prepared by Him, who has loved them and died for them. We love to dwell
upon this class of our departed friends, and without undervaluing those
whose gifts have been more prominent, or whom circumstances have rendered
more conspicuous in our pages, we sincerely desire that these more
hidden, but not less valuable parts of the spiritual building, may ever
be honoured amongst us. Such an one was our late friend, William Binns.
It was during his apprenticeship that, under the ministry of two women
friends, engaged in a family visit, he was powerfully awakened to the
eternal interests of his soul, and through divine grace, the impression
made, was of so decided a character, that putting his hand to the
Christian plough, he looked not back.

He was greatly concerned for the true welfare of our religious Society,
and in the district in which he resided was eminently useful; caring for
the flock over which the good Shepherd had made him an overseer.

Sterling integrity and uprightness marked his character; his judgment was
clear and sound, and was frequently given in comprehensive and pertinent
language, free from all superfluous expression.

He took a very low estimate of his own attainments, and was humbled under
a sense of his shortcomings; as the shadows of evening were closing
around him, he frequently and feelingly intimated, that there was for
him, but one ground of faith and hope, the free mercy of God in Jesus
Christ his Saviour; such was the subject of his frequent expression to
his friends, and they rejoice in the belief that having in his long
pilgrimage taken up his cross, and sought above all things to follow
Christ, so in the end he was prepared to enter into the eternal joys of
his Lord.