amiable professor far outwent his own system; and that he was very far indeed from building upon his own righteousness, or reposing his eternal hopes elsewhere than upon the sacrifice and merits of the Redeemer. We might also point out in his writings numerous passages which speak the language of Gospel truth with clearness. We will quote a few as a specimen; and shall rejoice if they are considered as disproving or blunting our remarks. Reviewers are often thought to love fault-finding; but if we know our hearts, we love better to find we were mistaken.

"Do we humbly and earnestly strive to love our God with our whole heart, and mind, and strength, and our neighbour as ourselves; relying all the while for acceptance not on our own merits, (for merits we have none to plead ) but on the merits and mediation of that Jesus, who died for our sins, and rose for our justification; confessing, that having laboured to the utmost of our power, we are still unprofitable servants, nay miserable sinners; have failed, deplorably failed, in doing what it was our clear duty to do.

who

"Oh my friends, this, all this is but a faint and imperfect sketch of a Christian's duty, an imperfect description of the ' way that leadeth unto life.' Are we sure, that we have hitherto walked, that we are now walking, or striving to walk, in this narrow way? Are there any of you who hear me, who feel the secret monitor within your breast, full of terror, and desponding at the idea of your eternal fate being this instant fixed suitably to your past conduct; and who, looking forward with trembling anxiety to future errors and departures, are asking with heartfelt humiliation and self-abasement,

Who is sufficient for these things?" With you would I rank myself; with you would I pray, God be merciful to me a sinner.' O God! most holy, if thou shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord who shall stand. But there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared.' Yes, brethren, let us not despond: our blessed Redeemer has declared on another subject similar to this; with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.' Let us then never forget, that though 6 we are not sufficient unto these

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Surely, my friends, a little reflection will show us, that, if not thus deeply convinced of our guilt and subsequent misery, we can never receive as we ought the Gospel of Christ. Can we feel in our hearts His unspeakable merey in redeeming us from the punishment due to our crimes, if we are not conscious of any crimes which merited such punishment? Can we rejoice at His reconciling us to God, if we do not feel, that without His interposition we should be at enmity with God? Can we attend effectively to His instructions, if we believe ourselves wise enough to discover every thing necessary to happiness, here or hereafter, without any such instructions? Can we with sincerity implore the assistance of the Holy Spirit, and with anxious watchfulness attend to His godly motions in our souls, if we believe our virtue strong enough to sustain itself without any aid, and our hearts so innocent, that they require no vigilance to guard, and no correction to purify them? No, my friends, we must be sensible of the corruption of our nature, and the multitude of our offences, before we can value aright the gracious offers of pardon and mercy which the Gospel holds out. We must feel our spiritual ignorance before we can listen attentively to divine instruction—we must be conscious of our weakness and frailty before we can implore with humble sincerity the assistance of the Holy Spirit, or with prompt obedience submit to that pure law, and practise that high and holy discipline, which will enable us in every temptation to find a way to escape, and to go on from strength to strength until we shall have fought the good tight, and shall be called to enter into the joy of our Lord."

"What is the first inquiry which must be pressed upon every mortal? Assuredly this; Hast thou not FORGOTTEN GOD? I do not mean to charge you with having seriously denied his existence, or deliberately blasphemed his name. But have you not forgotten him, in the general tenor of your lives, in the choice of your various temporal pursuits, in the principles and motives that have influenced your conduct? In all these, have you not acted without any reference to the divine will, any vigilant attention to secure the divine favour? Impelled merely by worldly interest, restrained only by the love of reputation and the law of

honour, without any reference to the pure and holy law of the Gospel, have you not in all these instances forgotten God?

"Let us seriously contemplate the full extent of that danger and that misery, from which our Redeemer's mediation sets the repentant sinner free. Surely it is no common danger from which such stupendous means were employed to rescue us; no trivial suffering, our escape from which thus interests and rejoices the highest inhabitants of heaven."

"Such would be the effect of Christianity, if you consider its divine Author as the Instructor, the Guide, and Judge, but not as the Redeemer of the human race. In truth, it is this intelligency which constitutes the glad tidings of the Gospel of Christ. It is this that renders it the support of virtue, the encouragement of penitence, the instrument of reformation.

In many things we offend all." If God were extreme to mark what is done amiss, who could bear His all-pure, all-searching eye? The crime once committed no penitence can recall. The subsequent obedience, which would have been due had we never offended, cannot atone for past transgression. Again, who shall dare to plead in excuse for his guilt, the weakness which he has not diligently laboured to strengthen; the passions which he has encouraged, not restrained; the ignorance which, when the light of revelation shines clearly around him, was voluntary and contumacious: or the carelessness which

in a being accountable and dependent is his crime, not his apology? The clearer the promulgation, the more awful the sanction, the more certain the execution of the divine laws, so much the more fearfully should we look to the final sentence of the Supreme Judge.

He

But Christ Jesus, the Friend, the Redeemer, of man, has dispelled all these doubts, has banished all these terrors from those who sincerely repent of their past offences; who seek for pardon and acceptance, not through their own merits, but as the consequence of His redeeming love. died to procure the remission of sins. Compared with the wonderful and heart-reviving knowledge contained in this simple but surprising Gospeltruth, all other knowledge is vain and worthless. Compared with the hopes it inspires, all other hopes are cold and comfortless. Looking to Jesus, we behold in the divine Lawgiver our unalterably steady Friend; in the divine Judge, our all-merciful Redeemer. As

man, we are sure of His sympathy: as God, we are sure of His power. To both united we look with full assurance of hope for our eternal deliverance."

"Such, my friends, is the awful description which Scripture gives of the nature and effects of sin; while it declares that the entire human race is guilty before God, convicted of sin, labouring under its consequences, and obnoxious to its punishment. And this description is, alas! too fatally verified by melancholy experience."

"Let us, my friends, imprint on our hearts these two great truths, that there is none, whose offences do not so far resemble those of the prodigal son, as to call for frequent and deep humiliation, sincere and heartfelt repentance; while at the same time there is no human being so vile and abandoned but that if he will sincerely return, he will find God all merciful to pardon, all powerful to save. Let us then contemplate the character of the prodigal son, the source of his guilt, and the steps which led to his degradation. His guilt originated in a spirit of disobedience and of alienation from his heavenly Parent; and every human being in whom a similar spirit prevails, partakes of his guilt, and will assuredly be exposed to his misery."

For the remaining memoranda of the Dean's life, we must refer the reader to his son's memoir. It did not abound with striking incidents; but was amiable, tranquil, diligent, and highly useful. In 1819 he published his "Select Scriptural Proofs of the Trinity," a very valuable work. He was a zealous friend of many excellent institutions; among others, of the Jews, and, for many years, of the Society for the Conversion of the Bible Society; though he was induced very reluctantly to withdraw from the latter, when the tide ran strongly against it among many of his brethren, thinking that his connexion with it might prejudice his other labours. We think that he sadly misjudged.

We gladly copy the following interesting passage, descriptive of his character and conduct as an academical professor, and the ever watchful Christian friend and spiritual adviser of his pupils.

"Never," writes one who sought his advice, and who afterwards became a distinguished servant of their common Master, never, I trust, shall I cease to remember, with fervent gratitude, the intense and affectionate interest which be evinced towards me, when first I consulted him on the only really important subject to an immortal being -the everlasting welfare of the undying soul. I was then personally unknown to him, but no sooner had I communicated to him the solicitude I felt on the subject of religion, than he entered into the consideration of the case thus brought before him, and imparted suitable advice, and materials for reflection and reading, with a depth of interest, a tenderness of sympathy, and a warmth of Christian affection, which at once convinced me, that he had him

self felt the constraining and endearing influence of redeeming love, on which I had, during my college career, heard him preach with that heart-touching eloquence, which first led me to the conviction, that the religion of the Saviour is a religion of love, and peace,

and blessedness; and which prompted me, though a stranger, to apply to one, who, I felt assured, had experienced the power of that religion himself. Oh! how fresh in my recollection, after the lapse of so many years, is the memory of that day's interview. How his countenance beamed with the bright expression of Christian love and Christian joy, when he spoke of the inexhaustible compassion of the Father of all mercies, the pitying love to sinners which glowed in the bosom of the Son of God! How he delighted to expatiate on the tenderness of the Redeemer's love the gentleness, the compassionateness, the divine benevolence of the Redeemer's character."

The death of this good man was caused by inflammation of the brain, which instantaneously deprived him of feeling and consciousness; so that he was thus mercifully delivered from what he had always feared, the physical struggle of dissolution.

MR. Henry Cowper was the son of General Cowper, and nephew of Major Cowper, of Hertingfordbury Park. He was educated at Charterhouse School, and afterwards went to Exeter College, Oxford. He practised as a barrister very successfully, and during that period published his Reports, which have ever been held in high estimation by the profession. He went the Western Circuit, and amongst his early friends and associates were the late Lord Eldon and Lord Erskine. He was lineally descended from Judge Cowper, brother of Lord Chancellor Cowper, the ancestor of the present Earl. He married the daughter of his uncle Major Cowper, by whom he had no issue.

The office of Assistant Clerk of Parliament becoming vacant, it was offered to William Cowper the poet, and upon his declining it, Mr. H. Cowper was appointed to it, and for many years performed the duties of that office with honour to himself and to the unqualified satisfaction of the House of Lords. This situation he filled during the long and protracted trial of Warren Hastings, the whole of which he took down in

short-hand. For many years he acted as Chairman to the Quarter Sessions for the country of Hertford, which honourable situation he resigned in consequence of being afflicted with deafness. He resided in the county for about sixty years-having occupied the house of Cole Green during the minority of the Lord Cowper who died in 1799.

Mr. Henry Cowper was first cousin to the Poet Cowper, and there was something in his turn of mind that reminded the admirers of the Poet of their favourite author. He resembled him in his devotional spirit, but as his constitution was remarkably strong and vigorous, and his disposition lively and rather impetuous than timid, religion produced in him its natural fruits of cheerfulness and contentment. His flow of spirits was uninterrupted, even under the pain which continually harassed him during the latter part of his life, and in the solitude in which he lived. He was accustomed on all occasions to give vent to expressions of gratitude for the blessings of his daily life, and this habitual feeling no doubt contributed to the exercise of that be

nevolence which in him appeared as a ruling passion. His thoughts were constantly occupied in devising schemes for the welfare of the poor and afflicted among his neighbours, and he found comfort under bodily suffering, in reflecting upon the alleviations which he had administered, through the instrumentality of the Hertford Infirmary, to the sufferings of others. Death came to him under an aspect which all might desire. It found him in the complete possession of his faculties, in unclouded faith, and a sole reliance on the atonement of the Redeemer. Hope predominated over fear, and he expired with these words upon his lips, "Sweet Jesus, receive me."

Amongst his princely acts of munificence was the donation of 9000l. towards the Herts General Infirmary, and an additional endowment for the payment of 1007. per annum to a chaplain, making altogether more than 12,000l. to that Establishment. No less a sum than 1,1007. has been raised by public subscriptions for the purpose of erecting some fitting testimonial to his character; and it was decided to make the memorial useful as well as permanent, by appropriating the money towards the erection of schools at Hertford for the education of 160 boys and 100 girls.

We copy the following interesting particulars respecting his character from the funeral Sermon preached by the Rev. J. Steel of Tewin, Herts:

“What a cheering sight is it, amidst all the frivolities, dissipations, and excesses of life, to behold station, and talent, and property combined together, and thrown into the scale of Christian influence. This is to 'live Godly in Christ Jesus,' to adorn his doctrine,' and 'to magnify his name.'

"A consistent life is the best apology for a right faith-it is the only one which an unbeliever will receive, or a believer recognise. And such was the life of Mr. Cowper. His heart was in his actions, so that it was 'known and read by all men;' and his labours of love were so multiplied that the imagination is perfectly fatigued in passing from the one to the other; and the memory seems burdened in the endeavour to collect them. His munificence flowed in a thousand channels, and his heart rejoiced in every additional opening that presented itself.

"Our work (he said) is not half done if, while we attempt, under God's blessing to assuage and mitigate the pains of the body, we overlook the infinitely more important consideration, the interest of the soul.' We may

fairly affirm that no man's works ever appeared with less ostentation or more intrinsic merit; and the only reward that he sought in them, was the holy joy of doing good.

"We may notice here also his strong attachment to the Established Church, which has lost a valuable, firm, and uncompromising friend. His munificence was displayed on all occasions, to her ministers her buildings — her endowments-her schools. Nor was the influence which her doctrine and discipline held over his powerful and meditative mind, so much the result of education and habit, as of conviction and principle. As long as his bodily strength permitted, his place in the house of God was regularly occupied ; and when debarred by age and infirmity from her public service, he still retained the book of Common Prayer as his manual of devotion, when morning and evening he assembled his household to family prayer.

"His disposition was naturally quick and irritable; but such was the power of religion over his mind, that, ere reason had time to reprove, conscience had done her work, and the momentary agitation had subsided into kindness and courtesy. And so softened was his heart, that the bare mention of the great objects of religion, would produce a burst of tenderness as fervent as it was affecting. I have witnessed him in those happy moments of mental enjoyment, when, with his whole soul reposed upon God, the tears of gratitude and love would stream from his eyes in acknowledgment of mercies as 'undeserved as they were countless.' His favourite reading (next to the Bible) were the works of our invaluable neighbour, Mr. Bickersteth, and of these, particularly that on Prayer, and the Lord's Supper. He read with a pencil in his hand, with which be marked, and thus impressed upon his mind the passages in which he felt more deeply interested.

"He seldom spoke of his religious joys or sorrows, though he often regretted that the subjects of the Bible were laid aside for the ordinary topics of the day. His life was a comment on his religion, which appeared in its fruits: munificence without ostentation, and a deep devotional feeling, which, while it shunned the greetings in the market, loved the retirement of its own secret communings. He was fully alive to the endearments of social life, which were heightened under the acknowledged leading of an overruling providence; he received them as the

HER majesty has been enabled to open parliament under favourable circumstances for her advisers, in consequence of the successes which have attended the British arms in the East, from Syria to central Asia, and even to China. The speech however does not assume much, or disclose anything; and it is altogether abstinent on several points upon which the nation would have been glad to find it somewhat communicative; especially in regard to the traitorous attempts to dissolve the union between Great Britain and Ireland. It states generally that "from foreign powers her majesty receives "assurances of friendly disposition and earnest desire to maintain peace;" which, so far as it goes, is a grateful assurance; but the vagueness of the phraseology, -which really means nothing-with the omission of the word "all" and the studied silence of the speech with regard to France, when a conciliatory word, if there was fair ground for it, would have been very desirable, detract materially from the plenitude of the announcement; and seem to indicate that the French remittent fever of the last six months has not subsided. The success of the proceedings in the Levant is next adverted to; and her majesty's ministers have received the approbation of the Duke of Wellington, and the acquiescence of Sir Robert Peel, in regard to the course of policy which they have pursued in reference to Turkey and Egypt. We respectfully defer to such high authority; but as a general question we think that England is much too prone to meddle with the international affairs of other communities: and that it is not every surmised disturbance of the chimerical "balance of power," and consequent possible ultimate disad

vantage to British interests, that warrants our sending out fleets and armies, crippling our financial resources, injuring the peaceful interests of commerce, and deluging nations with blood. The friendly mediation which her majesty announces she has engaged in, for the composure of the differences between Spain and Portugal, well becomes us in the brotherhood of nations, and we trust will be successful in preventing war between them; but if in the failure of peaceful adjustment, we are induced to aid either with arms, as in the quarrel between the Sultan and his Egyptian Viceroy, we cannot believe that we have scriptural ground to expect the blessing of God upon our proceedings. So again, we cannot reflect, without much misgiving, upon the course of our policy in central Asiaupon which the speech is significantly silent. It is true that our arms and intrigues have been for the most part triumphant; that Dost Mohammed has surrendered himself to us, and that the pieces on the vast chess-board in and around India, seem more favourably disposed than might have been expected: but assuredly our engrossing spirit of selfish or ambitious aggression cannot be justified; nor does self-defence require it. For similar reasons cannot look with satisfaction to our hostile measures against China, to which the speech alludes, seeing that the "injuries" and "indignities" of which her majesty i smade to complain, were of our own seeking; we having no more right to smuggle opium into Canton than the Chinese to smuggle tea into London. Her Majesty hopes that the Chinese will be induced " by a sense of justice" to enter into "amicable arrangements." They may be

we