plished, he would console himself by saying, "Well, if ever I do succeed, this is one journey less, and I am nearer the end ;" and succeed he did at last. He who now writes was with him when his end was gained. After a long interview, and at a very late hour, the person we visited gave up the deed, placed it in our hand, and said, There, I never thought any one would have got that out of my hands while I lived." We left the house with the document in our possession, and returned to our homes with light hearts, grateful feelings, and bright prospects. 66 The deed, we found, was of the most unsatisfactory character. A new trust body was formed, a new deed made, and the chapel secured to the Connexion according to the provisions of the Connexional deed then in existence. The friends took fresh courage; additional sittings were taken; conversions were frequent, and "there were added to the church such as should be saved." Unwearied in effort, and not satisfied with what had been done, a new chapel became the desire of his heart, the theme of his conversation, and the concentrating point of holy enterprise. Some charged him with selfishness, saying, that as he was a bricklayer by trade, he urged a new chapel because he was sure of the work. To meet this, by our own advice, he refused to give in a tender, and generously subscribed £50 to the building fund. A subscription list was opened, and nobly sustained by Alderman Blackburn and a few other friends; money was secured; a site of land obtained; a new chapel was erected and opened under the most encouraging circumstances. Not "weary in well-doing," he next directed his attention to the erection of school premises in connection with the chapel, and this was also accomplished. Not yet satisfied with either giving or doing, he next set his heart on the erection of a house for the minister, and there it stands, as another monument of his devotedness to the cause of God, his love of the ministers, and his zeal for the Connexion's prosperity. There was another populous part of the district where we had a small class, but neither school-room nor chapel. He, with Alderman Blackburn, Mr. Brittain, Mr. Heaps, and a few others, resolved to erect a good chapel and "mission the place." They gave liberally, laboured zealously and harmoniously, and in the end the sanctuary was erected. A good congregation has been collected, a promising church formed, and cheering prospects open before the friends. And what is the result of the whole? Why, at Hunslet, where a few years ago we had but one small chapel and two schools, we have in that locality three good chapels and four schools. Where we had but one society we have now three; and the place that only paid £10 per quarter is now the head of a circuit, supporting a married and a single preacher. These things we record as a memorial of his zeal and liberality, to the honour of those with whom he was associated, and by whom he was sustained in his works of "faith and labour of love," and as an incentive to others in various parts of the Connexion to "go and do likewise." About this time he was called to endure a great trial. Death entered his habitation, "removed from him the desire of his eyes," and he was left alone to bear the load of grief, endure the bitterness This of bereavement, and to mourn over the loss he had sustained. was the severest blow he had ever received. Slights, insults, reproaches, and persecutions he could endure, and in their midst hold on his way, "be steadfast and immovable," and "abound in the work of the Lord;" but at this unexpected stroke he stood still, and had calmly to wait, patiently to suffer, and confidently to trust. For a season he seemed to abate in zeal, retire from active service, and to sorrow in solitude. He was unsettled, and seemed as if he could find no resting-place. Nor need we wonder at this, when we remember the loss he had sustained. His beloved Bridget had for many years rendered essential service to him, and by her mildness, piety, stability, and kindness, exerted an influence over him for good. After a season of sorrow and loneliness, Providence unexpectedly pointed out to him another person every way suited to him as a partner for life-equal to his former wife in gentleness, in purity, in kindness, and in benevolence. With her he was ultimately united in matrimony, in the cathedral at Ripon, the city in which she resided. As matters of a domestic character made it inconvenient for her to leave the city, it became necessary for awhile for him partially to leave his favourite Hunslet, and remove to Ripon. His time was now divided between the two places. While he retained his office as a leader at Hunslet, and went over weekly to lead his class, visit his members, and attend to sundry other matters, yet his time was chiefly spent in the city of Ripon, where he was much beloved. But here he could not "sit at ease in Zion." His desire was to be useful. He attended the various means of grace, and took an active part in the services. He consulted with the minister and friends, and urged them to put forth efforts to enlarge their borders, increase their numbers, and augment their resources. When they fell in with his views, and co-operated with him in his plans, he was thankful; if they dissented or stood aloof, he went forth alone. He fixed his eye on Sutton, a hamlet about three miles from Ripon, and there tried to effect an opening. He went weekly, and sometimes thrice a week, to conduct religious services there. A class was soon formed of about a dozen persons. He was the leader; and every week, up to the last Sabbath he spent on earth, he went thither in all weathers to lead the class, and speak encouragingly to the "little flock." About four miles in an opposite direction, we have an old interest which has been in a cold, feeble, stationary state for years. To this society he offered to go once a fortnight, and do what he could to revive the dying church. And he was equally zealous to build up the society in the city. It was proposed to make an effort to pay off the entire debt on the chapel. This proposal met his views; the effort was congenial to his feelings, and he resolved it should be done. He commenced the effort, toiled on, and ceased not until the object was accomplished. He never doubted of success. Impossibility had no place in his vocabulary. While a few of the cautious doubted, he smiled at their fears, and cried, "It shall be done;" and done it was. He lived to attend the meeting of congratulation, and his face, radiant with smiles, bespoke the greatness of his joy on that occasion. Thus, from the time of his conversion to the close of his life, he was in labours abundant. And how can we account for his un wearied zeal and unceasing efforts in the cause of God? That he differed from many others in these respects, all who knew him will admit. Here was the secret. Soon after his conversion to God and his union with the Church, he heard the Rev. B. Earnshaw preach from the words, "He that knoweth his Master's will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes." The text itself and the sermon produced a powerful impression on his mind—an impression which was permanent; it gave a direction to his life, prompted him to zealous efforts, liberal gifts, and fervent prayers, and led him daily to pray, as weekly he sung in his class "Oh, that each in the day of His coming may say, I have fought my way through; I have finished the work which thou gav'st me to do!" He was not a meteor 66 His piety was uniform, and his zeal constant. darting through the heavens occasionally, but a sun shining constantly, and daily exerting an influence for good. His path was as the light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day." His zeal was not spasmodic, for he was always zealously affected in a good thing. His life abounds with facts which sustain our statements, and they are corroborated by many living witnesses. Ministers and people alike bear testimony to his deep piety, ardent love, and seraphic zeal; his fervent prayers, abundant labours, and great liberality. The Rev. S. Hulme writes-"I have known him long, and esteemed him highly, as a devoted servant of our Divine Master. His piety, his liberality, his zeal, very far-yes, very far-transcend the average of Christian professors in our day. His whole life was in the Church, and he was incessantly planning, working, and praying for it. He was not only attentive to his duty in our business meetings, in which his sound judgment was often very serviceable, but he delighted in the spiritual means, and nowhere did he appear more at home than in our class and prayer-meetings. I cherish his memory with profound esteem and fraternal affection. His death is a great loss to the Church." Dr. Cooke says "The news of his death was a severe shock, and it vibrated through the entire Connexion; and the loss to a wide circle of friends, and to the entire Denomination, to which he was most fervently attached, and for whose interests he so zealously laboured, will be long and painfully felt. He died in the midst of his work. Our loss is his eternal gain. He was a truly good man, full of labours, warm-hearted, generous, and fully devoted to God and his cause." The Rev. John Addyman testifies—" He was indeed a lover of our Zion. He thought nothing too much to do for God, to win souls, and build up the Church. I know he accounted it a great honour to do any service connected with the Church, even the most menial. His loss will be mourned with sorrow by many with whom he has held sweet counsel in the house of his pilgrimage, and we have need to pray that the Lord would repair the breaches in our Zion." Similar testimonies to his personal worth and usefulness are borne by the Revs. J. Henshaw, H. Piggin, C. Hibbert, J. Wright, and by a host of other ministers and friends. For more than thirty years he had professed faith in Christ, and lived in the enjoyment of the blessings of the Gospel; and when he came to die, there was no regret for the past, and no fear as to the future. There was a calm review, sweet satisfaction, a settled peace, an unshaken confidence, full assurance, a lively hope. His affliction was short, and his death sudden and unexpected. It seemed more like a translation than a dissolution. "The bliss," but not "the pain of dying," was felt. He ceased "at once to work and live;" and after a holy, active, useful life, he entered into the joy of his Lord. On the Sabbath previous to his death, he went to Sutton to lead his class in the morning, a distance of three miles from Ripon. In the afternoon he led a class in the city, attended public worship in the evening, and was present at the sacrament showing forth his Lord's death. On the Monday morning he went to Hunslet, but before he left home he prayed with and for his dear partner. He prayed long, and with unusual fervour and unction. When about to finish his devotion, he started again, and prayed for their aged and widowed mother; that her life might be spared, and her soul comforted. On the evening of the same day he led his class at Hunslet, and there prayed so fervently, that his sister, who was present, was afraid he would injure himself. He said to his members, "Now, all of you pray." All did pray, and he was, as usual, full of life and holy fervour. On this occasion he gave out one of his favourite lines. Little did he, or those around him, think that his work had so nearly finished, and that he should meet them no more on earth. On the Tuesday he performed an amount of work which some persons scarcely thought it proper for him to do, especially as he was not free from indisposition. There was a tea-meeting and a sale of useful articles at Hunslet Carr. He sent a sovereign, and paid for four or five persons to go to the tea-party, and then returned to Ripon with a bright countenance, a thankful heart, a cheerful tone, and spent a happy evening with his wife and her mother. On the Wednesday morning he rose, but was languid. He lay down, and then walked into the garden. He had a pain which he thought was the effect of flatulency. His hands had in them a sensation of heaviness, and for a time he supported them by putting them into a sling. He sent for his medical attendant, who prescribed for him, and expressed a hope that he would be all right again in a day or two. His pain, however, was not removed, and fearing that if he retired to rest early it would seem a long, tedious night, Mrs. Crampton and he did not retire till a quarter to one o'clock. They conversed on spiritual things. He told her of his trials through life, and the consolation he had invariably found in Christ. He spoke of ministers whom he loved, and the texts from which he had heard them preach. He was anxious to sing a hymn of praise, and tried, but could only "hum" the sacred song. Again and again he expressed his thankfulness that he was in the bosom of his family, with a wife kind, devout, and holy. Near one in the morning they retired to rest, thankful, confident, and happy. During the first hour Mrs. Crampton inquired two or three times if the pain was easier, to which he replied, "No; much the same." He then suddenly turned himself in bed, and began at once to breathe heavily. A light was immediately struck, and the impression was made on the mind of Mrs. Crampton that he was dying. Medical aid was sent for, but, alas! in vain; for in about ten minutes he died, and died without a struggle or a groan. His medical attendant gave it as his opinion that he had died of heart disease, symptoms of which he had observed the day previous. Thus, unexpectedly to himself and to others, he "ceased at once to work and live." He died on the 10th of November, in the sixtieth year of his age. His weeping widow, who is left alone to mourn his loss, feelingly writes-"As for me, sir, I feel my loss irreparable. I am bereft of one of the best of men and one of the kindest of husbands. very last he manifested the tenderest solicitude for me." To the The Leaders' Meeting at Hunslet passed the following resolution, a copy of which was forwarded to Mrs. Crampton :-"That this meeting desires to record its sense of bereavement and its sorrow at the sudden and unexpected removal from this world of our late brother Crampton, who for so many years has been our steady friend and counsellor; and, while bowing with submission to the decree of Heaven, would earnestly plead with the great Head of the Church, not only for resignation to his will, but that it may please him to raise up other and efficient labourers to fill up the gaps which from time to time his providence makes in our midst. It would also express its deep and sincere sympathy with Mrs. Crampton, the various members of the family, and the Ripon Circuit, under their irreparable loss, and prays that the solace and consolations of the Gospel may abound unto them.” His death was improved in our chapel at Hunslet by the Rev. C. Hibbert, and in our sanctuary at Ripon by the Rev. A. Lynn. In his death we have lost a sincere friend, his wife a kind husband, the Connexion a generous supporter and a zealous labourer, and the Church of God a burning and a shining light. Theology and General Literature. FULFILLED PROPHECY. THE CITIES OF JUDEA : THEIR PREDICTED OVERTHROW CONTRASTED WITH THEIR PRESENT DESOLATED CONDITION. "O'er Israel's desolated plains "In ages past a halo shone Of glory o'er that favoured land; IN our last paper we dwelt principally on the present aspect of the land of Judea, and, by a reference to the predictions of several of the |