case is, my brethren and neighbours, I leave my vindication with you; and I do it with confidence. Should any one observe: Your late minister was hastily dismissed from his office-another was placed in his situation, in a manner that implied something must have been wrong in his sentiments or conduct-though particularly requesting it, he was not permitted to take a public leave of the people committed to his charge-what evil had he done?-what immoralities was he guilty of?--what false doctrines did he preach?' Methinks I hear your answer: 'We accuse him of no immoralities-he preached to us the Bible, and enforced and illustrated its doctrines from the articles, homilies, and liturgy of our church -large congregations attended his ministry at the church, and he occasionally instructed such as chose to attend at his own house-we are persuaded that an evident alteration for the better, had taken place in the morals of many persons in our village-we respected him as a minister-why should he have become any one's enemy, because he told us the truth?' But enough of this. I wish to avoid giving offence. I would write nothing in these pages, my beloved brethren, for which I might heave a sigh when far distant from Botley, or for which my spirit might grieve (if grief were then possible) while my hand is mouldering in the dust. I bless God, that I have not been prevented from speaking to some of you in a less public way, and that I can now address you all from the press. I have had the honour, and the happiness, of setting before you the blessed truths

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taught us by Jesus Christ and his apostles-truths that, I trust, have produced something more than a reformation of morals. Yes, my dear brethren, I humbly hope, that through the agency and grace of the Holy Spirit, some among you have felt them to be the power of God to salvation. rejoice to believe that, in some measure and degree, he has condescended to bear testimony to the grace and truth of the gospel. Do any of your consciences testify that this gospel has come to you not in word only, but also in power?' O let us ascribe it to his gracious operations: to him be all the glory. Without this sacred agency, our preaching and your hearing would be in vain. In reference to the same truths that you have already heard, I shall, on this occasion, address you on Hebrews ii. 1, 2, 3 : 'Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip; for if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense and reward, how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation."

Several situations were now presented to my father's notice. He at length determined on accepting the curacy of Wellington, in Shropshire; an appointment which had been offered to him through the intervention of Sir Richard Hill. Some other openings appeared to be of a more promising character, but he was probably influenced, in some measure, by his friendship for Sir Richard Hill; since his correspondence at this period evinces a natural disinclination

to exchange a mansion surrounded with beautiful scenery, for a residence in a dark, dirty town, where the fires of the iron foundries were continually burning, and the smoke of the furnaces rested like a heavy cloud over the adjacent country. But a life of vicissitude is not unusually the lot of the christian minister. Like the Levite of old, he, often, has no part or inheritance in the land; yet the bounds of his habitation are wisely appointed in subserviency to a higher object-his usefulness in the church of God. He may then willingly suffer the inconveniences of repeated change, or contentedly remain in situations possessing but few attractions, if thereby his work be furthered, and the pleasure of the Lord prosper in his hand. And the lowly christian may be well satisfied, if, while others obtain earthly possessions and enjoyments, he can look upward and say, "The Lord is my portion and my inheritance;" and may cheerfully add, "the lines are fallen to me in pleasant places."

Here, amidst an ignorant and depraved population, it became evident, that God had a work for his servant to accomplish. This was the sphere in which he was for a season to move; and he left a shining track behind him, in testimony of the divine blessing on his labours. Knowing the terrors of the Lord, he persuaded men, warning them to flee from the wrath to come; or he displayed the wonders of redeeming love, discovering to the poor miners the unsearchable riches of Christ. Seldom enjoying the pleasant vision of the sun, they were directed to "the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into

The sentiments with which my father entered upon his duties in this town, are discoverable from some notes in his memoranda. These contain, in general, little more than a short notice of his sermons, when and where they were preached, &c. What follows will be read with interest.

Wellington, April 23, 1804.

Yesterday, I opened my ministry in this town, and preached in the morning to about twelve or fifteen hundred souls, from Acts xiii. 36-'Unto you is the word of this salvation sent.' The congregation appeared attentive in general: some seemed impressed and affected. May the great God water the seed sown with the dew of his blessing! May it spring up under the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit, and bring forth fruit to the glory of God, and the everlasting welfare of those who heard. This day (Monday), I walked with Mr. Eyton to a neighbouring parish, and visited two families under affliction. In one family, a child of nine years old was lying dead, who had been drowned in a canal. A similar accident happened to another of the children, of nearly the same age, about a year before. The mother appeared in the deepest affliction, yet was earnestly desirous of submission. Lord, help me to sympathize with the afflicted! Give me wisdom to speak a word in season to sufferers under such painful dispensations. Teach me to pray with and for them; to lift up the hands that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.

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'April 26th. This day I spent principally at home, in preparing for the public work of the sabbath. From twelve o'clock till three, I walked to the Wrekin: the prospect from the top is extensive and beautiful. The distance from the foot of the mountain at the eastern side, to the top on the western, is at least a mile and a quarter, or perhaps a mile and a half; and this point is four miles from our present habitation at Wellington. From observation only at our house, a stranger would not, probably, suppose the distance to be more than

two miles. How little have I this day done for God, for my fellow creatures, or for my own soul! Jesus pardon and wash me in thy blood.

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'April 27th. Spent part of the forenoon in reading, and preparing my sermon for the sabbath; attended the prayers of the church; walked with Mr. E. to visit the sick; called on one man aged ninetyfour, who appeared to be waiting for the inheritance of the saints in light.-O God, if thou spare me to old age, let me be found in the way of righteousness. If thou remove me earlier, take, O take me to thy blessed self, to Jesus, and to the society of angels and saints. Gather not my soul with sinners. On the review of this day, what cause have I for humiliation, and for imploring the pardoning mercy of my God through Jesus."

His memoranda shew, that besides the Sunday duty, in which his vicar usually took a share, there were two evening services in the week, which were generally performed by himself. He also preached twice or three times in some of those populous hamlets which surround the town, where the service was not unfrequently conducted in the open air, for the small rooms of the cottagers were incapable of containing the large assemblies usually collected on these occasions. Many years after my father had left Wellington, he received the pleasing intelligence, that in one of these thickly inhabited hamlets, two hundred persons attributed their conversion to his ministry.

Attention to the young of his flock was a prominent feature in my father's pastoral character. The injunction of the chief Shepherd, "Feed my lambs," was never forgotten or slighted. Previously to the