want of a good education. In consequence he formed a very early resolution to remedy that defect, in regard to his children, to the utmost of his power, whatever inconveniences he or his family might experience from so laudable an attempt. Accordingly, his youngest son Isaac, when a little boy of six years old, began to accompany his brother Joseph every day to the Grammar-school; and at ten years of age could construe Ovid and Sallust into tolerable English, and was then beginning to learn the rudiments of the Greek language. The premature death of their father, above-mentioned, ruined all the prospects of Isaac's advancement in learning. His mother was obliged to abandon the prosecution of her husband's plan; and that her son might acquire a livelihood, by honest industry, she wisely employed him in learning several branches of the woollen manufactory at Leeds.

BUT THE BOWELS OF JOSEPH YEARNED UPON HIS YOUNGER BROTHER; and as soon as we find him in a situation to do him service, and to prosecute the excellent system of the father, he loses not a moment's time, but instantly releases him from his temporary obligations at Leeds, and takes him under his own tuition at Hull. Isaac's memory was not bad; for, though at this period he had been absent several years from the Grammar-school at Leeds, and was still but a boy, he was found perfectly well qualified to act as assistant to his brother, in teaching the lower boys of his crowded school at Hull; so well initiated had he been in the Latin and Greek languages by the same Mr. Moore. He redoubled his diligence in order that he might make up for the lost years; and was sent to Queen's

College Cambridge, in the year 1770. Under Providence, he owes his present honourable and elevated situations as Dean of Carlisle and Master of Queen's College, and Professor of Mathematics in the University of Cambridge-indeed, he owes all he has to the kindness of this same brother; and he here WILLINGLY acknowledges the obligation with tears of gratitude and affection.-"He made" ISAAC glad with his acts, and his memorial is blessed for ever*."

Perhaps no two brothers were ever more closely bound to each other. Isaac, in particular, remembers no earthly thing without being able to connect it, in some way, tenderly with his brother Joseph. During all his life he has constantly aimed at enjoying his company as much as circumstances permitted. The dissolution of such a connexion could not take place without being severely felt by the survivor. No separation was ever more bitter and afflicting; with a constitution long shattered by disease, he never expects to recover from THAT wound.

The dutiful and kind attentions of Joseph Milner were not confined to his brother Isaac. His good and valuable mother was growing old at that time. She had gone through a variety of hardships, and was now living at Leeds in very contracted circumstances. He sent for her to Hull, to live with him, and to manage his house; which she did with great cheerfulness and activity for upwards of twenty years. He also sent for two indigent orphans, the children of his eldest brother, and took effectual care of their education.

Mr. Milner, from his first going into Orders, was

a very earnest and zealous preacher; but, as he himself used to say," he preached himself, and not Jesus Christ:"-Yet even then, in his first compositions, there was much more of the peculiarities of Christianity than is usually to be found in the general strain of discourses from the pulpit. -Several truly religious persons have thought that he was really enlightened in the nature of the Gospel of Christ, when he first came to Hull. But it may be presumed that, in such a matter as this, he himself must have been the best judge: and he always urged it as no inconsiderable proof of the contrary, "that he was universally applauded at that time, which," continued he, "never happens among large and mixed congregations, when the truth, as it is in Jesus, is set forth with distinctness and with energy." The first Sermon which he preached at Hull gained him the hearts of the people, and is supposed to have contributed much to secure his election to the School. Some years afterwards, when his ideas of Christianity were materially altered, he took this very Sermon into the pulpit, read several parts of it, and endeavoured to make his meaning clearly understood by a free avowal of the ERRORS which that composition, formerly so much applauded, contained; and, by contrasting them with his altered sentiments at the latter period.

How inscrutable and how wonderful are the ways of Providence! Certain it is that Mr. Milner was a great favourite with his Patrons, the Mayor and Aldermen of Hull, and with the leading gentlemen of the town, for the space of three years from the time of his election; and it is equally certain, that about that time a most important revolution in his

sentiments and conduct took place; which revolution, if it had happened before he was elected to the school and lectureship, would, in all probability, have prevented his having a single vote for either of those situations. His aged mother might have died in want: His nephew and niece might have remained destitute orphans, and uneducated; and his brother Isaac, instead of being employed in writing these pages in the Master's Lodge of Queen's College, or in the Deanery of Carlisle, might at this moment have been labouring with his hands in the manufactories of Yorkshire.—But all these are poor insignificant trifles, compared with what remains to be mentioned.-The populous Town of Hull might have continued in the dark, irreligious, state in which he found it: Thousands might have died without ever hearing the glad tidings of the Gospel properly stated; and the succession of truly worthy and evangelical preachers, who have been his pupils or contemporaries, might never have taken place.

Far be it from the mind of the writer, by intimating such possibilities, to insinuate in the slightest degree that the divine agency is confined in its operations to the use of certain things, persons, or modes: If He willeth, who shall hinder!

"Thousands at his bidding speed,

And post o'er land and ocean without rest."

MILTON.

The very same events might have taken place in their order by similar or by different means. Nevertheless, this, again, amounts to no more than mere possibility and conjecture: Little stress is to be laid on human foresight; and it will always be

our true wisdom to observe, with grateful and reverent attention, what God has actually done, and to trace his directing hand in the causes and connexions of events. Such lessons are truly instructive in contemplation: They produce piety and humility; and they call forth admiration and gra

titude.

"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." The revolution above mentioned in Mr. Milner's character was by no means partial or confined. From about the year 1770 to the day of his death, he became entirely and sensibly a different man from what he had been before. In public and in private, and in every part of his conduct, he illustrated and confirmed, by his personal example, the precepts which he zealously inculcated.-In what then did this important change consist?

The bulk of the inhabitants of Hull did not think any change in him to be either necessary or desirable. They were highly pleased with their diligent Schoolmaster and popular Preacher: They expected no improvement in him; they wished for none : They respected his talents and attainments; and they looked forward to derive great advantage from these in the education of their children. His moral character was without a spot. Regular, temperate, and decorous in his external conduct; orthodox in his religion, and loyal* in his political sentiments, he was esteemed a model for imitation: amid such an assemblage of excellencies men were puzzled to fix upon any defect, and they only expected from him perseverance in well-doing.

Mr. Milner was always eminently loyal, and sincerely attached to the constitution of his country, both in church and