balanced with joy. You have lost your pious father: tell me how it was."-Here Mr. Medley informed him of particulars. He wept much at the recital, and especially at hearing of his last words," Home, Home!" Mr. Medley telling him of some temptations he lately met with, he charged him to keep near to God. "Keep close to God," said he, "and nothing will hurt you!" The following familiar compositions, which were found amongst Mr. Pearce's papers, appear to have been written at distant intervals: Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.' VOL. VI. 1 Cor. i. 2. Ah! remember thine espousals; Didst thou not with Christ agree, In his love thy powers exulting, Was there aught seemed worth possessing, When thy heart, by grace instructed, And to Christ for all résorted, Was there not enough in him? Yes; thou know'st thy joyful spirit Why then, tell me, now so lifeless, Doth not disappointment follow Every 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 weeping 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; Sheath the dread sword that deals destruction round, And every ear salute with tranquil sound! Oh! bid oppression from each land retire, And Britain's sons with halcyon bliss inspire; CHAPTER V. GENERAL OUTLINE OF HIS CHARACTER. To develop the character of any person, it 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. 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. His 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 |