closet. A full view of the annual statistics of Methodism would, I fear, bring before us a very large amount of religious declension. Our statement of increase is, as the tradesman would say, not gross, but nett. All deficiencies must be supplied before any increase can be reckoned. There will be many deaths returned, and some conscientious and unavoidable removals from us. But still we should find the number returned under the head of 'backsliders' painfully large. And if we were to add these numbers together for half a dozen or a dozen years, I am apprehensive that the amount would swell so under our hands, that we should come from the calculation trembling and dispirited; and while we should still rejoice in the mercy that gave to us more than we had lost, so sad a view of human negligence, ingratitude, and guilt, would be sure to make us rejoice with trembling. An observant friend of mine once remarked to me, 'Sir, these large cities and towns swarm with backsliders and of these the word of truth, the rule of future judgment, declares, As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, the Lord will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity.' I am not writing controversially; my remarks must, therefore, be founded on the admitted principles of the body. And speaking on these principles, not only are the injuries which backsliders inflict on the public character of religion so great, but their own state in reference to God and eternity is so awful, that it becomes a deeply important question,-By what means may the annual amount of backsliding be diminished? Many replies, and all of them valua ble, might be given to this inquiry. I am going to direct attention to one only; and that, as suggested by the first sentence in this paper; returning to which, I would again say, ordinarily, religious declension begins at the closet. One remedy, therefore, against backsliding, one important preventive of an evil of such terrible magnitude, must be found in the closet; in a more punctual and diligent attendance on its sacred duties. Here, too, I have a large subject before me too large, indeed, for entire investigation in the present paper. On one of its branches only am I going at present to remark. Some of the regular contributors to the Magazine may, perhaps, be induced to take up other branches; and thus the readers be presented, number after number, with a succession of practical essays, which may, by God's blessing, contribute largely to their Christian preservation and establishment. Should this be the case, I trust that I shall, in the privacy of my own closet, humbly and devoutly praise God that I was led to form, and enabled to carry into effect, the design of opening the way for the valuable remarks of others, by a few plain ones of my own.

The point to which I wish to conduct my readers will appear to them when I ask, Even where, as to the mere fact of performance, closet exercises are not neglected, are they not sometimes so performed as that they leave but few blessings behind them? They are designed, as channels, to convey to the soul the grace of our

Lord Jesus Christ; and he came not only that we might have life, but that we might have it more abundantly. Now, may we not so go through them as to find in them no pleasure, to derive from them no profit? And thus may we not be merely impelled to the closet by a conviction of duty, and not at all attracted by the recollection of past pleasure, and the hope of renewed advantage? And thus, may not temptation the more easily lead us to the omission of what is comparatively unpleasant duty, and so may we not the more easily be next led to the actual commission of pleasant evil? Let the Christian examine himself, first, indeed, as to the fact of regular attendance on closet duties; but let him next inquire, Has there been, both previously and at the time, due thought and reflection? Has there been that mental preparation which ought to go before all our direct and solemn approaches to God? And though the Christian may with much benefit seize on a few hurried moments, unexpectedly occurring, for a brief elevation of his spirit, yet his regular closet exercises ought not to be such. Private worship is as really the worship of Almighty God, and therefore as truly requires preparation, as public worship itself. Our endeavour should be to disengage and collect our thoughts, and to stir up our feelings; that so, having put our shoes from off our feet, we may go on the holy ground, and commune with him whose sacred presence shall surely be with us.

As far as possible, a regular time for religious retirement should be fixed upon, and this should be conscientiously observed. Such times should be fixed with a due regard to our ordinary engagements, so that interruptions may be of very unfrequent occurrence. And when this arrangement cannot be made as part of our regular distribution of time, and in some cases perhaps it cannot,-might it not be done weekly, or even daily? You are not able to fix on an hour which you can observe throughout the year; for your employments may vary, and require a varying distribution of your time; but can you not do it for a month? for a week? At any rate, you can for one day. And if your power over your own time extends no further, let this be one of your first morning inquiries, What is my business to-day? What time can I best devote to a careful obedience to my Saviour's command, 'ENTER INTO THY CLOSET? If possible, the arrangement should be made for a longer interval; but let it be made daily, rather than not at all. Let it be made in the fear of God, with a solemn conviction of duty and privilege; and, being made, let it be strictly observed.

Something, however, beyond all this, should be made the subject of previous inquiry and arrangement. We should ask, How much time can I devote to my closet? Some will be able to give more; some are obliged to give less. In thus devoting our time, the same rule holds good which the apostle has laid down for the government of the sum of pecuniary contribution :-'Let every man do as the Lord has prospered him.' Only, let time be allowed sufficient for

the work which has to be done. Part of that work is PRAYER. say, part of that work is prayer,-a very important, an indispensable part, certainly; still, it is only a part, and a part which usually cannot be properly performed without more or less attention to the other. I will call that other part, MEDITATION; using the word in rather a large sense, and, particularly, as including DEVOTIONAL READING, and REFLECTION thereupon. I have often thought that the importance of meditation, as one of those religious exercises for which we are to enter into our closet,' has not been sufficiently recollected. The precise character and object of our reflections may indeed vary. They may sometimes flow in the channel of an adoringly-grateful remembrance of the goodness of God; whether general, as to mankind at large, or special, as it may have been manifested to ourselves. They may lead to the application of the Divine law, in its principles, or some of its requirements, to our own past conduct or present character, and so be self examination. But, whatever be the precise character they may from time to time assume, still we may not dispense with them. Meditation is a necessary part of private devotion; and in the vast majority of cases, particularly with those who have not much time for thinking, and who have not been able to acquire the habits of a commanding and easy abstraction from outward objects which have just been left, and to which they must almost immediately return, in order to devotional meditation, devotional reading is necessary. Our place of retirement ought to be furnished with a Bible, and a few select devotional works; a few brief passages from which may assist in withdrawing the mind from earth, awakening the fire, already on the altar, into a pure and bright and aspiring flame; and may thus enable us to spend that portion of our short retirement which is allotted to prayer, the most acceptably to God, and the most profitably to ourselves.

On the subject of devotional reading, I may now say that none are more highly favored in this respect than the Wesleyan Methodists, if they but knew their good.' Many do, and avail themselves of the opportunities with which they are thus, in the order of Divine providence, favored. I fear there are many who do not. At any rate, it may be allowed me to endeavour to stir up the pure mind by way of remembrance;' and to remind even the poorest among us, that the attainment of a closet devotional library is by no means difficult, much less an impossible matter.Mr. Wesley was evidently very deeply impressed with the importance of devotional reading, and laboured diligently, and to the end, in endeavouring to promote it among the members of the religious societies which he had formed, and over which he did indeed watch as one' that felt he must give account.' Some works he abridged, others he composed, directly for this purpose. And since his removal from us, the list has not been allowed to remain without additions. Suppose that a poor man has on his closet shelf, a Bible, a Hymnbook, [Law's Se

rious Call, Christian's Pattern,] Baxter's Saint's Rest, (both the last abridged by Mr. Wesley,) Mr. Wesley's Sermons, together with two or three dozen of tracts selected from our own list; to these may be added, [Portrait of St. Paul, Mrs. Rowe's Devout Exercises, Christian's Manual, &c,] as opportunity may allow, the Lives of [John and Charles Wesley, Fletcher, Benson, Garrettson,] John Nelson, Hester Ann Rogers, Lady Maxwell, &c. He who is thus furnished, and who has already 'tasted that the Lord is gracious,' and both earnestly desires and steadfastly purposes, that his 'spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord,' is prepared for a profitable course of devotional reading. I do not mean to say that they who can afford the more expensive sacrifice should confine themselves to the pair of turtle doves and two young pigeons; I only wish to remind the Methodists, that the poorest of them may have on their closet shelf, if a small, yet an invaluable devotional library. And by the proper use of such books as I have mentioned, closet exercises would be rendered more advantageous by being made more delightful; and the certain union of delight and profit would produce such an attachment to the duty whence they were derived, that omission would never occur but when really unavoidable; and, then, there would be a feeling of real disappointment. Now, let us suppose, that in the course of the day only fifteen minutes could at one time be spared,-and that, surely, is an estimate so low as only to be applicable in few cases,—but take fifteen minutes. On entering your closet, breathe an earnest prayer for the promised presence and blessing of God. Give seven or eight minutes to reading and meditation; and then, with a mind thus composed, with affections thus rekindled, 'pour out your heart before God,' and commune with Him who seeth in secret.' Let the immediate matter of your communings be as your spirit may then and there prompt. Whether they chiefly consist of adoration, or praise, or confession, or prayer, or intercession, it signifies not. You are waiting upon God, and you shall renew your strength. Of the wisdom which is unto salvation,-of the love which elevates, and comforts, and purifies,-you shall receive a large increase. Thus using the appointed means, God 'shall preserve you from falling;' and you shall not be of the number of them that draw back to perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.' And while your closet is a spiritual armoury, whence you may come prepared for battle and strengthened for victory, often shall it be as those delectable mountains, so delightfully alluded to by honest John Bunyan. Wide, and rich, and clear shall be your prospects of the promised land; and while you are thus animated by an ever-brightening hope, earthly things shall lose their power over you, and you shall pass through things temporal so as not to lose things eternal. And in this way shall you prove, that if religious declension ordinarily begins at the closet, a practical and diligent

attention to its sacred duties is one of the most effectual means of your establishment in the grace of God here, and your full and glorious salvation hereafter. E. T.

LIFE OF BISHOP ASBURY.

In a review of the Life of the Rev. F. Garrettson, in our number for July last, we took occasion to express our regret, 'that notwithstanding the employment of a gentleman for the purpose, some twelve or thirteen years since, and the payment of a considerable sum of money, a Life of Francis Asbury has not yet been produced.' We added: "The gentleman originally engaged to furnish it, failed in the execution. The task was subsequently committed, by the General Conference, to another hand, which was soon after paralyzed by death, and the work with it. And we know of no farther attempt to complete it since.'

In a paper published in Baltimore, Dr. Samuel K. Jennings of that city, thought proper, some time in October last, to issue an article on this subject, which he introduces thus:

'MR. ASBURY'S LIFE.'

The editor of the Quarterly Review of the Methodist Episcopal Church, on the last page of his July number, in expressing his regret, that the Methodist public and the world had not been favored with a biography of Mr. Asbury, very obviously indicates a want of information on that subject. It is due to the Baltimore Annual Conference, that the necessary facts should be supplied by the subscriber, to whom the editor has an allusion.'

It is not our intention to enter into the details of Dr. Jennings's statement, farther than in regard to those respecting which we have personal knowledge and to what extent our former brief allusion to the subject indicates a want of information,' the reader will probably be better able to judge from what follows.

After reciting the resolution of the Baltimore Annual Conference that a Life of Bishop Asbury should be written; the appointment of a committee to carry the resolution into effect; his own engagement to become the writer, and that of a committee to assist him in procuring documents, facts, &c, and in the selection and arrangement of the materials, Dr. Jennings proceeds to state the difficulties and delays which subsequently occurred. He admits, however, that the greater part of Mr. Asbury's Journals then in manuscript, and unpublished, were afterward left with him; which, nevertheless, he considered altogether deficient for the production of a respectable biography. Nothing further, he says, was supplied, 'except a small bundle of papers of little value to the intended work, which was found by Mr. M'Kendree on a second visit to Mr. Hol lingsworth; one small package sent from the west, by Mr. Thomas