fication by faith, and regeneration by the Spirit of adoption, are scriptural, it scarcely needs argument to prove, that those which the Council of Trent has officially declared to be the tenets of Romanism, are unscriptural. What is often called Methodism, (using the term as it would be applied to a pious Churchman, or to a pious Calvinist, as well as to a Wesleyan,) is the real, and as we believe scriptural, and only efficient, antagonist to Popery.

But the times are changed. Popery, as connected with the Roman Church, is zealously endeavouring to regain its former power; and a numerous party in the Protestant Episcopal Church, with equal zeal and activity, is seeking to spread those principles which, by whatever term distinguished, are those which gave rise to Popery, and continue to support it. A more important controversy than that which is thus rendered necessary, it is scarcely possible to conceive. Justification by grace, through faith in the blood of Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of adoption, shedding abroad in the heart the pardoning love of God, present personal religion under an aspect altogether and opposingly distinct from that which is presented by the essentially Popish doctrines of ritual justification and regeneration, by an externally designated priesthood.

To this controversy the Editors have paid particular attention. But while they have frequently considered it in papers directly devoted to the subject, they are persuaded that not the least efficient portion of the share which the Wesleyan Magazine may be supposed to have in contributing to its decision, is found in those valuable biographical communications with which they are favoured by their numerous correspondents, and in the Missionary Notices given by their honoured brethren, the General Secretaries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society. Apart from the form of controversy, controversy here is decided. Both the Biographical and Missionary Notices furnish indubitable proofs of that spiritual life and power, which are as indubitably the proofs of membership in the mystical and living body of the Lord Jesus. And the Editors always refer to these subjects with the greatest pleasure, both because they tend directly to the spiritual benefit, as well as doctrinal establishment, of the reader, and because (if they may employ a fearfully abused term) of their genuine catholicity. Most ready are they to acknowledge that other religious communities possess and exhibit the same proofs of this divine inhabitancy; and that if Wesleyans may cry out and shout," because of the manifest proofs that "the Holy One of Israel" is "great in the midst of them," they possess those proofs, not exclusively, but as "inhabitants of Zion," "with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours."

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Thus have they endeavoured to labour during the past year; and to similar labours are they likely still to be called. But, (again using the sentence with which they concluded their last year's preface,)" depending upon the promised aid of the Great Head of the Church, and the prayers of the faithful,—and soliciting the continued help of their numerous correspondents, to whom their thanks are sincerely presented,—they trust that their efforts will not be unsuccessful."

November 21st, 1843.

FOR JANUARY, 1843.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF MR. SAMUEL OWEN,

Of Sheffield:

BY HIS SON-IN-LAW, THe rev. JohN RATTENBURY. MR. SAMUEL OWEN was the son of Joseph and Mary Owen, of Chesterfield, who were serious members of the established Church in that town, and attended, with exemplary diligence, her various services. From indisputable testimony, we have reason to believe that the father departed this life in the faith of the Gospel; and the mother, who, in the evening of her days, joined the Methodist society, died also rejoicing in hope of the glory of God.

The subject of this memoir was trained in those habits of regularity and order, which to the end of his mortal career were never abandoned. He was conscientiously attentive to the public means of grace; manifested great reverence for sacred things; and, in his dealings with others, displayed an ardent desire to do that which was right. These principles were evidently implanted in his mind by the consistent and faithful teaching of his parents; so that, when he was brought to taste the good word of God, he became an Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile. He received a respectable education at the Grammar-School in the place of his nativity, and afterwards removed to the firm of Messrs. Frith, Jones, and Butcher, of Sheffield, as an apprentice. Few young men pass through this period of life with greater credit than Mr. Owen. His attention to business, his economy and fidelity, together with ceaseless endeavours to promote the interests of his employers, were subjects of constant encomium, and ultimate reward. Mr. John Jones, a surviving son of one of the above-named gentlemen, observes, that, "during the time that Mr. Owen was a member of my father's family, I had frequent opportunities of witnessing his deportment. It was his constant practice to rise early, and spend some time in reading the Scriptures, and in prayer, that he might be prepared to withstand the temptations to which he was exposed, and also to discharge those duties which were incumbent upon him. These he performed with so much credit to himself, and gratification to those with whom he was placed, that, when the term of his servitude expired, he was taken VOL. XXII. Third Series. JANUARY, 1843.

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into partnership,-a full proof of their satisfaction with his general behaviour, and Christian principles."

In the year 1796, Sheffield was favoured with a remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit; when numbers were awakened to a sense of their spiritual danger, and exhorted to seek, in penitential and believing prayer, salvation through the blood of the Lamb. "No small stir" was excited; multitudes, from various motives, were attracted to the Wesleyan chapel in Norfolk-street; and many "who came to scoff, remained to pray." Mr. Owen (who, until now, had been a constant attendant upon the services of the parish church) was induced to attend, when he was powerfully convinced of his sinfulness, and led earnestly to seek forgiveness through the atonement. On the 21st of February, when returning from a prayer-meeting, he had power to come to Christ; and the Saviour, to whom he came, gave him rest. His sins were remitted, and he obtained the Spirit of adoption, whereby he cried, "Abba, Father." The change which he experienced was so instantaneous, and at the same time so pleasurable, that he literally shouted for joy. He joined the society, of which he continued a steady and consistent member forty-four years.

In 1803 he entered into the marriage-state, with Miss Burgoine, of Edensor, near Chatsworth; and, shortly after, was appointed by the Rev. W. Jenkins to the charge of a class. He entered upon the duties of this important office with fear and trembling. God, however, was his helper; so that, for thirty-six years, he was one of the most successful Leaders in the Sheffield societies. He was deeply solicitous for the welfare of the souls which were placed under his inspection: it was not enough, in his estimation, that he should be in his place at the appointed hour of meeting; he sought the absent; visited the careless, the sick, and the infirm; and strictly complied with the very letter of the rule of our society, that enjoins the Leader "to see each person in his class once a week at least." He was fully convinced of the importance of a salutary and scriptural discipline, to promote religious stability: it was, therefore, his invariable practice, on the first appearance of an individual at his class, or on the usual note of probation being given, distinctly to inform him, that he was "on trial," not merely that it might be ascertained whether he would earnestly and with fidelity seek the enjoyment of the things of God, but also, as far as he was able, whether he would comply with those rules of the society which refer to subjects of a prudential and pecuniary character. The result of Mr. Owen's kind and faithful manner, in discharging this part of his official duty, was, that, notwithstanding he had many of "the poor of this world," whose names were enrolled on his book, he had not one who did not contribute, according to his ability, towards the support of the cause of God. In reference to the power of the Gospel on the inner man, the members of his class grew grace; and he had but seldom to mourn over those who, "having

in