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return to his parish was welcomed with many expressions of sincere delight. His congregation for the most part were never so well pleased as when the pulpit was occupied by their own pastor; and even those who might be little affected by his earnest exhortations, were not insensible to his unremitting personal kindness. At the parish vestries, which he frequently attended, he was ever the poor man's friend; and he would sometimes return from those meetings, after hearing complaints of suffering that could be but partially relieved, almost overwhelmed with grief. To the utmost of his power, he was himself the liberal benefactor of the indigent; and when, whatever might be his engagements, were they sent away unheard or empty from his door? "The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him; and

he caused the widow's heart to sing for joy."

The subjoined extracts, are from letters, written in the following year, to two of the absent members of his family.

"MY DEAREST G.

66

Olney Vicarage, June 2, 1829.

"I was much pleased to receive your letter of the 30th ultimo. You know that I am always glad to hear from you; but the pleasure is increased, when the subjects on which you write, are so interesting and gratifying as those of your last letter. The opening of the New Hall must have been a very imposing ceremony, not only to the boys themselves, but to all the high and great men who were the witnesses of it; and who were concerned in this important and extraordinary event. I call it extraordinary, because I suppose a similar transaction has not occurred on any other occasion since the hospital was first founded. I hope, if it please God, that I shall have an opportunity of seeing your noble Hall, before you leave the hospital.

MEMOIR.

"I was very glad to hear that you have been promoted from the little into the great Erasmus class, and that you were the captain of the former before you left it. This convinces me that you have been diligent in your studies; and I hope you will make all the progress you can, during the remainder of your stay. Remember, my dear boy, that though we are not accountable for the number of talents which God may be pleased to give us; we are accountable for the manner, and degree, in which we improve those which he graciously bestows on us. It gave me great pleasure to find that you had been confirmed; but I hope you will consider the solemn engagement you have made, before God, as well as before the bishop and congregation. You may now say with King David-'Thy Vows are upon me, O God.' You have taken upon yourself those solemn engagements which were made for you at your baptism by your sponsors; and you should frequently recal them to mind, and pray for grace that you may fulfil them. You cannot do this of yourself; but you may do it through Christ strengthening

you.

"Your most affectionate father."

"MY DEAR M.

"Though I have but a very short time to employ before the post goes, I am unwilling to lose the opportunity of writing you a few words, to reach you on the anniversary day of your birth. It will be sixteen years on Friday, since your existence in the present state received its commencement-an existence which, though beginning in a world of sin and misery, will issue, I hope and trust, in the glory and felicity of that everlasting life, which has been procured for lost and ruined sinners by Jesus Christ. You have been taught, and I doubt not, my dear child, have been convinced, that you were born in sin, and that the salvation to which I have alluded, is conferred only on those who are born again of water and the Spirit, and made new creatures in Jesus Christ. You have had the privilege of being baptized and admitted into the visible church of Christ by this sacred ordinance—you have the means of grace and salvation—and have been taught that the vows of God are upon you; and now you should examine whether you have been born of the Spirit and made

1

a new creature.

You may draw this hopeful and happy conclusion from many passages in that word, which God has given to be a light unto our feet, and a lamp unto our paths. I will, however, direct you to one scriptural evidence, by which we may judge of our regeneration. If we have a true faith in Jesus Christ, and receive him as our Saviour, this is a mark that we are born of God. 'To as many as receive him, to them he gives the power (or privilege) to become the children of God, who are born not of blood &c., but of God.' I hope this privilege is dear E's and yours. May God grant you many happy returns of your birthday, and may you every year grow in grace, and become more wise, holy, and useful. * 66 Your most affectionate father."

About this time, my father began occasionally to feel the languor incident to advancing years, and to experience some of the losses, of which the poet says,

"Not a year but pilfers as he goes,

Some youthful grace that age would gladly keep,

A tooth or auburn lock, and by degrees

Their length and colour from the locks they spare."

The manner in which he received these warnings, is thus expressed in a letter to one of his sons:"During my dinner to-day, I lost another of my remaining front teeth, which has made some difference in my physiognomy. The removal of these little pins, one after another, reminds me that at length, in God's time, the whole earthly tabernacle must come down. May God, my dear E., prepare us for the change, and grant that we may have a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. And to his sister, in the summer of 1830"I begin to feel sensibly the effects of advancing

age, and my spirits are occasionally depressed;
added to which, the deep depravity of my nature
constrains me oftentimes to cry out, O wretched
man that I am-God be merciful to me a sinner!'
I have however many, many mercies to be thankful
for; and though I am vile, God continues to be
good and gracious. I will not then weary you
with complaints, but proceed with more pleasing
subjects. I have lately had my ten children at
home, all together, for three or four days, and
nine of them for nearly three weeks."

For several years my father had found in his clerk a valuable auxiliary and an attached friend. He was a man of a meek and quiet spirit, remarkable for heavenly mindedness and charity. In station and attainment, he was superior to the general class of parochial clerks; and his influence and ability were used in furthering the ministry of his pastor. A constant visitor at the bed of the sick and dying; he exemplified the pure and undefiled religion of the gospel; visited the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and kept himself unspotted from the world. His death in February, 1831, was sincerely deplored by all who knew him. My father, in a letter to his eldest son, thus adverts to it "Your sisters have told you that I have this week buried dear, good Samuel Mason. He died as he lived, in the Lord. He had been poorly for some time; but on Sunday, January 9th, he left the church, immediately after giving out the hymn before sermon, into which he returned no more, till

his body was borne in as a corpse. The hymn was the 224th; the two last verses of which are,

'Bright scenes of bliss, unclouded skies,

Invite my soul-O could I rise,

Nor leave a thought below!
I'd bid farewell to anxious care,
And say to every tempting snare,
Heaven calls and I must go.

'Heaven calls, and can I yet delay ?
Can aught on earth engage my stay?

Ah! wretched lingering heart!

Come, Lord, with strength and life and light,
Assist and guide my upward flight,

And bid the world depart.'

He will be much missed in his family, in the church, and in the town. With respect to himself, the end of life was answered; and he is, doubtless, gone to the rest which remaineth for the people of God." The departure of friends never failed to remind my father that ere long, he himself should put off his tabernacle; and he adds-"My own health is at times but indifferent. I sensibly feel the infirmities of advancing age, and can say, non sum qualis eram."

Listening to the call, "Be ye also ready," he continued, "stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord;" with his loins girded, and his light burning. Approaching now his seventieth year, the small remnant of his early connexions and friends was fast diminishing; and the death of one and another of the few survivors,

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