what may be said to be his defects, that the Christian world may judge of their character.

1st. His great reserve and shyness of temper.

These hindered him from entering with ease into free conversation with his parishioners about their souls, and sometimes prevented his acquaintance from reaping all the advantages, which they otherwise might have done, from the rich treasures of his mind.

Mr. Walker writes, "I could wish Mr. Adam to talk a little more than he is inclined to do, not because I see anything blamable in his taciturnity, but that we might have more improvement from him.”

Mr. Adam was not blind to this defect; he readily acknowledged it in a letter which he wrote to a friend, who, in 1776, expostulated with him on the subject. “My natural shyness and reserve, which increase with age and deafness, I have long known and lamented, not without searchings of heart, lest the silence of which some complain (kindly supposing I could speak to the purpose) should be owing to lukewarmness, want of grace, or Christian charity."

If anything could reconcile a Christian to this defect in Mr. Adam, surely the humility with which he received the reproof, perhaps from a much younger man, is enough to insure his pardon. He might, too, be meditating on the admonition of St. James, "Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak," when his friends were blaming him for his silence. When he did speak, it was to edification, and not to "boast, to censure, or to complain." 2ndly. His playing occasionally at cards.

On this subject, he was also admonished; and thus

he writes to his friend: "Of cards I was always fond, but for the reasons you mention, did not touch one, or suffer them in my house, for many, many years. Of late, being incapacitated for riding, and almost for reading and thinking, and having no other means of relaxation in my power, I have played now and then, perhaps once a month, or not so often. The matter, therefore, has been somewhat exaggerated to you in the report. However, what you say and advise, I trust will sink deep. Many thanks to you for it, and for giving me this fresh occasion to esteem and love you more than ever."

The editor is no apologist for cards in a clergyman's house, or in the houses of private Christians : but he thinks that the principles on which they ought to be excluded, equally apply to other games of chance, which find a place in too many families.

Music, and even drawing, painting, and kindred pursuits, often absorb a great proportion of the time and money which ought to be expended in instructing the poor, visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked. After the above expostulation, to the time of his death, which was about eight years, he ceased to play at cards.

3rdly. His presumed tendency to high-church principles.

Two parties, most opposite in their views, blamed Mr. Adam for what they esteemed his partialities: one for the strictness with which he insisted on the obligations of the clergy to conform to the constitution and discipline of the church; the other for maintaining social intercourse with some nonconformists, especially if they were ministers. He had

a general regard for the persons and writings of many excellent men who belonged to other communions, and even corresponded with some who did not belong to the Established Church. He did not, however, conceal his opinion, that their political principles were, in his opinion, defective. This he concluded, he said, from what he had read of their proceedings in the time of Oliver Cromwell, and from the petulant spirit which he perceived in them, on many occasions. He disapproved of the breaches of discipline of which some of his brethren were guilty, though he forbore to meddle with the subject in any public way. The works of the Rev. Dr. Owen were among his chief favourites, and he was always glad to see good men of all denominations of Christians.

4thly. His aversion to give offence.

Some supposed that he did not privately admonish persons of rank, with whom he at times had intercourse. The present editor once asked his mother particularly with regard to the esteem in which Mr. Adam was held by the gentry in the neighbourhood, and especially with reference to one family, part of whom visited much at the rectory. She said, Mr. Adam's strictness in religion was not agreeable to them. He brought all who were under his roof twice a day to the family prayers. He instructed them from Sunday to Sunday; and he was himself "an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." His presence was a silent lesson, and he did not allow persons of any degree to be long with him, without his saying something for God. He had his own manner. Take

an example: The Rev. Robert Storry was talking to the editor's mother, about private and family prayer; Mr. Adam, who was walking backwards and forwards in the room, as if his thoughts were abstracted from what was passing, suddenly put his hand upon her shoulder, and said, "Mrs. Westoby, there is nothing but Jesus Christ for a poor sinner to trust to." He was not deficient in this particular. He knew that he was in danger of transgressing on the side of severity. Thus he writes: "A certain person told me, that in advising, speaking of religious matters, and recommending religious truths, I was fierce, passionate, uncondescending. Blessed be God, I am sensible of it; and may God bless my friend for the admonition; though I fear it proceeded in part from anger.

None can, now, be wounded by these remarks upon the failings of Mr. Adam; but they may admonish many who would cast out the mote from his eye, to consider the beam which is in their own eye. III. An Address to the Clergy.

Mr. Stillingfleet writes as follows: "May I be permitted to direct the reader to a few remarks on the character of Mr. Adam?

"1st. I would remind my Reverend Brethren, of the little advantage which can be derived from the greatest strictness in adhering to the forms of our profession, as to personal residence among our people, if our lives and doctrines are in conformity to the world.

"I readily acknowledge these to be right, and proper, and important duties, and I lament the great neglect of them; yet if our ministerial excellency be comprehended in these alone, and, while we

reside, we do not labour to promote the salvation of our parishioners, by teaching them the way to heaven, and by endeavouring to afford them the example of a righteous, and godly, and sober life; however we may captivate some by our exterior splendour, and pass with them for great saints, we are in reality only 'Magni nominis umbræ :" and shall neither save our own souls nor the souls of them

that hear us. If human applause be our object, we may possibly have our reward; but we cannot expect to meet our people, and possess them as the crown of our rejoicing, in the day of judgment: nor may we expect to hear the plaudit, 'Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'

"The work of the ministry is one of labour and mental anxiety for the salvation of men's souls, and till we feel it to be so, and have that which Mr. Adam had not, when he first began his ministry at Wintringham, and which the greatest formality cannot give us, we shall be like the blind guides, of whom our blessed Saviour speaks in the gospels. To discharge the great office of the ministry aright, so as to promote the glory of God and the salvation of the people over whom we are placed, requires much thought, diligence, and attention, together with constant prayer, and daily reading the Scriptures. If we are really in earnest, in the use of such means, we shall find the same good hand of God leading and teaching us, as was with the subject of this Memoir. · If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine.'

"2ndly. I would state the necessity of the teaching