PREFACE.

"HUMAN nature is fond of novelty."

WHEN offering a new book to the public, it has been usual to prefix to it some apologetic or explanatory statement. Whether this is wise or necessary in every case, the author of the present little volume is not quite sure; but as long-continued and almost universal practice has given to the reader a kind of prescriptive right to expect something of the sort, he deems it better, on the whole, to observe than to depart from so general a custom; at the same time gathering relief from the fact,

that, if there be truth in the aphorism, "A great book is a great evil," it is not his intention to inflict that to inflict that upon his readers.

The gentleman, whose career he has endeavoured to delineate, was well known to the writer, and highly appreciated for his moral and religious worth. Being called upon, in the course of his ministerial duty, to improve the event of this gentleman's decease, he preached his funeral sermon at Eastbrook chapel, Bradford, on the evening of Sunday, the 14th of November, 1858, to a large and deeplyattentive congregation; and, at its close, read a paper descriptive of his life and character. This sketch, the numerous members of the deceased's family expressed an earnest wish to possess in some permanent form, and urged its immediate

publication. For some time the author, on various considerations, felt the greatest disinclination to accede to their request. During the whole of his ministerial life his other engagements have been so numerous as to leave him but little leisure for those literary pursuits which are essential to successful authorship, and he could not persuade himself that either the matter embodied in the sketch, or the manner in which it was drawn up, would justify him in complying. Repeated entreaties, however, accompanied by strong and importunate remonstrances, have at length prevailed on him to yield. He has, therefore, subjected the sketch to a thorough revisal, and, with some amplification, cast it into its present shape. That it has still many imperfections, he knows full well; but he has done what he could. If it should

meet the approval of those at whose call it is sent forth, he will be abundantly satisfied; and if, perchance, in addition to this, it should be made a benefit to others, his object will be more than realized. He now, with much diffidence, commits it to the press, commending it to the candour of the reader and the blessing of God.

"Truth fears nothing but concealment."