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Egypt, he replied-" But is Egypt to be left in its present horrid state of depravity and wretchedness under the Turks?-How unsearchable are the ways of God! He giveth no account of His matters. If God should restore me again to health, I have determined to study nothing but the Bible. Literature is inimical to spirituality, if it be not kept under with a firm hand. A man ought to call in from every quarter, whatever may assist him to understand, explain, and illustrate the Bible: but there-in its light and life—is all that is good for All important truth is there; and I feel that no comfort enters sick curtains from any other quarter. My state is an admonition to young men. I have been too much occupied in preparing to live, and too little in living. I have read too much from curiosity, and for mental gratification. I was literary, when I should have been active. We trifle too much. Let us do something for God. The man of God, is a man of feeling and activity. I feel and would urge with all possible strength on others, that Jesus Christ is our All and in All.”

man.

On another occasion he said--In all my sufferings, except when my pain is extreme, I think I can in some degree say--I take pleasure in them: but when I am in torture, I seem to be glad that I can bear it without a MURMUR, which I have not felt that I know of; but I cannot say, I take pleasure in it. As to being broken down, I perfectly. agree to it; distress, poverty, reproach, infirmity,

are fine things to humble a high spirit. The Physicians do not know my case-but I Do: it is the finger of God-and I am to learn from it various important lessons; and, among the rest, the sufFICIENCY OF HIS GRACE. I have prayed thrice: sure I ought to be content with the answer to St. Paul!"

To a friend he said-" It has been a night of great pain, but it was a night appointed me by Jesus Christ; and sure it must be a good one, that He appoints! Had I laid down my life for you, your good nights would have been my anxious care." At another time-" I have great peacenot a ruffled breeze-night nor day-and this is all grounded on the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Give up THAT, and I should have no sleep to-night. All is pitch darkness without it-dark as a Sociniandark as a Moralist. There is no light, but what Christ brings." At another time, while attending him in the night, he said to me-" It is an extraordinary statement, that though God loves me much better than you do, yet he does not relieve me. I am to partake, as a member of Christ, the sufferings of Christ. It pleased the Lord to bruise Him, for the good of man; and he afflicts man, for his good. If I recover, I shall be a better preacher -that is, I shall be more humble! I have many comforts; but perhaps I shall be so sick as to say, Lord! it is enough, take away my life. I am now often thankful for five minutes ease; and I wonder

I was not much more so for that of fifty years. At another time-" God knows my case: and, in pain, in difficulty, in sickness, he says-' It is I: be not afraid: Commit yourself to me!' Jesus Christ is my great hold: nothing can happen without His knowledge and permission."

How

To one, who spoke to him of his illness, he said "It is all CHRIST. I keep death in view. If God does not please to raise me up, He intends me better. I know whom I have believed. little we think of improving the time we have, while we have opportunity! I find every thing but religion, vanity. I am ready, even on this sick bed, to preach to preachers. I ask myself, what is my hold and support-what will remain with me, when every thing else is washed away? To recollect a promise of the Bible-THIS is substance! Nothing will do but the Bible. If I read authors, and hear different opinions, I cannot say, "THIS IS TRUTH!—I cannot grasp it as substance: but the Bible gives me something to HOLD. I have learnt more within these curtains, than from all the books I ever read.-I sometimes speculate on the idea of a soul's leaving the body, and wandering forth into the world of space; but it is alone wandering in solitude-It is wretched BECAUSE ALONE; to say nothing of misery: but let a ray from Christ shine on that soul, and no matter where it is-it is happy!"

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The violence of this attack was mercifully

abated; and Mr. Cecil was so far recovered, that he ventured, on the 24th Feb. 1799, to preach the Evening Lecture at St. John's. Though he began with the precaution of reading his sermons, yet he found the exertion too much for his broken state of strength and spirits; and he was convinced that God called him to retirement and repose. Such a dispensation, to a mind like his, required no common measure of faith and patience. He was, at length, by a blessing on the means used, enabled to resume his usual duty, though under much remaining infirmity.

Speaking of his afflicted state, he said, "My dispensation is wonderful. That I am able to meet the frequent returns of my public duty is almost miraculous. Not one of my hearers has any idea. of the quantity of pain I endure in the course of twenty-four hours; and yet, if it were ever to be upon me at the moment I was called to preach, it would be utterly impossible for me to begin."

But it was not only during the above period that Mr. C. suffered much pain; but, year after year, it remained as a clog on his efforts, and as a worm at the root of his constitution. Frequently, after suffering greatly all the preceding night, he has gone forth in the morning to his public duty so feeble and emaciated, that I have dreaded the consequences of his entering the pulpit. But, still stimulated and animated by love and zeal, he went through his duty, by divine assistance, without any

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appearance of his suffering state, or any other perceptible effect, save that feeling and unction which it produced. As the face of Moses, when he came down from the Mount, was seen to shine: so was it evident, in Mr. Cecil's discourses, that he had not suffered so many things in vain; but that he was refined in the furnace of affliction, to shew forth His glory who had called him. He acquired a more keen perception and feeling of the vanity of all human things: he stripped off the mask from the face of the world-shewed its poverty and emptiness-its enchantments-its snares-and its pretensions, as delusive and fallacious: he drew aside the veil-and exhibited those glorious realities in reversion for the faithful, on which his soul delighted to dwell, and of which he is now in the full enjoyment.

Thus exercised with affliction, he persevered in preaching (making use of a seat in the pulpit) till a paralysis deprived the Church of his labours. His patience under his great and long sufferings was surprising. By them many interior experiences and excellent ideas were wrung from him, while a word of complaint was never heard to come forth from his lips.

In June 1798, previous to the above confinement, Mr. C. sent the following reflections to a friend under affliction, to whom they were peculiarly appropriate, and by whose favour I obtain

them

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