CHAPTER XV.

Death of his infant-Marriage of his eldest daughter— Visit to the North of Ireland-Texts on the walls of his church-Extract of a letter to his daughter F—. -Isle of Wight tour-Pastoral letter-Journal-His son Wilberforce's illness and death-Reflections— Marriage of his daughter H—.—Nugent's shipwreck, and death-Letters-Apocryphal question-Mr. Richmond's opinion on the mode of preaching to the Jews -His sentiments on other subjects-Journey to Cromer -Conversation with the editor-Meditation in his

study.

In the spring of 1821 Mr. Richmond lost his infant child. He gives the account of this event in a letter to his daughter; and he composed a few verses, to soothe the feelings of the mother, as well as to express his own.

"Dear Mary,

Turvey, May 9, 1821.

"Our dear delicate baby has taken his flight to a happier world! I write beside his unspeakably beautiful remains. Of all my twelve babes, I never clung to one like this-perhaps, because

I never expected his life. He was formed for a higher state than this, and is taken away from the evil to come. He died in my arms-lovelier than the loveliest, calmer than the calmest. His previously languid eye suddenly illumined into heavenly brightness and vigour : it looked at me with full intelligence-seemed to say, 'Farewell! I am going to Jesus!'-and he was gone."

HYMN FOR AN INFANT'S FUNERAL.

Hark how the angels, as they fly,
Sing through the regions of the sky;
Bearing an infant in their arms,'
Securely freed from sin's alarms :-

"Welcome, dear babe, to Jesu's breast--
For ever there in joy to rest:
Welcome to Jesu's courts above,

To sing thy great Redeemer's love!

"We left the heavens, and flew to earth,
To watch thee at thy mortal birth:
Obedient to thy Saviour's will,
We stayed to love and guard thee still.

"We thy protecting angels came,

To see thee blessed in Jesu's name;
When the baptismal seal was given,
To mark thee, child, an heir of heaven.

"When the resistless call of death

Bade thee resign thy infant breath-
When parents wept, and thou didst smile,
We were thy guardians all the while.

"Now with the lightning's speed, we bear
The child committed to our care;
With anthems such as angels sing,
We fly to bear thee to our king."

Thus sweetly borne, he flies to rest :
We know 'tis well-nay more, 'tis best,
When we our pilgrims' path have trod,

Oh! may we find him with our God!

We have already noticed that Mr. Richmond, in his tour to Scotland, left his eldest daughter to the care of Dr. and Mrs. S., who resided near Glasgow. It was there that an attachment was formed between Miss Richmond and a clergyman of the Established Church of Scotland, whose profession and excellent character rendered the connection a source of peculiar gratification. He alludes to this circumstance in the following letter to one of his daughters:

"Was not this the day on which you were

born? Why, then, I must now wish you many happy returns of it.

But will they be happy,

if you be not holy? How I long to see my dear F. still more decided-more spiritual-more given to holy thoughts, words, and works. Let not your mind be drawn aside by any thing that will steal your heart from God. Make no idols of books that carry away the imagination. I

will give you a rule to judge whether an author is profitable in the perusal.-Go directly from your book, and open your Bible; and, without partiality or hypocrisy, say which you embrace with the most delight. The answer will always shew the state of your mind, and the profitableness and lawfulness of the book.

"Become more serious. I am much pleased with the conscientious principles and behaviour of Mary and Mr. M., in their intercourse. He is a true Christian, and most affectionately attached to her. His views of faith and practice exactly accord with my own: he is too good a man to be light and trifling on such a solemn subject as

nuptial engagement. Mary's mind is sacredly and steadfastly made up, to love, honour, and obey him, as the partner of her heart, and the choice of her conscience. Oh! pray for the dear girl, and treat the question with sacred cheerfulness. My visit to Glasgow was blessed to the cultivation of pure regard and esteem with all the M-s. I can resign her, with full hope and confidence, into God's hands. Do you the same; and when we return home, seek more opportunities of useful conversation. Attend, in the course of every day and hour, to the growth of your best and most ennobling principles of action. Much, very much time, which might be employed in an increasing meetness for the inheritance of the saints in

light, is, I fear, lost. These things ought not so to be, my dear child. Time is short, eternity is at hand. It is a hard thing to be saved at all; and every lost hour, every idle word, every neglected opportunity, makes it more hard. It is a strait gate and narrow way to heaven, and (comparatively) few there be that find it.

"Never be without a book, in daily reading, of a direct spiritual and devotional tendency; one that will make the vanities of time and sense appear unworthy of your notice. Always maintain with some one, if possible, a truly religious correspondence, calculated to bring Christ to the soul. Keep in hourly recollection, that you are a great sinner, unworthy of all the comforts and enjoyments which you possess; and that without a Saviour inwardly known, all is as nothing. Examine for the proofs of a converted mind, in the grand act of faith on Jesus Christ. I cannot recommend you a more lively example than Mrs. Isabella Graham, the admirable aunt of Mr. M. Learn to love true religion in others, whoever they may be. Shun party prejudice, as the bane of charity and the curse of the church. God's love is not limited to us, and our division of the church of Christ; why then ought ours? Far be it from us to feel alienation from any whom He is leading heavenwards.

"Pray think of the general tenour of this letter, for my sake, and for your own sake. I have much