mourned over it for many years and yet I mourn that it is not sufficiently subdued. I am apt to fix my eye upon another person's faults, while I averlook his excellencies; and, being of an open disposition, I am led to pronounce his character, merely from a view of his defects. This is the more blameable, because I have so often discovered that I was wrong, and experienced much inconveniency, by being constrained to go out of my way, to give some signal token of affection to those whom I had so misrepresented, through precipitancy of judgment..

"These thing I mention, to put you upon your guard. You area younger man than an; and being of the same sanguine disposition, you may be liable to fall into the same error."

Useful as this society then was, Mr. Eyre projected a plan to enlarge its sphere of action and utility, in a very considerable degree. He had found, upon a careful investigation, that, notwithstanding the number of ministers furnished by our seninaries, a very small proportion indeed was employed in breaking up new ground. He had repeatedly applied to one of the most popular and useful Schools of the Prophets, near London, for young men to act under the direction of his own Society; but could not obtain even one. Nor had he the least hope of doing so in future, as he was given to understand, that that seminary had for its object, solely the furnishing of pastors for churches. He had also considerable doubts, whether the mode of education adopted in that and other academies, were such as would fit young men to answer his purpose, however useful they might be in another line. He observed, that a considerable portion of a short term allotted to the students, was occupied in learning a language in which they were never to speak or write; and to read what they were never designed to teach, viz. "Heathen Historians, Poets, Rhetoriciaus, Orators, and Philosophers;" and this very frequently, to the gross neglect of their own tongue and, what is of still greater importance, to the awful neglect of solid Biblical and theological knowledge. He noticed, that in consequence of such a mode of education, many forgot what they had so imperfectly learned; and that those who had been the most diligent and successful in such acquisitions, frequently lamented they had spent their time without acquiring suitable mental furniture for the discharge of ministerial duties. These observations he had communicated to two or three valuable correspondents; and, finally, induced the Society to educate, under their own eye, and in their own mode, those young men they might in future send out.

In the execution of this plan, he was assisted by his friends, and particularly by Mr. Hanson and Mr. Townsend. the latter of whom generously agreed to give 500l. per annum during his own life; and to pay by installments, or give by his will, the principal sun of 10,000 for the same purpose.

A plan of education was drawn up, excluding the dead languages, except so far as to read the Scriptures in the original,

Mr. Eyre intended to give a Memoir of Mr. T-'s Life; and the materials he has Jefwill be shortly presented to the public, with his Portrait, in this Magazine.

to consist of twelve courses of lectures: six of which were to be Biblical and Theological; and six on Science, Literature, and the Duties of a Preacher. Students were collecting, a tutor was engaged, and the time of commencement was fixed, but has been protracted by his death.

Under the auspices of the same Society, he instituted schools in Spital-fields and Bethnal-green, for the purpose of teaching poor ignorant children to read the Bible, and to understand the first principles of Christianity, from well-known and approved catechisms. The teachers were some of his own congregation, who freely gave their labours in so good a work; and the schools were open for public inspection.

Pitying the state of the poor in these parishes, many thousands of whom never attend any place of public worship on the Lord's Day, he designed to obtain a spacious chapel, to be regularly supplied by an evangelical minister, of respectable character and talents, solely for the use of the poor, without any cost whatever on their part. How mysterious the Providence which removed a man so devoted to his Lord and Master, at a time when his greatest plans appeared near to an accomplishment!

Humility was another prominent feature of his character: those who were best acquainted with him, will recollect in what inodest terms he spoke of his own talents and attainments. An extract from a small paper, which he wrote with his pencil, and gave to Mrs. Eyre, during an illness, six or seven years before his death, and which he styled his Epitaph, will illustrate this

observation:

"Here lies the mortal part of John Eyre, the chief of sinners, saved by grace: But he was the chief of sinners, in a sense very different from that in which the expression could be used by St. Paul: for the apostle viewed himself in that light, from the greatest degree of holiness which any mortal in this life perhaps ever attained; but he from the greatest degree of sinfulness, which ever subsisted in a soul renewed by the Spi rit of God; and which actually polluted every operation of his body and mind for the space of upwards of years; during which he made an open profession of faith in Christ; when God, moved with compassion, released him from the bondage of corruption, and took him up to Heaven."

It was his practice, as we have seen, to conclude the old year with a sermon, reminding his hearers of the mercies they had received. The last year was improved from Ps. cxxvi. 3. "The Lord hath done great things for us." In this discourse he enumerated signal blessings continued and enlarged; among which he mentioned, that the number of communicants was then greater than the number of hearers when he first came to Homerton. He then particularized new favours, among which he reckoned the establishment of the academy above mentioned, as likely to be a great blessing to the country.

Jan. 1st, 1803, he opened the new year with an address from Solomon's Song ii. 16. "I am his." Or the following Lord's Day evening he preached from 1 Cor, vii. 29. "But this Lsax

brethren, the time is short." It was a sermon,' says one of hist hearers, of uncommon elegance and ability, and strikingly prophetic, as Mr. Townsend died within four hours after it was delivered; his dear friend Mr. Hanson, and another of his con gregation, within a week; and himself, within the short space of three months."

Jan. 16, He preached Mr. Townsend's funeral sermon from Rev.xiv. 13. " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord," &c. Jan. 28, He preached Mr. Hanson's funeral sermon, from Mat. xi. 28-30. "Come unto me all ye that labour,” &c. in which he declared he would rather die with Mr. H's poverty of spirit, than in the most triumphant manner; and begged the people to notice, that he desired his dying words might be those of the publican, "God be merciful to me a sinner!"

Feb. 13, in the evening, he preached from 1 Cor. vi. 9-11. In the course of the sermon he solemnly appealed to the consciences of his hearers, respecting the doctrines he had preached among them. "Have I asserted that fornicators can enter the kingdom of Heaven? Have I asserted that the covetous, drunkards, and extortioners can enter the kingdom, of Heaven? I solemnly affirin, before God and you, I have not. Have I not declared, that the unrighteous, &c. shall not inherit the kingdom of God? I solemnly declare, that I am pure from your blood." This was his last sermon.

The next day (Monday) he attended the Committee of Examination of the Missionary Society; and returned home in the evening, very ill of the influenza, which terminated in an impostume of the head. This breaking on the Tuesday following, produced a great degree of deafness. About a week after being seized by this illness, his friend Mr.Wilks wrote a note, enquiring after his health; to which he returned the following

answer :

"My dear Brother,

"Except relief from excruciating pain, I can scarcely venture to think myself better. My strength altogether fails me, and my spirits are greatly depressed. It is the nature of the disease. Debility is its characteristic. The Lord only knows when I shall be again restored to my labours; or whether I shall be restored at all, is to me very questionable. I wish to stand prepared, and know no will but his. Why did not Brother --'s young men write their letters for the Committee? Things must move whether I live or die. Pray go forward, and believe me, with affectionate remembrance to Mrs. W——,

Yours, ever sincerely,

J. EYRE."

After three weeks, he began, tho' slowly, to recover; and at the end of the fourth, he appeared in a state of convalescence. About this time he observed to a friend, who called upon him, "The Lord has prevented me from enjoying much of the Society of my friends, on account of my deafness. I have, therefore, had more leisure for his blessed word. I have traveiled through the book of Job and the Psalms; but found

nothing peculiarly adapted to my state. I therefore passed on to the living word." He then related the views with which he had been favoured of the whole gospel of John: describing the glory of Jesus in his conversation with Nicodemus and the woman of Samaria; his discourses on himself, as the bread of life, fountain of living water, and the good shepherd; the glory of his actions in opening the eyes of the blind; but especially at the tomb of Lazarus, adding, "Who would not die to be raised up by such a Saviour?" In short, he threw such a lustre upon the whole book of John, and spoke with a countenance so illuminated with joy, with an aii and manner altogether so superior, sclemn, and impressive, so much like a being who had been conversing personally with the Saviour, as strongly to remind the writer of that fine image of the Christian poet:

"When one that holds communion with the skies
Has fill'd his urn where these pure waters rise,

And once more mingles with us meaner things,
'Tis ev'n as if an angel shook his wings:
Immortal fragrance fills the circuit wide,

That tells us whence his treasures are supply'd,"

COWPER.

On the Lord's Day, March 28, he was attacked with very violent pains in the head. Leaning on Mrs. Eyre, he observed, "If it were so sweet to recline on the bosom of an earthly friend, what must John have felt when leaning on the bosom of his Saviour?'

On the Monday his pains increased; but on the Tuesday were less violent. On the Wednesday morning, when engag ing in private prayer with Mrs. Eyre, before he left his room, he was seized with a paralytic affection, which impeded articulation. However, he got down stairs; and that day wrote a letter (the last he ever did write) to the Missionaries at Otaheite; and observed to a friend, "Perhaps my chariot may be nearer than we are aware of. I have been praying for my family, and all my friends by naine, as many as I can recollect; and the charge the Lord has committed to me, I have resigned to him again. I do not say I will go before, and prepare you mansions. No; blessed be God, they are already prepared! And my friends I shall not lose: I shall meet them again, for I have long broken off all friendship with the world," Upon his friend observing, You have not been left in this affliction?" "Oh, no!" said he, in an extacy, "I do not indeed know what Heaven is, but I bave had such views, that it seems worth while to leave Heaven, and come down to enjoy them over again. But on these joys I lay no stress; I had rather go out of the world in poverty of spirit, than with the greatest joy!"

6

To Mrs. Eyre he said, "Iicre is a portion for you, my dear Mary, in Jer. xlix. 11, "Leave thy fatherless children, and let thy widow trust in me."

Thursday morning, when at breakfast, though he ate but little, he said to Mrs. Eyre," Eat a good breakfast to strengthen your body, and look up to the Lord to strengthen your mind; for you don't know, Mary, what is before you to-day." About half an hour afterward, he was almost insensible, and continued so during that day; but on the following, he was so much better, as to allow hopes of his recovery; and in the afternoon observed, "Yesterday was an awful day: you could not desire my life under such circumstances; for I have no recollection of what passed."

On the Saturday, he observed, "The Lord gives strength in great weakness: I cannot pray for you in the family now; but Jesus ever lives to make intercession." Mrs. Eyre observing, when he was in great pain, The Lord will give you ease;' he answered, "It is all well."- On the Lord's Day he said very little; but appeared, by his countenance, very happy. During the night, he was heard to say, in a low voice," Who is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all that we can ask or think!" and these were the last words he was heard to

articulate.

While the event was dubious, his friends prayed for his recovery. On Monday evening, March 28, a prayer-meeting was appointed; but when they assembled at six o'clock, they were informed that he had just departed.-No pen can describe the affecting scene which followed: all who engaged in prayer that evening, for the family and the church, were his own spiritual children, lamenting the loss of their father in Christ.

Under this great affliction Mrs. Eyre was supported in an extraordinary manner; and, we hope, her valuable life will be preserved, for the sake of eight surviving children. One of these exclaimed, in the moment of his anguish, "O the good advice he gave us, and the many prayers he offered up for us! Having such a father, who is just gone to glory, O mother! if any of us should be missing, how great will be our condemnation!"

Upon opening the head, the blood-vessels of the dura mater were found to be in a turgid state, particularly on the left side; and the falx, or septum cerebri, which is formed by a doubling of the dura mater between the hemispheres of the brain, was found to be ossified into irregular bony patches. The blood-vessels of the pia mater were in the same state; and : some water was found in the ventricles on each side of the two beds of optic nerves; and a little lower, inflammation was found to have taken place.

On April 5, his remains were interred in his own chapel. .The corpse was preceded by the Rev. Mess R. Hill, Glasscott, and Wilson. The pall was borne by the Rev. Messrs. Paliner, Waugh, Wilks, Townsend, Simpson, and Platt. Messrs. Buck, Collison, Beck, Pine, Rance, and Voss,-the principal Mem[* O o]

XI,