"The interest, likewise, which he took in the success of the Gospel, was prominent, when his disease at all remitted. His own people lay near his heart; and, when a providence had occurred which he hoped would promote their benefit, he expressed himself with old Simeon, 'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.'

"The principal effect of his distemper was in throwing a cloud over his comfort; yet, in producing this, the spiritual tendency of his mind appeared. His diseased depression operated indeed, but it was in leading him to set a high standard of holiness, to bring together elevated marks of regeneration, and to require decisive evidences of a spirit of faith and adoption. The acuteness of his judgment then argued so strongly from these false premises, that he necessarily excluded himself almost entirely from the consolation of hope. If I may be allowed a theological term-the objective acts of faith; those that related to the grand objects proposed in the Scriptures on the testimony of God, such as the work of redemption, the person of Christ, and the virtue of his blood, remained the same; nay, were ripened and strengthened as his dissolution approached; but the subjective acts of faith; those which respected his own interest in these blessings, and which gave life to the exercises of hope; rose and sunk with his disease. He was precisely like a man oppressed by a heavy weight: as the load was lightened, he began to move and exert himself in his natural manner: when the burden was increased, he sunk down again under the oppression.

"About a year before his death, when his powers of mind had for a long time been debilitated, but still retained some remnants of their former vigor, his religious feelings were at times truly desirable. His intellectual powers were indeed too far weakened for joy; but there was a resignation, a tran

quillity, a ripeness of grace, a calm and holy repose on the bosom of the Savior, that quite alarmed, if I may so speak, his anxious family, under the impression that there appeared nothing left for grace to do, and that he would soon be removed from them, as a shock of corn cometh in its season. Even when his disease had made still further progress, as often as the slightest alleviation was afforded him, his judgment became more distinct, his morbid depression lessened, and he was moderately composed. It was only a few weeks before his dissolution that such an interval was vouchsafed to bim. He then spake with great feeling from the Sciptures, in family worship, for about half an hour; and dwelt on the love, and grace, and power of Christ with particular composure of mind. I had the happiness of visiting him at this season. He was so much relieved from his disease, as to enter with me on general topics relating to religion, and to give me some excellent directions as to my conduct as a minister. In reply to various questions which I put to him, he spake to me to the following purport; 'I know myself to be a wretched, worthless sinner' (the seriousness and feeling with which he spake I shall never forget,) 'having nothing in myself but poverty and sin. I know Jesus Christ to be a glorious and almighty Savior. I see the full efficacy of his atonement and grace; and I cast myself entirely on him, and wait at his footstool. I am aware that my diseased and broken mind makes me incapable of receiving consolation; but, I submit myself wholly to the inerciful and wise dispensations of God.'

"One or two other interesting testimonies of the spiritual and devoted state of his heart may be here mentioned. A short time before his disease, he requested one of his family to write down for him in a book the following sentence; 'None but Christ, (none but Christ, said Lambert dying at a stake:

the same, in dying circumstances, with his whole heart, saith Richard Cecil.' The name was signed by himself, with his left hand, in a manner hardly legible through infirmity."

Such was Mr. Cecil. I sincerely regret that some masterly observer did not both enjoy and improve opportunities of delineating a more perfect picture of his great mind. I have, however, faithfully detailed the impressions which his character made on me, during a long course of affectionate admiration of him: nor have I shrunk from intermingling such remarks, as every faithful observer must find occasion to make while he is watching the unfoldings of the best and greatest of men.

CHRISTIAN PARENTS, and particularly CHRISTIAN MOTHERS, may gather from the history and character of our departed friend every possible encouragement to the unwearied care of their children. While St. Austin, Bishop Hall, Richard Hooker, John Newton, Richard Cecil, and many other great and eminent servants of Christ, have left on record their gateful acknowledgments to their pious mothers, as the instruments, under the grace and blessing of God, of winning them to himself, let no woman of faith and prayer despair respecting even her most untoward child.

Mr. Cecil's MERE ADMIRERS should feel what a weight of responsibility his ministry and his character have laid them under. They gave him the ear, but he labored for the heart. They were pleased with the man, but he prayed that they might become displeased with themselves. They would aid him in his schemes, but he was anxious that they should serve his Master. How soon must they meet him at that judgment-seat before which all must appear, to receive according to what they have done in the body whether good or evil!

His SINCERE FRIENDS are called to imitate his example-to follow him as he fallowed Christ-t

live above this vain world-to sacrifice every thing to the honor of Christ and the interests of Eternity-to bear up under pain and weariness and anxrety, leaning on Almighty strength; till they join him in that world where weakness shall be felt no more! JOSIAH PRATT.

REMARKS MADE BY MR. CECIL CHIEFLY IN CONVERSATION WITH THE EDITOR, OR IN DISCUSSIONS WHEN HE WAS PRESENT.

"Multa ab eo prudenter disputata, multa etiam breviter et commode dicta memorie mandabam, fierique studebam ejus prudentia doctior."-Cic de Amicit. 1.

On the Christian Life and Conflict.

THE direct cause of a Christian's spiritual life, is union with Christ. All attention to the mere circumstantials of religion, has a tendency to draw the soul away from this union. Few men, except ministers are called, by the nature of their station, to enter much into these circumstantials:-such, for instance, as the evidences of the truth of relig ion. Ministers feel this deadening effect of any considerable or continued attention to externals: much more must private Christians. The head may be strengthened, till the heart is starved. Some private Christians, however, may be called on, by the nature of those circles in which they move, to be qualified to meet and refute the objections which may be urged against religion. Such men as well as ministers, while they are furnishing themselves for this purpose, must acquiesce in the work which God appoints for them, with prayer and watchfulness. If they cannot always live and abide close to the ark, and the pot of manna, and the cherubims, and the mercy-seat; yet they are drawing the wa

er and gathering the wood necessary for the service of the camp. But let their hearts still turn toward he place where the Glory resideth.

THE Christian's fellowship with God is rather a habit, than a rapture. He is a pilgrim, who has the habit of looking forward to the light before him: he has the habit of not looking back: he has the habit of walking steadily in the way, whatever be the weather, and whatever the road. These are his habits: and the Lord of the Way is his Guide, Protector, Friend, and Felicity.

As the Christian's exigencies arise, he has a spiritual habit of turning to God, and saying, with the Church, "Tell me, O thou whom my soul_loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flocks to rest.at noon. I have tried to find rest elsewhere. I have fled to shelters, which held out great proImise of repose; but I have now long since learned to turn unto thee: Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flocks to rest at noon.'

H

THE Christian will look back, throughout eternity, with interest and delight, on the steps and means of his conversion. "My Father told me this! My Mother told me that! Such an event was sanotified to me! In such a place, God visited my soul!" These recollections will never grow dull and wearisome.

A VOLUME might be written on the various methods which God has taken, in Providence. to lead men first to think of Him Cl y ner in the