need not be added, that he strongly attached those who came within reach of his influence.

My father was now in the prime and vigour of life, bearing the burden and heat of the day; yet as though not unmindful of the coming shadows of evening, the night when no man can work; and well satisfied with the assurance that "there remaineth a rest," he was actively employed about his Master's work. In the school-room, in the garden, in the parlour, or in the study, where he was constantly subject to his children's intrusions-never unwelcome, however untimely—I see him still; by turns the diligent persevering tutor, the kind attentive husband, the fond indulgent father.

-Prompt at every call,

He watched and wept, he felt and prayed for all.

Towards the close of the year 1808, my father was instrumental in forming a society in Reading, for promoting the due observance of the Lord's day, and for the suppression of vice and immorality in other respects. On this occasion, he published two pamphlets; one of which contained an Abstract of the laws on these subjects, and the other some Considerations on the propriety of forming such a society. Without possessing the influence of a parochial clergyman, such was the estimation in which his character was held, that with the assistance of some friends, he succeeded in enforcing a much stricter observance of the sabbath, and in putting an entire stop to the driving of cattle through the streets of the town on that day; a violation of its sanctity which

had long remained unchecked. Several other important amendments were also carried into effect.

From his immediate neighbourhood, his charity diverged to the wider circle of his country. Patriotic on christian principles, its prosperity engaged his daily prayers; "Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces!" And with this devout wish was closely allied the warmest desires for the advancement of the church; "Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good." Attachment to the constitution, loyalty to the king, and deference to the laws, were principles deeply engraven on his mind; and they produced sincere endeavours, directed by intelligent zeal, to further the well being of all classes of the community. Cordially approving of their providential arrangement and mutual dependence, he recommended a cheerful obedience to all constituted authority, as agreeable to the dictates of reason, no less than the commands of scripture; enforcing submission as a religious duty, and a test of obedience to the King of kings.

On the 21st of October, 1809, my father preached a sermon at Nettlebed in celebration of the jubilee. This discourse was afterwards printed. 66 "Not," as

he himself states, "on account of the excellency of its composition, or the originality of its sentiments, nor merely to gratify his own loyalty; but that some among his hearers might by the blessing of God, be led to combine devotion with loyalty, and to comply with the exhortation of the apostle in the words he selected as a text, I exhort therefore that, first of all,

supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."" 1 Tim.

ii. 1,

2.

In the latter end of the year 1809, a person of deistical principles, resident in the town, published a pamphlet, under the title of "The Stranger in Reading;" which he made a vehicle for mis-stating facts, calumniating individuals, and ridiculing religion. This he styled a faithful picture of the town and its inhabitants; representing the latter as professors of a religion, which omitted to include morality in its system; and as destitute alike of honesty and common sense. Such a publication might be considered scarcely worthy of notice; but as it excited a lively interest in the neighbourhood, contained aspersions of the local, benevolent, and religious societies; and of the sentiments, modes of worship, and even moral conduct of many of the inhabitants, an answer was considered desirable, if not absolutely necessary. The task was undertaken by my father; and "Letters to the Stranger in Reading, by Detector," appeared in the ensuing year. The motives by which he was actuated, are thus explained in the advertisement.

"The writer had but little time to appropriate to this work till after the usual labours of the day were completed, when he was frequently very unfit to enter on a new employment; and he actually would have desisted from his intention, had he not considered himself under an obligation to proceed, in consequence of having declared in company, that the Stranger's Letters would be answered: which

declaration he always viewed as the means of preventing a reply from another hand, and as the occasion of an advertisement in the Reading Mercury, promising a series of letters to the 'Stranger,' by Detector. If it should be asked why any answer at all should be given to a work, which has excited so general a disapprobation as the Stranger's Letters? it is replied, that despicable as they are in some respects, they might have left an unfavourable impression on the minds of some persons respecting the character of the inhabitants of Reading in general, and that of the professors of religion in particular. author is likewise convinced, that in these letters to the Stranger, he has had an opportunity of discussing many interesting subjects, of which some may communicate important information to the majority of his readers, while others in the most eminent degree are connected with the welfare of them all."

The

A short extract from these "Letters" is subjoined, as characteristic of their general spirit and tendency. In answer to some of the Stranger's sarcastic observations relative to the study of the Scriptures, Detector writes

'The Bible, sir, is not only the most ancient, but infinitely the most excellent book that ever was penned-as much superior to every composition merely human, as the works of the Author of nature are to those of human art. The matter, the manner, the harmony, the effect of the Bible, unite in illustrating the important declaration— 'All scripture given by inspiration of God.' Infidels may reject the sacred writings, and strangers to their important and glorious contents, may speak evil of what they know not; but what other book can they mention, which will bear any comparison with this, whether we consider the infinite importance of its doctrines, the sublimity of its language, the excellence of its morality, or the character of its penmen? 'It is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. It is the sure word whereunto we do well to take heed, as unto a light shining in a dark place.' Has not the blessed founder of the Christian religion-the author of the hopes and consolations of his people-the great prophet

and teacher of the church-has not He given his followers a command
to read the Bible, and to read it with frequency and diligence? Search
the scriptures, is his precept:-
:-a precept which eminently deserves the
special regard of all who are called after his name. The term search
which our blessed Lord has here condescended to use, is strikingly
emphatic. According to some critics it signifies to trace by the foot,
as dogs trace their game; hence they render it by the Latin verbs
indago and investigo. According to this etymology, the disciples of
Christ are required to investigate the sacred truths of scripture, and
carefully to trace out their meaning. And will not this require
reading, nay, will it not require frequent reading? But other critics
(I hope, sir, you will bear with my observations on this occasion-
the subject is of the highest importance; every inhabitant as well as
every stranger in Reading is intimately concerned in it), I
say, other
critics consider the word as borrowed from the practice of miners,
and suppose that it implies to dig and examine. Miners, who search
for gold in the bowels of the earth, first pierce the ground to a great
depth, and when they have found a vein of ore, they break and
carefully sift the earth, that no part of the metal may escape. Indeed,
such is the trouble to procure this precious mineral, which so many
human beings worship, that it has been asserted that no possessor of
a gold mine ever grew rich. And what is its value to the poor slaves
who labour in it? Of all employments, theirs is one of the most
miserable. With immense toil they dig, search, sift, and examine-
but for what purpose? To obtain a wretched livelihood—a support
merely sufficient to preserve them from perishing by hunger! and
wherefore do the inhabitants of this town read the Bible so much?
Why, sir, some of them at least, search the scriptures because they
are a light unto their feet, and a lamp unto their paths,' because they
testify of that Redeemer on whom their hopes of salvation depend,
and whom, not having seen, they love-because, under the gracious
influences of that Holy Spirit, by whom they were indited, they con-
fer on them riches infinitely superior to those which are procured from
a mine of gold, or of the most precious stones-they make them rich
in faith, and heirs of that kingdom which the blessed God has pro-
mised to them that love him,"

班