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balanced with joy. You have lost your pious father: tell me how it was."-Here Mr. Medley informed him of particulars. He wept much at the recital, and especially at hearing of his last words," Home, Home!" Mr. Medley telling him of some temptations he lately met with, he charged him to keep near to God. "Keep close to God," said he, "and nothing will hurt you!"

The following familiar compositions, which were found amongst Mr. Pearce's papers, appear to have been written at distant intervals:

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Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.'

VOL. VI.

1 Cor. i. 2.

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Ah! remember thine espousals;

Didst thou not with Christ agree,
Leaving all thy former lovers,
His, and his alone to be?

In his love thy powers exulting,
What did all below appear;

Was there aught seemed worth possessing,
Worthy of a hope or fear?

When thy heart, by grace instructed,
Learn'd the world to disesteem,

And to Christ for all résorted,

Was there not enough in him?

Yes; thou know'st thy joyful spirit
Knew no unfulfill'd desire;
Longing still, and still receiving
Fuel for the heavenly fire.

Why then, tell me, now so lifeless,
Why this heavenly fountain leave;
Why to broken cisterns seeking,
Cisterns that no water give?

Doth not disappointment follow

Every step that leads from God;

Have not piercing thorns and briers

Shown their points through all the road?

Recollect, 'tis thus, the Saviour

Says he will thy soul reclaim, With weeping and with supplication,

Humbly offer'd through his name.'

"Invocation to returning Peace."

"Sweet Peace, return! thy wonted bliss restore, Bid war's insatiate scourge prevail no more; Sheath the dread sword that deals destruction round,

And every ear salute with tranquil sound!

Oh! bid oppression from each land retire,

And Britain's sons with halcyon bliss inspire;
Remove the misery of domestic woes,
And hush the tumult of contending foes!
Let each, with patriot zeal, all strife disown;
Be one their wishes, and their motives one!
The widow's tears, her sad corroding care,*
The orphan's sighs, assist this ardent prayer :
May he on whom propitious fortune smiles,
Relieve that breast which adverse fate beguiles !
May virtue's impulse every purpose move,
To acts of goodness, UNIVERSAL LOVE!

CHAPTER V.

GENERAL OUTLINE OF HIS CHARACTER.

To develop the character of any person, it is necessary to determine what was his governing principle. If this can be clearly ascertained, we shall easily account for the tenor of his conduct. The governing principle in Mr. Pearce, beyond all doubt, was HOLY LOVE.

To mention this, is sufficient to prove it to all who knew him. His friends have often compared him to that disciple whom Jesus loved. His religion was that of the heart. Almost every thing he saw, or heard, or read, or studied, was converted to the feeding of this divine flame. Every subject that passed through his hands, seemed to have been cast into this mould. Things that to a merely speculative mind would have furnished matter only for curiosity, to him afforded materials for devotion. His sermons were generally the effusions of his heart, and invariably aimed at the hearts of his hearers.

For the justness of the above remarks, I might appeal not only to the letters which he addressed to his friends, but to those which his friends addressed to him. It is worthy of notice how much we are influenced in our correspondence by the turn of mind of the person we address. If we write to a humorous character, we shall generally find that what we write, perhaps without being conscious of it, will be interspersed with pleasantries: or if to one of a very serious cast, our letters will be more serious than usual. On this principle, it has been thought, we may form some judgment of our own spirit by the spirit in which our friends address

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