his father and mother lie buried in a family vault in Bunhill Fields, with five of his own children— Tabitha, John Christian, Theophilus, Henry, and Israel.

Mr. C. continued to be so much affected with the rheumatic complaint in his head, that he removed from Lewes to London, and lived at Islington for the recovery of his health. During this time he preached at different Churches and Chapels in London.

For some years he preached a lecture at Lothbury, at 6 o'clock on the Sunday Morning. He found the walk, at that early hour in winter, very dangerous, as most of the lamps were gone out, and few persons stirring except those who wander for prey. He has often made me thrill with horror, at hearing him state the meeting on his way thither of wretches with their dark lanterns, with designs still darker: but God graciously preserved him amidst these dangers. He found, however, that this undertaking was not only dangerous, but that the additional fatigue of this early service became too great a demand on his strength: and on both accounts, he engaged a hackney coach, to take him to and from the Church during the latter years of his going thither. At this time, he had the whole duty of St. John's, and also an Evening Lecture at a Chapel, in Orange Street, Leicester Fields, at that period a regular Chapel in the Establishment.

In course of time, notwithstanding this precaution, his health declined, and, after many long and earnest intreaties of his friends, he reluctantly relinquished the lecture at Lothbury; whither he used to go with peculiar pleasure, and where many, who were taking an early walk on a summer morning, wandering in thoughtlessly, heard and embraced the truth, and are some out of the number of those, who became his joy and crown. By THIS resignation also, he lost nothing but labour and care, except the satisfaction which it afforded him of ministering to this people: for the emolument arising from the endowment, but barely covered his expences.

The Chapel at Orange Street, where he preached on Sunday Evenings, and on Wednesday Evenings for many years, being about to be repaired, it was relinquished; and the Chapel in Long Acre was engaged, in conjunction with his friend the Rev. Henry Foster, who had the morning duty: here the same congregation attended.

Mr. C. was solicited to take the Sunday Evening Lecture, preached at Christ Church, Spital Fields. He entered on this charge in Sep. 1787, a date which I am not likely to forget. The first Sunday evening that he went thither, he left in my lap a dying infant (as was supposed) given over by his Physicians with scarcely a remaining trace of life, and which he did not expect to find alive on his return. But this did not stop Mr. C. in his

work-The walls were to be built in troublous times: and he went forth accordingly, though with a troubled heart. It pleased God, however, to restore our child, like another Lazarus, at that time: but He took him into His own gracious arms, in the 21st year of his age.

Many have very naturally conjectured, that, from these diversified engagements, Mr. Cecil's pecuniary advantages must have been very considerable but it was not for lucre's sake that he thus spent himself. In whatever he was prodigal, it was for God, and not for gain. I have often heard him say, that the Spital Fields Lectureship was rather a loss than a gain to him, in this respect, as the distance rendered it necessary for him to employ a coach for the evening, except when any friends took him in their own.

Mr. C. had the charge of this Lecture, and of that at Long Acre Chapel, alternately, each time for three successive years, with Mr. Foster-the gentleman who endowed the Lecture at Spital Fields having specified that the same clergyman should hold that Lectureship only three years in immediate succession. The appointment is vested in the Court of Assistants of the Weaver's Company, who first called Mr. Foster to this charge. He opened the Lecture in September 1784, and was followed by Mr. C. in 1787: Mr. F. being reappointed in the years 1790, 1796, and 1802; and Mr. C. in 1793, and 1799. The intention of the

founder of this Lecture extended only to its being preached from September to April inclusive, but both Mr. F. and Mr. C. continued it through the whole year. I need not speak of the vast congregation which assembled in that immense Temple, the very sight of which was most animating, and where the stillness and attention of the numerous poor were most interesting. Mr. C. was, however, obliged by ill health to relinquish this arduous post-nearly the whole duty of which was discharged for him by Mr. Pratt, during the last three years of his holding the Lectureship, from 1799 to

1801.

I return to Mr. Cecil's most important sphere of duty at St. John's Chapel, Bedford Row. In the year 1780, he was invited to turn his thoughts to this Chapel, at that time the largest Church of England Chapel in London. Having been much neglected, it required a large

sum for its repair.

Mr. C. went, therefore, MERELY TO LOOK AT IT; for, as he never was possessed of any property, he chose to run no hazards. A lady of fortune*, however, offered to secure him from any ultimate loss, by her bond, should not the undertaking succeed: but, as the Chapel prospered, she was never called oh. Yet wishing to testify her regard to Mr. Cecil, she gave him a very considerable sum of money toward building the present Vestry and the

* Mrs. Wilberforce, of John Street, King's Road, aunt to William Wilberforce, Esq.

VOL. I.

rooms adjoining, to which several other friends contributed, and by whom the expence of the building, amounting to several hundred pounds, was defrayed. The former Vestry, being very small, was made into a pew, and appropriated to the use of the Minister. At the same time, a gentleman in the Law offered to lend Mr. C. all the money that might be required for the repair of the Chapel, without any other security than his note.

Mr. Cecil's mind was, at length, made up, as to engaging in this affair. He thought, that though the Chapel, so encumbered, might not yield any considerable advantage in his life-time, yet that the call appeared providential and the sphere useful. Accordingly, in March 1780, he entered on his Ministry at St. John's. At this time, his whole income was but 807. per annum, which he received for the Lecture preached at Orange Street Chapel.

The pious desire of his friend just mentioned, to promote the interest of religion, led him to hazard so large a sum on this occasion: he may be justly termed, by his liberality, the Nursing-Father, both of St. John's and of its Minister, throughout these years of Mr. Cecil's life; and still remains the uniform friend of his bereaved family. He was one of the first who proposed a subscription for their support, when the income arising from the few remaining years of the lease should fail.

This kind friend, Mr. C. considered, and highly valued, as his coadjutor in every interest that