spiritual interests of her youthful charge, her son-in-law was acHer character customed to speak in terms of grateful veneration. and religious experience are delineated in a very interesting manner in Dr. Jerment's additional volume of "Memoirs of eminently pious Women."

John, as it may be supposed from the character of his parents, was the subject of very early religious impressions. Before his twelfth year he was deeply affected by the death of a pious lady, in whose family he had been placed for instruction. These impressions were confirmed by the care and admonition of his parents; and to this event he was accustomed to refer as the commencement of that christian character, which he was enabled to maintain, unblemished, for nearly seventy years.

His parents observing his early piety, and acting under the advice of the Rev. B. Fawcett, of Kidderminster, proposed to educate him with a view to the ministry, and for this purpose placed him, in his thirteenth year, under the tuition of the Rev. Stephen Addington, at that time of Market Harborough. Such a decision may seem premature, but it was justified by the result. At that time it was not unusual, in respectable dissenting families, to devote their promising youth to the ministry, and the expense of early appropriate education was cheerfully borne. It is to be regretted that, at present, so few candidates for the ministry are furnished by our more wealthy families. Is our ministry less esteemed? or has a more secular and calculating spirit become prevalent among our laity? Among a large proportion of our theological students, the loss of early education is a disadvantage, which no collegiate course, commenced at twenty or twenty-five years of age, can ever compensate. Mental discipline is scarcely ever complete, unless commenced in childhood. Our forefathers, it is acknowledged, unintentionally introduced some unsuitable persons into the ministry, but in avoiding their error, we seem to have reached the opposite extreme. Accuracy, both of scholarship and of expression, is to be attained not so much by prolonged, as by carly training.

*

While at Harborough, John Humphrys commenced a diary which, with very few interruptions, he carefully continued until his last illness. From these voluminous records, referring to almost all the events which, during the last sixty-five years, have affected the dissenting interest, the materials of this Memoir have been collected.

The following extracts exhibit pleasing illustrations of early piety. They are interesting as the private records of a youth of fourteen, in which nothing can be expected beyond the simple expression of religious feeling:

1773, August 5th.-I have been for some time in great distress concerning my spiritual state, not finding in myself the evidences of a Christian mentioned in the Life of the Rev. J. Janeway. I have

* The diary fills many volumes, closely written in short hand, much of which is difficult to be decyphered. Some interesting accounts may be hereafter inserted in this Magazine.

been at prayer, and entreated that God would discover to me my real condition. In renewed prayer I have been somewhat comforted by the hope that I have real faith and dependence upon Christ. I could then say,

'Yes, thou art precious to my soul,

My transport and my trust;
Jewels to thee are gaudy toys,
And gold but sordid dust.”

"This evening I enjoyed communion with Christ. My heart said, Lord, I am truly sorry for my sins. Ah! how long did I withstand the invitations of thy grace! what wilt thou have me to do?

"7th.-In prayer to-night these words come with weight to my mind, As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.' I found strong desires after holiness, which relieved me under some doubts as to my state.

8th, Lord's-day Evening.-May I learn by this day's experience more of my own heart. I find the sad effect of yielding to temptation in the first instance. Let me, when I have committed the least sin, go alone and confess it before God, in order to the delivering of my conscience from its burden. Let me be more particular in preparation for the Sabbath, and examine my heart before I go to the sanctuary. Gracious Lord! have mercy on me, for Jesus' sake, and blot out all my transgressions.

"9th.-Through various occurrences I have not found my heart in a suitable frame. What a weak creature I am! How much do I need assistance every moment! Let me guard against a trifling spirit when saying my lesson in the Greek Testament, or in any part of the Bible. May I become more diligent and serious in preparing for family prayer, and live more upon Christ in every duty.

"12th.-I have been for several days in great distress of mind, after reading the Rev. Matthew Mead's Almost Christian,' not perceiving in myself the evidences of grace which he there describes, viz. love to God for his own sake, and a thorough detestation of sin, considered merely as an offence against the Divine Being. I have been praying this evening that God would show me my real state, and have been somewhat comforted from the consideration, that the sins of others, for which I am not accountable, excite my grief. I have been lamenting that I did not give up my childhood to the Lord, whose I am, and whose love I now feel strongly in my heart. How kind is the Saviour to indulge such a poor, unworthy, dejected creature as I am, with such tokens of his love. O Lord! to thee would I fly in every season of distress."

In his sixteenth year, he was received into the communion of the Independent Church at Harborough. He has preserved the following statement of his early experience, which was presented to the church, through Mr. Addington, March 3, 1774.

"The first abiding convictions, and which I have reason to hope, through grace, produced any good effect on my soul, I felt about three years ago, when I was at school at West Bromwich, under the

care of Mr. Moses Lea. The death of his wife was the means of deeply impressing my mind, and the minds also of several of my school-fellows. From that time I began to be much concerned about my soul, which before I had awfully neglected. I could no longer go on in sin as usual. I applied myself to the important interests of the life to come. I saw something of the evil of my own heart, and of the danger that would inevitably overtake me, if I continued in the neglect of God. I sought the way to him with an earnest desire to walk in it; but I was greatly tempted to pride, and to think myself something. Blessed be God, there were some in the family to whom I could speak with freedom, who encouraged me to seek the Lord, which I began to do, but found at that time but little comfort in my soul. When I first came to Harborough, about two years and a half ago, I was in the deepest distress of mind, overwhelmed with the apprehension that I should certainly perish everlastingly; and daily did I entreat the Lord that I might be a partaker of salvation by Christ. I found it difficult, however, to represent my case at the throne of mercy, as I feared God was my enemy. Satan and my unbelieving heart would persuade that God had no compassion for guilty and miserable sinners, although they might seek him. O how did I long after an assurance of divine forgiveness. I besought the Lord to look on me in mercy, and that whatever else I was denied, I might not be denied a part in the blessings of his grace. At that time I was greatly embarrassed and distressed, that I could find in my heart no pure love to God, nothing, as I feared, but a concern for my soul, which might proceed merely from selflove.

"Yet, at times, I have reason to believe divine love darted into my soul, and I received inexpressible joy when I was enabled to see the freeness of Christ's love to poor sinners, and to hope that I had an interest in it. I trust, through grace, I have been made willing to close with Christ on his own terms. I am glad to obtain him on any terms, and desire nothing so much as the salvation he came to procure. I often suspect my love to him; but I desire to be humbled and grieved that I have so much reason to do so. I hope the language of my heart is, none but Christ for my poor miserable guilty soul. I desire to be one of his servants, and to become unreservedly devoted to him. I would go to his table in hope of meeting my Saviour, that my love to him may be inflamed, and that I may be more fitted to leave this world and enter on a better."

In this brief statement of early piety may be traced the element of christian character, which was maintained throughout his ministry of nearly sixty years, with unblemished reputation and uniform consistency.

As Mr. Humphrys, sen. was very decidedly attached to evangelical sentiments, the academy at Homerton was selected in preference to that at Daventry, as the place of his son's theological studies. Of that valuable institution, then under the superintendence of Drs. Conder, Gibbons, and Fisher, Mr. Humphrys, in his seventeenth year, became a student, the expense of his education being defrayed

by his father. He there found "many truly pious young men," of whom, we believe, he was the last survivor. Soon afterwards he united in communion with the church in Founders' Hall, under the pastoral care of Mr. Barber. During the time spent at Homerton, his religious experience is very fully delineated in his diary; and it is pleasing to find that, notwithstanding his change of pursuits, and somewhat premature introduction to theological studies, he retained the fervour of his early piety. There appear the same anxiety to ascertain his true character, the same penitential feelings, the same devotional habits, the same vigilant circumspection, as when he was studying in the seclusion of a country village. The moral and spiritual, as well as literary qualifications for the ministry, were sedulously cultivated.

A few brief extracts from his diary will exhibit the state of his mind.

"Nov. 20, 1775.-This day I am seventeen years of age. I have been reviewing the Lord's goodness to me ever since I was born. He has often delivered me when in the utmost danger; but how numerous and aggravated are my transgressions against him. I have been dedicating myself afresh to the Lord; but, alas! my heart is not in that holy frame in which it ought to be."

"May 4, 1776, Saturday Evening.-To-morrow will be sacrament day. It may not be amiss to ask myself a few questions before I go to commemorate the dying love of the dear Redeemer. May the Lord enable me to give an impartial answer to them! What has been the frame of my mind since the last opportunity of this kind? what has been the language of my soul, the drift of my desires and endeavours? Have my thoughts been more fixed than usual upon spiritual and heavenly things? Have I ardently prayed to be more weaned from this world, and to be fitted for a better? How stand matters with me in these respects? Am I more spiritual in my life and conversation? Is the Redeemer more precious to my soul? Am I still worldly-minded and carnal, or dying unto sin and living unto righteousness? What answer can I make to these inquiries? My frame of mind is changeable; sometimes I am comfortable, at other times uncomfortable; enlargement of heart in duty is sometimes enjoyed; and then again I am straitened. I have reason to mourn over the pride of my heart; and I am apt to forget my absolute dependance upon God.

'Why is my heart so far from thee,

My God, my chief delight.'

And what do I propose to myself by going to the sacred table? My views, if my heart deceive me not, are these; I would go, that I may see Jesus, that I may taste his love, and enjoy sweet communion with him. I would go and confess with shame and contrition the sins of my past life. May I have such views of the dying love of Christ as may advance my holiness! I wish to make a fresh surrender of myself to the Lord."

"Sept. 1, 1778.-I have been setting apart several hours this day for the important purpose of examining my views respecting the chris

tian ministry. I have prayed to the Lord that I may not be deceived in a matter of so much moment; and although I have great reason to be ashamed of my defects, yet I hope my heart is right with God, and that I do sincerely desire to become a minister of the gospel, that I may glorify God in the salvation of the souls of men. To-day I preached my first sermon at Mr. Barber's, from 1 Tim. i. 15. By divine help I was carried very comfortably through the service."

"Oct. 4.-I preached to-day, for the first time on the Lord's-day, at Mr. Barber's, from 1 Cor. iii. 11, For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Christ.' As the work before me is of the most solemn, arduous, and important nature, I set apart some time last week for the special purpose of serious consideration and solemn dedication of myself to the Lord, previously to my engaging in the work. Many were my fears with respect to the public services of this day, but the Lord hath graciously disappointed them. I went through it with much more comfort and satisfaction than I could have expected."

After spending four years in academical studies, Mr. Humphrys "passed trials," a process well known to every Homerton student, but which, at that time, seems to have been a much more formidable affair than it has become of late years. We find the following notice under date, April 11, 1779.

"To-day my fellow collegians and class-fellows, Messrs. John Lake and John Rogers, with myself, passed trials at Broad-street Meeting, when twenty-three ministers were present. Mr. Barber addressed us after we had gone through the several exercises, previous to our receiving their recommendation."

Mr. Humphrys having declined an invitation from the church at Hatfield Heath, in Essex, engaged to supply, on probation, the congregation at West Bromwich, at that time vacant by the removal of the Rev. Benjamin Carpenter to Stourbridge. From this people he received an invitation to become their minister, which, after much anxious consideration and prayer, he accepted. The situation was one of considerable difficulty, especially to a minister who had but just completed his twenty-first year. The wealthy part of the congregation was averse from evangelical doctrine, and inclined to Arianism. With his predecessor, who was far advanced towards Socinianism, many of them maintained an intimate friendship, and expected him to preach occasionally for them. The solicitude, the fidelity, the zeal and prudence of Mr. Humphrys, were subjected to a severe trial, under which he deemed it proper to defer his ordination until he had occupied the pulpit about three years.

Among such people he commenced his ministry, decidedly and zealously an evangelical preacher, firmly attached, he says to "moderate Calvinism," and determined to contend for the faith and practice of the gospel. This determination was taken in the face of considerable opposition, and at the cost of much painful feeling.

On his introduction to West Bromwich, he lodged with Mrs. Brett, a daughter of Matthew Henry. She was a woman of eminent piety, accustomed to rise, winter and summer, at four o'clock to study her father's Commentary. In her house Mr. Humphrys