very novel when he first entered his curacy. I have frequently heard the inhabitants speak of the alteration which took place during his short continuance among them; and he has left a savour of his name, which continues to this day. It was in this village that the writer of this Memoir had the happiness of being first noticed by Mr. Cursham, though then but a child; and he will have reason to praise God for this providence for ever.

Mr. Cursham, truly desirous of doing good to the neighbourhood, which at that time did not possess a schoolmaster, opened a day-school, in which he educated a great number of children; and in this humble sphere, I have reason to believe that he was peculiarly useful. He always had an uncommon affection for children; and possessed the happy talent of fixing their attention, and adapting his instructions to their tender age. Mr. Cursham, however, during the latter part of his continuance at Blidworth, was not upon comfortable terms with his vicar; and as his extraordinary exertions to do good did not meet with approbation from this quarter, he determined to quit his curacy for another, which opened for him at Sutton, in Ashfield; for at this time, though by no means a man who magnified himself, he had not learned, when buffetted for doing well, to take it patiently. He continued in this situa tion, I believe, about five years, without any particular alteration in his views of religion, or any diminution in his zeal to do good. The Vicar of Sutton taking the duty upon himself, Mr. Cursham accepted a curacy, which then offered itself, at Ashover, near Matlock, in Derbyshire. After he had been a year or two in this situation, it pleased God to produce in hin a great change. His views of the nature of Christianity underwent a revolution; and "the unsearchable riches of Christ," which he had hitherto overlooked, became the subject of his preaching and his glory. The sincere desire which he had always manifested to do good, was now increased in a tenfold degree. Impressed with his awful responsibility as an ambassador of Jesus Christ, he "watched for souls as one that must give an account;" and having himself tasted something" of the powers of the world to come," he longed to bring all to sit down to the same feast. His addresses from the pulpit were solemn, animated, and impressive: he rebuked Sin with peculiar plainness, and shrunk not from declaring the most unpalatable truths through the fear of any man. His congregation rapidly increased; and he soon experienced the usual effects of more than ordinary zeal in religion, in the opposition of enemies, and the conversion of sinners. His parish was very extensive; consisting of many hamlets, several of them two, three, and four miles from the parish-church. The greater part of these, as might be expected, were exceedingly ignorant of the great truths of Christianity; and their profan e

ness corresponded with their ignorance. Mr. Cursham's mind was greatly distressed at this wretched state of a great part of his parishioners; and as no methods he could adopt would bring many of them to the parish-church, he thought it his duty to visit them from house to house, and thus clear himself from the blood of all: but he soon found this undertaking far beyond his strength, and incompatible with his other avocations; for at this time Mr. Cursham had a boarding-school, consisting of between forty and fifty pupils, which he could not relinquish, consistently with the duty he owed to a very fast increasing family. In this emergency he thought himself justified in devoting two or three nights every week to the purposes of prayer and exhortation, in the different hamlets in his parish which were the most remote from his church, and which seemed in most need of his faithful instructions. Tho' many objections were made to these occasional services, as not being strictly canonical, Mr. Cursham could never be persuaded that he violated the spirit of the church-discipline; but thought, on the contrary, that this was the only way in which he could possibly clear himself of the ordination vows which. were upon him. In addition to this, he began a SundaySchool, which he uniformly attended himself, and which amounted to upwards of 100 grown-up persons and children. He always rejoiced in this undertaking, and considered it as one of the most useful parts of his labours. These and many other exertions of a similar nature, Mr. Cursham continued with increasing vigour for two or three years, with much success, but in the midst of great discouragements and difficulties. Many rejoiced in his ministry, and adorned the gospel of Christ by an upright conversation; but many also opposed his labours of love, and exerted all their efforts to procure his removal. They at length succeeded. His Vicar lent too willing an ear to the clamours of his adversaries, remonstrated with Mr. Cursham; and finding him firm to his purpose, he gave notice of his intention (though a mere pretext to get rid of him) to take the duty on himself, and thus dismissed his curate. The writer of this Memoir was under the same roof with Mr. Cursham during the whole of this period, and well remembers all the circumstances of the case. He then thought, and still does think, that Mr. Cursham was treated with peculiar harshness and injustice; but it would answer no good purpose to state particulars at this distance of time. There were, no doubt, some imprudent steps taken by Mr. Cursham: his zeal was not always temperate; and in the opposition which he met with, he did not always retain that selfpossession which was peculiarly desirable in his circumstances: and I have heard him since acknowledge, that, were the time to come over again, with the ideas which he then had, he should act, in some respects, differently; yet he always reviewed

this period of his life with peculiar satisfaction. His labours were greatly blessed; and I well remember the impression that was made upon Mr. Cursham's family at that time. A degree of seriousness seemed to pervade the whole; and some of his pupils then received impressions which, I trust, will never be effaced.

On his removal from Ashover, having no situation offered him in the church, he returned to an estate he had formerly purchased at Sutton, in Ashfield, without any duty in the church, except such as occasionally offered itself, which was not very frequent, on account of the suspicion which was attached to his religious sentiments. After a year or two, however, he obtained the temporary curacy of Skegby, about two miles from Sutton; and soon after, a small living at Annesley, about three miles from Sutton. In these villages he continued labouring till his removal to a better world; and it pleased God greatly to bless his labours. He was always a great hater of sin, and reproved it in a manner peculiarly solemn and severe: his desire to be useful was uncommonly ardent, and sometimes it burst through the bounds of prudence: his disinterestedness was remarkable. He rejoiced in opportunities of shewing kindnesses to those who needed his assistance, though it were attended with inconvenience to himself, and without any prospect of remuneration. He has, in more instances than one, taken upon himself the principal burden of educating pupils, in whom he fancied there was any thing promising, either in talent or piety. The writer of this Memoir wishes here to record, with gratitude, that he owes perhaps his all in this world to the munificence of this excellent man. He noticed him when a child; took upon himself the care of his education; and introduced him into life, under circumstances, which, without such aid, he could never have hoped for. There are now in the Church of England several good men who received their religious impressions and education under him; and who never think of Mr. Cursham without admiration and gratitude. As a minister, his talents were adapted to the congregations whom he served in the gospel. His manner was serious, his matter plain, and his address familiar. He was always little in his own estimation; and ready to prefer almost every serious minister to himself. His reading, particularly in old divinity, was extensive; but his principal book was the Bible; and this he often read on his knees.

Some account of the concluding scene of this good man, will, I doubt not, be acceptable to many of your readers, who were acquainted with him; and, I trust, profitable to all. This I shall beg leave to give in the language of his excellent widow, from an extract of a letter of hers, addressed to the writer of this imperfect account of Mr. Curshamn:

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"My dear Mr. Cursham did not enjoy his usual health for more than twelve months previous to his removal to a better world. Though he had intervals of better health, yet every thing seemed a burden to him; and the duty of his two churches, for the last half-year, I think, was too great an exertion for him; but his mind was in the work, and he did not always consider the body. He likewise had no inclination for exercise: reading was his chief relaxation; and if at any time I mentioned the effect it would have on his health, his answer was, "Time is short, and I wish to redeem it." The beginning of his last illness was about two months ago; and it seemed to be occasioned by his taking cold on a very wet Sabbath. He did not himself seem to expect or even desire to recover. Owing to the nature of his complaint, which was a fulness of blood in the head during the former part of his illness, he was almost constantly drowsy, and his mind appeared to be very much clouded, though I never heard him utter a murmuring word; only observing, "That it is hard work not to enjoy the light of God's countenance." But how true is it, "That sorrow may endure for a night, yet joy cometh in the morning!" Light broke into his soul, and he was enabled to "rejo ce in the God of his salvation." From this time his heat was filled with thankfulness, and his mouth with praise. He appeared even not to feel his bodily afflictions; and once, when I asked him, if he felt uneasy or uncomfortable, he replied, with such an emphasis as I shall never forget, "O no! The Lord is so kind, that I am just as I would wish to be." Both myself and Ann were enabled to attend him almost to his last moments; and he often expressed himself with the greatest thankfulness that I had been raised up from time to time, and was enabled to meet this most trying occasion. When we have thought that he has wanted something, and put the question to him, he would reply, with the greatest tenderness, “No, I want nothing; I was only praying for you."

In his health, notwithstanding his experience in religion, on the subject of Death he was rather timid than bold; but his last end was truly comfortable. Though you know he was always a strenuous advocate for practical religion, yet, on his death-bed, he had no dependence but on Jesus Christ; and it was entirely in him that he rejoiced in hope of the glory of God. My dear Mr. Cursham, in his health, used frequently to lament the little regard which was paid to the Sabbath; and in his illness it was his frequent lamentation. He was generally

sensible; but at those intervals when he was not, his mind always run upon the best things; and he often repeated, "Dear Lord, remember me!" His last words were, "O my Lord Jesus!" He died in his fifty-sixth year.

ACCOUNT OF MR. LAVATER'S WRITINGS.

HAVING given a short sketch of Mr. Lavater's Life in a preceding Number, a few remarks on his writings and charac ter may not be unacceptable. It has already been observed, that a mere catalogue of his numerous publications would be sufficient to fill several sheets. His works may be divided into four principal classes: 1. Ascetic, or Practical Religion;2. Poetical,s. Physiognomical,- 4. Political.

1. Mr. Lavater's pen was chiefly employed in the promotion of the interests of pure and undefiled religion and morality. Of his Sermons, a great variety has been published, both separately and in collections; among which, those on the Prophet Jonah, and on the Epistle to Philemon, hold a distinguished place. His various Addresses to Young People; his Private Diary for a Self-Observer (Leipzic, 1772, 1773, which has been translated into English); his Prospects, or Views into Eternity (Zurich, 1782); his Pontius Pilate (Zurich, 1782, 1785); his Pocket-Bible for the Afflicted (Zurich, 1788); and many other larger and smaller works and pamphlets, have all one and the same grand aim, to glorify God, to exalt the person and work of Christ, to recommend his excellent doctrine, to instruct and edify the reader, to comfort the afflicted, and to inculcate a faithful discharge of all religious and social duties, from the purest motives of Christianity.

2. A similar tendency is discernible in his Poetical Works; the most remarkable of which are the following: Jesus Messiah, or the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, in Verse (four volumes, Zurich, 1783-86). Jesus Messiah, or the Coming of the Lord a Poetical Paraphrase of the Revelation of St.John. Joseph of Arimathea (Hamburgh, 1794). A Collection of Spiritual Hymns (two volumes, Zurich, 1776, 1780). Swiss National Songs (Zurich, 1788).

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Though Mr. Lavater may not be placed in the very first rank of German Poets, yet it is undeniable, that he was possessed of a considerable share of poetical genius; and many single passages in his different poems are truly admirable. His Swiss National Songs will never be forgotten as long as his native country, which he so much loved, shall exist.

3. Among bis Physiognomical Works, the principal is entitled, Physiognomical Fragments; of which several English translations have appeared. As this work has excited an uncommon degree of attention, and has been received by some with enthusiastic admiration and applause, while others have treated it with the utmost scorn and contempt, it may not be improper to extract a few passages therefrom.