pleasure in public worship and in family religion : and therefore it is not surprising, that, having once contracted those habits, which seem stiff and singular at the first, he should afterwards adhere to them, when he found that they tended to improve his heart, to establish his faith, to promote the enjoyment of life, and to comfort him in his declining years, and in the prospect of his approaching dissolution. Nor could it be expected that he, who employed himself so much in distributing Bibles, and in propagating Christianity in distant nations, should neglect the religious instruction of his own household or should endure that those habits of irreligion, which are so generally disregarded in servants, should be contracted and continued in his own view, and within the sphere of his own immediate influence.

He was also exact and punctual in the private exercises of the closet: he daily read the sacred scriptures with great reverence and attention; and he adhered to rules, which he had formed for himself, from a deliberate consideration of their importance; but, at the same time, he avoided observation, or the affectation of austerity. His meals were early, regular, and temperate; and his life retired, when compared with that of most men in the same situation in society. He was entirely a stranger to the ordinary pleasures and amusements of the world, nor was he accustomed in any particular to consult his own ease or indulgence; yet his cheerfulness was noticed by all who conversed with him, and he habitually appeared well satisfied and happy. His fear of alienating his time from more important uses rendered him, on some occa

sions, apparently too averse to go into almost any company. But, where the motive was so good, and the use made of time, thus redeemed, was so worthy of imitation, surely this may be mentioned to his commendation, rather than as a failing ; especially as it increased only with his advancing years, and evidenced a mind more and more occupied with the thoughts of that blessed world, into which he expected soon to be removed.

3. His unaffected and deep humility may be considered as another distinguishing feature of his character. His liberality, his useful industry, and his piety, though he was zealous and abundant in them all, appeared not to himself in any degree meritorious: nay, he was convinced that in every respect he fell short of his bounden duty, and was entirely dependent on the mercy of God in Christ Jesus for the pardon of his sins, and for final acceptance and felicity. In truth, he estimated his own character and conduct by comparing them with the straight rule of the divine law, and not with the crooked principles and practices of the world. For he considered himself and all the race of men as being naturally in a state of apostacy from God, and exceedingly prone to evil: and he was very earnest in spreading this opinion, as a fundamental doctrine of the scriptures.

This sentiment, as far as it was applied to himself, will be admitted to have been a source of humility: when applied to others, it is sometimes thought to be of a contrary nature; for a conviction of the general depravity of the human race is frequently imagined to spring either from spiritual pride, or from a harsh and severe disposition.

Now, as the sentiments entertained by our late honoured friend, concerning the fallen state of the world around him, undoubtedly made a material part of his character, I shall enter more fully into this circumstance; and the candid reader will then judge, how far this his persuasion was consistent with his general and great benevolence.

The ground, on which this and the rest of his religious opinions were founded, was the plain declarations of the Bible: and to that book, which he studied day by day, I must refer the reader for a fuller explanation of the subject. Our late friend implicitly believed its doctrines; and, conscious of his own demerit, all his hopes of salvation were derived from it: he expected" eternal life as "the gift of God through Jesus Christ," according to the revelation of mercy, and the precious promises contained in the scriptures; and he found that these were matters in which human reason or authority could give him no assurance or satisfaction.-If then, on the one hand, he believed the promises of the Bible, and derived all his consolation from them, how could he disbelieve the threatenings of God contained in the same book, and the repeated declarations of the inspired writers concerning the degeneracy of men, the wickedness of the world, and the comparative small number of those who are in the way of salvation?

Indeed that kind of charity, which we often hear pleaded for, can be reasonably expected only from infidels and sceptics, who, consistently with their principles, may deny that there is a hell, or that the way is broad and thronged which leads to it. But in proportion as these sentiments prevail, the

sinews will be cut of every effort to bring sinners into that narrow way of repentance, faith, and holiness, in which the word of God requires them to walk. If any, therefore, who would be thought to believe the Bible, soothe their worldly neighbours with unscriptural hopes, or teach them to make. light of their danger; it must be owing (though they may not suspect it,) to no small degree of scepticism mixing with their views of Christianity. And it is difficult to conceive how they can derive any actual hope from the gospel, who discard all serious fear, and who neither lament nor perceive that state of condemnation, in which, (according to the word of God) every one around them lies, unless he "believe in Christ Jesus," "be renewed in "the spirit of his mind," and lead "a sober, righσε teous, and godly life; or, at least be "striving to "enter in at the strait gate" of repentance and conversion to God and holiness. It is observable that the scriptures seem to know but of two descriptions of men, namely, " those who serve God, and those "who serve him not:" he who is not the servant of God, but serves some other master, or aims at some other end, lies under the condemnation of the Bible, though he be free from disreputable vices : and, whether the multitude around us are in good earnest serving God, or whether they are pursuing their own selfish ends, let any man of common observation determine.

It must, therefore, appear to every candid inquirer, that, when religious persons entertain what are called uncharitable opinions of their neighbours, they are in truth compelled to it by the united evidence of facts and scripture; and not

inclined to it by a mere conceit of their own superiority, or any severity of disposition.

These sentiments may often be observed, as in the present instance, to reside in the same breast with the most tender compassion, the most expanded benevolence, and the most unequivocal tokens of deep humility. It is not then an inconsistency, to think mankind very corrupt and wicked, and yet to abound in compassion and charity towards them. This evidently accords to the judgment and conduct of God himself, as it is every where represented in scripture. "He commended "his love to us, in that when we were sinners," "ungodly, and enemies," "Christ died for us." The blessed Saviour was hated for "testifying of "the world that the works thereof were evil;" yet “he went about doing good," and at length laid down his life as "the propitiation for our sins." St. John, the beloved disciple, who was eminent for the greatness of his charity, says, "We know "that we are of God, and that the whole world "lieth in wickedness:" and St. Paul, with a mixture of sound judgment and genuine charity, says to the Philippians, "There are many of whom I "have told you often, and now tell you even weep"ing, that they are the enemies of the cross of

Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is "their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, "who mind earthly things." These are a few passages, out of vast numbers that might be produced: and it may be added, that the world, (signifying the generality of mankind,) is scarcely ever mentioned in scripture, without something being added, which implies a condemnation of it.