gregation was induced, notwithstanding his advanced age, to request his permanent residence among them; but with this invitation he did not comply. They are now happily settled with a minister, and have removed from a warehouse, which they then occupied as a place of worship, to a respectable meeting-house which has since been erected in the town.

From this time Mr. Audley was frequently changing his abode. With some intervals, he lodged for a considerable time at Pentonville, Croydon, and Dorking, and particularly at the last. Feeling, however, the inconvenience of such an unsettled mode of life, he had been for some time anxious to obtain a neat and small habitation; so situated, that with little fatigue, he might be able regularly to at tend public worship. He at lengh met with one, at Stoke Newington, which appeared particularly suitable. To this he removed about Michaelmas 1826; a step which was unquestionably highly conducive to the comfort of his last days. One thing which rendered this situation more especially desirable, was that he had again the opportunity of enjoying the society, and attending the ministry of his former respected friend and pastor, the Rev. Dr. Harris, who had recently undertaken the charge of the Independent Church in that village. The particulars The particulars relating to the few remaining months of Mr. Audley's life, cannot be better narrated than in the words of that gentleman; who, in answer to the request of a friend for some information on the subject, writes as follows:

"About Michaelmas last he came to reside at this place. His first appearance impressed us much, as we had not seen him for some time, and he had recently been ill. There were in his looks and manner, indications of rapid advances to the termination of a long and useful career on earth. For some time after

wards he appeared to revive, and was evidently cheered by the kind attention of friends, who paid him every mark of respect. He was rarely absent from public worship, and appeared much to enjoy his religious engagements; but felt himself inadequate to undertake any part, even at our prayer meetings. Beside other opportunities, he usually spent a few hours with us on the Lord's-day; and his society seemed to transport us to Cambridge, ever dear to our recollections as well as to his. During the winter he had an attack of illness, under which he expected to sink, but was speedily restored to nearly his accustomed state of health. Toward the end of March, however, his infirmities confined to the bed. There was not much rapidly increased, and he was soon after positive disease, and his medical attendants, one of them a pious and distinguished physician from London, long retained an impression that he might yet be restored. But it appears that nature exhausted, he gradually became weaker in body, and more imbecile in mind, though without any remarkable aberration of his powers to the last.

"I wish it were in my power to give a more copious account of the state of his mind during his last illness; but this his natural reserve, which for the most part continued, has prevented. Excepting in answer to direct inquiries, he said little on the subject of personal religion, and his own prospects. There appeared in him an acquiescence in the divine will, and calm expectation of his departure. He often expressed his thankfulness for the kind providence which had brought him hither, to receive, in his enfeebled and dying state, the attentions which Christian friends readily paid. At my last interview with him, which could be called conversation, the evening sun sweetly beamed across his bed. This led to some remarks respecting the Sun of Righteousness, and the beams of glory radiating from his immediate prelighted up his countenance. He pointed up with energy, Ah,' said he, I want to look thither.' He often professed, that only the grand first truth of the Gospel would support him, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' A few days before his departure, he told Mrs. Harris, that he was incapable of thinking ; (0, what a lesson to those who postpone the most important of thoughts to a dying hour!) he could only with Stephen look up and say, Lord Jesus receive my spirit.' I saw him on Thursday, when he seemed to be in considerable pain. To the remarks which I made he only looked an answer, and at length, with much iudistinctness of articulation, requested me to pray with him. I saw him no more. On

sence. He was cheered. Animation

Saturday, Mrs. Harris perceived, that he was still more rapidly declining; but we were notwithstanding surprised, in the evening, by hearing that he suddenly complained to his nurse of a sense of suffocation, and died almost instantly."

Thus on Saturday evening, April 28th, this venerable servant of Christ closed his mortal career, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. Though there was not in his last moments, any of that ecstatic rapture which some believers have experienced, there was that calm and settled confidence in the rich provisions of divine mercy, which equally illustrates the reality and value of personal religion. In his death, the words of the Psalmist received another illustration :"Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace."

In presenting a brief review of the character of Mr. Audley, it must be owned, that he had many peculiarities in his personal habits, and some in his natural disposition. The former, however, may perhaps be attributed to the almost uniformly unfavourable influence of a single life; and the latter were, in a great degree, counteracted by the operation of eminent personal religion. He possessed a sound understanding; and being naturally fond of studious pursuits, he had acquired a very considerable extent of information. This, added to his personal worth, made him a highly acceptable companion among an extensive circle of friends. Genuine hospitality marked his intercourse with them at his own house, which was always open to the friends, and especially the Ministers of Christ. To the poor he was a kind and valuable friend; often aiding them, while he had it in his power, in a pecuniary point of view, or assisting them, not less effectually, by his judicious advice. By many whom he has thus befriended, his memory will be long cherished with affectionate respect.

As a private Christian, the character of Mr. Audley stands deservedly high. It may truly be said of him, as of Cornelius, that he was "a devout man." There was a uniform gravity and seriousness in his deportment, which, though often blended with Christian cheerfulness, yet sufficiently indicated a mind habitually alive to the importance of spiritual things. He was in the constant habit of spending a large proportion of time in the private exercises of devotion. Thrice in the day, at least, did he usually retire for this purpose; and that a considerable time might be enjoyed without interruption in the morning, he made a point of rising early, very often as early as four or five o'clock. Several memoranda found among his papers, and written while he was on different journeys, show that he was at such times equally attentive to this particular. He would often, after arriving late in an evening at a place which he was to leave early on the next morning, indulge himself with only three or four hours rest, rather than abridge the time for his morning or evening exercises. It was no unusual thing for him, on such occasions, to rise as early as one o'clock in the morning. Another feature in his Christian character was his strict observance of the Sabbath. Though in general unusually careful in guarding against exposure to cold or damp, it was not a little that would keep him from attending the public ordinances of divine worship. So great was his attachment to these, that till within a few weeks of his death, he often attended the three services of the Sabbath, as well as those on other evenings in the week. On the Lord's day he was desirous of keeping his mind as free as possible from all secular concerns, and was therefore accustomed to leave any letters

which might arrive by that morning's post, to be opened the next day. If, however, he had reason to think any one was of urgent importance, he would still, if possible, leave it till the public services of the day were closed. In addressing his friends also, he carefully avoided writing by a post, which would occasion the letter reaching them on the Sabbath.

But while thus attentive to the private duties of religion, he was deeply concerned for the spiritual welfare of others, and ever ready personally to assist in promoting

it.

For the young he uniformly felt a very lively interest. Very soon after the excellent Mr. Raikes first instituted Sabbath Schools, Mr. A. wrote to him for some information on the subject; and from that gentleman's reply, which has been found among his papers, it is inferred he had it in contemplation to attempt the establishment of a school, but whether at Cambridge or elsewhere does not appear. Of all the local institutions intended to benefit the town, county, or neighbourhood, Mr. A. was not only a warm, but, in most cases, an efficient friend; and there were few of them in which he did not, at some time, sustain the office either of Treasurer or Secretary. All the noble institutions of the day, such as the Bible and Misionary Societies, met with his warmest approbation; and of each of those named he became, at their first establishment, a member for life. While thus anxious for the success of every effort to promote the general extension of the kingdom of Christ, he was by no means indifferent to the especial interests of that denomination of Christians, with which he had felt it his duty and privilege to connect himself. Free from every thing bordering on bigotted or sectarian feeling, he yet knew the importance attached

to his principles as a Dissenter and an Independent; and while, from his heart, he rejoiced in the prosperity of all who love the Saviour, he was still consistently alive to the welfare of his own denomination. Nor may it be unsuitable here to add, that under the influence of these feelings, he rejoiced in the publication, and was interested in the success, of "the Congregational Magazine," ostensibly connected with that body. To him, it is believed, the Editors of that publication will acknowledge themselves chiefly indebted, for the information contained in the satistical account of the churches of Cambridgeshire, which appeared in one of its early volumes.

as

It now remains to advert to the more public character of Mr. Audley, as a minister of Christ. And here, the manner in which he conducted the devotional parts of public worship should be particularly noticed. His prayers were usually distinguished by a becoming solemnity, a scriptural simplicity, a comprehensive fullness and variety, and, at the same time, by a holy and devotional fervour, which indicated a heart habituated to the exercise, and which seldom failed to impress the minds of those whose devotion's he was conducting. As a preacher, he was characterized by a plain and simple, but judicious exhibition of the leading truths of the gospel, and a rich illustration of Christian experience. If there were not much in his sermons to gratify a fastidious taste, or to enchant a vivid imagination, there was much to inform the judgment, to impress the heart, and deeply to affect the conscience. During the last 18 or 20 years of his ministry especially, his labours were in general very highly acceptable! and many pleasing instances are known, in which they were instrumental in awakening the careless,

in encouraging and directing the inquirer, and in edifying the more established believer.

On several occasions Mr. Audley appeared before the public as a writer. In 1784 he published an abridgment of the excellent Mr. Howe's piece on Self-dedication, and Dr. Grosvenor's sermon on "the Temper of Jesus," to which he prefixed brief lives of the respective authors. He was also the author of a small, but useful and entertaining work, entitled "A Companion to the Almanack," containing brief explanations of particular days and festivals, and a great variety of information which could not have been collected without considerable pains. He published also a new and corrected edition of a work by the father of the celebrated Arch

bishop Leighton, entitled "An Appeal to Parliament, or, Sion's plea against the Prelacie," for which work its excellent author was treated with such unexampled cruelty by the Star-chamber. In 1804, Mr. A. printed "a Sermon on Harvest, or an Address to Farmers, Reapers, and Gleaners," founded on Ruth ii. 4. His last work was a short memoir of an old and valued friend, the Rev. Coxe Feary, of Bluntisham. He is known at different periods to have contemplated some other publications, which, however, never appeared. Among these were a treatise on the divine promises and threatenings, and an abridgment of Howe's Blessedness of the Righteous, a work to which he was particularly attached.

"He will keep the feet of his saints."

1 Sam. ii. 9.

THESE words are part of Hannah's song of thanksgiving, which she sung upon occasion of a son given her in answer to her prayers. It was an extraordinary mercy, and she was extraordinarily sensible of it, and thankful for it. In her song, she sets herself to glorify God, to give unto him the praise of his mercy.

In the text she mentions one great act of his goodness to, and care of, those that fear him-that he keeps their feet-whatever be comes of others, he will be sure to look to them. He has done it. He doth do it. He will do it.

Doct. I. That there is a people in the world that is peculiarly God's; and they are saints-his

saints.

No. 32. N. S.

The word translated saints, signifies two things.

1. Merciful ones, a people of mercy, i. e.

The

1.) Such as have obtained mercy. 1 Tim. i. 13. I obtained mercy: Greek, I was mercified. Lord did pour out a flood of mercy upon me. We were in misery, and that misery had been our portion for ever if one thing had not prevented, viz. mercy, Tit. iii. 5. Oh be earnest with God for a share in this mercy, Ps. li. 1. You that have obtained mercy be very thankful, for you have great reason. things we have most reason to admire mercy, Ps. cxxxvi.

Of all

2.) Such as do shew mercy, Isa. lvii. 1. Saints are of a merciful disposition, Matt. v. 7. Mercy is to be shewed,

3 G

(1.) To the souls of otherspity them in their sins, in their sorrows-reprove, exhort, comfort, direct, out of mercy.

(2.) To their bodies, Matt. xxv. 35.-Every good man has that in him that disposes him to this; to feed, to clothe, Ps. xxxvii. 26. (3.) To their faults-not aggravate, but make the best of them; restore with the spirit of meekness, Gal. vi. 1.

(4.) To their names-neither raise, nor receive false reports: nay, Prov. xii. 10., a good man is merciful to his beast. Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, bowels of mercies: we have many precepts, Mic. vì. 8. An excellent pattern, God himself; be merciful as he is merciful, Luke vi. 36.

2. Holy ones- God's people are saints-holy ones. Saints are of

divers sorts:

:

1.) There are men's saints, and God's saints. Men's saints are such as men are pleased to give that title to; whether they are so or no. The church of Rome has many such saints, St. Francis, St. Dominick, St. Winifred, &c. A solemn business they make of their canonization it is bought with money-not till fifty years after the person's death-after proof made of some miracle wrought by them. This is a cheat-many saints on earth that are burning in hell. God's saints are such as he accounts so. Ps. 1. 5. my saints: such as are in covenant with God, by Christ, the great sacrifice.

2.) Saints in profession, and saints in power. Saints in profession, are such as being baptized into the faith of Christ, do walk unblameably according to the rule of the Gospel. Paul's epistles are directed to the saints at such a place. Saints in power are such as have not only a name to live, but are alive indeed; made partakers of the divine na

ture; justified, sanctified, renewed in the whole man.

3.) Saints on earth, and saints in heaven. Saints in heaven are

the comprehensores, as we call them, that have finished their course, and have received their crown: the happiness that they were once pressing after, they are now in the possession of-at rest in Abraham's bosom :-see God and enjoy him. Saints on earth are viatores, who are for heaven, though not in heaven. They are got out of Egypt, are not yet in Canaan; travelling in the wilderness, in the midst of many infirmities that keep them low and humble, but they are jogging on as fast as they can. These are they whose feet God will keep.

Use 1. This may serve to discover, and rectify the mistakes of many people concerning saintship.

1.) Some think that it belongs only to good men under the New Testament, and not to those under the Old. You see the contrary in the text. Aaron the saint of the Lord, Ps. cvi. 16.

2.) Others think it belongs only to those that are eminent in religion, as Matthew and Mark, and Peter and Paul. No. The meanest true Christian is a saint—the weakest a believer.

3.) Others appropriate it to saints in heaven, and will not have it applied to saints on earth; whereas the Scripture speaks of saints on earth, Ps. xvi. 3., that are hoping and longing to be one day saints in heaven, yet are not so.

4) Some are offended if the holy men of God under the New Testament, are ever named without Saint prefixed-as if we say Paul, and not St. Paul. Others, on the other side, are offended if we do prefix saint, whereas they were saints, and we may call them so; but it is an indifferent thing, and we are no where obliged to it.

5.) Others appropriate it to those