clearness of utterance we never heard surpassed in health, and in tones more unearthly, more angelic, than ever before struck our ears. He ate and drank, and smoked his pipe. He chose his own hymns from memory; insisted on all present uniting in the singing, and he went through each verse as if he had read it from the book. The last he sang was the beautiful hymn beginning

"Jesus, lover of my soul."

Two verses being completed, in great exhaustion he commenced again, with all the earnestness he could command

"Other refuge, I have none;

Hangs my helpless soul on thee."

And these were nearly his last words. Shortly after he sank into a sleep, and his sainted spirit serenely passed to a better world. Mr. Barton died about half-past one on the morning of the 8th of December, 1859. His death was a fitting epilogue to a life singularly cheerful and interspersed with struggle and incident, while that life honourably and emphatically marked him as the man of business, the patriot, and the Christian.

We had purposed a sketch of Mr. Barton's character, but our space is already occupied. The reader himself will be able to draw that character with tolerable accuracy from the facts of Mr. Barton's life. His nature was tender and affectionate beyond what we ever saw, except in the gentler sex, and this was associated with a very uncommon amount of firmness and decision, still more rare in such combination. His fidelity to principle was such as to lead him to sacrifice anything rather than violate his conscience. Strong common sense marked all his proceedings, and guided him in the choice of sides on all public questions. The working classes always found him their friend, while the oppressor seldom escaped his severest reprobation. Nor was he ever afraid manfully to express his opinions. No one ever thought of calling in question his integrity. He was a thorough-going Nonconformist; an advanced Liberal, though not a revolutionist, in politics; and he was a man of very extensive general information. Few men read half as much as did Mr. Barton, and few men retain so much of what they read. In the social and domestic relations, he was a model of all that is excellent and agreeable. No matter in what company found himself, he could not remain long without becoming a general favourite. His conversational powers, his common sense, his decided opinions, and his affability, made him the life and soul of every social circle he entered. His singular power of narrating events was unequalled, as far as we know. The ability to retain the attention and sustain the interest for hours, is no ordinary one; yet Mr. Barton had this power, and he could do it, too, with a very stupid listener, even while he entered into the merest details and the minutest particulars. He was constitutionally sedate and serious, though always cheerful. Nor was he less successful in moving the sympathetic and tender susceptibilities of human nature. At home, among his children, all the more amiable features of his character lent their aid to diffuse a sense of security, of confidence, and of joy. His religion was pure and undefiled, .and was the habit of his mind. His abiding reverence of the Divine Being, his gratitude and humility, his love and devotion, his incessant

he

labours in the cause of Christ, altogether won for him a high position in the Church, and the sweet savour of his example will long influence the Church at Rochdale. "His works do follow him."

Mr. Barton, however, was no bigot. He had no denunciations for those who differed from him; and, even when in intimate association with the sceptic or the atheist, he made himself agreeable, but showed his reverence for religion and his love of the Saviour by the strictest attention to the more private duties of prayer and communion with his heavenly Father. He was a rigid Methodist, but knew how to allow his brethren another opinion. Yet he liked you all the better so long as you kept within the range of John Wesley and John Fletcher.

In speaking of Mr. Barton, John Bright, the eminent parliamentary orator, in a letter to one of the family, says :-"I have had the pleasure and advantage of an acquaintance and friendship with Mr. Barton for nearly thirty years, and have always admired the consistency of his course, both in his private and public walk. He was for some years engaged in contests of an irritating character in connection with the church-rate question in the parish, and was often assailed with much abuse; but he never departed from the moderation which becomes the profession of a Christian, and seemed always anxious to put the best construction he could upon the motives and conduct of his opponents. In public and in private life he was a man much to be respected, and his removal from amongst us has been a real loss to our town. In saying this, I am only expressing the feeling of all those to whom his character and services are best known.-I am, very respectfully, yours, JOHN Bright.”

The Rev. T. Allin remarks:-"His faith worked by a love which purified his heart and regulated his conduct; he, in fact, believed, preached, and lived the Gospel. His family have lost an affectionate father, a wise counsellor, an exemplar worthy of their imitation, and a parent whose grey hairs were an honour both to himself and them. But he has left them his example, his counsels, and his prayers. By his death, the Church in Rochdale has lost the man who laid its foundation, and was a chief instrument in raising the superstructure. During many a year, the chief burden of its cares rested on his shoulders, and nobly did he sustain it. The Church had his thoughts, affections, labours, and prayers; and when its peace was broken by faction, and its growing power paralyzed by separation, he, as the faithful standardbearer, remained unmoved amidst the shock of conflict. His unquestionable piety, unwavering attachment to principle, wisdom in counsel, dignified firmness in danger, acceptable and useful services as a local preacher and leader, and the uniform consistency which marked his Christian character, rendered him at once one of the Church's most useful members, strongest pillars, and brightest ornaments. His religion, being vital and practical, led him uniformly to labour to keep a conscience void of offence both towards God and man. In civil as well as in religious matters, he was firm to his convictions, and conscientious in upholding them; but while doing so, he exemplified the catholicity of his spirit by allowing freely to others the same right of private judgment which he claimed for, and exercised, himself. He thus secured what he merited, the esteem of all classes of society. Sincerely would I say:. Let me die the death of Mr. Barton, and let my last end be like his."

The Rev. W. Cooke writes :-" Ever since I knew him, I regarded him as a sterling character, conscientious in principle, decided in his convictions, upright in conduct, and thoroughly pious; and my views of him have never changed. His attachment to the Connexion was evident in his steadfast adherence to its principles, and his labours to promote its interests, amidst changing scenes and circumstances. While I mourn over his death, and deeply sympathize with those who have lost one of the best of fathers, I feel not a little consolation in the fact that he died as he had lived an honoured member of our denomination, and in the assurance that loss to us is eternal gain to him.”

THE FUNERAL.

THE respect in which the late Mr. William Whittle Barton was held was fully demonstrated by the attendance at his interment, which took place in the Rochdale New Cemetery, on the 14th December. At halfpast ten the Baptist Chapel, Drake Street, was opened for the accommodation of those who wished to join in the mournful cortége, and soon after his Worship the Mayor, and several members of the Town Council, arrived. Shortly before eleven, John Bright, Esq., M.P., entered the chapel. Soon after eleven, the procession was formed in front of the chapel, the Mayor, Alderman Heape, and the Town-Clerk heading it. Besides these were the ex-Mayor, Aldermen Tatham, Healey, Livsey, and Ashworth; Councillors Scott, Moore, Petre, E. Taylor, Pagan, Simpson, and Todd; John Bright, Esq., M.P.; Revs. T. Newton, J. Molineux, T. Rudge, J. Graham, A. M'Curdy, T. Allin, and W. Shuttleworth; John Robinson, Esq., Liverpool; Robert Ashworth, Esq., Benjamin Heape, Esq., T. Southworth, Esq., William Heaton, Esq., J. Davenport, Esq., Superintendent Callender, Mr. McDougall, surveyor; Messrs. Crowther, W. Shepherd, T. Buckley, R. Bell, John Ashworth, J. Scholfield, J. Stewart, T. Schofield, E. Newby, J. Howarth, C. Howarth, E. Earnshaw, R. Mills, W. Nield, Settle; J. Pollitt, J. Butterworth; John Sparrow, J. Cunliffe, T. Bullock, of Manchester, &c. &c.

Large numbers watched the procession as it passed through the streets, and several private carriages formed part of the cortége.

On the arrival at the Cemetery Chapel, the Rev. Thomas Allin read portions of Scripture, and pronounced an eloquent and touching oration over the body, which was then committed to its resting-place, to await in peace the call of the great Judge. The Rev. A. M'Curdy read the burial service, and the Rev. T. Rudge pronounced the benediction.

The members of the Council who had attended the funeral afterwards met at the residence of Alderman Heape, and, after some conversation, the Mayor, Alderman Ashworth, Councillors Petre, Moore, and Scott, were appointed a committee to promote a subscription for the erection of a suitable monument over the grave of the late Mr. William Whittle Barton. THOMAS BULLOCK.

Manchester, March 13, 1861.

EARLY RISING. For certain it is, that on entering middle life, he who would keep his brain clear, his step elastic, his muscles from fleshiness, his nerves from tremor--in a word, retain his youth in spite of the register— should beware of long slumbers. Nothing ages like laziness.-Bulwer,

Essays, &c., on Theology and General Literature.

WORLDLY CONFORMITY, AND ITS CURE.

[Ar the Conference held in Hanley in Whit-Week, 1860, the following resolution was passed :

"That this Conference deems it desirable, and hereby recommends, that at each Conference a paper on some practical topic be read, which shall be the basis of a discussion by the members of Conference, in the presence of friends and visitors; the subject to be fixed, and the brother, by whom the paper is to be prepared and read, to be appointed at each Conference in readiness for the succeeding Conference. On the recommendation of a committee, consisting of the Revs. W. Cooke, P. T. Gilton, and J. Addyman, it was resolved that the paper for the next Conference shall be 'The Withering Influence of Worldly Conformity on the Churches,' and that the Rev. P. J. Wright prepare such paper."

Accordant with the above resolution, a paper was prepared, and, at the Conference held in Liverpool in Whit-Week, 1861, it was read. When it had been read, the Conference resolved :

"The thanks of Conference are hereby presented to the Rev. P. J. Wright for his able and valuable paper on The Withering Influence of Worldly Conformity on the Churches,' and that he be requested to publish it in our large Magazine, and that separate copies thereof be printed and circulated as widely as possible."

In compliance with this request, I now publish the paper.]

"Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."-PAUL.

THE Church exerts an influence on the world, and the world exerts an influence on the Church. The members of the Church are brought into contact with the men of the world, and both parties act and react on each other. Hence, the modifications of character among saints and sinners. The godly uplift the morality of the ungodly, and the ungodly lower the piety of the godly. By words, tempers, actions, and habits, the converted restrain vice in the unconverted, and the unconverted check virtue in the converted. Like the soft air of the south, and the warm light of the sun, making the earth beautiful and productive, the spirituality of believers adorns unbelievers with much that is lovely and of good report. Like the keen wind of the north, and the dark cloud of the sky, rendering the earth unsightly and barren, the worldliness of unbelievers disfigures believers with much that is unpleasing and reprehensible. It is not the will of God that the earthlyminded, who mind earthly things, should corrupt and debase the Church; but that the spiritually-minded, who mind spiritual things, should purify and elevate the world. The disciples of Jesus Christ, therefore, should watch, pray, and contend against the witchery of worldliness. If they do this, they will keep themselves pure and do good; they will shine as lights and act as salt; they will present an example and exert an influence that will glorify God and bless mankind. If they neglect to do this, they will not overcome the world, for the world will overcome them; its spells will lead them captive into forbidden paths, where baleful elements will cause their fairest virtues to wither away, and render them unfit to subdue men to the obedience of Jesus Christ.

First. The Nature of Worldly Conformity.-To define worldly

conformity, and to show in what it consists, there must be calm thought and unfaltering utterance. The excitement of prejudice will produce exaggeration, and the fear of man will make the trumpet give an uncertain sound. Worldly conformity is not diligence in business, nor love of literature, nor courteous manners, nor healthful recreation. Christians may cultivate these things and not be chargeable with conformity to the world. Worldly conformity is the conformation of our conduct to those customs and habits of society which are not accordant with the will of God. Such customs and habits are threefold— namely, intellectual, physical, and social. Intellectual.-Men of the world cherish vain thoughts. They originate romantic ideas and build castles in the air. The chambers of imagery in their hearts are full of earthly and sensual imaginings. They picture to their minds abundance of gold, costly furniture, expensive dress, choice food, sparkling drink, and carnal pleasure. Conformity to the world is indulgence in similar thoughts, the cultivation of a similar mental habit. Men of the world read vain things. We know that a select number of these individuals peruse instructive works on philosophy, history, science, art, and commerce; but the multitude luxuriate in light literature. Novels, plays, impure poetry, romantic adventures, ridiculous lovescenes, empty dialogues, and exciting tales, are obtained and perused with extraordinary eagerness. Thus their faculties are enervated, their affections polluted, and their habits debased. Conformity to the world is a perusal of such writings in preference to works which strengthen the intellect and improve the character. Physical.-Many earthly-minded persons lie in bed several hours on the Lord's-day; others sit in easy chairs, or lounge on sofas, instead of engaging in public worship; others stand at the corners of the streets, making remarks on passers-by, and pulling one another about, instead of reverently attending the house of God; others visit their friends, or wander into the fields, or make excursions by railway, instead of remembering the Sabbath to keep it holy; others clean their door-steps and prepare luxurious dinners on Sunday morning, instead of cleansing their hearts and feeding on the bread of life; others ride to chapel in cabs, when they could easily walk; others, at various times, fight one another; others, day after day, exhaust themselves with undue secularity; others stupify themselves with immoderate smoking; others debase themselves with excessive drinking; and others pollute themselves with fouler animalism. Conformity to the world is indulgence in any of these disgraceful and pernicious habits. Social.-Persons who love the world and the things of the world delight in vain show and animal excitement. They clothe themselves with unseemly apparel; they resort to the theatre, that they may laugh at low comedy and weep at thrilling tragedy; they enter the tavern, the public-house, or the beer-shop, to read the newspaper, talk about politics, partake of strong drink, and engage in boisterous merriment; they sit down at home to play at cards, or some other foolish and hurtful amusement; they meet in gay companies, amid the glitter of light and the sound of music, to sing exciting songs, and to join in the flaunting dance through the live-long night"Till cold-eyed day the room invades, With uncongenial smile."

Conformity to the world is imitation of these customs and participation