ting in his chair, as if going to sleep, he breathed his last."-So died this excellent minister, March 2, 1821, in the 81st year of his age.

He was interred in a vault, under the pulpit, at Hawen, in the presence of a vast concourse of people, to some of whom he had ministered in holy things upwards of forty years. The Rev. M. Jones, of Trelech, engaged in prayer before the funeral procession left the house; the Rev. D. Davies, of Cardigan, introduced the service at the chapel; the Rev. D. Peter, of Carmarthen, preached from John v. 35; the Rev. Mr. Phillips, of Neuaddlwyd, from Acts viii. 2; and the Rev. Mr. Jones, of Saron, concluded. His death was also improved, at the same place, on the following Lord's Day, by his relative and successor, the Rev. Thomas Griffiths, from 2d Kings ii. 9-12.

Mr. Evans was a man of general knowledge. He was well versed in mathematics, and knew something of navigation. He was not ignorant of the classics, and was well acquainted with history and divinity. As a Christian, he was of a very cheerful and charitable disposition. Like Simeon, he was "just and devout;" affording, through life, an example of no ordinary description. As a Minister, he was distinguished by an excellent gift in prayer; as a preacher, by the lucid order, point, and energy of his discourses. These

He

were often enlivened with flashes of genuine wit, and were not destitute of rhetorical ornament. often introduced the anaphora; and, by a play on words, would sometimes produce a striking effect. This was particularly the case in the introductory part of his sermons, which were generally so formed as to secure the attention of his hearers, and predispose them to receive the truths he was about to deliver.

He wrote much, though he published but little. What he did offer to the public was in Welsh, and consisted chiefly of a Work on Infant Baptism; in reply to which, the late Dr. Richards, of Lynn, published two pamphlets in the same language. Mr. Evans also published a Catechism on the Constitution and Order of Christian Churches, something like that of the late Mr. Palmer, of Hackney. He was considered a good poet, both in Welsh and English. His manuscripts, in both languages, are numerous and valuable. selection from those in English is already made, and will be published by subscription, with an enlarged memoir of his life and ministry. A man so extensively useful and exemplary in life, possessed of superior talents for the ministry, and who, though dead, may yet speak by his writings, is surely worthy of being heard; and it is to be expected that such a man will be heard with edification. Haverfordwest. J. B.

No. XLI.

A

than his extreme and habitual

EYE OF GOD.

"God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God."-Psalm liii. 2.

THERE is no feature in the moral character of man more remarkable

highest concern. In his own personal affairs, his caprices, his vanities, his appetites, he is alert and restless; but present to him considerations of real moment, and his attention relaxes, his mind wanders, his faculties seem alto

gether unequal to the task of examination, and if he were to speak the genuine language of his affections, it would be far, very far, from expressing the sentiments of pious David, when he exclaimedMy heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise. This disposition to acquiesce in momentary ease, to establish our rest in the present world, to take things not as they are, but as they appear, and to venture the tremendous hazard of eternity, without a forethought in the slighest degree adequate to its importance, is one of the most perverse and destructive qualities of our depraved nature. It is inaccessible to reason, it is obdurate to expostulation; eloquence may plead in vain, and the well-nigh all-powerful argument of selfinterest utterly fails to rouse the worldling from his infatuation. The voice of nature, in the uncertainty of life, and the unsatisfying character of earthly enjoyments The voice of conscience, at those seasons when indolence and apathy for a moment give way to recollection and anticipation-The voice of God, in his providence and in his word-all these are repelled and extinguished. If the fool hath not actually, he has virtually, said in his heart, there is no God. He has said to his Almighty Benefactor, Depart from me, for I desire not the knowledge of thy ways; and nothing short of the miracles of divine grace, nothing short of a direct and irrespective act of divine sovereignty and power, can change this malignant rebellion to obedience and love.

Nor are those who are following on to know the Lord-who have reason to hope that a gracious change has passed upon their souls, and that they are, though bowed down under the consciousness of many imperfections, in a state of amity and acceptance with God-altogether exempt from this

lamentable infirmity of our common nature. The old man is crucified, but he is not yet dead. The chambers of the heart still retain traces of their imagery and their defilements. The wanderings of the imagination, and the levities of the spirit, will too frequently overpower the watchfulness of wisdom and self-denial. But the child of God deplores these alienations; he is painfully sensible of his weaknesses; and it is his continual prayer that he may never be left to his own strength, which is perfect impotence, but that he may be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, and that his heart may be directed into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

As a counteractive to this in-, jurious state of mind I would strenuously urge an habitual regard to those grand considerations which are, at all times, the mind's proper exercise, and which, though. in themselves belonging only to the order of means, are among those in the use of which we may most confidently hope for the divine blessing.-I would say, then, most anxiously and most urgently to all-Fasten on those important and impressive trains of thought which tend at once to occupy the mind and to lead it up to the source of holiness and strengthMeditate on the things pertaining to your peace--Dwell on those particulars which have a direct connexion with your present and eternal interests, and among these none can claim a higher value, none can have a more specific bearing on the state of the heart than the fact which is affirmed in our text, that our characters and our lives are under the inspection of God. This is a truth of such paramount importance that it may well claim from us a distinct and most serious examination. Let us then

I. Advert to the primary sub

cause-but the Lord our God is a jealous God; he demands the heart, purged from the dross of earthly desires and impulses; our knowledge, our love of kindred and of country are to be, not only subordinate, but subservient, to our love of Him. This is the very life and energy of the renewed mind, and from this, as from the only living principle of holy thought and action, must every sanctified motive and movement have its origin. The dispositions of our hearts towards God! My friends, what are they? Do we love Him supremely? Do we count all things but loss and loathsomeness, that we may reach after and apprehend Him whom He hath sent? Does the Holy Spirit dwell in us, and reign in us?

O let it be our fervent prayer, that we may be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith; that we being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that we may be filled with all the fulness of God.

III. We are to consider the effects which the conviction of this great truth should produce upon our minds. If we are convinced that there is an unerring, judicial, examination of our characters continually going forward, the assurance of such a momentous circumstance, of a fact so intimately concerning our interests and our hopes, cannot be without some operation, either beneficial or injurious, upon our mental and moral habits. repeat it, either beneficial or injurious. It is quite a mistake to suppose, that the knowledge of these things can be without in. fluence or consequence. If it do not work the blessed fruits of righteousness, it will have a direct tendency to harden the heart, to

I

beget a recklessness and defiance in our feelings towards God, to sear the conscience, and to prepare us for final impenitence. On the contrary, if these great considerations be rightly viewed and laid to heart, they will lead us to self-examination. Of the importance of this duty, too much cannot be said; from the danger of its neglect, too much cannot be apprehended. It would scarcely be believed, were we not continually confronted by the strongest evidence, that men could go on from day to day, from year to year, from infancy to hoary age, in the entire neglect of this primary concern. To live ignorant of our own characters! To die without having devoted one earnest, enlightened hour to the ascertainment of our fitness or unfitness for the eternal presence of God. Incredible as this might be without experience, it is a case of common and, unheeded occurrence.. Thousands of nominal Christians are daily passing into eternity relying upon superstitious rites, on the intercession of saints, on the efficacy of sacraments, or on their own good works, for acceptance with Him who looks upon the heart, who sees it as it is, and who will only receive it washed in the blood of Christ, and sanctified by his Spirit. Could this be, if the task of self-examination were fairly discharged? The heart, indeed, is deceitful above all things, but a faithful performance of this duty, would have a potent influence in exposing its delusions, and bringing it, without an evasive, plea, into the presence of its great Searcher. Nor can this work be safely neglected by the real Christian. He requires continual illumination on this important point. The sentinel is too apt to slumber on his watch-tower, his weapons contract rust, his armour loses its brightness, and the counteraction to these evils is self-examination,

leading him to the foot of the cross, and awakening an holy and reverential apprehension of the Divine presence. The result of this salutary process would aid in producing-2. A feeling of deep humility and awe. The consciousness of our worthlessness and weakness, combined with the sense of an ever-present God, must abate the vanity and negligence of our spirits, and induce a serious and humble frame. When man comes to know his own character, and when he brings himself, with all his infirmities, his miseries, and his sinfulnesses, as it were into contact with infinite perfection and spotless holiness, he cannot but feel humiliation and reverence. It is well that our pride should be abased, and our levity chastised, and nothing will effect this so completely, as the conviction that God looks upon our ways, and beholds us as we are. It is well that our folly and presumption should be rebuked, and succeeded by that godly fear, which the holiest saint must feel in the presence of Infinite Purity. 3. The conviction that we are continually under the Divine inspection, should excite us to an earnest and constant waiting upon God in his appointed means. He has been graciously pleased to point out the way in which his favour is to be sought, and to invite, in the most urgent terms, the guilty race of Adam to seek him in the means of his ordination. Nor are we thus to endeavour after a distant or a doubtful blessing. He is a God at hand, as well as a God afar off; he fills heaven and earth; and his presence and his fulness are pledged to the satisfaction of our souls with the mercies of his right hand. Prayer, praise, the reading and the hearing of his word, activity in his cause, are holy exercises, in which the children of God will realize the presence and the gracious visitations CONG. MAG. No. 65.

And

of their heavenly Father. knowing that He looks upon us continually, let us give all diligence to make our calling and election sure; filled with holy anxiety for his favour and love, let us avail ourselves of every opportunity, and press forward for the prize of our high calling, seeing, not only that we are com passed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, but that

'Tis God's all-animating voice
That calls us from on high;
'Tis his own hand presents the prize
To faith's aspiring eye.

Finally, This truth should always have a present influence on our minds and characters. It should be the regulating principle of our lives; the master-reflection which should serve as a centre for our habitual thoughts. "God looks down upon the children of men,"-" He marks my every feeling, and every action!" What a powerful control would this exercise over us, were our hearts in a right frame. May He who alone can enable us to sustain the searchings of his eye, make us meet for the inheritance of the saints in light, and admit us to his eternal presence with exceeding joy.

And this truth should continually carry our thoughts forward to the final judgment, to that awful day when the results of God's inspection of the children of men will be declared; when the secrets of all hearts shall be made manifest, and the destinies of men be irreversibly ascertained. May we, in that great and terrible day, find that God has looked upon us in Christ Jesus; and, saved through his full atonement, justified in his perfect righteousness, and thus complete in him, may we have an entrance ministered unto us abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

2 H