serve, that he gave all the glory of his preservation to God.*

Very few men have entered into the cares and hazards of a mercantile life at so early a period as our friend, and perhaps fewer still have attained to such unquestionable pre-eminence. He was a merchant of the old school; carefully shunning those dashing and adventurous speculations which have proved so unprofitable to some, and so ruinous to others-especially to the young and inexperienced. He pursued his tranquil course with such caution, foresight, and industry, as seldom fail, under the blessing of God, to issue in extensive and permanent prosperity. Indeed, all his commercial engagements were executed with such promptitude and precision, as placed him in the first and most honourable class of British merchants, not only on our own Exchange, but in all the great trading cities of Europe.

From the busy and agitating scenes of commercial life, he returned with renewed delight to enjoy and to bless his family. It is only at home

* When I made the above remark, I held in my hand a paper containing some of the last expressions which fell from the lips of Mr. Hardcastle, among which were the following; which, I think, may with propriety be introduced here, to show the happy influence of early piety:- God has drawn me with cords of mercy from my earliest days. He gave me very early impressions, and enabled me to devote myself to his service. And this God is my God, for ever and ever. I said to him, when a young man, Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory.'

that we see our friends in the undress of human life, and are enabled to form a full and correct estimate of their principles, character, and temper. To the honour of religion, the subject of this address bore the nearest and most scrupulous inspection with advantage. Here he walked with God in personal communion, and engaged in family devotions with such a seriousness of spirit, and in such a luminous and edifying manner, as not only fixed the attention, but deeply impressed the heart. Indeed, it could hardly be otherwise; as his energetic mind was richly imbued with a sound knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, and as he also had the heartfelt experience of its rich consolations and its sanctifying influence.

Of all the Christians I have known, he was one of the strongest advocates for sanctification and personal holiness, and one of their brightest examples. He not only discovered great tenderness of conscience upon the essential points of practical religion, but he exhibited the utmost care and anxiety to avoid even the least appearance of evil.' In short, his whole course of action was so heavenly and so pure, that he almost seemed more than human; and what crowned all was, that he discovered no feeling of self-importance or self-complacency, but, on the contrary, the whole constellation of moral and religious qualities which shone so bright in his uniform deportment as a disciple of Christ, were shaded by a

broad vail composed of unaffected humility, simplicity, and diffidence. In these latter excellences, I believe it is universally admitted, he was unrivalled.

I have met him at the gate, or on the steps of his hospitable mansion, on his return from the great metropolis, and have noticed his countenance, beaming with the placid and cheerful smile of disinterested friendship, free from that coroding care and those agitated feelings with which too many return from business. Indeed, when he laid down his pen, and turned the key of his counting-house desk, it seemed to me as if he had there deposited all his worldly cares and anxieties, with a solemn charge to intrude upon him no more until he returned.

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In the relations of social life, he exemplified the principles and character of a Christian, and thus adorned the doctrine of God our Saviour.' To his honoured and endeared partner, he was uniformly tender and affectionate: to his wellinstructed and dutiful children, he was familiar, cheerful, and communicative, without losing his authority:* to his servants, he was condescending,

* I have seldom witnessed such a happy combination of wisdom, energy, and affection, in the exercise of paternal government, as in our deceased friend; and hitherto the result has been highly propitious. Long may the family continue to pursue their honourable career, and make it evident that the counsels and example of their venerable father have produced their natural and full effect!

humane,* and beneficent, anticipating their wants, and exceeding their expectations.

We will now follow him from his domestic circle to the house of God-to the Christian society to which he stood related. In divine worship, he was humble, serious, and fervent. As a hearer of the word, he was attentive and candid. He did not estimate the preacher by the denomination to which he belonged, the extent of his erudition, the logical precision with which he arranged his subject, or the eloquence with which he delivered it: but by the intrinsic value of the matter which

* Such was his humanity, that even the insects which crawled over his gravel walks, the cattle which grazed on his meadows, and the birds which built their nests in his shrubberies and warbled in his grove, if they could give a verbal testimony, would declare, that of all the persons on whose grounds they had ever taken shelter, the proprietor of Hatcham was, unquestionably, one of the most humane, sympathizing, and liberal. This may be thought too minute and insignificant; but mercy to the inferior creatures of God is a duty, and is honourable to our moral and religious principles; nay, the Almighty has condescended to notice it with approbation- A merciful man is merciful to his beast.' And it would be a blessing to the animal creation, if men would recollect that God makes them his care, and will avenge their wrongs.

† I remember a striking proof of his liberality to those he employed. The gardener having been bargaining with the mowers and haymakers, Mr. Hardcastle called him, as we were passing, and asked what they had agreed for? The gardener told him what they had received from Mr.. He instantly said, That is not enough-provisions are dear-they should have more.' He was one of those Christians who believed and felt the authority of that Scripture, The labourer is worthy of his hire.'

he uttered, the seriousness of spirit which he discovered in the manner of setting it forth, and the evidence he obtained that the preacher's grand aim was to promote the glory of God, the salvation of souls, and the enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom. He occasionally heard some itinerant preachers, whom he spoke of with the warmest approbation. Indeed, he uniformly heard like one who cordially believed the celestial origin of the gospel, who felt its divine and powerful influence, and who was anxious to share in its heavenly privileges and abound in its rich consolations.

I have sometimes had the pleasure of being in his company after his return from public worship, and have been delighted to observe how fully he entered into the nature and importance of the subject discussed; and while I have been profited by the spiritual and animating conversation which he has raised out of the sermon, I have been equally surprised at the judicious and edifying remarks with which it was enriched.*

* I well remember two instances of this kind-the one, after I had preached from 1 John 1.7; the other, after I had preached from Col. 1. 12. Whilst, with his usual candour and kindness, he expressed the pleasure and profit which he had derived from my sermons, the conversation which ensued elicited from him remarks which fully convinced me of the very close attention which he had paid to those subjects, and how deeply his mind was impressed by their importance. It was indeed evident that he had read his Bible with great care and seriousness, and that he possessed much more biblical knowledge than many divines.