1781. Friday, March 30th. Mr. Wesley, having spent several days in Burslem and the neighbourhood, where an extensive revival of the work of God had taken place, opens the new chapel, in Oldham-street, Manchester; at that period nearly the largest erection of the kind in Methodism. “At the communion," on the following Sabbath, he observes, was such a sight as I am persuaded was never seen at Manchester before: eleven or twelve hundred communicants at once, and all of them fearing God."

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Thursday, April 12th. Mr. Wesley, in company with several of his Preachers, sets sail for Ireland. After being exposed for two days and nights to imminent peril, the vessel puts back into Holyhead harbour; when, thwarted in his purpose, Mr. Wesley spends several weeks in the Principality, and also in visiting the Isle of Man : here he finds the societies increased to upwards of two thousand, twenty-two of whom, as Local Preachers, were labouring with great fidelity and success.

Tuesday, August 7th. The thirty-eighth Wesleyan Conference, at which about seventy Preachers, including Mr. Fletcher and Dr. Coke, are present, is held at Leeds. The ministrations of the saintly Fletcher on the occasion are attended with peculiar unction and blessings. The number of members at this period, exclusive of those in America, is forty-four thousand four hundred and seven

teen.

Monday, November 12th. Mr. Fletcher is united in marriage with Miss Bosanquet, then resident at Cross-hall, in the vicinity of Leeds. Their union is solemnized at Batley church, near Birstal.

November 19th. Mr. Wesley, in answer to an appeal from several members of his society at Baildon, in Yorkshire, whether he would advise them still to attend the services of the Established Church, where doctrines prejudicial to their spiritual welfare were taught by its Ministers, replies, "It is a delicate as well as an important point, on which I hardly know how to answer. I cannot lay down any general rule. All I can at present say, if it does not hurt you, hear them; if it does, refrain. Be determined by your own con

science. Let every man, in particular, act as he is fully persuaded in his own mind."

1782. April 21st. Mr. Blackwell, the banker, of Lewisham, to whose residence Mr. Wesley was accustomed to retire when writing for the press, and who for many years enjoyed his intimate friendship, is this day removed to a better world. He was a man of Christian piety, and eminently liberal.

Friday, June 28th. Mr. Wesley enters into his eightieth year. "My time," observes he, "blessed be God, is not labour and sorrow.' I find no more pain or bodily infirmities than at five-and-twenty. This I still impute, 1. To the power of God fitting me for what he calls me to; 2. To my still travelling four or five thousand miles a year; 3. To my sleeping, night or day, whenever I want it; 4. To my rising at a set hour; and, 5. To my constant preaching, particularly in the morning."

July. Dr. Coke, under Mr. Wesley's authority and direction, holds a Conference of the Irish Preachers in Dublin. The number of Circuits in Ireland at this period is fifteen; the number of members, six thousand four hundred and seventy-two.

Tuesday, August 6th. The thirty-ninth Wesleyan Conference is held in London. Resolutions are passed, condemnatory of the proceedings of the Birstal Trustees, who, in the settlement of their chapel, were attempting to set aside the right of the Conference to appoint its Ministers.

P.

TEXTS BRIEFLY ILLUSTRATED BY ORIENTAL

CUSTOMS.

GENESIS xl. 20. "It came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birth-day, that he made a feast unto all his servants.”—Birth-days are not celebrated in India as in Egypt or in England. On that anniversary, people will not purchase anything, will not transact any business of importance, nor go to a distant place.

The King "gave a feast unto his servants." Great men give entertainment to their domestics on the first day of ploughing, when they all come together in their master's

house, and have great enjoyment. His pleasure consists chiefly in hearing himself praised. The guests refer to feasts of former days, when the host was young, when he was shaved for the first time, when he put on the ear-rings, or when he was married. They talk over the events of those days, and refer to the exploits of their master. He listens with delight, and lives his youthful days again. Should there be anything which his servants formerly did that is worthy of being referred to, they, too, are reminded of it; and they feel themselves highly honoured by such attention.

Gen. xli. 40. "Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled.”—In Psalm ii. 12, it is written, "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way." Bishop Patrick says on this, “Kiss the Son ; that is, submit to him, and obey him." Bishop Pococke says, "The Egyptians, on taking anything from the hand of a superior, or that is sent from him, kiss it; and, as the highest respect, put it to their foreheads."

It is therefore probable that Pharaoh meant, that all should submit to Joseph, that all should obey him, and pay him reverence; and that only on the throne he himself would be the greatest.

When a great man causes a gift to be handed to an inferior, the latter will take it, and put it on the right cheek, so as to cover the eyes; then on the left; after which he will kiss it. This is done to show the great superiority of the donor, and that he on whom the gift is bestowed is his dependent, and greatly reverences him.

When a man of rank is angry with an inferior, the latter will be advised to go and kiss his feet; which he does by touching his feet with his hands, and then kissing them.

When the Mahometans meet each other after a long absence, the inferior will touch the hand of the superior, and then kiss it.

All, then, were to kiss Joseph, and acknowledge him as their ruler.

Gen. xli. 42. " And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand.”—This practice is still common, but was much more so in former times. "Aruchananan, a

King, once became greatly enamoured with a Princess called Alli, and desired to have her in marriage; but being in doubt whether he should be able to obtain her, he sent for a woman who was well skilled in palmistry. She looked carefully into his hand, and declared, 'You will marry a Princess called Alli: you shall have her.' The King was so delighted that he took his ring off his finger, and put it upon that of the fortune-teller."

Should a rich man be greatly pleased with a performer at a comedy, he will call him to him, and take off the ring from his finger, and present it to him. Does a poet please a man of rank? he will take the ring off his finger, and put it on his.

A father gives his son-in-law elect a ring from off his finger. When the bridegroom goes to the house of his bride, her brother meets him, and pours water on his feet; then the former takes a ring from off his finger, and puts it on that of the latter.

When the god Ramar sent Anuman to his goddess Seethe, he gave him his ring, to show that he had authority to treat with her.

Does one man send to another for any particular article, or to solicit a favour? should he not have time to write, he will give his ring to the messenger, and say, "Show this in proof of my having sent you to make this request." Is a master at a distance, and does he wish to introduce a person to the notice of another? he says, "Take this ring, and you will be received."

Pharaoh's ring carried with it the highest mark of favour towards Joseph, and was a proof of the authority conferred on him.-Roberts's Oriental Illustrations.

CONVENTUAL LIFE IN THE TWELFTH CENTURY.. EXTRACT X.

[THE extract which follows, gives a singular view of the times. We, in our railroad days, must think it a curious sight to see poor Sampson travelling on foot to Rome and back. The state of "the roads," likewise, must not be for

gotten. Travelling was travelling then. The reader will not overlook another reference to St. Edmund. These patron saints were, to their clients respectively, the only saviours and mediators.]

[A.D. 1183.] It was informed the Abbot that the church of Woolpit was vacant, Walter of Constance being chosen to the Bishoprick of Lincoln. He presently convened the Prior and great part of the convent, and taking up his story, thus began : "Ye well know what trouble. I had in respect of the church of Woolpit; and in order that it should be obtained for your exclusive use, I journeyed to Rome at your instance, in the time of the schism between Pope Alexander and Octavian; [A.D. 1159-1162;] and I passed through Italy at the time when all Clerks bearing letters of our lord the Pope Alexander were taken, and some were incarcerated, and some were hanged, and some with nose and lips cut off, were sent back to the Pope, to his shame and confusion. I, however, pretended to be a Scotchman; and putting on the garb of a Scotchman, and the appearance of a Scotchman, I often shook my staff in the manner they use that weapon they call a geveloc at those who mocked me, uttering threatening language after the manner of the Scotch. To those who met and questioned me as to who I was, I answered nothing, but 'Ride ride Rome, turne Cantwereberi.† This did I to conceal myself and my errand, and that I should get to Rome safer under the guise of a Scotchman. Having obtained letters from the Pope, even as I wished, on my return I passed by a certain castle, as I was taking my way from the city, and behold the officers thereof came about me, laying hold upon me, and saying, 'This vagabond who makes himself out to be a Scotchman, is either a spy, or bears letters from the false Pope Alexander.’ And while they examined my ragged

* That is, a javelin or pike. See Spelman (voce Gaveloc), who cites the Latin words of the original.-ED.

The meaning of these words seems to be, "I am riding to Rome, and then I return to Canterbury;" in other words, "I am a poor pilgrim, first going to Rome, and then to St. Thomas à Becket's shrine, so I can have nothing to do with either Pope."-En.