THE TION RFIELD. parents, near His father ed mind, and zeal for the the death of m his father's wards him by it five years, he was little yet, his tender ng taken him, neighbouring his father put t as this water Son cleanse his er offered this emory, as was n in his latter the heavenly ered Book, and en adverting to the days of his childhood, he frequently conversations which he remembered having had with his One night, when they were out walking together, his father d his attention to the many stars which adorned the heavens, ld him that it was God who had made them, and that if he and served God upon earth, God would take him to live in I above the stars. His father said to him, "God to whom ay night and morning, made the stars. He took your mother ell with him, and he is your heavenly Father." "I am your y father," he added, "but He is your heavenly father." Suck H THE WESLEYAN METHODIST ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE. MARCH, 1846. MEMOIR OF THE LATE MR. HUGH FAIRFIELD. THE subject of this memoir was born of respectable parents, near the town of Workington, in the year of our Lord 1771. His father had received a liberal education, possessed a cultivated mind, and was dearly beloved for his integrity and Christian zeal for the welfare of the protestant church. In consequence of the death of his mother, he was, soon after his birth, removed from his father's house to be nursed, and the kind feelings evinced towards him by his foster-mother, with whom he remained for about five years, made lasting impressions on his mind. Although he was little more than six years old when he became an orphan; yet, his tender mind was seriously impressed, by his pious father having taken him, when suffering from inflammation in his eyes, to a neighbouring spring to wash them; and whilst applying the water, his father put up the following prayer :-" O Lord God, grant that as this water washes the flesh of this child, let the blood of thy Son cleanse his heart." The emphatic manner with which his father offered this prayer made such an indelible impression upon his memory, as was never afterwards effaced. He often used to speak, even in his latter days, with tears of gratitude glistening in his eyes, of the heavenly lessons his father used to teach him out of God's sacred Book, and the prayers he taught his infant tongue to lisp. When adverting to the days of his childhood, he frequently related conversations which he remembered having had with his father. One night, when they were out walking together, his father directed his attention to the many stars which adorned the heavens, and told him that it was God who had made them, and that if he loved and served God upon earth, God would take him to live in heaven above the stars. His father said to him, "God to whom you pray night and morning, made the stars. He took your mother to dwell with him, and he is your heavenly Father.” "I am your earthly father," he added, "but He is your heavenly father." Suck H were the means which his pious father employed to press upon his infant mind, sublime ideas of the power, majesty, and goodness of the great Creator. For some time after the burial of his father, he was unacquainted with his death; he supposed him to be absent on a journey, and fondly expected his return. He used to say, "Many is the time I have sat at the parlour window in an evening, earnestly looking down the avenue that approached the house, ardently expecting the one I loved so well. I have gazed with that degree of intensity, that my little eye-balls have almost been fixed in their sockets.' Soon after this time he was removed to his uncle William Fairfield's, in Bulwell, Nottinghamshire. The little orphan was delivered to the care of the waggoner, who, fortunately, was a kind-hearted man, who treated his little passenger with much affection. On the road a circumstance happened, which, but for the interposition of the good providence of God, might have proved fatal to the young traveller. On arriving near Kendal, they had to descend a steep hill on one side of which was a deep precipice; when on the point of descending, one of the leading horses took fright, and led the other over the brink of the precipice. At this frightful juncture these horses plunged to such a degree that they severed themselves from the rest, and were dashed to pieces on the rocks below-the other two ran down the hill, and arrived safe at the bottom with the waggon and its contents! He resided at Bulwell until nine years of age; from thence, along with his uncle and aunt, he went to live at Attercliffe, in Yorkshire. At this time, an orphan grandaughter of his aunt, was a member of the family, and she afterwards became his wife. When he was about twelve years of age, his uncle and aunt, together with the two orphans, removed to Wick, in Gloucestershire. Soon after the family arrived there, they became acquainted with a good man of the name of Lambert, who was a Methodist. Young Fairfield, by his suavity of manners and conversation, attracted Mr. Lambert's notice, and he took him to Kingswood chapel to hear a sermon. The Rev. Mr. Morley was the preacher. The reverend gentleman expatiated upon the depravity of the human heart, the dreadful disease of sin, and the powerful remedy by Jesus Christ. The arrow of conviction then pierced his heart, and he wept aloud. After the service, the preacher, having perceived the effect which had been thus produced, charged Mr. Lambert to take care of the lad, as the Lord was busy at work with his soul. Soon after this period, Mr. Fairfield heard those two holy men, the Rev. Charles Wesley, and the Rev. John Fletcher, preach in Kingswood chapel, the former in the morning, and the latter in the afternoon, when the Lord's Supper was administered. The public service being concluded, he removed into a corner of the chapel, where he might witness the commemoration of the Lord's Supper, not daring himself to approach the Lord's table. But the religious awe that actuated all present so touched his feelings, that he burst into tears. Mr. C. Wesley perceiving it, immediately came to him, and inquired, "Do you wish to receive the sacrament?" "Yes," he replied, "but I |