not to weep for him, and besought that, if he had ever given any good instructions, they would cherish them in their memories when he should be no more present with them. Above all things he exhorted them to fear God and keep his commandments, assuring them that if they would do this they could never be left comfortless.

He next requested that his scholars might be assembled in his chamber, and spoke to them with that affectionate interest which breathed through all his intercourse with them. He reminded them that they now enjoyed a precious opportunity of preparing to be useful in the world, and told them that learning was of great value, but that virtue was even more precious.

He then addressed a word of counsel to his servants, and afterwards sent for a few of his parishioners, amongst whom he had not yet seen the expected fruit of his labours, and upon whom he thought that the words of their dying pastor might make a solemn impression.

Ere he had finished these exhortations, his speech began to falter. The remaining hours of his life he spent in prayer and broken conversation with some chosen friends, to whom he spoke of the consolations of Christianity, and declared that they were the only sure stay and support of the soul, and that nothing else could bring a man peace at the last. On the 4th of March, 1583, he entered into his rest, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. His mortal remains were deposited amongst the ashes of those with whom he had lived and died as a messenger of the

Lord.

Mr. Gilpin was of a tall and slender figure, wore plain and simple appparel, and was temperate, and even abstemious in his diet. In his youth he appears to have given way occasionally to a passionate temper, but he soon brought it into subjection, and at length entirely corrected it.

His contemporaries gave to him two distinguished appellations, which succeeding generations have perma

DEATH AND CHARACTER.

79

The first of these is, The

nently attached to his name. Apostle of the North; and the other, The Father of the Poor ;-and, whoever may have examined with attention the preceding pages, will own that Bernard Gilpin justly merited those honourable titles.

The precious records of his life commend him to our admiration and love, as having been diligent and patient in searching for truth, as an invaluable treasure,—faithful and affectionate in discharging the duties of the pastoral care,—-zealous and laborious in executing the missionary work amongst the benighted inhabitants of an extensive district,--attached to the principles of the Church, and on that account so much the more grieved at the spots and stains which were suffered to disfigure it,-anxious to train up a learned and pious body of candidates for the sacred ministry,-affectionate in countenancing worthy brethren, and bold in rebuking the unworthy,—firm in resisting the overtures of popery, and, on the other hand, deprecating the bitter animosity of those who, as he considered, were endeavouring to cause needless divisions within the Protestant Church, and generous on so extensive a scale, that he confined his own personal wants within the smallest compass, in order to scatter happiness and comfort more widely around him. Whether assailed by dangers or temptations, he steadfastly clung to his principles, holding as sacred the dictates of an enlightened conscience, and implicitly submitting all worldly considerations to its decision. He was cheerful, obliging, candid, sincere, and pious, rigidly observant of truth, a man of deep humility, shining as a light in the world by living to his divine Master's glory. He lived to see the fruits of his labours ripening in his parish and neighbourhood, and amongst the rude people of the border; and his example is a permanent honour and blessing to the church, whose annals are adorned with no more complete pattern of christian excellence. The clergyman may learn therefrom to gird about his loins, and to devote his thoughts, his

talents, and his affections, more unreservedly to the cultivation of his allotted field of exertion, while, in common with the private christian, he finds, in every trait of Bernard Gilpin's character, something to quicken him in the pursuit of personal holiness, piety, and obedience to God, and brotherly kindness to his fellow-creatures.