he thus carefully wrought a channel for his thoughts, leaving room for such enlargements, especially at the close, as the fresh and holy promptings of his heart might dictate.

"The sermon in the study was completely formed-correctly arranged-and well connected-but to the lifeless. form, delineated on his paper, and impressed upon his memory, in the pulpit he imparted a living soul; a principle of ardent piety, which operated as a charm, the power of which few were able to resist."

But while this was his usual custom, yet we are told that "when extraordinary circumstances conspired to render a departure from it necessary, he could with the greatest propriety and ease, delight and interest an audience. from the rich treasures of his exalted mind. One instance of his powers, in extemporary and unpremeditated address, is related of him in Liverpool. Some important affair of a public nature engaged the general attention of the religious world, on a Sabbath evening, when as usual he had to preach; and, anticipating a thin attendance, he had prepared a sermon adapted to the supposed state of his auditory-but, when he reached the chapel, and saw it filled with anxious crowds, waiting to receive from his lips the words of life-his ardent mind seemed instantly inspired -he immediately fixed upon a passage more adapted to the scene, and with his pencil sketched the outline of a discourse, which, perhaps, in the whole series of his ministry, he never excelled."

The general cast of his preaching, perhaps, may be inferred from the texts noted in the following pages. His great absorbing aim seems to have been to win souls to Christ, and to accomplish this, he faithfully exhibited on one hand, the hopeless condition of men by nature, and on

the other, the freeness and infinite value of that Salvation revealed to us in the gospel.

After a lucid exposition of his text, which was invariably marked by great simplicity, his whole soul would pour itself forth in a most impressive and impassioned application. "Here," says his biographer, "he wrestled with the people, with a fervor resembling that with which, in prayer, he wrestled with his God. He seemed to exhaust every argument which might be brought to bear upon his great object, and to these he often added appeals and entreaties, the most tender and affecting. Then he seemed to lose sight of every consideration, but his own responsibility, and his people's good-and as though the congregation before him were the only people remaining to be saved, and as though every time of preaching was the only opportunity afforded him of using the means of their salvation, he besought them as an ambassador for Christ, to be reconciled to God."

This intense earnestness, indeed, was with SPENCER, a prominent peculiarity. Hence, says the Rev. Mr. Styles, than whom no man, perhaps, was better able to form and express an opinion of his worth: "If I were to sum up Mr. Spencer's character in one word, comprehending in it only what is excellent and ennobling to human nature, I should say it was ANIMATION. His intellect was feeling, and his feeling was intellect. His thoughts breathed, and his words glowed. He said nothing tamely, he did nothing with half a heart."

But if this was a general trait in his character, it certainly appeared strikingly preeminent in his ministrations from the pulpit. Nor was h animation here to be regarded simply as a constitutional peculiarity. Active and

ardent, he doubtless was in his natural temperament, but the source of his energy and the great impulsive power of his being was piety. With the Apostle, he acted under the influence of constraining love. This glowed in his heart-animated his countenance, sustained him in his labors, and gave him such power over the minds of his fellows. And the flame of this piety, let it be remarked, was not only kindled, but constantly supplied at the altar. It was invariably from communion with God in the closet, that he passed to what he described as that awful place-a pulpit." And those who heard him could never forget the devotional simplicity and fervor of soul which he manifested, when proclaiming the glories of the Redeemer; or when pronouncing that adorable name to which "every knee shall bow."

He was indeed-" A BURNING AND A SHINING LIGHT," and many there were who "for a season," rejoiced in his light. But suddenly he finished his course-his sun went down while it was yet noon, and, now, while we delight to cherish his memory on earth, he sweetly rests from his labors in heaven.

"O there was ONE, on earth awhile

He dwelt; but transient as a smile

That turns into a tear;

His beauteous image passed us by;
He came like lightning from the sky,
He seem'd as dazzling to the eye,
As prompt to disappear.

Sweet in his undissembling mien
Were genius, candor, meekness seen,
The lips that lov'd the truth;
The single ey, whose glance sublime
Look'd to eternity through time;

The soul, whose thoughts were wont to climb

Above the hopes of youth.

Of old, before the lamp grew dark,
Reposing near the sacred Ark,

The child of Hannah's pray'r

Heard, midst the temple's silent round,
A living voice; nor knew the sound
That thrice alarm'd him ere he found
The Lord, who chose him, there.

Thus early call'd and strongly mov'd
A prophet from a child approv'd,

SPENCER his course began;

From strength to strength, from grace to grace,
Swiftest and foremost in the race,

He carried vict'ry in his face,

He triumph'd while he ran.

How short his day!--the glorious prize,

To our slow hearts and failing eyes,

Appear'd too quickly won:

The warrior rush'd into the field,

With arm invincible to wield

The spirit's sword, the spirit's shield,
When lo! the fight was done.

The loveliest star of evening's train
Sets early in the western main,

And leaves the world in night;
The brightest star of morning's host,
Scarce ris'n, in brighter beams is lost.
Thus sunk his form on ocean's coast,

Thus sprang his soul to light.

*

Revolving his mysterious lot,

I mourn him, but I praise him not;

To God the praise be giv'n,
Who sent him--like the radiant bow,
His covenant of peace to show,

Athwart the passing storm to glow,

Then vanish into heav'n." MONTGOMERY.

HOBOKEN, May, 1855.

A. S. P.

MEMOIR

OF

REV. THOMAS SPENCER.