York. His parents, though neither great nor noble in this world, were ornaments in that station in which an all-wife Providence had placed them. Under the miniftry of the Rev. John Edwards of that town, his mother frequently attended, and it was her endeavour to inculcate upon the mind of her fon thofe important truths, which even then, impreffed his memory, and were afterwards the delight and glory of his foul*.

His early difcovery of a tafte for literature induced his friends to fend him to the Free Grammar School, and afterwards to Cambridge, where he made fuch proficiency as to obtain an honorary prize, the reward of his claffical attainments. Upon his entrance into the miniftry, there appeared in him great integrity and earneftnefs. At this feafon his religious fentiments were orthodox rather than evangelical. Convinced, however, that religion was more than a form, the miniftry, more than an office of honour and emolument, and that "without holiness no man can fee the Lord," he laboured with much affiduity, if poffible, to eftablish his own righteousness; and, as he fometimes remarked, few perfons could poffible conceive what a difficulty it had been to him to unlearn what before it had coft him fuch pains to acquire. His prevailing defire was to be right; and, therefore, in him was verified the truth of our Lord's remark, that "if a inan will do his will, he shall know of his doctrine whether it be of God." Comparing his religious fentiments with the word of truth, he began to fufpect that all was not right; the deeper he searched, the more his fufpicions were increased and confirmed. This gradually brought him, with the fimplicity of a little child, to fit at the feet of Chrift, that he might learn the truth from his mouth. The light he had now received tended to discover the former darkness of his mind.

About this time Luther's comment upon the Epistle to the Galatians fell in his way; a work which was not only then rendered peculiarly useful to him, but for which he retained the greateft refpect to the day of his death. He now faw himself to be in that very state, in which the word of God reprefents all the unregenerate; and with him it was not a speculative nicety, but a fubject of infinite im

His mother, after he fettled at Hull, lived with him, and had the happinefs to fee, not only her prayers anfwered, but her labours crowned with fuccefs, in the holy walk and abundant usefulness of her fon. He furvived her only about two years.

portance,

portance, how a guilty finner could be juftified before a holy God. The truth as it is in Jefus, accompanied with its divine evidence and energy, gradually prevailed against thofe ftrong holds of prejudice with which his mind had been hitherto fortified. He received it as "a faithful faying, and worthy of all his acceptance, that Jefus Chrift came into the world to fave finners, even the chief of finners." This important change of fentiment and of heart took place fome years after he had been settled in Hull, as Lecturer and Mafter of the Free Grammar School. Indeed, the wisdom of God was manifefted in this, efpecially toward the people to whom he ministered; for, had he at first been introduced to them, with all that splendour of divine truth in which he afterwards fhone; it might have overpowered their minds, or have excited prejudices against his doctrine, not easy to be furmounted. Instead of this, as he received it of the Lord, fo he delivered it to them, difcovering error by a gradual display of truth. It might be faid of him, both as a Christian and as a minifter of the Gospel, that "his path was as the fhining light, which fhineth more and more to the perfect day." So forcibly and fo effectually did he commend himself to every man's confcience, as, in the fight of God, that his greatest opponents could not but revere his honeft fincerity. To all it was evident, that whether they fuppofed him right or wrong, he was in earneft; and, that because he believed, therefore had he fpoken. His whole heart was in his work. In the cause of Chrift he feared no man, but was bold as a lion; in the fervice of the Gospel he was affiduous and gentle, as a faithful fhepherd feeking the good of all. While in the graces of the Chriftian he flourished as the palm-tree; he was deep rooted in knowledge and experience as the cedar of Lebanon. To know Chrift and him crucified, was his daily ftudy; and to make him known, was the grand fubject of his public miniftry. He preached Chrift Jefus the Lord, and held himself the fervant of the people, for Chrift's fake.

The doctrine of human depravity, of atonement for fin by the facrifice of Jefus Chrift, of juftification freely by grace, of imputed righteoufnefs, and of the Spirit's work in regeneration, fanctification, and comfort, were fubjects upon which he infifted frequently with great clearness and energy and his labours, fo far from being vain, were crowned with abundant fuccefs. Sinners were converted,

the

the fearful encouraged, and believers were built up in their moft holy faith *.

For many years he rode every Saturday afternoon to Welton, where in the evening he prayed, and expounded the Scriptures, and the people flocked to the house where he lodged, to hear him. On the Lord's-day morning, he preached at North Ferriby, of which he was Vicar +, and afterwards returned to Hull, where, in the afternoon, he published the Gofpel to a very crowded and attentive audience. Every other Wednesday forenoon he delivered a lecture in the church; and on a Thurfday, he read prayers and expounded the Scriptures in Lifter's Hofpital. Not only the poor upon the charity, but perfons of great refpectability attended. His labours in this place were, perhaps, as much owned of God for general and abiding usefulness as any in which he engaged. Here he delivered himself with the greatest freedom, faithfulness, and affection; and a peculiar favour and bleffing attended the word. He was amongst his people as a father with his children, and fuch was his love to them, that, with holy Paul, he was "ready not only to impart to them the Gospel of Chrift, but his own foul alfo.”

In whatever he engaged, he made it evident that confcience was concerned. As a preceptor, his aim was at once to furnish the minds of his pupils with useful knowledge, and to cultivate their hearts. Every poffible opportunity was feized to enforce good morals, and to illuftrate truth, by leading their minds to God as the fource of all fcience, and to Jefus Chrift as the fulness of all truth. Several eminent characters were formed under his tuition, who now thine both in the Senate and in the Church.

In converfation he was fo affable and inftructive, that probably he never left any company, but they were conftrained to admire either his learning as a man, his piety as a Chriftian, or his fidelity as a minifter. In every place, and upon all occafions, his concern was to diffuse the favour of the knowledge of Jefus Chrift, his mafter.

The Spirit of God had led Mr. M. into very deep and extenfive difcoveries of the depravity of the human heart. He poffeffed a happy talent, almoft peculiar to himfe'f, in defcribing and detecting the pharifaic profeffor in all his fubterfuges. In this fubject he feemed only to have to review what he had formerly found in himself.

It was through the intereft and patronage of Mr. Alderman Wilberforce, grandfather to the prefent member for the county of York, most of his preferments in the church, in the earlier part of his life, were received.

But

But with all his excellencies, like others, he had his imperfections. Perhaps fome of his greateft conflicts were with himself. For he not only preached, but felt the deceitfulness and depravity of the human heart; and his na, tural temper being rather irritable, though this might be feldom vifible to any but himself, yet he found by experience, that it required all the influence of Divine grace to foften and meliorate his fpirit.

As an author, his works being now before the Public, a lift of them may fuffice. In 1781 he published "Gibbon's Account of Chriftianity confidered, with fome Strictures on Hume's Dialogues on Natural Religion." About 1785 appeared, "Some remarkable Paffages in the Life of William Howard;" and, in 1789, "Effays on Religious Subjects, particularly on the Influences of the Holy Spirit." The firft volume of his "Hiftory of the Church," was published in 1794; the year following appeared the fecond volume,; a third is faid to be nearly ready for the Public; and, as we are informed, he has brought that work down to about the time of the Reformation, we hope it may appear hereafter.

Upon the death of the Rev. Thomas Clarke, D. D. Mr. Milner was inducted to the Vicarage of the Parish of the Holy Trinity, Hull. This he enjoyed but a very fhort feafon; for, fcarcely had he entered upon his new refidence before he was called up to his heavenly manfion. The catarrh under which he had frequently laboured, greatly increafed; and, attended with other complaints, threatened a fpeedy diffolution. However, fome time after he revived a little; and during this interval, in the week before his death, a minifter who had been many years acquainted with him, being introduced into his chamber, and expreffing the joy he felt upon finding him apparently fo much better, and a hope that his mind had been happily fupported during his illness, Mr M. replied, "I have reafon to be thankful in that refpect; but those doctrines we have preached fo many years, particularly that of the atonement, can alone fupport a foul in fuch a feafon as I have experienced." Upon its being further remarked, that many were pleading with God for him, not only in the established Church, but out of it, that he might be fpared for greater usefulness, he rejoined, "God's people may differ in leffer things, but there is one fpirit in which they are all united ;-however, as to usefulnefs, at our time of life, we are not to expect great things, but must be thankful for what God has wrought, and it will be well to see that work stand.”

VOL. VI.

U

During

During his illness he was much in prayer for the flock committed to his charge; and though for a season he had great foul conflicts, to an intimate friend he afterwards faid,

Satan cannot bring one charge against me now, but I am able to answer it." Toward the close of life he flumbered much; and, on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 1797, in the 53d year of his age, he finally clofed his labours, and entered into the joy of his Lord.

Thus died the Rev. Jofeph Milner, in whofe life and converfation the truth and influence of Chriftianity appeared; in whofe doctrine, the mind, the fidelity, and the gentlenefs of Jefus Chrift were manifefted: his walk was exemplary, and his end was peace.

Truly the memory of the juft is precious. May the great Head of the Church raife up many fuch faithful labourers; and may the people, who have been deprived of this burning and thining light, retain not only the form, but the favour of his doctrine, following him, as he followed Chrift, till they fhall finally join with him in Heaven, in afcribing "glory to Him that fitteth upon the Throne, and the Lamb for ever and ever."

INCONSTANCY. A FRAGMENT.

CARCELY had Philander entered his clofet to meditate

SCAR

on the fermon he had just heard, when his ears were affailed by a fudden rap at the door; and he was quickly informed, that fome company waited in the parlour to fee him. With much reluctance, increafed by the conscious impropriety of Sunday vifits, he left his beloved retreat: ' and, upon entering the room, was faluted by the complaifance of Curiofo, Mutator, and Ventofus. After the formalities of an unexpected interview were adjufted, Philander, addreffing himself to Curiofo, faid, "Where have you been this morning?"-" Why, really," replied Curiofo, “I can hardly tell; for to be honeft, I have fpent a great part of the time in running about."" Then, I fear," said Philander, "you have not spent the time very profitably.". "Indeed you are much mistaken," anfwered Curiofo, "for I have attended two prayer meetings, and heard three fermons, and it is not dinner time yet."-" How can that be pofiible" replied Philander, with an unusual degree of earneftnefs. Why," faid Curiofo, "I heard Diligens at feven o'clock, and as foon as fermon was over, haftened to

a focial