trines of Christianity, which were the life of his own soul-exhorting, comforting, warning, directing his flock-fervent and humble in his supplications to the throne of grace-administering the ordinances with striking solemnity-expounding the word of God in a pleasing and familiar manner, in the private meetings of the church-and maintaining order and unanimity in all their assemblies for deliberation. Upon all occasions when his advice or assistance was sought, he was frank, open, and accessible. He sought to restore the backslider, establish the unsettled, and reclaim the wandering of his flock. He kept back nothing from them in the way of doctrine, that was profitable: but shewed them, and taught them, publicly and from house to house, testifying repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the early part of his ministry, he was the means of introducing into public life some eminent individuals whom he educated in his own house; and whose talents and learning redounded greatly to his credit, and that of the cause they espoused. The diversity of his other engagements, subsequently prevented him from continuing this occupation. He never ceased, however, to take the most lively-concern in the interests of the Baptist denomination to which he belonged, and which can boast few brighter ornaments. His brethren regarded him as a person every way well qualified to heal any difference that might unhappily arise amongst them; for, to an amiable disposition, he united a sound understanding, remarkable for its correctness of judgment. It was his study and delight to promote peace and brotherly

love in the churches, and God made him eminently instrumental, in many instances, in bringing about so desirable an end. If the churches were at rest, and edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit, were multiplied, no man felt greater pleasure than he did, or manifested more heartfelt sorrow at the contrary appearances.

BUT our author did not confine his good offices and exertions solely to benefit the particular denomination to which he belonged. On the contrary, he laboured assiduously to promote the interests of dissenters of all classes, and availed himself of the advantages he enjoyed through an intercourse with the higher circles of life, to obtain objects of considerable importance towards the extension of religious liberty. He wisely concluded, that whilst oppressive statutes were suffered to remain as part of the law of the land, there could be no security against their proving at some future time a handle for persecution. The Doctor's judicious publications upon these subjects, cannot fail to keep alive a grateful recollection of his talents, and to endear his name to posterity.

In his private life, Dr. Stennett was a lively instance of the amiable and blessed fruits of genuine and experimental religion. He set the Lord always before him-had habitual recourse to prayer-and walked with God-was ever ready to forgive injuries, and disposed to put the best construction upon the actions of other people. He had an utter dislike to hear any one evil spoken of, and upon such occasions occurring, he would remark, "See, now, if you cannot tell something good of that person."

As a husband, a father, and the master of a fa mily, his deportment was alike upright and exem plary. It was his felicity to be united in early life to an excellent woman, with whom he lived in close and uninterrupted affection. Mrs. Stennett was a lady of unaffected piety and good nature, and they walked together as heirs of the grace of life for upwards of forty years. The acknowledgment of God in their family, met with an ample reward. That tender love, and Christian solicitude, which they uniformly displayed for their children, of whom they had two, a son and daughter, were requited with reciprocal affection; and they had the happiness of seeing them walk in the ways of God, and their son a preacher of the gospel. Their regard to the comfort, but especially to the spiritual welfare, of the domestics of their family, was productive of the happiest effect. This was strikingly exemplified in the case of a dissolute youth, whom the Doctor took into his service at the request of an aged member of his church, the boy's aunt, and whose conversion was happily brought about by an attendance on his family worship. This man afterwards became an exemplary character, and a member of the church in Little Wild Street.

THE death of Mrs. Stennett, which happened on the 16th March 1795, was an event that was shortly succeeded by his own removal. That patient submission to the divine will, which he had previously displayed during a variety of trying afflictions, did not forsake him on this most affecting occasion. The dis solution, however, of a long and endeared connection, was the removal of the link which attached him to

this life. He frequently after that event expressed his conviction that "the time of his departure was at hand." He returned indeed to the duties of his ministry with redoubled diligence, as if aware that the night was fast coming when he could no longer work; and it was with difficulty he could be restrained from such over exertion as would have proved immediately detrimental to his health. His retired hours were now chiefly devoted to meditation on the Bible, and to poetry, an art for which he had throughout life evinced a great predilection.

DR. STENNETT's residence was for several years at Muswell Hill, a pleasant, rural retreat, in the neighbourhood of Highgate, about six miles from the city, and the praises of it he has recorded in the following poem; and which we give as a specimen of his talents in that delightful art:

TIR'D of the world's incessant noise,
And sick of all its flatt'ring joys;
I hail the day, I bless the hour,
That brings me to my rural bower.
In sweet reflection here I sit,
And here enjoy the soft retreat:
Ascend the little flowery mount,
And there life's weary steps recount;
Then cast my cheerful eyes around,
O'er distant hills, and mossy ground;
O'er fields attir'd in verdant green,
Enraptur'd with the pleasing scene :
The fleecy sheep, and harmless lambs,
That sportive play about their dams;
The violets, flowers, and shrubs that rise,
And taller trees that tempt the skies:
All strive to make me happy here,
Happy, without an anxious care;

Strive to direct my thoughtful breast,
And soothe my passions into rest;
Soften'd by nature's silent voice,
And sooth'd by these her artless joys,
I feel my soul prepar'd to hear,
What Heaven may whisper in my ear.
'Twas in the evening of the day,
When the bright sun's declining ray,
Darted its light thro' Eden's trees,
Waving their tops with gentle breeze:
"Twas then the God that dwells on high,
Deign'd to descend from yonder sky,
And in a form divinely sweet,

To own and bless that fair retreat.
There He had used to walk, and there,
To entertain the happy pair,

With new discoveries of his will,
And joys that none but angels feel.
Oh! would he deign to visit me,
In mercy mixed with majesty ;—
Deign when I walk in evening shade,
Beneath those bowers his hand hath made,

To whisper in my listening ear,

That well known voice I long to hear-
66 Thy many sins are all forgiven,
Thy worthless name is writ in heaven ;”-
The raptur'd news I'd spread around,
The woods should echo back the sound:

I'd write his name on every tree,
And tell the world his love to me.

This sweet, this fair, enchanting spot,

Should never, never, be forgot:

My friends, my neighbours, all should know
There is a paradise below.

DR. STENNETT's last two discourses were particularly striking and impressive. The first, on Christ as a High-Priest touched with the feelings of our infirmities," was the result of his meditations during a sleepless night the week preceding its delivery; but