Ah! look back upon the season,
When thy soul the Saviour chose,
For thy portion, and thy spirit
Did with his salvation close.

Ah! remember thine espousals ;
Didst thou not with Christ agree,
Leaving all thy former lovers,
His and his alone to be?

In his love thy powr's exulting,
What did all below appear;
Was there aught seem'd worth possessing
Worthy of a hope or fear?

When thy heart, by grace instructed,
Learnt the world to disesteem,

And to Christ för all resorted,

Was there not enough in him?

Yes; thou know'st thy joyful spirit
Knew no unfulfil'd desire;
Long.ng still, and still receiving
Fuel for the heav'nly fire.

Why then tell me, now so lifeless,
Why this heav'nly fountain leave
Why to broken cisterns seeking,
Cisterns that no water give?

Doth not disappointment follow

Ev'ry step that leads from God

Have not piercing thorns and briers

;

Shown their points through all the road?

Recollect, 'tis thus the Saviour

Says he will thy soul reclaim,

With wpng and with supplication,

Humbly offer'd through his name."

"Invocation to returning Peace."

SWEET Peace return! thy wonted bliss restore, Bid war's insatiate scourge prevail no more; Sheathe the dread sword that deals destruction round, And ev'ry car salute with tranquil sound! Oh! bid oppression from each land retire, And Briton's sons with halcyon bliss inspire; Remove the mis'ry of domestic woes, And hush the tumult of contending foes! Let each, with patriot zeal, all strife disown; Be one their wishes, and their motives one! The widow's tears, her sad corroding care, The orphan's sighs, assist this ardent pray': May he on whom propitious fortune smiles, Relieve that breast which adverse fate beguiles! May virtue's impulse ev'ry purpose move, To acts of goodness, UNIVERSAL LOVE!"

CHAP. V.

GENERAL OUTLINES OF HIS CHARACTER.

TO develop the character of any person, is necessary to determine what was his governing principle. If this can be clearly ascertained, we shall easily account for the tenor of his conduct. The governing principle in Mr. Pearce, beyond all doubt, was HOLY LOVE.

His

To mention this, is sufficient to prove it to all who knew him. His friends have often compared him to that disciple whom Jesus loved. religion was that of the heart. Almost every thing he saw, or heard, or read, or studied, was converted to the feeding of this divine flame. Every subject that passed through his hands, seemed to have been cast into this mould. Things, that to a merely speculative mind would have furnished matter only for curiosity, to him afforded materials for devotion. His sermons were generally the effusions of his heart, and invariably aimed at the hearts of his hearers.

For the justness of the above remarks, I might appeal not only to the letters which he addressed to his friends, but to those which his friends addressed to him. It is worthy of notice how much we are influenced in our correspondence by the turn of mind of the person we address. If we write to a humorous character, we shall generally find that what we write, perhaps without being conscious of it, will be interspersed with pleasantries or if to one of a very serious cast, our letters will be more serious than usual. On this principle, it has been thought, we may form some judgment of our own spirit by the spirit in which our friends address us. These remarks will apply with singular propriety to the corres

pondence of Mr. Pearce. In looking over the first volume of Periodical Accounts of the Baptist Mission, the reader will easily perceive the most affectionate letters from the missionaries are those which are addressed to him.

It is not enough to say of this affectionate spirit that it formed a prominent feature in his character it was rather the life-blood that animated the whole system. He seemed, as one of his friends observed, to be baptized in it. It was holy love that gave the tone of his general deportment as a son, a subject, a neighbour, a Christian, a minister, a pastor, a friend, a husband, and a father, he was manifestly governed by this principle; and this it was that produced in him that lovely uniformity of character, which constitutes the true beauty of holiness.

By the grace of God he was what he was; and to the honour of grace, and not for the glory of a sinful worm, be it recorded. Like all other men, he was the subject of a depraved nature. He felt it, and lamented it, and longed to depart, that he might be freed from it: but certainly we have seldom seen a character, taking him altogether, "whose excellencies were so many, and so uniform, and whose imperfections were so few." We have seen men rise high in contemplation, who have abounded but little in actionWe have seen zeal mingled with bitterness, and candour degenerate into indifference; experimental religion mixed with a large portion of enthusiasm, and what is called rational religion void of every thing that interests the heart of manWe have seen splendid talents tarnished with insufferable pride, seriousness with melancholy, cheerfulness with levity, and great attainments in religion with uncharitable censoriousness to wards men of low degree :-but we have not seen these things in our brother Pearce.

There have been few men in whom has been united a greater portion of the contemplative and the active; holy zeal, and genuine candour; spirituality, and rationality; talents, that attracted almost universal applause, and the most unaffected modesty, faithfulness in bearing testimony against evil, with the tenderest compassion to the soul of the evil doer; fortitude that would encounter any difficulty in the way of duty, without any thing boisterous, noisy, or over-bearing; deep seriousness, with habitual cheerfulness; and a constant aim to promote the highest degrees of piety in himself and others, with a readiness to hope the best of the lowest; not breaking the bruised reed, nor quenching the smoking flax.

He loved the divine character as revealed in the Scriptures. To adore God, to contemplate his glorious perfections, to enjoy his favour, and to submit to his disposal, were his highest delight. "I felt," says he, when contemplating the hardships of a missionary life, "that were the universe destroyed, and I the only being in it besides God, HE is fully adequate to my complete happiness; and had I been in an African wood, surrounded with venomous serpents, devouring beasts, and savage men; in such a frame, I should be the subject of perfect peace, and exalted joy. Yes, O my God! thou hast taught me that THOU ALONE art worthy of my confidence; and, with this sentiment fixed in my heart, I am freed from all solicitude about my -temporal concerns. If thy presence be enjoyed, poverty shall be riches, darkness light, affliction prosperity, reproach my honour, and fatigue my

rest !"

which our frigospel -The truths which he bewill apply with 5 understanding. The reader dweit richly in him, in all wis

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