structions he received, and affording the most perfect satisfaction to those who took part with Mr. Stevens in advancing his education. The reader might be supplied with many more letters upon this interesting subject: but as my intention is not to fatigue, but to instruct and improve, I shall only furnish him with one more letter on the subject of the Berean Society, a letter, which, for delicacy of feeling in the manner of conferring a kindness, and for neatness of expression, never has been surpassed. In the month of January, or February, 1802, this young gentleman was seized with a violent and dangerous illness, which threatened to blast all a father's hopes and the expectations of his friends: for, when he was taken ill, he was just on the eve of receiving Deacon's orders from the great and learned Doctor Horsley, then Bishop of Rochester, afterwards of St. Asaph. The anxious father, hearing of his son's distress, flew from his remote residence to Oxford, there attended his sick son, and by the blessing of God, on the means used for his recovery, had the double satisfaction of seeing him restored from the brink of the grave, and of being present with Mr. Stevens, at his receiving ordination from the hands of the Bishop of Rochester. But the mind of Mr. Stevens was always intent on the wants of his friends, and his charitable hand always ready to anticipate their necessities. Fearing that the expence of so long a journey would fall heavy upon the pocket of this venerable clergyman, he conveyed, at parting, a Bank note into his hand, enclosed in the following letter, with this superscription:

"To the Rev.

"Not to be opened till arrived in the latitude of Ludgate Hill."

"Broad Street, March 9, 1802) "The Bereans consider themselves as greatly

obliged to, for his late anxious attention to the young student under their protection, and take the liberty to enclose a 50%. Bank note, to defray the expences of his long, tedious journey, on the occasion, wishing to add more to it, if that is not sufficient for the purpose; as they cannot think of suffering him to be at any charge on account of their ward, till they have completed the work they undertook, and can congratulate the good senting his son to him in priest's orders."

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It is impossible to present to the reader any thing in the scope of Christian charity more pleasing to the feelings of a well constituted mind than the whole of this transaction: and, I congratulate the young gentleman, who was the origin of all this kindness, and the object of such distinguished favour from so good a man as the Treasurer of the Berean Society. It must be a source of heart-felt gratification to him as long as he lives.

But another fact deserves to be recorded as no less excellent and exemplary, and which I am enabled to state from Mr. Stevens's own letter, sent to me by the worthy clerk of Bridewell Hospital. It seems, that in the year 1800, he had been applied to, to become one of the stewards of Bridewell and Bethlem Hospitals for that year, which was, as we all recollect, a year of great scarcity, upon which he wrote this answer:

"Mr. Stevens has received Mr. Hudson's letter, and is very ready to accept of the appointment to be steward this year; but submits it to the consideration of the governors and the gentlemen in rotation, whether in these times of scarcity, it is not more advisable for the rich to fast, that the poor may not starve; and as there is no collection, on the occasion, for the benefit of the hospitals, may he venture to recommend the practice adopted

once before, of applying the money to be expended on the dinner, for the relief of those who are in want, rather than for the indulgence of those who abound?"

A word spoken in due season, says the wise man, how good is it? So it happened here; for the benevolent suggestion of this worthy governor was adopted by his brethren; and the sum of 300%. was distributed to the necessitous poor, in lieu of being employed for purposes of an inferior nature.

In the journey of life we often meet with persons, who, having money, give it readily; some do it from an easiness of nature, rather than give themselves the trouble of refusing; others from a benevolence of disposition, which takes a pleasure in relieving distress, without being influenced by true Christian motives. But, whenever the whole of a man's conduct is uniform, where you find charity to man, attended by piety to God, and always proceeding from his command, "to do good unto all men," then we may be assured, that this is true charity and pure religion. It was upon such motives that Mr. Stevens always acted, as the sequel of this narrative will manifest; he was convinced that no life is pleasing to God, that is not useful to man: and I now proceed to shew, that from his earliest youth, he thought, and uniformly acted unon the principle, that deep and unfeigned piety to God is the root and foundation of all other virtues. He never conceived that faith and works, which God had united, could be lawfully disjoined. Without faith, he knew well, that it was impossible to please God: but he knew also, that faith without works is dead, that by works his faith was to be made perfect; and he was ever anxious therefore, with the good Cornelius, that his prayers and alms should ascend in joint and sweet memorial before the throne of God.

I have already shewn at how early a period of life, both Bishop Horne, and his excellent cousin, began to train themselves to the art of holy living. Can any man read the following description of early piety, written by Bishop Horne, and doubt, that he warmly felt in his own pure bosom, every part of the description he has there given? Can any man, who has read the letter in p. 4, and has seen how strong Mr. Stevens's religious impressions were at twentyfour years of age, believe, that the Bishop had not, when he wrote that passage, the character of his valuable relation in view? Can any young man now read the description without feeling his heart burn within him, as he reads; without desiring to be what the Bishop has pourtrayed? If he can, I envy neither his feelings, nor his principles.

In Bishop Horne's sermon, called, The Beloved Disciple, vol. i. p. 265, he has the following beautiful passage, which, I think, most aptly introduces

the account of Mr. Stevens's unvaried attention to the duties of religion. "Youth is no obstacle in the way of obtaining the favour of Christ. The disciple, whom he loved, was the youngest of all the apostles. And certain it is, that religion never appears to greater advantage, than in the persons of those, who remember their Creator in the days of their youth,' and are admitted early into the number of the disciples of the holy Jesus. It is then like a diamond set in gold. There is something more noble in renouncing the world for the love of Christ, when the relish for sensible enjoyments is at the highest, than there can be in doing it, when the evil days come, in which there is no farther pleasure, or satisfaction to be had in earthly things. He, surely, is not so likely to accomplish his journey, who begins it when the sun is doing down, as he is, who sets out at the hour of its rising. Youth, like the morning, is the proper season for every task, that requires time and pains. Then all the

powers of body and soul are fresh and vigorous, as those of one awaked from a sound and kindly sleep. Then is the golden opportunity, the sweet hour of prime, when the day is before us. The night cometh when no man can work. I have written unto you, young men, (saith John himself) because ye are strong; and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Rejoice then, O young man, in thy youth; not because thou art able to riot in excess and wantonness, as the heathen who know not God; but, because thou hast it in thy power to become, like the youthful John, the beloved of thy Master, who seeketh such to worship him.".

The subject of this memorial of affection, did, indeed, remember his Creator in the days of his youth; he did possess, in an eminent degree, that pure and humble devotion, which will be had in everlasting remembrance; and shall one day be proclaimed before men and angels. The hand that writes, and the heart that dictates this sketch to the memory of departed worth, fear no contradiction, when it is asserted, that as few men had grounded their belief and practice on stronger foundations, so Mr. Stevens's reading and knowledge had produced corresponding fruits; for he was a firm and conscientious believer in all the doctrines of religion, as professed in the Church of England; and he was an attentive observer of all her ordinances : attending to the exhortation of the apostle, not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, he was literally glad, when they said, let us go into the House of the Lord. He, therefore, regularly attended the service of the church, twice every Sunday, even to the day of his death,

He was used to say jocosely, and punning on the word, "that the better sort of people never went to church in an afternoon."