borders a more humble mind than his. The language in He found it poor, indeed, and unlettered, but then it was free which he speaks of the charities of his uncle, Dr. Sherlock, from the crimes with which the annals of most countries are expresses what he thought of the good which was done by stained; and anxiously did he use his best endeavours, by his own hand. "If he gave alms to the poor, and denied active personal exertions, by stimulating his clergy, by ferhimself many satisfactions which he could easily have pur-vent prayer, and by precautionary measures, to preserve it chased, he did not, however, pretend to merit by these exer- from contamination. But as we have seen, notwithstanding cises of piety any more than a steward pretends to merit by all these exertions, wickedness and impiety established thembeing faithful, or a sick man by being orderly." selves in the soil, and gained continual strength; this he And, in an account-book, in which he entered the sums lamented in private and public, and he urged those in auemployed from time to time for pious uses, these words were thority, as well as the spiritual guides of the people, to stem found written; "A very small page will serve for the number the torrent of evil which threatened to overwhelm the island. of our good works, when vast volumes will not contain our By this disappointment of the hopes he once entertained of evil deeds." building up Zion there as an honour and a praise in the earth, he was reminded that his reward as well as his rest were not to be looked for in this world. CHAPTER VII. His old age, and latter days. Adieu most worthy prelate, now released Lines on the Death of Bishop Wilson, During his absence in London, three unhappy persons had been tried for the crimes of burglary and robbery; and on his return he found them lying under sentence of death. How must he have mourned over the change since the time when the door of Bishop's-court needed no other fastening, by day or night, than a latch, and that merely to keep out the wind, and not from fear of any ruder aggressor. On this occasion he addressed a circular letter to the clergy of the island, desiring them to pray for the criminals, and to warn their congregations of the wages of sin in this world and the next. And from the pulpit he himself addressed an impressive exhortation to the people, in which, in his own plain and touching manner, he spoke to them as to children, of the danger and the wickedness of such crimes as those which were then about to pay the pealty of death. At a later period, in the year 1746, he pursued the same course, on the mournful occasion of the condemnation of a murderer. He wrote a circular letter to his "very dear brethren," in which he expressed a hope that none of them would omit that seasonable occasion of "speaking from the pulpit, and other ways," in such a manner as to awaken most lively impressions of the heinousness of that crime, and the great danger of advancing in wickedness from the smallest beginnings to the greatest enormities. "If people," he said, "will take themselves from under God's protection by leaving off to pray daily to God; if they fall into a careless and idle way of living, run into loose and wicked company, hear profane people make mock at a sin;-if they fall into a habit of profaning the Lord's day by idleness, sinful diversions, or neglecting the public worship of God;-these things will certainly grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by which alone we can be kept from the ways of sin and damnation. The name of bishop Wilson is so little connected with other names or incidents of note, that we have not seen any necessity for adhering to the order of time in this little narrative; and we rather thought that to take a distinct sketch of "We have here, therefore, a good occasion of amonishing his character in different points of view would convey a more young people, whether men or women, to take care of the correct idea of what he really was, and secure to him that beginnings of sin. Nobody is exceeding wicked all at once; affection and reverence, to obtain which he only requires to the devil is too cunning to startle men with temptations to be known. But our memoir, few as its details have been, is great and frightful crimes at first; but if he can tempt them to now drawing to its close, and we propose to gather up the leave off their prayers, to take God's name in vain, to drink, fragments which remain relative to that period of his life to swear, to hear filthy discourse, and to speak of the vices of when he might fairly be termed an old man; and these we others with pleasure, he will soon tempt them to crimes of a shall arrange in the order of their occurrence. damning nature." Here then we have to contemplate the aged christian bishop, In 1739 he was engaged in extricating his poor clergy from still proceeding in his wonted course of usefulness, and not some difficulties in which they were involved by the death of retiring from the duties of a minister of Christ while health the earl of Derby. The lordship of the Isle of Man then and life were spared to him. passed into the hands of the duke of Athol, and certain papers In the year 1735, at the age of seventy-two, he made his relating to the ecclesiastical revenues were missing, by which last visit to England, and, while in London, he did not omit a considerable portion of the small incomes of the clergy was the opportunity of being presented to king George the Second, endangered. And on this occasion, as before, they were and his consort, queen Caroline. He came into the drawing- ultimately relieved from their uncomfortable situation by the room in his usual simple dress, having a small black cap on successful exertions of bishop Wilson. the top of his head, with his hair flowing and silvery, and He still, in his old age, continued the practice of riding off his shoes fastened with leathern thongs instead of buckels. on Sunday to take a share of the duties in some distant parish, His appearance excited some surprise, and, joined with his without regarding the fatigue of travelling on roads which are well-known piety and virtues, awakened feelings of the deep-described as having been perilous even for horsemen in winest veneration. It is related, that as soon as he entered the ter, and for carriages at all times. In April 1739, being then presence-chamber, the king, stepping out of the circle of his in his seventy-sixth year, he writes thus to his son-"I have courtiers, and advancing towards the bishop, took him by the been as well as ever I can expect to be at this age; I was hand and said "My lord, I beg your prayers." obliged last Sunday to preach at Peel [eight miles distant Nor was the queen less impressed with reverence for his from Bishop's-court,] ride there and back again on a most character; she wished to keep him in England, and with stormy day; and yet I thank God, I am not the worse for it." that view offered him translation. One day when she was In his seventy-ninth and eightieth years he continued to conversing with him, she turned round to her levee and said preach occasionally, as appears from his letters to his son; "See here, my lords, is a bishop who does not come for and in the year 1743, we have an account of his state of translation!" "No, and please your majesty, was his health from his own pen, in a letter to his son's wife. remark, "I will not in my old age leave my wife because she is poor!" 66 "MY DEAR DAUGHTER,-I have the pleasure of yours of the Nothing could have been more distressing to bishop Wilson 8th of the last month. You put too great a value upon the than to observe the growing corruption of manners and prin- little favours I can show you. My great aim and desire is, ciples in that "little quiet nation," as he once could term it. that my son and you may make one another so easy, as that it may be a means, through the blessing of God, of lengthening unto the perfect day; his benignity became still more remarkayour days to a good old age; and that at last we may all meet ble, his conversation more sweet and heavenly, his prayers in the Paradise of God. more frequent and fervent. The same student could often, from his chamber, overhear the bishop making known his requests to God, and repeating portions of psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Here was an instance that "My eyes, I thank God, are much better, though my sight is a little duller than formerly; but that is what I ought to expect at eighty years. You have a share in my prayers every day of my life; and if I am so happy as to find favour with God, I have some reason to hope that my prayers afterwards may be accepted at the Throne of Grace, for our happy meeting, through the merits of the Lord Jesus. "Oct. 11, 1743." "THO. SODOr and Man. Even so late as the year 1749, when he was in his 86th year, he had not discontinued taking horse exercise. "I have at last got a horse," he says, "and now and then ride into the fields." Letter, October 11, 1749. Heaven waits not the last moment; owns her friends YOUNG. The immediate cause of bishop Wilson's death was a cold caught by walking into his garden after evening prayers, in very damp weather. And nature held out but a very short time against the assault of the last enemy. His fever being accompanied by delirium, prevented our receiving any of those beautiful and persuasive instructions which are so often learned at the bedside of the dying Christian; yet was there a light shining through the cloud which rested upon his mind; for his words betokened that if his mind had wandered from earthly things, it had settled upon heavenly. In his 90th year he held an ordination; as he had also done the year before; in his 91st year, he consecrated a chapel at Ramsea; and was still able to meet his clergy at the annual convocation, and to address to them a charge as usual. The infirmities of old age, however, were taking fast hold of the sons of God. He died March the 7th, 1755, in the His spirit was soon after admitted to the glorious liberty upon him. His eyes were growing dim, and his natural force ninety-third year of his age, and the fifty-eighth of his consewas abated. In June, 1751, he wrote thus to the newly-ap-cration. pointed governor of the island: One feeling of sorrow pervaded the island on hearing the "HONOURED GOVERNOR,-I hope my great age, and the in- and venerable friend. A concourse, from which few were melancholy tidings of the decease of this generous, excellent, firmities that attend it, will be some excuse for my forgetting absent except the sick and infirm, assembled to follow his so long to inquire after your health, and settling in your gov- remains from Bishop's-court to the grave, a distance of two ernment. I promise to make some amends for that fault, by miles; and tears and signs and tender thoughts did more my daily prayers that God may bless you, and make you a honour to the departed than the pomp and parade of more happy instrument of good to this people, and comfort and costly funerals. The body was borne by the tenants of satisfaction to yourself; this being the duty of, honoured sir, the estate, and the Rev. Philip Moore preached the funeral your affectionate friend and humble servant, "THO. SODOR and MAN." sermon. Sleeping in Jesus, here lieth the body of THOMAS WILSON, D. D. Lord Bishop of this Isle, A plain monument in the church-yard of Kirk-Michael denotes the spot where the mortal remains of this holy man He was old and full of days, and this, combined with the were deposited, surrounded by the ashes of many who, poor occasional attacks of severe bodily ailment, left him no room perhaps in this world, but rich in faith, were through his to doubt that he would soon be gathered to his people. Nor means made heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised was it an unwelcome thought. He had long been accustom-to them that love him. The following is the inscription: ed to contemplate the future world, so far as revelation lifts the veil which rests between it and us; and he rejoiced to have found the new and living way, which would conduct him safely from the grave to immortal glory. While he felt weak in himself, a firm reliance on his Saviour's merits preserved him from any fear of evil in the valley of the shadow of death, and feeling assured that the mercy and goodness of God would follow him for ever, the prospect of the change which awaited him was far from being unpleasing. He could understand St. Paul's willingness rather to be absent from the body, and felt that it was better to depart and be with Christ. A reference to the Sacra Privata will show that these were the settled and familiar thoughts of his mind. Hence he was careful for nothing, and in a very remarkable degree the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, kept his heart and mind. But he always rightly considered that this life was the appointed season in which to prepare for the enjoyment of the society of heaven, and therefore in his prayers he fervently implored the grace of the Spirit of God to make him meet for that rest which remaineth for his people. who died March the 7th, 1755, and in the fifty-eighth year of his consecration. by his son Thomas Wilson, D. D. a native of this parish, who, in obedience to the express communds of his father, Let this island speak the rest. The principal features of bishop Wilson's character, as far His humility was deeply rooted in a conviction of the de- as we have the means of ascertaining it, have been so partipravity of human nature, and of its evidences in his own cularly noticed in this memoir, it can only be necessary to heart. And although the chief aim of his sermons and other say here in a very few words, that we have represented him writings was to induce all whom his instructions should reach, as being a zealous, devout, single-minded and really good to give all diligence to "add to their faith virtue, and to vir-man; as a bishop, aiming to do all to the glory of God; most tue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temper-exemplary as a son, a husband, and a father; of a peculiarly ance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness sweet disposition and temper; that he was benign, generous, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity," yet disinterested; rarely equalled in his unbounded beneficence he never forgot that the glory to be revealed is not of debt but to all who stood in need of his assistance; of great fortitude, of grace. We might show this by repeated quotations from and remarkable simplicity; and though not possessed of any his writings; but nothing can evince it more clearly than extraordinary mental faculties, yet eminently endued with some words which were casually heard as they fell from his good sense. Never, perhaps, did a purer spirit wing its lips a short time before his death. He was just coming forth way from the earthly house of this tabernacle to the buildfrom the retirement of his chamber, expressing the thoughts ing of God, the house not made with hands, eternal, in the of a full heart, and unconscious of any listener but God, ex- heavens. claiming,-"God be merciful to me a sinner-a vile sinner a miserable sinner!" It may not be uninteresting to the reader to know that when As he drew nearer to the confines of the next world, he he enters St. Paul's cathedral, the dark-coloured steps on became more fit to partake of its spiritual enjoyments. A which he treads were the produce of quarries in the Isle of student who resided with him, and watched the gradual de-Man, and the gift of bishop Wilson. cay of nature, observed that God was indeed preparing him for the change, and causing his light to shine more and more APPENDIX, I humbly beg, to serve Thee with this life which is thine. Thou needest not, O God, my service, but accept of my ambition of serving Thee, I would do something that might be CONTAINING A FEW PASSAGES FROM BISHOP WILSON'S PAPERS, acceptable to my great benefactor. Thou desirest no sacrifice, ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE PRECEDING MEMOIRS. Resolutions made at the time of his Ordination; see p. 478. 1st. I resolve never to give any person any manner of bribe or gift, nor make any manner of contract or promise, for a church preferment, though never so good, and the consideration how inconsiderable soever it be. else I would give it Thee; I offer my life to be employed in thine immediate service, to which I have dedicated it. I will preach thy way unto the wicked; and by my ministry, if Thou seest good, sinners shall be converted unto Thee. They shall taste and see how gracious the Lord is to those whom he chastises in his love. "Blessed are all they that put their trust in him; and blessed be the name of the Lord, who has indulged me this opportunity of returning my hearty thanks for this mercy in "2dly. That I will never give a bond of resignation upon particular, which I do this day commemorate. To whom, any consideration whatever; being fully persuaded, that when with the Son and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed all praise, God sees me fit for such an employment, he can bring me honour and glory, by me, and all that are sharers of these into it without subjecting me to these conditions (which I mighty blessings. Amen." verily believe are unlawful), and if I can never have any ecclesiastical preferment but upon these terms, 1 am satisfied it is God's will I should have none. "3dly. Considering the scandal and injury of pluralities to the church, I resolve never to accept of two church livings with cure of souls (if such should ever be in my choice), though never so conveniently seated. "4thly. I resolve, that whenever it shall please God to bless me with a parish and a cure of souls, I will reside upon it myself, and not trust that to a curate which ought to be my own particular care. "That I may not ensnare myself by residence, I mean such as the bishop of the diocese shall determine not only to be consistent with the laws of the land, but such as an honest conscientious man may venture his salvation upon; because, for aught I know, some such cases there may be." This was the day before his conversation with the earl of Derby; see p. 479. "It has pleased God to call me out of a family (which through its honesty and industry, by God's blessing, has secured it from poverty, yet is far from being rich), to a post which my own merits and prudence could never have brought me to. The several steps I have made to this place have been very extraordinary, and such as plainly appear to have been by the direction and goodness of God; from which I cannot but conclude, that since God has thus raised me, it must certainly be for some wise and good end; and that I might be obliged, by all the force of interest and gratitude, to do my Reflections after his recovery from the fever which seized him duty in this state of life to which I am called. It is true, it Sept. 29, 1693; see p. 479. may at first sight appear very hazardous, to use that liberty and freedom which may seem necessary to advise and "1st. That very day se'nnight before, I was guilty of a reclaim that great man whom I serve. But then I am to convery great fault, which I am sure was very offensive to God, sider, that were I really to lose all my expectations, as well and which I had not repented of; and perhaps had not done as what I have gotten, I am but where I was when God at it to this day, but had gone on in my wickedness, if God first showed me his favour. Nay, my education will still set had not by this or some other fatherly correction diverted me. me above my father's house. "2dly. I began my journey (contrary to a former resolu- "But this is not what I ought to fear: for cannot God who tion), on a Sunday, which, without great necessity, I think I raised me without myself, cannot He raise me, or keep me ought not to have done; that day being particularly appointed up, though my ruin should be designed and attempted? And for God's service. perhaps it may never come to this: for who knows, but God 3dly. I cannot but reflect how very dangerous a thing it may give a blessing to my honest endeavours? And then I is to leave the settling of a man's temporal and spiritual af- am sure it will be the greatest advantage, as well as honour fairs till he is seized with sickness; since I find by a just of my whole life, and an ease to my soul all my days; and experience, how very unfit one then is for any manner of if he only falls out with me, and discharges me his family, I business. have the glory and satisfaction of having done a great good "4thly. That my recovery and second life was manifestly work. owing to God, is what I cannot but acknowledge; that there- "Now, if I neglect this, which I take to be my duty, or fore, as I ought never to forget the mercy, so ought I to spend for fear of danger or any temporal consideration, put it off in the remainder of this life to the honour, and in the service, of hopes of a better occasion, I may justly expect that God who the author of it; which, by the grace of God, I will do. raised me (it may be for this very purpose), when I am found "5thly. I am now most sensible that sickness is an ex- so backward in his service, will level me with the meanest cellent means of bringing us nearer to God. As then I am, of my father's house. My fortune is in his hand entirely; and by what God has wrought in me, extremely satisfied that it He that could find a way to raise me without myself, can find was the great blessing of my life, I ought (as my Master's out a way to ruin me in spite of my best endeavours. service obliges me to it), to take all occasions of making "And since in my conscience I know that I have not the God's fatherly correction useful to those who are chastised by least pretence to what I enjoy, but all is owing to his provithis or any other affliction. dence and goodness, I am his debtor for it; and I have no "And may the good and merciful God, who has put these other way of making a return, but by doing my duty honestly, good reflections into my heart, may He give me grace never and leaving the event to God. “ to forget them, nor the blessing I this day received. May 1, "And may that Eternal Goodness inspire me with a resodear God, never provoke Thee to plague me with diseases, tion answerable to this good and great design! May no weak nor bring thy punishments upon me, which Thou never dost, and cowardly apprehensions fright me from my duty! May unless we force Thee by our repeated transgressions. This, I fear Him only who has power over my soul, as well as I confess, with all sense of sorrow, was my case; and Thou, body, to destroy them both if I am disobedient to the heavenly O God, hadst been less kind to me, hadst thou been less severe. command. I acknowledge thy justice, and I acknowledge thy favour. "Inspire me, O God, with a zeal and courage becoming Couldst Thou have been just and not merciful, I had been my profession, that I may rebuke vice boldly, and discounteutterly destroyed; hadst thou been merciful and not just, Inance wickedness wherever I find it, and be jealous for thy might have gone on in my wickedness, till I had brought down glory in the presence of the greatest men on earth. Above destruction upon my own head. It is good for me that I have all, O Lord Almighty, make me to do some good in this station been in trouble, for I have since learned to keep thy com- in which, by thy providence, is my present lot; that when mandments; but it had not been good for me, had I not fallen Thou shalt please to remove me (whether for the better or into the hands of a merciful God. Since, therefore, Thou worse, thy will be done), I may not repent of having done didst in great mercy restore me to my former health; since nothing which thou requirest of me. Grant this, Oh my Thou hast given me a new life, give me grace likewise, with- great and bountiful Lord and Master, for the sake of Jesus out which my life will be no blessing to me; give me grace, Christ. Amen." ced; that all ignorance and profaneness, and whatever else His Prayer when he was Enthroned in the Cathedral of St. Ger- opposeth thy Divine will made known to us, may be effectmain, in Peel Castle, April 11, 1698; see p. 480. ually discharged. To this end we pray God to hear us, for the king's majesty, that his days may be many, his govern"In an humble and thankful sense of thy great goodness ment happy, his commands just and equal, and his people to a very sinful and very unworthy creature, I look up to faithful and obedient:-for the royal family, that we may be Thee, O gracious Lord and benefactor, who from a low ob- blessed with a succession of princes fearing God:-for all scurity hast called me to this high office, for grace and strength such as are in council and authority, (and especially for the to fit me for it. What am I, or what is my father's house, high court of parliament,) that they may consult the honour that Thou shouldst vouchsafe us such instances of thy notice of God, the true interest of his church, and the welfare of the and favour? I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies people:-for the bishops and pastors of Christ's flock, that which Thou hast showed unto thy servant. "O God, grant that, by a conscientious discharge of my duty, I may profit those over whom I am appointed thy minister, that I may make such a return as shall be acceptable to Thee. they may constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke and oppose vice, and be living examples of those graces and virtues which they recommend to others: and the Lord Jesus Christ be always with them according to his promise; and grant unto the people of their flocks that they may profit by them daily. "Blessed God and lover of souls, preserve, by Thy grace, those that are in the way of life; enlighten the minds of the ignorant; awaken the consciences of the careless; silence the "Command a blessing upon my studies, that I may make gainsayers; convert the profane; and bring them all to Thine full proof of my ministry, and be instrumental in converting everlasting kingdom. many to the truth. "Give me such a measure of thy spirit as shall be sufficient to support me under, and lead me through, all the difficulties I shall meet with. "We commend unto the tender mercy of God, all sick and "Give me skill and conduct, that with a pious, prudent dying persons; all that are in affliction of mind or body, or and charitable hand, I may lead and govern the people com- under any pressing calamity; all that are poor, and have none mitted to my care; that I may be watchful in ruling them, else to help them; and especially all such as suffer persecuearnest in correcting them, fervent in loving them, and patient tion for a righteons cause. in bearing with them. "Lord, pity and sauctify the miseries of this life, to the "Let thy grace and blessing, O father of mankind, rest everlasting benefit of all that suffer; that the tears of the opupon all those whom I bless in thy name; and especially pressed, the pains of the afflicted, the wants of the poor, may upon those who, together with me, are appointed to watch all help forward and end in the salvation of their immortal over thy flock. souls. "Bless every member of this church; support the weak, "We beseech God to hear our prayers for all those that confirm and settle those that stand, and feed our flock, to- never pray for themselves; that they may see the danger, begether with ourselves, through Jesus Christ the chief shep-fore it is too late, of living without God in the world. herd. Lord, who is sufficient for so great a work? Thou, "And God Almighty grant that we may all of us have worO Lord, canst enable the meanest of thy creatures to bring to thy thoughts of His majesty-for His great power in creating pass what Thou hast determined; be pleased to make me an us-for His wonderful providence in preserving us-for His instrument of great good to this church and people; and grant, great goodness in redeeming us by Jesus Christ; for whose that when I have preached to and governed others, I myself doctrine and example, and for the examples of all His faithmay not be lost or go astray. ful servants, we pray God make us truly thankful, and grant us grace to follow their steps, that we may with them be made partakers of a blessed resurrection. "Preserve me from the dangers of a prosperous condition, from pride, and forgetfulness of Thee, from a proud conceit of myself, and from disdaining others. Rather turn me out of all earthly possessions, than they should hinder me in my way to heaven. "That we may obtain these blessings, and whatever else is needful for us, let us all join, and with one heart and voice pray to God in that perfect form of words which Jesus Christ hath taught us-Our Father which art in heaven,' &c." "If affliction be needful for me, let me not want it; only give me grace thankfully to receive and bear thy fatherly correction, that after this life is ended in thine immediate ser- Two of the letters which Dr. Wilson, the bishop's son, revice, I may have a place of rest amongst thy faithful servants ceived after the publication of his father's life and writings, in the paradise of God, in sure hopes of a blessed resurrec- will give an additional interest to this memoir. tion, through Jesus Christ. Amen." 66 of men. The Prayer which he used before his Sermons. I. Letter from Bishop Horne. "I am charmed with the view the books afford me of the good man your father, in his diocese and in his closet. The Almighty God, maker of all things, judge of all men, Life, the Sacra Privatu, the Maxims, the Parochialia, &c. &c. graciously receive the supplications and prayers of this con-exhibit altogether a complete and lovely portrait of a christian gregation, for themselves and for all estates and conditions bishop going through all his functions with consummate prudence, fortitude, and piety; the pastor and father of a happy "Lord, in mercy grant unto us, and unto all sinners, a true island for near threescore years! The case is really an unique sense of our errors, and grace to amend whatever we have in ecclesiastical story. done amiss, that iniquity may not be our ruin. Let not those "The Sermons are the affectionate addresses of a parent to judgments fall upon us which our sins have justly deserved; his children, descending to the minutest particulars, and adaptand grant that thy great mercy and forbearance may oblige ed to all their wants. In a delicate and fastidious age, they us to bring forth fruits meet for repentance. may perhaps be slighted for their plainness and simplicity; "Have mercy upon the work of thy hands, that all the but they were just what they should be for the place and for world may come to the knowledge of Thee, and of thy good- the people. To use an illustration of his own, he is the best ness in Jesus Christ; that all who are weary with the bur-physician who cures the most patients: and at the last great then of their sins, may know where to find rest unto their day, may they who value themselves on their learning, their souls. elegance, and their eloquence, give as good an account of their stewardship as the bishop of Sodor and Man!" II. Letter from Mr. William Matthews, of Bath, one of the 66 "Preserve thy church in the midst of this uncertain world, and prepare her for what thy providence shall bring forth; that neither prosperity may corrupt thy faithful servants, nor adversity discourage them from professing the truth. "Keep this church and nation in the peaceable enjoyment Walcot, 12th month 12, 1780. of thy word and sacraments; and grant that we may live an- "My worthy friend-There are times when our minds are swerable to the means of grace which thy providence hath particularly impressed with sentiments of a social kind, and afforded us. our souls expand in the feeling of religious good. Such are "Bless all the reformed churches; keep them from all the times when communication will not only be sincere, but wicked and dangerous errors; and bring into the way of truth carry with it an evidence of that truth which reduces to one all such as have gone astray; that thy kingdom, and the name level the little and the great. Our minds are blessed various of our Lord Jesus Christ, may be glorified. ways; but all good is derived from the one immortal source "O God! whose kingdom ruleth over all, bless these na- of it, even from God himself. Yet I desire to receive and tions to which we belong; that peace, and truth, and justice-esteem as I ought, those instrumental means which Divine that true religion and piety, may be secured and countenan- Providence is appointing in aid of human weakness. "I am now reading with admiration and delight the works a rich fund of pure, sublime, and heavenly devotion is the of thy late venerable father, so lately given as another scrip- Sacra Privata! There we find the true picture of a truly tural blessing to mankind. And while I read, I cannot but christian mind. A progressive series of faithful exercises, in secretly applaud the twofold motive by which they were communion, through Jesus Christ, with God the Father, who brought forth and ushered into the world: in the old age of seeth and heareth in secret, and who, with the abundant his son; a last testimony of filial reverence, and a laudable graces of his Holy Spirit, rewardeth his children openly. concern for the good of the present and succeeding genera-Such were the primitive apostles and preachers of the gostions! Suffer me, then, to congratulate thee on living to see pel of Christ; such was the bishop of Mau; and such as the publication of this invaluable work. Thy only remaining they were must all men be, who ever come to be adorned solicitude must be that of all good men, that the public in with the real beauty of holiness. They only are pleasant in general may be wise enough to read it with a serious and their lives, and in their death they are not divided! devout attention. But, alas! my good friend, so general is "The Sacra Privata is a treasure to which I often resort in the folly of the multitude, so great their depravity of mind, my short relaxations from the cares of the day; and I am that wisdom is treated with contempt; and the writings of fully convinced, that nothing short of apostolical wisdom, the wise and good, inspired from heaven for the purpose of piety, and purity of soul, could bring forth such fervent salvation, must give way to the amusements of a comedy, strains of devotion. May it, and the works at large, be and be rejected for the poison of a ludicrous romance! There blessed to thousands and tens of thousands, while the name are other classes of readers, too, from whom little must be of the author shall be had in everlasting remembrance. expected; speculative men, whose principal aim is to find "In coming to a conclusion of these few sentences, I must out some new thing, that they may be wiser in their own indulge in a more particular and affectionate address to thyconceit, and able to amuse their fellow-creatures without the self. I think of thee with that unfeigned esteem and regard requisite qualifications for making them better: such men which an honourable and peaceful old age inspires. Honourwill perhaps affect to treat the most spiritual part of this ex-able in itself, and deriving a peculiar honour from a father so cellent work as the fruit of a mind unnecessarily burthened truly great and good! with a weight of extreme devotion; others, admitting in "I consider thee as one whom the course of nature is soon theory all due reverence to the christian religion, yet under to remove from among the living, and number with the genthe influence of prejudice in matters of mere opinion, may erations that are gone before. Such must be a time of great not receive the work with that willing mind which would seriousness; a time for that resignation, which I am perlead them to look into a book published by some favourite suaded thou feelest, to the Divine Disposer of all events. sectary, or some wild enthusiast. But as the memory of To be resigned in such a situation is the most happy of all the just is blessed, so are their works. And though there privileges; a last great instance of that goodness and mercy were among the Jews those who disregarded Moses and the which followed the royal psalmist all the days of his life, Prophets; and the present age aboundeth with those who and which we humbly trust had not forsaken good Hezekiah will neither hear them nor the Gospel of Him who is risen when he turned his face to the wall and wept! from the dead: yet shall the words of the wise remain, to "I have no pretensions to ceremonious addresses or conbe as goads and as nails fastened by the masters of assem-clusions, and they would ill become us both; but in the blies, which are given from one Shepherd. They are not fervent spirit of christian good-will, I wish thy every day of given forth in vain, for they are parts of that universal and declining from this world may produce new comfort from eternal Word of God, which shall accomplish the work another, and the better comforter. And that thy last day may whereunto he hath sent it. bring thee to a communion with thy father's spirit, made per "The Sermons, I think, are simple, clear, and interesting, fect for a glorious immortality. beyond any body of discourses which I have seen. The other parts are certainly not inferior in their kind. But what "Thy very sincerely affectionate friend, |