the author of Family Worship, and some other publications. On his resignation, in 1795, the Rev. Melville Horne, whose eloquence, zeal, and charity are still remembered in the parish, succeeded to the living, and held it for five years, when he also relinquished it.

The Rev. Christopher Stephenson, who was nominated to the vicarage in the year 1800, was distinguished by a spirit of deep humility and overflowing charity. He was much prepossessed in my father's favour at the commencement of the connexion between them; and their feelings of mutual esteem experienced no interruption, until the death of Mr. Stephenson terminated their friendship on earth. When my father arrived at Olney, his vicar made every arrangement which considerate attention could dictate, to ensure his comfort and promote his usefulness. The conduct of this excellent man towards my father, was at all times marked by the warm benevolence of the christian, the affectionate kindness of the friend, and the mild urbanity of the gentleman.

Entering now into the labours of these holy men, my father found much to encourage him vigorously to prosecute the work they had begun, that fruit might be gathered unto life eternal, and in due season all might rejoice together. On the day following his arrival, he commenced his ministry at Olney, by preaching from the apostle's exhortation to Timothy, I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the

dead at his appearing and his kingdom, preach the word; be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and doctrine." (2 Tim. iv. 1, 2.) The writer well rememhers being, at this period, struck with his manner in the pulpit, which was as new to his children (none of whom, on account of the distance of his curacies from Reading, could recollect hearing him preach before) as to his congregation in general. The ambassador of God to man, he delivered his message as one assured of his high credentials. The earnest expression of his countenance, no less than the eternal value of the truths he uttered, testified, “It is no vain thing for you, for it is your life;" and the occasional vehemence of his emphasis, could not fail to awaken the attention of his most listless auditors. There were some who thought he exceeded in zeal; but to such he could reply that he shewed forth only "the words of truth and soberness ;" and his powerful and animated addresses not unfrequently left an echo in the conscience, which continued to be heard when those louder tones had died away. Effects were produced, which cannot be duly estimated until all that this vain world contains, to allure our eyes or engage our hearts, shall "vanish as a dream when one awaketh;" truth shall stand revealed in awful simplicity; and the delusions which now bewilder our judgment, shall be dissolved in its radiance.

My father's manner of reading the church services was devotional and impressive, without being in the

de

In the early pe

least degree heavy or wearisome.
riod of his ministry, Sir James Stonhouse, himself
one of the most correct and elegant readers, gave
him some valuable hints, and he successfully culti-
vated the natural endowments of a fine ear and good
voice. Some passages of scripture will be long asso-
ciated in the recollection of his hearers, with the
affecting manner in which he gave utterance to their
touching descriptions, sublime imagery, or elevated
devotion. Such are Judah's expostulation with his
unknown, but deeply interested, brother; Joseph's
discovery of himself to his brethren; the interviews
of Balaam and Balak; the destruction of Senna-
cherib's army; not to mention the many beautiful
passages in the evangelic narratives of our Sa-
viour's life. And here I cannot but recur to the
peculiar tenderness, pathos, and solemnity, with
which he gave expression to the ritual appointed by
our church for the burial of the dead. During his
residence at the old rectory, the garden of which
opened into the churchyard, one or another of his
children would often follow him thither on these
solemn occasions; and the writer has not unfrequently
stood with him beside the new-made grave, in the
still, calm summer evening, listening to his modu-
lated tones of serious sympathy and awful adoration,
till they awakened the deepest emotion.
It was
music, poetry, and religion, mingling in sweet asso-
ciation, and blending in holy union.

With reference to his prospects in his new situ

1

ation, my father, in a letter dated February 1811, writes:

"MY DEAR FRIEND,

"Fully convinced that you are truly interested in our welfare, I take as early an opportunity as circumstances would admit, to let you know how we are going on, and with some of our occasions for gratitude and humiliation. Our removal has peculiarly exemplified in our case the apostle's remark, that 'here we have no continuing city,' and led me occasionally to make some reflections on my situation as a stranger and sojourner' here for a very limited and uncertain period. It has also afforded me frequent occasion to regret the loss of the many advantages, and the distance of the friends and connexions left behind at Reading, and in its vicinity; but it has at the same time, brought many new causes of gratitude to the God of our hopes and our mercies. We have been conducted in safety and peace to our new habitation, and have been very affectionately received by Mr. Stephenson the vicar, and by the inhabitants of the town in general. Since our arrival I have had considerable employ in my ministerial work, having constantly preached in the church four times a-week, besides frequently meeting the children and young persons in our large room, celebrated for the religious exercises of Newton, Moses Browne, and Cowper, who have on some occasions successively engaged in the same service. I have likewise occasionally preached at Weston, of which church, my vicar Mr. Stephenson is the curate. The people in general appear to receive my ministry with affection, pleasure and cordiality, which as far as it affords any hope of its being beneficial, is a source of satisfaction and thankfulness-as for popularity, whether in a humble or elevated, a narrow or extensive sphere, it is doubtless of little worth, any further than connected with real usefulness. We reside in the old rectory house, which has not been inhabited for thirty years till of late. It is of course not in that degree of order that would be desirable; there are however, a sufficient number of rooms that are habitable. It is situated a little way out of the town, close by the church, on the banks of the Ouse, which bounds our garden. Before us are meadows, much like the king's meadows at Reading; the

place is a fine flat, affording a prospect one way of about six miles ; and on one side of us is Weston, on the other Clifton, and in front Emberton, all three pleasant villages, situated on eminences, at about the distance of a mile each from Olney. My curacy here I expect may be about 100l. per annum clear, the subscriptions of the people for the extra services, and the surplice-fees will probably not more than pay my rent and taxes. As to pupils, I have here new connexions to form, and at present I have only two. ***"

The subscriptions referred to, for the extra services, exceeded my father's expectations. Mr. Scott speaks of them as "having amounted (in Mr. Newton's time) to 401. or better;" but adds, with respect to himself, "they may probably be 201. or 301." For several years succeeding my father's appointment to the curacy, the subscriptions for extra duty amounted to 1007. At length, through the failure of the lace-trade, the staple manufacture of the town, and the general depression of the commercial interests, felt more or less in every part of the country, they gradually decreased to less than half that sum. But it was my father's chief anxiety to accomplish the great design of his office, as the " messenger,

per annum.

watchman and steward of the Lord, to teach and to premonish, to feed and provide for the Lord's family, to seek for Christ's sheep that are dispersed abroad, and for his children who are in the midst of this naughty world, that they may be saved through Christ for ever." Besides meeting the children and young people in the room referred to, on several days in the week, for reading the scriptures, catechetical instruction, and prayer, he occasionally expounded at the workhouse, and visited those who,