selves wrath against the day of wrath, while they despised orneglected all his warnings, his warm, vehement, affectionate appeals to their consciences!

The love and attachment of Mr. Wilson to the Established Church was unquestionable: he loved its order, its doctrines, and its services. The unity, peace, and concord of all good men were also most devoutly desired by him; for the attainment of which he seemed ready to make any sacrifice short of vilifying the church to which he belonged.

As Mr. Wilson loved the doctrines and the order of the church, of which he was a minister, so he was uniformly and exemplarily zealous in supporting the state, of which he was a subject. He had well weighed and appreciated the advantages of our civil constitution. Thankful, in the highest degree, for such privileges as those which each British subject is heir to, and which have been so invariably maintained under the mild and equitable government of our present Sovereign, he abhorred from his soul all the attempts which have been inade, of late years, to render the people dissatisfied and disaffected. He saw it his duty frequently to preach the scriptural doctrine of obedience to rulers; and wondered how any man, professing to fear God, could withhold honour from the king.

All his doctrine, and the regulation of his practice, he derived from the Bible, in which he meditated day and night. To constant meditation on the Scriptures, he added much prayer; indeed, he was most eminently a man of prayer. He carried all his wants, his difficulties, his doubts, his fears, his distresses, to the throne of grace, relying on the merits and intercession of his Redeemer. He knew the value of this privilege, and seemed to be lifting up his heart to Heaven all the day long. In this frame he passed through the long and arduous trial of his patience, with which it pleased God to visit him. He was dumb, and` opened not his mouth,' because it was His doing.

Much might be said of his affection to his people, and his kindness and liberality to the poor and necessitous; suffice it to say, his people were his flock. Few, I apprehend, have done more in his circumstances, at any time, to relieve the distressed; and yet, not indiscriminately, or on great occasions only, but discreetly and gradually, both by counsel and by money. Tho' he loved order and neatness, and shewed that he was not destitute even of a taste for elegance, yet it plainly appeared that the wants of the poor occupied his thoughts more than his own accommodation. He was always ready, after the example of his beloved Master, to deny himself for their sakes; and, for His sake indeed, it not unfrequently happened that he was constrained, by sights of distress, or the importunities of those who had experienced his liberality, to give the last piece of silver he had; he, however, was wont to say, it was not the duty of ministers who had familics, to do as he did. To such persons

he recommended their making a due provision for their children out of their incomes, whenever God put it in their power. Instead of children to perpetuate his memory, this good man left behind him a new and spacious edifice for divine worship, built at his solicitation, and on which he bestowed much care, time, and labour; and, adjoining to it, a neat and convenient parsonage-house, erected at his own expence, for the better accommodation of his successors.

Mr. Wilson was somewhat advanced in life when he first turned his thoughts towards the ministry; and he had not had the advantage of a regular classical education. A clergyman of Leeds, of a kindred spirit, beheld in his fervent piety the dawning of singular usefulness, and put him in the way of obtaining holy orders. He applied himself to the study of the languages, and was ordained to a curacy near Wetherby, Yorkshire. There his ardent spirit laboured diligently; and much concern about religion appeared in many of his congregation. Some things there were, however, disagreeable to him in that situation; and, on the removal of the late Mr. Powley to Dewsbury, Mr. Wilson, thro' his means, became curate of Slaighwaite, Here he found a numerous congregation, a plain people, who were not offended at his plain preaching; and among them he determined to spend and be spent.'

A short time after he settled at this place, he married a widow lady, possessed of a moderate fortune, who resided in the neighbourhood. While her virtues made his home agreeable, her fortune enabled him to be charitable in his daily visits among his people. This union, however, did not continue long in the course of a few years he was left a widower, and so remained to his death, a pattern of unblameable purity and sobriety.

In his deportment, Mr. Wilson was grave without affectation ar moroseness, and cheerful without levity. His freedom of manner, openness of heart, and good humour, rendered him a welcome visitor at the houses of his acquaintances, rich and poor, learned and unlearned. His conversation was diversified by pleasant anecdote, and rendered edifying by profitable remarks, happily introduced. This truly excellent man of God (added the gentleman to whom we are indebted for this article) was my Counsellor and most intimate friend during 20 years. I call to remembrance, with comfort and gratitude to God, that I was ordained to his curacy, which opened the way to a friendship which has never been interrupted. I have fully known, therefore, his doctrine, his manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, afflictions. I believe, indeed, he had, in common with all the servants of God, the corruption and infirmities of our nature. He acknowledged to me, in the strongest terms, on the Sunday preceding his death, his sinfulness and unworthiness. He fought a good fight, and now has finished his Course. The tears of numerous spectators, as well as those who

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carried him to the grave, testified the love and veneration they had for him all seemed to say (men, women, and children, individually) Let me die the death of this righteous man, and let my end be like his !'

EPITAPH ON HIS TOMB-STONE,

IN THE BURIAL-GROUND OF SLAIGHWAITE-CHAPEL.

Sacred to the Memory of

the late Rev. TROMAS WILSON,
who was

32 years Perpetual Curate of Slaighwaite-Chapel, faithfully discharging the trust committed to him by his Lord. He died July 2, 1809, aged 64 years.

Go feed my lambs,' the heav'nly Shepherd cry'd

Go feed my sheep,' again 'that voice reply'd.

Firm to his trust, a servant here is laid,
Who heard the tender précept and obey'd.
Back to green pastures he the wanderers led,
The weakly foster'd, and the hungry fed,-
Rebok'd the bold; but bade the timid rise,
And gave new strength and wisdom to the wise!
Farewell, blest spirit! for a toil like this,

Thy LORD shall lead thee by the streams of bliss;
And give thee, guided by his staff and rod,

To join thy flock again, and join thy God!

DEVOTIONAL REFLECTIONS ON PSALM XXXIX. 4. Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days what it is, that I may know how frail I am!

On the commencement of the year, such a prayer as this is particularly suitable for every traveller on the road to the eternal world. It is not by the exercise of reason merely, that we can form a proper estimate of human life; but if to this we are enabled to add the influence of faith and the spirit of devotion, we shall have those affecting views of our lives which will lead to that improvement of what remains of them, which their brevity and uncertainty require.

It is not the intention of this paper to clear up any difficulties in the connection of these words, except to observe, That the paragraph probably begins with the foregoing verse; and that David, by intensely musing on the brevity of life and the vanity of man, at length speaks with his tongue, and utters this and other devout sentiments contained in the psalm.

The petition now under notice embraces three objects; and these respect the lose, the duration, and the frailty of life. These objects are always important, and yet too much neglected by us all. At the present season especially, when the plans, the duties, and the prospects of the opening year are before us, how rational, how wise is it to consider our latter end!

'Lord, make me to know mine end!' Does not this petition imply the natural and extreme unwillingness of the minds of men, even of very good men, to think deeply and profitably of the closing period of their mortal career? How strange, how thoughtless, how criminal this aversion from the most interesting, most awful period of life! Lord, subdue this aversion, and 'make me to know mine end!' The supplicant feels the unpleasantness, the evil of this aversion, and therefore implores the assistance, the grace of God. With solemn ardour of soul he prays, Lord, direct my thoughts, dispose me, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is!" Observe, he reflects that the end of all things is at hand.' He pauses, and thinks that the end of his probation and trial, his duty and exertion, his pursuits and enjoyments, as they bind him to this world, is fast approaching. He is convinced that this is a fact; and yet he does not feel so serious, so happy, so resigned as he ought to be. Hence, notice further, he prays that he may know, or attentively consider the end of his course. He does not curiously wish to know the time and manner of his departure; but his desire is, that he may, by previous knowledge of the certainty and rapid approach of the event, stand prepared. He is often admonished by the heavenly whisper, Be ye also ready.' His prayer and hope is, under these impressions, to be found in Christ; to be found clothed with the whole armour of God; to be found willing to put off the earthly house of this tabernacle; to be, in a word, willing to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better. Such are the sanctified views and feelings of a man who wisely considers his latter end!

Another object of the petition most probably refers to the duration of life. The Psalmist prays that he might know the measure of his days. This measure, this short duration, he seems to allude to in the following verse:Behold, thou hast made my days as an hand-breadth, and mine age is as nothing before thee! It becomes us often to consider how near we are to the end of life. The measure of our days is determined by the counsel of God, and that measure is but short. Our days will soon be numbered and finished! Who can contradict the solemn and affecting assertions of Job? Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble: he cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not: his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee: thou hast appointed his bounds, that he

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cannot pass.' Frequently and seriously let us think, therefore, on the probable bounds of our lives, and on our daily approach to those bounds that cannot be exceeded; and how soon may we appear on the verge of the eternal state !-Yet, alas! such are the many attachments to human life, that but few can be found, among the busy tribes of men, who sufficiently estimate the measure, the hourly shortening measure of their days, what it is !'-how short it is, even in the longest instance, and how short it may probably be in our own! Hence

The inspired penman next adverts to his own frailty: "That I may know how frail I am.' - Death is gradually and secretly undermining our constitutions. This should lead us to consider how scanty the stock of life is, and how faint the spirits, which are as oil to keep that lamp burning.' Verily, every man at his best state is altogether vanity.' He is a mutable, mortal, dying ereature. How frail, how liable either to be soon or suddenly broken is the earthen vessel' that contains the immortal mind! Lord, give to each of us a deep and perpetual conviction of his own frailty! Lord, grant that I may know how frail I am!that I may know and consider it aright! that I may reflect how frail this mortal tenement is! that my time is short; and that there is but a step between me and death!'

This sentiment of the devout Psalmist, which has occasioned the foregoing explanatory reflections, powerfully urges upon us a serious improvement of our remaining days. The label written on each revolving day and week, month and year, is this, Redeem the time !-Why should the end of life be so much forgotten? Why should a due preparation for it be so universally neglected? The busy and the thoughtless may attempt to argue and procrastinate; but both Reason and Conscience will still urge, that the great business of life is to prepare for its termination; and Scripture speaks yet louder in their ears, Prepare to meet thy God!' The shortness of life should awaken and keep alive all our diligence. Be diligent to make your calling and election sure.' So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.' The question is, Who are these wise and devoted characters? They are penitent sinners, and believers in Jesus;-they walk by faith, and not by sight;-they are led and sanctified by the Spirit; they are humble and heavenly-minded; they are weaned from this world, and long for better; and they are always abounding in the work of the Lord. Happy characters indeed! Let the weakness of your frame induce patience and resignation! If you are saying with Job, All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come,' you shall have an entrance ministered unto you, abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!'

PATROBAS.