as nothing, comparatively, before his days and nights of diligent reading. Numerous folios themselves were peru→ sed; and not merely perused, but their contents, so far as they were worth remembering, were transcribed into his retentive memory. This "forager on others wisdom," digested what he read, and stored up the treasure for future use. The mere heluo librorum is not such an extraordinary phænomenon as is the student who reads with discernment, and knows what to reject, as well as what to retain. Such a reader, we apprehend, was Mr. Thorowgood. He had a peculiar way of making the contents of an author his own, without reading every thing. He used to say, he did not read the little words. The usual time for quitting the retirement of the academic bower advanced; and many might have supposed that our young divine had by this time finished his studies, and was looking forward with eagerness to shine in the pulpit and in public life. Many others have grown wise enough, as themselves imagined, with little application; and in a little time, without waiting for the regular completion of their studies, they have gone, by a kind of north-west passage, into the great Pacific Sea of the ministerial life; but it has proved not quite so pacific and tranquil as they imagined. They have found themselves not sufficiently equipped for so important a destination. Mr. Thorowgood was backward to leave his beloved Alma Mater. Retirement, studies, and perhaps not a little timid reserve, tempted him to linger on the shore, before he ventured to launch forth. For some time after he had completed the usual course of studies, he still continued at the academy, to accumulate still farther attainments of knowledge and learning. Mr. Thorowgood spent his vacations with his friends at Basingstoke: but those seasons intended for temporary relaxation, were not permitted to interrupt the course of his learned pursuits. Putting something in his pocket to eat when he was hungry, he used to take his books, pen, ink, and paper, and to retire to the solitude of a nobleman's park, where he spent many a happy summer's day in admiring the beauties of nature, in reading the classic page, and in meditating on sublime subjects of heavenly truth. If at such times there was a carelesness in his person and dress, the recluse minded not the opinion of such as might wonder at his peculiar mode of life. They were strangers to his mental enjoyment'; and he envied them not their different pursuits. The The reader may, perhaps, be led by this time to en quire, If Mr. Thorow good enjoyed a measure of good health, amidst such severe studies and such restricted diet? We have to confess, that if he gained knowledge, he losttoo much health and strength of body, to make any ammends for such learned acquisitions. He became weak; and it was feared that he was inclining towards a consump tive habit of body. Strong necessity began now to recommend another mode of conduct, at least as it respected his diet; and he was glad to believe that he had a body to take care of, as well as a mind to cultivate. By gradually betaking himself to the use of animal food, and nore generous living, he at length recovered some of the strength he had lost. It is, however, thought by many, that the source of many painful sensations, and a weakness in the nervous system, was derived from the manner of his early life and studies. When it was too late, he might be willing to correct himself; but all his efforts seemed to be in vain. Scrò medicina paratur, Cum mala per longas invaluere moras. He Mr. Thorowgood was naturally of a reserved disposition; and this was probably increased by his great application to study, He certainly made no ostentation in his religion; but it must be owned, that some of his friends have thought him too shy in conversing on the subject of religion. No mere man ever possessed every talent and every excellence. Non omnia possumus omnes. One alone, who was man, and much more than man, was free from imperfection. This was the glorious prerogative of incarnate wisdom. only is the standard of excellence; and the Christian's duty and privilege is, to copy after so divine an example. But, alas! we all come far short; each has his own imperfection, some casily besetting sin, according to our particular constitution of hody or mind, situation, or surrounding circumstances of temptation. The biography that presents us with faultless characters, cannot be just. Pariality may throw the mantle of love over defects; but to delineate the lives of departed friends as holding forth nothing but excellencies to our view, is to deviate from the best models of biographical history, given us in the sacred Scriptures, which tell us of the failings of good men, as well as of their excellent conduct. Finding ourelves so imperfeet, we are not surprized if we meet with others others compassed with infirmities. Great geniuses have often been excentric, and taxed by humanity with errors. - The Rev. J. Barber of London, when formerly pastor of the Independent church at Basingstoke, baptized Mr. Thorowgood in his infancy; and afterwards had the pleasure of receiving him into his church communion when a student in London. It was to the praise of Mr. Thorow good, that he chose to attend the ministry of so spiritual a preacher; and we know that he always entertained the greatest esteem for his venerable pastor. Mr. Thorowgood was of a very amiable and affectionate disposition, and much disposed to pity and help the distressed, of whatever description they might be. In a tender and beautiful Poem, on Sentimental Feelings, the production of his own pen many years ago, which, unknown to himself, has found its way into a periodical publication, he seems to have well described the generous feelings of his own mind. We may give our readers a specimen in the following stanzas :-- "Wide as the world, may my all-loving soul Teach me to taste the joys another knows, True as the tremb mg needle to the pole, Instruct my heart to turn to others woe; May equal sympathy possess my soul, Though, while it turns, it always trembles too." Mr. Thorowgood was an example worthy to be imitated in the relations of life he sustained. As a son, he was very dutiful; and as a brother, remarkably affectionate. According to his good mother's request, when he went to Bocking, he always paid an annual visit to his friends at Basingstoke. Among other methods of employing himself at those times, he obtained access to a library at the parish-church, where he met with many valuable volumes; among others, the Polyglott Bible was a treasure, which he knew how to esteem. The books themselves were chained to the shelves;. but such a learned visitor brought away with him a small portion of their contents in his retentive memory. Hẹ had a singular custom of taking down the titles of whatever books he met with in libraries or catalogues; so that in the course of many years, his manuscript volumes, con taining taining alphabetical catalogues of books, must have become curious and valuable. Mr. Thorogood removed to Bocking about the year 1776. Seven years he was assistant to Mr. Davis; and ordained pastor in the year 1783. His congregation consisted of about 600 persons; and his discourses were rather judicious and solid, than popular and striking. His abilities and learning were well known and appreciated by those who invited him, on a vacancy, to superintend the classical part of the education of students intended for the ministry, in the seminary where he had himself been a student; but he declined it. At the same time that the solemnities of his funeral were performing at Bocking, the Rev. J. Jefferson and his congregation, at Basingstoke, though absent in body, were present in spirit with the sorrowing family and flock bereaved of their earthly head, by meditating on the words of Jesus to the sorrowing sister of Lazarus, "Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again." We have intimated, that Mr. Thorowgood's habits of life laid the foundation of subsequent sufferings, and these terminated in his fatal illness, which, after it had exercised his Christian graces and the sympathies of his friends, introduced him to that better state, where the inhabitant shall no more say, "I am sick.". This event took place November 12, 1801; and his decease improved to his family and friends, by a funeral Sermon from the Rev. Mr. Stephenson, of Castle Heddinghatn. Mr. Thorowgood excelling so thuch himself; it was a pity that he was so backward to teach others from the press. Whatever came from his pen would have been valuable. If ever he published any thing, it was anonymous: never wishing to be a public man, he always kept himself in the shade. It were to be wished, that being dead, he might yet speak by posthumous publications. A NEW YEAR'S WISH. of My dear Readers, You ou have now entered on another year. To many you I am unknown; but you have all my best wishes for your present and future happiness. That form of words, prescribed under the law for the priests to use in blessing the people, contains the matter of my sincere and earnest request:-" The Lord bless you and keep you: the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto nto you: the Lord lift up his countenance upon you; and give you peace *." May the Lord bless you! whether as parents or children, as masters or servants, as tradesmen, as members of society, or as Christians; may the Lord bless you!-May he bless you in the city, in your houses, and in the field! May he bless you in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your ground, in the fruit of your cattle, in the increase of your kine, and the flocks of your sheep!-May he bless you in your basket, and in your store, in your coming in and going out, in lying down and rising up; may the Lord bless you! Above all things, it is my earnest prayer that you may be blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; for however large a portion of temporal blessings you may possess; should your barns be filled with plenty, or your presses burst out with new wine; kad you thousands of rams, or ten thousands of rivers of oil; could you call the whole universe your own,-yet, if you be strangers to the blessings of grace and salvation through Jesus Christ, you will be strangers to the only sources of all true enjoyment. May these inestimable blessings, therefore, be your portion! Have any of my readers received these blessings? May you experience through this year a larger supply than ever! Do any of you desire these blessings? O that you may this year be blessed indeed! Or if, like Gallio, you care for none of these things, and have your portion only in this life, may the Lord be pleased to bless you this year with an enlightened understanding, and by his grace enable you, like Mary, to choose that better part, which shall not be taken away! I can wish you nothing so desirable as the blessing of the Lord: it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. The Lord bless you! May the Lord keep you! To him you are indebted for past preservation: may you still be spared to witness his protection and care! May the Lord be your rock, your fortress, and your deliverer; your God, your strength, your buckler, the horn of your salvation, and your high tower! In the time of trouble, may he hide you in his pavilion; in the secret of his tabernacle, may he hide you! May he keep you, as the apple of his eye, from sin, that it may not grieve you; froin presumptuous sins, that they may not have dominion over you, in the hour of temptation, lest Satan should gain the advantage of you; and from every VOL. X. Numbers vi. 24, 25, 26. C evil |