made so many vows, the Lord saith, "Come now, and let us reason together: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isa. i. 18. If you still think I have not specified your character, take this summary invitation: "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." John vi. 37. Honour him by believing his word. Set it down in your minds that he is faithful, that he means what he says. Put him to the test, and you shall know that he does not mock you. Believe not the men of the world, nor your heart, when they tell you it is all enthusiasm. Oh that we could persuade you to make the trial for yourself; for there is no reason why you should not acquaint yourself now with Him, and be at peace, that good may come unto you.

"Retreat beneath his wings,

And in his grace confide:

This more exalts the King of kings,
Than all your works beside."

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF JOYCE NICHOLLS.

To the Editor.-The retrospection of former days, and the recollection of old friends who were genuine supporters of the cause which we espouse in its infancy, causes us to look back on God's gracious dealings with gratitude, and induces us to record their christian kindness to us, and their faithfulness to God, when their bodies lie mouldering in the silent grave.

The subject of the following remarks was one of our unchangeable friends and supporters in the earlier days of the denomination. Being solicited by her surviving relations, I have complied with their wishes in preparing a short account of her christian life, with certain incidents connected therewith. If you deem it worthy of a place in the Biographical department of the Bible Christian Magazine, it is at your service.

I am, dear brother,
Yours sincerely,
W. MASON.

JOYCE NICHOLLS departed this life October 28th, 1855, aged 80 years. Her maiden name was HAWKEN, a native of St. Breward in the county of Cornwall, where she resided until she was married to Mr. CHRISTOPHER NICHOLLS, in the year 1798, in the 23rd year of her age.

In 1797, the Methodists had an extensive revival in the Camelford Circuit. Among great numbers who then obtained the pardoning love of God, was Joyce Hawken, with two brothers and five sisters. Previous to that period, conversion to God was little thought of, and less known, by the people in that neighbourhood; but now some making profession of such attainment, struck the residue with surprise and caused great excitement in the neighbourhood. Some gave credit to their assertions, and others did not; the better informed were humbled, others persecuted; so the pouring out of God's Spirit soon drew the line of distinction between the followers of

Christ and others; verifying the saying of Christ, "I come not to send peace on the earth but a sword!" The excitement produced led to the conversion of some, while it stirred up some bitterly to oppose those who submitted to the call of the gospel.

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Miss Hawken, for one, had trials from a near quarter shortly after her conversion, which it was thought retarded her progress; but there was another more probable cause; a snare mose artfully laid for her by the enemy of souls, which has awfully succeeded in the downfall of many pious youths of both sexes. A previous correspondence had been formed with Mr. Nicholls, who still remained unconverted. She had convictions that to continue the correspondence would endanger her happiness in this life, and in that which is to come; yet, like too many who listen to the fine tales and fair ises of deceitful suitors, she ventured to plight hands with an unconverted man, about twelve months after her conversion to God. Some may probably think that they shall be the means of their partner's conversion; but is not this sinning "that grace may abound?" How few who venture on this perilous course but are themselves destroyed in their fruitless attempt. This was the unhappy result of our sister's union; she fell from grace; and for ten or eleven years went mourning a backslider from God, under the powerful apprehensions of a backslider's hell for her portion.

Her husband was very fond of intoxicating beverages, and this alone is sufficient to harden a man's heart against God and godliness. He became her enemy in matters of religion; opposed her attendance on the means of grace; and through the greatest portion of her marriage life, she had to suffer through being "unequally yoked" to an unbeliever. I am happy to state that in his latter years there was a partial reformation. One informs me as follows;-" As regards his opposition to his wife in religious matters, he entirely reformed, years before his death:-he had preaching in his house, and was anxious to have it; he also took in the preachers most kindly. He was a kind neighbour; upright in his dealings; he saw the right, and desired to be religious, but still pursued the wrong in the continued use of, and great love for intoxicating drinks, which was thought to be the chief, and almost the only thing which prevented his embrac ing christianity."

The ten or eleven years in which Mrs. Nicholls remained in a state of backsliding, was a period in her life of indescribable spiritual sorrow, combining in her sad experience, condemnation for leaving the God of love, with dark despair of ever regaining the divine favour. She was so much overcome by despondency that for some time she could not read the word of God, or bear to hear it read; yea so prevalent was despair, that she gave up prayer and all hope of heaven.

In the year 1810, the Wesleyan Methodists had another revival in the Camelford circuit. At this time her husband was renting a farm in the parish,of Davidstow. Many at this time also, obtained pardon through the merits of Christ; and among the rest, the Lord had compassion on this backslidden daughter; he furnished her with desires to return; gave her power to repent of her retrogression; and after a fortnight's deep distress, with cries and tears night and day, the Lord was pleased to enable her once more to take refuge in the

wounds of a crucified Saviour. For a while she went on rejoicing in her restoration to God's favour; but this revival (as in too many instances we experience it) was followed by a prevailing dulness among the churches in the neighbourhood; life and energy was lost in apathy and formalism, and sister Nicholls participated too much of the same lethargic spirit; indifference began to steal on her mind; she became remiss in the performance of her christian duties; but did not, as in the former case, wholly fall away; yet she had to say,

"Tis worse than death my God to love ;
And not my God alone."

In the year 1817, the newly formed denomination, now called Bible Christians, went into that neighbourhood to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. Great numbers attended on their ministry; the Lord owned it in a signal manner; scores, if not hundreds in the vicinity of Camelford were brought in a short time to the knowledge of the truth. Sister Nicholls was one who attended their ministry, and was afresh baptized with the Holy Spirit. She continued to follow us, and being so frequently benefited and blessed in our places of worship, uninvited, she concluded on uniting with us as a member of our Society.*

In the year 1818, I was appointed to labour in that Circuit, which was my first acquaintance with her. I had the pleasure to witness her very due attendance at the means of grace, (notwithstanding the opposition at home) the spiritual life and vivacity which she manifested in the worship of God. She not only attended herself, but brought her daughters with her; thus early accustoming them to the house and service of God, which produced most pleasing effects on the minds of the children. Two of her daughters have been very useful among us as public characters. She met in a society that we had formed near Camelford, for six or seven years, during which time she ornamented her christian profession with great consistency and uniformity; showing to all the verity of that scriptural declaration :— "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, and all things are become new."

In the year 1824, the family removed to a farm in the village of Trebenny, in the parish of St. Juliot, which they occupied about 16 years. A few weeks after their arrival, preaching was commenced at their house, and was continued during their stay, and for years after their removal. Neither the ages of time, nor eternity itself, will

*We have not been in the habit of inviting members of other communities to unite with us. Our work is to thin the army of the enemy, and not to waste other churches to increase our own numbers. During the 39 years of my itinerancy, to my knowledge, I have not invited one individual of another society to join us. Some from a conviction of duty, and others through convenience, have come over to us, and we have received them, who have been rendered a blessing to us, and we have been made a blessing to them, as in the case of Mrs. Nicholls; but with others who have come among us, the result has been the contrary.

Hundreds who have been converted among us have united with other parties; and I believe they have very cordially received them; and some parties have gone a little further than that of receiving those who have offered themselves; but I spare them. So far from being injurious to other Christian Societies where we have come, I believe our feeble ministry has been a blessing to them in many parts, especially in Cornwall; if so, let us take courage and rejoice in the prosperity of all christian communities, whoever may be the instrument.

obliterate from the minds of some, the glorious manifestations of God's presence so signally evinced when the people have been worshipping in that house. No doubt it will be said, when God "writeth up his people," that this and that one was born there." The seven children which the Lord had given her, save one or two, were converted to God; neither one of them, I believe, have returned to the world. From the family it extended to the neighbours, and so mightily did the Spirit of God work among them, that I have been informed, that out of eight or ten families in the village, not more than five grown persons remained unconverted.

The profuse display, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit among the villagers, caused an excitement throughout the neighbourhood, to the great increase of the congregation; and as on the day of Pentecost, some stood amazed, some doubted, some mocked, while others, like the "three thousand," who were "pricked in their hearts," cried "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Trebenny being a place noted for conversions, individuals seeking salvation have been known to come from miles around, hoping there to find peace with God; and they were seldom disappointed; not that any supposed there was virtue in that place more than in another; but those who were faithful to God were found there, and by coming hither, the anxious inquirer enlisted their sympathies and prayers on his behalf, which God was pleased abundantly to answer, and the promise was verified, "According to thy faith, be it done unto thee." On certain occasions, even whole nights have been passed in that house in prayer for the distressed; and there have been instances of the labour in the field being left, and the inmates have gone to the house to pray with and for mourners overwhelmed with guilt and condemnation. This unusual way of procedure, being so unlike the ways and views of the world generally, created a great talk, and much persecution. An outstanding old woman of the village, said ;- "Why do they keep praying so in the lower house? I think they will disturb the very heavens! I wonder the angels don't come down among them. I think there must be an enchantment among them, or the shoemakers would not all be converted as they are." There were several shoemakers of one family in the village, who, in a few days, were all converted to God.

In the year 1834, her husband died; there were reasons to hope that he landed safe at last, as one saved "by the skin of his teeth.' She continued in the farm at Trebenny six years after his decease, with her children, who acted in subordination to their mother, and continued to walk in the fear of the Lord. In that period of her life, she had to experience many exercising occurrences; "bad luck," as it is called, befell them. In a short time their cattle died away to the value of scores, if not hundreds of pounds-the cattle being strangely diseased and soon dead-and their corn withering away in some of their best land, caused some to conclude that they were injured by some ill disposed person or persons. As to these matters I can be no judge; but confess I know nothing about it, nor do I want to know. I will not meddle with things too high for me. By whatever influence it was occasioned, whether by a bad agency, or by the design of an allwise and good Providence, great was the loss in property sustained, which was at least permitted by the God of

that

all our mercies. Under these reverses she still clave to the Lord "with purpose of heart," showing a good degree of resignation to the divine pleasuse, and seeming to say, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." Her trust was in the merits of Christ for eternal life, and the treasure that will not diminish-the riches that fade not away-"reserved in heaven for the faithful." Having the prelude of that everlasting possession, she was taught to submit to that painful vicissitude for a short season, and could say, "he knoweth the way I take, and when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." About the year 1840, she retired from business. Leaving Trebenny, she went to reside at Meadrose, in the parish of St. Teath, at which place she ended her mortal career. There she was much privileged with the means of grace; our chapel being but a few yards from her dwelling. At the Conference of 1844, I was again appointed to that Circuit, and found Mrs. Nicholls still holding on her way, and possessing unmistakable evidence of the divine favour. She still retained her lively and cheerful manner, yet the signs of old age were very perceptible. She had been a strong, active woman; of a strong mind, and good understanding; especially in religious matters. Few understood the plan of salvation better, and she was well acquainted with the Divine requirements, and what the followers of Christ ought to be; but on my return to the Circuit I could discover that her physical vigour, and her keenness of perception, were yielding to the rapid decline of life. She was still very regular in her attendance both at the private and public means of grace; but few, if any, exceeded her in this laudable course. Her conversation was generally of a religious character, and I have observed when conversing with her on other subjects, that she would naturally slide into a religious topic, as though that was her beloved element, and there she delighted to dwell.

She was of very industrious habits; seldom was she to be found idle; either sewing or knitting; even death found her thus employed at his approach. The year before her death she had a serious illness, through which she was confined to her bed six weeks. As the harbinger of death, she heard affliction's voice-took the warning-and greatly improved thereby. She was naturally of an irritable disposition, and quickness of temper was her besetment; but her friends have informed me, that from the time of that affliction, she was in a great measure, if not wholly, delivered from that evil propensity; which is to me an indication that the work of sanctification was graciously deepened in her soul. She professed strong confidence in the atonement of Christ, and bore her affliction with uniform patience and resignation. She enjoyed much of the divine presence, saying, she was willing and ready to depart if the Lord saw fit to take her. deepening of the work of grace was very apparent through the remaining moments of her life, as she became more and more conformable to Christ. As she was suddenly taken, and deprived of the power of speech, what a source of consolation it must be to her surviving friends, when they reflect on the evident proficiency she was daily making, up to the end of her race; as the shock of corn ripening for the harvest! Although our friends may at the last be speechless, and unconscious, their christian lives assure us of their safety; and to such the promises apply; "For the Lord thy God is

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