THE HISTORY OF HENRY MILNER. Revealing that which many have long desired to know, and which it has not been the pleasure of the historian to relate as soon as was required. It is impossible for any person to renew a work at distant intervals, as the historian of Henry Milner is now doing, without perceiving that some, perhaps many and very great, changes have passed in his health, his strength, his feelings or his sentiments, since he closed the last portion of his labours. As time rolls on, the mind of an individual of the human race is either confirmed in the way of error, or is brought forth in a greater or lesser degree into the light of truthit either sinks into indolence and imbecility through age, infirmity, or the indulgence of bad habits, or, through the in-dwelling of the Lord the Spirit, is lifted up into a state of existence, whilst yet in the flesh, of which a worldly mind cannot even form a conception. To such B as are being carried on to this point, all the changes and chances of the present life are rendered subservient to one great purpose-namely, to the leading of the individual forward from the love of this present evil world, to earnest longings after the unseen things which are prepared for the enjoyment of the redeemed. But in the passage of a child of Adam from darkness to light, it is certain that as the illumination from on high becomes more and more decided, he must apprehend more and more of the fading nature of earthly scenes, of the emptiness of earthly distinctions, and the unsatisfactoriness of earthly pleasures; and if permitted so to do, he will see more and more of the grand purposes of the Almighty in his government of the earth, in his creation of the multitudes of the human race, and of the greatness of the work of redemption, which last, being an object too vast for human apprehension, in its depth, and height, and fullness, has never yet been comprehended by man in the flesh. If a state of mind and feelings in any degree allied to that just described, has been vouchsafed to the historian of the life of Henry Milner-if light, and hope, and joy have been imparted to this vessel of clay in the midst of many present bereavements, may it not be hoped, that this light, however shrouded by the potsherd in which it is placed, may yet afford some little glimmering to the steps of the many young, and we trust candid and intellectual minds, who have known Henry Milner, if not in person, yet in his actions, his character, |