"Mother takes on so;" and requested, by way of consoling her, that the sweet hymn,

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Weep not for Me," might be read to her, which was done.

On hearing a portion of the manuscript copy, since printed, of Joseph Howard's last illness, his father remarked how very interesting the narrative was; he added, "Yes; and particularly so to me." Indeed, the situation of the two youthful invalids appeared, in many particulars, very coincident. The following quotation is strikingly applicable to both. "It was not till within a short period of his death, when the near prospect of eternity overcame his natural reserve, that he seemed able to communicate his own feelings on religious subjects, as connected with himself, and then only with much diffidence."

His mother remarking, that a dear young

9 See Appendix, I.

friend about his own age, whose funeral he some time before attended, and which he has noticed in his Diary, had endeavoured to console her mother, in the near prospect of their separation, by observing, that she had other children left; his mother adding, "But we have only thee; thou art our all." To which he sweetly replied, "I do not see that will signify, if we are but favoured to meet again hereafter in everlasting rest.

On occasion of some conversation with his beloved mother, respecting the mode of conducting funerals, he emphatically observed, "Ah! mother, it is of little consequence what becomes of the body, the soul is every thing; the very end of our being here, is to prepare for eternity."

He had a great regard for the duty of frequent retirement for meditation and prayer a duty which he was concerned to follow during the time of health in his Diary

:

he often alludes to this spiritual exercise as a high privilege to the Christian traveller. When speaking to his father upon the subject, he remarked, that he thought it more difficult in mental prayer to keep the mind fixed and clear of all outward views, than when exercised in vocal supplication; intimating, with diffidence and humility, that he had experienced greater freedom in spirit, and been favoured, as he apprehended, with a nearer access to the Divine presence, when engaged after this

manner.

Not many days before his departure, being with his parents, alone, and engaged in serious discourse, he inquired of his mother what could be the objection to family prayers, and named his father as the proper person, in his view, to engage in this act of domestic devotion, putting this searching question, Ought prayer to be always felt to be prepared by the Holy Spirit

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in the heart, before it can be offered up with a well-grounded hope of its being accepted?" His father, after a pause, replied to this deeply important inquiry of his beloved child by remarking, that it appeared to him so solemn an undertaking for any one to engage in public prayer to the Divine Being, in which a congregation of persons was expected to unite, that a clear manifestation of when and what to pray for, accompanying the spirit of supplication, was essential and indispensable to the right performance of it; but with regard to private prayer, he believed we should be safe in applying the Apostle's injunctions, " Pray without ceasing;" "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same." As our blessed Saviour also said, "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint." Let our several duties be performed in a prayerful frame of mind, having a single eye to the fear of God. A Christian's life should be a

life of prayer.

And he further believed,

that an humble feeling of our own weakness and want, accompanied by living faith in the power of redeeming love, might be considered a sufficient qualification for this delightful exercise, whether orally or mentally, in the family or in the closet; always remembering, that the preparation of the heart is of the Lord, for we read that "no man [with true authority] can say, that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." To this feeble explanation of so deep a subject, the dear boy sweetly assented.

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Prayer-observes Rowland Hill1-is the Spirit speaking in me; and when God hears my prayer, he hears his own language in me. Those who truly renounce their own will, and rest purely on the teaching of the Holy Ghost, find a solid, wise-speak

1 See his "Mature Reflections."

E