From his infancy he had many serious impressions; and, when only seven years old, felt himself strongly drawn to seek God by prayer. "To use God," says he, "as my own God, was one of the earliest and most deeply impressed ideas in my mind. Observing the indifference of others towards God, I was determined to make the best use of him I could. I felt a need of his presence, and made it a constant practice to pour out my heart before him in fervent prayer every morning and evening yet my light and volatile disposition oftentimes disturbed me in my devotions. To listen to the sermons was too tiresome for me, so I took my little Pocket Bible to the place of worship; and, with the greatest eagerness, I read the Histories of the Old Testament, more especially that of Elias and Elisha. Christ and the New Testament had but a small share of my attention or affection at that time."

When ten years of age, young Lavater freely declared his intention to devote himself to the ministry, and, notwithstanding all the objections and difficulties he had to encounter, he never changed his mind; but zealously applied himself to the study of the Latin language, and other branches of hu man learning requisite for this purpose.

In his fourteenth year he had a dangerous fit of sickness. "When thus taken ill," says he, "I seriously reflected upon my former life, endeavouring to purify my heart, most heartily forgiving every received injury, and asking pardon of all those to whom I suspected I had given the least offence." This illness, he adds, left behind it many a serious impression.

Soon after this, having taken a long walk on a very hot day, and too eagerly drinking more wine than he could bear, he got nearly intoxicated; which grieved him to his very heart.

"Hardly," says he, " any occurrence in my whole life has made such an indelible impression upon my mind as this accident. I shed streams of penitential tears, and nothing could erase the remembrance of it from my mind; and, even now, after the lapse of twenty-six years, it serves me as a powerful warning never to exceed moderation in drinking, in the least degree."

In the fifteenth year of his age, a violent shock of an earthquake, and the happy departure of his elder brother, greatly contributed to confirm and to increase the good impressions and pious resolutions of his mind.

"When," says he, "my brother was in his last moments, he sat up in his bed, lifted up his hands, and, looking up stedfastly toward Heaven, exclaimed, Behold, I see the heaveus opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God! Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."Thus saying, he sunk down and expired. All of us were dis solved in tears. Now I saw my brother a dead corpse on the very same spot on which I was born, I felt quite heavenly

minded. Death and Heaven were my only thoughts; so I went to bed; but when I awoke the next morning, I felt quite pleased in my having become the eldest son of the family, and the heir of the cabinet of natural curiosities which my brother had collected. I could not help abhorring myself, on account of this sudden change of mind." Oh! vanity of vanities! all, indeed, is vanity!"

When young Lavater entered upon his academical course, his talents soon began to shine forth so brilliantly, as to attract the notice of the most learned characters who were at that time Professors in the College at Zurich, some of whom endeavoured to encourage and direct his rising genius.

During the three years of his studying divinity, he was most deeply impressed with a sense of the infinite importance of well-employed or mis-spent time; and had such views of the awfulness of sin and the holiness of God, that he oftentimes bumbled himself in the dust. He made it a point of conscience daily to examine himself, watching over all his thoughts, words, and actions, and most sincerely bewailing, not only every improper action which he had done, but even every impure motive which might have influenced his conduct. At the same time, Christ, in his person, and all his endearing cha racters and offices, was rendered exceedingly precious to his soul. To him he approached," weary and heavy laden," seeking rest for his immortal soul, and entirely devoting himself to his blessed service.

In confirmation of what has just been stated, we subjoin a few extracts from Mr. Lavater's journals and letters, written about this time. In the early part of his twentieth year he thus expresses his feelings in a letter to a friend:

"Alas! what a sinner I am! Oh! that all created beings might weep before God on my behalf! and yet their combined efforts could not save me. No, no! I have sinned against the infinite Majesty of Heaven! but, lo! the Creator himself becomes man-my brother! He lies prostrate before his Father! he prays and wrestles, and sheds tears of blood for meeven for me! Oh, what boundless love and compassion! I am lost in wonder, love, and praise, and melted in tears of shame and gratitude! I bow before him, and adore!",

In another place, he says, "When I examine the secret springs of my actions, words, and thoughts, sincerely as in the presence of God, I must confess that I do not always act from a principle of pure love to God, and a sincere regard to his glory; but alas! too often I observe selfish motives, which I

It may not be improper to observe, that Mr. Lavater most carefully "fled youthful lusts;" and was very much esteemed by all who knew him, on account of the regularity of his conduct, and the virtuous life

he led.

cannot but consider as grievously sinful. Genuine religion rests not satisfied with a mere outward form; it requires the heart. All virtues, considered in themselves, are a mere mechanical motion, if they are void of the Spirit's enlivening influence. Morality, without the heart, is like a body without a soul. Both reason and revelation plainly tell us, that our good actions have no value whatsoever, if God be not their source, aim, and end. Now, for my own part, I will not deny the real good which the grace of God enables me to perform; for instance, when I give alms, I seldom can discover any thing in it like hypocrisy, but rather I do it with the sincerest joy, and generally with a single eye to the glory of God: But, alas! too often I observe, in the course of my conversation with others, a want of that simplicity and sincerity which is so precious in the sight of God, and for the attainment of which I long. Often I use improper expressions, and speak in a way dictated by self-love, seeking not so much the glory of God as to please myself. Sometimes pure motives to please God are so intermingled with an impure desire to please myself, that I can hardly ascertain which is the prevailing principle. From this I cannot but infer, that I am not free from pride; and should any doubt remain whether this really be the case, my being so very prone to anger, and that inward grief I feel within wher reproved for any thing done amiss, ought to convince me that I have a proud and irritable temper."

"I know," says he, in another letter, "that I am wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: but, blessed be God, there is a book called the Bible, in which I meet with a plentiful supply of the most approved and never-failing remedies, by a good use of which I may become rich, healthy, and clothed. I know that I cannot be saved without love to God and man; for, without it, no true happiness can possibly exist. Now, the Holy Scriptures tell me that love is the fruit of the Spirit; that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. But how am I to obtain this sacred Spirit? This Jesus plainly tells me, Luke xi. 13. How foolish, then, any longer to delay! . . . . .

"All that can render a man completely happy, both in this world and the world to come, is set forth in the Scriptures in the most distinct, exalted, and solid way; so that there is no book in the world which could lead us to any higher degree of wisdom, virtue, and happiness, than that which is obtainable by attending to the blessed doctrines of the Bible...

"One, and only one there is, in whom I find ten thousand times more delight than in every thing else. I mean Him who was God, who is to be the Judge of the world, who, for me, became man, to reconcile me to God! O! how happy am I ! Now my soul feels its immortality!"

In another letter, Mr. Lavater, after having described the sinful situation of a wicked man in his dying hours, thus addresses his friend:

"O, my dear friend! I rejoice over you; but, pray, never depart any more from the good way of righteousness! Never look back! First of all, endeavour to be reconciled to God by a dying Saviour, and then you may cheerfully run the way of his commandments.

"Until you have felt a godly sorrow, and an anxious concern about your sins; until you have bewailed them with tears of the most unfeigned repentance; until you cheerfully give up your weeping heart to the Son of God, deeply lamenting those very sins that nailed him to the cross; until you become sick, as it were, with love to him; until you confidently embrace his knees, humbly applying for a blessed experience of his healing powers; until you have repeatedly experienced and exercised these things, you must never flatter yourself with making real advances in the Christian life. I know, by sad experience, how often we fall into sin and temptation, so long as we remain too fondly attached to any object of earth and sense. we do not deeply abhor and detest sin, from an experimental view of its exceeding great sinfulness and awful consequences, we go our way, and fondly imagine that we are better than the common bulk of sinners; but even the smallest remainder of the most subtle pride may prove a snare to us, to lead us astray from the narrow way of life."

If

In the year 1762, Mr. Lavater, after having finished his Theological Studies, entered into holy orders, to the great satisfaction of his Professors; but under very humble views of his own attainments.

"The principal duties of my new station," says he, "require a close application to the acquisition of solid and scientific knowledge, and of exemplary piety, which ought eminently to shine far above the virtues of the very best private Christians. A clergyman ought to be possessed of a very solid and extensive knowledge of the languages, and of philosophy; but my progress in these necessary branches of learning is very imperfect; and how infinitely short do I fall of those moral accomplishments which ought to adorn a worthy minister!

"But, shall I rest satisfied with this humble confession? No. I will humbly cast myself down before my Creator and Redeemer, and firmly resolve to strive after the highest degree of perfection; never to make a stand; never to get weary in honouring God; above all things, not to become the slave of man; not to look for my own advantage; but I will endea vour, by the grace of God, to try all my actions by the rule of St. Paul: Whatsoever is not of faith, is sin. Thus acting, I shall prove a good soldier of Jesus Christ, and act in a manner becoming his faithful servant."

Soon after his ordination, he thus addressed one of his dearest friends: "You have preached this day; and, I trust, with much success. O let us consider the infinite importance of addressing immortal beings in the name of God! May the principle of St. Paul never fail to be yours: "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves, your servants, for Christ's sake."

Mr. Lavater was only twenty-one years old when he performed an action which cannot but highly interest every impartial reader in his favour: There lived in the city of Zurich, and even a member of its senate, a most wretched character, who, during the time he had been Prefect over a district of the Canton, had committed innumerable acts of the grossest injustice; yea, such abominable crimes, that all the country people loudly reproached and cursed him; but no one dared to call him to public account, he being related to several gentlemen who were members of the Zurich government, and son-in-law to the principal magistrate of the city. Mr. Lavater, after having often heard of, and duly examined into, the atrocities of the Prefect, committed even against helpless widows and orphans, could at last no longer retrain.himself: his tender feeling heart was glowing with the noblest sentiments of justice and humanity, and felt an irresistible desire to plead the cause of the poor and oppressed. He was fully aware that his stepping forward in this cause would expose him to the frowns of the great and mighty, and occasion much uneasiness and anxiety even to his nearest and dearest relations; but he was determined to obey God rather than man. Having prepared himself by earnest prayer, and consulted an intimate friend, he first addressed a letter to the Prefect; in which he strongly reproached him for his detestable actions; and freely declared his full intention to bring him to public justice, should he not restore his spoils within the term of two months. This time having elapsed, and the warning proving in vain, Mr. Lavater proceeded to print a most solemn indictment against him; which he caused to be delivered to every Member of the Zurich government. At first he kept his name a secret; but when called upon, he came forward in the most open manner, nobly avowed and fully proved the points of bis indictment before the whole assembly of the Senate; and had the unspeakable satisfaction to see the wicked Prefect, who, conscious of his guilt, had saved himself by flight, solemnly condemned by law, his unjust property confiscated, and restoration made to the triumphant cause of oppressed poverty and innocence.

[To be continued.]