the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the men that sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof. The general scope and style of this sermon may be ascertained by the following extract from the communication of his friend :

"A minister said to me, 'I don't know how a good fast sermon can be preached, without touching up, on politicks.”—‹ If you will hear Spencer to-morrow, I think you will find that it can be done.' When we met again, he told me that he had heard an excellent fast sermon, without a word upon politicks. I remember, that in that sermon he said, when your ear is pained with oaths and imprecations as you pass the street, remember that that swearer is your fellow countryman, calling for vengeance upon your country, and do you, by ejaculatory prayer,

strive to avert it.'

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To enter into a minute detail of the places at which Mr. Spencer preached between this period and the ensuing vacation, would be useless. Suffice it to say, that his labours were unremitting-that he visited several congregations in the country-particularly those at Hertford, Reading, Henley, and Brighton.

He was appointed one of the three students who should deliver the public orations at the coming anniversary-held at midsummer. This preyed with considerable anxiety upon his mind, and although one should have imagined that by this time he had become familiar with large auditories and critical hearers yet we find him shrinking from the task, and expressing many fears respecting it. The sub

ject allotted to him was, "THE INFLUENCE OF THE GOSPEL ON THE SPIRIT AND TEMPER. His col

leagues in that trying service was, Messrs. John Burder and Stenner; and to these gentlemen were given as topics of discussion, "THE DOCTRINE OF THE ATONEMENT," and "THE INFLUENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT." The day before that on which the discourses were to be delivered, he expressed his feelings thus:

No. 26.

TO MR. JOHN HADDON.

Hoxton, June 19, 1810.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

"Consonant with your request, I here transmit to you the notes of the sermon on Eutychus: if you can, let me have them again before I go into Lancashire. You mention to-morrow, and oh! what anxiety do I feel in the prospect of it; already it has cost me some tears, it may cost me many more. Would to God that I may experience the assisting grace of Him who has before proved himself able to do for me exceeding abundantly above all that I could ask or think. "If the light of his countenance shine upon me, then I shall shine in the sight of heaven, and in the eyes of his saints, who know and can recognise the reflections of the Saviour's glory. From what I can anticipate of the congregation, it will be terrific; but does not the promise, I am with you always,' extend to particular occasions? Most certainly it does; then it takes in this

trying service. May I have faith and trust in it, and be favoured with an experimental confirmation of its truth. Believing that you do sincerely and constantly commend me to the kind care of your Father and my Father, of your God and my God, I remain

"Affectionately your's,

"THOMAS SPENCER."

ļ We now arrive at the period of Mr. Spencer's first visit to Liverpool. Before we pass on with him to that new and interesting scene, it may be well to pause, and take such a general view of his mode of thinking and acting, while a student, as the following characteristic sketches from the hand of his most intimate friend, will furnish. I shall present them in a miscellaneous way just as they occur. Thus the reader will converse with him,-hear his own sentiments, expressed in his own language, and imperceptibly become familiar with the man.

"That passage,' said he, "is much upon my mind Let no man despise thy youth.' I understand the apostle thus :-Let your walk and conduct be such, that no man can despise thy youth. And such shall be my own."

He was favoured with peculiar facility in composition. Many a sermon,' said he, have I composed between Hoxton and your house.' His ideas flowed faster than he could write them, and when alone our conversation has met with frequent interruption from his stopping to commit to paper, before

6

they escaped him, the ideas crossing his mind. Turning to me privately, as I sat by his side one evening at the tea-table of a friend, Look at that, said he, will it do ?' It was the sketch of a sermon, which he had composed during the conversation. I don't know,' said he, (and those who suppose my friend was boasting, did not know him) 'I don't know,' said he, that for a long time I have had time enough for any one sermon; I was crampt in every head for want of time.' His sermons at that time were 65 minutes to 75 in preaching; though his hearers were not aware of it."

"In composing, he used to fold a sheet of foolscap paper in eight leaves, leaving the last side for the heads of application. However long the sermon might be, he never wrote more of it; and in preaching, varied the sermon every time he preached it. How do you obtain your texts ? I keep a little book in which I enter every text of scripture which comes into my mind with power and sweetness. Were I to dream of a passage of scripture, I should enter it; and when I sit down to compose, I look over the book, and have never found myself at a loss for a subject."

"His memory was remarkably tenacious; he could regularly repeat every service in which he had ever engaged, with the chapter which he had read, and those of his acquaintance who were presReturning from Holloway, after preaching, said he, 'Did you perceive any thing particular in me this morning?' 'No.' I was very ill in the

ent.

pulpit; my memory totally forsook me; I could not recollect my subject, but having my notes in my pocket, I took them out and read them.' 'I am glad of it; I give you joy; you can no longer condemn assistance to an imperfect memory.' O no, I boast no more; from henceforth, I am silent upon that subject."

"The young man that has just passed my study door,' said he, is fearful that he shall not keep up variety in his sermons. The best way that I find to attain variety is continually to ask myself What is there in the circumstances before me, that will benefit my sermon on Sabbath morning?' for a minister should turn every thing into gold. And by keeping my eye continually upon that point, I am seldom at a loss for variety."

Few persons have held pulpit eloquence in higher estimation than Spencer did, or in more contempt when it stood in competition with the interest of souls. I remember asking his opinion of an eloquent sermon which he had been hearing-Why," said he, I could have wept over it-I could have wept to hear immortals so treated."

"Your morning sermon yesterday was approved, but not that in the afternoon.' No, I suppose not, and I will give you the reason. In the morning, when I preached on privileges, they were pleased; but when, in the afternoon, I came to duties, they remembered their treatment of their late venerable pastor. I particularly respect aged ministers, and