variety occasions, it has leisure to dwell upon its several features, and to observe their mutual influence or associated harmony. The scenes and events of an individual's life, when faithfully and judiciously recorded, are admirably adapted to develope the formation of character-whilst lessons of wisdom, and principles of action are better understood, and more correctly appreciated, when drawn out in the scenes of actual life, than they possibly can be, when simply, and abstractedly delivered. And, moreover, the peculiar sentiments which the delineation of certain characters is especially calculated to illustrate, are better remembered, when associated with names, with places, and with deeds; whilst they make a far deeper impression upon the heart, from the circumstance that their nature and tendency are at once demonstrated, by the actual consequences to which, inthese individual cases they have led. In the pages of the biographer, the man lives again for us. "Be ing dead he yet speaketh." We are put in possession, in an hour or two, of knowledge, which it cost him years of anxious labor to acquire. We obtain confidence-we awake to an honorable ambitionwe feel the animating influence of hope, whilst we mark the excellencies of his character, and the successful labors of his life. Self-examination is induced, by a contemplation of his failings-and caution, by the disclosure of his errors. Humility is promoted, by observing with how much imperfection the noblest and the loveliest qualities in man are unhappily combined-and the provision which the gospel makes for our final acceptance with God, derives importance and value from the assurance, which every faithful piece of biography must tend to establish,--that the purest character-the fairest life, must sink before the high standard and demands of Jehovah's perfect law. In calling the attention of my readers to views of Mr. Spencer's character, I am aware that the objection may be started that in one so young, a character could hardly be formed at all. The objection is founded in reason. But although his character had not obtained its maturity-or assumed those fixed and established habits, with which years and experience would have invested it-still it had arrived at such a stage of its progress, as already to present strong lines, and obvious features. Some, so deeply marked as to be recognised by all who knew him and others, upon the infancy of which, the eyes of his most intimate associates dwelt, with unspeakable delight. And, young as it was, the character of Spencer at the age of twenty, was such; as even an aged Christian might not blush to own. I have often gazed, with pleasure, on the animating picture which my fancy drew, when it has added years of experience and of culture, to what was the character of Spencer at his death, and imaged to itself what, after the lapse of time, that character might possibly have been; and when recalled from the delightful reverie, I have mourned that the lovely object existed only in my fancy. But we do wrong to mourn. His removal from our world was the dictate alike of Infinite Wisdom and Love. And the time appointed for his departure was the best. His character had attained that degree of maturity, for which God has destined it, on earth-he had performed the service which he was called to accomplish in the church. His sun rose with almost unexampled rapidity to its meridian-his work. was completed with prodigious speed-yet, having reached his appointed elevation, and performed his allotted labor-that was the suitable period for his removal. He had witnessed as much impression and effect, in his short ministry, as many an aged pastor would rejoice to observe, after years of incessant toil. Can his death be considered, then, as premature? If one laborer accomplishes his share of the day's exertion an hour or two earlier than his companions, may he not be permitted to retire to his rest before them?-Spencer has finished his course-he rests from his labors and his works do follow him. He was AS A MAN, GENEROUS-FRANK-INDEPENDENT - UNAFFECTED-UNSUSPECTING-and SINCERE. Generous; his heart, his hand, and his purse, were ever at the service of the needy, and cheerfully devoted to the cause of Christ. An instance of his generosity has been recorded in the preceding narrative-that of his usually adding to the collection, when he preached for the benefit of a poor church that had an aged minister. One of the last acts of his life was an act of benevolence; he had no money about him, at the time of his death, for he had emptied his pockets to a poor person, previous to his leaving the house on the morning of that awful day. Had he lived to be the possessor of a house, and the head of a family, from him the apostolic injunction, 'given to hospitality,' would have met with a spontaneous acquiescence. Unhappily, this qualification of a Christian bishop, some of our worthy pastors have it not in their power to display!-Frank; he was open and ingenuous; his sentiments were ever undisguised; his language spoke correctly what he thought and felt; and his countenance was an index to his mind. Truly was it said of him, that he carried his heart in a crystal vase, so that all could see it. His opinions he never attempted to conceal; his attachments and his dislikes were, with equal freedom and sincerity, declared. The prudent will say, it displayed but little knowledge of mankind; true: he was ignorant, and therefore unsuspecting, and often unguarded. He did not calculate upon treachery, under the garb of friendshipor censorious observation, in the social circle. Alas! that experience should only tend to make a man suspicious, and intercourse with society render him sceptical in his opinions of his fellow men! Independent; perhaps, too much so, for his station as a minister of the gospel, and especially as the pastor of a church. He had his partialities and predilections, every man must have them he cannot be brought, by any discipline to love that which is totally uncongenial to his taste and habits, however he may be inclined to cherish and testify a deference and respect. But these predilections, Spencer was ever ready to declare; and such was his independent spirit, that no consideration of interest could induce him to utter a compliment or pay an attention which was foreign from his purpose, or repugnant to his feelings. To all, he cheerfully paid the regard which the obligations of his station claimed; but only with such as his heart and feelings approved, did he share the social intercourse, or the endearments of friendship. And, surely, a man in public life, whilst he pays to all around him such attentions as the functions of his office involve, has a right to select the individuals withwhom he will share the social hour, or to whom he may commit the more sacred and retired feelings of his heart. Yet, even here, prudence would suggest certain cautions particularly adapted to the very delicate circumstances in which the pastor of a church is placed. Unaffected; every thing like affectation and display, he abhorred-every thing feminine and soft in manners, he excessively disliked. His own were the reverse; they were characterized by impetuosity and boldnessa decision and a promptitude marked every thing he did. There was often a carelessness about his dress, arising from that indifference to shew and decoration, which, in every thing, he displayed. So neglectful was he of his appearance, that he did not wear a watch, till urged repeatedly by the want of it, he at length purchased one. He observed to a friend a circumstance connected with the purchase of this watch, not perhaps unworthy of insertion. He asked the man of whom he bought the watch, if what he demanded was his lowest price? "Yes, Sir," said the man; "I heard you preach upon seeing Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of God, and I will not overcharge you." He loved to preach in a gown; it tended, he said, to conceal his youth, and give weight to his sermon,-otherwise he was indifferent about it. How far this may be considered as sufficient reason for wearing a gown, I cannot determine; certainly, there are matters of higher moment than this; and it is surely cause of regret, that great and good men should ever grow warm, and say or do strong things, upon a subject, confessedly so inferior in importance - Unsuspecting-he formed an estimate of every individual's bosom by the ingenuousness of his own; no wonder then, if sometimes he should have erred, and the error prove a |