to what then tends advice? To inform that reason: and, if two persons give me different counsel, I am not at liberty to act (implicitly) according to either one or the other; but to weigh the arguments on which they are both founded, and to act accordingly."-There is not here that humble appeal to superior direction, which he would never, at a later period, have omitted. to mention, but in other respects the principle is the same as he ever afterwards maintained.-And, if this be a just rule for the conduct of the person asking counsel, it forms also the just measure for the expectations of the persons giving it. In this way likewise: he early applied it. In 1777 he says to the same relative: You ask my pardon for not taking my advice. This, I assure you, was needless: for I gave you my advice for your sake, not my own, and should be equally glad to hear that you succeeded well in rejecting it, as in following it." And again in 1789; "I will by no means agree that you should implicitly follow any advice, which I now, or at any other time, may give. I would propose hints, and assign reasons, and then leave you to think of them, and pray over them: which is the best way of inquiring of the Lord, to discover his will." Finally: writing to his son-in-law he thus significantly expresses the same. sentiment: "You may make use of my spectacles, but see with your own eyes."

If to all this we add the observation of the wise and holy Halyburton, that "the promise of God, to direct our steps, does not extend always to teaching others what is our duty," it may reconcile us to persevere in giving the best advice we can to those who

ask it, without requiring or expecting to see it implicitly followed; which is what my father wished to inculcate.

He next observes in his narrative; "A circumstance which had considerable weight in deciding my mind was, the hope of getting one who, I trusted, would prove an able and useful labourer ordained to succeed me at Olney." This was the Rev. James Bean, who, though the prospect of his immediately succeeding to Olney was not realized," was at length ordained, went thither, and became vicar of the place; was useful there, and very acceptable to my friends and favourers; but ere long resigned the living: by which means my sanguine expectations were painfully disappointed. Still, however, I did not give my answer to the governors of the Lock till the last day, and almost the last hour, allowed me for deliberation.

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"Whatever others judged, my own people, who were most attached to me, and most grieved to part with me, were convinced that I was called by providence to remove, and that I did my duty in complying. I am not, however, myself to this day satisfied on the subject. I cannot doubt that my removal has, especially by means of my writings, (as far as they have been, or are likely to be, useful,) been overruled for good; but, when I consider what a situation I inadvertently rushed into, I fear I did not act properly, and I willingly accept all my: unspeakable mortifications and vexations as a merciful correction of my conduct; which, though not, in one sense, inconsiderate, yet showed strange inattention to the state of parties, and other circum

stances, at the Lock; which, had I duly adverted to them, would have made me think it madness to engage in such a service."

It may well be allowed that several circumstances at that time attending the situation at the Lock, could they previously to experience have been fully realized, might not only, with good reason, have produced great hesitation as to the acceptance of it, but even have appalled a mind firm and courageous as my father's was. To be subject to the control of a board of governors, many of them looking only to the pecu niary interests of the charity; and, what must, if possible, be still more adverse to a minister's repose, many of them thinking themselves both qualified and intitled to dictate as to his doctrine: this must, of itself, be deemed sufficiently objectionable. Moreover, the board was then split into parties; such as frequently arise when a concern, once prosperous, becomes involved in difficulties. Still further, from the dif ferent character and sentiments of the two ministers, and the manner of my father's introduction, the chapel, and even the pulpit, was likely to be the scene of no less division than the boardroom. The Lock also might, at that period, be considered as almost the head-quarters of that loose and notional religion, on which my father had commenced his attack in the country. Laying all these things together, and taking into account his obscurity, and the humble rustic society in which, almost exclusively, he had hitherto moved, we shall cease to wonder at his lastrecited remark. Still, however, contemplating the consequences of his removal to the Lock, only as far as we can now trace them!-that, without this step,

we should never, humanly speaking, have had his Commentary on the scriptures, (to name no other of his writings :) and that the great and effective stand, which he was enabled to make in London, against a very meagre, defective, and even corrupt representation of Christianity, would never have been made: when all this is considered, I trust we may say, that thousands have reason to pronounce it a happy inadvertence, by which he overlooked difficulties that might have led him to decline the call made upon him; and that impartial bystanders will be disposed to consider "the unspeakable mortifications and vexations" which followed, as the necessary trials of his faith, the preparatives for the peculiar services he was to render, and the requisite counterpoise to prevent his being "exalted above measure," by the flattering celebrity and the great usefulness he ultimately attained, rather than, as he himself was ready to think them, the corrections of a great impropriety of which he had been guilty.

His narrative proceeds: "My salary at the Lock was no more than 80l. a year, nearly 401. of which was necessary for rent and taxes. I had, however golden promises; but I never greatly relied upon them and I became more and more convinced, even before I left Olney, that they would not, in any measure, be realized. I discovered that party was much concerned in the whole business; and I said to

My father's first residence was at No. 16, Hamilton Street, Piccadilly; since transformed into the splendid Hamilton Place. At the end of twelve months he removed to No. 2, Chapel Street, Upper Grosvenor Place; in which house he continued all the remainder of his time in London.

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my family when coming to town, Observe, many of those who now appear to be my friends will forsake me: but God will raise me up other friends.'n di I had indeed imagined that I should, without much difficulty, procure a lectureship on the Sunday afternoon or evening, and perhaps one on the weekday; and I stood ready for any kind or degree of labour to which I might be called. But whilst almost all my brethren readily obtained such appointments, I could never, during the seventeen years of my residence in town, procure any lectureship, except that of St. Mildred's, Bread Street, which, in a manner, came to me, because no other person thought it worth applying for. It produced me, on an average, about 301, a year. Some presents, however, which I received, added considerably to its value during the

It is amusing to me to recollect, and it may not be altogether impertinent to mention, that the text, Prov. xxvii. 14, has been for thirty-six years distinctly impressed upon my mind, owing to my having, so long since, heard my father apply it to the then loud and ardent friendship of one of the governors of the Lock. The words are: "He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him." The anticipation was realized; and the friendship of this gentleman (who died many years ago,) soon cooled into indifference.'

One honourable exception from the number of those persons, who, having brought my father to the Lock, afterwards deserted or neglected him, is entitled to be mentioned. I refer to John Pearson, Esq. of Golden Square, for many years surgeon to the hospital. My father always attributed more to the arguments of that gentleman, in deciding his acceptance of the situation at the Lock, than to those of any other person: and in Mr. P. he found a constant friend to the end of his life; to whom he was indebted for many personal favours, besides the most skilful professional assistance, promptly and gratuitously rendered to him and his family, on the numerous occasions which required it.