A spirit like mine, naturally active, feels much at being checked. But thank God, I have been enabled cheerfully to submit to be silent. My affliction has furnished me with an opportunity and an incentive to consider; and I have taken a view of myself both in retrospect and prospect. In looking back, I see much to lament, and to be ashamed of before the Lord; especially, in not giving him the glory due unto his name, and in not feeling that love to him which I ought to have done: I see that I have been mercifully, tenderly, and kindly dealt with. If my mortal race is nearly run, it has been but short; yet thank God, it has not been altogether useless. I have been able to accomplish one great end for which I was born, viz. to make a stand, for the last fourteen years, against the kingdom of Satan in these parts: And I have lived to see the firm establishment of the Redeemer's cause in Bassingham. Now when our work in the world is done, and God is pleased to call us to a more noble employment, where the body shall no more shackle the mind; we ought cheerfully to comply, whether at the age of thirty-eight (his own age at that time) or threescore years and ten. But after all, I seem to cling to life. My partner, my people, (meaning the society in Bassingham) my prospects of future usefulness, and the dawning of a glorious day, now breaking on our disordered and distracted world, seem to court my stay. Is this right? Do not, however, suppose that I have not looked forward to that world which is before me. I have; and I rejoice that revelation has shed a light so cheering on that state, unpierced by human thought. I see to whom I am infinitely indebted for my hopes, and prospects. His name is sweet to me. And I hope to be permitted, though the most unworthy of all his saints, to sound it forth in the heavenly mansions; and amid the shining ranks before the throne, to admire, adore, and love. For I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed unto him against that day." This extract, notwithstanding its great length, could not with propriety have been omitted, as it exhibits Mr. Dixon to our view at a season, and under circumstances, in which the influence of religious principles will be most evident and impressive, and furnishes a strong presumption of a glorious exit. From this affliction Mr. Dixon never recovered. For upwards of twelve months his complaint was in a fluctuating state; sometimes flattering him and his friends with a prospect of his recovery, and at other times threatening him with a speedy dissolution. In the summer of 1814, by the advice of his physician, he took a journey to Cheltenham, Bath, and Bristol, for the benefit of the air and waters. This journey does not appear to have had any other effect than to protract his existence a month or two 4 M 2 * THE METHODIST MAGAZINE, FOR SEPTEMBER, 1817. BIOGRAPHY. A SHORT MEMOIR OF MR. JOHN DIXON, (Concluded from page 569.) In his person, Mr. Dixon was tall and slender, and of a consumptive habit of body. This circumstance often exposed him to considerable risk with regard to his bodily health, especially after he began to preach. I am not sure that this constitutional tendency had not greatly endangered his life for more than twelve years before his exit. For thus he writes on the anniversary of his 27th year:-"My days have indeed been crowned with loving kindness and tender mercy. From my infancy many are the deliverances and interpositions of Providence which I have witnessed: yea, 'Oft from the margin of the grave But O the ingratitude my heart upbraids me with! How little have I done for God! How much of my time has run to waste! And perhaps my race is nearly run." In the spring, and particularly in the summer of 1805, he appears to have been very ill for many weeks together, and to have visited Sultfleet for the benefit of his health. Thus he writes in his journal of that year: "In the former part of this year, I found an active mind to do something for God, and had many precious seasons in publishing his word in different parts of the kingdom;-but in the latter part of it, he hath seen it good to try my passive graces, by laying on me his chastizing rod. I was afflicted for eight weeks together; part of which time I spent at Saltfleet, where I had many wearisome nights, nevertheless I enjoyed many happy 'seasons in the company of God's people." After this he became the subject of repeated and severe attacks of illness, which, together with VOL. XL. SEPTEMBER, 1817. * 4 M * longer. He left Bristol on the 23d of August, and by easy stages, as he could bear, reached Bassingham on the 8th of September. On the following sabbath he, for the last time, attempted to meet his class; but his weakness was so great as to render him incapable of doing any thing more than just to exhort his members to cleave unto the Lord and one another, seeking the witness of the Spirit; and then to conclude with prayer. He attended both the afternoon and evening of that day to hear preaching, and to renew his ticket. When interrogated by the preacher on receiving his ticket, concerning his state and prospect, he, for awhile, was utterly unable to reply; but at last, having struggled through his feelings, he said, "The time is now come that I must leave this dear people;" then turning to the people, he added, "The weight of God's cause will now rest on you; and woe be unto you if you let it sink. I have had much to bear, and to fight against pride, prejudice, opposition, and persecution, as many of you well know; but God has been with me, and he will be with you, and will help you. The cause is the Lord's, and it will stand." After this he left the chapel, to visit it no more, either as a minister or a hearer. On the following day, September 12, he was taken worse, and during the remainder of his life, was chiefly confined to his habitation. In his confinement he was visited by many of his friends, to whom he spoke most pointedly and affectionately on the infinite importance of eternal things. Towards the latter end of this month, he was favoured with what he termed a remarkable manifestation from the Lord. On this occasion he said to Mrs. Dixon, "I know not what the Lord is about to do with me, whether to raise me up again, to be more useful to precious souls than ever, or to take me to himself. I have had such a view of the love of God to a fallen world-of the wretched and miserable state of lost sinners, and of the love of Jesus, as I never had before. O the preciousness of Jesus!" He now became unable to proceed, from the fulness of his joy. Becoming a little more composed, he added, "I thought of one and another that I in the hand of God, had been the honoured instrument of plucking from the gulph of ruin; and that I shall have the unspeakable privilege of hailing their happy spirits, one after another, into the realms of endless bliss, and of presenting them to the Prince of life and glory. O the dazzling sight, too much for mortal eye." About the middle of November, he became incapable either of leading or taking any part in family worship. But these seasons of devotion neither appeared to be forgotten nor unimproved by him, as they were generally employed in prayer for himself, his beloved partner, and his family. Towards the close of this month, his bodily strength failed him much, and made it very evident that his end was now approaching. On the 25th, although he said but little, yet he oft repeated those lines of the poet : "Of health that pain and death defies, "Most vigorous when the body dies." Two days before his death, being asked by a friend, what he now thought of religion in general, and of Methodism and the Christian ministry in particular? he replied, "They now appear to me in a more glorious and exalted light than ever." Then grasping the hand of his friend, he said, with peculiar emphasis, Defend Methodism, for it is of God; particularly, the great doctrines of the witness of the Spirit and Christian perfection. Hold them up to the people, not only as doctrines which it is their duty to maintain, but their privilege to enjoy." Early in the morning of the day before he died, Mrs. Dixon heard him offering up the following prayer: "O Lord, according to all human appearance, I cannot be here more than two or three days at most. O! that thou wouldst thoroughly cleanse and make me pure, and give me an easy passage. I know that thou art pure, and that the inhabitants who surround thy throne are pure; and that were an unholy thing to enter thine abode, he would pollute the spotless throng." After a short pause, he added, "O! what a beautiful idea is that of Dr. Watts' The same day, on observing the people going to the chapel, he appeared much animated, and prayed earnestly that the blessing of God might rest on them. About six the following morning, he became very restless, but articulated much more plainly and strongly than he had done for several days before. He said to Mrs. Dixon," Come, all is done, all is finished; the work is completed; the mansion is prepared-I have only to enter." All present thought he was now going, and strongly testified their affectionate solicitude. On recovering a little, he thanked them all for their attention, and then shook every one by the hand. Mr. Lamb, a friend of his, coming in just at this time, he affectionately entreated him to attend to the numerous advices which he had given him from time to time; and then added, "I hope you will be a friend to my dear wife, for my sake." Feeling his mind remarkably upborne, he urged those about him to sing; and, as no one began, he exclaimed, "O! that I had a voice to make all the world to hear how precious Jesus is to me!" He then attempted to sing, "My God, the spring of all my joys, "The glory of my brightest days, |