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OF THE

LIFE AND LABOURS

OF THE LATE

SEPTIMUS SEARS;

WHO WAS FOR THIRTY-FIVE YEARS

Minister of the Gospel of Christ, at Clifton, Bedfordshire,

AND ALSO THE ORIGINATOR, AND, UNTIL THE TIME OF

HIS DEATH, EDITOR OF THE MONTHLY MAGAZINES

""
KNOWN AS The Little GLEANER,"

66
AND THE SOWER."

"To whom coming, as unto a living stone."-

'—I PETER iii. 4.

"Him that cometh to ME I will in nowise cast out."-JOHN vi. 37.

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LONDON:

PRINTED BY W. H. AND L. COLLINGRIDGE,

128 AND 129, ALDERSGATE STREET.

PREFACE.

IN sending forth the Memoir of the greatly beloved and lamented SEPTIMUS SEARS, we feel that a few words in reference to two or three matters connected therewith may not be out of place. Not that any apology is needed for the production of the book, since we feel sure it will be accorded a hearty reception by a wide circle of friends to whom Mr. Sears was well known as a preacher and writer, and by many who highly esteemed him on account of the spiritual profit they received through him as a labourer in the Lord's vineyard. And to these, perhaps, the first word of explanation may suitably be given in answer to the question, How is it that the Memoir did not appear some twelve, or more, months ago? Our reply then is, it was at first

expected that matter for it would be readily found so as to get it completed within a year of Mr. Sears' death. But as he had not left any manuscript in the shape of an autobiography or diary except a few notes made public directly after he died, and as Mrs. Sears was so completely prostrated by the shock she had experienced as not to be able to take any active part in the compilation of the work, it was at one time almost decided to abandon it. The thought however occurred that we might perhaps glean from various sources some few things which could be put together so as to form a small memento of our departed friend. With this view some of his early writings were obtained, and although we knew that in his latter years he much regretted the style in which they were written, yet since they contain a faithful and clear account of his conversion and early experience, we concluded to gather from them such facts as would help to form the Memoir, without re-printing what we are sure Mr. Sears would have objected to had he been consulted on that point. Therefore, in omitting much which they contain in a way of comment on different parts of scripture and experience, and in altering some of his youthful and unduly animated expressions, we have not

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