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and that as in the latter case so in the former, each is richest when it possesses nothing but its own. philanthropy of Williams, however, comprehended not only all men through all time, but through eternity. This, Sir, this is the true philanthropy! It is coextensive at once, with the wants and the duration of human nature. Oh! how narrow, carnal, and creeping, is philosophical philanthropy, as compared with that of the Christian missionary! In the single person of your son in the gospel, there was more philanthropy than in all the merely philosophical societies in Europe! Besides, Sir, his philanthropy was not "in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth." Poetic tears, and the tropes of oratory, are cheaply bestowed, and of no practical value; but the philanthropy of Williams cost him in the outset much that men hold dear; and in the end, even life itself! The amount of his sacrifice, when he embarked for the South Seas, cannot be easily estimated. He began by freely giving up all the prospective gains of trade; he next became a voluntary exile from his native country, the land of his fathers' sepulchres, the glory of kingdoms; he then tore himself from the endeared society of all his kindred, with little probability of seeing them again in this world. Then he deliberately stepped beyond the pale of civilization, to mingle with savage hordes; he lastly exchanged the ten thousand earthly comforts, and all the religious. privileges of an enlightened and polished nation, for the destitute barbarity of naked men. But this, Sir, was only the beginning of sacrifice. How did the enterprise proceed? He encountered the perils of the mighty deep, and on reaching Polynesia, entered on a series of self-denying labours, unexampled in difficulties, danger,

and discouragement. Nor were his sufferings purely personal; he was not alone; there was a second self, dearer than the first, in all whose afflictions he was afflicted. Behold the devoted pair, far away upon an isle of the Southern Ocean, without father, mother, sister, or friend, to aid, or soothe, or cheer, amid all the sorrows and solicitudes of life! Nor was this all. Their means of subsistence were far less than those of a respectable English mechanic, and poverty was their constant companion. I make no reflection on the invaluable institution with which Williams was connected; the integrity of its administration, in all things, is not only above impeachment, but above praise. I merely state the fact, while I find the reason in the directors' rigid economy of the Society's funds-a point on which, indeed, they and their agents are as one, it being the policy of the former to pay, and the disposition of the latter to receive, no more than is absolutely indispensable to the lowest point of comfort. Indeed, I have had it from Mr. Williams's own lips, that his allowance was by no means sufficient for his necessities; but that, without a murmur, he drew his allotted salary, and supplied the deficiency from his own resources. Then, what was his condition, for a season, in relation to the savage society around him? His labours were unsolicited; his presence was unwelcome; his endeavours at good were thankless; he was hourly liable to be expelled, and in daily peril of his life! But the thoughts of man cannot be confined to the present moment; he must be looking forward and endeavouring to pierce into the dread future! As a man, a father, and a husband, what did that future present to John Williams? Things of fearful import; things full of

trial to the tender heart! He might at any hour, in those remote and barbarous isles, leave his wife a widow, and his children orphans, without stay or hope but in their father's God! He might any year be constrained to return to his native land, broken in health, and useless for action, to pine and die, despised by the world, and by the church neglected and forgotten. These, and such as these, were among his prospects! This was part of the price he paid for the exercise of his philanthropy! Who, Sir, who can estimate the claims and merits of such a man? Oh! how few think, as they ought to think, of the position of the Christian missionary! Consider it, ye idle wellwishers to your race! Is it not time for you to do justice to the most useful, honourable, and meritorious class of mankind? As the friends of Williams, we may say in relation to him, with better reason than the poet:

"Jamque opus exegi, quod nec Jovis ira, nec ignis,
Nec poterit ferrum, nec edax abolere vetustas."

Scriptural piety was a chief feature in the character and the main source of the philanthropy of Mr. Williams. The aspect of a man's religion will always be determined by his intellectual and moral constitution. This was peculiarly exemplified in the case of your spiritual son. His religion was simple, healthful, robust, and manly. His views of the gospel were highly scriptural. Of the theology of the schools he knew but little; he took his creed from the Volume of Inspiration. He was no wrangler; yet he was a workman that needed not to be ashamed, for he rightly divided the word of truth. He was such a teacher as Paul or

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Timothy would, without a moment's hesitation, have ordained to the work of the ministry. Although not mighty in the Scriptures," he was well acquainted with the word of God. Upon what is technically termed experience," he was a safe guide and a fine model. Much that is in great repute, in some religious circles, had no place in his instructions; he had not within him one particle of what is called religious enthusiasm. In respect of his views and sentiments, all was pure, clear, and scriptural. He had no sympathy with the system of impulses and impressions, and vagaries of the fancy. Experience with him was not an end, but a means. He viewed it simply as the fruit of faith in a soul renewed and inhabited by the Spirit of God, and holding a middle place between the belief of the gospel and the obedience of the laws of Christ— as the effect of that belief and the source of this obedience. He considered this experience the end and object of all doctrinal knowledge and of all spiritual influence. He had large and luminous conceptions of the design of the Gospel; he by no means considered it merely as a scheme of comfort, nor even merely as a medium of pardon. This is the error of multitudes. He taught that, while it was the more limited province of the Gospel to heal the broken-hearted, and to comfort all that mourn, it was its more extended province to "sanctify the unclean," to purify men "from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit," and lead them to "perfect holiness in the fear of God." He well knew that seasons of peculiar sorrow are only occasional, but that seasons of temptation are perpetual; and he conducted his ministrations accordingly. Every exhibition of truth had a practical bearing; the uniform

tendency of his ministration of the gospel of mercy was, to elevate the soul, to form the character, to meeten men "to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." His views of the Divine character were remarkably clear, and, therefore, in the highest degree consolatory. He was himself a happy man, a cheerful Christian! They who saw him but for a few minutes would have pronounced him a man of a joyous spirit. He seemed to walk in the beams of a perpetual sunshine. In this respect, perhaps, no man ever formed a more striking contrast to David Brainerd. The dismal gloom, the deep depression, the lonely sorrow, of that holy but melancholy man, sadly contrasted with the peace, the comfort, the hope, and the gladness of the Martyr of Erromanga! Truly, "the joy of the Lord was his strength." A man of melancholy temperament, a man with dark and doleful views of the gospel of mercy, is not a proper person to be sent to the field of missions. Clear ideas of the Saviour's person, work, and offices, and of the whole scheme of salvation, with an accurate impress of it upon the heart, and a lovely exhibition of it in the life, are essential qualifications of a good missionary; and such were those which distinguished the late Mr. Williams.

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Inspicere tanquam in speculum in vitas omnium

Jubeo atque ex aliis sumere exemplum sibi."

Liberality of spirit, my dear Sir, was another very marked feature of your son's character. This resulted from his benevolence and his piety: the former of these knew no bounds; and the latter was such as to bid God-speed to all who loved the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. He was the friend of all who were the