In the autumn of this year (1826), my father experienced a return of the disorder which has several times been noticed; and it led to the use of means which exceedingly reduced his strength. Weak however as he at this time was, it was only owing to the importunity of his family, and the kind offer of assistance made by a clerical friend in the neighbourhood, that he for one Sunday omitted the performance of his usual duties. His general appearance at this time was so much affected, that many of his friends were not without the most painful apprehensions of the probable result. But his own mind was tranquil ; and he not only acquiesced in, but he cordially approved the divine conduct; saying with the psalmist "I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right." Through the blessing of God, he was ere long restored to health; nor was he, afterwards, severely affected by this disorder. The remaining days of his pilgrimage, although they may doubtless be included in the general character of all—“ few and evil," (and whose may not be so denominated?) were yet more tranquil in their flow than those of some preceding years. They were not strongly marked by calamity; and difficulties of a pecuniary nature were in great measure obviated.* In the course of the year 1827, the subject of our memoir received a legacy in rather a remarkable way. The late excellent Mr. Motteshaw, among other bequests, left to my father, who was known to him only by his works and character, 1007.; but he died before signing the codicil in which it was bequeathed. The parties concerned, however, honourably remitted to him the sum, with every expression of christian regard. Some extracts follow, from letters to his absent children, written about this period. "MY DEAREST E. "To-morrow being the anniversary of your birth, I cannot let the day pass without writing you a few lines, lest you should be pained with the apprehension that you are forgotten or neglected. This, however, is not the case, as you and dear M. are constantly remembered by us at home; nor do we omit to pray that God may confer upon you every mercy and blessing that he sees you need; and especially that he may communicate to you the influences of his Holy Spirit, that you may make your calling and election sure, and grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as you advance in years. I hope now, my dear child, that you will sincerely and unreservedly give the Saviour your heart, and receive him as your portion for ever. It is my earnest prayer that you may remember your Creator and Redeemer in the days of your youth, and devote the prime of your life to his service. It will not only save you from a thousand snares, to 'mind religion young ;' but it will insure you a thousand comforts. Godliness, you will recollect, has the 'promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.' 66 * You will be much concerned to hear that your dear and estimable godfather, and our valued friend, Mr. Richmond, is in a very dangerous state. During the last two months he has been confined entirely to his study. He is so much altered, that when I saw him last, on Saturday, I was struck and affected with his appearance. If it should please God in his holy providence to remove him, his loss to his family, his parish, and the church, will be great indeed. "Your very affectionate father." I trust you will both choose that 'good part which shall not be taken away from you,' and which will be your best portion-a portion you will never lose, in time or in eternity. Go on to seek and know the Lord, fulfilment of his gracious promises. and you may depend on the 'Ask and you shall have, seek and you shall find-Then shall you know, if you follow on to know the Lord-Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he will strengthen your heart.' These are a few of the many faithful and precious promises, which the Lord has given for the encouragement and consolation of those who desire to do his will, and to enjoy his favour and loving kindness. May God in his infinite mercy, for Christ's sake, grant, my dear children, that your path may be the path of the just, as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day! "God bless you, my dearest children, and be assured that I remain "Your most affectionate father." His New Year's sermon to young people, for the year 1828, to which the next extract refers, was preached from Prov. viii. 32–36. "Now therefore, hearken unto me, O ye children, &c." After giving his daughters a general outline of his discourse, he adds "Thus my dear children, I have presented you with my new year's gift, by sending you the substance of the sermon delivered to the young persons of Olney and its vicinity, on the first evening of the year. May the God of all grace, grant that it may be the means of communicating to you some spiritual good. Instead of transcribing the conclusion of the sermon, I shall take the liberty of writing a few lines to all the young ladies in the school, and thus conclude my sheet with an address, that will include you with your sister pupils. "MY DEAR YOUNG LADIES, "As I have had the pleasure of once seeing many of you, and as 'my heart's desire and prayer to God for all of you is, that you may be saved,' I trust you will forgive my addressing a few words to you on the subject of your highest and best interests. As you are all the daughters of clergymen and ministers of Christ, I love and respect you. In this view I regard you as the seed of the righteous,' and hope that the God of love and grace will confer on you the blessings promised to those who are included under this character. You are likewise, in consequence of your admission into the church of Christ by baptism, by profession and in the judgment of christian charity, 'the members of Christ, the children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven.' But I trust, my dear young friends, you know that neither the particular privilege of being ministers' daughters, nor the general one of being professed christians, is sufficient of itself to constitute you real christians, and partakers of those spiritual privileges and blessings which you are supposed to possess. I dare say you remember that the church in the present state is mixed, and that tares are represented as growing among the wheat. No external privileges are sufficient to save the soul: you must be personally religious, to obtain the spiritual and eternal blessings of salvation. Many things are spoken in the scripture, of God's having chosen Israel as his people; but this does not imply their individual salvation. The apostle says: 'He is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly,' &c. Rom. ii. 28, 29. We may now, by analogy, use the same kind of language, and say: He is not a christian who is one outwardly, neither is that baptism which is outward on the body; but he is a christian who is one inwardlywho is born of God, who puts on Christ, who dies to sin and rises again unto righteousness; who has the mind of Christ, and who puts off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and puts on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. I hope therefore, my dear children, that you will seek a personal interest in the gracious and compassionate Redeemer, who shed for you his precious blood. God, in his kind and holy providence, has lately brought you to the commencement of another year of your fleeting and uncertain life; and he only knows whether or not you may see the end of it. You are now in the morning of your days; but the regions of death are crowded with the young as well as the aged. Several, in the bloom of youth, healthy and vigorous as any of you now are, who heard the new year's sermon at offers Olney on January 1st, 1827, were borne to the tomb before the year "I remain, my dear young ladies, "Your affectionate friend and servant, "HENRY GAUNTLETT." During several months which elapsed after the death of his friend Mr. Richmond, and before the appointment of another incumbent, my father supplied to the bereaved church his occasional services. These were particularly acceptable to the people; and they gratefully acknowledged them, by presenting him with a copy of Bagster's Comprehensive Bible, in quarto, very handsomely bound. My father in a note of thanks written on this occasion, observes:-"Mr. Gauntlett hopes his esteemed friends 1 |