And the time appointed for his departure was the best. His character had attained that degree of maturity, for which God had 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 labour-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 labourer 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 labours-and his works do follow him. He was AS A MAN, GENEROUS-FRANK-INDEPENDENT,- AFFECTED-UNSUSPECTING-and SINCERE. erous; 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 indepen dent spirit, that no consideration of interest could induce him to utter a compliment or pay an atten tion 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 with whom 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. 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 over He charge you." He loved to preach in a gown; "He 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 source of poignant anguish and unavailing regret. He who has never seen a storm, may, all unconscious of his danger, trust the syren sea; but he who has endured the tempest will mark well, the signs of the sky, ere he tempt the treacherous element that has once deceived.Sincere; to have his hand, was to possess his heart; and where he could not give the latter, he never presented the former. Whatever he said, he uttered from conviction; and on every assurance, the firmest reliance might be placed. ATE. AS A FRIEND, He was WARM-DISINTERESTED--and AFFECTIONThe fervour of his friendship is sufficiently displayed in the correspondence preserved in the preceding pages. His whole soul seems infused into his paper; and, if such were his letters, happy must they esteem themselves who were favoured with his private walks and most retired intercourse. "His friendship, I can truly say," observes his most intimate companion, "has given me one of the most lively views that I ever enjoyed of union and communion with the spirits of just men made perfect. I shall not easily forget the impression of awe upon my mind while hearing him preach at White's Row, from these words: Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away at a stroke, then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.' I thought, I surely can never more use the freedom of friendship with him. But at his descent from the pulpit, his sparkling eye, friendly squeeze, and affeetionate pressure of my arm to his side as we returned, convinced me that he was still the humble, interesting youth with whom I had taken sweet counsel, and walked to that house of God." Nor was he guided in the formation of his friendships. by a principle of interest. This indeed governs the world in their associations : "And what is friendship but a name, But he sought not high connexions-exalted friendships--or splendid alliances-he shrunk from grandeur, pomp, and parade-he felt uneasy when surrounded by any thing like splendour--he preferred the calm mediocrity of life, as furnishing, for the most part, excellence in character, and comfort in intercourse!——Of his affection, it were in vain to speak--no language can describe all the tenderness of his affectionate heart--affection |