This duty concluded, he spent about an hour in reading some valuable book, calculated to inform his understanding, and to animate his graces.Calvin's Institutions, and Mr. Rogers' Treatise *, were among the performances which he highly esteemed, and which he carefully studied.

Before dinner, and before supper, his family were called together, to wait on God in reading, singing, and prayer. After supper, prayer was repeated; and, if he was at leisure from company or business, he then retired to write his diary; in which he faithfully recorded the temptations, sins, and spiritual mercies of the day. When in bed, some or other of his devout servants read to him out of the scriptures, for an hour, or longer, until he betook himself to sleep. Thus he both lay down, and awoke with God.

He was a most strict observer of the Lord's day: and, as far as possible, devoted the whole of it to private and public duties; yet so as to show, that in his estimation, public ordinances should have the preference to private ones; knowing that the Lord loveth the gates of Sion, more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Hence, though he had an household chaplain, he constantly attended the public service twice every sabbath: nor did he violate this rule even when he was called to attend the royal court. If business, or other providences, cast his lot occasionally where the word was not preached; he would ride many miles to some other place, at the proper seasons, rather than defraud his soul of spiritual food. Immediately after sermon, he would seclude himself from company for about half an hour, in order, by prayer and meditation, to digest what he had heard. After evening sermon, two of his servants repeated in the family, before supper, the substance

Probably, Mr. Rogers' Commentary on the XXXIX articles, is the treatise here meant.

of that and the morning discourse, from notes which they had written at the times of preaching; and so great was his memory, that he himself would usually repeat more than they had committed to writing. He then entered the heads and principal passages of each sermon, in a plain paper book which he kept for that purpose; and afterwards dismissed his domestics with prayer, in which he had a very extraordinary gift.

By way of preparation for the Sabbath, he called his soul to a strict account every Saturday night; and, with confession, supplication, and thanksgiving, committed himself to the grace of God in Christ. On the Lord's-day morning, rising as usual, very early; he repeated to the attendants who waited on him while he was rising, a summary of the two sermons which they had heard the Sunday before.

Every month he received the holy communion; and sanctified the preceding day, as a solemn private fast reviewing the memoirs of his experiences and conduct in the month before, and spending the whole day in prayer, meditation, and self-examination. He carefully noted on this occasion, how it had been with him since his last appearance at the holy table; what progress he had made in piety; how he had throve in grace, and what additional strength the Lord had given him over his corruptions. Thus he spent his monthly fast (beside which, he frequently kept other days of private humiliation); not coming out of his study until about supper-time. On the sacrament morning he constantly read, 1 Cor. xi. wherein the institution of that holy ordinance is treated of; and to his servants who were to communicate with him, he read part of a spiritual treatise upon the same subject.

He was deeply attentive to the word preached, sensible that it was, then, eminently in the presence of God; and demonstrated by the awfulness and circumspection of his behaviour, that he came to

hear not the preacher, but Christ speaking in his word.

To avoid all appearance of ostentation, it was his custom not to admit any visitant or acquaintance, either to his prayers, or to the repetition of sermon, in and with his family, except one intimate friend only, who used to be indulged in bearing a part in these heavenly devotions. How far lord Harington judged exactly right, in this extreme scrupulousness, is not for us to enquire. But it certainly resulted from a very high sense of modesty and religious delicacy.

He is now engaged in still more exalted family worship, and sings with angels and glorified saints, the song of Moses and the Lamb. Reader, be not slothful in the works of God, but a follower of them, who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises!

SOME ACCOUNT OF

THE LIFE OF HERMAN WITSIUS, D. D.

TRANSLATED FROM THE LATIN ORATION, WHICH MARCKIUS DELIVERED BEFORE THE UNIVERSITY OF LEYDEN, AT HIS INTERMENT.

ENCHUYSEN is a noted and considerable city of West Friesland, and remarkable for being one of the first towns in the United Provinces, which, A. D. 1572, × shook off the Spanish yoke. It was eminent, moreover, on another account; namely, that having embraced the pure faith of the gospel, this city was inflexibly tenacious of the truths it had received, and made a most strenuous and successful stand against the insolent innovations and incroachments of the Arminians, at a time when that pestilent sect was newly started up, and had rendered itself by the number of its adherents, very formidable to the whole reformed interest in Holland. And although this city, from the convenience of its situation (being a seaport), had been for a long series of ages, famous for its extensive commerce; yet it has been so happy as to produce many very learned men, and able ministers of the gospel: and perhaps amidst all its advantages, it has not more reason to boast of any thing, than for being the birth-place of our Hermannus Witsius; who was born here on the 12th of February, 1636. Which same month and year were rendered further memorable, by the erection of the famous school of Utrecht into an university.

His father, Nicolas Witsius, served the church of Euchuysen, first as deacon, and then as presbyter; and in course of time, being advanced to civil honours, he was made treasurer and chief magistrate

of the city in all which stations, his piety, integrity, and humility, exceedingly endeared him to all his fellow-citizens. He also composed a book of sacred poems and hymns: which were, in their matter, so evangelical; and in their manner, so accurate and lively; that they seemed dictated by heaven, to inspire devout affections, and cultivate holy joy and spiritual mindedness.

The mother of our Witsius, was Joanna, daughter of Herman Gerardus; who, suffering greatly in his own country on account of his religious principles, after sustaining many losses, and running various hazards, got safe to Enchuysen; where he settled with his family, and became an eminent minister in the church. Here he continued preaching the gospel, for upwards of thirty years, and discharged his important trust with singular faithfulness and zeal; admired by all, no less for his eloquence than learning. And so hearty were his attachments to his flock in this place, that he refused many invitations sent him from several churches in Holland, of greater dignity and much larger revenues than his own.

Witsius, thus descended on both sides, from such worthy persons, looked upon himself as under an additional obligation so to behave and adjust his conduct, throughout the course of his life, as, by the blessing of divine grace, to bring no stain or dishonour on a family thus happily distinguished by their extraordinary love to God and reverence for his laws.

Before he was born, his pious parents made a vow to the Lord, that, if they had a male child, they would, from his earliest years, endeavour to devote him to the ministry and service of the sanctuary. At length, a son came; and they called him after his pious grandfather, Hermannus: beseeching God at the same time, that the spirit of that holy man, whose name he bore, might, as it were, revive in this his grandson; and that their infant offspring might not