comparison of that which arises from the promises of salvation by Christ?-This, this supports me." About three o'clock he said, "The great conflict is over-Now all is done." After which he scarce spoke any other words intelligibly, except now and then," precious salvation."

During the last hour he said nothing, but leaned his head against the side of an easy chair, and, without a sigh, groan, struggle, or the least emotion, he shut his eyes and departed, between four and five in the afternoon, on Christmas day 1758, in the forty-fifth year of his age.

When his body was conveyed to church, it was covered, by his express desire, with the poor's pall, and he was buried under the middle of the communion-table in the chancel of Weston-Favell, on Friday the 28th of December, in the presence of a numerous congregation, full of regret for the loss of so excellent a pastor.-Mr. Maddock, who buried him, was himself in tears.-Some were wringing their hands, others sobbing, many were silently weeping, but all were inwardly and sincerely grieved, as their looks sufficiently testified; all bearing a visible witness of his worth and their sorrow. The poor thankfully acknowledged his benevolence, and, as they looked into his grave, seemed to say within themselves, There lies the man whose unwearied kindness was the constant relief of my various distresses; who tenderly visited my languishing bed, and readily supplied my indigent circumstances.' Others, once ignorant and ungodly, looked at this depositum of his body, and thus vented their expressive sighs: 'Here are the last remains of that sincere friend who watched for my soul.-I tremble to think into what irretrievable ruin I might quickly have been plunged, had not his faithful admonitions and repeated exhortations been blessed to arrest me in the wild career. I was then unacquainted with the gospel of peace, but now enlightened through his instructions, I see the all-sufficiency of my Saviour. His discourses are still warm on my heart, and I trust will be more and more operative on my life.'+

It may be truly said of Mr. Hervey, that few lives have ever been more heavenly, and few deaths more triumphant. He died in the Lord, and is now at rest; where even the wicked cease from troubling. His name is recorded in the annals of eternity, and the honours conferred on him by Christ will for ever continue blooming and incorruptible

See "Meditations among the Tombs." Vol. I. p. 65.

+Ibid.

in

in the world of glory. His character, both in his public and private capacity, was of the most exemplary kind.

As a minister, he performed all the duties of that office with the greatest strictness. In the pulpit he was earnest and fervent, and shewed that he felt the efficacy of what he preached. Nor did he think it sufficient to preach on the Lord's Day only, but set up a weekly lecture every Wednesday evening at Weston-Favell church, which was very well attended. This lecture was held during the winter half-year at seven, as it did not then interfere with the work of the labouring people, and he illuminated the church out of his own pocket, not chusing to put the parish to any additional expence. His zeal for the performance of his duty was, however, for some time before he died, much interrupted by the ill state of his health, which would not permit him personally to execute the pastoral duties even of the parish of Weston, where he resided: A circumstance that gave him inexpressible

concern.

The last two or three years of his life he could scarce do any thing more than preach once on the Lord's Day, when people from many miles round flocked to hear him. His Wednesday evening lecture at seven he discontinued for the last year. Collingtree, which, like Weston-Favell, was a family-living, about five miles distance, Mr. Hervey had not been able for some time to preach at, or to visit his parishioners at their own houses, as his custom had been; but he encouraged them to come to him, and to converse freely on the subjects relating to their eternal interests; and on such occasions, he would speak with a force and propriety peculiar to himself. He would frequently lament his inability to serve his people, comparing himself to a bleeding disabled soldier, and" only not slain.”

He always preached without notes, except on some very particular occasions; but his method was judicious, clear, and not encumbered with too many subdivisions. His weakness rendering him for several months before his death incapable of speaking to his congregation as usual, he shortened his discourses, and took a most useful method of inculcating his instructions: After he had expounded his text, and divided his sermon into two heads, (rarely into more, and never exceeding three) he would speak briefly, and at the conclusion of each head enforce what he had said, by a pertinent text of Scripture, desiring his congregation (which was generally very numerous) to turn to their bibles, and double down that

text. "Now, (added he) my dear brethren, if you forget my sermon, you cannot forget God's word in this text, unless you wilfully throw your Bibles aside. Shew these to your children, or the absent part of your family, when you return home." Then he gave a striking exhortation, and at the end of it another text for them to double down, so that they had always three texts; in order to their finding of which, he paused in the pulpit two or three minutes. This method was attended with another good effect; it obliged the generality to bring their Bibles along with them; for those who were without a Bible lost the benefit of the texts, and were unemployed, while the majority, who had their's, were busy in looking for the passages referred to in his sermon.

He endeavoured as much as possible to divest himself in his public discourses of his usual luxuriancy of style, and to adapt his language to the lowest capacity. In this he followed the example of Luther, of whom it is reported he should say, " If in my preaching I were to pay a regard to Philip Melancthon and other learned divines, then I should do little good. I preach in the plainest manner to the illiterate, and that gives content to all. Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, I spare till the learned ones come together." Mr. Hervey thought perspicuous language and evangelical doctrines of much more importance to his parishioners, than elaborate or ornamental discourses, though few men living, perhaps, were more capable of satisfying a polite or learned audience.

His method of catechizing children in church, and of speaking to them in private, was very engaging and useful. He put little questions to them after they had repeated the words of the catechism; as for instance, "Well, my little maid, let me hear if you understand what you said. If you do understand the meaning of these words, you will then be able to answer the questions I shall put to you." He would at these times ask not only such questions as were suitable to the words of the catechism, but also such as would strike at the capital vices of his parishioners, yet without giving personal offence.†

He

For some farther account of his manner of catechizing, see his "sixty-first Letter."

+ Some of his parishioners having lain in bed on a Sunday morning longer than he approved, and others having been busy in foddering their cattle when he was coming to church, and several having fre

quented

He did not forget that he was a minister in his own house, for he worshipped Gop with his family twice aday. He supped at eight every night, and at nine he expounded a text of Scripture for about a quarter of an hour, and seldom longer, except when some friend was present, to whom he thought his discourse might be useful, or when particularly requested to enlarge. After this he concluded with prayer.

He breakfasted at nine, and about eight he called his family together, and required each of his servants to repeat by heart the text which he had explained the preceding evening, and then he would recapitulate his exposition: By which method both his text and commentary were imprinted on their memories. After this he had prayers.

In the afternoon when he was called down to tea, he used to bring his Hebrew Bible or Greek Testament with him, and would speak (as he was ever studious how he might promote the glory of GoD, and improve time) either upon one or more verses, as occasion offered, in the most instructive and entertaining manner. And in the summer season he would now and then drink tea, when his health would permit him, with some of his most seriqus parishioners, and then five or six of the neighbours were invited, and Mr. Hervey's conversation was remarkably affecting, as he had a happy talent at spiritualizing almost every incident, and was naturally of a most obliging and cheerful disposition.

He was a member of an assembly formed for Christian improvement, which was established in his neighbourhood on the 7th of July 1747, and constantly attended it so long as he was able to ride to the place of meeting. A short account of the rules of this assembly is given at the

end

quented the alehouse, he thus catechised one of the children before the congregation: "Repeat me the fourth commandment.-Now, little man, do you understand the meaning of this commandment?"-Yes, Sir."Then, if you do, you will be able to answer me these questions.-Do those keep holy the Sabbath day, who lie in bed till eight or nine o'clock in the morning, instead of rising to say their prayers and read the Bible?" No, Sir." Do those keep the Sabbath who fodder their cattle, when other people are going to church?" No, Sir.-Does God Almighty bless such people as go to alehouses, and don't mind the instructions of their minister?" No, Sir." Don't those, who love God, read the Bible to their families, particularly on Sunday evenings, and have prayers every morning and night in their houses?" Yes, Sir.-A great variety of such pertinent and familiar questions he would frequently ask in the most engaging manner, on every part of the catechism, as he thought most conducive to the improvement and edification of his parish.

end of his "Tracts," together with two prayers composed by him for the use of the members thereof.

In the exercise of his charity, Mr. Hervey chose to clothe the poor rather than to give them money; and he would get some judicious person to buy linen, coarse cloth, stockings, shoes, &c. for them at the best hand; alleging that the poor could not purchase on such good terms what they wanted at the little shops, and with small sums of money. "I am (said he) GoD's steward for the poor, and I must husband the little pittance I have to bestow upon them, and make it go as far as possible." But when money would be really serviceable to a family, as to a prudent housekeeper, distressed by sickness or misfortunes, he would give five or more guineas at a time; taking care that it should not be known whence the money came. Pope's compliment to Mr. Allan of Bath, might be justly applied to him, who would

Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.

He was particularly desirous of getting the advice of a physician (or at least some judicious apothecary) for the sick poor; and was ever ready to procure them the very best medicines.-A most beneficial sort of charity to mankind; and in which it were to be wished he had many imitators. He would frequently petition such physicians of his acquaintance in different parts of the kingdom, as he apprehended thus charitably disposed, to give their advice occasionally, when they rode through a town, to such poor creatures as the clergyman of the place, or some substantial inhabitants, should recommend as real objects of compassion. Mr. Hervey would then with great pleasure, and with as much gratitude to the physician, as if done to himself, defray the expence of what medicines were wanted. He greatly disapproved indeed of the clergy's attempting to give medicines to their parishioners; as he udiciously inferred, that it was impossible for them to do t with the requisite judgment. "Let my brethren, he would say) give them wine, bread, or beer, and get good spoon-meats made for them; but medicines are of oo important a nature to be given indiscriminately." He bserved, that, by his own method, the sick poor had the very best medicines, as the physician saw them himself, and bought them very cheap; because the apothecary, <nowing they were for charitable uses, charged the phy-ician for them no more than prime cost, with some little llowance merely for his trouble in compounding them

and