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Ardent in the profession of his faith, he showed, by his humility, charity, and gentleness of manners, the pure Source from whence he derived his religion, and the Divine Pattern which was the object of -his imitation.

It has been said, by the Author of the Obituary Memoir so often quoted, that" although Mr. Sharp was implacable towards the papal religion, he would not have hurt a hair of the head of any Roman Catholic." No remark can be more truly well founded. He did not consider the highest human virtue as exempt from error, or inconsistent with it. He lived in habits of friendship and intimacy with many men of all religious persuasions, and particularly with Roman Catholics and Quakers,—the two distinctions of religious profession against which some of his most severe observations were openly levelled.

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Having founded a faith precious to himself, he wished to propagate that faith but zeal in him was tempered by mildness and benignity; and although he viewed some doctrines even with abhorrence (if so strong a term may be applied to so gentle a mind), yet he was ready to relieve the wants of all his fellow-creatures, without distinction of country or colour." Such is the character given by Archdeacon Corbett, in the eloquent eulogium before mentioned. "I had the melancholy consolation," he adds, " of visiting Mr. Granville Sharp a short time before his decease. Life was then rapidly retreating; but still his regard for others preponderated over every consideration for himself. His urbanity was undiminished; and even politeness, which in him was not fictitious, but natural benevolence,-his politeness, even at that awful period, was as active as ever."

In consequence of his tract, entitled "An Apology for an Apology," &c., he was largely engaged in controversial correspondence on the religious opinions and practices of the Quakers; and he conducted it with the same candour, manly firmness, and discretion, which at all times accompanied his researches. It was in this manner that the eminent rule of his ingenuous mind, described in his first letter to Dr. Fothergill, was enforced on the observation of those who acted with him. Let it now stand an example for our conduct in similar

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points. The reader will pardon the single repetition in this place. —“ Experience has taught me to make a proper distinction between the opinions of men and their persons: the former I can freely "condemn, without presuming to judge the individuals themselves. "Thus freedom of argument is preserved, as well as Christian charity; leaving personal judgment to Him to whom alone it belongs *."

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It is true, that, as a general maxim, Mr. Sharp's theory of separating the offender from the offence, differs from that of every good man in little else than in the mode of declaration; namely, that punishment, or coercion, should never be influenced by, or in any manner conjoined with, hatred or malice to the criminal. It is also universally admitted, and particularly as a Christian's duty, that we ought to do good to the worst of men, as far as we can do so without danger or inconvenience to those who depend on us (including ourselves), or to general society. But the world owes a debt of gratitude to any one who institutes a new form, or rule, of practical application, in concerns of general morality and importance to our daily happiness: and Mr. Sharp's maxim is valuable in this respect. It is easily born in mind; and, when put in practice, is of immediate efficacy in promoting mutual forbearance and benevolence among mankind.

Such, indeed, is the tendency of a far more extensive precept, offered to us in the whole tenour of his life. He displayed the

* Of his practice, founded on this principle, sufficient instances appear in his correspondence with the respectable Quaker to whom this letter was addressed; in a letter addressed to his friend Benezet, on similar topics; and in his letters to Dr. Lanthenas and others, at the period of the French popular Revolution.

One of his answers to Dr. Lanthenas proves the united complacency and strength of his mind. It is eminent as an example of the spirit of Christian benevolence, in which the Truth should ever be maintained.

A later letter, designed to have been sent to Benezet, appears to have been withheld, from the dread of giving pain to him in a state of health not calculated to support the conflict of argument. It is found among the MSS., and has this superscription:-" G. Sharp to Anthony Benezet: a second letter. G. S. wrote to A. Benezet July 1774, and Mr. Benezet replied in November 1774. Several years afterwards, in August 1783, G. S. promised an answer to the first letter of 1774; but before it was transcribed from the rough copy, a letter from Dr. Rush, dated 27th April 1784, informed G. S. that Mr. Benezet was then seventy years of age, and in bad health." A postscript of the same letter, dated 15th May following, mentions his death.

venerable example of an almost perfect peace of mind, preserved and maintained through a constant course of vigorous action.

Ever gentle and amiable spirit! may the seeds of charity sown by thee in so many hearts produce in their season an abundant harvest, and offer to the sight of the Creator a grateful return for his bounties! May the lesson of thy philanthropy be diffused over latest ages, and teach the child of man, while he aspires to chasten error in the strong, or lift the weak and wretched from the dust, to love and venerate, in all, the fellow-creature-the equal work of God!

Two letters, here annexed, will aptly close Mr. Sharp's history, and supply all that is yet deficient in the delineation of his character: the first sent to the Rev. Mr. Owen, on the day of Mr. Sharp's interment, apologizing for the absence of one of the Deputies named by the African Institution to attend his funeral at Fulham; the second from Mr. Owen himself, to the Writer of this Narrative, with such information concerning his departed friend, as a long intimacy enabled him to impart, and the reader will not fail to value as it deserves.—

"My dear Sir,

To the Rev. John Owen, Fulham.

"It was my full intention to testify to-day my regard and affection for our departed friend, by joining the mourners at his funeral. Owing, however, to the sudden illness of the only person who could supply my absence, I am compelled to substitute this apology to you, and, through you, to the friends of this venerable and lamented saint. I have been much mortified by this circumstance, not only as it deprives me of the opportunity of showing this last token of respect to this great leader in every work of piety and beneficencethis emancipator of Africa, this father of the Bible Society-but as it puts it out of my power to execute my part of the trust, delegated by the African Institution, of assisting to convey his remains to the house appointed for their repose, until that day arrive when all that was mortal of him shall put on immortality. I had anticipated no small benefit to myself, from having my thoughts turned to the contemplation of an honoured character, who, for near

eighty years, had sternmed the tide of oppression and corruption; who, animated by a simple view of his duty, and that Christian philanthropy which emanates from the love of God and Christ, stood before kings and judges in the cause of the friendless and the faint; who laboured for God and man with unexampled assiduity and perseverance, and who yet made no account of his labours; who waged no war but with the devil, and the works of the devil and the flesh; and whose highest enjoyment arose from the advancement of God's spiritual kingdom in his own soul, and from the anticipation of its full establishment in every heart. I verily believe that a purer and more upright mind, one more single in its aim and intention, and more unequivocally scrupulous as to the rectitude of his means, more simply directed to the glory of God and the good of man, has never left this world.

CL

My dear Sir,

"Ever yours, my dear friend,

ZACHARY MACAULAY."

From the Rev. John Owen.-[EXTRACT.]

(In reply to several inquiries.)

"

Fulham, March 25, 1816. "I am not acquainted with the occasion of Mr. G. Sharp's writing and publishing his tract on several important Prophecies. He was a man of constant observation; interpreted all the passing events, political and religious, with a reference to Scripture Prophecy; and generally wrote and published under impressions for which a satisfactory account (I mean satisfactory to others) could not always be given. His principle was sound. He considered the world as under the administration of the Messiah, to whom all power had been given both in heaven and on earth. He regarded, therefore, every occurrence as forming part of that administration, and as ministerial to the purposes of Christ's spiritual kingdom. The Bible was his text; the events of every day were his commentary. The error to which he was liable (an error from which the wisest and the best have not been wholly free) was that of laying too much stress on the exactness of a mode of interpretation, which, from its very nature, must be doubtful and uncertain. In regarding the Papacy as the grand aɔɔstacy, and unrighteousness as the besetting sin of political authority, he was strictly correct. Nor can he be enough admired (or the grace of God in him) for the undaunted courage and unwearied perseverance with which he maintained these scriptural positions against every species of corruption, both in Church and State. But the love of his principle, and the influence which it had on

his own heart and conduct, would not permit him to make any, the least, allowance for the mixed and imperfect state of human affairs. He was for bringing back every thing to the standard from which it had deflected, and that with a degree of rapidity and decision often inapplicable to the case, and seldom compatible with a peaceful and orderly return to integrity and justice. I say this merely that you may know my opinion of what I must call his errors. These errors, indeed, are splendid sins; and I heartily wish the best virtues of some who have been, and are still, admired as great and good men, were not inferior to the worst of his errors. God appeared to have raised him up and qualified him for the work of political and moral reformation. He had, in a measure, the spirit and the power of Elijah: he was zealous for the Lord of Hosts, and he hated iniquity with a perfect hatred. With all his ardour for reform (an ardour which only expired with his life), he was full of loyalty and subordination. He revered the throne and the altar, and stood in the gap between those who would overthrow them, and those who wished to convert them into instruments of gain and oppression. In short, I would say of him, and can from a long and intimate knowledge of his character do so most conscientiously, that the Church had not a more dutiful son, the King a more loyal subject, and Mankind at large a more sympathizing friend and brother.

"His knowledge of languages, considering the limited nature and time of his education, was surprising. Besides his native language, he understood French, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and the Syriac and Chaldee dialects. For the acquisition of these he was principally indebted to his own exertions, prompted, not by an ambition for literary fame, but by a desire to understand the holy Scriptures in their original texts, and to possess the means of carrying into effect, both by reading and communication, the great purpose to which his life was devoted, that of promoting glory to God, and peace and good will among men. "With great regard, &c.

JOHN OWEN.

*Besides the distinguished notices of Mr. Sharp's decease already mentioned, many other obituary tributes to his memory were ushered to the world in various respectable publications, from which some extracts are here subjoined, because they are evidently the effusions of sensible and pious minds, and have a tendency to strengthen the impression of so much worth on the reader, and, of course, to render the example more largely beneficial.

"At Fulham, on the 6th July last, died Granville Sharp, Esq., in the 78th year of his age;a man of varied learning, and pre-eminent philanthropy; whose life was most actively and perseveringly devoted to promote the best interests of his species, under a deep sense of his responsibility to God. He was a man of singularly gentle and modest and courteous manners; but, in a cause which he deemed important, especially when it involved the rights either of his