there were certainly some great benefits which I received from my religious turn of mind.

"Though by nature and habit of an extravagant disposition, I practised the most rigid economy; and in this I was very much assisted by allotting my small income so as to provide for every the minutest expense, and at the same time consecrating a stated part of my income to the Lord, together with all that I could save out of the part reserved for my own use. This made economy truly delightful; and enabled me to finish my three years of scholarship without owing a shilling, whilst others, my contemporaries, incurred debts of several hundred pounds. To this hour do I reap the benefit of these habits; for though my income is now very large, I never indulge in any extravagance. I have, it is true, my establishment on rather a high scale in comparison of others; but I never throw away my money in foolish indulgences, nor spend more of my income upon myself, than I believe God himself approves. I appear to spend a great deal; but by constant and careful economy, I in reality spend scarcely half what I should in general be thought to spend; and of the indulgences I have, I am persuaded I could sacrifice far the greater part without a moment's regret, if there were occasion for my so doing."

It appears from his books of accounts, which from the first were kept with remarkable neatness and accuracy, that his whole income in 1780 (the second year of his residence in College) was only £125; and after gradually increasing for fourteen years, it became in 1793 about £300 per annum.

L. S.

C

On examining the mode of its disbursement during this period, it seems to have been his plan regularly to dispose of one third of his income in charity.

At the close of this part of the narrative, it may not perhaps be uninteresting to observe the manner in which Mr. Simeon was accustomed to record his "thoughts and actions" at this early period. A few extracts from his Diary will suffice; all the memoranda are brief, and very similar in character; and it will be remembered that they are merely the private remarks of a young man at College in the earliest stage of his religious career.

The first entry in his diary occurs February 18, 1780, and runs thus:

Friday. I took the hint of keeping a diary of my thoughts and actions from Stonhouse's Spiritual Instruction to the Uninstructed, and shall think my religion cooled very much when I remit it.

Saturday. I began not my repentance till past 12, and continued it all day, but exercised it chiefly on only one set of my sins, and made good resolutions concerning one, though am wavering on the other. At E. C.* not so much wandering as usual.

Sunday.-Prayed tolerably fervent in and before M. C.†, and received the Sacrament so; but after chapel found a lassitude, and only read in Wilson till dinner: had no devotion at St. Mary's. Had wanderings in E. C.: read to servants and to Mr. R. 'trust in God.' Prayed, but very languidly, at night.

Monday. In M. C quite lukewarm; and much wandering in prayer. In E. C. nearly the same; after which I went to M. R., but talked only on indifferent subjects; prayed at night without a true and proper fervour.

*E. C. Evening Chapel.

+ M. C. Morning Chapel.

Tuesday. Took physic, and was not in M. C. Rose at 9 tolerably devout. At E. C. sad wanderings and coldness at night I seemed almost to sleep over my prayers, such was their weakness, and so frequent wanderings.

The Sacrament surely has not

Very deficient indeed! John

Wednesday. In M. C. given me much more fervour. son gave us an exposition or sermon on Conscience: at 11 read Bishop Beveridge's sermon on Common Prayer till 12, and then prayed fervently for several graces out of the Whole Duty. In E. C. prayed devoutly without much wandering: at night but short prayers, but tolerably performed.

Thursday.-M. C. very little wandering, and pretty devout, owing to my prayers yesterday morning. Went to St. Mary's-Relhan-Charity. Did not keep my attention well. E. C. so, so. Spent the whole evening with M. R.: read Psalms and Lessons pretty devoutly. Cheerful evening. Did not go to the concert. Prayed poorly."

The Diary proceeds much in the same manner, recording the state of his devotional feelings, till we come to the following passage, noticing a circumstance at Trinity Church, to which Mr. S. frequently alluded as a striking contrast to what he afterwards witnessed there.

"March 5th. Sunday.-M. C. very deficient, and much wandering. Breakfasted with Dr. Glynn. Went to hear Mr. Cooke at Trinity Church, and turning at the Creed, saw the table covered: prayed fervently, though with some wandering, and stayed the Sacrament. Mrs. and Miss Burleigh the only two Communicants-administered by Mr. Relhan. Dr. Halifax and Mr. Cooke went away.

8th. Wednesday.-M. C. kneeled down before service, nor do I see any impropriety in it. Why should I be afraid or ashamed of all the world seeing me do my duty? Matt. v. 16: Οὕτω λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅπως ἴδωσιν ὑμῶν τὰ καλὰ ἔργα, καὶ δοξάσωσι τὸν πατέρα ὑμῶν τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.

Εν

20th. Monday.-(Passion Week.) M. C. at ten o'clock, without surplices. When I arose was very penitent and very

devout. In M. C. nearly the same. I have determined that I will neither eat nor drink all this week, except at dinner, and that sparingly till Sunday. E. C. very fervent: at night very devout and penitent."

The following entries exhibit his habits of early rising at this period and his efforts for the spiritual welfare of his servant.

29th. Rose before 5: read from 6. M. C. a great deal of wandering.

June 8th.-6 after returning from the water prayed devoutly with my servant, and am to do the same every morning and evening that I am at home. Hollis will also come in the evening from this time. M. C. much earnestness and much wandering. E. C. indifferently. At night read to my servant and Hollis, and prayed with them from the Litany; and afterwards shortly by myself-very fervent."

After September the Diary is much interrupted; no entries being made for many days together. Mr. Simeon never succeeded for any length of time in his attempts to keep a Journal; and confessed he had little "taste for Diaries."

CHAPTER II.

HIS ORDINATION-LETTER OF BISHOP YORKE-FIRST ACQUAINTANCE WITH RELIGIOUS PERSONS INTRODUCTION TO THE VENNS

FIRST SERMON-DILIGENCE IN PAROCHIAL VISITING-DIFFICULTIES ABOUT THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION -LETTERS OF MR. VENN RESPECTING HIS ZEAL-LETTER OF MR. SIMEON UPON MR. J. VENN'S ORDINATION-EARNEST LETTER TO HIS BROTHER ON THE SUBJECT OF RELIGION-ANOTHER ON HIS ELDEST BROTHER'S DEATH, TO MR. J. VENN.

1782.

MEMOIR CONTINUED.

On

"I NOW come to the time of my Ordination*. May 26th, 1782, (Trinity Sunday) I was ordained by the Bishop of Ely; and began my ministry in St. Edward's Church (in good old Latimer's pulpit), serving that parish for Mr. Atkinson during the long vacation. The way in which I became acquainted with him was this. I had endeavoured to find out some minister who preached those truths which I loved and delighted in; and I attended at St. Mary's for a long time to but little purpose. At last I heard Mr. A. at St. Edward's; and he came nearer to the truth than any one else that I could hear. I therefore, from

Bishop Yorke writes thus to Mr. Simeon's father on the occasion:-"I understood before I received your letter, that your son was on my list as a candidate for Orders on Sunday next; I shall be very glad to see him at that time...... I dare say he will approve himself on the occasion a hopeful minister in the church; and as such it will give me pleasure to countenance him."