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an honourable, and good man; and no doubt has entered into the joy of his Lord."

Sabbath, and could walk four or five miles without being conscious of fatigue. A few weeks before he attained his 78th year, the Rev. Dr. Stedman, who had paid him a visit, remarks in writing to one of his sons, "On the 19th of October being Lord's day, I preached in the afternoon and evening, for the Sunday School, in your Father's place of worship. I had not seen him for some time; but was pleased to find the good old man look so well, and to be in a very desirable state of mind, evidently ripen-morning the 8th inst. I am ining for glory. He is much respected, and his ministry is well at

tended."

In 1821 this aged disciple of Christ was released from the labours and sorrows of this mortal state. He had fought the good fight, and finished the course, and kept the faith. And having nothing more to do, he was called to take possession of the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give unto all them that love his appearing. In the month of April he had a slight attack of the apoplexy. This was followed by a disease of the nervous system, which occasioned uncommon depression of spirits. In a letter of sympathy addressed by the Rev. J. Mann, to the writer of this memoir, he says, "When I heard that your late venerable parent was very ill, I went over to see him, before he died. His mind was depressed, chiefly owing to the nervous disorder with which he was afflicted. After I had prayed with him, he frequently repeated the 7th verse of the 107th Hymn, 2d book, of Dr. Watts.

Oh! tell me that my worthless name
Is graven on thy hands;

Shew me some promise, in thy book,
Where my salvation stands.

The Rev. Dr. Stedman, who communicated the intelligence of his death, remarks in his letter dated September 17, 1821. "But my chief object in writing, is to acquaint you, with what will perhaps not excite much surprise, though it will doubtless awaken many painful and tender feelingsthe death of your aged Fatherwhich took place on Saturday

clined to think he had a slight apoplectick stroke. It had a powerful effect on his spirits, and considerably weakened his faculties. But before his decease his mind was calm. He expressed his joyful hopes respecting a future world, and said, that in his greatest distress, during his illness, he had felt no doubts as to the safety of his state.

"His remains were laid in the grave on the Monday evening after his decease. I attended his funeral, and preached on the occasion from John xi. 11. "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth." Mr. Trickett of Bramley, delivered an address at the grave; and Mr. Laird of Pudsey, Independent Minister, concluded in prayer. The congregation was large and solemn, and appeared much affected.

"Your Father was much respected and beloved; his ministry" was well attended; and was I be lieve useful, although of late years few have been added to the church. I regret that I had not an opportunity of seeing him in his illness. But absence from home and incessant engagements prevented. I had a great affection for him. And although he was twenty years older than I am, yet his death ope

It was said "God who has pro-rates as an admonition to be also mised is faithful." "I know it," ready." he replied, and will trust him though he slay me." His mind seemed more composed. He was

Thus lived and died this servant of Jesus Christ. It is true indeed, that in his last sickness, from phy

sical causes, he suffered much
gloom. But at evening time it was
light with him. Lest any who saw
him at this time should call in
question the truth and excellence
of the gospel, even his nervous af-
fections were not permitted at the
last to maintain an ascendency
over him.

His God sustains him in his final hour!
His final hour brings glory to his God!

We might here close, but perhaps some more particular delineation of his character will be expected.

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Mr. Sharp did not possess popular talents as a preacher. He was not distinguished for the elegance of his language, nor the graces of elocution. But it is not too much to say of him, that he was good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine, whereunto he had attained." He had not enjoyed the advantages of a liberal education. But he had a vigorous and

His natural disposition was truly amiable. The law of kindness was in his heart. He never seemed more happy than when he had an opportunity of serving his neigh-active mind, which he improved by bour. It was his aim to do good to all men, especially to the household of faith. He was peculiarly careful not to injure the reputation or the feelings of others. It is be

reading, reflection, and intercourse with others. He was conversant with some of the best theological works in the English language, and was also a diligent student of the Scriptures. Few men, perhaps, have spent more time in

lieved that he seldom, if ever, allowed himself to speak to the disadvantage of an absent person."comparing spiritual things with There was nothing which he dreaded in the church, so much, as the appearance of a spirit of envy, jealousy and detraction. He was a peace maker. His conduct was so guileless and inoffensive, that it is doubtful whether he had an enemy during the whole course of his earthly pilgrimage, unless it was indeed on account of his religious principles.

He was a man of habitual piety. The writer of this knows, that he was in the daily practice of withdrawing from the concerns of the world for the of devotion. purposes In his family he erected an altar for God. On Sabbath evenings, he was peculiarly solemn and interesting. When not called away by public duties, he collected his chil. dren around him, read with them the sacred Scriptures; interrogated them concerning the discourses they had heard through the day, and after a few appropriate re

spiritual;" "the word of Christ dwelt in him richly in all wisdom." No one could hear him preach without, being convinced that he had attentively read his Bible. Although he never adorned his discourses with the embellishments of learning, and seldom awakened any thrilling sensations in his audience by bursts of impassioned earnestness in his preaching, which eloquence-yet there was a serious commanded the attention of his hearers. He was,

simple, grave, sincere; In doctrine uncorrupt; in language plain, And plain in manner; decent, solemn,

chaste,

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per, it would not be difficult to state the facts on which this conviction is founded. But although we may take the most sober and encouraging view of this subject, it must be acknowledged that the sin of drunkenness prevails to an alarming and humiliating degree. And it behoves member of society, as much as possible, to arrest its progress.

every

virtuous

ALLOW me to call the attention of your readers to an evil, concerning which our Saviour cautioned his disciples, when he said, "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness." In my remarks on this subject, I shall endeavour to avoid all exag- Drunkenness is a vice, from gerated statements. I shall not which, when it becomes habitual, think it necessary to give force to few are reclaimed. It will theremy arguments by saying that we fore be my object in this communiare a nation of drunkards. Nor cation, not so much to expostulate shall I make any calculation how with those who are under its domany of this unhappy class there minion, as to warn those who are will be within a limited number of now temperate; and to offer a few years; because, it is one of those directions, which if observed, may events depending on so many other preserve many from this degrading contingent causes, that no correct practice. In relation to this sin, calculation can be made. State- the great object of the Philanthroments that are overcharged, either pist, the Patriot, and the Christian, in religion or morals, always do must be its prevention. He who more hurt than good. In the minds in any way contributes to this, not of reflecting men they excite dis-only serves his country, but the gust; and even cause the truth not interests of humanity and religion.

to be credited.

If it be asked what are among I have indeed the gratifying con- the most effectual means of preventviction, arising from an attentive ing drunkenness? I would say to observation of the habits of the parents; Give your children as people, that in the part of the good an education as your condicountry in which I live, the evil of tion in life will justify. In doing Intemperance has diminished, and this, you will not only be qualifying is still diminishing. Were it pro-them for a station best suited to

their faculties, but also giving that || graded habits, which will make him direction to them which will be fa- indifferent to whatever is either vourable to temperate habits. amiable, or dignified in human so

means of intoxication can be proIn a country like ours, where the cured with so much facility, it may be expected, that in the absence of religious principle and of mental enjoyments, men will seek excitement in the intoxicating draught. From this view of the subject, I trust it will appear, that education is an important means of preventing intemperance. We shall be

All human beings are engaged in|ciety. the pursuit of happiness. And we must be aware, that notwithstanding the diversity of their enjoyments, they may all be resolved into two kinds the pleasures of the soul, and the pleasures of sense. The character therefore, which is given to a man's pursuits and enjoyments will be more or less affected by the culture or the neglect of his mind. If a person attains to years of maturity without educa-confirmed in this opinion, if we contion; if those pure springs of plea-sider the happy influence which edsure which have their seat in the ucation has already exerted on the intellect and the heart, be kept frost general character of our citizens bound by ignorance, then he will for sobriety. We have, alas! too resort to other and more grovelling much of drunkenness. But it ought sources of enjoyment. to be stated that the greatest proportion of drunkards amongst us, either came here after their habits were formed, or they are among the number, whose education has been criminally neglected. No intelligent traveller can pass through our country and visit the towns and villages, in those states where there is little or no legislative provision made for schools, and look into their taverns without having the sorrowful conviction forced upon him, that ignorance and drunkenness are concomitant evils.

Let us imagine to ourselves, the case of a young man who cannot read. He knows nothing of those aspirations of mind which poetry produces; he feels no laudable ambition from a contemplation of departed worth; he derives no entertainment from the details of public history or private biography; and receives no serious impressions from a perusal of religious truths; and for this lamentable reason, that all these writings are to him as a sealed book. What shall such an one do when his daily task is over? He And here I should do injustice has no inducement to repair to his to my own feelings, were I not to chamber, and take up some inter- express my firm persuasion that esting work-for he cannot read. Sabbath Schools are among the most He cannot retire within himself for efficient means of saving the coming he has no resources. He has no generation from the sin of drunkenrecollections of memory, nor de- ness. Where much labour is beductions of reason, nor pleasures of stowed on the moral and religious imagination to beguile his leisure instruction of youth, we may confihours. He cannot mingle in the dently hope to see the fruits in their society of those whose minds are temperate conduct. The veneracultivated by education, and by sub- tion in which the children are taught sequent reading and reflection. to remember the Sabbath, their habThere are no common feelings, or its of attendance on religious wormental habits to bring such persons ship, and the moral restraints to together. He will, therefore, as-which they are subjected, encourage sociate with those who are like him- us to hope that many of the Sabself. And in a group of such igno-bath School children will be saved rant and unfortunate beings, he will from becoming drunkards.

be confirmed in those low and de

JUNE, 1826.

23

and gentle influence, in the family
But alas! there are too
circle.
many instances in which it is oth-
erwise. Strange as it may seem,
there are some persons who save all
their smiles, and reserve all their
kind expressions, for strangers and
occasional visitors. Abroad they
are all calmness and sunshine; at
home, they are all clouds and thun-
der storms.

Let those then who have children, see to it, that according to their ability, they open the avenues to the soul; so that there shall be such a free ingress and egress of the streams of mental pleasure, that they shall not have to depend for happiness in slaking their thirst with the poisonous and burning stream of ardent spirits. If they have a thirst for knowledge, satisfy it. If they have a taste for profit- Many a man who could have no able reading, let it be encouraged. peace in his own habitation, has Direct them in the choice of books, sought it first among his neighbours, and ascertain what new ideas they and then at a tavern. He had no have acquired from what they have idea of becoming a drunkard; but read. From a mistaken parsimony, as he could not sit in such a house some parents may perhaps hesitate without some apparent object, he to do this. But they may have to has called for the inebriating cupsupport them when they are sots.and at last, has drenched his sorAnd yet by a little expense in the improvement of their minds, this calamity might have been prevented.

Full employment in early life is of great importance,if parents would prevent their children from being intemperate.

rows in liquor. There is reason to fear that many a wife, by the indulgence of anger, peevishness, jealousy, and unreasonable complaints, has converted the most temperate of husbands into the worst of sots. Did I think it necessary on a subject like this to address the It is a truth which ought never married females who read your Magto be forgotten, that when a person azine, I would say, if you wish to has nothing to do, he will do some- prevent your husbands from being thing worse than nothing. And drunkards, always meet them when this remark is peculiarly applica- they return from their avocations in ble to the period of youth. When the spirit of kindness. Anticipate the feelings are ardent, and the their wishes. Shew that you cherspirits gay, and the passions in ish for them the sincerest respect. their new-born strength, and every Make them feel that they have at thing appears bright and fair-ruin least one friend in whom they can is almost sure to follow the steps of always confide, and in whose sym him who has nothing to do. When pathies whether of sorrow or joy your children have obtained a suit- they will always share. And make able education, let it be your con-them always feel that their own firecern to provide for them employ-sides are the dearest places on earth. ment. If instead of this they pass away their time in idleness, the probability is, that they will become drunkards and profligates, and then be candidates for a prison.

Perhaps I may be permitted to suggest that another means of preventing drunkenness is to make home a happy place.

If any where, surely love and harmony, meekness and forbearance, ought to diffuse all their mild

The same remarks are equally applicable to children. When they are governed with prudence and kindness; when a proper authority is tempered by love; when restraints and indulgences are guided by Christian wisdom; and when that kind of family intercourse is maintained, which makes home interesting; there will be few temptations to induce a young man to spend his evenings abroad. But

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