PREFACE.

THE Author of this Memoir has attempted to give a complete and connected, yet concise sketch of the life and labours of the late lamented BISHOP HEBER, in his Lordship's official, literary, and Christian character. He has drawn his materials chiefly from the Life of his Lordship by his widow -from the Bishop's Journal-and from Mr. Robinson's Last Days of Heber; to which able works he refers all those who wish for more ample details of his Lordship's interesting life and character.

"ould it appear to any that he has spoken of his Lordship in terms too laudatory, he has only to assure such that he has been most anxious to avoid partiality, and has carefully endeavoured not to misrepresent, in any way, a single circumstance in his Lordship's life.

College, to Reginald Heber, of Marton, of the arms acknowledged to have been previously borne by the family. The ancient estate of Marton has been for many generations the family residence, and was purchased originally by Thomas Heber, one of their

ancestors.

Reginald Heber's father was twice married; first in 1773, to Mary, the daughter of the Rev. Martin Baylie, rector of Wrentham, in Suffolk, who died, leaving one son, Richard, lately deceased; who, during his life, resided on the family estate, and who was some time M. P. for the University of Oxford. Secondly, to Mary, daughter of Dr. Cuthbert Allanson, rector of Wrath in Yorkshire, by whom he had three children; Reginald, the lamented subject of this memoir, Thomas Cuthbert, and Mary.

During young Reginald's infancy, his life was several times placed in imminent danger, by various diseases incident to that season of life. At the age of two years, he had a severe attack of hoopingcough, for which the family physician ordered him to be bled; to which operation he submitted, at that tender age, with great fortitude. In his fourth year, he was afflicted with a dangerous pulmonary complaint, which left his friends but little hopes of his recovery; and he subsequently suffered much from those inflammatory complaints to which, through life, he seems to have had a constitutional tendency. In his sixth year, he had a severe attack of typhus fever, during which his life was for some time despaired of: it pleased God, however, in answer to the earnest prayers of his affectionate parents, mercifully to raise him up, and in due time to restore him to perfect health.

In his childhood, he was distinguished for prompt and cheerful obedience to the wishes of his parents; for the meekness of his disposition; for the patience

with which he submitted to the severe remedies, several times prescribed to save his life, and for an unshaken confidence in God when exposed to danger. On one occasion, at this tender age, when he saw his mother in a state of much alarm, he remarked, with a trust in the Almighty which would have done honour to a person of advanced life, "Do not be afraid, mother, God will take care of us."

No persons were ever more attentive to the instruction of their children than were Reginald's parents: both Mr. and Mrs. Heber took the greatest pains to store his mind with scriptural and useful knowledge during the days of his childhood; and the plans they pursued must have been most judicious, as we find, that before he was five years old, he could read the Bible with ease and fluency. Indeed, so extensive was his knowledge of its contents, even at that early period, that on being asked where any passage was to be found, he could generally refer to it with great readiness and accuracy.

Mr. Heber, being himself a warm admirer of the simple and beautiful language of Scripture, gave particular directions that the Bible, without any abridgment, should be put into Reginald's hands; that he might become as familiar as possible, not only with its contents, but with its inimitable style. Young Heber's capacious memory, and diligent attention to his studies, enabled him to derive the utmost benefit from this plan that could have been anticipated; and its happy results were visible, not only in his early piety, but during the whole of his life. It was probably owing to this, that, at so early an age, he had so deep a sense of the importance of prayer, and was accustomed to engage in it with an earnestness and a frequency very unusual; evidently proving that the seed of those divine principles was then implanted in his mind, which was afterwards to bring forth fruit so abundantly to the glory of God. Nor

can it be attributed to any other cause than to the blessing of God on these early efforts to imbue his mind with sound religious instruction, that he evinced through life so deep a sense of his entire dependence upon God; discovered on all occasions so much resignation to his will; exhibited such unequivocal proofs of the humbling views he had of himself; and manifested, as well in adversity as in prosperity, such a constant sense of gratitude to the Father of mercies.

As soon as young Reginald could speak, he discovered an eagerness to acquire knowledge, never excelled, and but seldom equalled, at so early a period. He was always remarkably inquisitive; and the earnestness and artlessness with which he made his enquiries, proved, to the entire satisfaction of all to whom they were put, that he had higher objects in view, than the mere gratification of his curiosity. From every thing that came under his notice, he seemed anxious to derive information; and he was often accustomed to remark, in riper years, to an intimate friend, that "he had never seen the individual, however deficient in general attainments, from whom he could not learn something." Persevering in this plan for a number of years, and indeed we may say entirely through life, he acquired a mass of information on almost every general subject, which he frequently found of great benefit; but which is often either overlooked or undervalued by individuals moving in a station of life similar to his

own.

Reginald, even at this early age, was a great reader, particularly of poetry; and so tenacious was his memory, that though he generally read with rapidity, yet he could repeat almost perfectly, for many years afterwards, the contents of any volume he had perused; and such passages in it as he thought especially deserving his notice, by reading them