words of deep and thrilling import, uttered by him in his touching and impressive manner; sometimes one word alone, perhaps 'eternity,' pronounced with solemn accent, and accompanied by his uplifted finger, has rung in my ears for days together; at others, a verse of a hymn, and sometimes a passage of Scripture, has produced the same effect. But it was not his manner alone which arrested attention, it was the substance also of his preaching, the most striking characteristic of which was clearness and simplicity; the impression left on my mind by the whole course of his preach. ing is this: I can not say that he ever failed in fully explaining the most difficult doctrines of the Bible, entirely to my satisfaction, reconciling differences, and constantly presenting the Scriptures as a beautiful chain of harmony and order. He never over burdened the minds of his hearers by a variety of leading truths in one sermon; but always carefully dissecting passages of Scripture, divided the different heads into distinct sermons, always striving to leave one prominent truth, clearly and simply stated, for the meditation of the people. It was this habit, I think, with the blessing of God, which rendered his ministry so truly instructive. He never left a subject before it was fully and faithfully discussed. I can most generally remember the manner in which he divided his discourses; but in every case, I am still impressed with the recollection of different truths, taught in each discourse; this was his object, and in this he succeeded most remarkably. I became so familiar with his style, that I could generally tell what would be the tenor of his sermon, with but very few exceptions. Although so simple in his manner of preaching that all might understand him, we can all remember the elegance and purity of his style, the refinement and sublimity of his taste, the coolness of his judgment, the warmth of his imagination, and yet his entire freedom from rant or enthusiasm, so generally ending in coarseness and vulgarity. With what boldness he declared the truth, with what sweetness and affection he presented its claims, and with what feelings of sorrow, he often mourned over the coldness and indifference of his people to the love of Jesus Christ.

"An anecdote just now occurs to my mind, which was related to me about three years ago, by a Presbyterian clergyman in N-, where I was then on a visit. I am not certain that I remember all distinctly, but I will endeavour to tell you as nearly as I can. This minister had a brother who once visited Philadelphia, and went to hear Dr. Bedell preach in the evening; his sermon was death, and I think his text was this: This night thy soul shall be required of thee.' He was powerfully awakened, and so much alarmed, that he was afraid to stay at night in his own room. And so fully was he impressed with the certainty of death coming to him that night, that although staying in a public house, he wan dered about from place to place in a state of fearful anxiety, but carefully concealing the true reasons from all observers. He lived, however, to drive away these solemn feelings, and about the same time in the following year, went again to hear Dr. B., when he was again solemnly addressed on the same subject. He began to think that there was something peculiar in all this, was again alarmed, and, through the instrumentality of succeeding providences, was led to submit his heart to God, and, at the time his brother related the anecdote to me, was a decided Christian. Probably Dr. Bedell never knew of this, and I doubt not that many other passing strangers will appear in the day of eternity as stars in his crown of rejoicing, whom he never knew on earth, but who, through his instrumentality, were first led to think of their immortal souls.

"Many will remember the sermons preached from the text, 'Run, speak to this young man ;' also these words, 'I have a message from God unto thee;' and again, I have a great work to do, and therefore I cannot come down.' Many will also remember one lecture delivered in the lecture-room soon after a confirmation, from these words, I have no greater joy than that my children walk in the truth.' What blessed words of encouragement fell from his lips on that evening, as he sat, surrounded by so many whom he could, in the endearing relation of the Gospel, call his children, so lately entered on their way to heaven, familiarly

instructing them, cherishing them with the tenderness even of a mother, and with Christian faith and hope, pointing them to that place of meeting, where pastor and people shall part no more for ever. I can never hear the hymn

Far from my thoughts, vain world, begone,'

without recurring to the many Friday evenings when I have joined with the dear people and pastor of St. Andrew's in singing those sacred words. The trembling tones of the voice which used to raise them, are still familiar to my ear, and although it will never again break the silence of those hallowed walls, so powerful is the effect of constant association, that even now it seems as if I really heard the voice joining in our responses, or uttering its well-remembered cough. But could we indeed hear the strains which the departed now warbles in his Father's house, never again could we regret that they will no more be rendered discordant by the air of this lower world."

After the foregoing remarks, it need hardly be added, that his style of preaching rendered him always a favourite with the public, and increasingly popular to the end of his ministry. His Church was the most crowded one in the city of Philadelphia. His reputation was so extensively spread abroad, that few strangers passed the Sunday in this city without seeking an opportunity to attend upon his ministry. The Church was opened for evening worship on the first Sunday of every month. On these occasions it was the subject of regular expectation through the whole course of his ministry, that even the aisles would be crowded with persons

anxious to hear the truth from his lips. Many were sitting in the Church for an hour before the time of service, that they might secure their seats; and very often such numbers left the doors unable to effect an entrance, as to convey the idea to others, that the Church was closed.

His method of preaching was in about an equal number of instances; to write his sermons, and to preach extemporaneously from short notes. Some of his best and most effectual sermons have been of the last description, which are of course entirely beyond our reach for further benefit. Few, comparatively, of his sermons were entirely written. The latter part of the most of them was left to be supplied at the time of preaching. This fact has yet more narrowly limited our power of publication, confining us necessarily to such sermons as were fully written, which, in many instances, have been found not to be those which were the most useful or the best received at the time of their delivery. He habitually preached to his own congregation, three times in each week, besides his frequent public addresses in other relations, and the variety of religious meetings which he held with his people in his pastoral duty, which will be subsequently referred to. The following extract from the sermon at the close of his tenth year of ministry, describes a part of his course of labour in public preaching.

"We have abundant reason to say, 'Hitherto hath the Lord helped us,' when we consider the amount of labour which God in

his mercy has permitted your minister to perform. He wishes here merely to state facts, that God may have the glory. You know that for six of the ten years he has now ministered before you, his health has been greatly impaired, and yet when the facts are looked at, it will be remarked, that an extraordinary amount of duty has been performed. Including this morning, he has been able to preach in this Church exactly 700 times, which amounts to a fraction beyond six years and a half of uninterrupted preaching; 28 Sundays, or in amount, 56 sermons only has he been kept from the pulpit by actual sickness. Taking this from 1040, which is the amount of public occasions during ten years, there will be a balance of 284 times to be divided between absences for health, absences for business, either private or ecclesiastical, exchanges with other clergymen and courtesies to brethren, besides some few occasions of Episcopal services by the Bishops, and about three months in the ten years, during which, for repairs or other contingencies, the Church has been closed by the orders of the Vestry. In addition to the 700 times of public preaching, he has been enabled to hold lectures on week day evenings, and has officiated at these 296 times, besides not less than 50 lectures on week-days, and, in amount, four years of weekly Bible-class instruction. I have given this detail, my friends, simply that both you and I may feel the force of the declaration, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." "

His manner as a public speaker was entirely peculiar. Retiring, unostentatious, simple, apparently unconscious of the effect which he produced, and the popularity of his eloquence, and quite unmoved by any desire to exhibit himself. On occasions when he was to preach, or to speak, he generally sat in a retired corner until his proper time of speaking; his downcast eye, and peculiarly humble and modest