by an Asthma and Dropsy. The Physician has little hope of his recovery, I believe I might say, none at all, only being a friend, he does not formally give him over by ceasing to visit him, lest it should sink his spirits. For my own part I have no expectation of his recovery, except by a signal interposition of Providence in answer to Prayer. His case is clearly out of the reach of Medicine; but I have seen many a sickness healed, where the danger has been equally threatening, by the only Physician of value. I doubt not he will have an interest in your prayers, as he has in the prayers of many. May the Lord incline his ear, and give an answer of peace.

-I know it is good to be afflicted. I trust that you have found it so, and that under the teaching of God's own Spirit we shall both be purified.- -It is the desire of my soul to seek a better country, where God shall wipe away all tears from the eyes of his people; and where looking back upon the ways by which he has led us, we shall be filled with everlasting wonder, love and praise.

I must add no more,

Yours ever,

W. COWPER.

The sickness and death of his learned, pious, and affectionate Brother, made a very strong impression on the tender heart and mind of Cowper-an impression so strong that it induced him to write a Narrative of the remarkable circumstances which occurred at the time. He sent a copy of this Narrative to Mr. Newton. The paper is curious in every point of view, and so likely to

awaken

awaken sentiments of piety in minds where it may be most desirable to have them awakened, that Mr. Newton has thought it his duty to print it.

Here it is incumbent on me to introduce a brief account of the interesting person, whom the Poet regarded so tenderly. John Cowper was born in 1737, being designed for the Church, he was privately educated by a Clergyman, and became eminent for the extent and variety of his erudition in the University of Cambridge. His conduct and sentiments as a Minister of the Gospel are copiously displayed by his Brother in recording the remarkable close of his life. Bennet College, of which he was a Fellow, was his usual residence, and it became the scene of his death on the 20th of March, 1770. Fraternal affection has executed a perfectly just and graceful description of his character, both in prose and verse. I transcribe both as highly honorable to these exemplary Brethren, who may indeed be said to have dwelt together in unity.

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"He was a Man (says the Poet in speaking of his deceased Brother) of a most candid and ingenuous spirit; his temper remarkably sweet, and in his behaviour to me he had always mani"fested an uncommon affection. His outward conduct so far as it "fell under my notice, or I could learn it by the report of others, "was perfectly decent and unblameable. There was nothing vici66 ous in any part of his practice, but being of a studious, thoughtful "turn, he placed his chief delight in the acquisition of learning,

" and

" and made such acquisitions in it, that he had but few rivals in that " of a classical kind. He was critically skilled in the Latin, Greek, "and Hebrew languages; was beginning to make himself master of "the Syriac, and perfectly understood the French and Italian, the " latter of which he could speak fluently. Learned however as he

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was, he was easy and chearful in his conversation, and entirely

“ free from the stiffness which is generally contracted by men de"voted to such pursuits."

I had a Brother once:

Peace to the memory of a Man of Worth!
A man of letters, and of manners too!
Of manners, sweet as virtue always wears,
When gay good humour dresses her in smiles!
He grac'd a College, in which order yet
Was sacred, and was honour'd, lov'd, and wept
By more than one, themselves conspicuous there.

Another interesting Tribute to his Memory will be found in the following Letter.

DEAR JOE,

LETTER XX.

To JOSEPH HILL, Esqr.

May 8, 1770.

Your Letter did not reach me till the

last post, when I had not time to answer it. I left Cambridge immediately after my Brother's death.

me

I am obliged to you for the particular account you have sent

He to whom I have surrendered myself, and all my concerns, has otherwise appointed, and let his will be done. He gives me much, which he witholds from others, and if he was pleased to withold all that makes an outward difference between me and the poor mendicant in the street, it would still become me to say, His Will be done.

It pleased God to cut short my Brother's connections and expectations here, yet not without giving him lively and glorious views of a better happiness than any he could propose to himself in such a world as this. Notwithstanding his great learning (for he was one of the chief men in the University in that respect) he was candid and sincere in his inquiries after truth. Tho' he could not come into my sentiments when I first acquainted him with them, nor in the many conversations which I afterward had with him upon the subject, could he be brought to acquiesce in them as scriptural and true, yet I had no sooner left St. Albans than he began to study with the deepest attention those points in which we differed, and to furnish himself with the best writers upon them. His mind was kept open to conviction for five years, during all which time he laboured in this pursuit with unwearied diligence, as leisure and opportunity were afforded. Amongst his dying words were these, Brother, I thought you wrong, yet wanted to believe as you did.

"I

"I found myself not able to believe, yet always thought I should one day be brought to do so." From the study of books, he was brought upon his death-bed, to the study of himself, and there learnt to renounce his righteousness, and his own most amiable character, and to submit himself to the righteousness which is of God by faith. With these views he was desirous of death. Satisfied of his interest in the blessing purchased by the blood of Christ, he prayed for death with earnestness, felt the approaches of it with joy, and died in peace.

Yours my dear Friend,

W: COWPER.

The exquisite sensibility of Cowper could not fail to suffer deeply on the loss of such a Brother; but it is the peculiar blessing of a religious turn of mind, that it serves as an antidote against the corrosive influence of sorrow. Devotion, if it had no other beneficial effect on the human character, would be still inestimable to man, as a medicine for the anguish he feels, in losing the objects of his affection. How far it proved so in the present case, the Reader will be enabled to judge by a Letter, in which Cowper describes his sensations on this aweful event to one of his favorite correspondents.

M

LETTER XXI.