teration might be effected, especially in those who have enjoyed a religious education, in a very gradual and imperceptible manper. Such persons are like a man who, gliding down a stream, removes from the dominions of one prince into those of another. He knows not when he passed the boundaries which divide the two kingdoms; and is only conscious of the change, by contrasting the objects around him with the scenes which he had recent ly quitted.

He went to London in the year 1807. Previously to his going thither, he expresses, in a letter to a friend, his resolution to avail himself of the advantages for improvement which his new situation would afford; but, he adds, what is particularly memorable, as descriptive of his own future condition, Thus have I fully unbosomed myself to you on the most important subject of a temporal nature, which can engage my attention. How far success may smile on my prospects, is only known to the Supreme Disposer of events, who, in the course of his providence, often frustrates the schemes of mortals, to shew more fully his own sovereignty and their dependence.'

On his arrival in London, he was sensible of the numerous snares to which he was exposed, as appears from a letter which he wrote to his brother on that occasion :-

• With much pleasure,' says he, I reflect on the solicitude you expressed when we parted, that I could be introduced to such company as would be a check to youthful levity, in a place so ensnaring and dangerous, I say,

I was pleased, because it shewed the degree of that, the reality of which I never doubted,-your concern for my best interests. If I have since been so fortu. nate as to find a friend, I owe the favor to that Sovereign Good. ness which fixes the bounds of our habitation, and, in propor. tion to the advantages we are entrusted with, justly expects a commensurate improvement.'

In a letter, of the same date, addressed to his father, he writes in a language amiably descriptive of his respect, affection, and gratitude.

'I should do injustice,' he says, 'to my own feelings, were I not to begin with expressing my warmest thanks for the excellent advice and kind wishes contained in my excellent father's welcome epistle. I regard it as one of the greatest blessings to have had a pious education, and the instructions and prayers of a parent for so long a period; and now that I am, for the first time, separated, I feel more than ever their value. Go on, my dear Sir, to assist your child in this way. He needs it, and will thank you for it; or, at least, should he at any time be disposed to reject it, this circumstance ought to excite him to suspect that he is not what he should be,—what he would be. While, with joy and gratitude, he acknowledges that divine goodness which has hitherto preserved him from vice, he desires to rejoice with trembling, remembering the precept of the apostle, "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall."

We find that his diligence in his new situation equalled the warmest resolutions which he had

expressed before leaving the country.

• Conceive of me,' says he, in a letter to one of his sisters, from half past nine, or earlier in the morning, till ten at night, so engaged as only to be able to spend an hour at dinner; and, in addition to this, having full employment for study (the only time) on my retiring to my lodgings at night, and before break. fast.'

His unwearied diligence and superior talents, soon attracted the notice of men of the first eminence in his profession. He met with the most flattering encouragement from them, and had prospects of wealth and distinction opening before him beyond his highest expectation ;-but the fervor of his mind exceeded the strength of his constitution. His unremitting application occasioned a hemorrhage; which, though slight at first, was frequently repeated, and, after some months, terminated fatal. ly.* A letter, which our young friend wrote at this period, indicates the pleasing state of his mind.

The anxiety of friends on such occasions,' says he, though highly soothing and endearing, is often painful to the sufferer, insomuch as he sees himself the cause of their sorrow, whose pleasures and cares are blended with his own. For my sake, therefore, as well as your own, be not over-solicitous, my dear sister, about what concerns me. God knows what is best for us;

*It is surely a subject of the deepest regret, that so many have fallen the untimely victims of an unrestrained ardor in literary pursuits. Let others take warning by their lamented examples !

VOL. I. New Series.

and in causing me to drink of the cup of affliction, has wise pur. poses to answer. May the fruit be to alienate from sin, wean from inordinate attachments to the world, to render the Savior more precious, and Heaven more desirable.'

was

As his disorder increased, a medical gentleman, with a paternal kindness, took him under his own roof, for the sake of giving him that particular attention which he needed at this critical period. His views and feel. ings at this time are thus expressed, in a letter to his father :Here then let me pause for a moment, and reflect on the mercies which have accompanied this afflictive dispensation. Far removed from those kind relations, whose tender sympathy and un.. wearied attention have heretofore been experienced, in the midst of strangers, and not even my friend at hand (Mr. in the country) my situation appeared really forlorn. Yet have these circumstances heightened the claim of gratitude to that Being, who has excited an interest in the bosom almost of strangers in my behalf. Nothing can exceed the kindness I have experienced from Mr. and Mrs. . In the former, parental attention is united with such a degree of professional skill, as sets my mind, and should set yours, at perfect ease that subject. In the latter, I see all the sensibilities of a moth. er (the character in which, she says, she wishes me to consider her) displayed. Excluded as I am from all society, my situation would be somewhat dull, were not every means, consistent with safety, used to remove the tedium of solitude. In short, no.

20

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thing could render one more comfortable under the absence of my relations; while the cir. cumstance of being under the same roof with my doctor, whose assistance in any emergency can be so readily obtained, is particularly favorable. Thus the cup I am called to drink, though bitter, is sweetened with many a pleasant ingredient. Whether the plans I had formed, the accomplishment of which appeared within my reach, will be entirely frustrated, or only interrupted, is best known to the Supreme Disposer of events. I desire to acquiesce in his will, whatever that may be. Certainly my prospects were fair;-the cloud that intercepted my view was dispersed;-my most sanguine expectations were exceeded, and recent circumstances had increased them ;--but, perhaps, I had made this too much an idol. My heart was too much set on it; and, without doubt, Infinite Wis. dom has seen fit to withdraw it from me, that I may be led to trust more entirely on him. Happy will it be that I have been visited with this affliction, if this end be answered by it! You will be solicitous to know what were my views in anticipation of that event, which certainly, at one period, I considered as not far distant. Sensible of the treachery of the heart, and the danger of self deception, it was my prayer to God to give me a right judgment in so important a matter. I trust, my dear Sir, all is well; that I am prepared for any event; that, having cast anchor within the veil, I have a hold which the terrors of death cannot shake! Rejoice with me in this hope, and pray

that it may be well founded!'

The pleasing state of his mind, expressed in this letter, is also mentioned by the worthy lady with whom he resided.

"Our dear friend,' says she,

has often reminded me of this consoling idea of Cowper's, That those who are best fitted to live in this world, are best prepared for the happiness of another. His mind was calm and composed in the most trying period of his illness; and, though he was prohibited from speaking, I could not refuse to listen while he was expressing a sweet testi. mony to the reality of religion. He said, that his hopes rested on the truths of the gospel, and that he felt their support, and the most perfect resignation to the divine will, as to the event of his illness. I lament that the low tone in which he spoke, and the interest and agitation of the moment, have prevented me from recalling many of the ideas which he uttered, and which I have no doubt but he intended that I should treasure up for the consolation of his friends; but it is enough to know, that, at that solemn period when the human heart would not be tempted to disguise its real sentiments, death had no terrors for your beloved

relative.'

The gentleman to whom he al luded in one of his letters, as the friend that he met with soon after his arrival in London, gives the same account of his resignation during this period of his illness; while, at the same time, he pays a tribute to the worth and amiableness of his general character.

The first half hour,' says he, addressing his father, that I spent with your son, after his ar

rival in town, excited my desire to cultivate his friendship; for I thought that I perceived great intelligence, united with goodness and sweetness of disposition; and what I anticipated I found,--an affectionate friend, and an excellent companion. We were sel. dom long separated from each other when business did not prevent our meeting. His ardor in his profession was great. He had marked out the road; and the principal obstacles appeared to have been removed, by his superior talents and perseverance, when he was arrested in his course by the hand of Omnipotence. At this time he exhibited the power of the religion he professed. Not a murmur escaped him. often mentioned it as a striking proof of the vanity and uncertainty of terrestrial things; but with a spirit of christian fortitude, and a desire of cheerful resignation to the will of his heavenly Father.'

He

Who can read, without emotion, these testimonies of his submission to the disposal of infinite wisdom, especially when it is considered what high-raised hopes were blasted by his premature illness !

The remaining part of this Memoir will relate to his views and dispositions after he returned into the country. About three months before his death, he grew considerably worse; but he enjoyed, during this period, with only a short interruption, a most desirable serenity of mind: and, as he drew near to an eternal world, he was favored with more lively anticipations of glory.

Soon after his return, a meet, ing of prayer being proposed on his account, he wrote the follow.

ing letter to his worthy minister, the Rev. John Saltren, of Bridport :

-

I know not, my dear Sir, whether, in this exercise, the call for prayer or thanksgiving be greater. When I think on my late providential, and, as it seems to me, almost miraculous escape* from a catastrophe which, had it happened in my debilitated state, would, according to hu man probabilities, have proved directly, at least ultimately, fatal, I cannot but see cause for gratitude to that God who, in such extremity, appeared for my help. This, and the favorable state of my health at present, which evidently improves under the use of the means, encourage me to hope that there is mercy yet in store,and that the time may not be far distant when I shall again be permitted to acknowledge his goodness, even the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. It is this hope which will furnish matter of supplication to a throne of grace. Life can only be desired, as it affords opportunity of usefulness here, or of preparation for happiness hereafter; and if, in a protracted existence, I have to anticipate a life bur densome to myself and my friends, my prayer would be, finish thy work, and cut it short in righteousness! Fit me for thy kingdom, and then take me to it! Hence appears the propriety of submission to the divine will, even in our prayers, lest their fulfilment prove a curse instead of a blessing. 'One thing we cannot ask amiss, that the affliction may be sanctified;

Lord,

* Alluding to some alarming symp toms, which induced a full expectation of an immediate return of the hemorrhage.

and I feel its importance too much, not to remind you, my dear Sir, of it. May the spirit of wisdom descend upon and influence those who may be engaged!—and may the angel of the Covenant mingle his incense with theirs, that their prayers may be accepted before the throne of God!'

During this meeting of his friends, or on a similar occasion, he wrote the following memo. randum, which was found after his decease.

'I cannot close the duties of this evening, when my friends have a meeting for prayer on my account, without expressing, in a mahner more distinctly than I have yet done, the state of my religious feelings, under the afflic tion which has so long tried me.

'It has often been a subject of regret that I had not done this sooner, at least only by those communications which I have sometimes made to my friends. After the attack, I had for a considerable time no convenient opportunity for this; and since I came down to the country the design has been delayed, from a wish to take a more circumstantial view of the subject, in the differ. ent stages of my disorder, than my health in general would prudently admit of; though, with shame I speak it, there have been seasons when at most I should have run no greater risk from the investigation than the fatigue of other studies or engagements occasioned. Should life be spared, I hope to devote the earliest opportunity to make this scrutiny. In the mean time, the following paper is intended as a memento for the use of my. self, and for the satisfaction, in

some degree, of my friends who may survive me :

"The period when Death staresus in the face, though a season of trial to the faith, is by no means favorable to an inquiry as to the foundation of our hopes; which can best be effected when the mind is calm and uninfluenced by bodily disease. Hence I have repeatedly sought to ascer tain the reality of that comfort which I seemed to feel at this awful period. Not content with my own examination, I have endeavored to compare my religious affections with those laid down in an inestimable work of President Edwards on the subject, as evidences of a state of salvation. The result is, That though I have greatly to deplore the want of clearer testimony on this head, particularly as to the way in which the Lord first brought me to himself, I dare entertain a hope, that I have been led by the teachings of his Spirit to see my danger and my remedy,-to choose the Lord for my portion, and to give my. self up to him to be entirely at his disposal! I have at times felt a pleasure I cannot describe, in making this surrender to him, in pouring out my soul, as it were, in prayer before him, and in telling him my desire to be wholly his. Too transient, alas! have been the blissful visions; and too often succeeded by a degree of supineness and languor hardly reconcilable with a christian life! My temper, under this affliction been much too little regulated by the Spirit of the meek and lowly Jesus. This has been the cause of much grief to me, and, I trust, of unfeigned humiliation before

has