and pleasing manner, which was singularly his own; while he endeavoured to instil into their minds truths the most weighty and important. He was sincerely attached to his Parishioners, and it was his constant care to devise some plan by which he might render them a service; and he allowed no opportunity to escape him of supplying their wants, whether spiritual or temporal. And it may truly be said of him that he followed closely on the steps of his divine Master, for he continually "went about doing good."

In his friendships he was lasting and sincere. I had for many years known him by report(for how could celebrity like his be confined within narrow bounds?) but for the last seven years I have, as you know, been intimately acquainted with him-and I think I have known him well; and many there are who can bear me witness, when I say, that to be acquainted with him and to know him, was to esteem and love him. There was a cheerfulness, a simplicity, an openness in his character which engaged and won the hearts and confidence of all.

In the endearing duties of domestic life, he was no common model-rather, let me say, he was a bright and shining example. Indeed, in his family circle, it was delightful to see how much he loved and was beloved. He was blessed with a numerous family of children, whom he had been careful to train up early in the way that they should go. And could he

not say with truth at the close of his long life,could he not adopt the former part of our Saviour's sentence, with the happy exclusion of the latter? "O! Father, those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost." It is true he was visited with a succession of severe family trials and afflictions in the premature deaths of several of his family. And first, of these he lost her who was dearest to him of all earthly beings,-the amiable and beloved person whom he had chosen as the partner of his life, and the sharer of his sorrows and his joys; and who, we should have thought, was so well calculated (but a wise and merciful God decreed it otherwise,) to have been the stay and the support, the consoler and the comforter of his aged and declining years. But even under these distressing circumstances, though he was greatly afflicted, yet was he not thoroughly cast down. He viewed these deprivations in their proper light; and comparing the short duration of this life, with the "enduring substance" of that which is to come, he looked upon his as being only a momentary loss-theirs as an eternity of gain! Such was the piety-such was the submissive resignation—such were the elevated sentiments of our lamented Friend! And can we hesitate to say, that the end of such a man must be peace?

Of his acts of benevolence, it is needless for me to say one word to you. You cannot pass

through this and the adjoining village without seeing monuments*--both great and useful monuments-of his munificence and liberality. I must not, however, pass over one of the last acts of his benevolent and pious generosity,-the liberal subscription† which he gave towards the building of a Church about to be erected at Coalville, for the benefit of a Colliery population, some of whom are inhabitants of a portion of this Parish. In a word, suffice it to say, that his purse was at all times open to the support of every cause that was noble, great, and good. When therefore we bear in mind the words of the Apostle, that "love is the fulfilling of the law," and that we are exhorted by the

* "The Ibstock National School, with the adjoining House for the master, was erected in the year 1818, on freehold ground purchased for that purpose, which has been vested in the hands of Trustees, and enrolled in Chancery; the cost of the buildings, the purchase of the land, and the legal expenses having been defrayed by the Rev. Dr. Madan, with the exception of a bequest of £100, obtained under the will of the late Andrew Newton, Esq., of Lichfield.

During the past year another School has been built in the populous and increasing village of Hugglescote. The scite chosen is a portion of Glebe Land near the Church, which together with the building, as it cannot by law be alienated from the Living, will belong to the Rector of Ibstock for the time being; but there is little reason to fear that it will ever be applied to any other than to the valuable purpose, to which it has been dedicated."-Report of Ibstock and Hugglescote National Schools, for the year 1836.

The entire cost of building the Hugglescote School was defrayed by the Rev. Dr. Madan.

† Dr. Madan was a subscriber to the amount of £100.

same Apostle to "put on charity as the bond of perfectness;" when we see acts of benevolence like those of our late venerated Pastor, springing spontaneously, directly and at once, from a true principle of universal love implanted in the heart, may we not find in all this just grounds for concluding that other christian graces were not in their measure greatly wanting there? Let us not doubt, then, that the good, the great, the heavenly-minded saint, whose loss we have all so much reason to lament, has, ere this, met with that which he so devotedly aspired after,— a glorious reception in the realms of everlasting bliss; that he has already heard those cheering words, that gratulatory welcome from the lips of his Redeemer, "Come thou blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for thee from the foundation of the world."

And now, with the Bible in our hands to instruct us in the knowledge of religion, and with the bright example of our late faithful and beloved Pastor before us, let us seriously appeal to ourselves and ask how we have profited under the privileges and blessings which have been

conferred upon us? For as "that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes," so we may be well assured, that if we continue careless (under the many privileges and blessings which have been vouchsafed to us,) about our present condition and future prospects, we can reap no con

solation from the words which have furnished the topic for our present reflections. We have, indeed, had many and great advantages. We have not only had a good and bright example in our deeply lamented Friend, but we have listened (or we ought to have listened) to him, when he laboured to instruct us as our faithful Minister and Guide.

For well nigh fifty years* did his voice resound within these hallowed walls with a kindly moving and persuasive eloquence. Let us, then, I say, ask ourselves what have been the fruits produced with regard to our own improvement? Did we believe the report which he so faithfully made known to us? Have we repented of our sins? Have we "humbled ourselves under the mighty hand of God?" Have we given full credence to what we have heard concerning the scheme of salvation as set forth in the Gospel? Can we say that we have "faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?" "Faith," we are taught, "without works is dead." Have we obeyed the precepts of God's law? Has our conduct in life been so changed as to indicate symptoms of our having been " renewed in the spirit of our mind? If so, indeed, we need not entertain any fearful apprehensions about our change from time to eternity. If when we come to die, we can be truly said to "be in Christ;" if when we

* Dr. Madan was Rector of Ibstock upwards of fifty years. He preached his last sermon in Ibstock Church on the 16th of September, 1832.