"The path of the just is as the shining light." BEHOLD the glorious orb of day, Such is the saint, and such his course, Insatiate for a Saviour's grace, Immur'd in earth, inur'd to sin, But daily to a higher goal With knowledge, love and joy increase, Yet ah! frail saint, by pride allur'd, How oft doth thy corruption brood But mark the glory of the skies, Thy Saviour shall thy grace renew; So from the strand, at flowing tide, Saint! to thine altar, there's defence; On the same page his works and word. Prostrate before his Saviour's shrine, Caught with a Patriarch's storied love, Arm'd with their weapons-for the field One in their warfare, Lord and foe, Thus do his light and life increase, Memoirs of the Rev. John Fla- their impression is far less du vel. rable, than that which is made by the exemplary conduct of PERHAPS no miscellane- some esteemed character. This ous reading is more inter-is the fruit presented to the esting and profitable, than the view, while those are merely its memoirs of pious anduseful men.description. Few men have They present an interesting left so good a name behind picture, which impresses on the them, and have been so useful mind the excellence of a virtu- in their labors as the learned ous life; persuades us to esti- and pious Mr. John Flavel, the mate the good man's enjoy-beloved and faithful minister of ments, and to aspire to those at-Christ at Diptford, and aftertainments which give compos-ward at Dartmouth, in Great ure in the hour of death. The Britain. He was the eldest son views, employments, and reso- of the Rev. Richard Flavel, of lutions of the venerable saint, Broomsgrove, where he was are listened to with attention by born in 1628. He was religithe young believer; and as the ously educated by his father, and youthful warrior's ardor kindles early sent to the University of at the recital of the great at-Oxford, where he distinguished chievements of some valiant he- himself by a faithful application, ro; so the wondering disciple to his studies. Soon after he is animated in his newly discov- commenced bachelor of arts, cred path; desires to overtake he was ordained in 1650, an ashis superiors in the faith, and sistant to Mr. Walplate in Diptespecially to imitate his divine ford, whom he shortly after example, the captain of his sal-succeeded in the rectory. Senvation. The persuasive ser-sible of the weight of his mon, the pathetic exhortation, charge, he diligently applied and the flowing essay have their himself to the work of his calinfluence and their use; but ling, and devoting himself to VOL. I. NO. 10. X x |