ing for him, he exclaimed, 'It is well for me that it is a blood-bought crown, or I could never expect to wear it.'

"On the 1st of February, having considerably revived, he expressed a hope that he might be able to address his people at the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, on the following Sunday; his daughter said, 'I do not think you must attempt that.' The reply was in the words of the beloved disciple, 'My dear, I would only say, Little children, love one another.'"*

In his last hours, he spoke with much gratitude of the Christian love he had uniformly experienced from his brethren in the ministry, when a beloved member of his family referred to his own amiableness as the cause of the respect which had been cherished towards him. He shook his head significantly, and said, with emphasis, "My dear, do not praise me, only pray for me."

When he was enduring great sufferings from the nature of his complaint, he would utter such expressions as the following:— My sufferings are not worth a thought, When, Lord, compared with thine.'

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With a look of inexpressible tenderness and affection, he turned to the faithful and beloved companion of his life, and said "You have made an idol of me, and God is removing me: but look up to him; he will take care of you." These words were accompanied with a solemn charge to his family and friends, and particularly to his daughter, to care for and comfort one so justly dear to him and them.

As his brother, the Rev. George Townsend, stood by his bedside, and evinced intense emotion, as he witnessed the approaching struggle of mortality, the dying saint looked up to him, and said, "You must be still, and remember it is the will of the Lord." To a relative devoted to the sacred office, he said, "As a minister of Christ, let usefulness be your constant aim." For the spiritual interests of his grandchildren he expressed the tenderest concern to the last hour of existence, often exhorting them to remember their Creator in the days of their youth, and presenting suitable petitions to God on their behalf.

"On Tuesday evening," observes his biographer, "the 7th February, his brother, who was to preach the lecture, saw him previously, when he asked what was the proposed text, making some remarks which proved that there was no decay of intellectual vigour. After this conversation, he had a short quiet sleep; on awaking from which, his daughter inquired how he felt. His reply was, I am refreshed, but my disease is not abated.' She said, 'Your mind seems perfectly composed.' The answer to this remark, was a testimony to the fidelity of God, 'Yes, the Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.' The sands were now

running low; the tide of life ebbed rapidly. The dearest object of a hallowed affection entered the room: his lips uttered an expression of deep tenderness; he gently laid his head on her shoulder, and the unfettered spirit took its flight to that world with which he had long been in communion. So favoured was he, that the cold waters of death had been seen only in perspective. None of the usual precursors had agitated the dying saint. So calmly did he die, there was no sting. One moment expressing the tenderest earthly love; the next ushered into the presence of the Best Beloved. The angel of death had a short triumph-the wing was felt-the arrow was pointless."*

Mr. Townsend's death was sincerely and generally lamented. His funeral resembled more that of a prince than of a peculiarly humble minister of the gospel. Thousands, poor and rich, flocked with spontaneous emotion to the scene of his interment to do homage to the character of one who had been emphatically the friend of the destitute and the "apostle of charity."

The following affectionate testimonials from several public bodies with which he was connected, addressed to his sorrowing and bereaved widow, will prove the high esteem in which he was held :—

"FROM THE COMMITTEE OF THE DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM.

"At a special meeting of the Committee of the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb Children of the Poor, held at the City of London Tavern, on Thursday, the 9th of February, 1826.

"Resolved unanimously-That this meeting have to record, with feelings of the deepest regret, the lamented death of the Rev. John Townsend, the founder of this useful and extensive charity.

"That the committee beg to offer their sincere condolence to his widow, and his bereaved family, and to request permission to attend his funeral, as a testimony of respect for the memory of their excellent and much esteemed friend.

"That a communication be requested with the executor, in order that the intentions of the committee may be carried into effect in the way that shall be considered the most respectful on the occasion, and most in accordance with the feelings of the family."

In the hall of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, a marble bust of the deceased, presented to the institution by his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, is placed, which will perpetuate the memory of its honoured founder, and remind posterity of what may be effected by a single individual fully bent on doing good.

"RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY." At a meeting of the committee held this day, February, 28th, 1826.

"Resolved-That the committee offer to the bereaved family and friends of the Rev. John Townsend, their sincere condolence, and, at the same time, recur to his memory with sentiments of profound respect, and most cordial regard; sensible that, in losing him, the church and the world have lost a bright ornament, and an eminent benefactor.

"On his devotional spirit, on the soundness of his judgment, the simplicity of his manners, the suavity of his disposition, and his exemplary zeal in the numerous departments of labour in which his piety and philanthropy conducted him, it were both easy and gratifying to expatiate. But to speak more appropriately,—' In him the committee welcomed one of their earliest friends, an acceptable contributor to their publications,

• Memoirs, &c. p. 172.

for many years a member of their body, and they feel persuaded, to the latest period of his life, an individual, whose congratulations and prayers accompanied the progress of the Society, in its operations throughout the world.'”

"BOARD OF CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS. -At a meeting of the Board of Congregational Ministers, on Tuesday, the 14th February, 1826,

"It was unanimously resolved-That though it has not been the usage of this Board to advert to the decease of its members, it is, nevertheless, deemed proper to record on its minutes a special resolution, expressive of its deep regret at the recent event, which, in the dispensation of Divine Providence, has removed from their fellowship on earth the Rev. John Townsend; whose memory they desire to venerate with grateful recollections, on account of his EMINENT CHRISTIAN PHILANTHROPY, and especially the PRACTICAL AND EFFICIENT BENEVOLENCE which he displayed on behalf of that denomination to which this Board more particularly belongs.

"On this occasion, they deem it an incumbent duty to pay this marked tribute of RESPECT and AFFECTION to the CHARACTER of their DEPARTED FRIEND, as the only practicable method of expressing their respect and veneration.

CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOL." The following resolution was passed unanimously, by the Committee of the Congregational School, at their meeting, held on Monday, the 20th April, 1826.

"It having pleased the Great Head of the Church, in the arrangements of his unerring providence, to call home to himself, since the last meeting of this committee, the venerable and excellent founder of the Congregational School,

"Resolved-That this committee is anxious to embrace the earliest opportunity of recording its sense of the very great loss which this School, in common with the numerous religious and benevolent institutions with which the late Rev. John Townsend stood connected, has sustained by his removal.

"This committee will long and fondly cherish the memory of his amiable deportment, of his unaffected piety, of his disinterested zeal, and of the eminent services which he rendered, not only to this institution, but to the cause of Christ at large."

These and other equally honourable testimonies were borne to the philanthropy and eminent worth of Mr. Townsend, by the committees of various benevolent institutions, which he had either originated, or essentially aided by his counsels and devoted labours.

From the preceding sketch it will be seen, that Mr. Townsend was no ordinary character. Few Dissenting ministers, in his day, rose to greater eminence. In the qualities of sterling piety, and never-tiring beneficence, he attained to a most enviable distinction. In all the relations of life he proved himself an honour to the ministerial and Christian character.

As a preacher, he was solid, edifying, scriptural, and affectionate; much accustomed to seize upon and improve passing events. He insisted habitually upon the doctrines of free grace; but urged them in a practical and experimental manner. To those who were weary and disconsolate, he knew how to speak a word in season. His pastoral duties were performed with exemplary skill and diligence. The poor, the afflicted, the aged,

the young-all received a measure of his assiduous attention; and considering his numerous engagements with the religious public, he was a singular example of pastoral diligence. In his domestic character, Mr. T. shone with peculiar brilliancy. As a husband, a father, a master, he walked before his house with patriarchal simplicity, dignity, and gentleness. The law of kindness was on his lips, and his family government was maintained by the combined influence of holiness and love. His friendships were regulated by a nice and discriminating delicacy, which ever prompted him to consult the interests and the feelings of those who were the objects of them. The consequence was, that his friends were unusually attached to him, and that he knew less, perhaps, than most men of the sorrow of heart connected with the instability of human friendships. Humility was a marked feature in the character of Mr. Townsend. Though he met with more circumstances calculated to fan the pride of human nature than falls to the lot of most public men, he was never seen, in the slightest degree, elated by the commendations and flatteries which his philanthropy drew forth from the lips even of princes.

But though humble, he was, in the best sense of the term, a man of a public spirit. This was shown, on many marked occasions; but more particularly in his very energetic reply to the attack made by Bishop Horsley upon the proceedings of the Dissenters, in their strenuous efforts for the instruction of the young in their Sabbath-schools. But Mr. T. was no party-man in his denomination; though a Dissenter on principle, he breathed a catholic spirit towards sincere Christians of every name; and cordially united with all who loved the Lord Jesus in sincerity and truth.

His firm attachment to the principles of the Protestant Reformation was clearly evinced in his preface to Claude's celebrated "Defence" of that wonderful revolution of human thought and conduct. Had he written nothing but that preface, it would have been sufficient to stamp him as a man of varied reading, of sound judgment, and of exalted devotion.

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MEMOIR

OF THE LATE

REV. EDWARD WILLIAMS, D.D.,

OF ROTHERHAM COLLEGE.

To have ranked the first theologian of his age in the list of its founders, was an honour to the London Missionary Society, of which its friends might well be permitted to boast. Profound in his researches after truth, and eagle-eyed in the detection of error, Dr. Williams was, at the same time, a meek and humble disciple of the cross, and a man of apostolic zeal and devotion in all that pertained to the diffusion of vital Christianity, both at home and abroad. In his own personal history, he illustrated the possibility of combining the loftiest powers of abstraction, with the fervour of a childlike devotion, and with the vivid appreciation of the simplest elements of evangelical truth. Never was polemic better equipped to wage successful warfare with the embattled hosts of error; and never was Christian more disposed to sit down as a little child at the feet of Him, who exalts his disciples by humbling them. The world is truly the better, that such men have lived; for in them posterity may learn the important lesson, that strength of mind and varied research are in no way incompatible with Christian simplicity, and active beneficence.

Edward Williams, like Dr. Owen, was a native of Wales, and was born Nov. 14th, 1750, at Glanclyd, near Denbigh, ou a farm which had been occupied, for nearly a century and a half, by the family of the Edwards. His ancestors appear generally to have been persons of fair and honourable reputation; and some of them, particularly his great-grandfather, Mr. Samuel Williams, of sincere piety. He was the only surviving son of Thomas and Mary Williams, who reared him with much parental tenderness, but who taught him nothing more of religion than mere reverence for its outward forms. His childhood, however, gave promise of his subsequent distinction. Grave and reflective,