holy name, by a consistent walk and conversation. Then shall we meet to part no more, and dwell forever with our Jesus, in upper, better, brighter worlds.

"The soul that on Jesus has lean'd for repose,

He will not, he cannot, desert to his foes:

That soul tho' all hell should endeavour to shake,
He'll never, no never, no never forsake."

Soon after it was determined that he should go to Harwich for a twelvemonth, he wrote again to his friend Mr. Heward, and the following extract from his letter, shows the humble, grateful, and devotional habit of his mind :

66

No. 2.

Hertford, Nov. 12, 1805.

6

I join with you in saying, how wonderful are God's ways.' We indeed little thought that Mr. H. was the person under whom I should be instructed, when we were at Hoxton, hearing him preach, or I, when I breakfasted with him at the same time, I cannot forbear adoring that favour which is shown to me from God: ME who am utterly unworthy of the least of all God's mercies. Goodness and mercy have hitherto followed me, and, I doubt not, will through life. May that goodness which was so gloriously displayed in the salvation of sinners, and that mercy which has snatched so many brands from the burning, be our conso

lation all through life-our joy in death-and the burden of our song to all eternity."

The following observations are worthy of a much older pen, and display and display a judgment and discretion, rather unusual in a lad, not yet fifteen years of age.

No. 3.

November 13.

"You informed me in your last, that your desires for the work of the ministry had not at all abated. I sincerely wish that they may be fulfilled, and that you and I may be fellow labourers in the Lord's vineyard. God certainly can do this for us; let us pray that he may. You still appear dubious of your own ability for that important work. I would have you consider, that God works by whom he will work. He has many ministers in his church, real sent ministers, who have not those great gifts that distinguish many of his servants; and not only so, but these men have often been the means of doing more good than those of great talents-and what is the reason of this? Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight, is all that we must say. And you, my worthy friend, should also remember, that as yet, you cannot form any idea of your own abilities. As I have often told you, when I lived with you, I doubt not your abilities, when improv.

ed by application to study, &c. will be as fit for
that employ, (if the will of God) as any other.
God, you know, in every thing acts as a sove-
reign: I will work, and who shall let it,' is his
language-will work by the feeblest means, and
the weakest instruments. I hope you will still
be kept low in your own eyes, for that, I am sure,
is one quality, or rather property, of a gospel
minister. At our best estate we are altogether
vanity, and less than nothing. May the Lord
keep us all truly humble. Luther used to say,
there were three things made a minister-afflic-
tion, meditation, and prayer: that is, sanctified afflic-
tion, scriptural meditation, and earnest prayer; in
which last particular I hope you are perpetually
engaged. Pray, my dear friend, for direction of
God--pray for grace, which is of more value, by
far, than great gifts, and say in the language of
resignation, hope, and faith- Here am I, Lord,
send me to labour in thy vineyard.' You have ap-
pealed to me in saying, 'You well know, I shall
never rely on my own strength for success and
usefulness. I know you will not, (at least whilst
in your present mind) and I pray that God would
keep you still so determined.
Let us then pray,
made able, useful,

that we may both of us be
and humble ministers of the New Testament.

erally hear three times a day.

find, that you gen

Young men, who

wish to be ministers, cannot hear too much of the gospel, provided they are anxious to improve on what they do hear."

I shall present the reader with nearly the whole of the following letter; and I think, that few will be found, on the perusal, who deem it unworthy of preservation. It contains a pleasing grateful (and the more pleasing as it is entirely uninfluenced) tribute to the memory of departed worth-discloses the deep attention and care with which its writer was, at that early age, accustomed to hear and reflect upon sermons, and shews how incessant and uniform was the panting of his heart for the Christian ministry.

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

No. 4.

Hertford, Nov. 18, 1805.

"I expected to have heard from you before now, but as I have not, it becomes me to bear the disappointment with fortitude and resolution, hoping that it will not be long before I have a few lines from you. On Saturday last, I heard that, that good and worthy man Mr. Winwood was dead. It will, I doubt not, be a great stroke to the family; but I am well assured, that to him death was eternal gain. Truly, the righteous hath hope in his death. May you and I both be found at the last day on the right hand of the Judge with our respected master! While he is tuning his harp to the praises of a precious Jesus, we have to combat with many enemies ; we have many trials to pass under

Before we reach the heavenly fields,

Or walk the golden streets !*

* Alas! lamented youth! little did he, or the friend to whom he wrote, imagine how few his trials-how short

We shall, I am persuaded, feel our own depravity in many instances here below, ere we join with him in everlasting songs above; but if we are enlisted under the banners the blood-stained banners of the cross, we shall certainly arrive there. Let us then seek, earnestly seek, after the one thing needful; and whilst earthly objects vanish and decay in our estimation; nay, whilst the world dies daily in our view, and its perishing things appear in their proper light-may we feel our hearts panting after the wells of salvation-our souls, with all their faculties, engaged in the noblest of all undertakings-our feet running in the good ways of God-our tongues making mention of his righteousness, and of his only-in short, may we be crucified to the worldrisen with Christ-and transformed into his divine image and likeness. This, I trust, I can say is my desire, and I know it is the earnest wish of my dear friend.

"Sabbath-day, Nov. 15th, I heard Mr. M

at Cowbridge, in the morning, from 1 Thes. v. s. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breast-plate of faith and love, and for an helmet the hope of salvation.' He first shewed what was implied in Christians being of the day; secondly, enforced the exhortation of the text.

his warfare should prove-and how soon the pious desire of his heart should be, as it respected himself, fulfilled: such and so mysterious are the ways of God-Spencer is early summoned to his rest, but his companion is left, still to maintain the conflict, whilst he mourns his loss'two men shall be in the field, the one shall be taken and the other left."-Matthew xxiv. 40.