mind rendered her society a never-failing source of satisfaction and entertainment; and her judicious and active benevolence supplied his lack of service, when he was no longer able to inquire into the wants and necessities of his parishioners: so that he was accustomed to say, he had still the gratification of seeing the poor and sick and wretched flocking to the Parsonage-house for relief, as to a well-known asylum.

Even after Mr. Venn was disabled from the exercise of his ministry, he knew not, as he often remarked, what it was to have a tedious or vacant hour. He found constant employment in reading and writing, and in the exercises of prayer and meditation he declared that he had never felt more fervency of devotion than whilst imploring spiritual blessings for his children and friends, and especially for the success of those who were still engaged in the ministry of the blessed Gospel, from which he was himself laid aside. For himself, his prayer was, that he might die to the glory of Christ. "There are some moments," he once said, "when I am afraid of what is to come in the last agonies; but I trust in the Lord to hold me up. I have a great work before me-to suffer, and to die, to His glory." But the spread of the Redeemer's kingdom lay nearer his heart than any earthly or personal concerns: even when the decay of strength produced an occasional torpor, this subject would rouse him to a degree of fervency and joy, from which his bodily frame would afterwards materially suffer. I have understood that nothing more powerfully excited his spirits than the presence of

young ministers whose hearts he believed to be truly devoted to the service of Christ.

About six months before his death, he finally left Yelling; and removed to Clapham, where his son was now settled as rector. His health from this

period became very precarious: he was often upon the brink of the grave, and then unexpectedly restored. A medical friend, the late John Pearson, esq., who frequently visited him at this time, observed, that the near prospect of dissolution so elated his mind with joy, that it proved a stimulus to life. Upon one occasion, Mr. Venn himself remarked some fatal appearances, exclaiming, "Surely, these are good symptoms!" Mr. Pearson replied: "Sir, in this state of joyous excitement you cannot die.”

At length, on the 24th of June 1797, his happy spirit was released; and entered into the longanticipated joy of his Lord.

The duty of a Biographer seems to require, that some general sketch should be given of the character of the man whose life is presented to the public. But in the present instance, I am persuaded that I shall be excused from attempting this task; since the most striking features of the character before us have been already pourtrayed, in the Memoir, in far more vivid and attractive colours than the hand, into which the pencil has now fallen, can command. At the same time, I present a Collection of Letters, which will reflect so genuine an image

of that character, that my readers will need no further help in obtaining an intimate acquaintance with the mind and feelings of this great and good

man.

The following is a List of the Works published by Mr. Venn in his life-time, with the dates at which they first appeared.

1759.-A volume comprising Fourteen Sermons, published upon his removal to Huddersfield, and dedicated To the Gentlemen of Clapham, as an acknowledgment of the very many civilities and marks of friendship received by him during the time of his residence amongst them."

1763.-"The Complete Duty of Man." Of this wellknown and popular work mention has already been made in the Memoir. But it may be proper to notice, that it was originally divided into fourteen chapters. These portions were thought too long; and therefore, in the third edition, a new division was made, into fifty-two chapters, to correspond with the number of Sundays in the year: but, by this arrangement, the subjects were inconveniently broken. A middle plan was therefore adopted in the fifth edition, and the number of chapters reduced to forty: very considerable improvements were also made in the style and language. Some late editions have unfortunately been printed from the earlier copies of the work: it is therefore important to observe, that those editions are the best which adopt the division into forty chapters.

1769.

-"An Examination of Dr. Priestley's Free Address on the Lord's Supper." 8vo. pp. 91. In this work, various passages in Dr. Priestley's Address are examined, and the deistical tendency of them detected.

LIST OF MR. VENN'S WORKS.

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1774.—" Mistakes in Religion exposed; an Essay on the Prophecy of Zacharias." In this work, Mr. Venn takes occasion, from the words of the Song of Zacharias in the first chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, to expose several capital mistakes relating to the doctrines and precepts of religion. The mistakes thus selected are such as he judged most important, "from long observation of their bad effects, in the course of more than twenty years' exercise of his profession, first in London and its near neighbourhood, afterwards in the large and very populous parish of Huddersfield." This work has passed through many editions, and is still kept in print.

1786." Memoirs of Sir John Barnard, Knt., M.P. for the City of London." 4to. pp. 22. This brief memorial was drawn up immediately after the death of Sir John, which took place in 1764. "It was at length published, from an impulse of affectionate reverence for his memory, no longer to be resisted; and as a signal instance, that one of the first men of his age, and the glory of London, attained this pre-eminence from the best principles which can govern the human mind." Copious extracts from these Memoirs are inserted in Chalmers's Biographical Dictionary," Barnard."

The following single Sermons were also published:

1758." Popery a perfect Contrast to the Religion of Christ:" on James iii. 17.

1759." The Variance between Real and Nominal Christians considered; and the cause of it explained:" on Matt. x. 35, 36.

1760.- -"The Duty of a Parish Priest; his obligations to perform it; and the incomparable pleasure of a life devoted to the care of souls." A Visitation Sermon at Wakefield, on Col. iv. 17.

"An earnest and pressing Call to keep holy the Lord's Day:" on Ezek. xx. 13.

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1763." Christ the Joy of the Christian's Life; and Death his Gain:" on Phil. i. 21. A Funeral Sermon on the Death of the Rev. W. Grimshaw, A.B., Minister of the Parish of Haworth, Yorkshire; with a Sketch of his Life and Ministry."

1769." Man a Condemned Prisoner, and Christ the Strong-hold to save him:" on Zech. ix. 12. An Assize Sermon, at Kingston, Surrey.

1770." A Funeral Sermon on the Death of the Rev. George Whitfield:" on Isaiah viii. 18.

1779." The Conversion of Sinners the greatest Charity:" on Ps. cxix. 136. A Sermon on behalf of the Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge among the Poor.

1785." The Deity of Christ: the practical benefit of believing it with a true heart, and the pernicious consequences which follow the denial of it proved:" on Matt. xxii. 41, 42. A Visitation Sermon at Huntingdon.