sidered, likewise, that, in point of fortune and character, he needed no accession; and, indeed, his desire for these was always very limited. But Bishop Burnet, to whom Boyle had communicated memorandums concerning his life, tells us, that what had the greatest weight, in determining his judgment, was, "the not feeling within himself any motion or tendency of mind, which he could safely esteem a call from the Holy Spirit; and therefore he did not venture to take holy orders, lest he should be found to have lied unto it."

The encyclopædist says that one of the most prominent features of his character, was his sincere and unaffected piety. This was exemplified in all his writings and in the whole course of his life. The great object of his philosophical pursuits, was to promote the cause of religion, and to discountenance atheism and infidelity. His intimate friend, Bishop Burnet, makes the following observations on this point: "It appeared to those who conversed with him on his inquiries into nature, that his main design (on which as he had his own eye constantly fixed, so he took care to put others often in mind of it) was to raise in himself and others more exalted sentiments of the greatness and glory, the wisdom and goodness of God. This design was so deeply impressed on his mind, that he concludes the article of his will, which relates to the Royal Society, in these words: '1 wish them a happy success, in their attempts to discover the true nature of the works of God; and I pray that they, and all other searchers into physical truths, may cordially refer their attainments to the glory of the great Author of nature, and to the comfort of mankind." " Bishop Burnet also says of him: "He had the most profound veneration for the great God of heaven and earth that I ever observed in any man. of God was never mentioned by him, and observable stop in his discourse."

The very name without a pause

His liberality was almost unbounded. He was at the charge of the translation and impression of the New Testament into the Malayan tongue; and he had it dispersed in the East Indies. He gave a great reward to the person who translated into Arabic Grotius's incomparable book on the truth of the Christian religion; and had a whole edition printed at his own expense, which he took care to have spread in all the countries where that language was understood. By munificent donations, and by his patronage, he also very materially promoted the plans of other persons for propagating the Christian religion in remote parts of the world. In other respects, his charities were so extensive, that they amounted to more than a thousand pounds sterling every year.

He died like a Christian philosopher, in the full assurance of that faith he had embraced, and to the establishment and propagation of which his best energies had been devoted. Of his firm attachment to Christianity, and of his solicitude for.vindicating its truth, and extending the knowledge and influence of it, he exhibited the most substantial proofs, both while he lived and at his death.

2. JOHN HOWARD.

"Howard, thy task is done! thy Master calls,
And summons thee from Cherson's distant walls;-
'Come, well-approved! my faithful servant, come!
My minister of good, I've sped the way,

And shot through dungeon glooms a leading ray;
I've led thee on through wondering climes,
To combat human woes and human crimes;
But 'tis enough!-thy great commission's o'er;

I prove thy faith, thy love, thy zeal no more."—AIKEN.

JOHN HOWARD was born at Hackney, England, in the year 1726. His religious principles were strongly fixed even in his early youth, and continued steady and

uniform through life. As the devoted friend of the poor and unfortunate, he is known all over the world, and his memory will be revered to the end of time.

Dr. Aikin thus speaks of his character and work:

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Among those truly illustrious persons who, in the several ages and nations of the world, have marked their track through life by a continued course of doing good, few have been so distinguished, either by the extent of the good produced or by the purity of motive and energy of character exhibited in the process of doing it, as the late John Howard. To have adopted the cause of the prisoner, the sick, and the destitute, not only in his own country, but throughout Europe; to have considerably alleviated the burden of present misery among those unfortunate classes, and, at the same time, to have provided for the reformation of the vicious, and the prevention of future crimes and calamities; to have been instrumental in the actual establishment of many plans of humanity and utility, and to have laid the foundation for much more improvement hereafter; and to have done all this, as a private, unaided individual, struggling with toils, dangers, and difficulties, which might have appalled the most resolute, is surely a range of beneficence, which scarcely ever before came within the compass of one man's exertions."

Deeply impressed with a sense of the importance of his designs, and of the uncertainty of human life, he was desirous of doing as much as possible within the allotted limits. And the number of prisons and hospitals which he visited, in a short period of time, is surprising. The pious and well-governed disposition by which he was actuated, is forcibly expressed in the following passage extracted from one of his interesting publications :

"To my country I commit the result of my past labours. It is my intention again to quit it, for the purpose of revisiting Russia, Turkey, and some other coun

tries, and extending my tour in the East. I am not insensible of the dangers that must attend such a journey. Trusting, however, in the protection of that kind Providence which has hitherto preserved me, I calmly and cheerfully commit myself to the disposal of unerring Wisdom. Should it please God to cut off my life in the prosecution of this design, let not my conduct be uncandidly imputed to rashness or enthusiasm, but to a serious, deliberate conviction that I am pursuing the path of duty, and to a sincere desire of being made an instrument of greater usefulness to my fellow-creatures than could be expected in the narrow circle of a retired life."

A little before the last time of his leaving England, when a friend expressed his concern at parting with him, from an apprehension that they should never meet again. he cheerfully replied: "We shall soon meet in heaven;" and, as he rather expected to die of the plague in Egypt, he added: "The way to heaven from Grand Cairo is as near as from London." He said he was perfectly easy as to the event, and made use of the words of Father Paul, who, when his physicians told him he had not long to live, said, "It is well; whatever pleases God pleases me."

This good man was arrested in his career of usefulness, by a disease, supposed to be the plague, at Cherson, in the beginning of the year 1690. He was perfectly sensible, during his illness, except at short intervals, till within a very few hours before his death. He was fully prepared for the event, and often said, that he had nc wish for life, but as it gave him the means of relieving his fellow-creatures.

3. CURAENS, A GERMAN PHYSICIAN.

THE following expressions are stated to have dropped from the dying lips of a German physician. They display a desire similar to that which the great apostle of the Gentiles felt when he declared that it was better for him to depart and be with Christ:

"Lord, I am oppressed; but to me it is enough that thy hand hath done it. My breast burns now at the sight of eternal life, the beginnings of which I do really feel within me. Son of God, my soul longs with desire and leaps with joy, to come to thee; and because it is yet withheld, I think the time long. I desire to be dissolved 0 let me be dissolved, that I may be with thee! I groan for that dwelling above, which thou hast revealed to me. As the traveller in a dark night longs for the rising sun, so do I earnestly look for the brightness of that light which is in the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There I shall follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. O glorious and Divine Leader! The eye hath not seen, nor the ear heard, what God hath prepared for them that love him, neither hath it entered into the heart of man. This earthly life is but death; but this is life indeed which Christ hath begun in my soul; and now I live-yet not I, but Christ liveth I see the heavens now open. Now let thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. Thou, Jesus Christ, art my resurrection and my life. How lovely are thy tabernacles, O my Redeemer! I die in the Lord, who is my life, and in the acknowledgment and faith of Jesus Christ. pleasant change, and translation from sin into a state of holiness; from darkness into light; and from death into life!"

in me.