hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught; that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." Those who were personally acquainted with the lamented Crosse, and whose privilege it was to sit under his evangelical and faithful ministrations, will at once recognise, in the above description, the more striking features which characterized their departed friend and Pastor. Minute historic details might, indeed, be furnished, as to the clerical movements of Mr. Crosse whilst resident in Bradford; yet the limits generally assigned to memoirs such as the present suggest the propriety of our observations being restricted to certain leading traits in the ministerial character of the deceased, which, whilst exhibiting the firm, religious principle by which he was guided, will lead the Christian reader to magnify the grace of God in him.

"The

1. His pulpit ministrations were marked by the clear and powerful, yet affectionate, inculcation of the leading doctrines of our holy religion. His constant aim was to convince and humble the sinner, to exalt the Saviour, and to conduct his hearers to the Cross. absolution and remission of their sins," as announced from Sabbath to Sabbath in the liturgical service of the Church, he urged his congregation to expect, to seek after, and to enjoy. The entire depravity of man's moral nature; his justification before God, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; the knowledge of his acceptance and sonship with God, as impressed on man's heart by the attestation of the Holy Spirit; the regeneration of man's corrupt nature; the sanctification of his whole heart and life; were topics on which he constantly descanted; and which, under the accompanying unction of the Holy One, were instrumental in the salvation of many. Occasionally his preaching assumed an aphoristic, sententious character;* yet more generally, under a delivery somewhat rapid, it was found the lively, earnest, and consecutive enforcement of divine truth. The following is given by Mr. Morgan as a specimen of the impressive manner in which some of his discourses were introduced: One Easter-Sunday

Take, for instance, the following, extracted at random from some of his discourses:

"Sorrow is inseparably connected with sin."

"Apostasy begins at the closet-door: beware, therefore, of the first step to carelessness."

"The awakened sinner must fly to Christ, as the manslayer to the city of refuge."

"Men may go to church from many wrong motives; but no one can habitually go to his chamber to pray, but from a true motive."

"They who are God's people mourn for sin, more than for the loss of reputation, friends, honour, wealth, or life itself."

"It is much better to go weeping to heaven, than dancing to hell."

"It is easy to trust God with a full cupboard: we must learn to trust in him when there is not a crumb of bread in the house,"

:

Mr. Crosse preached from, "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John xi. 25, 26.) After repeating his text in a distinct, emphatic tone, he paused; and then impressively inquired, "Believest thou this?" He again paused. Every eye was riveted on the venerable man, thus solemnly appealing to the judgment and the hearts of those before him. After a few seconds, the almost breathless silence was broken by the reiterated appeal, "Believest thou this?' that Jesus is the only Saviour; that he loved us, and gave himself for us; that he came into the world to save sinners;' that the 'mighty God' took upon him the form of a servant;' that he visited Martha and Mary personally, as he still visits us spiritually, to show his compassion; that he wept at the grave of Lazarus; that he now looks with deep interest, from his heavenly throne, upon this congregation; that he 'died for our sins;' that he was raised from the dead; that he ascended into heaven; that he intercedes for his people at God's right hand; that he waits to be gracious; that he reigns over all things, as the Head of his church, on his heavenly throne?

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'Thence shall the Lord to judgment come;

And, with a sovereign voice,

Shall call, and break up every tomb,

Whilst waking saints rejoice.'

'Believest thou this?"" Whilst proceeding to rehearse the principal articles of Christian faith and verity, paraphrasing each, and reiterating the appeal, "Believest thou this?" the whole congregation was deeply moved. God seemed to sanction, with divine power, every sentence that was uttered. Mr. Crosse, in his addresses from the pulpit, was never coarse, never vulgar; but whilst adapting his language and expression to the capacity even of the illiterate, the dignity of the "ambassador for Christ" was invariably maintained.

2. In the discharge of his arduous duties, as the Vicar of an extensive parish, every opportunity, and well-nigh every mode, of doing good were eagerly embraced. To the religious training of the young, Mr. Crosse paid unwonted and unremitting attention. Every Sabbath afternoon, at the close of service in the church, he was accustomed publicly to catechise the children of his care, and to give instruction suited to their infant years: one evening, also, in every week, was set apart for this interesting and important branch of pastoral duty; when, in addition to the exposition of various portions of divine truth, the Catechism of the Church was part by part explained, and its lessons of practical wisdom affectionately enforced. Numbers, now in the decline of life, thankfully trace their early religious impressions to the counsels and admonitions then given. In the visitation of the sick and poor, Mr. Crosse conscientiously and faithfully fulfilled his ordination

pledge,-"to search for the sick, poor, and impotent people of his parish;"" to use both public and private monitions and exhortations, as well to the sick as to the whole." Scarcely a day passed but found him diligently employed in this work of mercy. "It not unfrequently happened," observes his biographer, "after he had returned home late at night, wet to the skin, and had retired to rest, that he was called up to visit a sick and dying person. He would rise immediately, and go to any distance, if he had to take every step knee-deep in snow.” Even the loss of his sight led to no relaxation in the discharge of these important duties. A scene interesting and affecting was often witnessed, when this venerable man, led by a child, was found wending his way from cottage to cottage, from cellar to cellar, administering the consolations of religion; and often, with no sparing hand, relieving the temporal necessities of those he visited.

To promote the spiritual interests of his flock, Mr. Crosse held weekly meetings for Christian fellowship and prayer; conducting them much on the plan of the Wesleyan class-meetings; giving first his own "experience," then listening to the statements of others, and administering suitable encouragement and counsel. These Church classmeetings, convened in the Vicar's kitchen, commenced and closed with singing and prayer, and were a means of much and extensive good. Mr. Crosse had, also, the happy art, somewhat after the manner of the spiritualizing Fletcher, of seizing on any passing occurrence as a text, from which to enforce some practical and weighty truth. In the administration of baptism, the celebration of marriage, or at the interment of the dead, he often delivered impressive and appropriate addresses, tending greatly to the edification of his hearers. One instance, at least, is on record: A gentleman of wealth and influence strolling into the church, before a funeral took place, was, under the address then delivered, awakened to serious thoughts, and subsequently became "a new creature;" afterwards acknowledging, that, up to that period, he had been altogether wrong in his opinions, views, and practice.

The Bradford Auxiliary Bible Society, instituted in 1811, was formed under Mr. Crosse's patronage, and at his suggestion. Of this valuable and effective institution he was the first President, an office he retained till death: John Hardy, Esq., then Recorder of Leeds, acting for a while as Secretary. The year following he was instrumental in the formation of a Church Missionary Association;* the

The Rev. Legh Richmond, when pleading on behalf of this Society, at its second anniversary, thus records his visit to Bradford on the occasion: “Sunday, Oct. 2d, 1814. Preached in the morning at Bradford church, from Rom. x. 13, 14: a fine congregation. Preached in the afternoon, at the same church, from Matt. ix. 36: a still larger congregation. Preached in the evening, from Rev. xi. 15: overflowing congregation: I never saw any thing like it: not less than four thousand, certainly. Three collections,-£115. Such a day, such a church, such a Vicar, such life, such attention, such liberality, and such general success, are rarely

objects of which he endeavoured, with liberal and untiring zeal, to carry out. Nor was he less prompt and generous in the support of any local charity which, in his estimation, seemed calculated to promote the real interests of his fellow-men.

3. Mr. Crosse, although, from principle and choice, a member and a Minister of the established Church, possessed an eminently catholic spirit. His Churchmanship, it is believed, was never called in question. Contending, as he himself affirms, in a controversial pamphlet published on the subject, that the Church of England is in no "essential point a dissenter from the church of Christ ;" and that there is "nothing in her Homilies, Liturgy, or Articles, which may not easily be proved to agree with the holy Scriptures,"-though not every one, perhaps, even of his own communion, would accompany him to the full extent of this assertion; his whole deportment evinced that this was, indeed, the honest conviction of his mind. Few, even of those most zealously attached to the ceremonial of the Establishment, exceeded Mr. Crosse in the punctilious observance of its ritual, or in the successful promotion of its interest and influence. Not only on every Wednesday and Friday, in addition to a weekly lecture delivered on the evening of the former day, but on "saint-days," so termed, the liturgical service appointed was celebrated in the parish church. In catechising and giving instruction to the children of his charge, previous to their receiving the rite of confirmation; in the devotional administration of the sacraments and services of the Church; as well as in a deeply-rooted attachment to its Liturgy, as a formulary not only of public, but domestic, devotion; Mr. Crosse was exemplary. Whilst so successful were his ministrations as a Clergyman of the Establishment, that, to meet the demand for additional accommodation in the church, three galleries were in succession erected in that venerable structure these, also, proving an inadequate provision for the crowds who flocked to hear, a chapel of ease was, in 1808, erected at GreatHorton; and, in five years after, a second church in the town of Bradford, Mr. Crosse heading the subscription-list with a donation of £100.

Yet, in connexion with a devoted, conscientious attachment to the doctrines and discipline of his Church, and watchful, persevering zeal for the extension of its influence, Mr. Crosse was fearlessly a "lover of good men;" "glorifying God" in them, whether found within the precincts of his own ecclesiastical enclosure, or beyond. Towards the Ministers and people of Methodism he cherished a sincere and warm attachment; and, though the expression of that attachment subjected him to frequent annoyance, he never hesitated to avow it. With the seen. I desire to praise God from my heart, for the interesting, animating, encouraging scene it altogether presented. I received the sacrament from the hands of the venerable, apostolical, blind Vicar." (Memoir of the Rev. Legh Richmond, by the Rev. T. S. Grimshawe, pp. 239, 8vo. Edit., London, 1829.)

Wesleyans in Bradford he frequently exchanged the rites of hospitality, some of whom were numbered amongst his most intimate and devoted friends. Occasionally, in the cottages of his parishioners, he was found a hearer of some pious Local Preacher, who generally received from the condescending Vicar suitable direction and encouragement. Mr. Crosse was a supporter of the Wesleyan Missions, and rejoiced in their success. The conversion of Lord Molesworth-who, when Commandant of the Fort at Point de Galle, in the island of Ceylon, had, through the instrumentality of the Wesleyan Missionaries, been brought "unto a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus"-gave him peculiar pleasure; and he observed on the occasion, that the prayers he had offered on his Lordship's behalf, and the instructions that nobleman had received from him in early life, were then answered. The Rev. Gideon Ouseley, one of the most devoted of our Irish Missionaries, visiting Bradford, received from Mr. Crosse the princely donation of £200, in furtherance of the cause of Wesleyan Protestantism in that benighted, Priest-ridden land. In 1810, when, in carrying out the noble-minded project of Richard Fawcett, Esq., and other Wesleyans, in Bradford, steps were taken towards the erection of the spacious chapel in Kirkgate, Mr. Crosse had purposed further to evidence his attachment to the cause of Methodism by a suitable subscription. Yielding to the remonstrances of some High-Church friends, his design was frustrated. He took, however, benevolent revenge, by defraying the passageexpenses of a Wesleyan Missionary, a resident of Bradford, then about to sail to one of the West-India islands. It is, perhaps, scarcely necessary to say, that, on the part of the Wesleyans, these kindly feelings were cordially reciprocated. Not till the parish church could no longer contain the two congregations, had they preaching in what are termed "church-hours;" whilst, to a later period than perhaps in any other large society, the administration of the sacrament by their own Ministers was deferred. The venerated Vicar lived in their affections and esteem.

To those who, in the overflowings of an unsanctified and bitter zeal, consign to the uncovenanted mercies of God all not found within the limits of their own isolated section of the universal church, the movements of Mr. Crosse, as above recorded, will appear in the highest degree exceptionable and blameworthy. Yet, directed in the formularies of his own Church daily to pray for "all who profess and call themselves Christians," he felt it an imperative duty to testify, by a corresponding deportment, that, in the presentation of this petition, he was indeed sincere. He had also read in the sacred record an incident of this kind: "And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbade him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us, is on our