of the priestly office, who thinks he has discharged it by performing the public appointments of the church. The private duties are very important and necessary; and the great difference between one minister and another, shews itself most sensibly between their private labours." And, with respect to the Lord's supper, it is added, "On these things he will enlarge himself, not only in his sermons, but in his catechetical exercises, and in his private discourses." In the conscientious fulfilment of this part of ministerial duty, few could exceed the lamented subject of our memoir. The approach of the season for confirmation by the bishop, was sedulously improved. As soon as my father received the usual notice, he requested the young people, who wished to become candidates for the ordinance, to meet him at the church twice in the week. Taking the catechism as the basis of his instructions, he enlarged on the doctrines, duties, and privileges of our holy religion; urged attention, by the strongest motives, to the blessedness of the christian calling; gave helps for self-examination; and encouraging the timid, and illustrating again and again the same truths, in different methods, to those slow of apprehension,

"He tried each art, reproved each dull delay,

Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way."

At this period (the summer of 1818) the elder part of his own family shared instructions, which fell with power on the hearts of many of the attendants. One especial instance may be noted of a young person,

who has since died with an assured hope and trust in her Redeemer, and who referred to these interesting conversations, as the means of first engaging her thoughts to a serious concern for salvation; and she evidenced the reality of the change then effected, by a patient continuance in well doing, to the close of her life.

Previous to a young person's first attendance at the holy communion, my father generally conversed with the individual; offering fervent prayer for increase of faith, and stedfastness to the end. He did not indeed wish to receive any account of christian experience, unless, as was sometimes the case, the communication was made for the solution of doubts, or to obtain advice or comfort. He came simply to the point-Do you feel your need of a Saviour, and receive Christ as such? Are you thankful for the love of the Redeemer in thus dying for us? Are you resolved to live to his glory, and in charity with your fellow creatures? He pressed the attendance of young persons at this holy sacrament, considering it the means of establishing their belief, and of sealing them as the servants of God from their youth. And, although he rejoiced at all times in the privileges of communion, those were seasons of peculiar delight when he saw many of the young take refuge in the church of God, as the ark of his mercy. The whole service was conducted by him with striking solemnity and pathos. His deep humility and penitent self-abasement were evident in the confessional parts; while his joy and gratitude seemed to infuse a new spirit of love and

thanksgiving into those ascriptions of adoring praise with which it so richly abounds and sublimely concludes. A suitable hymn, often read with indescribable feeling, and in which he himself led the praises of the congregation, was sung. The last lines he read on this occasion were (as the event proved, to which he ever looked forward with the deepest humility, and not without some trembling apprehensions) peculiarly applicable to his own position on the boundary of this mortal existence :

"The hour is near consigned to death,

I own the just decree;

Saviour, with my last parting breath,

I'll cry, remember me!"

In conformity with the rubric, my father was accustomed to administer the sacrament of baptism in the public congregation. He frequently avowed that he knew no greater pleasure, than that of bringing young children to their Saviour; that through the mercy of Him who calls them, they might become partakers of all the blessings of salvation. For he regarded the sacrament as instituted for the communication of these benefits, and he looked in faith for their bestowal, in answer to the supplications of the church; rejoicing to consider baptized infants as members of the same body, fellow heirs with the saints, and of the household of God. After the example of the Shepherd and bishop of souls, he gathered the lambs to his bosom, and "turned his hand upon the little ones;" still pressing their continuance in all the ordinances of the church, as so

many links of a glorious chain, to train them up for the heavenly inheritance. And he was himself "apt to teach;" authority and influence were blended with condescension and love. In the season of Lent, he occasionally catechised the children publicly, during the afternoon service; and throughout the year he met them weekly for more private instruction; until at length he succeeded in establishing a national school, in which the great object he had in view might be more perseveringly pursued, under his direction and with his assistance. A large and commodious room was erected in the year 1819, by the aid of the National School Society, a liberal benefaction from the Earl of Dartmouth, and the contributions of many of the principal inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood.

Assiduous as was my father, in his endeavours to guide the young in general, in the ways of pleasantness and peace, he was especially so for those of his own household. If his parish was regarded by him as a larger family, over which he carefully watched; his family was considered as a smaller parish, continually under his eye and most dear to his heart. Up to this period (1819), and he had now eleven children, not one had left the home of their infancy. Their excellent mother attended to their early instruction; and when her health declined, the indulgent father took his girls, as well as his boys, chiefly under his own superintendence. His great principle of instruction, was to make them understand every part of a subject as they proceeded; aware that, although

such a course may augment the labour of the teacher, it facilitates, in a proportionate degree, the progress of the pupil; and that if once the intellect be brought into active exercise, the obstacles which impede the first steps to knowledge will be easily overcome. Some years after, when writing to two of his younger children, he says :-" M ** desires me to tell you, that she is now learning some duets with A * *; and this reminds me to express my hope, that you are now well acquainted with the general outline of thorough bass. From the little instruction I gave you at home, added to your previous knowledge of the subject, you may now readily comprehend anything your music master may say, as well as read with profit any work upon it. In this, and all your studies, endeavour to understand every thing perfectly as you proceed. Let this be the case especially with your arithmetic. This department of learning, well studied and understood, is a fine and profitable exercise for the mind. You know what excellent arithmeticians your sisters became. But how was it effected? By my teaching them the principles as we proceeded; and impressing on them the explanation, the nature, and the reason of the rules. If, therefore, you would be proficient in arithmetic, you must study it, and not be satisfied merely with being able to repeat the rules, or to work the questions technically, without properly understanding them." My father was himself an arithmetician of the first class. He was also versed in ecclesiastical and civil history, proficient in many branches of natural and