| Experimental religion is the basis of the Christian's hope. The love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost, producing love to God, and love to man, creates a zeal for God's glory, and a yearning pity for those who have no hope beyond the grave. Such was the religion of our departed brother, and such he practically manifested in his proceedings while one of the church militant, as every one who knew him could testify. JOHN MAY, the subject of these remarks, was born in the parish of Gorran, in the County of Cornwall, on the 12th of January, 1822; and as soon as he knew good from evil, he had a tender conscience. When he was only six or seven years old if any one read or talked to him about the sufferings of Christ, he was soon melted down; and when he had done anything which he knew to be wrong, he would retire and weep and pray to the Lord for pardon, at the same time promising amendment. But as he advanced in years, mingling with evil company, he became more hardened, and lost in a measure that tenderness of conscience which trembled at the approach of sin. When he was about fourteen years old, a gracious revival took place at Boswinger Chapel, Gorran, and he was one of those who were convinced and converted to God. For some time he served the Lord, and realized some blessed seasons from the presence of Jehovah; but again, through unwatchfulness, associating with evil company, and following the vanities of this world, he lost his confidence in God, left his people, and launched out into sin; and his delight was to be where the pleasures of sin were to realized. In the seventeenth year of his age, while on a party of pleasure, he drank freely of intoxicating drinks; the next day through the effects of the liquor, he was very unwell, and began to consider what a life he had been living; how he had left his first love; and had returned "like the dog to his vomit," and "like the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire!" While thus suffering and meditating, he became determined to return to his first love; for it was better with him then, than now. Thus determined, he began to pray to God to have mercy on him, and continued to pray for some weeks. He was often melted down, and felt that "godly sorrow" that needs not be repented of; and one evening, while on his knees before retiring to rest, he was two or three hours praying to the Lord for the witness. At length it was applied to his mind, that he might pray until morning, if he did not believe his sins were pardoned: he was expecting the blessing before he believed. How often is this the case with penitent sinners? They want the blessing before they will believe. May every penitent sinner who seeks this blessing, be influenced by the same view of the subject. Our brother felt the force of this view, and said, "I believe that Christ died for me;" and he felt a measure of comfort at once; but it was not until the next day about noon, while going to one of the adjacent fields to pray, that the Lord shone gloriously upon his soul, and then he was able to rejoice abundantly in the possession of pardoning mercy; and from that period up to the time of his death he knew that his Redeemer liveth. After his conversion he was able to say, "The love of Christ doth me constrain, To seek the wandering souls of men, With cries, entreaties, tears to save, To snatch them from the gaping grave." He assisted in the prayer-meetings, and occasionally visited the sick; and on his nineteenth birth-day he preached his first sermon. From that time he went forward proclaiming the glad tidings to his fellow creatures; and although some times it was with fear and trembling, the Lord helped him through." He that winneth souls is wise;" and surely we may say he was instrumental in the hand of God of winning souls for his glory. During our revival, last season, in this circuit, he laboured zealously and earnestly for the welfare of immortal souls; and it is considered that through his over-exertion in the good work, the foundation of that disease was laid, which terminated his mortal career. When in the twenty first year of his age, his apprenticeship being nearly out, several of his acquaintance emigrating to America, he resolved on taking a similar step. On the 5th of March, 1842, he married a young woman, who was likewise of "the household of faith," and a little after that time left for America. As soon as he arrived at Whitby, in Upper Canada, he joined with his own people; and as there were friends there who knew him, there was no difficulty as to his having appointments on the Local Plan. After about two months he removed to the Township of Pickering, in the Whitby and Darlington Mission, where he and brother Thomas Courtice had to preach every alternate Sunday, except when the travelling preacher was there once a month. His services were greatly needed, as there were two or three places besides at which they had to preach. Here the Lord crowned his labours of love, for he had the pleasure to see souls brought from darkness to light. But the climate not agreeing with his constitution, the friends considered he had better leave for the benefit of his health; and his friends at home also wished him to return to England. He therefore left the Township of Pickering in the spring of 1843, for England; but when he came to Quebec was detained a month waiting for a vessel, during which time he was taken dangerously ill; but the Lord visited him in a wonderful manner, so that he was able to rejoice and say, "for me to live is Christ; but to die is gain." After his recovery he sailed from Quebec, and reached his native country in safety in the summer of 1843. His friends being aware of his return, got every thing comfortable for him, and he was again able to take sweet counsel with many of his old friends, and again to give himself up afresh to God. During his passage home, perhaps he was a little cast down. The writer of this well knows what it is for a christian man to be on ship-board; if he love his God, he will always have a pained mind;" perplexed, but not in despair," while hearing the bitter cursing practised by many sailors. May God hasten the conversion of those who live on the mighty deep. Our brother soon got into pleasant society again, on his native soil, and renewed his spiritual strength. Our late brother used frequently to retire to some field to pray, and many times the Lord has been unto him all that his soul required; but from time to time he had felt his mind pained through afflictions, which caused him to get into embarrassment, but his trust was in the Lord, and he was his support. He was a Shoemaker by trade, and as there was a good opening for him at Gerrans, where it was considered he would do well, he embraced it. A gracious revival was going on, and his labours were greatly needed, and he devoted himself to the work with earnest zeal, even beyond his physical strength. This shows the zeal of him who sacrificed his health for the welfare of precious souls. While this revival was in progress, our brother took the affliction which induced a decline, and during his illness he wrote the two following letters, one to his mother and another to his wife, that they might meditate on them after his decease. June 7th, 1848. MY DEAR MOTHER. - I shall soon, to all appearance, leave this world, I humbly hope and believe for a better one. We must be separated for a little while, but I hope you will live to God, and meet me again in heaven. Oh! how awful will it be, should you lose your soul and be plunged at last into the pit that burns with fire and brimstone. May the Lord help you to live to him. I earnestly entreat you to give your heart to God, and join his people. Attend the house of God whenever you can, and especially the Class-meetings; these are blessed meetings for helping on the christian towards heaven. Pray that God may give you right views and feelings. Pray for the pardon of all past sins, and cast your soul on Jesus as the only Saviour, and God will soon reveal to you his pardoning love. Wherever you go to live, be not ashamed to acknowledge that you are a follower of Jesus. Pray as much as you can. Bow your knees and pray to the God of all your mercies, every morning and evening, and whenever you have an opportunity in the day, and then God will bless you and preserve you unto eternal life. Oh! mother, live close to God, by watchfulness and prayer, and I hope I shall at last have the unspeakable pleasure of welcoming you, and all my little family, to the skies; where pain and parting will be no more. May God grant it for the Redeemer's sake. Amen. - Your affectionate son, JOHN MAY. MY DEAR WIFE.-I am very soon to exchange earth for heaven, so that we shall be separated for a short time; but I hope after a short separation to welcome you to the skies, where parting will be no more. I feel it my duty to give you a few words of advice before I leave you. I feel deeply interested in your welfare. May God be with you, protect, comfort, support, and guide you through life, and finally conduct you to the regions of eternal glory. My Dear Ann, strive at all times to keep your soul alive to God. Keep close to God by watchfulness and prayer, then all will be well, let death come when it may. Pray as much as you possibly can in private, and you will have sweet communion with God. Attend the means of grace as often as you can, especially the Class-meetings: this is a blessed means of grace; attend as often as you can, and you will find the benefit. Do all you can to bring the dear children up in the fear of the Lord. Take them often to the house of the Lord; talk to them about their souls, about God and heaven, and other things which concern their future state. Live to God, and He will be a husband unto you; He will provide for you, and bring you through life; and at last, through Christ, exalt you to heaven. And now I commend you to God, May He be around you as a wall of fire, and preserve you unto eternal life, for the Redeemer's sake, is the prayer of your affectionate husband. JOHN MAY. I felt strong attachment to our late brother for the piety he possessed, the love he manifested for the souls of his fellow travellers to another world, and his zeal in the cause of God. He was a total abstainer from all intoxicating drinks for upwards of eight years; and a worthy advocate of its cause. He was always ready to take any appointment that might be given him, and never complained of being appointed too often; although I have known him to have from eighteen to twenty appointments in a quarter. His discourses were weighty, and generally accompanied with the Divine influence. His last sermon was from 1 Cor. xv. 26; "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death;' and all through his affliction, his mind was stayed on the rock of eternal ages. Sometimes while very weak, he would say, his mind wandered, but still all was well. The Tuesday before his death, his wife said to him, "It is tiresome nights, and wearisome days with you, my dear;" his answer was, "I shall soon be where there is no night." On the day of his death, about four o'clock, he asked his wife, "Do you not think I am dying?" and after a pause, added, "I am dying; I shall soon be at home." At seven o'clock he said to his mother, "Happy is it for those who are prepared to die, as I am. I shall soon be in heaven: do you not wish I may?" And when his father-in-law came in, he inquired, "Is that John?" and when answered in the affirmative, he said to him, "I shall soon be in heaven." He requested his father in-law to take him out of bed, then he whispered to him, "I am dying," and sweetly fell asleep in Jesus, without a moan, on the 7th of September, 1848, in the 27th year of his age. Thus lived and died this humble and faithful servant of God; leaving behind a bereaved widow and three young children to lament their loss. His death was improved by Br. J. Chapple, in Boswinger Chapel, from Philippians i. 21; "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain," to a very attentive congregation; and as many friends could not get the opportunity to be present on that occasion, Br. Chapple was requested to preach the same sermon at Port Lone, which he did, and it was a refreshing season to believers, and I trust, seed sown in the sinner's heart, that shall take root. "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace." Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." May writer and reader live the life of the righteous, so that our last end may be like his. Amen. HENRY PINE. |