PREFACE. TIME is like a ship that never anchors; it neither stays nor falters in its course. Borne on its unwearied pinions, we find ourselves near the close of another year. At such a season, like the traveller who has gained the summit of an eminence, we pause for a moment to look back on the way we have trodden. Politically, socially, and religiously viewed, the retrospect, while presenting many things to humble us, contains much that is adapted to impart satisfaction and generate emotions of lively gratitude. The sun of January rose amidst strife and bloodshed, but now the hemisphere presents a serener and brighter aspect. Happily, the war with Russia is now among the things that The battle-cry has ceased, and the olive-branch has once more taken the place of the sword. Who rejoices not at this? Nor are we without faith that the late war, lamentable and disastrous as it was, will, in its results, be rendered by an overruling Providence promotive of civilization, freedom, commerce, and religion. Provisions have, during the year, continued high in price; but trade, though depressed in some branches, has generally been buoyant and prosperous. A bountiful harvest has furnished a supply of provisions for man and beast; and, while national sins still call for abasement, national mercies demand our fervent gratitude to the Giver of all good. were. In viewing the interests of religion, we see cause for mingled emotions. Worldliness is still a blighting mildew in the Church of God; but signs of holy awakening and more decided spirituality begin to appear, so that our sorrow is relieved by hope. Most of the religious denominations of our country have been blessed with augmented numbers, and our own beloved community has shared in this prosperity. With tremulous joy do we refer to the fact, and combine with our gratitude devout prayers to God for the continuance and increased effusion of the Holy Spirit. To the spread of truth, and the promotion of genuine religion, it has been our constant and anxious endeavour to render the pages of our Connexional periodical subservient, and, we trust, our labour has not been without some measure of success. By the faithful exhibition and defence of what we regard as Scriptural views, in relation to the doctrines, ordinances, and institutions of our holy religion,-by the honest and fearless, but, we trust, not uncourteous, inculcation and enforcement of duty and obligation, -by the insertion of articles illustrating the wisdom, power, and goodness of the Deity, as manifested in his works and ways,-by statements of facts calculated to confirm and strengthen our faith in the providence and fatherhood of God,-by duly chronicling our Connexional operations and successes, as information has been forwarded, with suitable accompanying reflections,-by giving the memorials of departed worth, in the shape of biographical sketches of beloved friends in whose lives the Christian graces shone, and whom God has removed from our midst to a better world,-by reviews and notices of new publications, expressive of our opinions thereon, and by an occasional record of events of public interest, we have endeavoured to furnish a book that may instruct the minds, improve the hearts, stimulate the zeal, and excite the love of the friends through the length and breadth of the Connexion. If our labours have been toilsome and arduous, they have been cheerfully and heartily rendered. We long to see the Church more holy, more efficient, more extensively and permanently prosperous; and to promote this state of things will be the object of our most ardent wishes, our most strenuous and devoted efforts. Believing our Connexion to be in full harmony, both in doctrine and polity, with the Holy Scriptures, we entertain the opinion that our Magazine, while it is strictly Christian and Catholic, should also be thoroughly Connexional in its character, the exponent of the Connexion's views, the defender of its principles, the recorder of its doings, and the promoter of its objects. In striving to render our pages subservient to this end, we hope still to be, as we have hitherto been, vigorously sustained in our exertions. To the friends, both ministers and laymen, who by their contributions have assisted in enriching the pages of the present volume, to those also who have kindly promoted its circulation, and to all our subscribers, our thanks are due, and are hereby most sincerely rendered. We would affectionately and earnestly plead for a continuance of their kind services. And now we must gird ourselves afresh for the coming year. We hope to bring to our task a heart not less warm, a mind not less vigorous, and materials not less valuable than have appeared in any preceding volume. The Editor is cheered and encouraged by promises of contributions from valued correspondents on various important topics; and he fondly cherishes the hope, that the successes of the Connexion will be such as to afford matter for the "Connexional Department" of our periodical-so much esteemed, and properly so-which will invest it with additional interest and increased value. Grateful for the many expressions of approval from all parts of the Connexion, but much more for the continued blessing of God on his efforts, he trusts still to be found at his post, diligently employed in catering for the good of the Connexion, and subserving its best objects and interests. May the next year be one of increased prayerfulness, activity, and zeal, and of unexampled prosperity throughout all our borders! 3, CRESCENT, ALBANY ROAD, LONDON, November, 1856. THE EDITOR. THE METHODIST NEW CONNEXION MAGAZINE. JANUARY, 1856. BIOGRAPHY. A MEMOIR OF THE LATE RICHARD BARFORD, ESQ., OF LONDON. "He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his house shall be exalted with honour."-Psalm cxii. 9. It is a solemn fact that the chronicles of a religious denomination are so full of the records of death. Not a solitary number of our religious periodical is issued but in which the doings of death are registered. While we rejoice in the accession of new friends, we have to mourn over the loss of old ones. The exit is almost as thronged as the entrance. While some are putting on the armour, others are putting it off. While some are just entering the portals of the church, and taking their place in the list of labourers, sufferers, wrestlers, champions of the cross, others, as faithful emeriti, having finished their work, are passing through the gates celestial to receive their plaudit of "Well done," and enter into the joy of their Lord. Our last number recorded a zealous and devoted Tilston finishing his course with joy, and our present pages tell of a venerable and sainted Barford suddenly translated from his brethren, at the close of their annual gathering, to enter the assembly of the glorified, and inherit the bliss of the eternal presence. Thus alternate joys and sorrows, losses and gains, chequer our path in this transient and uncertain state. This is not the scene for security and repose; it is the arena of conflict, the wilderness of trial; and dying friends, as they leave us, bid us to quit ourselves like men and be strong, to work while it is day, and be ready each moment for the coming of our Lord. In the death of Mr. Barford the church has lost a pillar, society an ornament, and mankind a benefactor. It is meet that we should record his virtues, for the memory of the just is blessed: thus we glorify God in him, and are commanded to be followers of them, who, through faith and patience, inherit the promise. Though no man presents a perfect pattern, yet every good man's life furnishes some excellence worthy of imitation. Hence the use of religious biography, which perpetuates the odour of a good name, and extends the influence of an ennobling example. B 66 Thy life had been Pattern enough, had it of all been seen, Without a book; books make the difference here, Lord Bacon, contrasting the vague generalities of history with the minute details of biography, observes, "Histories do rather set forth the pomp of business than the true and inward resorts thereof. But lives, if they be well written, propounding to themselves a person to represent, in whom actions, both greater and smaller, public and private, have of commixture, must of necessity contain a more true, native, and lively representation." History records the life of a nation; biography portrays the life of a man. It will be our aim to render this memoir equally a tribute to truth as it is the offspring of affection. Richard Barford was born in the year 1787. His parents at one period were in possession of considerable property. The father died while the children were young, and his habits having been rather expensive than accumulative, the resources left to his widow and her children were so far reduced as to necessitate personal industry and economical management. His wife, however, was a woman of sterling excellence and decided piety, and it appears that the wisdom of her counsels and the holiness of her example had a powerful influence in moulding the character of her children. At a proper age Richard was put out as an apprentice, but his master's habits were intemperate and irregular. That son of Bacchus was in the habit of reeling home in a state of intoxication, and at length fell a miserable victim to his reckless proceedings. It was his custom, after staggering to bed, to extinguish the candle by hurling his nightcap at the luminary, and on one occasion it took fire, and, communicating the blaze to the bed curtains, the drunkard was burnt to death. This event gave Richard a legal release from his indentures a year before the term of his apprenticeship expired; but, out of compassion to the widow, he resolved to remain to the end of his time, in order to assist her to retrieve her affairs, and provide for her sustenance. This incident presents an early development of that disinterested kindness which marked his future life. The changes resulting from his father's death had induced his mother to settle in London, and Richard, shortly after the expiration of his apprenticeship, came to town to reside with his widowed mother, and manage her affairs. Providence having again smiled on her circumstances, Richard entered into business for himself, in the timber trade. At this period he could not be more than twenty-three years of age, but the economy, the frugality, the high integrity, and gene-. rosity which distinguished him in after life, were manifested then in every department of his conduct. Indeed, he commenced business not only to provide for his own support, but to help the necessities of others. I have heard him state, but with great humility and simplicity of mind, that the fact of his having exhausted his little resources by supplying the wants of his pensioners, suggested the idea of commencing business for himself in a small way. Embarking on public life as a merchant, on this principle, he was abundantly blessed and prospered, and as his means increased his benefactions augmented. He |