present. The preacher selected for the occasion attacked the worship of dissenters in his sermon, and condemned free and extemporaneous prayer. He endeavoured to prove that reading prayers was more ancient, more correct, and more useful. The next Sabbath morning the Dr. announced that he intended to answer the sermon that night, and would prove that free and extemporaneous prayer was more ancient, more scriptural, and more profitable than forms and liturgies. His large place of worship was crowded in the evening, and he triumphantly proved and maintained every position which he advanced.

As a tutor, he appeared to great advantage. A popular preacher now living remarked to the writer, that "he had the clearest head, the warmest heart, and the most philosophical mind of any tutor, that he knew of, in the kingdom." His knowledge was very extensive, and he was ever ready to communicate. When any difficulty was proposed to him, he never seemed at a loss for a reply, but met it fairly, and by his lucid exposition showed how it might be overcome. He would often meet his students on a Monday afternoon, if they returned home from preaching sufficiently early, and invite them to read either a piece from Cowper, or an eloquent passage from a sermon, or a part of some celebrated speech, in order to improve their style of address. He was anxious to make them preachers, as well as divines. At these times he would kindly notice improprieties of pronunciation, monotony of tone, and any defect which he thought would interfere with their usefulness. There was much dignity about his demeanour; and though familiar, he never forgot his place, and he expected them to remember theirs. He was minute in explaining the various branches of study, was affectionate in manner, and was like a father with his sons. He would sometimes take them with him to visit the afflicted and the dying, and from him they might learn how to soothe the sons and daughters of sorrow. He would encourage the humble and unobtrusive, but to self-conceit, stupidity, and carelessness he gave no quarter.

As a speaker on the platform, he was sometimes very impressive. Some men need much preparation, but he frequently shone the most when the least prepared. At the meetings of Missionary Societies, and Bible Societies, he often appeared to advantage. He went as a deputation to one town in this county, to represent the Bible Society. After the chairman had been appointed, one clergyman, we have been informed, rose and delivered a speech which contained his reasons for opposing that Society. After he had finished, the Dr. rose to reply. At first the reverend gentleman seemed little moved, but as the speaker advanced and demolished his reasons one by one, with a force of eloquence and a power of argumentation perfectly irresistible, he grew fidgety then seized his hat-then retreated a few yards-and finally walked out of the room in "double quick time," amidst the cheers of the whole assembly.

On another occasion, he attended a Bible Society meeting in By in company with the late Rev. W. Thorp of Bristol. Both spoke in their best manner. The Earl of Derby was in the chair. At the closing part of his speech the Dr. represented the foes of the Bible Society as flying before the armies of the cross, and addressing the Earl as one of the leaders of its battalions, he quoted with great animation the lines from Scott's "Marmion,"

"With dying hand, above his head

He shook the fragment of his blade,
And shouted, ' Victory!—

Charge, Chester, charge! On, Stanley, on !'
Were the last words of Marmion."

The head of the house of Stanley being in the chair, the appropriateness of the quotation excited universal admiration, and he sat down amidst the applause of a crowded audience again and again repeated. At a similar meeting in B―n he produced a great effect. The clergy of that day had not accustomed themselves to extemporaneous speaking so much as they have of late years. There were several of them present ; and as they rose to speak, one after another, they were extremely embarrassed, uttered a few disjointed words, and took their seats again. One clergyman rose, and with great confidence commenced by saying, "Mr. Chairman, the opponents of the Bible Society have said, Give us facts-Give us facts-Give"-He could say no more. An ashy paleness overspread his countenance, his speech had departed from him, and he sank down on his chair. The deputation, a clergyman, spoke well. Mr. Fletcher then rose, and chained the auditory to the spot by the flowing style and impressive nature of his eloquence. The theatre was filled on the occasion, and the cheering at the conclusion of the address was hearty and protracted. Admitting the phrase to be allowable, we were proud of our tutor on that day.

As a preacher, he attained to the very first rank. Some might excel him in one thing, and some in another; but take him as a whole, few were his equals. In all his sermons he studied to combine two things— to inform the judgment, and to impress the heart. He was varied. There was little danger of repeating old thoughts, and going over the same ground. There was always something new in his sermons, and he wore well. He was copious. When roused, it was difficult for him to close a discourse. New thoughts kept rushing into his mind, and which were clothed in language singularly chaste, bold, and impressive. He was very partial to expository preaching. He went through the four Gospels on the Sabbath mornings, and it was in those lectures that his wondrous stores of information were seen. He used to urge this mode of preaching upon his students, and to state to them its advantages. It is to be regretted, however, that with English congregations it is not very popular. He was instructive.

struck with the new light which he threw upon a passage, and we wondered that we had never seen it in that light before. He was pointed. The writer remembers distinctly the impression which he received from a discourse which the Dr. preached on the parable of "the tares and the wheat." His appeals to the conscience were thrilling and overwhelming. He was energetic. His voice was noble, full, and manly. There was nothing feeble, sickly, or effeminate about it. When excited by his subject, his eye would flash, his tones would be varied, and all felt that they were listening to "a master in Israel." He was sometimes pathetic. We remember his giving, one Sabbath morning, an animating discourse on the supports of the Christian as he travels through this "vale of tears," and he closed it in words to this effect, and which we wrote down at the time. He remarked, "I cannot close this sermon without reverting to the circumstance that it is fifteen years this morning since I first addressed you from this pulpit, at which time some of you gazed with interest on your then youthful preacher, as he determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. In looking round me, I see there is scarcely a pew from which some friend has not been removed by death, and laid in the silent grave. Some good I doubt not has been done in the name of Christ. Some have been turned from the error of their ways, and have been made acquainted with the truth as it is in Jesus. In reference to myself, I have to lament over the many deficiencies of which I feel conscious, but still am encouraged to go forward. Fifteen years more, and there can be no doubt that the eternal destiny of many who are hearing me this morning will be irrevocably fixed. Fifteen years more, and another congregation will be occupying those seats; and another voice, it may be, will be addressing you from the place on which I now stand. During the time I have been with you, how many warnings have been delivered to arouse you; how many invitations have been addressed to you; and how many offers of salvation have from time to time been sounded in your ears! Oh, that it may eventually be found that you have attended to those things which make for your peace!" During the delivery of this address the Dr. paused a full minute, being completely overpowered by his emotions. The tears and highly excited feelings of a large assembly testified to the effect which it had produced.

If vigorous mental power, extensive knowledge, commanding influence, and eminent piety be elements of true greatness, then JOSEPH FLETCHER was distinguished by that greatness. When his death was announced, many a tear dimned the eye, and many a lip uttered the words" Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel ?"

Bury, Aug. 15th, 1843.

N. S. VOL. VII.

4 z

ONE OF HIS STUDENTS.

THE AGENCY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CONSIDERED IN CONNEXION WITH AN EFFICIENT EVANGELICAL MINISTRY. ALL revealed truth is precious to the spiritual mind; and as "whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope," the word of God must be considered as the authoritative rule of our faith and practice, and as an infallible guide to our inquiries on all subjects that have any perceivable connexion with our well-being in this life and in that which is to come. The Bible is a boon of inestimable worth-neither men, for whose instruction in righteousness it was written, nor angels, who are described as looking into its mysteries, can calculate the amount of good which it confers on those who yield to its mandates and accept its proffered benefits. Its value is beyond computation; and the state of those who believe and understand it is indescribably blessed. To be prized it must be known; and those who are the most extensively and the most accurately acquainted with its facts and doctrines, with its designs and capabilities, are the most attached to it. Knowledge is essential to appreciation; and the labour bestowed on those pursuits whose object is to elucidate truth, and to confirm the judgment in the truth elucidated, is amply rewarded. The toil is never greater than the compensation. As our views of the "oracles of God" expand, our prospects, as believers in the doctrines of grace, brighten. Faith is succeeded by joy, and the joy of the Lord is strength.

We allude, not to a partial apprehension of the nature and importance of Divine truth, nor to a prejudiced attachment to any systematised arrangement of those doctrines which may be denominated primary and fundamental; but to a correct and an enlarged acquaintance with all the will of God, as revealed unto the fathers by the prophets, and in these last days unto us by the Son. It must be admitted that all truths are not all equally important and equally powerful; but as God has placed his word in our hands as an expression of his parental concern for our welfare, and as the laws which he has promulgated, the facts which he originated, and the promises he has made, together constitute the basis of a sinner's hope, the source of a believer's consolation, and the guide of both as they seek peace here and glory hereafter, to derive profit from the Divine testimony, we must surrender our understandings and hearts to its dictates and decisions. God's commands must be obeyed, and to all his communications prayerful and prolonged attention must be given. It cannot be denied that about some parts of Divine truth there hangs obscurity, and that all human attempts to remove it have failed. Great and marvellous is the Divine mind, mysterious therefore must be the Divine word in some of its parts and relations. We may not be able to harmonise all biblical statements,

and to unite them we may require a link which we shall never be able to find, while in the body. But as God is perfect, there can be no imperfection in his word; and on every point of practical importance, whether as to doctrine or duty, there rests not even a shadow-"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." And perhaps on no subjects is clearer light shown than on the occupations and responsibilities of the ministers of the Gospel, and on the duties and privileges of those for whose benefit the Christian ministry was instituted. The great commission intrusted by the Lord to his church-"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature," is as simple as it is important; and from the teaching of Christ and of his apostles, as well as from the directions which are given in the New Testament to the pastors and guides of God's flock, we may learn our duty as to the facts and principles of our ministrations, and as to the methods and purposes of our pursuits, both in the study and in the pulpit, upon our knees before God, and in fellowship with the great congregation. The Lord's servants are taught his will; and by his will their movements are to be regulated. The outlines of their duty are drawn with so much distinctness that they cannot escape notice; and these are the principal points to be observed by them in their endeavours to glorify his name. They have no more right to attempt to alter his plans of operations, than they have to subvert his purposes. To their work he calls them, in it he has promised to bless them; and, to cherish the expectation of enjoying his favour, they must conform to his pattern of service.

This appears to be the right place to state that the object of the writer is to draw the attention of his more youthful ministerial brethren to the agency of the Holy Spirit, as it relates to an efficient discharge of their pastoral obligations. His aim is fraternal. He does not censure. Conscious of his own imperfections, he would speak with diffidence of the failures of others; and he is not unwilling to sit at the feet of some of those to whom he ventures to offer these suggestions. He is no critic, nor has he any sympathy with those who repudiate the counsels of such as are just beginning to teach the way of life. His ministerial course was commenced early; and he well remembers the effect which hard speeches and shy looks had upon his own mind. Nor has he forgotten some of the mistakes into which he was allured, when, with a warm heart and an immature judgment, he first opened his mouth in the name of the Lord. Of all persons he would be the first to mantle the weaknesses of his brethren, and the last to lay them bare. But neither concealment nor exposure enters into his designs. Besides, he has no disposition either to accuse or condemn. As an observer he can justify to his own conscience the course he is now pursuing, and his remarks are intended to fall only where a restingplace may be found for them. The convictions of his mind, may not