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were incessant, most manifold, and often of the most difficult kind. He delighted in labour for its own sake. It was a real enjoyment to him, as he was wont to say, to encounter and overcome difficulties. And one of the secrets of his not common life was even this pleasure which he felt in struggling with what was difficult.

As a scholar, a man of science, and an antiquarian, Dr. Young deservedly enjoyed a high reputation, and numbered, among his personal friends, several distinguished men on the Continent, as well as in our own country. His published works are numerous and varied. The "Geological Survey of Yorkshire," in one volume royal quarto, and his "History of Whitby," in two volumes octavo, the latter especially, are productions evincing no ordinary learning and research. Besides these, he wrote a life of the celebrated Captain Cook, who was born in the vicinity of Whitby; numerous sermons of varied excellence; a volume of lectures on the book of Jonah, for seamen, which has been extensively useful, and "Evangelical Principles of Religion vindicated,"

a work honourable to him as a theologian, to his powers of argument, and to his Christian spirit in controversy, and which received marked commendation at the time it was published.

The various religious, literary, educational, and benevolent institutions of the town of Whitby, have lost in him, many of them, their founder, and all their able and efficient supporter. Few single individuals have ever done more for the place of their residence than he did, by his personal exertions, his scientific and literary labours, and his moral influence, to elevate and benefit Whitby.

His genuine kindness of heart, his manifest transparency of character, his unfeigned simplicity of mind and manners, his forgiving disposition, the catholicity of his religious views, might here have been noted at length; but we pass on to state that, amidst all his manifold pursuits and engagements,

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the claims of his church and congregation were ever held to be paramount. For forty-two years and more, on the successive sabbaths of these years, three times every sabbath, he published the messages of heavenly truth. His ministrations were simple, faithful, scriptural, earnest. How unblameably and devotedly he walked before his people,— his tender interest in the young,-his solemn warnings to the backsliding,his wise counsels, his tried friendship, his unvarying kindness to all,— will not soon be forgotten.

In the year 1826, Dr. Young was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Hunter, of Whitby. This union was to both a source of great and lasting comfort. Mrs. Young was a woman of decided piety, ready to every good work, and especially useful in forming and conducting ladies' associations for purposes of charity and piety. She was greatly respected and beloved by all classes of Christians in Whitby. Her death, which took place nearly two years before that of her husband, was a severe affliction to him. But while he felt as a man, he meekly submitted as a Christian.

About the end of October, 1847, Dr. Young was seized with influenza; and although at that time he was not entirely laid aside, but continued to perform all his accustomed labours, it was in great and evident weakness, and in spite of the loud warning of danger. About the middle of February, the influenza was followed by violent inflammation. This was subdued for a time, but he never gained strength, and continued gradually to sink; till, on the morning of the 8th of May, in the seventy-first year of his age and the forty-third of his ministry, he was released, and passed into the presence of his Redeemer!

Throughout his whole illness the language of gratitude was constantly on his lips-gratitude to men, but above all to God. It is not remembered that a single murmur escaped him. A certain degree of hastiness and impatience be

longed to his natural temperament, and this might occasionally appear; but thankfulness, deep-felt thankfulness, to God and to all around, was habitual to him, The untiring activity also, which had marked his life, was strikingly shown in his last illness. Even on his bed he was continually doing, or attempt ing to do, something; and when his body was too weak for the least exertion, his mind still evinced amazing vigour and activity, In the latter part of his illness, in consequence of extreme bodily prostration, he was subject to frequent wandering. But his wanderings were holy, and it was remarkable, that however lost his mind might seem to be, at any time, it was enough to refer pointedly to the Bible, to God, or to spiritual subjects, and at once he was brought back, and his consciousness and self-control returned. How seriously and kindly he spoke to his attendant; what solemn, parting words, he uttered to those who came to see him, we may not minutely record.

Perhaps the most striking general feature in his dying experience, and one not a little instructive, was the total absence of all religious excitement. He evidently, at the first, had the wish, on some accounts, to recover. But in the anticipation of death, when it became certain that this would be the issue, he was perfectly undisturbed. There was no peculiar joy, no ecstasy; but great calmness-a resigned, simple, humble, quiet state of soul, Often he would repeat the words of the fifty-seventh Psalm; "Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast;" or those of the one hundred and sixteenth - another favourite Psalm of his. The idea of death never seemed to create the slightest alarm or uneasiness in his mind. He had the firmest persuasion of the love of God through Christ, and a perfect consciousness of the reality of religion within himself, and he looked forward to death and eternity with meek composure: "The Lord knows best the

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will of the Lord be done," were his familiar words.

"The first time I saw him," writes the minister who supplied his pulpit during the latter part of his illness, "I was peculiarly struck with the great simplicity and affectionateness of his character.

On

I never met an educated man so unsophisticated. On inquiring how he did, he replied, I am in the hands of the Lord, and whether I am to live or die I know not; but all will be well: I have given myself, soul and body, to him. But I have been very much concerned about our missionary affairs, as I do not know whether you will fall in with me in getting up a meeting next week about the mission to Old Calabar.'* On assuring him that I would, he was greatly pleased. I prayed, at his request, and left him. The next morning, which was the sabbath, he was exceedingly cheerful. He told me how gracious the Lord had been to him during the night, and asked me to thank God for it in my prayer with him, and also in the chapel during the day. Tuesday, the day on which it had been resolved to hold the Missionary Meeting referred to above, he gave me, in addition to 5. to the London Missionary Society, 6. 'his token of gratitude for great and undeserved mercies.' He also presented a 'thank-offering' of 5l. to the Bible Society. He was much delighted to hear of the success of our meeting; and on Wednesday told me that he wished my co-operation in another matter connected with the Seamens' Friendly Society. He had to prepare the Twentyfifth Report of this Institution, and asked me if I would be so good as to write at his dictation. This was the first time he discovered any decay of intellect. He could not fix his mind on the subject. To please him I wrote as he spoke, till the good old man was compelled to abandon the attempt.

* A Mission recently commenced by the United Presbyterian Church, with which, as well as with the London Missionary Society, Dr. Young's congregation was connected.

"During the rest of the week he be- | came more and more the subject of aberration. But even here his character was

beautifully developed, and all his aberrations had reference to things spiritual, or at least things benevolent. Now he was laying plans to found hospitals, now answering objections to miracles, and now relieving objects of misery. In his more collected moments he spoke delightfully of his own prospects for the eternal world, and of renewed zeal in his labours of love if the Lord should spare him. He often cited Psalm lvii. 1, 2, and often asked me to read the hundred and sixteenth Psalm.

"On the next sabbath he was very weak, and, on asking him how he did, he replied, Just waiting the salvation of the Lord.' He inquired 'What day it was?' I told him Sabbath.' 'Very well, my dear brother, may you have a comfortable day, and may the Lord be with you.' I prayed with him; but had hardly ceased, when he said, 'You had better pray with me.' I told him I had. He grasped my hand, and said, 'Excuse me, my dear brother-my memory is failing.' In the evening he was calm, and spoke much of Christ, and of the kindness of his congregation in praying for him, and in coming to see him. On Monday he could not rest. As I entered, the good old man was telling his maid not to weep for him, as it was the will of the Lord that he should die, and not live. On seeing me, he said, "To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. I am willing to abide, if it be for the good of Whitby; but all is in the hands of the Lord.' He then got together all kinds of Bible Society Reports, and catalogues of books, and seemed labouring under great solicitude, as if the affairs of the Bible, or Missionary, or Seamens' Societies, or the seamens' libraries, demanded immediate attention, and I must arrange them with him. He continued thus till Wednesday; when his disease assuming a more alarming form, he was insensible from two till ten o'clock in the evening. He then rallied, and knew both the servant and

myself. On Friday he said, 'It is now fifty-four years nearly since I found the Lord, and I will never forget the time nor the place; they are both precious to

me.

Yes, my dear Redeemer, there and then I found thee; I have clung to thee ever since, and I will love thee and praise thee while I live, and for ever and ever!'

"On the Saturday he was greatly reduced, but still was occasionally favoured with a ray of light from the throne of God. It was delightful to see with what child-like confidence he would repeat, Yes, my dear Redeemer, I will cling to thee.' Towards the evening he again became restless, and he passed a long, tedious night. About eleven o'clock, he asked me to stay with him all night, as he had a great deal for me to do. Next morning he knew me, but little more; I asked him how he felt? 'Well,' he replied—'well; but I am fast going; yet, I know I am going to Jesus. I have been a feeble and unprofitable servant; but Christ is all-yes, my dear sir, Christ is all,-Christ crucified;- that is the great resting-place.' During the forenoon he slept a good deal; and my next, and last, interview with him was not till the afternoon. As I entered, he did not know me, but asked who I was. On hearing my name, he replied, Come, my dear brother, I have a great deal for you to do.' I asked him how he felt in the prospect of death? I wait,' he answered,' the Lord's time. "To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' Jesus precious to you?' 'Oh, yes,' he answered, 'Jesus is precious-exceedingly precious, whether we are living or dying.' These were the last words he spoke to me; and, I think, they may be considered as the last words he spoke to any one. When I returned after the evening service, he was asleep-but it was the sleep of death! He continued asleep from about seven o'clock on the sabbath evening till a quarter past two on the Monday morning; when, without a struggle or a groan, he passed into eternity."

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The estimation in which Dr. Young

had been held during his life, appeared very strikingly after his death. In Whitby it was felt as a public loss, and the sorrow was deep and general. In the chapel, where religious services were performed on the day of his funeral, there were both visible and audible expressions of unfeigned grief; and along the line of the procession, the multitudes that crowded the streets seemed to say, by their saddened looks, "Our father, our father, shall we see thy face, shall we hear thy voice no more?" A personal friend, the Rev. Dr. Scoresby, with the

consent of the incumbent, performed the funeral services, having himself coveted the honour. On the sabbath following, sermons suitable to the mournful occasion were preached in Cliff-lane Chapel—in the forenoon, by the Rev. Mr. Potter, of Whitby; in the afternoon, by the Rev. Mr. M'Intosh, now of Dalkeith; and in the evening, by the Rev. George Paterson, of East Linton:

"Servant of God, well done,
Rest from thy loved employ;
The battle fought, the victory won,
Enter thy Master's joy."

MINISTERS AND MISSIONS. No. I.

THE MISSIONARY SPIRIT.

THE Conviction appears to be growing up in many minds, that missionary contributions have reached their maximum, and, consequently, that British churches can do but little, if any more, to extend the field of foreign labour. If this estimate be accurate, or if it even approximate to the truth, then how sad and serious are the circumstances and prospects of the unenlightened millions of mankind; and what countenance is thus given to the theory, that a new dispensation must be introduced, and unwonted methods employed, ere all nations can see the salvation of our God. But this view, so contrary to Scripture teaching, and so depressing to those who look and long for this predicted period, though entertained by some, is happily rejected by more, who cherish the confidence that there is, even now, power enough in Zion to wield the rod of God's strength-men and means sufficient to secure the speedy spread of Christianity throughout all lands. In this confidence the Directors of the London Missionary Society, a few months since, laid before their brethren, and the churches from which they have obtained their pecuniary supplies, the financial position and prospects of that Institution, with the state

ment that, unless its income be augmented by 8,000l. or 10,000l., the recall of missionaries and the abandonment of missions must be the result.

This appeal will supply a good, even though it may not be a decisive, test of the truth of the opposite opinions just described. And one of two things seems certain, should no satisfactory response be returned to it, either that the springs, or the spirit of Christian benevolence have exhausted themselves; or that Christians have not the means or the heart to carry forward this glorious enterprise.

In confirmation of the opinion thus stated, we need only turn to the appeal of the Society, and consider the circumstances under which it is issued. It clearly indicates a crisis in its history. Just at a juncture when, more than at any previous period, a concurrence of favouring causes is encouraging its Directors to multiply their missions, and extend their efforts, they are compelled to appeal to their constituents, and to devolve upon them the responsibility of deciding, not, whether they are to advance, but recede; not, whether new fields should be entered, but old ones abandoned. Until now, progress has been their object. They pointed us,

with an unfaltering hand and a beaming | ministers,-and that, compared with this, eye, to the wide and open doors of India all other means are feeble. and China. We heard nothing then of relinquishment or retreat. "Go forward!" has been their constant, their quickening cry.

But now this soaring ambition droops its wing. All thought of new campaigns and wider conquests seems to have been relinquished; and the sole question which they and we are called to determine is, whether existing missions must be reduced or may be retained. But is this necessary? Have things in very deed reached such a pass as to justify, to demand it? In truth this appears to be the case, and the Directors have obviously no choice but between three courses,crippling debt, diminished efforts for the world's salvation, and an urgent appeal, such as they have issued, for enlarged contributions. Resolute to avoid the first; reluctant, most reluctant, to adopt the second, they deemed themselves shut up to the last of these alternatives. Wisely, therefore, they have committed their case to God and their brethren; and ere they recall a single missionary, they have sought upon this momentous question the suffrages of the churches; resolved, if reduction must be, that the responsibility and the results shall not lie at their door.

Whether this appeal may have accomplished its design does not at present appear. Believing, as the writer does, that it ought to be resistless with those who possess the power of responding to it, and that many such there are, he feels assured that, were proper means employed, the requirements of the Society would be readily met, and that missions would not be allowed to languish, and the world to perish, for lack of money. And whilst addresses, circulars, earnest appeals, and special meetings are not depreciated, the conviction has rooted itself in many minds, that, if the hearts of the people are to be enlarged, and their help secured for missions on a scale more commensurate than hitherto with the claims of Christ, it must be effected mainly by the influence and efforts of his

It becomes, then, a most important question, and one which the pastors of our Churches are called upon, (especially in existing circumstances,) very seriously to ponder-whether they have done, and are now doing, their utmost to direct the thoughts, and fix the hearts of their people upon the designs of Christ, and the duty of Christians in reference to the world. Instances, doubtless, there are, and those not a few, in which ministers have put forth their best energies in this direction, and with the best results. But this cannot be said of all. And the writer of this and other papers which will follow it, and which are designed to furnish practical suggestions rather than admonitions or appeals, would throw himself upon the candour and kindness of his brethren, in thus addressing them, and can most truly assure them, that, though the connection of ministers with missions has long occupied his thoughts, he has shrunk from the discussion of a subject so difficult, and now only adventures upon this delicate ground, because he is convinced that there are urgent reasons why some one should do so, and because he has endeavoured, but in vain, to engage for this service a more practised and powerful pen.

The points which will be presented in succession, and with as much brevity as possible, are the following:-The connection between the maintenance and manifestation of a missionary spirit in ministers and in their people ;-the power of the pulpit in the furtherance of the missionary enterprise ;· the missionary prayer-meeting; ministerial influence

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for missionary objects upon the young ;the missionary anniversary, and missionary organization.

Perhaps the most important, and certainly the most difficult of these topics, is that which first claims our notice ;—the maintenance and manifestation of a missionary spirit in the minister.

It is not necessary to prove, what it

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