when he learnt from my medical attendant that, though a change was wrought in my mind, I was determined to be biassed by no sect or party, but solely to be governed by my own judgment after enquiry made, he still kept aloof; and it was only upon my first attendance on the service of his church that the spell was broken; when the signal being thus given, my door was at length opened by him. Happy, indeed, I now consider myself that it was so, for such a guide was rarely to be met with. He that could speak in plain and homely truth to the lowest, and could display the beauties of the Gospel with a simplicity that none could fail of understanding, had the power, also, for he had the scholarship, to enter into the most subtile argument, to unravel the web of sophistry, and set forth, with all the perspicuity of learning and genius, the doctrines of Christianity in their true light; and he could enforce them with an energy peculiarly his own, so as to bring home to every breast conviction of their truth. All this he would do with so much humility and tenderness, and with such strength of reasoning as to convince the judgment and satisfy the conscience: indeed, the success of his arguments

was attributable to no artifice, but solely to the certainty wrought in the mind of his hearer that he was in earnest in what he urged, and that it was his object to expose truth in all its simplicity, and to work conviction rather than to gain a triumph over his adversary. His mode of reading the common prayer was distinct and audible, neither drawn out so as to tire, nor hurried so as to disgust; while the easy modulation of his mellowed voice gave a variety that best accorded with the nature of every supplication: indeed, it was the reading of one who felt every word he uttered, of one, accustomed to pray with fervour,—of one who saw nothing and none before his eyes but the great God he addressed, so as to render it almost next to impossible that his manner and feelings should not be communicated to those around him, and cause them also to adore the great Being, who in their mental eyes, stood amidst such as were there gathered together in his name. Of his preaching what shall I say more than that it was truly apostolical? One might almost read. in the lineaments of his face what his tongue was about to utter. He was all earnestness, now encouraging by hopes, now stimulating by

fears, and now persuading by love. ¡Divine love was the beginning and close of every theme. When he touched upon the majesty of God, from the transcendent holiness and purity of whose nature he led his hearers to the consideration of his hatred of sin, he raised in every breast, a sensation of reverence and awe ;- - when he spoke of the gracious influence of his Holy Spirit, he seemed like one pouring a balm of consolation on the mind;-whenever he descanted upon the compassionate mercies of the divine Redeemer, tears might be seen standing in the eyes of his congregation like dew, ready to fall for the refreshment of their souls. He was all to his flock, and his flock was every thing to him:

"To these his heart, his love, his griefs were given, While all his serious thoughts had rest in Heav'n."

It was this holy man who showed me on different occasions, with convincing clearness, how the Church unfolded the great doctrines of Christianity from the Scriptures themselves: but I remember on one day more particularly, when after one of his most striking discourses I

found him alone in his study, and the conversation turning, as usual, upon the subject now uppermost in my thoughts, he was led to explain to me, more at large, by what steps he drew from the only pure fountain of all wisdom the truths which he was desirous of impressing upon his congregation, how the Almighty Father, his Only-begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit constituted one and the same God, to whom separately and jointly, he considered that the attributes of the Deity were given and belonged. On the one hand, he pointed out the fundamental doctrine of original sin, as it is called, and showed me, in a way that worked conviction in my mind, the lamentable consequence of Adam's transgressions in that depravation of his nature, which was thus transmitted to all his posterity; on the other, he dwelt with delight on the still more important doctrine, he said, (if he might so call it, where it was equally necessary to believe in both, in order to understand the great scheme of Redemption,) of the atonement made by Christ Jesus. Of this he explained the nature, together with the reason which he had, from numberless passages of

Scripture, for entertaining it, and its perfect consistency with the attributes of the Deity, and the extension of its benefits to all mankind, who should sincerely strive to become partakers of them. It was here that the good man dwelt upon the error of those who conceive repentance and amendment of life sufficient of themselves to remove that stain of sin with which we are born, and which receives a deeper dye from our own actual transgressions. "The sinner," said he," may repent, he may reform, but how can he recover his lost state? or how can it be thought that such repentance however sincere, or such amendment however confirmed, can atone for transgression, or make satisfaction such as a divine Being who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity' car accept? It was to answer that great end, which it was utterly impossible for man, by himself, with sin thus in every way cleaving to him, to accomplish, that Christ the Son of God died:—he died that by his precious blood he might redeem us from all iniquity, and that he might give himself a ransom for all,' and became the sacrifice of 'propitiation for the sins of all.' Under these various expressions is his offering of himself