you have been so busy about so worthless an object as myself. I need not say, pray especially for me, that a divine blessing may attend me to-morrow evening in preaching before those whom you know I too much dread as hearers.-The Lord grant unto his servant, that with all boldness he may speak his word.' I trust your desire and expectation of obtaining good on Friday evening will be gratified. My mind is rather more composed than it has ever been before, when I have had to preach here on the Thursday evening. How it will be when the time comes, I know not. Many eyes are upon me, and different, very different are the feelings with which my brethren hear me. But if the Head of the Church gives each of them a blessing, they will I hope be satisfied.

"Your's affectionately,

"THOMAS SPENCER".

It is indeed much to be regretted, that any feel ings but those of mutual affection, forbearance, and candor, should be cherished in the hearts of brethren-and such surely are the students in the same. academy. But in the present imperfect state of our nature, it must be expected, that superior excellence, while it is the object of universal admiration abroad, will, in too many instances, be exposed to the malignant glance of envy and of jealousy at home. And when the scourge of criticism is supplied with knots by these, who but must expect to smart beneath its strokes. It is certainly to the honor of the institution to which Mr. Spencer belonged, that its members for the most part knew, admired, and con-fessed his worth;-and if there were any exceptions -let them remain in that oblivion in which is their

best security. But the solemn admonition of his early death, should tend to check the bitter exercise of that unhallowed sarcasm by which the rise of extraordinary usefulness or genius is too frequently assailed. In academies of religion and literature, where the avowed object of every student is, not his individual advancement, but the glory of God, a spirit of detraction and envy ought to be unknown. The most devoted and useful, should be most esteemed. Every private interest should be lost in the general welfare of the church of Christ. One may behold, indeed, with less concern, the strokes of satire when they fall upon the arrogant, the presumptuous, and the vain;-but when talents are attended by humility—when popularity is connected with diffidence-and eminent piety is mingled with extraordinary displays of genius,-to such an object the severity of sarcasm is improperly directed, and every well-regulated mind must view its exercise with pain.

About this time his health again declined. A severe cold for some days deprived him of his voiceand he was compelled to rest one Sabbath day from his public work. What were his feelings in prospect of that Sabbath, this letter will declare.

"Those who admire and cherish rising talent, can have no bitter reflections when they contemplate the grave of SPENCER. They hailed his entrance into public life, and strengthened his hands by their prayers and their approbation. Those who could envy him, and such I know there were, must be covered with merited shame, when they behold him so early stript of those honors, talents, advantages, and successes, which exposed him to their jealousy and malignity. If these unworthy men were before me, I would speak daggers to them, but use none! "-See Styles' Funeral Sermon for the Rev. T. Spencer, page 28.

No. 24.

TO MR. JOHN HADDON.

"MY DEAR FRIEND,

December 6, 1809.

"It appears that your suspicions that I should preach three times to-morrow, will not, cannot be realized, for Mr. Western, as well as those around me are agreed, that I must not go to Hertford at all, judging it dangerous for me to go out, much more so to preach. Yesterday I passed a miserable day. The thought of the pain of mind the letter I sent home would occasion to my friends, hurt me much, and I was much worse than I had been before, as my lungs and throat felt more inflamed. To-day I think I am better, but still very far from well. I can scarcely bear the prospect of a silent Sabbath. I think I shall be quite out of my element to-morrow. Oh! that I

did but more firmly believe, that he who is my Savior does all things well, and that he who sustains the dread character of Judge of all the earth must do right. If I am able, I shall hear Mr. Hordle in the morning. I have no voice yet. I hope it is not irretrievably lost. need not say, that if you can call this evening, it will give me unspeakable plea

sure.

"Your's affectionately,

"THOMAS SPENCER."

Reflecting on this temporary indisposition in a letter to his father, he says, "I have reason to hope that the measure of affliction with which our heav enly Father thought fit to visit me, has been made

a blessing to my soul. It gave me time for reflection and close self examniation. It gave a new zest to my feelings, and when it was removed, I hope I was inspired with fresh ardor to live for the glory of God."

Amid the constant bustle of a public life, the retirement which temporary indisposition affords, must be most beneficial to a pious mind. Then it can relax into a calm and intimate communion with itself. It can quietly indulge in such a review of the past and such an anticipation of the future, as will tend not a little, under the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit, to curb its impetuosity-correct its levity and regulate its principles. From the chamber of sickness, the exercises of the pulpit will be furnished with materials of the highest order; and the beds of the deceased will be attended with a sympathy, which experience of similar affliction only can excite.

The greater part of the Christmas vacation Mr. Spencer spent at Brighton, and on the first day of the year 1810, he preached at the Rev. Mr. Styles' chapel, to young people, from 2 Chron. xxxiv, 27, 28. 'Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardst his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humblest thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes and weep before me: I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord. Behold I will gath er thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace. Neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same.'

The good seed which he was the instrument of scattering in Brighton, very rapidly sprang up. In a letter to his father, written immediately on his re

turn from thence, and dated Jan. 12th, 1810, he says, "a young person who had heard me at Mr. Styles' last year, was called by divine grace under my instrumentality, and died before I went this time, bearing an honorable testimony to the religion of Jesus, and to her interest in it. Oh! what hath God wrought!"

During his stay at Brighton, he had occasion to solicit a favor of his friend in London, the performance of which was acknowledged in the following

letter.

No. 25.

TO MR. HADDON.

"MY DEAR FRIEND,

Brighton, January 1, 1810.

"However you may smile at the idea of my writing you a 'letter of thanks,' I assure you I think you have a claim upon it, for you have done for me what I should have liked few others to have done; but suffice it to say, it came safe to hand. Last Thursday evening I preached on Luke xxiv, 32. Yesterday morning at the Countess', on Eph. ii, 14. In the evening at Mr. Styles', it being the close of the year, on Exodus xxiii, 20. To-night I shall only preach, as one minister will commence, and another close with prayer. It is said that I shall preach at the chapel on Thursday evening. You ask me where I shall be next Sabbath. Many advise me to remain at Brighton; but it is my present intention to return home on the Friday, though I really feel myself in a difficulty about it. I hope I have, since I have been at this place, enjoyed the di