thing, which gave him a foretaste of the enjoyments of the blessed; and he seemed as if he had caught a portion of the spirit and feeling of the invisible world, from the manner in which he afterwards addressed us. Indeed, so remarkable and appropriate were the sentiments which he uttered, that I could not help, at the time, requesting those who were present to treasure them in their memory for our future consolation; but alas! we were all too much occupied with the scene before us, to think much of the use which might be made of future recollections; and it is only a few of the fragments, and some of these, perhaps, displaced, that we are now able to collect. As it regards myself, the review of the past appears more like a dream than a reality; and if the long absence of my dear son did not assure me of the fact, I might still almost consider it as a vision of the night.

As soon as he had in some degree recovered his strength, he looked around on his friends with feelings of peculiar tenderness; and seeing his aunt Samuel at the foot of

his bed, he called her to him, and embracing her, told her how greatly he loved her; and observing that he should soon be with her husband, he enquired if she had any message she would wish him to deliver.*-After

*It is a fact well calculated to arouse our attention to the uncertainty of life, even when it promises most, that within the short space of little more than sixteen months, three individuals in the same family, whose ages might seem to ensure for them a long continuance of earthly enjoyment, were cut down by the stroke of death. My beloved daughter died the 9th of May, 1823, aged 23.-Her uncle Samuel, who had followed her to the grave, and was then apparently in good health, departed this life the 9th of April, 1824, aged 48; and on the 26th of September, in the same year, was added my dear eldest son, aged 21. And now I have made mention of my beloved brother Samuel, I cannot resist the desire I feel of recording my affection for him. He had led a remarkably active life, and had raised himself, by his firmness of principle and uprightness of conduct, to a great degree of respectability in the city of London. Wishing to retire from the fatigues of business, he purchased the estate of Duncroft, near Staines, and was peculiarly delighted with his country residence, and the improvements

this he addressed every one of us, and made some observations appropriate to each—and took of us his last and affectionate farewell.

he was daily making on his estate. In this retirement he had scarcely lived four years, when he was seized with a complaint which baffled the skill of the most eminent physicians. During seven months he endured a state of suffering, which, perhaps, has seldom been equalled; and at length nature sunk under the unequal contest. But here, also, we saw abundant cause to offer thanksgivings to our merciful Father. His protracted illness afforded him the opportunity of turning his mind more immediately to the subject of religion, than the bustle of an active life had hitherto permitted. For although he had long paid a decided attention to the most momentous of all concerns, yet he had not furnished his mind, as he wished to do, with those considerations and views of the Gospel, which are so essentially exquisite to produce a meetness for the kingdom of heaven. During, however, these seven months of severe discipline, his growth in humility—his increasing confidence in the Saviour, and his desire to be conformed to his image, were apparent to those of his friends and domestics who were most in attendance. When the awful conflict with death drew nigh, his Christian fortitude proportionably increased, and he expressed a strong persuasion that he

To his brother James he said-"You are preparing for the ministry: preach the cross of Christ, and don't be ashamed of it, though the world may be ashamed of you: if God be not ashamed of you, you need mind nothing else. I thought I should have been called to the ministry; and I hoped to have done some little good; but the Lord has otherwise ordained matters." When hehad thus addressed his parents and his brother, he enquired for his little brother Samuel; when told that he was not present, he said, should soon enter into rest. He said to me, within a few hours of his death, "I am surprised at my own composure at this awful moment-I believe the Saviour will not reject me—I shall soon be in heaven, and again see my dear Hannah." When I administered to him the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, he appeared in very deed "to feed on the body and blood of Jesus Christ." And from that period, as far as I recollect, he never entertained a serious doubt of his final acceptance. Thus have three of our nearest and dearest relatives joined, within a few months, the blessed company of heaven, and are ready to hail the entrance of the rest of their friends into their happy abode. May none of us fall short of it through unbelief!

T

"I have dearly loved that child, and have often earnestly prayed for him”—and he begged that we would take all care of him and instil into his mind Christian principles. He then took an affectionate leave of his aunt Samuel and his cousin, and expressed his gratitude to a kind female attendant, for her extraordinary assiduity and kindness in waiting upon him. After this, he enumerated all the friends he could at the time call to mind, and made various observations on some of their characters, desiring that messages might be delivered from him to one or two of them. After he had done this, he said to me, "I wish, father, you would preach a sermon to the Sunday School children, and tell them how dearly I loved them. Tell also Mr., though I do not know him, if he becomes your curate, that I beg of him to shepherd the flock. I love the people of Chobham; and O (turning again to me) charge them that they lose no time in seeking salvation: but little more than a week ago I was comparatively well, and now I am dying." All