been so silent and insidious, that the day of his marriage had been fixed, and preparations made for its celebration, before the indications of actual danger were apparent to himself or others. The disease proceeded with unrelenting rapidity, and he fell a sacrifice to it, in the twenty-fifth year of his age. Miss Alice Hey, Mr. Hey's third daughter, was, within a few years after, attacked by a pulmonic complaint, which terminated fatally. About this time, his two sons, John and Robert, both intended for the church, were pursuing their studies at Cambridge. John took a seventh wrangler's degree, and was elected fellow and tutor of Magdalen College. But his ministerial duties, to which he devoted himself with unwearied diligence, proved too much for his strength; the insidious approaches of consumption undermined his health, and, just when he was about to be united to the object of his early affection, it was but too apparent that he also must soon be summoned to relinquish every earthly connexion. He perceived his danger, and, adopting the language of his Saviour as the expression of his heart, "The cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it?" he died, deeply lamented by all who knew him, January 14th, 1801, in the twenty-fourth year of his age. Robert Hey was an amiable young man, and endowed with no mean talents; but a long series of ill health interrupted his progress in learning. He was but just able to support his examination in the senate-house, when he was seized

with spitting of blood, which terminated in a consumption, on May 14th, 1802, when in the twenty-fourth year of his age. Mr. Hey experienced all that a parent could feel under these successive disappointments of his hopes and expectations; but he was at the same time cheered and refreshed by the persuasion that to his children might be applied those consoling words heard from heaven, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord;" and he was wont to say, that his ultimate end respecting them was answered, inasmuch as he had trained them up to become inhabitants of that kingdom into which, he trusted, they had been mercifully received. On the gravestone, of John he inserted these words, "O death, where is thy sting?" On that of Robert, "O grave, where is thy victory?" The following extracts from a memorial, composed on the morning of the day on which the remains of his son Robert Hey were committed to the tomb, present a striking and affecting view of the state of Mr. Hey's mind under that affliction:-"O most holy and glorious Lord God, who hast declared thyself gracious and merciful, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, permit thy guilty creature to approach thee through the mediation of thy Son Jesus Christ. When I consider myself, I can draw near unto thee with no other language than that of the publican, God be merciful to me a sinner,' and with no other plea, than that Jesus hath died for my sins, and is risen again for my justification."

"But

at this time I would offer my most hearty and solemn thanksgiving for the mercies shown to my dear children. Four of them thou wast pleased to call out of this dangerous and sinful world during the state of infancy, and I humbly hope thou didst receive them to glory. Concerning other four, whom thou hast called hence in adult age, thou hast graciously given me the most solid hopes. Though by nature children of wrath even as others, thou wast pleased to awaken them to a sense of the odious nature of sin, and to grant them true repentance. They were early taught by thy grace to flee for refuge to the Friend of sinners: and thou didst prolong their lives till they had given clear proofs of a sound conversion. Though prepared, as I hoped, to glorify thee on earth, thou didst dispense with their services, and didst remove them hence in the beginning of their usefulness. But thy grace was with them. In their sickness and at the approach of death, they were enabled to rejoice in thy salvation. The last of them I am about to commit this day to the silent grave, but in sure and certain hope of a joyful resurrection to eternal life. What shall I render to thee for all thy mercies? O that my future life might more abundantly show forth thy praise! I commit those of my children, who yet remain, to thy fatherly care. O Lord, watch over them, and preserve them from the evil that is in the world! Enable them to glorify thee in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. And whenever they

shall be called hence, may they join their deceased brothers and sisters in the world of holiness and bliss, there to magnify the wonders of redeeming love for ever!"

But Mr. Hey's cup of sorrow was not yet full. He was, not long after, deprived by death of his daughter-in-law, Mrs. William Hey, who left a young family to mourn their irreparable loss. And, to conclude the mournful detail, before many years more had passed, symptoms of consumption made their appearance in his daughter, Mrs. Jarratt, who was likewise removed from her afflicted husband and seven children, some of them very young. The following interesting and affecting letter, written to Mrs. Jarratt, very shortly before her death, forcibly depicts those sources of consolation which sustained his own mind as well as that of his beloved daughter:

"My dear Margaret,

"Let not your heart be troubled, neither be afraid; your Redeemer is gone to prepare a place for you: and he will shortly take you to himself, that where he is there you may be also. In his presence is the fulness of joy, and at his right hand are pleasures for evermore. Take up the words of the prophet, and say, 'I will trust and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.'-'The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.' You may, therefore, cheerfully join the psalmist in his song of praise: 'Though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.' The state into which it has pleased the all-wise Disposer of all events to bring you, calls for entire submission to his will, and a patient enduring of all that you may suffer. But the promise is faithful and sure, that all things shall work together for good to them that love God.' Whence comes the desire to please and the fear to offend him? Doubtless from love. Whence the desire to be assured of his favour? From love assuredly. We are careless about the favour of those for whom we have little regard, but dread the frown of a friend whom we most affectionately love. But let us remember, that often

'Behind a frowning providence,-He hides a smiling face.'

May the richest blessings of the Almighty be with you! May his everlasting arms surround and support you! Soon, I trust, it will be said of you, by the angelic host, She hath washed her robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb: therefore she is before the throne of God, and shall serve him day and night in his temple:-therefore shall she be led to living fountains of water; and God shall wipe away all tears from her eyes.' Your mother and sister join me in most affectionate regards; and assure yourself that you are daily remembered in our private addresses to the throne of grace. I remain your afflicted, but affectionate father, "WILLIAM HEY." It should here be added, that no parents