I would take this opportunity of urging upon every zealous advocate of the peculiar truths of the gospel, the necessity of caution; lest by any indiscretion, he excite unnecessary prejudice. It is of the last importance clearly to distinguish between what is essential, and what may be only expedient. In the former, no compromise can possibly be made. The truth, in a christian spirit, and in its just proportions, must be delivered, fearless of all consequences. But there is much scope for deliberation, as to the extent to which improvements ought to be pushed. A minister may discharge his own conscience, and his flock may be saved, without adopting them at all and it becomes a simple question of ultimate advantage or disadvantage, whether they should be introduced. Taken by themselves, the question is decided at once; but, taken in their necessary connexion with other things, they require a sound judgment to determine their expediency. The benefit expected may be purchased at too high a price: and the price

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should be ascertained, to its full extent, before any experiment be made. If some good men had previously calculated the degree of irritation and the party spirit which a change in modes of singing; or in the usual version of the Psalms; or in times of performing divine service; and other innovations on long established customs, were likely to produce, they would have hesitated before they adopted the obnoxious measure and at least have waited till a fair opportunity had occurred of making the alteration, with the least possible violence to inveterate prejudices. Rashness, in these respects, has frequently excited strong opposition; and sometimes led to the removal of valuable men from important stations. In such cases, it is unjust to attach these consequences to a faithful discharge of pastoral duties: they ought rather to be ascribed to a want of judgment, and an ill-disciplined mind, in the individual who forced his plans, and could brook no opposition to his wishes. I say nothing of those measures, which some would adopt,

in direct opposition to the usages and discipline of the church to which they belong: because it seems to be a violation of the principles of common honesty, to trample upon the regulations to which they had voluntarily bound themselves. No man can have received a dispensation to set at nought his own vows, as well as the decent order, which the wisdom and piety of the best of men had prescribed: and when, after having done this, he charges those, whose duty it is to guard the institutions of the church against innovation, with persecution for righteousness' sake, for having discountenanced his irregularities, and appeals to the public on the hardship of his case, he merits any thing rather than that Christian sympathy, to which he lays claim, and which he is sometimes fortunate enough to obtain.

With regard to Mr. Cursham, I may add, that he was a man of a large and benevolent mind: and when an object presented itself, which was obviously good, he was no nice calculator of the sacrifices

he might be required to make in accomplishing it; but, if at all practicable, he immediately set himself to work; and often achieved his point, before others would have settled the previous question whether, all things considered, the attempt were feasible.

Soon after Mr. Cursham's removal from Ashover, he was presented to the living of Annesley, in Nottinghamshire; and after a life of more extensive usefulness than ordinarily falls to the lot of clergymen, in similar situations, and leaving behind him a name, which will long be held in veneration, far beyond the circle in which he immediately moved, he died at Sutton-in-Ashfield, about twenty years ago.-"The memory of the the just shall be blessed."

But it is more than time that I return from this digression.

This excursion was attended with so many occurrences that were novel to my dear Hannah, and afforded so many occa

sions of displaying the different traits of her character, that I feel a strong temptation to dwell upon them more at large; but I fear it may be thought that I have already indulged sufficently long in this train of feeling; I will therefore forbear.

Having interspersed this slight outline of my dear daughter's early life and education, with such remarks as appear to me important in the training up of children, and recorded a few of the most prominent and interesting events of her life, I wish to add a few particulars of her domestic, social, and general conduct.

It will be inferred from what has been said of her cheerful and self-denying temper, that she would be a favourite in all parties: and I can truly say that, so essential was her presence to all the enjoyments and pleasures of the family circle, that now she is gone, every thing seems to have lost the charm and attraction with which it was before invested. There is scarcely an object we see, or touch, or talk of, with which