tains some interesting references to the principles and feelings by which he was impelled to devote himself to the work of the ministry; and I doubt not, that there are some now present, whose recollections will instantly bring before them all the circumstances and impressions of that affecting solemnity. "Aware," said Mr. Hooper, "of the vast importance of such an engagement as that of the sacred ministry, I durst not for a long time disclose my feelings to any one, lest I should be charged with entertaining presumptuous thoughts. Aware too, that such desires might arise from improper motives, I subjected my self to the most rigid self-scrutiny, and I repeatedly besought the God of wisdom, the heart-searching Jehovah, that if I were actuated by any unhallowed considerations, he would interpose by his providence to prevent, by some insurmountable obstacle, my entrance into the sacred ministry. My desires for the work increased; the door of entrance was thrown open; I received the greatest encouragement from Christian friends, and especially from the successive pastors of the church at Wareham. Thus supported and encouraged, I determined on giving myself to the work of the ministry, and relinquishing my secular engagements, I entered on preparatory studies at Hoxton Academy.""In accepting the invitation to undertake the pastoral oversight of this church, I trust I can make a solemn appeal to the Searcher of hearts, and say, 'Thou who knowest all things, knowest that neither indolence, nor avarice, nor a desire to obtain distinction, nor to gratify a taste for literary pursuits, have induced me to engage in this work; but a love to the souls of my fellow creatures, and a desire to be instrumental in making known the Gospel of Christ, that sinners may be saved, and God glorified.'

Such, my Christian friends, were the ingenuous declarations and confessions of your late esteemed pastor, when entering on that relation, which, for so many years, he honourably sustained, and in reference to which, both he and you will have to render a solemn account at the day of final retribution! I cannot advert to the services of that solemnity, without reminding you how large a proportion of those who engaged in those services are numbered with "the spirits of the just." On that occasion, the esteemed predecessor of him who now addresses you, delivered the introductory discourse, and received the answers to the usual inquiries.* The pastor of the church at Wareham, under whose friendly auspices your departed minister entered on his public course, commenced the services; and the charge was delivered by the venerable relative of the deceased, whose name is embalmed in the grateful and affectionate recollections of thousands of the Christian church. And who can think of that name, and not instantly associate with it most hallowed and cherished remembrances? His Christian simplicity, his unaffected benevolence, the evangelical spirit which pervaded his ministry, his inflexible attachment to all the doctrines of the cross; and especially the holy importunity, the impassioned fervour, the rich variety, the celestial unction that distinguished his communion with God, and raised those who heard him, while they were softened and melted, and overflowing with kindred sympathies, to the sublimest heights of devotion; all these remembered excellencies have invested the name of SIMPSON, with the richest attractions, and shed around the memorials of his worth an unfading fragrance, and a sacred immor*The Rev. George Ford, of Stepney. The Rev. Robert Simpson, D. D.

tality. "These servants of the Most High God," who then were employed in "shewing unto men the way of salvation," have, since they met together in this place, united in the fellowship of kindred spirits above, and exchanged the sorrows of time for the joys of eternity. With them the spirit of our departed brother is now united. "What delight will it afford to renew the sweet counsel they have taken together, to recount the toils of combat, and the labour of the way, and to approach, not the house, but the throne of God in company, in order to join in the symphonies of blest voices, and lose themselves amidst the splendours and fruitions of the beatific vision."

It was during the period of his preparatory studies, first at the academy in Hoxton, and afterwards in the University of Glasgow, that I had the happiness of becoming acquainted with your late esteemed pastor. My own recollections and impressions are those of all who ever had the happiness of knowing him. He was a man "of an excellent spirit," and " greatly beloved." He was distinguished by the benignity of his disposition, the suavity of his temper, and the unimpeachable excellence of his character. His countenance was marked by the expression of candour and liberality. The powers of his mind were equipoised and well adjusted, without any strongly marked or overpowering feature. On his judgment you could rely with satisfaction, and on his heart with confidence.

In the circle of domestic life, he was eminently kind and affectionate, and most attentive to the discharge of its relative obligations. To you, my esteemed friends, who enjoyed the advantages of his pastoral instructions, I need not attempt a description of his characteristic excellencies. His discourses were judicious,

faithful, and practical; his reason. ings were forcible, and his arrangements luminous; and his addresses to the conscience and the heart were often remarkably tender and impressive. As a Christian minister, there was every thing in his character and general intercourse with his flock, that must have greatly endeared him to the circle of his immediate connections, and secured the respect and confidence of all who knew his principles and his worth. His exertions in supporting the institutions of Christian benevolence, were constant and indefatigable; those to which he was particularly attached, found in him not merely a public advocate, who could defend their principles and illustrate their claims, but a practical supporter by his uniform and persevering efforts.

In the important office of Classical Tutor in Hoxton Academy, he secured the affectionate confidence and permanent esteem of his respected colleagues, while those who were successively under his academic charge, will ever cherish the memory of their instructor with tender and grateful recollections. They can never forget his kind attention to their interests, his accessibleness and candour, and his Christian sym pathy in all that concerned them. He was their friend after they had finished their preparatory studies; and his biographical portraitures of some who had been under his care, are alike honourable to the subjects and the author of those instructive memorials.

His last public engagements were on the first Lord's day of October, and his final service in the sanctuary was at the lecture at Stepney, on the evening of that day. Little was it then imagined that his course would terminate so soon, and his "strength be weakened in the midst of his days;" and his sun set just after it had passed its meridian. Before this period he had

occasionally suffered from an affection of the head, of a mysterious and undefined character; and symptoms peculiarly distressing and painful had been evinced. In the evening of the day referred to, those symptoms returned with unusual violence, and medical attention was instantly secured. Soon after the attack I visited him; and he appeared so far recovered from the pressure of disease, as to excite the hope of restoration. I found him cheerful and composed. A renewed attack soon followed of a more threatening aspect; but he was still in the entire possession of mental vigour; calm, steady in his confidence on the promises of his heavenly Father, and resigned to his sacred will. His faith reposed on "the Rock of ages," and he quoted, with evident exultation, that memorable passage, as expressive of his convictions and his prospects,"I know in whom I have believed."

A subsequent and more alarming seizure followed; and on renewing my visit, I perceived that a great change had taken place. Our dear friend was much enervated in body and in mind, and apparent symptoms of paralysis, connected with still more dangerous indications, excited the deepest anxieties on his behalf. He was scarcely able to speak, but while I attempted to pray with him, he grasped my hand, and at periods indicated, by a gentle pressure, the tone of his feelings, and the accordance of his heart with the petitions that were offered. He said little; but what he said evinced the undisturbed exercise of his confidence in the Redeemer.

At this crisis, the public prayermeeting was held on his behalf, at which his brethren in the ministry, residing in this district, attended. It was a season of great solemnity, and many and fervent were the intercessions presented to the throne of the heavenly grace, that the life of their beloved brother

might be spared, and the afflictive visitation sanctified to his family and his flock. The more private meetings of the church were regularly held for the same object, and continued until their esteemed pastor exchanged "the spirit of heaviness for the garments of praise." But while he was a sufferer in this vale of tears, most soothing to his spirit were these devout indications of the interest felt on his behalf; and at one period it seemed as if "the prayer made of the church unto God for him," had been heard. He appeared to revive, and at intervals there were sanguine hopes of recovery cherished by his friends. This was the case to a remarkable degree, on the Saturday and the Sabbath before his departure. He was so much better as to be able to leave his chamber; and his mind seemed to have recovered much of its wonted cheerfulness. The depression produced by disease and agonizing suffering, had in a great measure subsided. His feelings on that occasion were remarkably tender and susceptible. He united with the family in devotion; and at his own request a hymn was sung in the house of mourning. It was removing "the harps from the willows" for a short season, while tears of sorrow and of joy were mingled together. The spirits of our friend were excited; his heart overflowed with thankfulness to all around him for the kind attentions he had received; and holy gratitude to "the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort," shed its hallowed influence over this scene, while all "rejoiced-with trembling."

Alas! this reviving radiance was but the precursor of dissolution. Disease speedily resumed its mysterious power; "the clouds returned after the rain," and the shadows of the tomb gathered around him. During the remaining portion of the week, he was seldom able to articulate; and

insensibility and stupor indicated the rapid approach of "the last enemy." On Friday, the 2d of December, he was released from the tabernacle of mortality, and entered on "the rest which remaineth to the people of God."

Mr. Hooper was married in the year 1810, toSophia, second daughter of the late Rev. Dr.Simpson. One beloved child died in its infancy; and a second was consigned to an early grave, after evincing an extraordinary prematurity of mind, and a degree of early piety of a very unusual order. Mr. Hooper published a sermon on the death of this interesting child, in which parental grief and Christian resignation are strikingly evinced. He has left a mourning relict to cherish the memory of his virtues, and to look up to "the God of the widow," for that consolation which he alone

can impart; and one surviving son, now in the eleventh year of his age. May the God of his father be" the guide of his youth!"

The following is a list of the works published by Mr. Hooper; the last of which deserves to be placed in every domestic library, as an admirable series of useful and

instructive discourses to the young.

1. The Advantages of early Piety disSurgeon, of Weymouth. Second edition. played, in a Memoir of Mr. John Clement,

2. Consolation for Bereaved Parents; a Funeral Sermon for Robert Simpson Hooper, the Author's eldest Son: with an Address to Young People.

3. A Funeral Sermon to improve the Death of the Rev. Noah Hill.

4. Select Remains of the Rev. John

Morley Clack, late of Hastings, Sussex. of Wymondham. 1 vol. 12mo.

5. Memoirs of the Rev. Mr. Evans,

6. The best Means of preventing the Spread of Antinomianism; a Sermon preached at Hoxton Chapel. People. 1 vol. 12mo. Second edition.

7. A Series of Addresses to Young

ON THE INTELLECTUAL PRO

GRESS OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN.

Of all the creatures inhabiting this lower world, man is certainly the most noble. We can never attentively survey the structure of his body, observing at the same time the exact adaptation of all its members to the important ends for which they were respectively given, and the perfect symmetry which distinguishes the whole, without feeling very deeply that he is fearfully and wonderfully made. But of this we become still more sensible, when we contemplate the constitution and capabilities of his mind; that part of himself by which he was first raised to the place he still occupies in the scale of being.

Of the nature of mind we are, at present, altogether ignorant. We only know, respecting it, that it is not matter. But though so ignorant of its nature, we have a limited acquaintance with its pro

perties. We, in fact, learn something of these almost every day, either from experience or observation; and in proportion as we see them developed, we yield to a persuasion that the capacity of the mind for improvement is greater than we have ever yet been able to imagine. Its improvement, however, will be comparatively small while men continue on earth; the time allotted us here is too short; the means afforded us for the acquirement of knowledge are too imperfect; while the ability we have for conducting the pursuit is too contracted for it to be otherwise.

There is, we admit, a vast difference between the intellectual powers of such men as Newton and Locke, when those powers first begin to open, and afterwards, when they have been cultivated by education, and strengthened by diligent and persevering study. But even at the time the intellect

of these distinguished individuals attains the highest point it ever reaches here, they, as rational creatures, are only in their infancy, nor can they possibly advance beyond it, while confined by the trammels, and encompassed by the infirmities inseparable from mortality.

"This is the bud of being, the dim dawn, The twilight of our day, the vestibule ; Life's theatre as yet is shut, and death, Strong death alone can heave the massy bars;

This gross impediment of clay remove, And make us embryos of existence free."

It is more than probable that the righteous will be employed through eternity in studying the works of God. "What we know not now," says our divine and infallible Instructor," ye shall know hereafter." Greater facilities than we can ever possess in this life, for the acquisition of such knowledge, will be freely supplied beyond the grave, and a degree of strength imparted that will qualify us for improving those facilities to the fullest extent. Our understanding will, doubtless, be enlarged. If this were not done, difficulties would exist to perplex us there as they do here, and the increase of our knowledge could not be such as would either answer our expectations or gratify our wishes. Our intellectual progress will, therefore, be quickened at death, and, most likely, continue to advance through everlasting ages. It will then receive an impulse never to be checked, and proceed with a rapidity never to be diminished. Jehovah himself will condescend to be our teacher; and it must be allowed that a Being possessing infinite wisdom and infinite power, as he does, will always have something new to communicate to finite understandings, relative to his own purposes, and the proceedings to which they have given birth.

Nor should it be forgotten that all the knowledge acquired in

heaven will be perfect in its degree. When a new discovery is made on earth, it not unfrequently becomes the means of disproving what had previously been received as established truth. This is the case more particularly in metaphysics and natural philosophy. Every new discovery made in heaven will entirely accord with all that was known before. "Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; now we know in part, then shall we know even as we are known." The secrets of nature, the mysteries of providence, and the wonders of grace, will be successively unfolded to

our view.

Our dignity and our happiness will increase in the same proportion as our knowledge. Every fresh idea conveyed to our mind, will be a fresh accession of glory and of bliss. The tone of our piety will be elevated as the stores of our mind are augmented. We shall, in consequence, perpetually feel a growing delight, while, in concert with all the hosts above, we devoutly sing, "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, O King of Saints; who would not fear thee, O Lord, who would not glorify thy name!"

We can, at present, scarcely conceive the possibility of a neverending advancement in mental improvement; but all the disciples of Jesus are, notwithstanding, justified in expecting it, because it is one of the benefits flowing from his mediation; it is one of the blessings promised to his followers. J. J.