comforts from us. Lord mercifully appear for us, and be the Lord our healer,' and spare her for thine own glory." This prayer was answered, at least, as to the former part of it, for she was restored to health and is still living; may the latter part of the prayer be answered in an eminent degree! I believe her soul will say, Amen. About eight years before he died, when under great personal affliction, he writes, "I feel much for my dear children, but the direction and the promise are, Leave thy fatherless children with me, and let thy widows trust in me, and I will preserve them alive.' On this I wish to rely-Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. My children are the children of thousands of prayers! Godly ministers and godly people have prayed for them, ever since they were born! O that they may be engaged in the duty themselves; that it may be said of each, behold, Timothy, Thomas, Eliza English, prayeth."

The mind of Mr. English was severely exercised for several years, by the afflictions and deep mental dejection of Mrs. English, his second wife. Frequent family circumstances, the loss of children, and the unkindness of some professed friends, produced a great degree of nervous debility.

At the commencement of her affliction and dejection of mind, he writes, "All the past week I have been much distressed on account of my dear wife, whose mind has been in the depths of woe, and whose expressions have been tinctured with the deepest despair. Her views of sin are most clear, and her feelings exquisite. She has just ideas of the divine purity, and of the inviolable justice of God. O that she could take hold of the covenant of peace! I can trust God but little in difficulties. I look at the waves, instead of looking to Jesus, who walketh on the waters or sitteth King of the floods.' My anchor is often lost in a storm."

About two years after the death of Mrs. English, he married his third wife, who was an intimate acquaintance of their much esteemed friends, Mr. and Mrs. Neale, of St. Paul's Church-yard, London. He speaks of her in his diary, in strong language of esteem and affection She survives him, but has been the subject of much personal affliction, and great mental depression, both before and since his death. They were married by their intimate, friend, Mr. Newton, Rector of St. Mary Woolnoth, London; who addressed them in the course of the day, at Mr. Neale's, in language affectionate and judicious. He admonished them to moderate their expectations of human happiness, that they might not be disappointed. He reminded them, that there were nights, as well as days; winters, as well as summers; and bitters, as well as sweets, in human life. He guarded them against

over-rating their trials, and under-rating the mercies; against expecting too much from each other, and too little from the Lord. He reminded them, that this was not their rest; the same sun that rises in the morning, sets at night. At their period of life, the sun had past the meridian, they had therefore but a short afternoon: but he wished them to consider, that they had another bright sun, and a long day before them, which would amply repay them for the darkness and storms of the preceding evening. They soon realized the intimations of their friend. In a few months after his marriage. the shades of the evening began to close around him, and the storms of personal afflictions to bear heavily upon him.

In June, 1798, he writes thus" It does not appear to me, that I shall ever be capable of engaging in my work to any effectual purpose; each attempt to speak in public throws me back again. I desire to be resigned, and to adore the Lord for making me useful, and for enabling me to wait, and to suffer, till I am prepared to enjoy him for ever. This I humbly hope for only through faith in the righteousness of the Saviour of sinners, on whom I rely for the whole of my salvation. I daily feel that, in, myself, I am nothing as to worthiness; I have nothing, and, as to merit, I can do nothing blessed Jesus! be thou my all in all."

About this time his debility was so great, and the interruptions to his public work so frequent, that it was found necessary, after having had occasional supplies for some time from the London Academies, to have a fixed coadjutor, either as a co-pastor, or as an assistant.

His people made choice of Mr, George Scott, as his stated Assistant, who continued with the people for several years, and of whose ministry they bear an affectionate and grateful remembrance. After Mr. Scott left them, the pulpit was filled by ministers and students from London, Mr. English addressing them occasionally for about five and twenty minutes, and sitting to dispense the Lord's Supper; but even these services required greater exertions than his enfeebled constitution was able to bear.

He frequently lamented the frame of his mind towards. God, and the deficiency of his character, both as a Christian and as a minister, and sharply reproved his own heart, in strains similar to the following:-"I lament that I know but little of walking with God through the day: my heart is ever cleaving to the dust if it rises a little, it soon sinks again, and returns to its former grovelling in the earth. In all things I offend, and in all I come short. I am an unfaithful servant. When at Oxford, a few days since, I saw a person

who once made a profession, and appeared to have a savour of religion, but he has made shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. Though I pitied him, I felt my mouth shut; and now I reproach myself for not speaking faithfully to him.I find it more difficult to be faithful out of the pulpit than in it. In the pulpit I am a lion-out of it I am but a lamb. I need more resolution: I lament the want of Christian courage," Soon after this he says," How much I need to wean my heart from all things of an inferior nature. O my God! if I may call thee mine-how distant is my heart from thee! Worldly cares, perhaps, through a distrust of thy providence, occupy my mind. I would fain be under the influence of such a prudent concern about my temporal supplies as is connected with a reliance on the divine promises and providence. I desire to learn the happy medium between distrustful anxiety about worldly interest, and a sinful indifference to the duties I owe to myself and my family."

Mr. English, as a Minister, was, in general, well received; and, if he did not rank with the first class of popular preachers, may be fairly placed among the second. His occasional labours at Bristol Tabernacle, at the Hotwells Chapel, at Mr. Hill's, Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire, at Westminster and Surry-Chapels, were frequent and acceptable, till his weakness rendered him incapable of filling large places with facility to himself, and pleasure to his hearers.

In his ordinary habit of speaking, his voice was agrecable, and his articulation distinct, but seldom very pathetic. In the prime of his life there was a great vivacity of expression, and great earnestness displayed in his tones. His attitudes, though not formed upon the exact principles of oratory, were, for the most part, natural and impressive. His pulpit-style was formed upon the principles of nature, not of art. His language was such as every one could understand, and none but the fastidious could dislike. If his language was not elegant, it was not coarse: it was neat, simple, and perspicuous. Mr. English's preaching displayed a sound judgment and an extensive knowledge of the Scriptures. Soon after he left the college, he was called "the Walking Concordance;" and his ministry, for many years, proved it was not a mere textual knowledge he possessed of the word of God, but a judicious acquaintance with its evidences, doctrines, principles, rules, and privileges. His method of preaching partook of the explanatory, declarative, inferential, and applicatory. It was his constant custom, on the Lord's Day morning, to ge through some books of the Scriptures.

(To be continued.)

THE SUBSTANCE OF AN ADDRESS GIVEN TO THE PASTOR OF A CHURCH AT HIS ORDINATION.

(Concluded from page 209.)

II. Take heed unto the doctrine.-The word rendered doctrine signifies teaching. Timothy was ordained to be a teacher of recorded truth in all its parts, for the regulation of the faith and practice of his hearers. To his teaching, therefore, his attention is solemnly directed. This branch of the exhortation comprehends the whole of Timothy's duty, with regard to the matter and manner of his teaching, both in public and in private. Beloved Brother, you also occupy the station of a christian teacher; and, like Timothy, you need the word of exhortation. Let me, therefore, entreat you to take heed to the kind of doctrine you teach, and to the manner in which you teach the same.

First, Take heed to the kind of doctrine you teach. teach. We read of many teachers who corrupt the truth, and of others who teach for doctrines the commandments of men. No upright servant of Christ can do so willingly; but the most upright uninspired teacher is in danger of doing it from ignorance. To prevent this, much prayer and patient investigation are necessary; and, above all, a simple and habitual dependence on the Father of lights, for the wisdom that is from above. Take heed, that you draw all your doctrine from the scriptures of truth. All the doctrine therein contained is holy. As a system, the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are perfect, and able to make the man of God such, see 2 Tim. iii. 14-17. The Bible is the treasury, out of which as a good steward you are to bring forth things new and old. It contains milk for babes, and strong meat for those who are of mature age. As a watchman on mount Zion, it is your duty to hear the word of God, and give your hearers warning from him, see Ezek. iii. 17-21. The design of the teaching of the servant of Jesus is, to convert sinners, and to build up the saints in their most holy faith. In point of means, the scriptures are sufficient to fit the man of God for his work*.

In the second place, Take heed to the manner in which you teach revealed truth. There are some who imagine, that pro

*It will be understood that it is the duty of every minister of the gospel to avail himself of every lawful means within his reach for increasing his knowledge of the scriptures. To despise the labours of others, under pretence of drawing our doctrine from the Bible alone, would evince great folly.

vided they teach the truth, the manner of doing it is of little consequence but this is a great mistake. As well might a builder persuade himself, that provided the materials are good, it is of little consequence how they are placed in the building. I am persuaded, Brother, that you have not so learned Christ. You know that it is essential to the character of a good minister of Jesus Christ, that he rightly divide the word of truth, &c. see, 2 Tim. ii. 15. Nevertheless, a few remarks on this momentous subject may not be unseasonable. Let me beseech you, 1st, To take heed, in your teaching, to give every one his portion in due season. This is essential to the character of a faithful and wise steward. It is not enough that, in your teaching, you clearly show the distinction between the precious and the vile, and state generally the promises and threatenings of the scriptures. A man may do this very accurately, and never feed the flock of God, or faithfully warn the wicked. Remember there is a diversity in the family of God, and in the family of the wicked one. In the family of God there are babes, young men, and fathers. Nor is this all. Some are prospering and others declining-some rejoicing and others mourning -some there are who enjoy affluence and health, while others are oppressed with poverty, adversity, and affliction. All of these are exposed to temptations which are in a manner peculiarto their circumstances. They need their portion; and in order that they may have it, you must study to unite variety with orthodoxy. In the family of Satan there is likewise a variety of character, which the servant of God must not overlook. Be it your study to give to each his portion in due season. 2d, Take heed that, in your teaching, you give every part of revealed truth its due proportion. That some parts of revealed truth are more important than others, is obvious; but each part has a relative importance, and the servant of the Lord must study, as far as in him lies, to declare the whole counsel of God. It is a good general rule to give every part that proportion which it holds in the oracles of God. But preachers of the gospel are exceedingly apt to act contrary to it. There are, perhaps, few preachers who have not, what may be called, their favourite subjects on which they like to dwell.Hence, it happens that some are constantly dwelling on first principles, and undisputed principles too-some on the law, and others on the gospel-some on the threatenings, and others on the promises-some on the duties, others on the privileges of the people of God, &c. &c. Now all these subjects are good and necessary; but none of them ought to supplant the others. When this is the case, the family of God cannot be edified. 3d, Take heed that you teach the truth in a plain manner.

The necessity of this is obvious to all; but we