an honourable, and good man; and no doubt has entered into the joy of his Lord."

Sabbath, and could walk four or five miles without being conscious of fatigue. A few weeks before he attained his 78th year, the Rev. The Rev. Dr. Stedman, who Dr. Stedman, who had paid him a communicated the intelligence of visit, remarks in writing to one of his death, remarks in his letter his sons, "On the 19th of October dated September 17, 1821. "But being Lord's day, I preached in my chief object in writing, is to the afternoon and evening, for the acquaint you, with what will perSunday School, in your Father's haps not excite much surprise, place of worship. I had not seen though it will doubtless awaken him for some time; but was pleas- many painful and tender feelingsed to find the good old man look the death of your aged Fatherso well, and to be in a very desir- which took place on Saturday able state of mind, evidently ripen- morning the 8th inst. I am ining for glory. He is much re-clined to think he had a slight apospected, and his ministry is well attended.'

plectick stroke. It had a powerful effect on his spirits, and considerIn 1821 this aged disciple of ably weakened his faculties. But Christ was released from the la- before his decease his mind was bours and sorrows of this mortal calm. He expressed his joyful state. He had fought the good hopes respecting a future world, fight, and finished the course, and and said, that in his greatest diskept the faith. And having noth-tress, during his illness, he had ing more to do, he was called to felt no doubts as to the safety of take possession of the crown of his state. righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give unto all them that love his appearing. In the month of April he had a slight attack of the apoplexy. This was followed by a disease of the nervous system, which occasioned uncommon depression of spirits. In a letter of sympathy addressed by the Rev. J. Mann, to the writer of this memoir, he says, "When I heard that your late venerable par: ent was very ill, I went over to see him, before he died. His mind was depressed, chiefly owing to the nervous disorder with which he was afflicted. After I had prayed with him, he frequently repeated the 7th verse of the 107th Hymn, 2d book, of Dr. Watts.

Oh! tell me that my worthless name
Is graven on thy hands;

Shew me some promise, in thy book,
Where my salvation stands.

It was said "God who has pro-
mised is faithful." "I know it,"
he replied, and will trust him
though he slay me." His mind
seemed more composed. He was

"His remains were laid in the grave on the Monday evening after his decease. I attended his funeral, and preached on the occasion from John xi. 11. "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth." Mr. Trickett of Bramley, delivered an address at the grave; and Mr. Laird of Pudsey, Independent Minister, concluded in prayer. The congregation was large and solemn, and appeared much affected,

"Your Father was much respected and beloved; his ministry was well attended; and was I believe useful, although of late years few have been added to the church. I regret that I had not an opportunity of seeing him in his illness. But absence from home and incessant engagements prevented. I had a great affection for him. And although he was twenty years older than I am, yet his death operates as an admonition to be also ready."

'Thus lived and died this servant of Jesus Christ. It is true indeed, that in his last sickness, from phy

sical causes, he suffered much || marks, commended them to the favor of Almighty God. These were services that by some of his children will never be forgotten. Then, their influence was highly beneficial; now, they are among the sweetest recollections of childhood and youth.

gloom. But at evening time it was
light with him. Lest any who saw
him at this time should call in
question the truth and excellence
of the gospel, even his nervous af-
fections were not permitted at the
last to maintain an ascendency
over him.

His God sustains him in his final hour!
His final hour brings glory to his God!

We might here close, but perhaps some more particular delineation of his character will be expected.

a

Mr. Sharp did not possess popular talents as a preacher. He was not distinguished for the elegance of his language, nor the graces of elocution." But it is not too much, to say of him, that he was good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine, whereunto he had attained." He had not enjoyed the advantages of a liberal education. But he had a vigorous and

His natural disposition was truly amiable. The law of kindness was in his heart. He never seemed more happy than when he had an opportunity of serving his neigh-active mind, which he improved by

bour. It was his aim to do good to reading, reflection, and interall men, especially to the house- course with others. He was conhold of faith. He was peculiarly versant with some of the best theocareful not to injure the reputation logical works in the English lanor the feelings of others. It is be- guage, and was also a diligent stulieved that he seldom, if ever, al-dent of the Scriptures. Few men, lowed himself to speak to the disperhaps, have spent more time in advantage of an absent person.comparing spiritual things with There was nothing which he dread- spiritual ;"the word of Christ ed in the church, so much, as the dwelt in him richly in all wisdom." appearance of a spirit of envy, jea- No one could hear him preach lousy and detraction. He was a without being convinced that he peace maker. His conduct was so had attentively read his Bible. guileless and inoffensive, that it is Although he never adorned his disdoubtful whether he had an enemy courses with the embellishments of during the whole course of his learning, and seldom awakened earthly pilgrimage, unless it was any thrilling sensations in his auindeed on account of his religious dience by bursts of impassioned principles. eloquence-yet there was a serious earnestness in his preaching, which commanded the attention of his

simple, grave, sincere; In doctrine uncorrupt; in language plain, And plain in manner; decent, solemn,

chaste,

He was a man of habitual piety.
The writer of this knows, that he
was in the daily practice of with-hearers. He was,
drawing from the concerns of the
world for the purposes of devotion.
In his family he erected an altar
for God. On Sabbath evenings, he
was peculiarly solemn and interest-
ing. When not called away by
public duties, he collected his chil.
dren around him, read with them
the sacred Scriptures; interrogat-
ed them concerning the discourses
they had heard through the day,
and after a few appropriate re-

And natural in gesture; much impressed
Himself, as conscious of his awful charge,
And anxious mainly that the flock he fed
Might feel it too- ******

It would not be difficult to exhibit other traits of excellence in the character of the deceased. But the person who has drawn this im

per, it would not be difficult to state the facts on which this conviction is founded. But although we may take the most sober and encouraging view of this subject, it must be acknowledged that the sin of drunkenness prevails to an alarming and humiliating degree. And it behoves every virtuous member of society, as much as possible, to arrest its progress,

ALLOW me to call the attention of your readers to an evil, concerning which our Saviour cautioned his disciples, when he said, "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness." In my remarks on this subject, I shall endeavour to avoid all exagDrunkenness is a vice, from gerated statements. I shall not which, when it becomes habitual, think it necessary to give force to few are reclaimed. It will theremy arguments by saying that we fore be my object in this communiare a nation of drunkards. Nor cation, not so much to expostulate shall I make any calculation how with those who are under its domany of this unhappy class there minion, as to warn those who are will be within a limited number of now temperate; and to offer a few years; because, it is one of those directions, which if observed, may events depending on so many other preserve many from this degrading contingent causes, that no correct practice. In relation to this sin, calculation can be made. State- the great object of the Philanthroments that are overcharged, either pist, the Patriot, and the Christian, in religion or morals, always do must be its prevention. He who more hurt than good. In the minds in any way contributes to this, not of reflecting men they excite dis-only serves his country, but the gust; and even cause the truth not interests of humanity and religion. to be credited.

If it be asked what are among the most effectual means of preventing drunkenness? I would say to parents; Give your children as good an education as your condition in life will justify. In doing this, you will not only be qualifying them for a station best suited to pro-them

I have indeed the gratifying conviction, arising from an attentive observation of the habits of the people, that in the part of the country in which I live, the evil of Intemperance has diminished, and is still diminishing. Were it pro

their faculties, but also giving that || graded habits, which will make him direction to them which will be fa- indifferent to whatever is either vourable to temperate habits. amiable, or dignified in human society.

All human beings are engaged in the pursuit of happiness. And we In a country like ours, where the must be aware, that notwithstand-means of intoxication can be proing the diversity of their enjoy- cured with so much facility, it may ments, they may all be resolved in- be expected, that in the absence of to two kinds the pleasures of the religious principle and of mental soul, and the pleasures of sense. enjoyments, men will seek exciteThe character therefore, which is ment in the intoxicating draught. given to a man's pursuits and en- From this view of the subject, I joyments will be more or less af- trust it will appear, that education fected by the culture or the neglect is an important means of preventof his mind. If a person attains to ing intemperance. We shall be years of maturity without educa-confirmed in this opinion, if we contion; if those pure springs of plea-sider the happy influence which edsure which have their seat in the|ucation has already exerted on the intellect and the heart, be kept frost bound by ignorance, then he will resort to other and more grovelling sources of enjoyment.

the

general character of our citizens for sobriety. We have, alas! too much of drunkenness. But it ought to be stated that the greatest proLet us imagine to ourselves, the portion of drunkards amongst us, case of a young man who cannot either came here after their habits read. He knows nothing of those were formed, or they are among aspirations of mind which poetry number, whose education has been produces; he feels no laudable am- criminally neglected. No intellibition from a contemplation of de- gent traveller can pass through our parted worth; he derives no enter- country and visit the towns and tainment from the details of public villages, in those states where there history or private biography; and is little or no legislative provision receives no serious impressions from made for schools, and look into a perusal of religious truths; and their taverns without having the for this lamentable reason, that all sorrowful conviction forced upon these writings are to him as a seal-him, that ignorance and drunkened book. What shall such an one ness are concomitant evils. do when his daily task is over? He And here I should do injustice has no inducement to repair to his to my own feelings, were I not to chamber, and take up some inter-express my firm persuasion that esting work-for he cannot read. Sabbath Schools are among the most He cannot retire within himself for efficient means of saving the coming he has no resources. He has no generation from the sin of drunkenrecollections of memory, nor de-ness. ductions of reason, nor pleasures of imagination to beguile his leisure hours. He cannot mingle in the society of those whose minds are cultivated by education, and by subsequent reading and reflection. There are no common feelings, or mental habits to bring such persons together. He will, therefore, associate with those who are like himself. And in a group of such ignorant and unfortunate beings, he will be confirmed in those low and deJUNE, 1826.

Where much labour is bestowed on the moral and religious instruction of youth, we may confidently hope to see the fruits in their temperate conduct. The veneration in which the children are taught to remember the Sabbath, their habits of attendance on religious worship, and the moral restraints to which they are subjected, encourage us to hope that many of the Sabbath School children will be saved from becoming drunkards.

23

and gentle influence, in the family circle. But alas! there are too many instances in which it is oth

there are some persons who save all their smiles, and reserve all their kind expressions, for strangers and occasional visitors. Abroad they are all calmness and sunshine; at home, they are all clouds and thunder storms.

Let those then who have children, see to it, that according to their ability, they open the avenues to the soul; so that there shall be sucherwise. Strange as it may seem, a free ingress and egress of the streams of mental pleasure, that they shall not have to depend for happiness in slaking their thirst with the poisonous and burning stream of ardent spirits. If they have a thirst for knowledge, satisfy it. If they have a taste for profitable reading, let it be encouraged. Direct them in the choice of books, and ascertain what new ideas they have acquired from what they have read. From a mistaken parsimony, some parents may perhaps hesitate to do this. But they may have to support them when they are sots. And yet by a little expense in the improvement of their minds, this calamity might have been prevented.

Full employment in early life is of great importance,if parents would prevent their children from being intemperate.

Many a man who could have no peace in his own habitation, has sought it first among his neighbours, and then at a tavern. He had no idea of becoming a drunkard; but as he could not sit in such a house without some apparent object, he has called for the inebriating cupand at last, has drenched his sorrows in liquor. There is reason to fear that many a wife, by the indulgence of anger, peevishness, jealousy, and unreasonable complaints, has converted the most temperate of husbands into the worst of sots. Did I think it necessary on a subject like this to address the married females who read your Magazine, I would say, if you wish to prevent your husbands from being drunkards, always meet them when they return from their avocations in the spirit of kindness. Anticipate their wishes. Shew that you cher

It is a truth which ought never to be forgotten, that when a person has nothing to do, he will do something worse than nothing. And this remark is peculiarly applicable to the period of youth. When the feelings are ardent, and the spirits gay, and the passions inish for them the sincerest respect. their new-born strength, and every Make them feel that they have at thing appears bright and fair-ruin least one friend in whom they can is almost sure to follow the steps of always confide, and in whose symhim who has nothing to do. When pathies whether of sorrow or joy your children have obtained a suit- they will always share. And make able education, let it be your con- them always feel that their own firecern to provide for them employ-sides are the dearest places on earth. ment. If instead of this they pass away their time in idleness, the probability is, that they will become drunkards and profligates, and then be candidates for a prison.

Perhaps I may be permitted to suggest that another means of preventing drunkenness is to make home a happy place.

If any where, surely love and harmony, meekness and forbearance, ought to diffuse all their mild

The same remarks are equally applicable to children. When they are governed with prudence and kindness; when a proper authority is tempered by love; when restraints and indulgences are guided by Christian wisdom; and when that kind of family intercourse is maintained, which makes home interesting; there will be few temptations to induce a young man to spend his evenings abroad. But