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that so we may know the day of our visitation, and improve those peculiar seasons and means of grace, which at different times bless and distinguish the lives of all men.

O what would I not afterwards have frequently given for the presence and counsel of James Stuart, in many subsequent difficulties and trials, as I traversed the bosom of the deep, and dwelt among those who were strangers and enemies to the Christian peace! But these desires were then in vain.

That Providence which threw him in my way was pleased to baffle our progress to England by contrary winds, and thus prolonged the unmerited and undervalued blessing beyond what might have been expected. But at length these impediments were overcome, and we landed our companions in arms on British soil: many of us to meet no more until we assemble before the throne of God. As to Stuart, he was almost immediately presented, by the Commander-inChief, with a lieutenant's commission, and sailed very soon after with his regiment for the West Indies. There he was shortly called into active service, and was killed in mounting a breach at the head of a storming party; and thus, in the flower of life, and in the midst of growing usefulness, was taken from the evil to come, and admitted into that rest which remains

for the people of God, without his name being engraved on monumental columns, or blazoned abroad through the pages of history. Nor does his happy spirit grieve the want of heraldry record or monumental inscription on earth; it has obtained a record and an honour which this world cannot give nor take away.

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It would not be advancing too much to say, that in point of real merit, good soldiership, and sterling Christian piety, be was worthy of high rank than many who have possessed and now do possess it. But he envied no man the smiles of this world. He felt it his duty, and he made it his aim, to occupy, as in the sight of God, with his entrusted talent, and to fill up usefully, and therefore honourably, the station in which it had pleased God to place him. Let not then any mad and plundering Macedonian Alexander, any ambitious Roman Cæsar, or any perjured French marshal, hear with a disdainful smile, the short and simple annals of one who was

( "A flower born to blush unseen,

And waste its sweetness in the desert air;"

of one, who, while he was unknown to many of the children of this world, was well known to those whom the Eternal Author of all being denominates "the excellent of the earth." With these bis memory lives, although his

mortal part be dead, And in the kingdom of God's dear Son he is known by saints and angels, with whom, and with the Saviour himself, he will live for ever. Among all who knew Stuart there was but one opinion; and that was, that had his life been spared, and a field of action laid by Providence before him, he would have drawn the public attention to deeds of wisdom and zeal for God and his country.

Many a brave soldier, in the continental armies, rose, during the late wars, from humble posts to very exalted stations; yet few of them possessed more zeal than Stuart, and none perhaps half his real piety and social worth. Happy indeed should I now esteem myself in Stuart's friendship, were he alive. Whatever were his rank, I feel confident, he would not shun me as I once did him; but he would embrace an humble village pastor in the arms of meek forgiveness and Christian love. Yes, he would come forth and meet the prodigal, and kindly interrupt me while I confessed my pride and vanity.—But why do I thus run on? He can no more advise us wayward mortals for our good. He is not now permitted to impart the heavenly themes of gospel truths to such ungrateful beings as myself. We must hold no more converse till the hand that now writes has ceased to move, and the spirit that now in

fluences its motions has forsaken this body of sin and death. Once, like Barachel's son, (Job, xxxii. 11, &c.) " he waited for my words, and gave an attentive ear to all I said. And when he spoke, his words were of the uprightness of his heart, his lips they uttered knowledge elearly;" and, like another Buzite, he would pour out his sweet instructions and gentle kind rebukes. But all these times and means of grace are fled, and Stuart is gone to listen to the voice of angels and saints and seraphs, and to unite in their song of praise which knows no end.

Happy, happy Christian soldier! cut down in the path of duty, thy soul at once escaped, before its earthly tenement had fallen into ruins, or wearied thee by lingering painful sickness.

So would I fall in the active service of my gracious Lord, before the infirmities of old age have cramped the active mind, and made me burthensome to others and to myself!

No. XXI.

REFLECTIONS ON THE BATTLE OF
TRAFALGAR.

“NOT UNTO US O LORD, NOT UNTO US, BUT UNTO THỶ NAME GIVE GLORY, FOR THY MERCY, AND FOR THY TRUTH'S SAKE.-Psalm cxv. 1.

OFTEN since the twenty-first of October, 1805, the writer's mind has retraced a variety of scenes which occurred in the memorable battle of that day off the hills of Trafalgar. History has handed down, and will continue to transmit to posterity, the principal transactions of that day's fight, as replete with military honour and political consequence to the British empire. But in none of these accounts has he been able to discover any thing like a desire in the historian to see and acknowledge the superintending and overruling providence of God, to make any spiritual improvement of the subject, or to exclaim "Not unto us O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name be all the praise." It will, therefore, be his object in this paper to cast a Christian glance at that day's transactions,

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