a painless illness. Nothing could be more quiet and comfortable than the sick room, with an easy access to all who were nearly connected with him. Never was a Christian believer more evidently rooted and grounded in his Saviour-never was the Christian's hope more evidently an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast.'

On my remarking to him that I perceived he had a firm hold on Christ, he replied, in a clear, emphatic manner,' Yes, indeed I have!-unto eternal life!' After a long-continued state of torpor, he revived surprisingly. Just before we left him, on the 14th of February, his mind was lively and bright, as a morning without clouds.' While memory lasts, I can never forget his eager look of tenderness and affection, of love, joy, and peace, all combined, as he grasped my hand, and kept firm hold of it for a long time, on my bidding him farewell, and saying to him, 'Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for thee, yes, for thee, my dearest brother.' The five days which intervened between our leaving him and his death, appear to have been tranquil ones; with the same alternations between sleep long-continued and tending to torpor, and waking times, brief indeed, but marked by an uncommon degree of ease and cheerfulness."

Thus died Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, February 19, 1844.

19. SIR ISAAC NEWTON.

SIR ISAAC NEWTON, a most celebrated English philosopher and mathematician, and one of the greatest geniuses that ever appeared in the world, was descended from an ancient family in Lincolnshire, where he was born, in the year 1642. His powers of mind were wonderfully

comprehensive and penetrating. Fontenelle says of him, that, "In learning mathematics, he did not study Euclid, who seemed to him too plain and simple, and unworthy of taking up his time. He understood him almost before he read him; a cast of his eye on the contents of the theorems of that great mathematician, seemed to be sufficient to make him master of them." Several of his works mark a profundity of thought and reflection, that has astonished the most learned men. He was highly esteemed by the university of Cambridge, and was twice chosen to represent that place in parliament. He was also greatly favoured by Queen Anne, and by George the First. The princess of Wales, afterwards queen-consort of England, who had a turn for philosophical inquiries, used frequently to propose questions to him. This princess had a great regard for him, and often declared that she thought herself happy to live at the same time as he did, and to have the pleasure and advantage of his conversation.

This eminent philosopher was remarkable for being of a very meek disposition, and a great lover of peace. He would rather have chosen to remain in obscurity, than to have the serenity of his days disturbed by those storms and disputes which genius and learning often draw upon those who are eminent for them. We find him reflecting on the controversy respecting his optic lectures (in which he had been almost unavoidably engaged) in the following terms: "I blamed my own imprudence, for parting with so real a blessing as my quiet, to run after a shadow."

The amiable quality of modesty stands very conspicuous in the character of this great man's mind and manners. He never spoke, either of himself or others, in such a manner as to give the most malicious censurers the least occasion even to suspect him of vanity. He was candid and affable; and he did not assume any airs

of superiority over those with whom he associated. He never thought either his merit, or his reputation, sufficient to excuse him from any of the common offices of social life. Though he was firmly attached to the Church of England, he was averse to the persecution of the Nonconformists. He judged of men by their conduct; and the true schismatics, in his opinion, were the vicious and the wicked. This liberality of sentiment did not spring from the want of religion; for he was thoroughly persuaded of the truth of Revelation, and amidst the great variety of books which he had constantly before him, that which he loved the best, and studied with the greatest application, was the Bible. He was, indeed, a truly pious man, and his discoveries concerning the frame and system of the universe, were applied by him to demonstrate the being of a God, and to illustrate his power and wisdom. He also wrote an excellent discourse, to prove that the remarkable prophecy of Daniel's weeks, was an express prediction of the coming of the Messiah, and that it was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

The testimony of the pious and learned Dr. Doddridge to the most interesting part of this great man's character, cannot be omitted on the present occasion. "According to the best information," says he, "whether public or private, I could ever obtain, his firm faith in the Divine Revelation discovered itself in the most genuine fruits of substantial virtue and piety, and consequently gives us the justest reason to conclude, that he is now rejoicing in the happy effects of it, infinitely more than all the applause which his philosophical works have procured him, though they have commanded a fame lasting as the world."

The disorder of which he died, was supposed to be the stone in the bladder, which was, at times, attended with paroxysms so severe as tc occasion large drops of sweat

to run down his face. In these trying circumstances, he was never heard to utter the least complaint, nor to express the least impatience. He died in the eighty-fifth year of his age. In his principles and conduct through life, he has left a strong and comfortable evidence, that the highest intellectual powers harmonize with religion and virtue; and that there is nothing in Christianity but what will abide the scrutiny of the soundest and most enlarged understanding.

20. DR. JAMES HOPE.

DR. JAMES HOPE was a physician in London of large practice. He was eminent as a Christian. Among the maxims which he adopted in the regulation of his professional life were the following:-Never to keep a patient longer than was absolutely necessary-never to receive a fee to which he was not fairly entitled-and always to pray for his patients.

He rose rapidly in his profession. The poor equally with the rich had shared his attention. He was actuated by the most devout desire for God's glory, and took every occasion in his intercourse with medical students to maintain the principles of revealed religion against materialism and infidelity. He early became a victim of disease. During his sickness, he removed to Hampstead for change of air; and on the inquiry of Dr. Latham whether he felt quite happy, he said, "Perfectly so. I have always been a sober thinking man, and I could not have imagined the joy I now feel. My only wish is to convey it to the minds of others; but that is impossible."

Finding him much weaker, Mrs. Hope said to him, "I think that one week will do great things for you." "Do you think so, indeed?" said he; "very well, be

it soon or be it late, so that I go off in such a way as not to frighten you."

"I will not," he said on another occasion, “make speeches, but I have two things to say,"-the first was a kind farewell to his wife; he then added, "the second is soon said-Christ is all in all to me. I have no hope but in him. He is indeed all in all." When that passage was quoted, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me," he said, "They do comfort me-there is no darkness. 1 see Jordan, and the heavenly Joshua passing over dry shod." His last expressions were the following:"I am going now-I shall soon sleep."

"And you will wake again."

"Yes; those that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."

Remarking on the beauty of the day, Mrs. Hope said, "What a glorious day is dawning upon you, my dearest!" His assent was joyful. "There will be no sun and no moon there, for the Lamb will be the light thereof.” He murmured-" Christ" "angels -"beautiful " -"magnificent"-" delightful." Soon after he said, "I thank God." These were his last connected words.

21. LORD HARRINGTON.

JOHN, LORD HARRINGTON possessed excellent natural endowments, and a considerable stock of useful learning; but the great concern of his mind was to become learned in the school of Christ, and to provide for an immortal inheritance. He manifested a principle of real charity in his heart, by his love to all who were truly religious, and by giving the tenth part of his yearly income to charitable uses.

At the beginning of his last sickness he strongly ap