of time must expect yet to lose, some very valuable members. Affecting thought! whether contemplated in retrospect, or anticipated. Although it delights me to see that your numbers appear to be scarcely, if at all reduced; yet, in looking round on this vast congregation, I miss from the front of these galleries many faithful associates, with whom we took sweet counsel on various occasions, but who are now gone down to the long oblivion of the grave! Let us, who survive, respect their names, and emulate their virtues. Soon we too must pass from the scene of service, to that of strict account and righteous retribution. Let us occupy till the Lord come, and then, having finished our course, may we rest from our labours, and enter into our Master's joy."

Rarely, perhaps, has any servant of Christ, in modern times, displayed a greater devotedness to the work of his heavenly Master than did Dr. Steven.

"He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith.' The duties of the closet and of the family were never neglected by him. In his family prayers, there was often a copiousness, an earnestness, and an unction, which showed a heart deeply impressed with a sense of the supreme importance of divine things, and calculated to affect the hearts of all who joined with him in worship. In his family he appeared to great advantage; for he was kind, social, cheerful, and very communicative. His long residence in London, and the respectable society in which he moved, had given an ease to his manners, which rendered them peculiarly conciliatory and attractive. His pulpit manner was dignified, and, at the same time, solemnly animated. His church was crowded by an attentive and respectable congregation, which waited steadily on his ministrations, until they were closed by a sudden and unexpected stroke. This event was attended with circumstances which were affecting in no ordinary degree.

"On the 15th February, 1824, being the Sabbath immediately after the dispensation of the sacrament of our Lord's supper to his congregation, he selected as his text the last clause of 1 Tim. iii. 16, Christ received up into glory.' This was the concluding discourse of a series of sermons on the preceding clauses in the same verse. Having gone through the public services of the day with every appearance of perfect health, and with even more than his usual animation, he returned to the manse, and dined with his family, still apparently well and happy. After dinner, he rose to retire to his room for the purpose of private devotion, as had been his habit for many years, and on seeing Henry on Prayer,' he took it up in his hand, saying at the same time to Mrs. Steven, who had been reading the book, 'You need not be afraid, my dear, that I am going to deprive you of your book; get tea ready early, when I shall be down, and faithfully restore it to you.' Soon after he entered his study, his daughter, who was in an adjoining apartment, thought she heard a slight noise like the falling of something; and on softly opening his door, she beheld the book fallen out of his hand on the floor, and her beloved parent leaning back on his chair, and rather inclining to one side. On going up and naming him, he was silent, and apparently lifeless. In great alarm she called on her mother, and now the whole truth flashed upon them. The medical attendant of the family was instantly called, and he declared a stroke of apoplexy had taken place. Every effort was made, that medical skill and great experience could suggest, but in vain. The vital spark had fled, and nothing was left but the mortal remains of one who, a moment before, was in all the vigour of health and usefulness. "The closing scene of this devoted minister's life, so painful in all its circumstances, cannot be so well described, as in the words of a late eminent clergyman of the Church of Scotland, in a sermon delivered on the death of his no less eminent colleague: 'It pleased Providence to carry him away, as in a moment, from that work in which he delighted, to the enjoyment of its reward. His death was like an immediate translation from the work of the sanctuary on earth, to the employment of the sanctuary above. He was permitted to escape from the melancholy approaches of the last foehe endured no long continuation of pain-he underwent no violent struggle-the garments of mortality easily dropped off; and the servant of God fell asleep in the Lord."'

473

MEMOIR

OF THE LATE

REV. HENRY HUNTER, D. D.

FOR THIRTY-ONE YEARS MINISTER OF THE SCOTS CHURCH, LONDON WALL.

THE powerful influence which this justly celebrated man exerted over the public mind of the metropolis, for the space of more than thirty years, connected as he was with all the early struggles and triumphs of the London Missionary Society entitles him to an honourable place in the pages of this volume.

Henry Hunter, the fifth child of David and Agnes Hunter, was born at Culross, in Perthshire, on the 25th of August, 1741. His early childhood was marked by that sprightliness of mental character which gave promise of his subsequent distinction. At the wise suggestion of a venerable grandsire, it was determined by his parents to furnish him with the best education which his native town supplied. The counsel thus given proved itself to be judicious; for the little grandson soon displayed a propensity for the acquirement of knowledge, which and rewarded all the pains bestowed upon him. ted his school-education at Culross, young

At college Mr. Hunter was greatly distinguished by his application to study, and by the variety and elegance of his acquirements; so that at the early of seventeen he was appointed tutor to Mr. Boswell, of Balmuto, afterwards one of the lords of session. The sudden alarming illness, however, of his beloved father, induced him to quit a sphere of honour and emolument, and to hasten to that fire-side, where he had spent the smiling morn of life.

"For four months he attended the bed of his sick parent, never quitting the apartment but when his place could be supplied by a brother, who also took part in those offices of filial piety. At the end of that period his father died, and having discharged the last duties to his remains, he did not return to Balmuto; but on receiving an offer to superintend the education of Lord Dundonald's sons, he undertook the charge, and repaired to Culross Abbey. Of the advantages he himself derived from this situation, he appears to have been fully sensible, and strongly alludes to them in his sermon preached at the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Nicholson, in December, 1774. One of the most infallible methods,' says he, of acquiring knowledge, of any kind, is to communicate that which we already possess to others. Whilst we teach, we necessarily learn; while we study the illumination of our hearers, the darkness of our own mind is thereby dispelled.""

On the 2d of May, 1764, Mr. Hunter, having passed through all the ordinary trials required of candidates for the ministry, in the church of Scotland, received his license to preach from the Presbytery under whose jurisdiction he was placed. This solemn service, it appears, was preceded and followed by great searchings of heart as to the state of his soul before God, and his qualifications for the momentous undertaking to which he had devoted his pre-eminent talents. He was distressed, and even agonized, lest he should prove unworthy of that high calling to which he so earnestly aspired. He had thoughts, at times, even of relinquishing the ministry; so anxious was he not to run without being sent. These perplexities of mind gradually subsided, and he at last acquired a settled conviction that God had called him to serve him with his spirit in the gospel of his Son.

"Soon after being licensed, he began to preach in public, and was always listened to with an unusual degree of interest and attention. The knowledge of his being appointed to preach at any church was sufficient to assemble a crowd of hearers. In n short time he was followed, admired, and caressed by all ranks; extolled as a reacher, and sought after for his conversation. Perhaps he was the first-he certainly

among the first-of the Scottish clergymen of that part of the country, who d biblical knowledge and true religious zeal with real classical learning and

nter had only been ordained about a year, when he of the West Kirk, at Edinburgh, and of the Laigh sley. Both of these invitations, however, he

declined, in favour of the Kirk of South Leith; which, though inferior in emolument to either of them, was yet more agreeable, in many respects, to the wishes of his heart.

"Here he had first risen into celebrity while a probationer, and, in consequence, had formed many friendships; while the respect for his public talents was increased by the knowledge of his private worth. He was accordingly unanimously chosen and ordained minister of South Leith, on the 9th of January, 1766. In May following, he married Miss Margaret Charters, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Charters, minister of Inverkeithing, a young lady to whom he had been attached for many years; and being now completely settled in Leith, he seems to have entertained no idea but that of passing the remainder of his life in his native country."

Not long after the birth of his first child, Mr. Hunter's grandfather died, to whom he greatly owed his early religious impressions, and of whom he has left the following pleasing memorial, in a letter to one of his friends, which indicates his own deep humility of mind.

"A good part of the evening I spent with my grandfather, whose company I always delight in. He is within a day or two of his eighty-fifth year. What would I not give to be in his place to-night! And yet he seems afraid of death-is surrounded with much doubting and fearing. In what a condition am I then? Oh, how I blushed to observe the knees of his stockings worn out and out, and hear him talk of his own worthlessness, and complain of his deadness and stupidity! How my heart melted at the prayers he put up for me, and the earnestness of his looks, and the ardour with which he grasped my hand. How I was stung with conscious brutality, when I heard him express his fond hopes concerning me; and when I reflected on the disappointment they are likely to meet with if he lives much longer. And yet there are a good many particulars of his life which I think are resembled by several of mine. I fain would trace a likeness, and claim a nearer relation than that of blood."

In another letter he thus speaks of his grandmother, after intimating the prospect of her approaching dissolution :

"Though she be an old, a very old woman, yet I cannot help being sensibly affected with the thought of losing her; especially when I consider what will be the affliction of my poor grandfather upon the loss of her. They were born the same year, within three or four months of each other-were married in their twenty-second or twentythird year, and have continued in that state for the space of sixty-two or sixty-three years, without the least cool of affection; on the contrary, I lately heard my grandfather say, that he loved his wife better that day than the day he was married to her. Such instances of conjugal affection are but rare; I am therefore not a little proud of owing my birth to it."

In 1769, Mr. Hunter, from curiosity, first visited London. His observant mind was much excited and interested by the vast scale on which he beheld society in the British metropolis. He was introduced to the best circles, and received a cordial welcome from both Dissenters and Churchmen. The result was, that he received a very favourable impression of the Christian kindness and hospitality of those among whom he was called more immediately to mingle. During his visit, he preached with great acceptance regularly, every Lord's day, in

the London meeting-houses, particularly in those connected with the Scots' churches, in Swallow-street and London-wall. Soon after his return to Scotland, he received a formal offer of the pulpit at Swallow-street, which yielded, at that time, more than twice the income he received at Leith; this, however, he declined, observing to some of his friends, that "nothing would induce him to quit his charge at Leith, but the possibility of obtaining a call from the church at London-wall;" of whose urbanity, friendship, and religious character, he had received the most exalted impression, while in the metropolis. Strange to say, only eighteen months elapsed, before the pulpit of that place of worship became vacant, on occasion of the death of the Rev. Robert Lawson; shortly after which lamented event, Dr. Hunter received an unanimous invitation to become his successor. The call of such a church was so agreeable, in all respects, to his own feelings, that he did not hesitate to accept it; and accordingly, after some preliminary arrangements, he took leave of his friends at Leith, repaired to London, and entered on his new charge on the 11th of August, 1771.

Dr. Hunter's reception in the metropolis was more even than cordial. In a few months he became the most popular preacher in the city. He brought with him, too, a catholic spirit, which led him to seek intercourse with all the wise and good of every orthodox community. He exchanged pulpits with all the leading Dissenters of his day; preached public sermons on behalf of all popular charities; took part in the existing religious societies; and contributed his aid towards the formation of others not then in existence.

His writings, too, particularly his "Sacred Biography," the two first volumes of which appeared in 1781-were received with avidity by the public. Their diction was easy and graceful; their sentiment was decidedly evangelical; and their illustrations were ingenious and striking. They at once stamped his character as an author; and they will pass down. to posterity as the productions of an accomplished mind, and a devout heart.

Dr. Hunter was passionately taken with Gasper Lavater's Essays on Physiognomy, on their first appearance, and, after paying a visit to the excellent but eccentric author, in 1788, translated them from the French, and published them in this country, with illustrations entitling them to rank with the first