POETRY.

"LO, WE HAVE LEFT ALL, AND FOLLOWED THEE.”

TO THE MEMORY OF MISS H. H.

LONDON :-Printed by James Nichols, 46, Hoxton-square.

FOR DECEMBER, 1837.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF MR. JAMES COATES.

MR. JAMES COATES was born at Reith, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, in the year 1766. His parents had once moved in a respectable station in life, but having experienced a reverse of circum. stances, James was placed under the care of his grandparents, who intended to give him an education to qualify him for the legal profession. Being much attached to their grandchild, they indulged him in almost every thing that he wished for, and his youth was therefore little more than a strife of wild and disordered passions; though even then he found, as indeed was to be expected, that “ man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain." Often did he resolve to renounce his sinful companions, and give his heart unto God; but his resolutions were made in his own strength, and were only like the "morning cloud, or the early dew, that soon passeth away."

In the sixteenth year of his age his grandparents' temporal affairs being ruined through the extravagance of a son, he came to reside with his parents at Whitby, and shortly afterwards was bound apprentice to a rope-maker. At this time he appears to have taken great delight in reading foolish books. His parents, being strangers to religion themselves, were at no pains to lead him in the good and right way; but, on the contrary, even urged him to this course of reading, thinking that he was thus kept from worse company. His mind at this time was in a state of complete restlessness, frequently causing him to envy the irrational creation, by thinking their situation to be preferable to his own. Acquaintance with the Methodists, however, produced a very different state of feeling. The way was this: his master had formerly been a member of the Wesleyan society, and still retained some relish for serious things, and on one occasion requested him to attend the chapel, and bring home the text; his parents also told him that it could do him no harm. He went, but very reluctantly; and as soon as the Preacher had given out the text, one of his companions urged him to leave the chapel, and attend to a previous engagement. To this, through a fear of being thought serious, he immediately consented. The next Sunday evening, Mr. Neal preached from, "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth," &c.; and again his companion requested him to leave the chapel, but the word had sunk deep into his heart; and while the Preacher reasoned on a judgment to come, the Spirit discovered to him his fallen and guilty condition, as a sinner in the sight of God. On leaving the chapel, he told his VOL. XVI. Third Series. DECEMBER, 1837. 3 L

companions how powerfully his mind was affected, and that he had determined to put away the evil of his doings, and give himself to God; and, accordingly, without any further hesitation, he cast in his lot amongst the Methodists. He now sought the Lord with his whole heart, and in deep humility and sorrow; and being one day earnestly engaged in breathing out his desires to God, and praying for an evidence of his adoption into the divine family, the love of the Saviour was so manifested to his soul, as caused him to cry out with indescribable emotion, " My Lord and my God!" It is, however, deeply to be regretted that his union with the people of God at this time was but of short duration: he had begun to run well, but was hindered in consequence of not watching unto prayer. He suffered some little matter to prejudice his mind, and then withdrew from the society: a step which he ever afterwards greatly deplored. The result of his removing himself from amongst those who watched over his soul was what might have been expected,—an awful state of inward declension, which issued in a state of outward backsliding. Being left to his understanding, we cannot wonder at finding him falling into a common snare of the devil, and carried about with "divers and strange doctrines," so that for a time he looked upon his old religious companions as moving in a lower dispensation; although he more than once acknowledged that he felt the want of their honest and plain integrity. About this time also he became acquainted with that respectable body of Christians, the Society of Friends, of whom he was always accustomed to speak very highly.

In the year 1789, in consequence of great commercial depression, he obtained employment in the harvest-fields; but finding his earnings there too scanty to support himself and wife, he left Whitby, and came to reside at Bridlington-Quay, where his worldly circumstances were a little improved. His master seems to have been fully aware of his ability as a workman, reposing the most unshaken confidence in his integrity, and consulting with him in all his affairs. Shortly afterwards, hoping to better his circumstances, he entered into a partnership concern, and discovered, when too late, that he had been the mere dupe of a designing man. He was now plunged into abject poverty; and being desirous of paying to the uttermost farthing, he toiled at his business with unremitting assiduity, rising early, and late taking rest. Frequently has he walked to Scarborough and Bridlington markets to dispose of his cordage, and returned in the evening, having had but little or no food during the day. His wife at this time was confined of twins; and such was their distress, that he was several times compelled to wander about among the hedges, in order to pick up a few sticks that they might have a little fire. A brighter period of his life, however, was now approaching. Some time in the year 1797, he providentially became acquainted with a pious woman, a member of the Methodist society; and beginning, like the prodigal, to come to