the remarks he made, previously to administering the emblems of the Saviour's dying love, made impressions of a very solemn character. He took a review of the past; remarked the many times he had administered that solemn ordinance; lamented the neglect of it by many who professed to be the followers of Christ; the coldness and indifference of too many who did attend to it; how far short we all come of the standard we ought to aim at in love to the Saviour, and which it was our privilege to enjoy; the probability that he should not again administer that solemn ordinance in that place; and concluded his remarks by endeavouring to stimulate to increased devotedness and love to the Saviour. He urged, as a motive, the prospect of shortly being introduced into his presence, to behold his glory, and to see him face to face. It was remarked by a friend after the service, "I think Mr. Hardstaff's work is nearly done." The last sermon he preached at his own place, and which he delivered with much energy and faithful appeals to his hearers, was from Peter iv. 17, "What shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?" a reading, in consequence of his eyes becoming diseased by cataract, for which he took medical advice, and, had his health in other respects continued good, would probably have undergone an operation. It appeared, however, that this was but the forerunner of a more serious affliction, as on Lord's-day evening, May 5th, 1839, after returning home from his labors, in which he had that day engaged with unusual fervor and animation, he was seized with a paralytic stroke, which took the use of one side, and affected his mental powers also. Medical aid was called in, and, after a few months, he was so far recovered as to be able to meet with the people of his charge at Kirkby Woodhouse, and administer the ordinance of the Lord's-supper to them. This was the last service he performed within those walls where he had so long and so faithfully proclaimed the glorious Gospel of the blessed God. Shortly after this he had a relapse by fits of the nature of epilepsy, with which he was afterwards frequently attacked, and, after each of them, both his bodily and mental powers were still more affected. His afflictions were protracted and painfully trying, under which he gradually sunk, till, on November 10th, 1842, his emancipated spirit left its clay tenement, to become an inhabitant of that world where none can say, “I am sick." In the year 1832 Mr. H. sustained severe domestic affliction in the death of Mrs. H., and one of his daughters, within a few days of each other; an account of which appeared in the General Baptist Repository for 1833. He felt deeply the loss of his partner, who had been for nearly forty years a "helpmeet" for him, in the fullest sense 66 of the word, in bringing up a numerous family with a comparatively small income. Although Mr. H. was naturally of a strong constitution, yet he was very subject to nervous depression, from which, at different times, he suffered much. About twelve months before he was attacked with the complaint that laid him aside, and which eventually terminated his stay on earth, he was deprived of the privilege of His affliction was greatly mitigated by the unwearied attention of his youngest daughter. His mind was stayed, trusting in the Lord." One of his last expressions was, "I bless God that"-and then utterance failed him. He has left two sons and three daughters, to whom, and to their families, as well as to his late charge and numerous friends, his memory is as ointment poured forth." 66 As a husband and parent, Mr. H. was kind and affectionate; and, though his natural temper was rather hasty and impatient, and the parental au MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. G. HARDSTAFF. thority which he exercised in his family sometimes might seem rather severe, yet he ever made it manifest that the present and eternal welfare of his children lay near his heart. Affectionate and sympathizing to the partner of his cares, he was justly beloved and respected in the family circle. As a preacher, though he had not the advantage of academical instruction, yet he possessed gifts for the great work in which he was so long engaged, that rendered it comparatively easy for him to express his views upon the oracles of divine truth, and the glorious doctrines of the Gospel contained in them. While his manner of delivery might be considered rather heavy, and somewhat wanting of animation, yet his ideas were clear and connected, and his assertions well supported with scripture truth. His subjects were principally selected from the New Testament, and were peculiarly marked with soundness of doctrine and evangelical sentiment; his manner of treating them plain, with a close connection of their different bearings, that rendered them easy to be understood and retained; so that he might be considered such an one as Paul, in his epistle to Timothy, exhorts he should study to be," a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 66 With regard to his experience in his affliction and the prospect of death, it may be said, that, while he was deeply conscious of his imperfections and unworthiness in the sight of a holy God, his hopes of pardon and acceptance were firmly fixed on the great atonement made by Jesus Christ when he suffered for sin, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God." It is a remarkable, yet encouraging fact, that, while in his former seasons of nervous depression, he was sometimes distressed with fears, lest all should not be well at last, the writer does not recollect an instance, in his frequent visits in his last affliction, 329 when his faith ever so far wavered as "Ye wheels of nature speed your course, Fast as ye bring the night of death, Ye bring eternal day;" and then, as if he thought he had manifested impatience, he added, "But I must try to exercise patience, till it is the Lord's time; he knows best." On being visited by his children or friends, after an interval of a few weeks, he would say, "I expected and hoped to have been released before this; but I wish to have patience." Thus, through so serious and protracted an affliction, his faith was firm, and his confidence unshaken, constantly looking for that "blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ." "May we in waiting posture stand, Prepared to take our flight; When gentle death, with friendly hand, Shall change our faith to sight." His remains were interred in the aisle of the chapel at Kirkby Woodhouse, in a tomb literally "hewn out of the rock." Mr. Peggs, of Ilkeston, conducted the service on the mournful occasion, and preached from 1 Cor. xv. 55-57, to a crowded congregation. His death was improved at Kirkby Woodhouse by Mr. Burrows, of Alfreton, to a numerous congregation, from 2 Tim. iv. 6, “I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand," &c. Two or three reflections may be permitted in this record of departed worth. How diversified is the course of divine providence and grace; but how happy and glorious its termination! Various and trying were the scenes of life through which our departed brother was led; but it proved a right way to "a city of habitation.' How beautiful is the language of Moses relative to the church in the wilderness. "He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of the eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him." -Deut. xxxii. 10-12. "He doth all things well." Hence the confidence of the child of God in all "the various shifting scenes of life's mistaken ill or good." I will cry unto God, most high, unto God that performeth all things for me." The Rev. J. A. James has beautifully expressed this sentiment, observing, 'The course of providence is not like that of one of our modern railways, without elevations and depressions, without windings or turnings; or like that of one of the ancient Roman roads; but it is like the course of a mighty river, winding and turning, and sometimes rolling back upon its source, but still, by the law that direct its motion, ever urged onwards to the point where it is to touch the ocean." The importance of early piety is apparent in this brief memoir of a departed minister of Christ. How interesting the course of David, the "sweet psalmist of Israel," "the man after God's own heart!" but he began his career in youth. Look at the account of the anointing of David, the eleventh and youngest son of Jesse :— "And Samuel said unto Jesse' Are here all thy children?' And he said, 'There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep.' And Samuel said unto Jesse, 'Send and fetch him; for we will not sit down till he come hither.' And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, and anoint him, for this is he.' And the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that time forward.'"-1 Sam. xvi. 11, 12. How delightful is the service of a long life spent in the service of God! In death, ""Twill please us to look back and see- How important, as it respects departed kindred and friends, to "follow them as far as they followed Christ." "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.' How many have uttered the wish of the sordid prophet Balaam, who have never in earnest sought the blessing, Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." May the children, and the children's children, of our departed friend, and all who cherish his memory, 66 PREDESTINATION AND ELECTION. PREDESTINATION and election are We inquire first, What is the definite meaning of the terms under consideration? To predestinate is to P. H. appoint beforehand, or pre-ordain. To elect is to choose, or select from, or out of, others. Now, in reference to the salvation of mankind, the question arises, Who are predestinated; and on what principle? And, what is the choice or election mentioned in Scripture ? One prevailing opinion is, that certain persons, irrespective of condition and character, have been predestinated to salvation, or elected and chosen from the great mass of mankind, to everlasting life; that this election was an eternal act of God, and originated entirely in his sovereign will and pleasure; that the favored objects of this predestination and choice were redeemed by the death of Christ, and in due time called by effectual or irresistible grace, made holy by the special influences of the Spirit, and are then kept by God's almighty power to eternal salvation. Now with this system is necessarily connected the doctrine, that the nonpredestinated or non-elect can have no saving interest in the death of the Redeemer; are not able, through the withholding of special influences, to believe; and therefore can derive no spiritual benefit from the Gospel ceremony. mony. We believe these two views must remain or fall together, and that all attempts to modernize and render these notions less unpalatable must necessarily fail. In support of this hypothesis, many references are made to Scripture, and a variety of passages adduced to sustain it. To this system many serious and weighty objections may be presented. It seems to stamp the divine character with distinct partiality. It seems, also, to resolve the final condition of all men into God's sovereign pleasure, irrespective of the holiness, equity, and benevolence, of the divine nature. It appears, also, at utter variance with the solemn asseverations of God's holy word, and the gracious proclamation he has made in the Gospel to all men. But let us consider predestination and election on the opposite hypothesis, and which clearly harmonizes with all the declarations of God's universal grace and love to mankind. The apostle builds predestination on God's foreknowledge, and says, 66 Whom he did foreknow, he did predestinate."Rom. viii. 29. Now, the knowledge or foreknowledge of God must embrace all events, and be infallibly certain. God would thus foresee the state, character, and condition, of all his creatures. He would foresee all who would hearken to his voice, who would believe his word, and be influenced by his grace. Such he predestinated to the enjoyment of his favor, and elected to eternal life. But it may be said, "On this principle their predestination resulted from their own goodness, and was not an act of divine grace. But let it be remembered, that, independently of God's redeeming mercy, they would have had no message of goodness proclaimed to them, and no invitation of pity and compassion presented: so that still, all their hope and peace must be traced to the free, unmerited love of God and as to all acceptable works of righteousness performed by the people of God, they are the fruits of his Holy Spirit within their hearts, and therefore afford no ground of self-glorying or gratulation. Now, let predestination and election have : the place and position thus assigned by the apostle in the text quoted, and we have a superstructure reared, which, while it magnifies the love and mercy of God, exhibits a scheme of salvation in every thing harmonizing with the free agency and responsible condition of every human being. Thus all mere favoritism in the Deity is annihilated, and thus his proclamations of universal mercy are perfectly and clearly consistent with his predestinating and electing his people to everlasting life. Thus Abraham, the father of the faithful, and the friend of God, was elected to the riches of the divine favor, and the fulness of his promises. Thus Jacob was loved and elected, while the profane Esau and his ungodly posterity were rejected. Thus Isaac and his seed were called, and made the favored nation of the Lord. And thus the Israelites were the elect of Jehovah, and on the steadfastness of their faith and continuation of their obedience did enjoy the special blessings of heaven. Thus did the oracles and prophets, and, last of all, did the Messiah, pertain to that people, with all the great and precious blessings of God's covenant, until, at length, as God had foreseen, they were cast off on account of their unbelief, and the Gentiles became elected to their forfeited privileges and favors. (See Rom. xi. 17-27.) Yet in the casting off the Jews, only the unbelieving and disobedient were rejected; and, in the election of the Gentiles, none were so savingly exalted, but those who were grafted in by faith. So that the election of the Jewish nation to many privileges did not interfere with the personal election to salvation of those only who were truly the partakers of Abraham's faith. Now this view of predestination and election is free from the doubt and perplexity arising from the opposite notion. The question which arises to the inquirer is not, Am I of the elect, who, before all worlds, without any respect to my character, was in |