to hear him for the last time, and that, too, in the place where I first listened to his "hallowed" eloquence. His text was, The rich and the poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all. The service was attended by several dignitaries of the University, by Lord Osborne, the county member, &c. The Rev. Mr. Edmonds preached in the afternoon, when Mr. Hall was present. The evening was spent together. He expressed himself much pleased with the sermon. "What a marvellous sermon Mr. Edmonds gave us this afternoon, sir; it was striking and impressive. I wish that I could preach such a sermon." I spent the Tuesday with him at the house of Mr. Fordham, at Melbourne Bury. Mr. Gurney, the barrister, was there. We met for the last time in the body. Mr. Hall closed his illustrious career at his residence in Ashley Place, Bristol, on Monday, February 21, 1831. He appeared for the last time in the pulpit at Broadmead on the 6th of the same month. The evening discourse has been considered one of his most interesting addresses. The attack, which was sudden and unexpected, took place on the following Thursday evening, while he was engaged in preparing the usual monthly discourse prior to the administration of the Lord's Supper. On the morning of the 20th, a note was received by the officiating minister, soliciting the prayers of the church and congregation for their "dying pastor;" the usual afternoon sermon was omitted, and a meeting held for the purpose of commending him to God. It presented a scene of audible weeping: the tears of his affectionate people, however, formed a happy contrast to the hallelujahs of heaven, with which he was about to be welcomed as a king and a priest unto God. After a severe struggle, borne with the most exemplary piety and Christian fortitude, his eloquent tongue having terminated its appeal to mortals, invoked the arrival of his Saviour and his God-Come, Lord Jesus, come-and was then hushed forever. His eldest daughter, whose filial piety bound her to the spot. added, “quickly.” dying man gazed upon his child; a father's affection kindled the brilliancy of his fading eye, and a smile more than mortal spoke a father's blessing. His passing spirit entered upon a purer and more congenial clime, and united in the song of the seraphim and the church of the First-born, who serve God day and night in his temple. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord: Yea, saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them. The It would be vain to attempt a lengthened notice of the character of this excellent man, since it has been undertaken by those whose talents eminently qualify them for the task. We may, however, be permitted to observe, that, while Mr. Hall obtained an almost unexampled popularity by the productions of his mighty mind, it was ardent and unaffected piety that endeared him to those who enjoyed his society and friendship. Devotedness to God was his peculiar characteristic. Now Sir John Gurney, Baron of the Court of Exchequer.-B. If ↑ Notes of this sermon will be found in this volume, from the pen of the Rev. F. Trestrail.-B. While Mr. Hall was at Leicester, he became acquainted with a plain but excellent man, a deacon of a neighbouring Baptist church. Walking with him in the fields one day, Mr. Hall asked him in the great congregation he was revered as a head among the thousands of Israel; when leading their devotions, and pleading their cause at the footstool of mercy, he was, emphatically, as a little child. Amid the socialities of the family circle, Mr. Hall was lively and interesting; adding to its pleasures by the amiability of his disposition and the inexhaustible variety of his conversation. For his views as a Dissenter, we refer the reader to the "Apology for the Freedom of the Press," and his masterly strictures on "Zeal without Innovation." As a Baptist, he united, with a peculiar regard for the distinguishing sentiments of his own denomination, a strong affection towards all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. His devotedness to the cause of liberty led him to oppose intolerance in every shape. He was not only a firm believer in the doctrines of Christianity, but the avowed champion of our most holy faith. Before his brilliant éloquence his opponents stood abashed; and with his powerful pen he furnished an antidote to the sophistry of modern infidels, which will be read with interest while truth can boast an advocate or genius an admirer. what he considered to be the most decisive evidence of personal religion. The answer I have now forgotten, but Mr. Hall replied by asking him whether he did not think that supreme delight in God was the most satisfactory evidence a inan could enjoy of his acceptance with Him. Kindling as he proceeded, he said, "Why, sir, I often altogether doubt my religion, till I turn to the fact, which I can never question, that the character of God as he has revealed himself in the Scriptures is the object of my highest admiration and love." So thought the Psalmist: Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none on the earth I desire beside thee.-B. NOTES OF SERMONS. I. THE CREATORSHIP AND DIVINITY OF JESUS CHRIST.* JOHN, i., 2, 3: The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. [Preached at Bridge-street Chapel, Bristol, Aug. 15, 1824.] THE divinity of Jesus Christ has always been considered by Christians as the chief corner-stone in the edifice of Christianity. Those who have surveyed all parts of the Christian system with the closest attention, and who have been most deeply influenced by the spirit of religion, have in every age evinced the greatest attachment to this fundamental doctrine. Nor have they regarded it as merely a sublime and abstruse speculation, but as intimately connected with Christian holiness. Were it true that it is a mere speculation, it would indeed be little worth our earnestly contending for; since the grand object of all that is revealed is unquestionably our personal and practical improvement. But it is found to have the most powerful influence on this; it involves the greatest of all motives to Christian piety and obedience; and hence it justly occupies a most important place in the Christian system: hence the beloved disciple lays the foundation of his gospel record in this article, and begins with tracing the existence of Jesus Christ to a higher state of being, exhibiting Him as incarnate Deity, as Emmanuel, God with us. "In the beginning," says he, "was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him. And the Word was made flesh.”—(John, i., 1-3, 10, 12, 14.) Of the many Scripture arguments for His divinity, one of the chief is that which arises from His creation of the universe. It is this which I propose to consider in the following discourse. I shall not attempt to show the connexion which subsists between His divinity and His creatorship, as it seems to be quite unneces sary; few will for a moment doubt that "He who created all things is GOD." It will be sufficient simply to establish the fact, that Jesus Christ is represented in Scripture as the Author of * From the Notes of Rev. T. Grinfield, M.A., late of Trinity College, Cambridge. |