and his services? Nothing affected that eminent character, Mr. Cadogan, like what he met from some religious persons of this kind, as I have related from his own lips, in his Memoirs.*

Let me further exhort such as are in danger from this unchastised spirit to consider, how much corrupt nature is at the bottom of this error. Corrupt nature frets and rages at any supposed contradiction or restraint: it would substitute the work of the tongue for that of the heart. In the mean time, real religion is scorned by the world; which cannot distinguish between a thing so deformed, and the thing as it ought to appear.

Consider, also, whether there needs any grace at all, in order to maintain such a sort of profession. Are we only to christen the evil passions of corrupt nature, and then call names, hate, boast, and give ourselves the preference, as much as any ungodly man whatever? A zealot at an election can fight and strive for his favourite candidate with inflamed zeal he can cause divisions, exhibit pride, self-will, and impatience of subordination: but, let me ask, will the same evil tempers change their nature because they are employed about spiritual objects?

Much blame attaches, too, respecting certain disputable points for which such persons strive. It seems as if some, who are otherwise good men, did not relish the Bible till they had garbled and selected it; and that, if the whole were not of acknowledged authority, they would condemn it as it now stands. They speak as if it were not accurate in its terms, or sufficiently express or decisive in confirming their fond opinions. This leads them to be shy of some parts of Revelation; and to distort others, in order to fit them for their system. While contending for that system, they appear to forget the stress which the

* See Memoirs of Cadogan, p. 197.

Apostle lays upon the holy, humble, self-denying, affectionate spirit of Christianity, in 1 Cor. xiii, how gentle it is! how easy to be entreated! how it hopeth and endureth all things, &c. while, on the contrary, they who can speak with the tongues of men and of angels, who have all knowledge, who can work miracles, and even die martyrs, would, without this distinguishing characteristic of Christianity, be considered of God as NOTHING. The Old Testament Dispensation, it is granted, had a severe aspect; and special occasions may be pleaded for special expressions of holy indignation, under any dispensation: but, when the Prophet describes the brighter day, he foretels that then the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, as emblematical of the prevalence of that grace described by the Apostle in the chapter just quoted. Hold, therefore, the faith once delivered to the saints as firmly as possible; but hold it in love. Buy the truth, and sell it not-rather die for it, than part with itbut, speak it in love: and walk in it as Christ also walked; ever remembering that the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

I feel conscious that it is simply with a view to convince many well-meaning Christians of their error (and I have found more or less of this class in almost every place where I have been) that I thus speak. If a gross superstition arising in the Church, perverted the Christianity of former ages; I wish I may mistake in supposing, that a loose and unscriptural profession is widely spreading as the bane of our age. Against such a departure from the true genius of Christianity, I certainly, as a minister of Christ, ought to bear my feeble testimony. Consider, therefore, that what is said is said with a single view to your best interests; and the Lord give you understanding in all things!

As I referred the Christians who were last addressed to the character of Mr. N. as an example, so I never

knew a more perfect one to my purpose. When any person depreciated the ministry of a good man, who, by advancing important truths, was opposing the reigning errors of the times; but who, from timidity or prejudice, was shy of Mr. N. he would imitate his Divine Master, by saying, "Let him alone: he that is not against us is on our side. Make no man an offender for a word. He is doing good, according to his views. Let us pray for him, and by no means weaken his hands. Who knows but God may one day put him far above our heads, both in knowledge and usefulness?""

His grand point, in a few words, as he used to express it, was, “TO BREAK A HARD HEART, AND to HEAL A BROKEN HEART.” To implant the life of God in the soul of man, he would sacrifice every subordinate consideration: he felt every other to be comparatively insignificant. He saw the spirit of ancient Pharisaism working among those who cry the most against it-who exact to a scruple, in the tythe of mint, anise, and cummin of their own peculiarities, while they pass over the weightier matters of unity and love-straining out the gnat of a private opinion, and swallowing the camel of a deadly discord. On the contrary, so far as order and circumstances would admit, Mr. N. clave to every good man, and endeavoured to strengthen his hands, in whatever denomination of Christians he was found. His character well illustrated the Scripture, that though scarcely for a righteous (or just) man would one die, yet for a good man (i. e. one eminent for his candour and benevolence) some would even dare to die. However they admired some ministers, they all loved him; and saw exemplified in him that wisdom which is from above, -which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

I conclude these Memoirs with a word to such as

are endeavouring to follow the steps of their late faithful friend, as he followed Christ. We cannot but lament the errors just described. We cannot, if we have any zeal for the Gospel, but protest against them. But let us recollect that they are not the only errors which are found in the Church; and therefore let us watch lest any other root of bitterness spring up to trouble us, and defile many. When you lament with me the removal of ministers like Mr. N., let us recollect that ETERNAL FRIEND, who will never leave his Church without witnesses to the truth; and who, among other reasons for removing earthly helps, teaches us thereby to rest only on that help which cannot be removed. Let us take comfort too in recollecting, that, spotted as the Church may appear from the inconsistencies of many of its members, yet all the real good in this corrupt world is to be found in that Church. God saw seven thousand true believers in Israel, while his prophet could see but one. Where some Jehu is sounding a trumpet before him, many are quietly passing to heaven without any such clamour. As a great writer remarks, "Because half a dozen grasshoppers under a fern make a field ring with their importunate chink, while thousands of great cattle chew the cud and are silent, pray do not imagine that those that make the noise, are the only inhabitants of the field.'"

6

But I must remark, that nothing has been more profitable to myself in considering Mr. N.'s life, than the exhibition which it makes of a particular Providence. If the church be not conducted by such visible signs now, as formerly, it is found to be as actually conducted. We read of a divine hand concerned in the fall of Sparrows, in numbering the hairs of our head, and in raising our dust to life; but with what little interest we read this, appears by our distrust in the first trial we meet. If we do not dare to 39*

VOL. I.

join the sentiments of some, who regard such expressions as purely figurative and hyperbolical; yet our imagination is so overwhelmed with the difficulty of the performance, that we are apt to turn from the subject, with some general hope, but with a very indistinct and vague idea of a God at hand, faithful to his promise, and almighty to deliver. Yet, how many cases occur in the history of every one of us, where nothing short of an Almighty Arm could prove a present help in the time of trouble!

Now this short history before us is admirably calculated to encourage our faith and hope, when we are called to pass through those deep waters that seem to bid defiance to human strength and contrivance. What, for instance, but a divine interference caused Mr. N. to be roused from sleep on board the Harwich at the moment of exchanging men, and thereby effected his removal? What placed him in a situation so remarkably suited to his recovering the ship which had already passed the place of his station in Africa, and brought him back to his country?-What kept him from returning in the boat that was lost at Rio Cestors?-or from putting off to the ship that was blown up near Liverpool?-Not to mention many other of his special deliverances.

I am a wonder unto many," says he in the motto of his Narrative: and, if we as distinctly considered the strange methods of mercy which have occurred in our own cases, we should at least be a wonder to ourselves. But my aim is to point out the use which we should make of these Memoirs in this respect. We should, as Christians, mark the error of despair. We should see that the case of a praying man cannot be desperate-that if a man be out of the pit of hell, he is on the ground of mercy. We should recollect that God sees a way of escape when we see nonethat nothing is too hard for him-that he warrants