Epaphras,.

He

THE subject of these imperfect sketches was a man of deep-toned personal piety, of transparent purity, and moral weight of character. And the beauty of it was, that others seemed to see and know these things better than he did himself. These were the charms in his Christian character -the secret of his strength-and the proximate source of his success. made conscience of living near the fountain of Infinite fulness, and of drinking daily and deeply out of it: "He was an Israelite indeed, in whom there was no guile." Christian cheerfulness and seriousness were well balanced and beautifully blended in his character. Without any invidious comparison, or detracting from the excellences of others, "he was a man that feared God above many."

Negative excellence, though it rarely ranks so high as some of the active virtues that adorn the Christian character, is, notwithstanding, a quality of great practical worth in a minister of Jesus Christ. The want of Christian meekness and Christian prudence has often been as strongly marked and long remembered as when a man has not had the use of his right hand or his right eye. A

few rash words, or imprudent (though not criminal) deeds, have often done more harm to a young minister than half a lifetime of approved labour could counteract and consign to oblivion. I can safely affirm, that in these negative excellences my deceased friend, John Hill, excelled. There are hundreds who saw him daily, and knew him well, who could attest the fact. It was of great practical effect in maintaining the purity and peace of the body, and ruling the church of God: "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." It is a portion of " that wisdom that cometh from above, which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated; full of mercy and good fruits without partiality and without hypocrisy." It is, in one word, that trait of character that "gives no offence to Jew, nor Gentile, nor to the church of God." It gives a high bearing and moral weight to the Christian and ministerial character: "Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself; yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true."

VOL. XXVII.

F

There are some pious men whose characteristic excellences burst forth upon us all at once. We learn their defects by closer intimacy. There are others, whose worth is more latent. They have a sensitive delicacy and shrinking modesty about them. They improve upon us upon closer acquaintance. Without saying which is preferable, we are of opinion Mr. Hill belonged to the latter class. His, however, was not the modesty that is sometimes allied to indolence, and shrinks from self-denied duty. He was a matter-of-fact man, and was ready to grapple with the miseries of fallen humanity under all their diversified forms. He was a man of a large and kind heart. Benevolent feeling was his element; but he disliked parade and display in giving expression to it. He counted himself a debtor to all classes, that "he might by all means save some." "Christian simplicity and godly sincerity" were characteristic features in his moral constitution. They gave a character to his pulpit ministrations and his whole intercourse with the flock.

Though my deceased friend endeavoured through life to maintain the character of the diligent student, and the active, laborious pastor, as his primary and proper vocation, yet he employed the pen and the press on various occasions, as well as the pulpit to extend his usefulness. Among the first of his essays were a series of well-written papers upon various topics, which appeared in the Christian Herald. Afterwards he wrote and published a series of "Religious Tracts," some of which were entitled "The Visitor." They exposed and condemned with considerable force and effect some of the prevalent errors and vices of the locality; and though, for a time, they excited some "stir about that way," were beneficial in their tendency. Other of the productions of his pen related to "The Annals of the Poor;" and, though small, are excellent sketches of their kind. The following is an imperfect list of the fruits of his pen :

1. "Memoir of Agnes R." A pious servant girl. 1826.

2. "Memoir of John Burnet." A member of the church. 1827.

3. "Serious Addresses to Unprofitable Hearers of the Gospel." 1830.

4. "Discourses on Important Subjects addressed to Christian Parents." 1831. 5. "Friendly Warnings against Drunkenness." 1831.

6. "Portrait of Popery." pp. 250. 1834.

These productions are of varied merit. Some of them are tender and touching; others, feeling and forcible in the texture of the author's reasoning; all of them worthy of the piety, good sense, and literary attainments of their author, and all of them adapted, by the Divine blesşing, to prove beneficial to the souls of men. The latter was his highest ambition in appearing through the press. He did not affect fine writing his aim was accuracy of statement; close, conclusive reasoning; great "plainness of speech;" abiding impression on the mind of the reader; and vital, practical results.

Although these imperfect sketches have already far exceeded what the writer originally intended, yet he cannot help thinking, that "this frail memorial" raised over the ashes of an endeared Christian brother-a faithful and muchloved pastor-and deceased pious family

would be very imperfect and abrupt in its close, were not some additional sketches given of the last two or three years of their lives.

We have no hesitation in saying, and saying with emphasis, that "It is well!" Well with "the little daughter" and her mother," who were lovely in their lives, and in their deaths were scarcely divided." Well with the elder and younger daughters" who sleep in Jesus," and whose ashes repose with the younger branches of the family in the vicinity of Huntly. Thither some Christian friends will still cast a wistful eye to the lonely spot where so much dust of their late pastor slumbers till the morning of the resurrection. "It is well" also with

the father who has lately followed to the family tomb, nearly 150 miles distant, the eight that have preceded him to the house appointed for all living. The desolated heart of the only surviving son may bleed for months to come, and the bereaved flock may sigh and shed the silent tear over early recollections and departed worth;-but still "It is well!" God himself has done it ;-therefore "it is well!"

The rapid ravages of disease and death in the Hills' little lovely family circle, within the last two years, have been painful and striking. It seems as if the Lord had designed to house them in heaven at no distant interval of time from each other, that they might not have long time to mourn for each other in "the valley of Baca." When the shepherd was smitten though with a Father's hand-the flock could not fail to feel, and that deeply. The throbbings of Christian sympathy, and the gush of Christian feeling on the part of Mr. Hill's friends and flock, were deep and strong in his behalf. He stood divinely strengthened and supported in the midst of the sorrowful scene of disease and death. He passed through it unscathed; yea, mellowed and improved in his Christian character. When the mournful intelligence reached us that an aged and only surviving sister, a lovely little daughter approaching to womanhood, and his beloved partner in life were all removed by death, and laid in one grave within little more than two or three weeks; and that he personally passed through these "deep waters," at a considerable distance from his flock-not a few supposed from the tenderness of his heart and the acuteness of his sensibilities, it would have entirely prostrated and unmanned him. But it was not so: "God was with him in six troubles, and in seven he did not forsake him." As his day was, so was his strength. Two or three brief notes from his own hand will further unfold this touching scene:

"Niddry Castle, July 29, 1846. "My dear Mrs. M.,-We reached this last

night; but too late to see my greatly-beloved and only sister in life. She died on sabbath afternoon. From all I can learn, her end was peace. We expect the girls (Agnes and Mary) from Glasgow this afternoon.

"Yours most affectionately,

"JOHN HILL."

Another brief epistle, shortly after the death of the mother and daughter, will show how the surviving father and daughter felt under such desolating dispensations, and how both were so signally supported:

"Huntly, Sept. 14, 1846. "My dear Friends,-I received both your kind favours. Even yet I feel difficulty to put pen to paper. Grief has been added to our sorrow indeed. We are like stricken deers. But oh, it is by the hand of our own God that we have been touched. Our dearest Mary, for a good while before she left home, gave all the evidence our hearts could desire, that she was the Lord's. And as for my own dear partner, you knew her; and I can only add, that of all the deaths I ever witnessed of God's people, hers was the most composed. In the perfect possession of every faculty and of her solemn position,-speaking to us up to the last minute, --she departed in perfect peace. Oh that we could bless God as we ought! .

"I am your afflicted and affectionate
Brother,

"JOHN HILL."

A brief note, at an earlier date, from the only surviving daughter, Agnes, who was cut down and carried to the tomb in the bloom of her youth and womanhood, in April last, runs thus:

us !

"Niddry Castle, Sept. 6, 1846. "How can I tell you, dearest Mrs. McK., that beloved mamma died here this morning. Thus am I left sisterless and motherless in one I return to our desolate abode! Our hearts short week. How, oh how, shall dear papa and are almost torn asunder. Pray, oh, pray for "Your affectionate "AGNES HILL." Still the Lord pours a large infusion of mercy into man's cup. A pious lovely daughter, with fine conversational powers, was left with the aged parent to break the force of the recent bereavements, and cheer his heart in his widowhood. She became a suitable substitute in the room of her deceased mother. No creature could be more devoted to her father's comfort. No love was lost between the father and the only surviving daughter.

They also were "lovely in their lives," and "in their deaths" not many months "divided." This additional stroke was sudden and severe; but it was borne with Christian courage, composure, and submission. The Lord was with the father and only surviving son in passing through the furnace. The following note will show the father's feelings at this peculiar crisis:

"Huntly, April 17, 1848. "My dear Brother, -I cannot think of being longer in telling you that my much-beloved Agnes is very, very ill. Her complaint is in the head. She has had a great deal of blood taken from her arm at different times, and by leeches on the head. It was shaved on Friday and a large blister put on. Still the pain continues. She is quite prostrate. Pray for us. Our God only can send help. Phil. ii. 29, has of late been much upon my mind.

son,

"I ever am, my dear Brother, "Yours, &c.,

"JOHN HILL."

Miss Agnes Hill died on the 25th April, 1848. Many mingled their tears, sympathies, and prayers with the surviving parent and son on this mournful occasion. Suffice it to say, that he bore this last bereaving stroke like a Christian. It was the prelude of his own dissolution, which took place at Glasgow on the 21st September last. His only surviving Mr. John Hill, had the mournful satisfaction of tending his beloved father's sick bed-soothing his dying pillowwatching the ebbing springs of lifeclosing his eyes, and conveying his remains to slumber by the side of his dear sister, his beloved partner, and lovely daughter, till the morning of the resurrection of the just, when "the upright shall have the dominion." May the dying parent's parting prayer be heard, and his blessing rest upon the soul of the chief mourner, and only surviving branch of the family! These solemn closing scenes do not so much call for public exposition as for private, pensive, personal reflection-to see the Lord's hand in these solemn visitations-fervently to pray over them-and personally to profit by them: "Write, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; yea saith the

Spirit, for they do rest from their labours, and their works do follow them."

:

Finally it may here be stated that it was a most cheering and delightful part of private labour that was committed to him by Dr. James Legge, of Hong Kong-one of his own children in the Lord-the superintendence and private tuition of the three Chinese youths, from the land of Sinim, viz., Kimlin, Houttkiam, and Assau. This was a wise arrangement. Mr. Hill deeply felt the honour and importance of forming the minds of these young men for future usefulness in far distant lands. The Lord propitiously smiled upon the effort. Mr. Hill acted like a father to them. They all three made a voluntary and intelligible profession of the truth as it is in Jesus-were baptized in his name-in the name of the Divine Three- and received with confidence and cordiality into the Christian church. Dr. Legge and Mr. Hill conducted the principal part of these solemn and delightful exercises, which excited much interest in the place. The youths have lately arrived in safety in their native land. May "the angel" of the covenant "bless the lads! May the name of Abraham and Isaac be upon them! and may they grow up to a multitude in the earth."

LINES ON THE LATE REV. J. HILL. BY THE REV. J. D. HULL, EPISCOPAL MINISTER,

HUNTLY.

O! FOR a master's power to paint aright
The constellation of endowments bright,
That in thy character concentred were:-
The solid sense, the erudition rare :
The taste so true, the feelings so refined:
The noble strength and dignity of mind:
The tenderness, so ready to o'erflow
The judgment that so wide a survey took ;
At the least impulse of another's woe:
The cheerfulness that lighten'd every look;
Save when upon thee burst affliction's cloud,
And thy meek spirit 'neath the tempest
bow'd;

The charity that still rejoiced to own
God's image, wheresoever it was shown: