every day witnesses an increasing demand for their biographies and works.

Nor is it a little remarkable, that, while some years have elapsed since the death of one of these, the sensation excited by his extraordinary labors, and the circumstances attending his sudden removal have not subsided nor abated much of their force. We are led, therefore, to conclude, that, "The unequalled admiration he excited while living, and the deep and universal concern expressed at his death, demonstrate him to have been no ordinary character; but one of those rare specimens of human nature, which the great Author of it produces at distant intervals, and exhibits for a moment, while He is hastening to make them up amongst his jewels.

The REV. THOMAS SPENCER was in every respect a wonderful youth, and the deep interest felt in his history, and the general astonishment awakened by his distinguished abilities, are fully justified by the most judicious estimates that can be formed of his character as a christian, and his gifts as a preacher.

Before noticing these, however, it may not be amiss just to allude to a few of the points which mark the progress of his brief career. He was born, we are informed, at Hertford, January 21, 1791. In his twelfth year he considered himself to have become the subject of serious impressions, and "to have felt something experimentally of the power of religion." In his fifteenth year he was placed under the care of the Rev. Wm. Hordle, of Harwich, to enter on his preparatory studies. In January, 1807, he was admitted into Hoxton College. During the vacation in the following midsummer, he preached his first sermon in public, at Collier's End, a small village near Hertford.

Three years subsequent to this, he spent a vacation in supplying the congregation worshipping at Newington Chapel, Liverpool. His sermons excited very marked attention, and he was invited to the pastoral office. Accepting of this invitation, he entered upon his stated engagements on the third Sabbath of February, 1811, having just attained his twentieth year. His preaching attracted at once, such overflowing congregations, that in a few weeks it was found absolutely necessary to erect a much larger house, of which he laid the corner stone on the 15th of April, 1811. But it pleased Him whose designs are inscrutable to man, though always wise and good in themselves, to cut short the days of this most promising and devoted young minister. On Monday morning, August the 5th, he resolved to bathe in the river Mersey, thinking it might brace his nerves after the exertions of the preceding Sabbath, and prepare him for the duties to which he intended to devote the day. He had folded his paper and prepared his pen, in order to compose a sermon to be preached in the ensuing week, on behalf of the Religious Tract Society, of whose anniversary meeting he had just received a particular account, with copies of the addresses then delivered. Mr. Spencer left his paper and pen prepared for this purpose, and proceeded to the river, but soon after he had entered it, he was borne out by the current, sunk in the deep water, and was drowned. Thus suddenly was he called from his early labors on earth, to an eternal reward in heaven.

It is not pretended, of course, that the character of Mr. Spencer at that early age, had attained its maturity, and yet it must be admitted that in all its prominent features, there was evinced a development rarely witnessed in

one so young. Experience would doubtless have done much toward confirming or chastening some of its peculiarities, and the varied circumstances of a longer life would have afforded ampler opportunities for testing its qualities and proving its strength-still, that character had already arrived at such a stage of progress, as to leave us in no difficulty in estimating its virtues as it was, or in conjecturing what it might have become with the discipline and habits of years.

As a man, he was generous, frank, independent, and sincere; and these noble qualities, having been brought under the influence and direction of a heart deeply imbued with the spirit of Christ, served to make him one of the most lovely and devoted Christians that the world has ever beheld. "With him," writes the distinguished author of his Memoir, "religion was no matter of mere profession and convenience; nor did it lose its impression by the frequent recurrence of its subjects and duties-he seemed to live under its abiding influence-it was wrought into the constitution of his nature-its principles were the springsits precepts the rule-its objects the end of all his actions. To this he ever had respect; what opposed it he heartily abhorred what clashed with it he cheerfully resignedwhat injured it he conscientiously avoided. His love to God was ardent. In this I think he much resembled Mr. Pearce, of Birmingham; and, indeed, often, when contemplating the-life of Spencer, my thoughts have involuntarily recurred to certain traits of character preserved in the memoirs of that glorified saint. His love to God shed a glorious lustre on his whole character and conduct; everything that came within the sphere of his influence or operation, was irradiated by it. But chiefly would I confine

myself now to the influence of this noble principle upon himself. It inspired him with a love of piety: as a Christian he was eminent for holiness He contemplated the character of God, and was attracted to it by its purity." "I shall not," says one of his friends, "easily forget the delight which sparkled in his eye, when conversing upon the divine attribute, holiness. How sweet,' said he, 'is that word holy!-holy Father-holy Saviour-holy Spirit -holy Scriptures. Surely, if there is one word dearer to me than another, it is the word holy.'" During his resi dence at Hoxton, the same individual observed to a friend in the institution, whose attention he wished to direct to the character of Spencer. "Perhaps, you perceive youthful levity in him?" "No," he replied, "I have remarked him particularly, but it was for his spirituality."

Equally impressive was his humility. Never, perhaps, did one so young enjoy such friendships, or occupy such a space in the public eye. Admired, and ardently loved by all who knew him, he was, at the same time, the subject of a wide and unexampled popularity; and yet, he ever exhibited "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit," walking in all lowliness, and in his conversation and conduct, evincing the most attractive modesty. So prominent a feature was this in his character that his ministry, no doubt, derived from it no small measure of its success. This it was that gave him such favor in the eyes of men, and this it was that led him, distrusting himself, to look to God for those abundant supplies of grace, which, while they beautified his life, gave peculiar effect and power to his preaching.

But, striking as were SPENCER's qualities as a Christian, that which constituted the chief ground of his popularity, was his distinguished ability as a preacher. His appearance

in the pulpit was both interesting and commanding. His countenance had the fine bloom of youth. His action was graceful and appropriate, and with a beautifully distinct and clear voice, he stood before his crowded congregations, the very embodiment of manly dignity, displaying with spontaneous ease, all the characteristics of genuine eloquence. The justness of this representation is fully sustained in the high opinion expressed of his abilities, by that distinguished pulpit orator of England, Robert Hall: "I entertain no doubt," said he, " that his talents in the pulpit were unrivalled, and that had his life been spared, he would, in all probability, have carried the art of preaching, if it may be so styled, to a greater perfection than it ever attained, at least, in this kingdom. His eloquence appears to have been of the purest stamp, effective, not ostentatious, consisting less in the striking preponderance of any one quality, requisite to form a public speaker, than in an exquisite combination of them all; whence resulted an extraordinary power of impression, which was greatly aided by a natural and majestic elocution."

The matter of his discourses was always carefully arranged and eminently evangelical, while his manner is represented as having been peculiarly animated and solemn. With all the serious drafts upon his time, by the public engagements he performed, he made it a point to give himself to a diligent and thorough preparation of the important subjects intended for the pulpit. Most of his sermons, indeed, were written throughout, except the heads of application; here he usually trusted to the ardor of his mind, quickened by the train of remarks which he had pursued, and guided by a holy influence. Not that he slavishly committed his compositions to memory, and delivered them by rote, but