Preface

The writer trasts that in compiling the present volume he is not putting together again the pieces of an idol which God had shattered; in other words, reinstating in its lonely shrine the object of a parental affection too fond, and of a father’s hope too ambitions. Severe, yet wise and loving, has been the discipline by which God has sought to chasten and snbdne the heart’s idolatry. That heart, sincere and undivided. He will have. And worthy, most worthy, is He of affection’s deepest, supremest pulse. Were every being and every object in the universe annihilated but Jesus, He were enough to fill the soul with happiness, and etemiiy with admiration and praise.

And yet we may love the dead! “The love that survives the tomb,” remarks a distinguished American writer,* “is one of the noblest attributes

Irving.

of the soul.” Tme, it is noi an unimxd fedivjy ttjbas its dement of sadnassi its dash of wo-r-dl sigh, — ita tear. Kevoheless, when the first oep,. whehning burst of griaf ia calmed into qviot snb- ’ mission, — when the sudden shock and convulsed agony is softened into pensive meditation on all that the object we loved was in the day of its loveliness, — there is then a feeling we would not exchange for the world* s most j oyous revelry. And when we repair to the tomb to weep, there comes from it a voice sweeter than the sweetest song; and we turn from the charm of the living and find ourselves more at home in the hallowed remembrance of, and in sacred communion with, the blessed dead!

Not, then, to reinspire an undue affection, is the object of these pages, but to embalm a loved and cherished memory in a ‘Memorial,’ that shall present to those of his own age and position the moral portrait of a life which, though hidden and brief, may, in its unveiling, attract and fix a restless eye, — raising it from its contemplation of the imperfect copy to a yet higher admiration and love of the divine and peerless Original. Thus may God, in a way that transcends all human forethought, still employ His young servant in a

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ii|lanof gtrmgnifiir to thoaafor “viDhoso spipt- ‘tiftlfell Jiikig ho cnltivKtid the iileniiB of his yont * 9n4 Whom he hoped to dedicate the laijionrs and servio.of his life. ThogjIMSf not heroic deeds feelings, and not varied and stirring incident, me all tl;Lat must be expected in a lif lao shaded, stndions and transient as was his.

The writer cannot trust himself to advert to the stroke which removed from him in a moment a son so lovely, promising, and dear. Nature sank — grace upheld — or the mind that has traced these pages had been a ruin and a blank. He can testify — and it is his duty as his privilege so to do — that Jesus is all-snfficient for life’s heaviest calamity, for the heart’s deepest woe. Human sympathy, sanctified and chastened by divine grace, has been in the hour of unutterable anguish, a source of exquisite soothing. But for the tide which flowed in upon his bereaved home from well-nigh each quarter of the globe, and from all sections of Christ’s Church, he could scarcely have believed that so much real affection, and that so much tender sympathy still entwined itself around our fallen and ruined humanity. He gladly avails himself of this occasion of expressing to his beloved friends, — those whom he personally knows and those

Vlll. PREFACB.

whose faces he has not seen in the flesh — for so of the most tonching and delicate offerings condolence were anonymous — the warmest a knowledgments of his heart.* He would al& refer to the calming influence of sacred poetry on a mind whelmed with grief. To this channel of comfort he is deeply indebted. This will account for the introduction of several poetical pieces at the close of the volume — pieces kindly sent to the author in his affliction — the tranquilising effect of which was all that his sympathizing correspondents could have wished. They are inserted now not so much as specimens of the choicest poetry, as with the hope that, possibly, they may again meet the eye and soothe the heart of some disconsolate mourner. Of a beautiful poem entitled “The Wells of Baca,” by Dr. Macduff*, particular and gteM acknowledgment would be made.

It has been a painful task — yet not without its peculiar blessing — up prepare this ‘Memorial.’ Its

* The writer most be pardoned for especially referring to the timely sympathy of the Rev. 0. D. Mabstov, Minister of Christ Ohnrch, Dover; J. B. Evooksb, Esq., E.N., of the same place; and the Rev. Williaic Taxt, Minister of St. Matthew’s, Rugby, as ‘troe sons of consolation,’ to whom he will owe a deep and lasting debt of gratitude. Nor can he ever forget the affectionate sympathy of his ovm beloved congregation, and of the fbeling and attached community among whom he dwells.

imperfections are many and palpable; and the standard it has peached falls far below the original aim of the author. Indeed, such has been the excess of feeling and depth of emotion, as the hidden and spiritual life of his child gradually unfolded to his view in all its surprise and beauty, by the perusal of papers, of the existence of which he was totally ignorant, that he has found it most difficult so to calm and control the mind as properly to execute the work. May God the Holy Ghost bless the volume which, with great diffidence, is now submitted to the public, and to the Triune Jehovah will be ascribed all honour and praise!

Leakikotok,

Novemher 1857.

PKEFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION.

The Compiler of this ‘’ Memorial” cannot allow a new edition to issue from the press, without devoutly and gratefrdly acknowledging to the praise and glo ry of God alone, the divine blessing and human favour which have affixed their seal to the work. Its sphere of usefalness — as was to be expected — has been, for the most part, limited to Young Men, with whose peculiar temptations, straggles and aspirations — especially those of College life — the experience of the gifted and holy subject has most in sympathy. It was to the author a touching and expressive incident that, while the present edition was being revised for the press, he received the personal testimony of a Cleryman of the Church of England, and the Incumbent of a large parish, to the great spiritual help its perusal offered him while an Undergraduate at Cambridge. With renewed prayer for a yet larger blessing, it is again — with a slight addition of new matter — sent forth on its holy mission of love.

Brighton,
January f 1872.