ination, with a correct and discriminating judgment, with a temper uncommonly mild and gentle, with affections peculiarly benevolent and tender. Cultivated, enriched, and exalted as these natural endowments were by the stores of learning, observation, and science, and by 'the wisdom' and the grace which are 'from above,' they united in forming him to all that is most excellent and desirable in the Minister and the Man.

"As a Minister, need I in this place enumerate the principal qualities by which he was distinguished? If it be necessary to specify some of them, I would first mention that of which alone he would allow himself to be possessed; his fidelity in the interpretation and exposition of Scripture; his integrity in preaching that word of God which had been committed to his trust, that Gospel of Christ of which he was a minister. In the execution of this most important part of his ministerial duty he regarded no peculiar system, farther than as the great doctrines of Christianity are clearly and simply drawn from Scripture, and are embodied in the Articles and Liturgy of that Church to which he was so sincerely and zealously attached, and of which he was so distinguished an ornament. He was studious and careful, therefore, to set before you a complete and comprehensive view of the revealed will of God, giving a proportionate measure of attention to the truths and doctrines, the precepts and examples, the promises and threatenings of Scripture; being anxious that none of those committed to his

care should err from want of direction, should fail for want of encouragement, should slumber from the neglect of warning and exhortation, should ‘perish for lack of knowledge.' His doctrine distilled like the dew, and nourished and refreshed those on whom it descended. He fed his flock 'with knowledge and understanding,' and led them to the great and 'good Shepherd,' who laid down his life for the sheep, whom he uniformly represented as 'the way, the truth, and the life;' without whose atonement, righteousness, and intercession, we cannot be forgiven and accepted in the sight of God; without obedience to whose precepts as to the various duties which we owe both to God and man, the imbibing of whose spirit, the imitation of whose example, we cannot be his true disciples; without whose all-powerful grace we can become and can do nothing. In short, 'by manifestation of the truth he commended himself,' as a faithful minister of Christ, 'to every man's conscience in the sight of God; warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that he might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.'

"In the discharge of this part of his ministerial office, shall I speak of the remarkable originality of your departed pastor; of the rich and copious, and varied streams of piety, truth and eloquence, which flowed from his lips; of that noble and sublime train of thought, which frequently elevated his hearers above the business, the cares, and the pleasures of this lower world; of that spirituality and heavenlymindedness, which made him occasionally speak of

you

heaven almost as if he had been there, and raised for the moment, and I would hope with respect to many, more permanently, to that eminence on which he was habitually seated! In these, and in many other qualities, he will readily be admitted, by all who knew him, to have been unequalled and unrivalled.

"Nor were these his only, if they were even his chief, claims to your admiration and regard. The Lent Lectures, which during so many years were exclusively devoted to the moral and religious improvement of the younger part of his flock, and which have been so remarkably blessed to their spiritual benefit; the Society for improving the temporal condition of the Poor in this Parish, and for providing in some measure for his own unavoidable but lamented deficiency in personally administering to their spiritual wants; the enlargement of the Parochial school; the share which he took in the establishment of a local Bible Society; the plan for the better accommodation of the increasing population of the parish, as to the public worship of Almighty God;all proclaim his pastoral care and kindness, his practical wisdom, his unwearied and beneficial exertions for the temporal and eternal welfare of his flock.

"If from this brief and imperfect sketch of his ministerial character, we direct our attention to our departed friend, as a Man, we shall be equally struck with the extraordinary value of the blessing which we have recently lost.-Humility, profound and unvarying humility, the foundation of all that is great and excellent and amiable in man, was re

markably conspicuous in him whom we are lamenting. Not only was he humble as a sinner before God, ever acknowledging his own unworthiness, and accepting the 'faithful saying' of the Gospel, as the chief of sinners; but humble in his intercourse with men; and with those amongst whom it is most difficult both to be and to appear so, with his associates and equals; not affectedly, however, obtrusively, or painfully humble; but manifesting upon all occasions the most marked yet unostentatious apprehension of his own inferiority; eagerly and cordially allowing and assigning to others a large share of the merit, or the praise, which every one else perceived to be far more justly due to himself; frequently lamenting his imperfections and deficiencies in duty; thinking nothing of his eminent and various services; and willingly performing the least and lowest offices of kindness and love.

"Universal benevolence, and uncommon tenderness, were other striking features in the character we are considering. His love of man was indeed inferior only to his love of God. It was the element in which he moved in his intercourse with others; and the kindness which warmed his heart, beamed forth in his countenance, and was manifest in all his words and actions. This truly Christian temper was steady and invariable, and prompted him to a thousand nameless expressions of it, which diffused an air of peace and harmony, of benevolence and happiness over all around him.

"Disinterestedness, a greatness and magnanimity which overlooked all that was envious, little, or selfish, was another admirable quality which distinguished your late excellent Minister, and which could not escape the notice of the most superficial observer of his conduct.

"I might mention the remarkable soundness of his judgment, which rendered him so wise and able a counsellor; the singular sobriety of his views, possessed as he was of such genius and talent; and the equanimity and well-balanced proportion of his whole character. But enough has been already said, and much more will readily occur to those who have been so long and so intimately acquainted with his excellence, to prove the value of what was once enjoyed, and the greatness of our present loss.

"That such a minister and such a Man should have been thus removed in the midst of his years, and in the midst of his usefulness, is one of those mysteries in Providence, which we too often witness, but endeavour in vain fully to comprehend. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.' We may, indeed, consider, that your late Pastor had been long spared to you; that he had taught, and exemplified, and effected much for your benefit; and that he was peculiarly qualified to be an inhabitant of that higher world to which he had long aspired, and for the enjoyment of which he was anx