a night so comfortable, he confessed, as he had never before enjoyed in his life.--The perfect knowledge that the Lord Jesus had of his wants, the tender care he exercises, and the sufferings he so freely underwent, were the subject of his astonishment and profound admiration. No one who knew Dr. Stennett could suspect him to be deficient in exalted sentiments of the Redeemer; yet he declared that all he had hitherto conceived and preached concerning Jesus, appeared to him as nothing in comparison with what he then experienced: And hence he exhorted his people in the afternoon of the same day, which was the close of his ministry, "to come boldly to the throne of grace, that they might obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." His health began to decline a few months after the loss of Mrs. Stennett, and prevented the continuance of his ministerial labours. But his love to his flock suffered no abatement. He desired a friend to tell them" that he loved them all in the Lord, and that the truths he had preached, were his only consolation in the hour of death." The temper and comfort of his mind in his illness, were displayed in several little incidents, which cannot be otherwise than pleasing, since they prove that he continued to experience in the midst of his afflictions "that the Lord was indeed gracious." Before he was confined to his bed he prayed one evening in his family, in a manner which deeply impressed all present," that God might give an easy passage out of life." And God granted him his request. Some vinegar and other ingredients being given to him as a gargle for his throat, he said, with great emotion, which shewed his thoughts were directed towards Jesus, "And in his thirst they gave him vinegar to drink. Oh! when I reflect upon the sufferings of Christ, I am ready to say, what have I been thinking of all my life? They are now my only support;" and he added, respecting those tenets, which he greatly abhorred, because they tended to degrade Christ's person and atonement, "what should I do now, if I had only such opinions to support me." Taking his daughter by the hand, he said, "wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him-he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." To his son who came to see him, and who at that time was also very ill, he said, "My son, God hath done great things for us. He is very gracious to us, I can leave myself and my family with him." Upon another occasion, he repeated this verse of a charming hymn which he had formerly composed, Father at thy call I come; In thy bosom there is room Press'd with grief on every side. 66 can no man In short, all that he uttered indicated the serenity of his mind, that he was happy in God, and that the ground of his happiness was the love of God, his Saviour, in laying down his life for us. "Other foundations," as he expressed it with energy, lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. His name is as ointment poured forth. Oh! he is the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely." He was deprived of the power of utterance a few hours before his departure; but he died in a tranquil and easy manner, gently falling asleep in Jesus, Aug. 24th, 1795, in the 68th year of his age. He left behind him an affectionate son and daughter, viz. the Rev. Joseph Stennett and Miss Elizabeth Stennett, in both of whom he had " inexpressible satisfaction." His remains were deposited in his family vault in Bunhill Fields, in which Mrs. Stennett, his beloved wife, had been interred but a few months before him. The pall was supported by the following ministers; Dr. Kippis and Dr. Rees, of the Presbyterian, Mr. Brewer and Mr. Towle, of the Independent, Mr. Martin and Dr. Jenkins, of the Baptist connection. The funeral sermon was preached 6th Sept. 1795, by Dr. Jenkins, who had himself been a member of the church in Little Wild Street, and by them called to the ministry of the gospel, from 1 John iii. 16. and a peculiarly solemn and interesting address was delivered by Mr. Booth at the place of interment. The sermon and address were afterwards published at the request of the church, who not only engaged to defray the expenses of publication, but also took upon themselves to conduct the funeral and support the whole expense attending it. THE loss of such an eminent character as Dr. Sten nett, was deeply regretted, not only by all the Baptist churches throughout the kingdom, but also by many most respectable persons of the other denominations of Protestant Dissenters, and also of the National Establishment. John's eulogy concerning one of the best men in apostolic times, was pronounced to be applicable to his memory in every circle of the godly; "Demetrius hath a good report of all men, and of the truth itself; yea, and we also bear record, and ye know that our record is true." THE following brief sketch of the character of Dr. Stennett appeared in the Protestant Dissenters' Magazine, Vol. II. p. 367, &c. It was drawn up by his friend Dr. Winter, and comprises so handsome a tribute to his memory that it would be unjust to with hold it on the present occasion. The candid reader will readily excuse the repetition of an idea on a subject of this kind : "ON Tuesday, August 25th, 1795, died at his "house on Muswell Hill, in the 68th year of his age, "the Rev. Samuel Stennett, D. D. a respectable and "eminent Protestant Dissenting minister, of the "Baptist denomination. His father and his grand"father had been deservedly celebrated in the beginning and middle of the present century under the same character. To be descended from such men, "as well as to be able in the line of his ancestry to σε trace some, who for the cause of liberty and religion “had quitted their native country, and their tem"poral possessions at the revocation of the edict of "Nantz, he accounted a far higher honour, than to be "the offspring of nobles or of monarchs. But the "excellencies of Dr. Stennett's character were not "merely relative. His was not a borrowed lustre, "reflected from the virtues of his progenitors, but a "character which, independent of all external con"nections, of the value of which he was however deeply sensible, beamed forth its native goodness in "the view of the world. 66 "His mind was remarkably formed for weighing "with impartiality the various questions proposed to "its attention. His enquiries were always directed by evidence, and limited by the nature of the sub"jects, on which they were engaged. Through life "he pursued truth with avidity. And having arrived "at what he deemed a satisfactory conviction of it, "he was at once firm in his own opinions, and candid "in the allowance he made for the different reasonings of others. It was still more to his honour, "that he was a most sincere and zealous friend of "vital religion, and estimated the importance of re 66 66 ligious opinions, principally from their tendency to "advance its great and eternal interests. Deeply "had he imbibed the genuine temper of his divine "Master. Piety and zeal, compassion and benevo"lence reigned in his mind, and diffused their in"fluence through his whole behaviour. 66 66 66 "In his family, authority was so tempered with friendship, that while its energy was increased, its appearance was scarcely to be discerned. The serene piety, the cheerful benevolence, the improving "intercourse, the generous hospitality, which digni"fied his favourite residence at Muswell Hill, will "dwell on the recollection of many with melancholy pleasure. No longer since than last March, a "breach was made on the happiness of his domestic "circle by the death of Mrs. Stennett, an event which "he felt as a man of tender affections, but which he "supported with all the dignity of a Christian. 66 "In his social connections, he was the wise adviser, "the cheerful companion, the instructive and affec"tionate friend. To the denomination of Christians "to which he belonged, he was properly and warmly "attached; and its interests not in this kingdom |