intercourse of the married life, to which too many, both of the higher and lower classes of society, are unhappily strangers.

and religious character. His retirement from business about twenty years since, was not prompted by a desire for a life of splendid idleness, but by a conscientious conviction that the competency with which God had blessed him, ought and might be more actively employed in the duties of private benevolence, and in efforts for enlarging the Redeemer's kingdom.

tiring from business, he made it his rule, and adhered to it through the remainder of his life, to consecrate, except so far as his unavoidable expenses interfered, the whole of his income to the same objects. In doing this, not only did he, in concert with his partner in life, frequently endeavour to find out indi

From the period of his marriage, the leading incidents of his life may be very summarily noticed. His path, was that of the just, "shining more and more unto the perfect day," but was exempt from those vicissitudes which often give painful interest to the lives of ex- Whilst in business, he had conemplary men. During a period of scientiously devoted to these purmore than thirty years, in which he poses a stated proportion of his was very extensively engaged in income, as well as a tithe, as firstbusiness, he was not more gene- fruits, of the profits of every separally known, than uniformly re-rate successful adventure. On respected for urbanity of manners and kindness of disposition, in connexion with the most uncompromising integrity of character. It was remarked to the mourning friends who accompanied his mortal remains to the tomb, by one who had resided in his family, and been engaged with him in the active concerns of business for eigh-viduals amongst the poorer memteen years, that during that period, and when the excitement in the pursuit of objects of worldly ambition must have been the most powerfully felt, he never witnessed an action, or heard a word fall from his lips, that would have done dishonour to his character as a tradesman, or to his profession as a Christian. Such would, no doubt, have been the concurrent testimony of all who were thus privileged to see him in the shade of domestic retirement, as well as of those who only knew him in the more active engagements of life.

bers of Christ's family, and especially the more aged ministers of different denominations, who might secretly be sinking under the pressure of a restricted income, and the wants of a numerous family; but often was his aid administered without any clue being left as to the quarter whence it had been imparted.

In his more public endeavours to be useful, his rule of duty was the Scriptural one-" As we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to them who are of the household of faith." His Whilst diligent in business, and exertions, therefore, were not exserving the Lord with fervency of clusively confined to the advancespirit in the sanctuary, and at the ment of the spiritual interests of family altar, he still found leisure his fellow-men: he was one of the for the exercise of Christian bene- foremost in endeavours to relieve volence, both in channels where the distresses and to better the his bounty flowed unobserved by condition of the poor; and in the human eye, and in the support of two societies established in the public institutions of a benevolent town, with these objects in view,

he was one of the earliest and sonal solicitation, and joined in a

most active managers. Of the committee of the School for the Blind, he was a zealous and useful member for about twenty-nine years; and to the general diffusion of knowledge amongst the children of the poor, a decided and constant friend.

requisition to the constituted authorities for the establishment of a Society in aid of the important objects of that excellent Institution.

In these, and all his public labours, he evinced a most catholic spirit; regarding, without distincBut it was when the higher and tion, all as brethren who loved our nobler interests of the never-dying Lord Jesus Christ; and such, whatsoul were at stake, that his best ever their denomination amongst energies were exerted. Here he men, always found in him a willing laboured for eternity. With this fellow-labourer, who rejoiced in object in view, he was amongst their success and sympathized in the first to set on foot a subscrip- their griefs, and under his hospittion for the erection and support of able roof they always met with a the day and Sunday-school adjoin- most friendly and cordial welcome. ing the meeting-house in Byrom-In his intercourse with others, lastreet; and in the establishment of bouring for the prosperity of instiSunday-schools he always felt a tutions not strictly of a religious, lively interest. To him the friends though of a benevolent character, of vital godliness are mainly in- where he had necessarily often to debted, for the establishment of contend for the maintenance of the monthly lecture preached some just principles, his meekness servtime back by ministers of different ed to soften asperities, and his denominations in friendly connexion sound judgment to reconcile conwith each other; and, it is believ-flicting opinions; and only when ed, also for that of the monthly the rights of conscience were atprayer meeting for the spread of tempted to be invaded, or the the Gospel. In the establishment golden rule of equity was threatenof the Auxiliary Baptist Mission-ed with violation, did he shew ary Society at Liverpool, and in himself uncompromising and sternhis yearly exertions to maintain its ly resolute. He was, indeed, a funds; and especially to obtain lover of peace; and mourned bitcontributions in aid of the labours terly in secret when any professed of the Serampore Missionaries, his followers of the Lamb seemed to efforts were indefatigable. To si- have lost sight of that charity milar toils, aided by his extensive which "hopeth all things, believinfluence and his great prudence, eth all things, and endureth all the friends of the Bible owe not things." only the formation of the Liverpool His benevolence being the offAuxiliary Bible Society, but that spring of principle, and not merely under circumstances which gave a of feeling, it was not transient or powerful impulse to the operations fitful; it lasted till death froze up of the parent Society, and its tri- the channels through which its umph over opposition and luke- streams pursued their even and warmness in other parts of the useful course. The last three letempire; every clergyman and dis-ters he wrote, which were dissenting minister in the town (except patched only a day or two before the priests of the Roman Catholic his illness, were to beloved MisChurch) having yielded to his per- sionary friends in India. He had

In the early part of his illness, when speaking of the joys of heaven, he said, Ah! I am leaving very dear earthly friends; but I am going to my Almighty Friend, Jesus my Saviour; and there I shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, Moses and the Prophets, and David, the man after God's own heart, the sweet Psalmist of Israel."

devoted, only a short time before, | yet ejected me, and when he does, many days of incessant toil to for- he will remove me to a better warding a number of articles of house, one not made with hands, considerable value, which he had eternal in the heavens." presented to them, in the hope of their proving, as similar tokens of affection had done, useful auxiliaries in the instruction of the young and the propagation of the Gospel. These having been unexpectedly lost at sea, he was addressing to his friends letters of condolence, and expressing his earnest desire that God might spare his life and strength a little longer, in order to repair the loss. When entreated, on these occasions, not to weary himself, he used often to reply, "Let us work while it is called today the night is at hand. I feel it is already overtaking me."

During his illness he maintained a great composure of mind, never expressing any dread of the event he was conscious was approaching, and sometimes referring to it with pleasing anticipations, though unaccompanied with those exstatic visions of bliss which some Christians have been privileged to enjoy. He often dwelt with delight on those lines of Dr. Watts

There is a land of pure delight,
Where saints immortal reign;
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain.

To a friend engaged in the building business, who was lamenting some time ago the infirmities of age, he remarked, "Yes; when the landlord permits the doors, the windows, and roof of the house to go to decay, it's a pretty plain intimation that he does not intend that tenant long to remain, and he will do well to look out for another abode. For my part, I have regarded my lease as expired for several years past, and have been eonstantly expecting a summary notice to quit; but I have a kind and merciful Landlord; he has not

He was much gratified by the conversation and prayers of the ministers who kindly visited him at this time; and to one of them, who expressed his apprehensions that his flesh and his heart were failing, he replied, "but God is the strength of my heart, and my eternal portion;" adding,

If sin be pardoned, I'm secure,

Death hath no sting beside; The law gave sin its damning power, But Christ, my ransom, died. On the Sabbath, the day but one preceding his death, on hearing the clock strike, he inquired the hour, and being told eleven, he remarked, "Ah! the Lord is now with his praying people, listening to and preparing to answer their prayers. He then lifted up his eyes, and said, "O Lord, feed thy people with bread, the bread of life; and let thy prisoners also be thy pensioners.' On the following day he asked for the 9th psalm to be read, and when the reader came to the 9th and 10th verses, he emphatically remarked "Aye, I love to think of that passage

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee; for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that put their trust in thee."" In the evening, when

suffering under a paroxysm of tic circle, and the society in which pain, he leaned his head on one of he moved. "The memory of the his children who was supporting just is blessed." S. H. him, and said, "Oh! what volumes are contained in that one word whosoever!' ⚫ Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely."

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the writer manifests; whilst all effecting, in the world and in the who consider the momentous im-church. Let us not hastily beport of his sentiments and sugges- lieve, (while there are so many tions, will be proportionably con- pleasing prospects around us) that cerned to ascertain, whether the God has almost entirely withdrawn entire statement, and his inferences his influence from, and forsaken be strictly correct. There are two his people. In surveying the presides to every question. I doubt sent extensive field of Christian if your correspondent, in the pre- labour, I feel much more dissent instance, has fairly and fully posed to adopt the grateful exconsidered both. The moral, as clamation, "What hath God well as the natural hemisphere, is wrought!" than to sympathize usually composed of light and with the writer who can assert that shade, but the whole Christian "every thing is comparatively cold world (as viewed through the me- and gloomy and barren;" and that dium of this statement) presents one universal blight appears to an aspect universally gloomy. The pervade the whole Christian writer himself seems to suspect church!" The prophet Elijah, that he may have overcharged his was under an evident mistake when representation; he says "if it the defection of Israel led him to should appear to your readers that suppose there were no true worthere is some truth in the represen- shippers remaining, and he said tations now submitted to them," I, even I only am left," but God though they may not approve of informed him" that he had in every sentiment advanced," &c. Israel seven thousand men who It must be admitted there is some had not bowed the knee to Baal." truth in his statement, on account We must not say, that there is of which, Christian churches and neither sunshine, nor day light pastors in general ought to repent in the Christian church, because and be deeply humbled before God, we have not meridian splendour. inquire into the cause, deprecate If we credit the statement, which the divine displeasure, and earn- represents the present state of the estly implore the reanimating in- Christian church to be universally fluences of the Holy Spirit, by which cold, gloomy, barren and blighted, alone the church can be revived, we can scarcely believe the pleasand again happily enjoy a time of ing and well authenticated acrefreshing from the presence of the counts given us from time to time, Lord, and the glory of his power. of additions made to the numerous There is good reason, however, to churches among the various denodoubt whether the facts of the case minations of good men both in the will warrant G. in his general metropolis, its vicinity, and throughstatements, which he has made out the country-of the progress so dark and depressing. While and extension of the gospel at we deplore the low and languid home and abroad-of the frequent state of religion among us, and la- erection of new buildings, for the ment the little success attending worship of God-of the opening the moral means which are em- of rooms and licensing places for ployed for the conversion of sin- preaching the gospel in numerous ners, and the enlargement of the towns and villages-of the increaskingdom of Christ; let us not be ing number of associations, of unobservant of, and unthankful for, Christians for social prayer of what God is now most evidently the vast multitude of Sunday and