to adore the kindness that leads them to a suitable companion. For a failure in this point, has blasted the usefulness of many an able man.

When Mr. Darracott shook off the viper that stung him to the heart, he had the happiness of reflecting, that there were no children by this connexion to make the separation more difficult, and that his son and daughter by the former marriage were not now to be educated within the contagion of a wicked woman. His upright

affectionate soul, formed for that sweetest solace of human life-domestic endearment, never entirely recovered from the shock; for, what would to any man have been severe, is, to the minister of religion, peculiarly aggravated. It often exposes him to disadvantages in his private walk, and compels him to abstain from some subjects of great public interest.

But it is not in the power of any foe to make a good man entirely wretched. The true sources of bliss are too deep to be poisoned by the hand of the wicked. In communion with God, in the faithful discharge of pastoral duty, and in rearing his children for the service of Christ, Mr. Darracott experienced those consolations which soothed his pains. Nor was the time of trial long; for he was called to enter into rest before he had completed his fortieth year.

Before that period, however, he had removed to Chumleigh, in Devon. Whether this step was occasioned by his domestic affliction, or whether

it was taken with the hope of recovering his elasticity of mind by change of scene, cannot now be known; but as we follow such a man to his last retreat, and to his tomb, we reflect with awe on the inscrutable counsels of Him, who puts the largest cup of affliction into the hands of those, whom he loves best. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.

CHAPTER II.

FROM THE BIRTH OF MR. DARRACOTT TO HIS SETTLEMENT AT WELLINGTON.

SWANAGE, in the isle of Purbeck, on the sea coast of Dorsetshire, has been already pointed out as the birth-place of Mr. Darracott. The first of February, in the year 1717, was the day which gave to the world this child, who was the death of his mother, but afterwards became his father's comfort, under what was worse than the death of a beloved wife, the infamy of her successor. Risdon, his mother's maiden name, was given to him at his baptism by his afflicted surviving parent, who sought to perpetuate a name dear to him, when dedicating to God with sorrowful devotion the tender branch whose parent stock was cut down by the hand of death. Thus the good man, reminded that he himself was mortal, and that he might be soon called to leave his children orphans in the world, laying hold of the true refuge of the Christian parent, the covenant which God has made with his people and their seed after them, said, "Although my house be not so with God (as I could wish), yet hath he made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure; this is all my salvation

and all my desire, although he make me not to grow."

When his son was about five years old, Mr. Darracott removed to Chumleigh, in Devonshire. In this town, where young Risdon received the first rudiments of learning under parental tuition, he afterwards consecrated to Christ the first labours of his ministry as his father's successor.. Of his boyish days nothing is known worthy of record. It is believed that when his improvement created demands which the leisure of his father could not supply, he was placed under the tuition of Mr. Palk, a dissenting minister of South Molton, in Devonshire. This good man, as an eminent schoolmaster in his day, was a blessing to the rising generation; but it is to be regretted that it should ever be necessary for ministers to give themselves to any other employment but that of their ministry, which demands all their moments, all their talents, and all their souls.

The estimation in which the master is said to have been held by all competent judges, joined to the talents which the pupil is known to have possessed, render it reasonable to presume that Risdon Darracott early acquired considerable proficiency in classical learning. But as he afterwards exclusively devoted his existence to another and a nobler pursuit, his compositions never betrayed that classical enthusiasm, never poured forth that learned lore, which usually marks the productions of those who have risen to eminence in elegant literature.

From school, young Darracott went, at about the age of fifteen, to a dissenting college to study for the ministry. The serious readers of his life will, therefore, now naturally look for an account of the commencement of his religion. Of this, however, none but very slight and defective records remain. No doubt can be entertained of the divine blessing having so far accompanied the care of his pious father to train him up in the way in which he should go, that he never openly departed from it. His correct morals left him no reason to lament, with many, the sins of his youth, and his early attention to the duties of religion, rendered it impossible for others to mark the period of his conversion.

But the most early training, and the most skilful pruning, leave the nature of the tree unchanged. Nor was Mr. Darracott among the number of those who imagine that it is the privilege of such favoured youths as himself to be exempted from the necessity of regeneration. He ever inculcated with the zeal of conviction, and the skill of experience, the doctrine of the new birth. Many will, therefore conclude, that as he entered upon a course of studies for the ministry as early as the fifteenth year of his life, he must have enjoyed the happy change before that period. For it will be said, surely a pious minister would not have devoted his son to preach the gospel to others, before it was ascertained that he had experienced its influence himself, and was called to the work