income; or to indulge in needless expenses to the injury of their families, and of their ability to do good in acts of charity and benevolence.

The religious government of the tongue was likewise a subject on which he insisted very strongly, I mean as to its regulation respecting the private concerns or character of our neighbour. Nothing seemed to hurt him more than to hear any one take pleasure in speaking ill of others, or retail slanderous reports to their disadvantage; and he would frequently stop them abruptly, by observing to them, that "the roots of the tongue lie very deep;" or, with that remark, "I seldom see a fault in another but I "look for two in myself, and they generally are not far "to seek."

In the distribution of his time, and the regulation of his family, he observed the most exact order and regularity; not merely on a principle of prudence and the better conducting of his business, but through a religious sense of the importance of his time and substance as talents received from God, and of which he was sensible he must give an account.

His dress, furniture, and mode of living, exhibited a model of the most primitive simplicity; so that in visiting him, you might imagine yourself a guest with one of the ancient fathers, rather than with a divine of the eighteenth century. Nor let any suppose that this proceeded from covetousness, or a base love of money; it arose from a conviction of the exceeding evil of the waste of his talent, a disapprobation of the sumptuous manner of living too fashionable amongst the clergy, and a conscientious care that he might have it in his power to relieve the wants of others.

In the private duties of the closet he was diligent and unremitted. These he considered, not only as a discharge of duty, but as indispensably necessary for the life and support of his soul, and as a principal means of maintain

ing intercourse with God, and gaining those daily supplies of divine grace, which he stood in continual need of as a minister and as a Christian.

His caution and great candour respecting others were also very remarkable, and highly worthy of imitation; and though he was firmly established in the Gospel faith of salvation by Jesus Christ alone, yet was he ever ready to make great allowances for men's different views of things, and distinguished with much care between an error of the head and one of the heart.

His curate one day asking him what he thought of one of his people, whether the person was a real Christian or not; he seemed to take no notice. Some days afterwards he called him aside, and said to him, "Sir, you "asked me the other day what I thought of the state of "A. B., and would probably be surprised that I gave you "no reply; but it was not through inattention. It is a point which requires much serious consideration before we determine on the state of any person;" and then proceeded to give his sentiments with his usual candour.

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This is but one instance, out of many, which might be produced in proof of that Christian deliberation which he used in his determinations in general, and of his particular and close attention to the cardinal grace of 1 Cor. xiii. with which few were better acquainted than Mr. Adam.

The same grace of true Christian charity was eminently displayed by him in times of provocation. He was naturally of a very high and warm spirit, and evidently of very quick feelings in cases of this nature. But this served only the more fully to display the power of that divine grace which gave him such happy victory over his passions, that his meekness and humility were the admiration of all that knew him. A clergyman who lived in his family above six years, and had the opportunity of seeing him at all times, and in variety of circumstances,

:

writes of him thus "I don't recollect ever to have seen "his temper ruffled above once or twice in all the time "that I lived with him. When any thing happened of a trying or provoking kind, he used to turn upon his "heel, and say nothing, till he had thought it over, and "examined whether there was indeed a just cause for 66 anger or not."

But this conquest of himself was not attained to but by hard conflicts, and in the exercise of much labour, watchfulness, and prayer. He was forced to dispute his ground inch by inch, and would often say, "if ever grace was grafted on a crab-stock, it is surely in me."

In this connexion it would be injustice to omit his forgiveness of injuries. That which was formerly said of Archbishop Cranmer, "Do my Lord of Canterbury a "shrewd turn, and you make him your friend as long as

you live," might with the greatest truth be applied to our worthy author. And often would he requite, the ingratitude and rudeness of an ignorant and perverse parishioner, by taking occasion, to do him some kind office as soon as possible.

But among all the graces which adorned his Christian profession, his patience and resignation under the afflicting hand of God, were most remarkable. In these he was peculiarly eminent, and exceeded by few that we have either seen or read of. It pleased God to afflict him, for many years before his death, with a disorder of a very peculiar and trying nature, which, through a similarity in some of its symptoms, was, for a time, apprehended to be the stone, and the reader will find frequent reference to it, under this description, in the private thoughts: but, through the whole, the power of divine grace shone with a most striking splendour, while nothing but meekness and submission were to be seen in his deportment, and adoration and thankfulness heard from his lips.

A prayer which he composed and made use of on these occasions will give the reader the fullest satisfaction of the truth of this remark *.

His manner was rather peculiar, but it was easy to perceive it to be the result of much conscientious thought. He spake little; but what he said was full of that weight and gravity which bespoke the philosopher and the Christian. Yet this his taciturnity, proceeding also from great natural reserve, must be considered as one of his chief defects, and had its unhappy influence in preventing his greater usefulness, both amongst his people, and his friends in general; and he himself both saw, and often lamented it in this view.

Upon the whole-as a minister-he was conscientious, diligent, and regular-faithfully attentive to his ministry, filling up his office with great integrity, and adorning it by a suitable life and conversation.

As a Christian-he was humble, serious, and devout a sincere follower of his great Master-sound in the faith and hope of the Gospel, and truly exemplary in every good word and work: an affectionate husband, steady friend-kind neighbour, and indulgent master: and, to sum up all in the words of the worthy clergyman, in his letter before referred to, "If his real cha"racter could be held forth, it would well deserve an "attentive review and imitation. And though it may "be expected that some may think light of it, and "others sneer at it, as too precise and primitive, I " doubt not he will one day appear great, and be "numbered among the worthies, who will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father."

* See Appendix, No. V.

J. S..

APPENDIX.

[The following LETTERS of Mr. ADAM, written at different times, and two other papers referred to in the foregoing relation, will help to illustrate this short sketch of his character.]

No. I.

To a Lady in Cornwall.

Nov. 19, 1756.

MADAM, PERMIT me to congratulate you on your happy deliverance from the religion in fashion; by which I mean a creditable profession, without that knowledge of the heart which brings us hungering and thirsting to Christ for the relief we want, and which he came from the bosom of the Father to offer us.

That such a profession may consist with a secret deep-rooted love of the world, and indulgence to almost every vanity of it, we have thousands of witnesses who, never suspecting the goodness of their state, cannot bear to have it called in question, and almost necessarily dislike reproach, and hate those who condemn them, by turning from their ways and maxims. This is one of the greatest difficulties in the way of a thorough conversion, and needs all the authority of that dreadful denunciation, "whoso"ever shall be ashamed of me," &c. to support us under it. I pray God send it with all its weight to your heart and mine, and enable us to make a steady confession of the Gospel in its truth and purity, as opposite to our natural views, tempers, and affections, and calling us to an