servations, for the Churchman's Magazine and Village Churchman. Reader, forget not to ask a blessing upon your perusal. The remarkable person whose character and disposition we have to consider was the son of one who himself excelled, 66 and was 66 many years curate, and preacher at Cork Cathedral." He was born into this world April 8th, 1747; at the age of nine years he went on a visit to an uncle (on his mother's side), who was a prebendary, "pious and learned." His abilities and disposition induced an offer to prepare him for college studies, together with his cousin. În the year 1764, he made his entrance at Trinity College, Dublin. Here his tutor (Dr. Forsayth) was taken with him. At quarterly examinations he was always at the head of the division." Having proceeded in his classical and mathematical pursuits, he became a scholar "with high credit." A remarkable circumstance appears to have taken place, in that his tutor 66 made him reside in his own room." The interest felt must indeed have been considerable, to have caused this to come to pass. He took his degree of B.A. in 1768; a fellowship became vacant, and, after many days' previous trial for it, at the age of twenty-two he obtained it. The College had a high opinion of him, and appointed him to be a tutor. His appearance was against the success of this, on account of its youthfulness; and it appears that parents did not well like to confide in one so young, whatever opinion they might have of his powers. The droll expedient of "a white wig" was recommended and employed, and forthwith things were altered. In 1774 the number of pupils was nearly double the number that other tutors had. "Not only the temporal, but eternal interests" of the pupils, were the objects of care to him. He became successively deacon and priest. During succeeding years, he published three works-one respecting "Sounds ;" another respecting the "Planets;" a third, upon "Equations" -upon which he was highly complimented by an eminent man from Berlin. The University, in token of its esteem, conferred the degree of D.D. on his father. The Earl of Shannon, the Bishop of Waterford, and the subsequent Bishop of Cloyne, together with others, were much at the rooms of Hales. His attention to theology was particularly directed, on account of the proceedings of Dr. Priestley. He gave up his fellowship, as also his professorship of oriental languages, in 1768, and became rector of Killesandra, in the county of Cavan. To the difficulties of chronology he devoted much pains. We shall again have occasion to mention this. His activity and amiableness of manners were very great. He "would enter with familiarity on the most trivial matters, and listen with patience to the grievances of others, however tiresome." He published another work in 1787, as to "the Pope's supremacy." In 1789 he was taken with a "violent fever" at Cork. Contrary to advice, he returned to Killesandra, and was much weakened. He visited England; but, on going back again, was still disabled, yet he is said to have borne the deprivation without complaint. In 1791 his marriage with the amiable and religious daughter of Archdeacon Whity took place. With regard to his health, he was wonderfully relieved from what was considered to be water on the brain, by means of great exercise in his garden. In 1793 "the Rights of a Citizen" was published, and in the following year another work. The issue of his marriage was two sons and two daughters, and it is a peculiar proof of the powers of concentration, that the presence of his children did not disturb him in his writings. He had intended to produce a new translation of the Psalms, of which he was very fond. It was his custom to teach them to his children, to repeat when in the fields, especially on a Sunday morning. He was wont, it appears, to descant upon things most unlikely to have engaged his attention. During long winter evenings, he frequently related the most interesting histories of Scripture; and the effect produced seems to have been great. In the course of his conversation, he said, that " a sense of the omnipresence of the Deity was one of the first ideas he endeavoured to impress upon the minds of his children,” and “it is astonishing how soon it may be conveyed." In 1801 he had an alarming illness; going to dine with a nobleman, he met with a poor beggar, a stranger, in a miserable shed. From the state of fever, persons were afraid to approach he administered to her wants, to her thirst, and cold; and hired one of the neighbours to attend her, for “to relieve the wretched was his pride." He instructed, consoled, and prayed for her; he visited her next day, but before he got home, found he had caught infection of the yellow fever. With God's blessing upon the means, he recovered. He said, that "the promise of a cup of cold water given in Christ's name to a disciple should in nowise lose its reward," gave him the greatest comfort. And this reminds us of the saying of George Herbert, when he reflected upon an act of kindness"that the thought of what he had done would prove music to him at midnight; and that the omission of it would have upbraided and made discord in his conscience." Like him, he would praise God for this occasion of comforting a sad soul, and showing mercy. While the fever prevailed many feared to come near, but the pious Bishop of Kilmore (afterwards Archbishop of Cashel) was anxious to come. The patient Hales recovered rapidly. The poor woman, however, died. In 1803 "Methodism Inspected" was published; a second part in 1805. The occasion seems to have been the practice of some Wesleyan Methodist missionaries, who used to preach on horseback, with black caps, and who, though laymen, contrary to the express instruction of their founder, administered the ordinances of Christianity. If their founder said "They take not upon them to administer the sacraments;" there was in this a prohibition, according to their own origin. In 1805, when on a visit in Dublin, Dr. Hales fell, and broke his leg; whereupon there was a remarkable instance of generosity towards him, in the proffer of his purse, in case he should be a stranger, as supposed, on the part of a Swedish Captain. 66 În 1807 letters were published with reference to the Rebellion; a new edition was made in 1813. In 1808 there was a Dissertation on Prophecy, &c." He went to London respecting his " Analysis of Chronology;" and the publishers did not wish to undertake a thing so extensive. It was published by subscription, and there were very liberal contributions. In 1830 a second edition, in octavo, was issued. The work has been considered by the Rev. T. H. Horne "the most elaborate system of chronology extant," &c. The Doctor, in about his 66th year, appears to have been appointed Chancellor of the diocese of Cby Archbishop Broderich, upon whose recommendation the" Analysis" was completed, which was otherwise likely to have been abandoned. The year 1807 was the time of another febrile attack, from which a slow recovery took place. At the age of 70, liveliness and activity were manifest; but in 1817-18 there was unusual languor, and he read and wrote less. In May, 1818, he prepared to publish "Origin and Purity of the Primitive Church in the British Isles, independent of the Church of Rome." The loss of his second son, of amiable and valuable qualities, was a considerable affliction about this time. On the 30th of January, 1831, at the age of 84, "full of years and of divine grace, he peacefully entered on his rest.” We may learn, even from what has hitherto been said, the value of the man and the Christian. Several other particulars might be added, more, no doubt, than have been published, to show forth the goodness and the love of God towards the subject of this memoir, and those with whom he had to do. And let us value that goodness and that love; and let us pray for the continuance of such, according to occasion, and as it may seem good, to the eternal God. I have just a recollection of the amiable and learned man of whom we have been treating; and though I was too young to appreciate all his worth, I do seem to remember an appearance and a manner of much kindness and benevolence. It is rather strange, I have heard, from a relative, that there was no portrait of him, except one that had once been made. If, however, he is remembered in other ways in this world, it may be more than sufficient to compensate for the reminiscence of the painter's art. His desire for what is truly good, his practice of what is "excellent and of good report," his anxiety for the honour of God and the welfare of man, may well commend him to our serious regard and praise. Were our present object merely panegyric, we might proceed to eulogize other points of character; but the foregoing has much room for thought. Oh, reader, may you profit by it, and at length be adjudged worthy, through Christ, of immortal joy for ever! E. W. B. THE CROWN OF THORNS. "Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood Till all the ransom'd Church of God Are sav'd, and sin no more."-Cowper. THAT Crown of thorns how sharp, That brought us from despair! When the vast scheme's complete, For ev'ry pang of grief Thou didst a boon receive, For ev'ry thorn a joy : And thus our loss retrieve! Hail! Mighty One, from heaven And may we hymn thy praise In everlasting day! E. W. B. THE BLESSINGS OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. IN times like the present, when all around us seems unsettled and agitated, it behoves us, as Christians, to look well to our hopes and privileges, as members of that Church to which we belong. And when we reflect upon the many and great blessings we enjoy as such, over how vast a space do our thoughts necessarily wander, even through time into eternity; for throughout each period of our existence, from the cradle to the grave, the Church has, under God's blessing, provided for our happiness and comfort. In our infancy we are brought to the baptismal font, that we may receive the "sign of regeneration or new birth," and be "grafted into the body of Christ's Church ;" and though this solemn rite of our Church has, perhaps more than any other, been the subject of much fierce controversy, we should understand it more clearly and fully, did we bear in mind, as has been observed by one of her most faithful ministers, "that the Church is not now gifted with the power of discerning spirits, or of reading the heart; and therefore is not only fully justified, but is bound, in Christian charity, to hope the bets of all and of each of her members. This, indeed, appears to be the key to the right understanding of the motive and intention of our Church in all her services. It is obvious that if the Church have but one set of services for her members, she must so construct those services as to apply to the case of her real and spiritual, and not her nominal, members. Bearing this in view, there is nothing remarkable that she should act in faith upon the declaration of her God, that his 'promises are to us and our seed;' and concluding that the parents and the sponsors of the children presented at the baptismal font are themselves among the faithful, devoted, prayerful, servants of the Most High, she is bound to expect that the infant will 'rightly receive' Christian baptism, that God will hear and answer petitions so scriptural, so reasonable, so entirely for the honour and glory of his own great and holy name."* And when the Christian parent brings his child to be baptized, according to Christ's commandment," he does so with the simple and childlike belief, that God will perform all that he promises by his Church, to them by whom baptism is "rightly received -that his child will indeed be washed with "the laver of regeneration" from his sins, will be made 66 a member of Christ, a child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven;" and, by the aid of God the Holy Spirit, will be enabled to "lead the rest of his life according to this beginning," and fulfil the promises made by his sureties, "to renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanity 66 *The late Rev. Henry Blunt's "Lectures on the Articles ;" a book which ought to be in the hands of every young member of the Church. |