wave scarcely curling to the evening zephyr of an unclouded summer sky, and gently rippling to the shore. It was a "DEPARTURE" - "SLEEP"-" the earthly house of this tabernacle was dissoLVED!" 2 Cor. v. 1.

cepting that of Paris, in which one professor has so many scholars." To the third question, Sabinus replied, "that Melancthon's works were a sufficient proof of his belief in both those articles." The cardinal said, "I should think him a wiser man if he did not believe them."

Surely then, "such a pious and tranquil removal from a toilsome and afflictive life, ought to be a subject of joy, rather than of lamentation, and each of us should entreat God, that in the possession of a similar peace of conscience, firm faith, acknowledgment of the truth and ardent devotion of mind, he would conduct us from our present imprison-lumniators, and expressed his abhorrence at such

ment to his eternal presence."

When in consequence of the tyranny of queen Mary, thousands of Puritans fled from England into Germany, Switzerland, and France, the Lutherans reproached them as the Devil's Martyrs. Melancthon contended strenuously against these calanguage being applied to a class of men like Latimer and others with whom he was well acquainted.

It is painful to reflect that an event which usually checks the hostile feelings of the most determined enemies, did not, however, suodue the animosity of those of Melancthon. A persecuting demon seemed to have taken an entire possession of them, for even after his decease, they shot the envenomed arrows of malignity at his character, and borrowed the vociferous tongue of calumny to blast his fame: but in vain to him he had reached that peaceful asylum so long anticipated, where "the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest!" From a considerable collection of Greek and La

Information of this event was immediately transmitted to the Elector, and means were adopted to bury him with suitable circumstances of respect. To gratify the anxious crowds who were desirous of seeing the body of this venerable person, the public were permitted for a day and a half after his decease to inspect his mortal remains; and of the hundreds who availed themselves of the opportunity, none could resist bestowing an abundant tribute of tears upon his beloved memory. Strangers who had never seen him while living, pressed to take a view of the yet undeparted symmetry of his amiable countenance, and all who came, were desirous of obtaining a pen, a piec a piece of paper, how-tin eulogies and epitaphs, with which he used to pre

ever small, on which he had written, or in short any thing he had used, however insignificant in itself, which was scattered on the floor of the library. His remains were placed in a leaden coffin, and deposited close to the body of Martin Luther"lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death, they were not divided." A long Latin inscription was written on the coffin, containing a chronological notice of the principal circumstances of his life. Some of the professors in the university attended in funeral robes to convey the body to the parochial church, where it was placed before the altar, and after the usual ceremonies and psalms, Paul Eberus, pastor of the church at Wittemberg, delivered a funeral discourse; after which, the body being removed into the centre of the church, Doctor Vitus Winshemius pronounced an oration in Latin. The crowd of students, citizens, strangers, and persons of every class, attracted together to witness these solemnities, was never exceeded on any occasion within the memory of the spectators. Among the rest, were several of the professors from the university of Leipsic, and many of the nobility, pastors of churches, and others, from a large vicinity.

Here our labors are closed. The reader will accept of this volume as a faithful portrait of Melancthon's character; but before it is parted with, it is due to the distinguished individual whose likeness we have endeavored to impress upon these pages, to relate two circumstances as a finish to the picture: the one is illustrative of his fame, the other of his piety.

When Sabinus, his son-in-law, visited Italy, he carried a letter of introduction from Melancthon to the celebrated Cardinal Bembo; the consequence of which was an invitation to dinner. Among a variety of questions, the three following are particularly mentioned. The cardinal inquired "what was Melancthon's salary-what the number of his hearers-and what his opinion respecting the resurrection and a future state?"-To the first question, Sabinus replied, that "his salary was about three hundred florins," upon which, the cardinal exclaimed, "Ungrateful Germany! to estimate at no higher a price so many and such labors of so great a man!" His reply to the second question was, "that he had usually fifteen hundred hearers." To this the cardinal answered, "I cannot believe it, bec.use I do not know a university in Europe, ex

dict that the poets would honor his memory, the
following, by Theodore Beza, is selected as a suffi-
cient and very beautiful specimen:-

Et tu igitur tandem tumuli sub mole repostus
Die o Philippe, nunc jaces.
Et quam invidisti vivus tibi tute quietem,
Cunctis qietem dum paras,

Ipsa tibi cura et sancti peperere labores,
Carum o bonis cunctis caput!
At tu funde rosas, funde isti lilia tellus,
Ut lilia inter et rosas,

Quo nil candidius fuit et nil suavius unquam,
Recubet Melancthon molliter.

Et gravic huic ut sis, caveas juvenisve senexve,
Qui nemini vixit gravis.

Here then, MELANCTHON, lies thy honor'd head
Low in the grave amongst the mould'ring dead'
In life, 'twas thine to make all others blest,
But to thyself denying peace and rest;
Thine was the holy toil, the anxious tear,
Dear Philip-to the good for ever dear!-
O earth! let lilies here profusely spring,
And roses all around their odours fling
For rose and lily each their glories bend,
The sweet, the fair, in our departed friend!
Soft let him sleep and none disturb his rest,
None he disturb'd while living-none opprest

ODE TO PHILIP MELANCTHON
Oh! who would envy those who die
Victims on ambition's shrine!
Though idiot man may rank them high,
And to the slain in victory,

Pay honors half divine;
To feel this heaving fluttering breath,
Still'd by the lightest touch of death,
The happier lot be mine!
I would not, that the murdering brand,
Were the last weapon in my hand.
He, of whom these pages tell,
He, a soldier too of truth,
He, a hero from his youth;
How delightfully he fell!
Not in the crash, and din, and flood,
Of execrations, groans, and blood,
Rivetting fetters on the good!-

But happily and well.

+

ΜΕΜΟΙRS

OF THE LATE

REV.SAMUEL PEARCE, А.М.

WITH

EXTRACTS FROM SOME OF HIS

MOST INTERESTING LETTERS.

BY ANDREW FULLER D. D.

Oh Jonathan, thou wast slain upon thy high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother
Jonathan !.......... DAVID.

NEW-YORK:

THOMAS GEORGE, JR. 162 NASSAU STREET.

INTRODUCTION.

It was observed by this excellent man, during his | mostly upon the spur of occasion; and related prin last affliction, that he never till then gained any per- cipally to business, or to things which would be sonal instruction from our Lord's telling Peter by less interesting to Christians in general. It is true, what death he should glorify God. To die by a even in them it was his manner to drop a few senconsumption, had used to be an object of dread to timents, towards the close, of an experimental kind; him. But, "Oh my Lord, (said he,) if by this and many of these hints will be interspersed in this death I can most GLORIFY THEE, I prefer it to all brief account of him. But it was during his afflicothers." The lingering death of the cross, by which tion, when, being laid aside nearly a year, and our Saviour himself expired, afforded him an oppor- obliged to desist from all public concerns, that he tunity of uttering some of the most affecting sen- gave scope to the feelings of his heart. Here, tences which are left on sacred record. And to the standing as on an eminence, he reviewed his life, lingering death of this his honored servant, we are re-examined the ground of his hope, and anticiindebted for a considerable part of the materials pated the crown which awaited him, with a joy which appear in these Memoirs. Had he been truly unspeakable and full of glory. taken away suddenly, there had been no opportunity for him to have expressed his sentiments and feelings in the manner he has now done in letters to his friends. While in health, his hands were full of labor, and consequently his letters were written

Like Elijah, he has left the chariot of Israel, and ascended as in a chariot of fire; but not without having first communicated of his eminently Christian spirit. Oh that a double portion of it may rest upon us!

MR. SAMUEL PEARCE was born at Plymouth, on July 20th, 1766. His father, who survives him, is a respectable silversmith, and has been many years a deacon of the Baptist church in that place.

When a child, he lived with his grandfather, who was very fond of him, and endeavored to impress his mind with the principles of religion. At about eight or nine years of age, he came home to his father with a view of learning his business. As he advanced in life, his evil propensities, as he has said, began to ripen; and forming connections with several vicious school-fellows, he became more and more corrupted. So greatly was his heart, at this time, set in him to do evil, that had it not been for the restraining goodness of God, which somehow, he knew not how, preserved him in most instances from carrying his wicked inclinations into practice, he supposed he should have been utterly ruined.

At times he was under strong convictions, which rendered him miserable; but at other times they subsided; and then he would return with eagerness to his sinful pursuits. When about fifteen years old, he was sent by his father to inquire after the welfare of a person in the neighborhood, in dying circumstances, who (though before his departure he was in a happy state of mind, yet) at that time, was sinking into deep despair. While in the room of the dying man, he heard him cry out with inexpressible agony of spirit, "I am damned for ever!" These awful words pierced his soul; and he felt a resolution at the time to serve the Lord: but the impression soon wore off, and he again returned to folly.

When about sixteen years of age, it pleased God effectually to turn him to himself. A sermon delivered by Mr. Birt, who was then co-pastor with Mr. Gibbs, of the Baptist church at Plymouth, was the first mean of impressing his heart with a sense of his lost condition, and of directing him to the gospel remedy. The change in him appears to have been sudden, but effectual; and the recollection of his former vicious propensities, though a source of bitterness, yet furnished a strong evidence of its being the work of God. "I believe," he says, "few conversions were more joyful. The change produced in my views, feelings, and conduct, was so evident to myself, that I could no more doubt of its being from God, than of my existence. I had the witness in myself, and was filled with peace and joy unspeakable."

threw it from him to be scattered by the wind. He did not, however, consider his obligation to be the Lord's, hereby nullified; but feeling more susdepended upon the blood of

picion
picion of himself, he
the cross.

After this, he was baptized, and became a member of the Baptist church at Plymouth, the ministers and members of which, in a few years, perceived in him talents for public work. Being soli cited by both his pastors, he exercised as a proba tioner; and receiving a unanimous call from the church, entered on the work of the ministry in November, 1786. Soon after this, he went to the academy at Bristol, then under the superintendence of Dr. Caleb Evans.

Mr. Birt, now pastor of the Baptist church in the square, Plymouth Dock, in a letter to the compiler of these memoirs, thus speaks of him:-"Though he was, so far as I know, the very first fruits of my ministry, on my coming hither, and though our friendship and affection for each other were great and constant, yet previous to his going to Bristol, I had but few opportunities of conversing with him, or of making particular observations on him. All who best knew him, however, will remember, and must tenderly speak of his loving deportment; and those who attended the conferences with him, soon received the most impressive intimations of his future eminence as a minister of our Lord Jesus Christ."

"Very few," adds Mr. Birt, "have entered upon, and gone through their religious profession with more exalted piety, or warmer zeal, than Samuel Pearce; and as few have exceeded him in the possession and display of that charity which 'suffereth long, and is kind, that envieth not, that vaunteth not itself, and is not puffed up, that doth not behave itselt unseemly, that seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, that beareth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things. But why should I say this to you? You knew him yourself."

While at the academy, he was much distinguished by the amiableness of his spirit and behavior. It is sometimes observable that where the talents of a young man are admired by his friends, and his early efforts flattered by crowded auditories, effects have been produced which have proved fatal to his future respectability and usefulness. But this was not the case with Mr. Pearce. Amidst the tide of popularity, which even at that early period attended his ministerial exercises, his tutors have more than once remarked that he never appeared to them to His feelings being naturally strong, and receiving be in the least elated, or to have neglected his proa new direction, he entered into religion with all per studies; but was uniformly the serious, indushis heart; but not having known the devices of trious, docile, modest, and unassuming young man. Satan, his soul was entangled by its own ardor, and Towards the latter end of 1789, he came to the he was thrown into great perplexity. Having read church in Cannon street, Birmingham, to whom he Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion in the was recommended by Mr. Hall, now of Cambridge, Soul, he determined formally to dedicate himself at that time one of his tutors. After preaching to to the Lord, in a manner recommended in the se- them awhile on approbation, he was chosen to be venteenth chapter of that work. The form of a their pastor. His ordination was in August, 1790. covenant, as there drawn up, he also adopted as his Dr. Evans gave the charge, and the late Mr. Robert own; and that he might bind himself in the most Hall, of Arnsby, delivered an address to the church solemn and affecting manner, signed it with his on the occasion. In the year 1791, he married Miss blood. But afterwards failing in his engagements, Sarah Hopkins, daughter of Mr. Joshua Hopkins, he was plunged into dreadful perplexity, and al- of Alcester: a connection which appears to have most into despair. On a review of his covenant, he been all along a source of great enjoyment to him. scems to have accused himself of a pharisaical re- The following lines addressed to Mrs. Pearce, when liance upon the strength of his own resolutions; he was on a journey, a little more than a year after and therefore, taking the paper to the top of his their marriage, seem to be no more than a common father's house, he tore it into small pieces, and | letter; yet they show, not only the tenderness of his