evil. The antediluvians were long-lived ; but sin predominated, and the whole earth was filled with violence. Yet long life is no small blessing, if it be devoted to the service of God; and although the Christian sees in the retrospect great cause of humiliation before God on account of past unfaithfulness, yet, in substance, he can say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith;" and he is animated by the hope of a glorious crown, which, through all-sufficient grace, he will soon gain and wear. Besides, length of days affords many opportunities of glorifying God, which they who die young cannot have. Human life becomes a theatre for the exercise of all Christian graces; especially, of faith and patience. It also offers scope for the cultivation of the heart and the mind in love and knowledge; with many facilities of conveying good to others, and of laying up in store a heavenly treasure by well-doing on earth; as every man will be rewarded, in the great day of the Lord, according to his works.

It was the happiness of the subject of these pages to consecrate himself in youth to the service of the Lord, and to continue laboriously in that service until he reached a "green old age," in which he flourished nearly to the period of his death. MR. WORTH was born at Tiverton, Devonshire, January 1st, 1781. His parents were Wesleyans, and he was the subject of their many prayers, as he was also blessed with their wise counsels and pious examples, from the earliest dawn of reason. They were not, indeed, the first in the family to join that communion. Mr. Worth's grandfather, who died in 1799, had been a member among the Methodists forty-five years: -a notice which carries us back to the very early days of the United Societies; namely, to the year 1754.

At the age of five or six the subject of this memoir was inspired with a strong desire to seek the Lord; and, at that season, he was accustomed to retire into secret to pray. The religious impressions he then experienced resulted chiefly from the household worship of his parents; but these gracious influences did not then issue in a change of heart. It was by means of the earnest exhortations of a beloved sister at the close of her course, and of her happy death, that he was

VOL. IX. FIFTH SERIES.

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afterwards led to entire decision. Standing, as it were, on the brink of her grave, he was enabled to consecrate himself to the Divine service. This event happened about the year 1799. Having earnestly sought and found the Lord, he became very zealous in His cause. He soon began to call sinners to repentance, and laboured not in vain. Several, through his efforts and influence, began to attend the means of grace, who afterwards became members of the church. As a Local preacher, his labours were owned of God in the conversion of sinners; until he was called into the regular work of the ministry. In the year 1805 he received his first appointment, to Camelford, in Cornwall. In some of the spheres of his labour, (as in the Isle of Wight, and MidsomerNorton,) he is said to have been very successful in bringing sinners to Christ. During his sojourn, the number of church-members greatly increased in both these Circuits.

His ministry was characterized by a fervent zeal, and an earnest enforcement of the cardinal truths of Divine revelation, through the power of which he himself had become wise unto salvation. Being gifted with a sonorous voice, clear in its articulation and its utterances, he well commanded the attention of his audience, and was generally acceptable in his pulpit-addresses. As a pastor, he was diligent in visiting the sick, and others; in order that he might encourage the timid, strengthen the weak, and confirm the wavering. During the long course of his public life, he met with various trials and afflictions; some of which, as recorded by himself, were exceedingly painful and perplexing. But he endeavoured to resign himself to the will of God, and by earnest prayer implored patience from heaven, to sustain him in tribulation. Accordingly, through all, the Lord was graciously pleased to guard and preserve His servant.

In the year 1853, through declining strength, he retired from the regular work of the ministry, and fixed his abode in the city of Canterbury. Henceforth he continued to labour variously and zealously, as opportunities offered, in that and other adjoining Circuits. He was also diligent in meeting a class, and in pastoral visitation, in which he continued to bear a willing part until his health entirely failed. On November 25th, 1860, about ten days before his last sickness came, he preached in Canterbury with great fervour, and with no little profit to those assembled; and the Sunday following was a day of great spiritual refreshment to his soul. He also assisted the officiating minister in the administration of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper; when he remarked, that probably those present would not all meet to drink of the wine again, until they should drink it new in the kingdom of heaven. At his class on the Tuesday ensuing, he spoke freely of the great blessedness he had experienced on that Sabbath, and of his present spiritual enjoyment, in a manner which led some to think that he was rapidly maturing for his abiding home above. On that day he not only met his class, but also paid several pastoral visits. But this was the close of all his public efforts. On his return home, he was taken seriously ill; and henceforth he suffered greatly, to the termination of his mortal career. For this painful discipline the Lord seemed to have been preparing him by the abundant consolations with which he had been favoured. In his last days his agonies were extreme; but his Saviour was very gracious to him, and, as his sufferings abounded, the Divine comforts vouchsafed also abounded. And, before he died, he told the writer of this sketch, that he could not have believed that any mortal man could suffer so much bodily pain, and enjoy so much of the presence of God, as he had done. And, truly, the divine joys and ecstasies which he experienced seemed to be extraordinary, especially in the case of one of his years. The young, and those in the meridian of life, have often much divine rapture in the prospect of dissolution; but, ordinarily, very aged Christians die in sweet peace and serenity. Mr. Worth was peculiarly favoured. At first he had no presentiment on his mind that his sickness would be unto death; but after a little more than a week, as he signified to one of his children, it was solemnly impressed on him that he should not recover. He then added, "I have hitherto been kept in perfect peace and resignation: yet God has been working, as it were, behind a cloud. But now it is all glory, for I am going home." After a short pause, he exclaimed, "I have just dropped into a sea of love: and, O, I would not lose this blessed feeling for ten thousand worlds!" Again, he cried out, "I long to be gone. Glory, glory, glory, be to God most high! Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory!" In another throe of agony, he exclaimed, "It is glorious dying! 'Sing aloud for joy, ye righteous!' 'Truly God is good to Israel." His wife being absent, he inquired for her; and, being told that she had retired for a little repose, he said, "Tell her, all is well. O that we could all go together to heaven!" - and added, "The Lamb is the light thereof.

There stands my Saviour, dress'd in love,
And there my smiling God." "

After remaining for some time silent, as though listening attentively to something, he said, "Hark! Do you hear that sweet music?" At another time he said, "Yes, precious Saviour! I am Thine.

'I shall behold His face,
I shall His power adore,

And sing the wonders of His grace
For evermore."

Early in his last illness, when conducting family-worship, and being unable to kneel as he had been wont, he thought it would be unbecoming to address his everlasting Sovereign in any other posture. But it was immediately suggested, "He is your Father." He then engaged in prayer with great earnestness.

During the last two or three days of his life, he was in a state of torpor for the greater part of the time; and it was distressing to his sorrowing family, that they could not understand what he wished to express. About two hours before he died, full consciousness returned. His face then beamed with heavenly radiance, while words of joy fell from his lips: "Happy, happy! Glory, glory, for ever and ever, for ever and ever!" He then called each of his family by name, taking an affecting leave; after which he exclaimed in triumph, "Hark! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory for ever and ever!" Then, kissing each one with a look of unutterable love, he dropped a faint "farewell." His eyes shone, meanwhile, with so much brightness, that they seemed to reflect the glorious vision which was opening to his astonished and enraptured gaze. They then closed in death; and, without a groan or sigh, he fell asleep in Jesus; his happy, freed spirit passing away to be for ever with the Lord. He died on Wednesday, January 30th, 1861, aged eighty years, and in the fifty-sixth year of his ministry.

From these biographical notices let the young learn to devote themselves in early life to the service of God, and to unite themselves in fellowship with the church. Let them choose "the path of the just;" and they shall find it to be "as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Let the aged be cheered, in the decline of life, with the prospect of the heavenly inheritance; and daily live prepared and waiting to be partakers of the glory that shall be revealed. Let those who have to pass through many afflictions remember, that there is no trial in which the grace of God cannot sustain praying, waiting, believing souls. In a word, let all choose the good part, which shall not be taken from them; and, cleaving to God with purpose of heart to the end of their earthly course, they shall receive the prize of immortal life.

ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION-HOW TO BE ATTAINED.*

In matters of religion, as in many other things, it is very difficult to describe to a person clearly that of which he has no experimental knowledge. Ministers have always found it hard to explain the way of faith to a seeker of pardon. It is about as hard to explain the way of faith to a seeker of entire sanctification. The blind man, after all your explanations of colours, has still a very imperfect idea of what you mean. There are some matters in Christianity which, to be understood, must be experienced.

Another difficulty is the great variety in Christian experience. "We are continually," says Mr. Wesley, "forming general rules from our own particular experience : " and these we are making the criteria by which to judge of others. We shall try to avoid this course, so far as we can; contenting ourselves with fixing the landmarks which bound every man's experience, and leaving the details to those who choose to follow them out. If we fail to present the true way, it will not be because we have not sought it earnestly and honestly through an extensive range of Christian biography in various