of

from the time that religious inquiry appears to have occupied more exclusively his mind.1 These will serve to develop the nature and progress the change more fully and satisfactorily than any thing that can be said by another. At the same time, it is hoped, that to his friends (who have expressed a wish for the publication of some of his letters) they may not prove less acceptable than those written at a more advanced period. Slow and gradual as that change was, Mr. Richards always spoke of it as most material in its results on his character. His understanding was informed; but it was his heart that was most deeply touched and affected. His conduct was correspondently changed. All his actions were performed in fuller dependence on Divine grace, under a more abiding sense of the omnipresence of God, and with deeper feelings of love and gratitude for the inestimable gift of His Son. These might be said to be the great controling principles of his conduct; these, wherever his journal affords a record of his private feelings, appear to have been the main spring of his heavenly temper, the source of his consolations and his hopes.

A presumptuous self-confidence, in an undue exercise of reason upon matters beyond its reach,

1 See No. 2, in the Appendix, p. 347.

t

he considered to have been one of the greatest impediments to his advance in the Christian life. This was entirely subdued, and in its place appeared the teachable and humble spirit. His preaching partook of the alteration: the peculiarities of the Christian system in the fall of man, and his renewal to holiness by the redemption of the Saviour and the sanctification of the Spirit, entered more frequently and distinctly into his discourses. He pressed more strongly the necessity of the conversion and dedication of the heart to God; he exhorted more earnestly, and to higher degrees of holiness. Amusements, which before formed his recreations, he by degrees abandoned-some, because he considered them incompatible with the Christian walk-others, because they interfered with his professional duties, or occupied too much of his thoughts, or tended to impair the clerical character in the estimation of many. In the relinquishment of some of these, he showed no little self-denial. Fly-fishing, though it was a diversion of which he was at one period passionately fond, he gave up on principle. In music he took the greatest delight; but he scarcely ever partook of it beyond his own family circle, and, of late years, even refrained from attending any public musical performance lest he should injure his usefulness-so careful was he to follow the Apostolic example in

abstaining from things inexpedient as well as unlawful.

His attention was henceforward given unreservedly to the fulfilment of his ministerial office. Visitation of the sick, and attendance on societies, occupied a large portion of his time. His mornings, when he remained at home for a few hours, were so broken in upon by persons who pressed to see him, that he has frequently not been able to sit down for ten minutes together without interruption. Most of these applications were from his poorer parishioners, to whom he never refused admission. Many strangers also called on him with applications for seats in his church, which he had no power of granting; or with letters of introduction from various quarters. To these persons some civility and attention were due. He was not unfrequently sent for by people who did not reside in his parish, but who had been in the habit of attending his church. In some cases of this kind it was impossible for him to refuse a friendly visit. This he has occasionally paid, always recommending the parties to send for their parochial minister, and never performing official acts, except with the permission of the appointed clergyman. It was his wish to confine himself strictly to his own charge: he felt that he had, within his own sphere, more duty than he could well fulfil. He would readily

;

sacrifice any portion of his time to ministerial duties, and calls to them he always considered imperative, however unseasonably made. If, on his return home, after a fatiguing morning's work, a message was brought that a sick infant was to be named or an urgent summons to any other ministerial duty called him; he would attend immediately to the request, and leave his dinner untouched. Should these details appear trifling to any one, it must be remembered that in general no sacrifices are more impatiently borne than interruptions to our ordinary comforts, and that it is only by a mention of such particulars that any idea of his character can be faithfully conveyed. Those only who lived with him can fully apprehend how completely his time and talents were dedicated to his office-how truly he fulfilled the Apostolic injunction, "Give thyself wholly to these things."

His exertions among the sick and afflicted were most indefatigable. His delight was to go about among the poor; he used to say that he was fitted for it, and that he never wished to be taken out of it. He generally contrived to get acquainted with their temporal circumstances and character, before he conversed with them on their religious state; and by this means he obtained a better insight into their cases. He was valued by them for the plainness and simplicity of his instruction, and beloved

from the kindness of his manner.

There was no place where want or sickness, however infectious, summoned him, into which he would not venture; no kind offices that his Christian compassion and humility would not lead him to perform. One instance of this may be given. Mr. Richards was sent for to attend a sick man: he found him, his wife, and child, all in the same disease (a fever of the most malignant kind) and in the same bed. Every one had forsaken this miserable family, and so near was the poor man supposed to be to death, that his coffin had been prepared, in order that there might be no delay in removing him. Into this wretched dwelling did Mr. Richards go without hesitation. He saw the state the poor creatures were in, and having himself gone and purchased a shirt for the unhappy man, he assisted him in changing it, and immediately burned the infected garment. He next obtained a nurse (a benevolent person who had before been employed in the office), who, by his direction, procured them such necessaries as the case required. The man recovered.

His experience in the visitation of the sick, led him in general to place but little reliance on deathbed repentances. He had painfully witnessed that in cases of recovery, resolutions of amendment, made merely under the fear of death, were broken, serious impressions wore off, and evil passions and