sions, he had secretly determined to encounter no more, the searching questions which exposed his shallowness, and brought low the vain imaginations of his heart. This experienced pastor had dealt wisely with him he was flighty, ostentatious, and injudicious, but afterwards became an exemplary and useful Christian.

The faithfulness of Mr. Walker, both in public and private, involved him, as has been before stated, in every species of opposition from the enemies of vital godliness. Foiled in their attempt to injure him with the bishop, they next tried to prevail on the rector of Truro to dismiss him from his cure. The applicants, being some of the wealthiest inhabitants of the place, found him willing to listen to their complaints, and he promised them to go to Mr. Walker, and give him notice to quit his charge. He went; but like the Gaul who was sent to the Roman hero to despatch him in prison, retired startled and abashed at his lofty tone and high bearing. When the rector of Truro entered the apartment of his curate, he was received with that elegance and true dignity of manner, which was natural to one who had long been the charm of society, and became so embarrassed as to be perfectly unable to enter on the subject of his visit. He at length made some remark, which afforded an opportunity of speaking on the ministerial office and character, which Mr. Walker immediately embraced, and entered on the subject with such acuteness of reasoning and solemnity of appeal to his rector, as a fellow labourer in the gospel, that he retreated, overwhelmed with confu

sion, and unable to say a word about the intended dismissal. He was in consequence reproached with a breach of his promise, and went a second time to fulfil it. He again retreated without daring to allude to the subject of his visit. He was pressed to go a third time by one of his principal parishioners, but replied “do you go and dismiss him if you can, I cannot. I feel in his presence as if he were a being of a superior order, and am so abashed that I am uneasy till I can retire." A short time after this, the rector was taken ill, when he sent for Mr. Walker, entreated his prayers, acknowledged the propriety of of his conduct as a minister, and promised him his hearty support if he recovered; but it is to be feared his resolution passed away with the alarm of illness. Never was a more striking instance than this of the power of religious consistency-it is inconsistency that makes us inefficient; while a life suitable to our profession, attracts esteem from the godly, and repels the hostile weapons of our foes. It is when her priests are clothed with righteousness, that the saints of the church rejoice and sing; and though the enemies of truth hate the light of that celestial dress, they retreat overpowered with the bright reflection of its beams.

The high moral conquest thus achieved by Mr. Walker, as well as perpetual accessions to his church, of those whom he had reason to hope were such as should be saved, endeared him with the affection of a father to his converts at Truro, and determined him, while providence permitted, to spend and be spent in their service. Soon after his arrival amongst them,

he had been presented by the trustees of his late patron, Mr. Kendall, to the vicarage of Talland, and had obtained leave of non-residence from the bishop. The genuine character, however, of his religion having engendered in him a great tenderness of conscience, he began to have serious scruples about the justifiableness of deriving any emolument from a charge, the duties of which he was unable to perform. With his usual calmness and deliberation, he weighed in his own mind the question of non-residence and pluralities, consulting able writers on the subject ; and after mature reflection, coupled with earnest prayer, he decided to resign his preferment. Although this resolution reduced his finances so as to bring him into exceedingly low circumstances, he did not hesitate for an instant to act upon it, and told his friends that a weighty burden had been removed from his conscience. He bore with cheerfulness all the inconveniences of his diminished fortune, relinquished his accustomed comforts, and went into humble lodgings with accommodations of the plainest kind. While in this condition, he had four offers made him of preferment, but declined them all. He could not leave his devoted flock; he would not receive from any portion of the vineyard where he laboured not; all his desires centred in longings for God's presence in his soul, and a blessing on his ministry. He thus exhibited in practice his own description of the contented Christain. "No desire is there of other treasure but God, nor is there any want grievous while the light of God's countenance is enjoyed. This changes rags into purple garments, sweetens the

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coarse and homely meal, satisfies that the dwelling be narrow and inconvenient, and makes the heart dance for joy, while beholders regard, some with pity, and some with scorn. O, ye poor great ones; poor, because strangers to God, poor, and without quiet, how little cause have ye to boast that ye fare sumptuously! This man hath delicates which ye cannot relish, a continual feast he hath satisfying his soul, while your very heart is troubled with all the contrivances of art to please, and all the elegances of luxury to indulge you; you cannot feed upon content as he doth, because ye know not God, for it is his privilege, having nothing, to be as if he possessed all things."5

The resignation of his vicarage was not the only instance of Mr. Walker's genuine disinterestedness. There resided in the neighbourhood of Truro, a young lady of accomplished manners, beauty, fortune, and piety. Her religion attached her to the ministry of Mr. Walker, while superior education and good sense enabled her to appreciate his attainments. There was every reason to believe that she would have readily accepted an offer of his hand, and that their union would have been most happy. A friend anxious to see him relieved from his humble circumstances, by an alliance with a lady of fortune, piety, and zeal, ventured to advise him seriously to consider whether he ought not to avail himself of such an opportunity. He made no reply at the time, but a few days afterwards remarked-" you spoke to

5 MS. Sermon.

I certainly never saw a

I

me lately about Miss woman whom I thought comparable to her, and I believe I should enjoy as much happiness in a union with her, as it is possible to enjoy in this world. have reason also to think she would not reject my suit." Here he paused, and added with great feeling and seriousness-" still it must never be-what would the world say of me? Would not they imagine that the hope of obtaining such a prize, influenced my profession of religion? It is easy, they would say, to preach self-denial, and heavenly mindedness; but has not the preacher taken care to get as much of this world's good as he could possibly obtain ?" "Sir,” he again said, with emphasis, "it must never be. I can never suffer any temporal happiness or advantage to be a hindrance to my usefulness." Whether, in coming to this determination, Mr. Walker exercised a sound discretion, or otherwise, it is impossible to determine, unless every circumstance of the case were before us. One thing is however certain, that he denied himself, took up his cross, and followed Christ. His conduct was like that of the celebrated Fletcher, of Madely, who refused a living because "there was too little work and too much money." It is probable that when Mr. Walker's friend came to him with the suggestion just alluded to, he determined to think it over with prayer for divine direction; and doubtless he came to the conclusion, that as a minister he must in all things give incontestible evidence that God and his service were the first objects of his heart. That such were the feelings of his mind, is evident from the following words addressed to the converts of his flock.