him from every quarter. Though there was a considerable number whose only object was to gaze at him; yet, on the other hand, many visitors afforded him no less pleasure than real instruction. Never, therefore, did he suffer his patience to be exhausted; nor did he ever cease to treat strangers of every rank and description in the most polite and respectful manner. Scarcely any one ever saw him in an ill humour, even when he happened to be deeply depressed; he had such a command over himself, that, suppressing his grief, he could most cheerfully receive and usefully entertain visiting friends or foreigners.

At the end of the year 1786, he was unanimously chosen to the rectory of St. Peter's Parish, in Zurich. When he preached the first time after his election, he thus addressed his congregation "I will not promise much. A man, out of the fulness of his heart, may easily promise too much. Who can be sufficiently cautious and circumspect in his promises, more especially in those of so important and solemn a nature ? Where is the preacher who has not, in his first sermon, promised more than he could, in every respect, fulfil? Instead, therefore, of promising too much, let us rather encourage, stir up, confirm, and pray for each other."

At the nuptials of his only son, whom he had the satisfaction to see acquiring considerable skill as a physician, he addressed the young couple in the following manner: "Believe me, children, I speak it deliberately and with full conviction, I have enjoyed many of the comforts of life, none of which I wish to esteem lightly: often have I been charmed with the beauties of Nature, and refreshed with her bountiful gifts: I have spent many an hour in sweet meditation, and in reading the most valuable productions of the wisest men: I have often been delighted with the conversation of ingenious, sensible, noble, and exalted characters: my eyes have been powerfully attracted by the finest productions of human art, and my ears by enchanting melodies: I have found pleasure when calling into activity the powers of my own mind; when residing in my own native country, or travelling through foreign parts; when surrounded by large and splendid companies, still more, when moving in the small endearing circle of my own family: yet, to speak the truth before God, who is my Judge, I must confess, I know not any joy that is so dear to me, that so fully satisfies the inmost desires of my mind, that so enlivens, refines, and elevates my whole nature, as that which I derive from religion, from faith in God, as one who not only is the Parent of men, but has condescended, as a brother, to clothe himself with our nature. Nothing affords me greater delight than a solid hope that I parsake of his favours, and may rely on his never-failing support and protection.

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"And now, my dear children may God be with you! May God unite and help you! May his approbation be infinitely more in your esteem than mine, or than that of the whole world!— My son, may the God of thy father be thy God! He who has been so often my hope, my refuge, and iny confidence when I stood on the brink of an abyss, where I could not move one step forward; He who, in answer to my prayer, has helped me when every prospect of help had vanished; - that God who has safely conducted me, not merely through flowery paths, but likewise across precipices and burning sands; May this God be thy God, thy refuge, thy comfort, as he has been mine! Let the world laugh me to scorn, I rejoice in the God of my salvation! Let Ignorance and Infidelity mock, I enjoy that which the world cannot enjoy; I receive that which Infidelity will never receive! I say with St. Paul, "Is he the God of the Jews only, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob only?" By no means! Assuredly, he is my God also. I say with Luther," If I have the faith of Abraham, I am Abraham !"

Mr. Lavater was exceedingly grieved at the vain objections of late so commonly made against the inspiration of the Scriptures; and especially against the person, the character, and the work of our blessed Lord. Some of the modern antiChristian writers took great pains to draw him over to their party; but all their united endeavours proved in vain, he stood firm like a rock; neither flattering promises, nor frowning threatenings could move him; and all his sermons, letters, and writings may serve as indisputable proofs, that, to the last, he continued to avow, in the most open and positive manner, his unshaken belief in Christ, and his most sincere and fervent attachment to the system of the Bible. A few extracts from his writings will sufficiently illustrate this point :

"Klopstock's Messiah," says he, in a letter to a friend, "is my favourite. Thongh I cannot equally approve or relish every part of this excellent poem, yet it is the only book which I can read repeatedly in connection with the Bible: the Bible, I say, which you seemingly forgot to mention; for in whatever point of view I may consider myself, as a clergyman, as a Christian, or as a man, my Bible is ever to me a most dear and precious book, which I can never sufficiently study, for it is full of unsearchable riches. Read, I beseech you, my friend, this sacred volume, as if you had never read it before. Read it without a commentary. Leave alone the obscure passages, just as you leave the clouds in the sky, or the mist on a mountain. Enjoy that which is clear as the light; and the thickest mists will appear to you venerable. The first book of Moses, the History of Elijah and Elisha, the first

Klopstock is, among the German poets, what Milton is among the English. His most celebrated work is entitled, "The Messiah."

chapters of Daniel, the Four Gospels, and the Acts of the Apostles, are more especially my delight, - more valuable than all the treasures of the whole globe !"

I

In another letter, dated Nov. 24, 1794, he thus declares some of his religious principles to a friend, in contradiction to a report, that he had adopted the modern rational system of divinity assure you, in the most solemn manner, that I entertain, to this very moment, the fullest conviction that the Bible contains a true record of the revelations of God. More especially, I believe in the supreme divinity of Jesus of Nazareth. Him I regard daily with renewed satisfaction and joy, as the immediate object of our religious worship: Him I revere as the utmost perfection which human nature can exhibit, and as the express image of the Godhead. believe, with increasing intuitive knowledge, that no man can come unto the Father, but by and through him. I believe, that, thro' his person and mediation only, the human race can be conducted to its proper destination, restored to its original dignity, and attain to the complete purpose of eternal love. It is he on whom I am daily more and more constrained to place an entire dependence. As a mortal man, as a helpless sinner, as a philosopher, I stand in need of him. The more I examine all the different systems of philosophy, the more I am led to adore Jesus Christ as my Lord and my God. Christ, or despair, is my only alternative. His incarnation, his sufferings, death, and resurrection, his close affinity to mankind, serve to dispel all my darkness, to supply all my defects."

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At the commencement of the French revolution, Mr. Lavater, in common with multitudes, rejoiced at the pleasing prospect that the numerous abuses prevalent under the former government, would have an end; that the rights of the people would be more respected, and genuine liberty established :— but no sooner did he observe Liberty degenerating into licentiousness, no sooner did an account of the revolutionary crimes and Jacobinical atrocities reach his ear, than he spoke most loudly and decidedly against this shocking abuse of the greatest of all civil blessings; and more especially, he denounced it as the grossest violation, both of divine and human laws, when the French polluted their hands with the blood of their late unhappy monarch.

When, in the year 1795, the first revolutionary movements appeared in the canton of Zurich, Mr. Lavater employed all the talents of his mind, and exerted all the powers of his eloquence, to assuage the fury of an unruly passion, - to advise the mildest and most conciliatory measures on the part of the government, and to exhort the people, in the most impres sive language, to the strictest observance of due respect and obedience towards their lawful magistrates.

When the total subversion of the Swiss constitution took place, in the year 1798; and soon afterwards that free and happy country, which, for centuries, had enjoyed the blessings of peace, was involved in all the dreadful calamities of war,Mr. Lavater's character shone forth with peculiar lustre. Without attaching himself to any party whatever, his constant aim appeared to be to lessen, as much as possible, the sum of human misery at this awful period; to promote, by all the means in his power, mutual union, concord, and peace; to prevent still greater mischief; -to instruct and comfort his people from the word of God; to impress their minds with the necessity of genuine repentance, of a firm and unshaken belief in the gracious promises of the gospel, of fervent and unremitting prayer, and of a due improvement of their present afflictions.

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Meek and gentle as Mr. Lavater's general disposition was, he opposed, with the boldness and fortitude of a lion, all the acts of injustice and cruelty which were committed, either by his revolutionary countrymen, or by the French invaders. No-" bly disregarding all fear of man, and trusting in divine protec tion, he addressed a letter to Mr. Reubel, who was then President of the French Directory, remonstrating, in the most spirited manner, against the lawless violence and shameful robberies perpetrated amongst a free, independent, and harmless people; and it is remarkable, that Reubel dared not commit any personal violence against Mr. Lavater; but condescended to send him a long answer, full of sophistical arguments.

Soon afterwards, when he had the mortification to see that some of the most worthy inhabitants of Zurich were suddenly carried away from their families, by order of the new Swiss government, without any lawful occasion, he thought it necessary to enter his solemn protest against such arbitrary and cruel proceedings. This so enraged his enemies, that they resolved upon his deportation likewise.

Mr. Lavater was so fully aware of this event, that some time before it took place, he prepared the following letter to his family and friends:- I expect shortly to meet with the same treatment which others, more worthy than myself, have experienced. A system of terror once introduced, spreads like a flame driven by the wind. I expect every thing; and being prepared for the worst, fear nothing. That which is evil shall turn out for good; and the worst for the best. God will give me tranquillity and fortitude to bear every thing. I shall suf fer innocently. Be fully assured, that whatever they bring against me, they will be able to prove nothing. I expect, that I shall soon be privately arrested. In this case, let ne intreat you to remain as tranquil as myself. God will not suffer me to be destroyed. I shall not, at least on this occasion, ba

come the victim of Despotism; yea, I fully trust, my deportation shall be rendered a blessing to myself, to you, and to my native country! Let me, therefore, request you to attempt nothing for me, however natural or needful it may appear to you. God will soon help me, without any interference of yours. Only pray for me with composure, affection, and fearless confidence. Farewell. May the Lord be with us all!". (April 9, 1799-)

What Mr. Lavater foresaw, soon came to pass. He was at Baden, for the benefit of his health, which had been much impaired. He had spent but a few days at that place before he was apprehended. On the morning of the 18th of May, he was torn from the arms of his afflicted wife, and carried, by an armed force, to Basil; where he was detained as a prisoner, in the house of the Prefect. In this distressing situation he manifested the most manly and Christian character. His enemies accused him of having betrayed the interests of his country to the Russian government, for the sum of 100 7.; but, providentially, at the very time of his trial, a letter from Petersburgh arrived, which being opened by the Prefect, demonstrated, in the clearest manner, that the sum in question was merely the price of some paintings, which the Empress had purchased of Mr. Lavater: his enemies were thus constrained to set him at liberty. When he returned to Zurich, after a banishment of three months, he was received, as it were, in triumph, not only by his friends, but by his fellow-citizens in general.

Soon afterwards, however, a far greater calamity befel him, which ultimately proved fatal:- On the 26th of Sept. 1799, after a most bloody battle with the combined forces of Austria and Russia, the victorious French army retook the city of Zurich. At this crisis, Mr. Lavater was humanely relieving some poor neighbouring widows from the importunities of the French soldiery, whom he accommodated in his own house with meat and drink, when one of these ungrateful wretches discharged his gun at his benefactor. The ball entered his body a little below his heart, and went out on the right side. The blood rushed out from each aperture. His wife, children, friends, and neighbours surrounded him, terrified, lamenting, weeping, and loudly exclaiming against the perpetrator of this atrocious deed; but he was resigned; freely forgave his cruel enemy; and, in the midst of excruciating pains, adored the chastening hand of his Heavenly Father, whose unchangeable love be acknowledged even in this painful dispensation. wound seemed to heal sooner than was at first expected; and, some months afterwards, he had the satisfaction to appear once more before his congregation, to whom he was attached in the most affectionate manner. He chose for his text, Psalm

His