versed freely upon the subjects relating to their spiritual interest He told them plainly whatever was blameable in their conduct, and animated them by every powerful argument, to walk worthy of their Christian profession. It was a most pleasing sight to see the little children flock to him with such joy, as children feel on meeting their beloved parent after some absence, and to observe his engaging and delightful method to lead them to the knowledge of God, and of their duty.

He heard almost every day the accounts delivered by the cate chists, of their conversation with Christians, Papists, and heathen, and the effects produced by it, and embraced every opportunity of giving them directions for a wise and faithful discharge of their office.

His strength was visibly on the decline during the last year of his life, and he frequently spoke of his departure, to which he looked forward with joy and delight. The commencement of his illness, which happened on the 7th of October, 1797, consisted only of a cold and hoarsenesss occasioned by a check of perspiration. Dr. Kennedy, who was a particular friend of the Rev. Mr. Schwartz, gave him an emetic to remove the phlegm which was collected in his chest; but he received no benefit from it, for after taking the emetic, he was afflicted with vomiting four or five times every day, so as to be almost suffocated by it, and which lasted till the 27th of November following. It was very afflicting to see the sufferings of our venerable father, and every remedy rendered fruitless which was tried by that humane and excellent man the late Dr. Stuart, who acted for Dr. Kennedy during his absence, and who was very attentive to Mr. Schwartz during his illness. My affliction would have proved insupportable, if a merciful God had not strengthened and comforted me through the unexpected arrival of the Rev. Mr. Janicke, on the 4th of November.

Under all his severe sufferings, he never uttered a single expression of impatience; his mind was always calm and serene. Ónce, when he suffered very severely, he said, "If it be the will of the Lord to take me to himself, his will be done. May his name be praised!"

Although his strength was quite exhausted, and his body extremely emaciated, through the frequent vomitings, yet, under all his calamity, he desired that the school children, and others who usually attended the evening prayers, should assemble in his parlor, where, after singing, he expounded a portion of the Holy Scriptures, in a very affecting manner, and concluded it with his fervent and importunate prayers. It was always his custom to hear the English school children read to him a few chapters out of the Bible after evening prayer, and to hear them sing some of Dr. Watts's hymns. During his illness, he seemed particularly pleased with that excellent hymn, which begins with the following words:

"Far from my thoughts vain world begone,

Let my religious hours alone;
Fain would mine eyes my Savior see;

I wait a visit, Lord, from thee!"

He called it his beloved song, and desired the children to sing it frequently to him.

He earnestly exhorted and entreated the heathen, who visited him in his illness, to forsake their idolatry, and to consider betimes the things which belonged to their peace. When one of them began relating that wonderful things occurred in the town, our venerable father answered, "The most wonderful thing is, that after hearing so often the doctrines of Christianity, and being convinced of the truth of it, you are notwithstanding backward to embrace and obey it." In conversing with another heathen of consequence, he expressed his great regret at leaving him in his idolatry, when he was entering into eternity; and added the following words: "I have often exhorted and warned you, but you have hitherto disregarded it: you esteemed and honored the creature more than the Creator."

On the 23d of November, he was visited by Serfogee, the present Rajah, then presumptive heir of the kingdom of Tanjore, and to whom the Rev. Mr. Schwartz was appointed guardian by the late Tulja Maha Rajah. On being informed that Serfogee Rajah wished to see him, he let him know that he should come immediately, as he doubted whether he should survive till the next day. On his arrival, he received him very affectionately, and then delivered to him his dying charge, by which, though pronounced in broken language the Rajah seemed to be deeply affected. The tenor of his speech was as follows:

"After God has called me hence, I request you will be careful not to indulge a fondness for pomp and grandeur. You are convinced that my endeavors to serve you have been disinterested; what I now request of you is, that you would be kind to the Christians. If they behave ill, let them be punished; but if they do well, shew yourself to them as their father and protector.

“As the due administration of justice is indispensably necessary for the prosperity and happiness of every state, I request you will establish regular courts, and be careful that impartial justice be administered. I heartily wish you would renounce your idolatry, and serve and honor the only true God. May he be merciful and enable you to do it."

Our venerable father then inquired whether he sometimes perused the Bible; and concluded with very affecting exhortations, to be mindful of the concerns of his immortal soul.

The resident, Mr. Macleod, who had been on a visit to Trichinapally for some weeks, hearing on his arrival the ill state of Mr. Schwartz's health, had the kindness to send for Dr. Street, from Trichinapally. The Doctor arrived here on the first of December, and after consulting with Dr. Stuart, he recommended the tincture of steel to be taken with an infusion of bark, which, by the blessing of God, put a stop to the vomiting, with which he had been afflicted since the seventeenth of October.

On the third of December, the first Sunday in Advent, very early in the morning, he sent for the Rev. Mr. Jænicke and myself, and

desired the Lord's Supper to be administered to him, which was ac cordingly done by the Rev. Mr. Janicke.

Before he received the Lord's Supper, he put up a long and affectionate prayer. To hear this eminent servant of Christ, who had faithfully served his Redeemer very near half a century, disclaiming all merit of his own, humbling himself before the footstool of the Divine Majesty as the chief of sinners, and grounding all his hopes of mercy and salvation on the unmerited grace of God, and the meritorious sacrifice of his beloved Saviour, was a great lesson of humility

to us.

Our joy was great on his recovery, but alas it was soon changed into sorrow, when we observed that the severe attacks of his illness had in a great degree affected the powers of his mind, and which he did not perfectly get the better of till his last illness, a few days before his departure out of life, notwithstanding all the remedies which were tried. It was however surprising to us, that though his thoughts seemed to be incoherent when he spoke of worldly subjects, yet they were quite connected when he prayed or discoursed about Divine things.

After his recovery, he frequently wished, according to his old custom, that the school children and Christians, should assemble in his parlor for evening prayer; with which we complied in order to please him, though we were concerned to observe that these exertions were too much for his feeble frame.

The happy talent which he possessed of making almost every conversation instructive and edifying, did not forsake him even under his weak and depressed state. One morning when his friend Dr. Kennedy visited him, (after his return,) the conversation turning upon Dr. Young's Night Thoughts, which was one of Mr. Schwartz's favorite books, he observed to the Doctor, that those weighty truths contained in it, were not intended that we should abandon society, renounce our business, and retire into a corner, but to convince us of the emptiness of the honors, the riches, and pleasures of this world, and to engage us to fix our hearts there where true treasures are to be found. He then spoke with peculiar warmth on the folly of minding the things of this world as our chief good, and the wisdom and happiness of thinking on our eternal concerns.

It was highly pleasing to hear the part which he took in his conversation with the Rev. Mr. Pohle, who visited him a little after his recovery, and which generally turned on the many benefits and consolations purchased to believers through Christ. He was transported with joy when he spoke on those subjects, and I hope I may with truth call it a foretaste of that joy which he is now experiencing in the presence of his Redeemer, and in the society of the blessed.

On the 2d of February, 1798, our venerable father had the satisfaction of seeing the Rev. Mr. Gericke, Mr. Holtzberg, and his family. Little did we think that the performance of the last offices for him would prove a part of the duty of our worthy senior, the Rev. Mr. Gericke; and I bless and praise God for leading his faithful servant to us, at that very time, when we were most in need of his as

sistance and comfort. On the second or third day after the Rev. Mr. Gericke's arrival, Mr. Schwartz complained of a little pain in his right foot, occasioned by an inflammation; to remove which repeated fomentations were applied; but a few days after we observed, to our inexpressible grief, the approach of a mortification. Dr. Kennedy tried every remedy to remove it, and would perhaps have effected the cure, if his frame had been able to support what he suffered. He was an example of patience under all these calamities. He did not speak, during the whole of his illness, one single word of impatience.

The last week of his life he was obliged to lie on his cot the greatest part of the day, and as he was of a robust constitution, it required great labor and exertion to remove him to a chair, when he would sit up. These exertions contributed to weaken him more and more.

During his last illness the Rev. Mr. Gericke visited him frequently, and spent much of his time with him in conversing on the precious promises of God through Christ, in singing awakening hymns, and in offering his fervent prayers to God to comfort and strengthen his aged servant under his severe sufferings; to continue and increase his. Divine blessing upon his labors for propagation of the Gospel; and to bless all the pious endeavors of the Society, and all those institutions established in this country for the enlargement of the kingdom of Christ.

He rehearsed with peculiar emphasis (whilst we were singing) particular parts of the hymns expressing the believer's assurance of faith, and of the great love of God in Christ. His fervor was visible to every one present, whilst Mr. Gericke was praying; and by his loud Amen he shewed his ardent desire for the accomplishment of our united petitions.

A few days before he entered into the joy of his Lord, the Rev. Mr. Gericke asked him whether he had any thing to say to the brethren. His answer was, "Tell them that it is my request, that they should make the faithful discharge of their office their chief care and concern."

can."

A day or two before his departure, when he was visited by the doctor, he said, "Doctor, in heaven there will be no pain:" "Very true," replied the doctor, "but we must keep you here as long as we He paused a few moments, and then addressed the doctor with these words, "O! dear doctor, let us take care that we may not be missing there." These words were delivered with such an affectionate tone of voice, that made a deep impression on the doctor, and on every one present.

On Wednesday, the 13th of February, 1798, which closed the melancholy scene, we observed with deep concern, the approach of his dissolution. The Rev. Messrs. Gericke, Jænicke, Holtzberg, and myself, were much with him in the morning; and in the afternoon we sung several excellent hymns, and offered up our prayers and praises to God, in which he joined us with fervor and delight. After we had retired he prayed silently, and at one time, he uttered the following words: “O Lord, hitherto thou hast preserved me; hith

erto thou hast brought me; and has bestowed innumerable benefits upon me. Do what is pleasing in thy sight. I deliver my spirit into thy hands; cleanse and adorn it with the righteousness of my Redeemer, and receive me into the arms of thy love and mercy." About two hours after we had retired, he sent for me, and looking upon me with a friendly countenance, he imparted his last paternal blessing in these precious words: "I wish you many comforts." On offering him some drink, he wished to be placed on a chair; but as soon as he was raised upon the cot, he bowed his head, and without a groan or struggle, he shut his eyes, and died between four and five in the afternoon, in the 72d of his age.

SKETCH FROM THE LIFE OF MR. JAMES MEIKLE.

He says, while at Leghorn, he had occasion to remark the interposition of Providence in a very singular manner in his behalf. Several of the gentlemen belonging to the ship had formed a party in order to visit the city of Pisa, which is not more than 12 miles distant, and entertain themselves with the sight of a famous hanging tower and the other curiosities of the place. Mr. Meikle, starting in the morning of the 12th of April, went on foot by himself, and enjoyed, he says, by the way, pleasant meditations on the love of Christ. The rest followed on horseback. The afternoon was far advanced before they had sufficiently gratified their curiosity. In the evening Mr. Meikle's companions returned, but he, being fatigued, and observing that the wind was foul, so that the fleet which the Portland was to convey, could not sail, ventured to remain in Pisa. Early next morning he set out for Leghorn; but the wind had changed during the night, and before he could reach the city, the fleet had weighed, and were already several leagues on their way.

By this occurrence he was thrown into inconceivable perplexity. In a strange place, ignorant of the language, with no clothes except what were on his body, with little money in his pocket, without one personal acquaintance, and even few Englishmen being left in the place to take interest in the distresses of their countrymen ;-afraid, besides, of the fate of his papers and other property on board, of the loss of what was due to him on the ship's books, and of being detained long before he could find an opportunity of getting homewhat was to be done? In his distress he applied to the English consul, but every expedient suggested by him and some others whom he consulted, misgave. After thus spending the remainder of Friday and the whole of Saturday in fruitless contrivances how to extricate himself from the embarrassments of his situation, the Sabbath came, on which he resolved, as much as possible, to bannish care and to commit himself to God. It was his custom when any enemy appeared, or when at any time he went ashore, to put his Bible in his pocket, that in any event he might not be deprived of the consolation which the perusal of it is calculated to afford; and on this occasion