troduced into his sermon a very just and affecting eulogium upon the religious character and conduct of his dear, departed friend: and, as is usual with that excellent person, he endeavoured to enforce upon his hearers the necessity of following the steps of this bright example in the paths of virtue and holiness. He thus concludes this animated discourse:

"His body is at peace, and his spirit returned "unto God who gave it: he is gone to his grave, "like as a shock of corn cometh in its season. It " is our's, who knew, and loved, and revered him, "to imitate, far as we are able, the pattern he "hath left behind; by a life of faith and holiness, "of piety and charity, and of active, cheerful "benevolence; discharging the duties of our re"spective stations well; using this world, as not abusing it; doing justly, loving mercy, and walk

ing humbly with our God. So, whensoever it "shall please the Almighty to call us hence, Death "will not find us unprepared; but we shall have

hope in our death: and when the Lord himself "shall descend from Heaven, with a shout, with "the voice of the archangel, and with the trump "of God, we shall ever be with the Lord. "Wherefore comfort one another with these " words!"

It may be supposed that a man of such extensive

benevolence, and whom Providence had greatly blessed with temporal prosperity, would, being a bachelor, by his will have left large sums for charitable uses. But no such thing. All his. conduct was formed upon principle: and he had often said, and acted upon that opinion, that charity is a personal grace; and that if a man has exercised that virtue during his life, and also carries on his benefactions by will, he deprives his successors of the means of exercising those virtues as he has done; and thus prevents them from shewing themselves to be good stewards of the bounties of heaven. Accordingly, except two legacies, one of four thousand pounds stock, and another of two hundred pounds sterling, one of which lapsed by the death of the individuał before him, he left the whole of his fortune to his first cousin, the Rev. William Horne, Rector of Otham, in the county of Kent, the brother of the venerable Prelate so often referred to in the course of this work.

I have now completed, though not in a manner equal to my own wishes, or to the deserts of the inimitable person whose life is recorded, what I had determined with myself to perform: namely, to give a true and accurate account of a person, as extraordinary for virtuous attainments, as any that has ever presented itself to public observa

tion. Some may have attained to equal degrees of excellence; but few have began their course of virtue and religion so early; few have continued it so uniformly; and few in the private walk of life have taken the opportunity of exercising virtuous propensities to so great an extent. It appears that from his earliest youth to the age of seventy-five, the life of Mr. Stevens exhibited an uniform series of undissembled piety and pure Christian charity. His erudition was solid and various, and his mind, though directed principally to the cultivation of sacred learning, yet delighting itself continually with whatever was admirable in literature; and the vigour of his intellectual enjoyments accompanied him to the last. He was a true member of the Church of England, whose institutions and discipline he thoroughly understood, and whose worship, to the very close of his life, he most conscientiously attended. His memory will remain for the benefit of those who survive, as a man whose piety and obedience to his Maker was zealous, whose faith in his Redeemer was most pure and unshaken, and whose charity and good-will to man, from the only solid principle, love to God, were extensive and universal.

"Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; "for the end of that man is peace." May all

190

MEMOIRS OF WILLIAM STEVENS, ESQ.

who knew this great master in the art of holy living, and may all, into whose hands this account shall fall, profit by such an example; may they live the life of this righteous man, being assured that living as he did is the only sensible method of acquiring any confidence that their last end shall be like his !

FINIS.

Printed by the Philanthropic Society, St. George's Fields.