York. The friendship and connexion of all the three were founded on the reciprocal belief of each other's Christian sincerity; and were heightened and cemented by a similarity of age, and also of taste and sentiment in religious matters; which not only extended to all essential points, but even to such as are subordinate and of less consequence. They saw one another frequently; and they found mutual improvement and support in their private communications. The short distance of Hotham, Mr. Stillingfleet's place of residence, from Hull, where Mr. Milner lived, permitted these two to meet and to pass a few days together much oftener than they could do with their more distant friend Mr. Richardson of York; and it was to the unwearied attentions and unexampled kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Stilling. fleet, that, by the blessing of God, Mr. Milner's valuable life was preserved so long as it was. At Hotham* his infirmities were nursed with tenderness; the air was excellent; and the conversation the unsearchable riches of Christ. It was to be expected that the great subjects, which then nearly occupied their whole attention, would furnish abundant materials for interesting conversation. An unreserved and confidential friendship was formed, which was not once interrupted during twenty-four years that Mr. Milner afterwards lived. Amidst the deep regret felt by the survivor, when he dwells upon a loss that can never be repaired, and his profiting so little by the example and communications of this incomparable man, he is thankful for the blessing of such a friend, during so large a portion of his life. "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." EDITOR, W. R.

It was at this hospitable retreat, that Mr. Milner composed a great part of his Church History and other works. În his friend's study he found many of the books which he wished to consult; and was permitted to spend his time there, without interruption, just as he might happen to be disposed. He was quite at home, and felt himself so. Mr. and Mrs. Stillingfleet

of his friend was salutary and refreshing; it was no wonder, therefore, that he always went there with pleasure, and returned with reluctance; or that it should have been constantly observed that his health was improved by these visits. Mr. Stillingfleet was so affected by the loss of Mr. Milner, that he could not prevail upon himself to come to Hull for a long time after that event.

Notwithstanding the distance of York from Hull, Mr. Milner's visits to Mr. Richardson were not unfrequent: and they always proved rich feasts to his mind. He was particularly gratified at York, by being introduced to Mr. Richardson's religious acquaintance: These solid and precious fruits of the Ministry of his beloved Friend, furnished a topic, on which Mr. Milner has often been observed to dwell with singular delight*.

had a particular pleasure in making their house agreeable to him, and they succeeded. They always saw him at their meals, and in the evenings, which were enlivened by his conversation, ever rich in entertainment and instruction.

EDITOR, W. R.

* He found at York a religious society exactly suited to his taste-a people sincerely desirous of living godly in Christ Jesus, without pharisaical singularities, or the cant of a sect― afraid of schism, and content with the means of instruction afforded in the Established Church, without censuring those persons who attended separate places of worship. By them his company was highly prized. Long before the usual school vacations arrived, which enabled him to pay these visits, eager enquiries were made, whether he would come or not. Like Dr. Johnson, his conversation-powers were extraordinary, and the funds which supported them inexhaustible. They seemed to accumulate as he advanced in life; and at his last visit, a few weeks before his death, he exhibited the same vigour of mind, strength of memory, and vivacity of imagination that distinguished his earlier years. He was a general favourite, even with the young children of the family where he visited, who hung upon his lips, when he related to them the legendary

Mr. Milner just lived to receive that very ample and decisive testimony of esteem, which was shown to him by the Mayor and Corporation of Hull, upon the decease of the Rev. Mr. T. Clarke. He was chosen Vicar almost unanimously. But he survived that event only a few weeks. He died Nov. 15, 1797*.

Never was sorrow more unfeigned or more general among the inhabitants of a large town, than at Hull, on the loss of their pious and faithful Minister. A spirit of mutual condolence pervaded the hearts of the people; numbers expressed their respectful sentiments of the deceased by the change of their external dress; and when the serious Minister adverted to the recent melancholy event in the pulpit, almost every eye bore testimony to tales which amused his own infancy; and which, like every thing else that he had read, or heard, he never forgot. EDITOR, W. R.

In Mr. Stillingfleet's account, his last illness is ascribed to a cold caught in his journey to York, for Institution, in the latter end of September, 1797, and the termination of it is thus related. "The fever being removed, there were hopes of his recovery, till within a very few days of his death, when his worn-out state of body appeared too clear to give the Faculty any ground of hope, or encouragement for his friends. On the day preceding his death, as I have been told, he went through the duties of his family in a very serious and particular manner, intimating, as some concluded from expressions which he used, that his end was probably not far off. Having ended his family-worship, he went to the chamber of his Niece, with whom he lived, and who had lain in only a few days, and after praying with her, and wishing her a good night, retired to his room. At the first he seemed to sleep tolerably easy; but after some time, one of the persons who sat up with him perceived that he was seized with an hiccup, and that he breathed with some difficulty. Soon after the attendant finding all remarkably still, and being rather alarmed, drew near to the bedside, and found that he had indeed breathed his last." EDITOR, W. R.

the feelings of the heart. Some very remarkable wishes were uttered by profane, worldly, and avaricious persons; "That they would freely give up all their wealth to be where HE now was.' For many years past the Clergy of the town of Hull have, in general, been very serious persons, and have lived in harmony with Mr. Milner both in doctrine and in zeal. Some of them have been his pupils both in profane and sacred learning; and all of them looked up to him with reverence as a wise and experienced guide in spiritual things. The affectionate attachment of one of them was so tried by his death, that he could scarcely be induced to desist from mourning over the remains of his friend, or, for some days after, to take necessary refreshments.

Mr. M. bequeathed the greater part of his little property to his niece Sarah, the wife of Mr. Thomas Wilberforce Crompton. His Will begins with these introductory clauses: "I, Joseph Milner, of Kingston upon Hull, make this my last Will and Testament. I commit my soul and body to Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of lost sinners. I am one of those: a fallen spirit, dreadfully guilty and impure in every faculty by nature: and I thank Jesus Christ my Lord that he hath shown me the way of full Salvation through his obedience unto death, even the death of the Cross, to the Glory of God the Father. Hence only, I expect to find God my God through all Eternity; and to be enabled to serve and delight in him as my only portion. My own salvation I expect only in this way, in which I have been enabled to preach to others. I have no works to plead FOR THIS END. If I have been enabled to

perform any that are good, since I was made acquainted with Christ Jesus, they are very poor and imperfect indeed; stained and mixed with much iniquity. What is good in them is the Lord's, and I shall be glad to give him the glory of it; and to have my doing so esteemed an expression of some thankfulness to Him, who saves me freely."

His health had been visibly on the decline for the space of eight or ten years, and had received, about six years before his death, a severe shock by a fever, from the effect of which he never entirely recovered. His near relatives, as well as many of his friends, saw with sorrow the impression which had been made by this disease on his feeble constitution; and the Mayor and Aldermen of Hull were so persuaded of the decline of his strength, and ability to labour, that with a kindness and a consideration which does them great honour, they liberally voted for him the sum of forty pounds a year, in support of an additional Usher of his School. This voluntary mark of the unanimous approbation and esteem of his Patrons, did not fail to produce universal satisfaction in the town.-The inhabitants of Hull were well convinced that their industrious School-master was in no danger of becoming indolent: They saw that he was almost worn out in their service; and they were glad to be informed that now, through the daily assistance of two Ushers, he would experience considerable relief from the wearing employment of teaching school-boys. It is by no means improbable, that he might have lived longer, if, before it had been too late, he could have been induced to lessen sufficiently his exertions, and to guard more effectually against the changes of the