pious parents in London, Sept. 3, 1762, and was the only survivor of nine children. His father was greatly distinguished for the solidity of his judgment and the fervour of his zeal; and was, for many years, an ornamental member of the Baptist Church at Cripplegate, under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Reynolds.

These affectionate parents, who were most anxiously concerned that the mind of their only child might, in early life, be imbued with the principles of grace, had the high gratification to find, that the seed which had been so carefully sown, and watered by their mutual tears, soon promised to reward all their labours of love.

In the days of his childhood he was the subject of very powerful impressions. A sudden, or remarkable death, an alarming sermon, a funeral, especially of a young per

son, used to excite in his mind the most affecting emotions. When he was of the age of 12, he went with his father to the Lord's Day Evening Lecture in White Row, to hear Mr. (now Dr.) Rippon preach a funeral sermon for a Mrs. Kingston, the mother of one of his schoolfellows, from Ps. xlviii. 14. "This God is

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ticed the vanity of this transitory state in affecting terms, addressed different classes of people, particularly children: "The address (he says) suited to my age, was delivered in a manner so impressive, as to occasion tears to flow in abundance, and led me to think very seriously of my future and eternal state; and from that time I became more thoughtful, and was more attentive to the preaching of the word and religious exercises."

Upon his return home, his father having noticed the effect which the service had produced, asked him whether the emotions he discovered were occasioned by what he had been hearing. I told him (says Mr. B.) in broken accents, for I was yet in tears-they were. He then desired me to read the Psalm in which were the words of the text. After which he talked with me in a most affectionate manner, himself weeping for joy at what he was called to witness. After prayer and supper, I retired, and most of the night wept over my lost state, almost without intermission."

We must not be surprised, if appearances so lovely, and blossoms so promising, should receive a check,

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in a region so unpropitious as this earth is to such tender plants. Such was the experience of our young disciple, for, returning to a school in the vicinity of London, and mingling with his youthful companions, the impressions he had experienced lost much of their energy, although they never wholly left him. But here the all-directing hand of Divine Providence is most strikingly apparent, for, ever mindful of his promise, that where he hath begun a good work he will complete it, this young scion was soon removed to a congenial soil, in being placed in the school at Northampton, under the tuition of the Rev. John Ryland, sen.

Here he acknowledges, with gratitude, that it pleased the Lord to bless him with great religious privileges, with frequent opportunities of hearing the word, of enjoying the company of religious persons, and of being placed in a family composed of some of the brightest examples of true piety. Nor did he less esteem his being favoured with opportunities for devotional exercises in private." But, with shame, (he says) I must lament, that my improvement bore but little proportion to the greatness of my advantages. My views and feelings were very imperfect; like the man in the Gospel, I saw men as trees walking." I had much self-righteousness cleaving to me, and for a time was resting too much upon my religious performances. But God, by his gracious Spirit, was pleased to convince me of these unscriptural views, to open to me something of the depths of the iniquity of my own heart, and to fix my attention wholly for righteousness and strength on the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus stripped of my own self-righteousness, I was brought humbled to the feet of Christ, and with the guilty publican,

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to cry, God be merciful to me a sinner!'"

It is cheering to the mind of a traveller to have an entertaining and improving companion; and while he gives and receives pleasure by lively observations upon various occurrences, by the interesting intelligence, or the appropriate narrative, how rapidly have the swiftly gliding hours moved along!

-"O, then the longest summer's day "Seem'd too, too much in haste; still the full heart

"Had not imparted half."

Such were the pleasures which our youthful pilgrim found in one of his schoolfellows, having corresponding sensibilities, enduring similar conflicts, and animated by the same cheering encouragements. No sooner had they communicated the state of their minds to each other, but they commenced a very close intimacy, and had frequent meetings for prayer and conversation, which proved eminently beneficial.

After a lapse of some months, several of the pupils,who have since been shining characters in the Christian church, were under deep religious impressions. They mingled their feelings together, spent much of their extra time in religious meetings, and formed themselves into a little praying society. Every kind attention and affectionate sanction was given to their endeavours by the heads of the family, particu larly the present excellent Dr. Ry land," who (Mr. B. says) was then one of the tutors in the school; and was pleased to notice me, suggesting the most salutary advice, suited to the circumstances of my mind, with whom I took, and from whom I frequently received, sweet counsel."

In August 1776, when our young friend was about the age of 14, the Rev. Rowland Hill visited Northampton, and preached several times

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in Northampton and the neighbour ing villages. "All these services (he says) I attended; and being at that time under great darkness of mind, God was pleased to bless the preaching of that eminent servant of Christ, to my relief and encouragement, particularly his sermon on Lord's-Day morning, on Gen. viii. 9. But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot;' and the sermon which he preached the following evening at the Rev. Jno. Newton's church at Olney, from Hebrews vii. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost,' &c. Well do I remember, likewise, his serious and affectionate exhortation to the pupils in the school-room on the Monday morning; at the close of which I retired to my own room, with my whole soul melted with a mixture both of comfort and distress. After this, I waited on Mr. Hill, with whom I had some very encouraging conversation, and from that time, for several months, I was enabled to go on my way rejoicing. Thus, from the year 1772 to 1779, God was pleased to lead me through various scenes alternately, of doubting and believing, of hope and despondency, of joy and sorrow, of pain and plea

sure."

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In the year 1777, Mr. Bowers was deeply impressed with a sense of his duty to join a Christian church. Having often attended as a spectator the administration of the Lord's Supper, and having been solicited by his pious father and minister to obey the dying command of the divine Redeemer, he at last, after many conflicts between timidity and duty, found all his objections removed, and was brought to a cordial compliance with what he deemed the will of God, and he was admitted to the Lord's table, August 7th, 1778.

At a period of life in which most

young men think of making a selection of an occupation for life, it is natural to suppose that the attention of James Bowers was directed to a concern so very interesting to him. Having received a classical education at Northampton, his enquiring mind was strongly inclined to literary pursuits; and having deeply imbibed the truths of the Gospel, he was ardently solicitous to communicate those treasures to others; he therefore made his election of the Gospel ministry.

In order to qualify him with a respectable portion of knowledge, to enable him with credit and usefulness to discharge that important function, his father, at the desire of the church, sent him to the Academy at Bristol, then under the tuition of the Rev. Messrs. Hugh and Caleb Evans, and Mr. John Newton. He became a pupil in this respectable establishment in Sept. 1779, when he had just commenced his 18th year. He prosecuted his academical studies with success for about three years, and having preached occasionally in Bristol, and in the neighbouring counties, he commenced public preacher in 1782.

After this he supplied at various places, Walworth, Portsea, and Saffron Walden, till the autumn of 1785, when he received an invitation to Biggleswade, to supply an ancient, but then declining congregation. Having preached among them some time, the audience very much increasing, and the interest assuming a promising aspect, he agreed to take the oversight of them, and was ordained on the 30th of Nov. 1786, when the late Mr. Robinson, of Cambridge, gave the charge; Mr. Geard, of Hitchin, preached to the people; and Mr. Mayle and others conducted the remaining parts of the service.

Among the various events which occur in the life of a good man,

that

But there is no vale, however secluded, that is always sheltered from the bursting of the overwhelming tempest; nor is there any way, in which the traveller can promise himself continued safety. From a most unexpected quarter, the repose of Mr. B. was severely interrupted, when he heard of the sudden death of his son James, who was at that time an apprentice to Mr. Blackman, at Linton in Cambridgeshire. On the 16th of July 1808, as this amiable youth was bathing in the river, he sunk to rise no more. How dark, how mysterious was this affecting providence; yet it is only in such trials that the Christian graces of resignation and filial submission can display their excellence and reality: while the supports of the divine promises, and the consolations of the Gospel, are never more manifest than in upholding those that are cast down, and in opening to them the prospect of those unclouded regions, where sin and sorrow can never come.

Mr. B. says, in narrating this distressing event, "When the fatal news reached me, I was overwhelmed,-willingly could I have exchanged my own life for that of the dear child; but God was pleased to make me silent, and by his Spirit to lead me to quiet submission. I felt, and do feel, and ever, on the recollection of the event, shall feel, and ought to feel; but I cannot, do not, and dare not murmur. The providence is dark, sharp, and trying; but I am persuaded, though beyond my explanation, that it is all right. Parental affection weeps and bleeds, but faith checks the tear, and divine compassion and grace heal the wound. I hope he was seeking the best things, and felt desires after Christ, and an interest in him, he was amiable in disposition, and harmless in life-surely be is taken from the evils of various

kinds which might await and too easily have befallen him-may God make it to me a quickening providence, that I may be prepared to follow and meet him in a better state! May it keep me from an undue attachment to present things, and from making too much of creature comforts! May God particularly bless it to my dear and only child, his surviving sister, that she may choose that better part which shall not be taken from her; so that she, and her dear departed brother, may finally have a happy meeting in glory! May God particularly sanctify it to all his young friends, that they may, by his natural death, receive spiritual life, and be made wise, holy, and happy, for eternity! May they be taught by the Holy Spirit to know their Creator and Redeemer in the days of their youth! May it teach us all that there is but a step between us and death,” -as it says to us, "Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."

From the period of this calamity to the year 1815, no particular event is recorded. It may therefore be presumed, that, allowing for the usual fluctuations in human life, and for the variations which will frequently occur in a large congregation, of sickness, or of death-of accession, or of removal of pleasing or of painful circumstances,—the dispensations of Divine Providence proceeded in an even tenor. About the commencement of the year last named, Mrs. Bowers was visited with an affliction which, after many months of suffering, terminated in her death, which her husband records in the following terms:

"The events of a Providence allwise, and that cannot err, have again, by a mysterious, but distressing occurrence, overwhelmed me, in the affecting removal of my ever dear and invaluable wife, Sophia