Always retire during some part of the day or the evening to pray with each other, and for each other; and you will find that the line of the poet records a fact, which your own experience will soon attest to be true, that prayer 'Brings ev'ry blessing from above.' It opens the upper no less than the nether springs of the divine favour, and enriches the mind with the treasures of spiritual wisdom, while it imparts a sweetness to the disposition which no cares can sour, and an amiability to the temper which discord will not be permitted to impair; and will be found to enkindle a glow of devout feeling in your breasts which will burn more steadily and ardently by the intermingling of its hallowed fires. do "And though, my young friends, I cannot animate you with the hope of being able to pass through life without coming into contact with its temptations, its disappointments, and its bereavements, yet He in whom you trust, to whom you have both devoted yourselves in the spring time of your life, will never leave you nor forsake you; but will be a very present help in every time of trouble. If you are spared till old age comes upon you, you shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever you shall prosper. And if you are removed in early life, you will be transplanted to that celestial world, where you will flourish in undecaying strength, and verdure, and beauty, and glory for ever and for ever. It is but a little while that I shall live on earth as a spectator of your bliss; but if spirits are allowed, in their disembodied state to visit, though unseen, the abodes of mortals, I shall often be with you, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ." 102] "But on his being removed into the open air, he soon revived, though from the distorted appearance of his countenance, we were convinced that he had received a slight paralytic stroke." Page 7. London: PRINTED FOR FRANCIS WESTLEY, 10, STATIONERS' COURT, AND AVE-MARIA LANE. THE RECTOR'S DEATH BED. "How calm his exit! Night-dews fall not more gently to the ground, A life well spent, whose early care it was Yet, like the setting sun, seems larger at his setting! That's hamper'd, struggles hard to get away. To have his passport sign'd, and be dismiss'd! BLAIR. THE health of the venerable Ingleby had been declining some years, yet he displayed great vigour of intellect and vivacity of spirit, till within the last twelve months of his life, when his faculties became somewhat impaired, and he occasionally sunk into a state of nervous depression. His friends expected from the strength of his constitution that he would again rally, and continue for many years to instruct them by his counsels, and animate them by his example; but, after a violent cold which he took in going to visit a poor cottager, who lived in a distant and lonely part of his parish they began to fear that he would soon be removed from them. For several sabbaths he was confined in the Rectory; but when he grew a little better, he resumed the discharge of his public labours. But though he brought into the pulpit the stores of knowledge which he had been collecting for many years, and felt his spirit still glowing with the ardour of an intense affection for the spiritual and eternal welfare of his hearers, yet the fire of his energy was considerably abated, his voice, which was originally full and commanding, now became low and enfeebled, and he often appeared exhausted by fatigue, even before he had half finished the service. We sometimes see a congregation, which a minister has collected, together in the days of his vigour, forsaking him in his old age, to pay their homage to the rising sun of popularity; preferring the voice of a comparative stranger, to that of their former shepherd; and choosing to lie down in pastures in which they have never previously fed, rather than continue where they have been long accustomed to crop the delicious food; but the venerable Ingleby was never deserted. The people pressed to hear him when the silver locks of age adorned his head, with as much eagerness, and listened with as much delight, as when he appeared amongst them, glowing with the bloom, and speaking with the energy of youth; and felt as deep an interest in the last services which he conducted as in any that had preceded them. As this appears to be an exception to the general rule, we must look for the cause of it; and though it must be admitted that the locality of his labours did not bring him within the immediate influence of any strong competition for public favour, yet many of his congregation resided much nearer other clergymen, on whose ministry they could have attended with less inconvenience; but they were bound to their venerated pastor by the strong tie of an undecaying attachment. This attachment took its rise in the usefulness of his ministerial labours; and as he had uniformly conducted himself amongst them as a holy man of God, devoting his time and his influence to promote their happiness, his character rose in their esteem as circumstances gave him an opportunity of developing it. He acted on the following maxims, which were given him soon after he took orders by an aged clergyman, and he reaped the reward of his fidelity in the permanent regard of his flock. "Preserve the sanctity of your public character, in the intercourse of private and social life. Do not visit your people often, except when they need your visits, and then convince them, that while have no time to spare for the purposes of amusement or recreation, you are ever ready to attend to the claims. of pastoral duty. Avoid engaging in the commerce of the world; yet never think that you are acting beneath the dignity of your official station when engaged in giving advice to inexperience, or assisting by your counsels, to guide the affairs of others with discretion. Let the poor of your flock know that their pastor is their friend in adversity; their advocate when oppressed, you and will be their comforter when on the bed of sickness or of death."69dra About a month before his departure, he arose on the sabbath morning free from pain, the spirit of former times came upon him, and he felt that he could get through the labours of the day, without availing himself of the assistance which his neighbour, the Rev. Mr. Guion, had so kindly offered. He read the devotional parts of the service with great solemnity of manner, and with great ease. The text from which he addressed the congregation, was taken from the 2 Peter i. 13, 14. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up, by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. When he read the words, the attention of the people was immediately fixed on him. The effect which was produced by the delivery of this discourse, was very powerful. It was undoubtedly very much aided by the peculiar circumstances of the speaker, who was grown grey and infirm in the service of the people, and who in his introduction informed them, that he was led to the choice of the subject, under an impression, which left no doubt of the propriety of its application to himself. "The aspect of the preacher, pale, emaciated, standing on the verge of eternity; the simplicity and majesty of his sentiments; the sepulchral solemnity of a voice which seemed to issue from the shades, combined with the intrinsic dignity of the subject, perfectly quelled the audience with tenderness and terror, and produced such a scene of audible weeping as was perhaps never surpassed. All other emotions were absorbed in devotional feeling; it seemed to us as though we were permitted for a short space to look into eternity, and every sublunary object vanished before "the powers of the world to come." 1 had often heard him when he was more energetic, but never when he was so impressive; when he discovered more originality of genius, but never when he displayed such intensity of feeling;-when he employed a more polished, a more imaginative style of address, but never when he spoke with more authority and power: and though, I thought, in common with the rest of the audience, that he was now |