sincere, and in the main, exemplary, is still mixed with so many levities, and littlenesses, and admits so many of the phrases, the habits, and the calculations of worldly men, into their language and daily deportment, that the lustre, both of the Christian and the Ambassador of Christ, cannot fail of being obscured, and even tarnished.

But we have reason to rejoice, that the piety of a goodly number is of a higher order. Their deportment in private, corresponds with their language in public. Their preaching is, in some good measure, exemplified in their lives. They recommend religion as much on the other six days of the week, as on the sabbath. Their piety is of that uniform, unaffected, impressive character, which, while it assumes nothing, is seen wherever they go; which combines evangelical seriousness with simplicity, benevolence, and cheerfulness; which exhibits as much of the meekness and humility of the Christian, as of his heavenly mindedness; and which continually shows itself to originate rather from the heart than from the office. Such a character, speaking after the manner of men, is irresistible. loved by the good, and revered by all. And while the frivolous witling, and the profane scorn

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er, may occasionally sneer at what they call its "strictness,” and its "puritanism," they find a testimony in their own consciences in its favour. They secretly honour it, as much more conformed to the spirit, and the example of Christ, than the character of the clerical bon vivant, who has no other mark of his sacred office than a black dress; and on whom, while they court his company in the hour of festivity and mirth, they bestow none of their real confidence or esteem.

This was one of the great charms of Doctor Rodgers' character. The fervour and uniform. ity of his piety seldom failed to impress all who approached him. It not only appeared conspicuous in the pulpit; dictating his choice of subjects, his mode of treating them, and his affectionate earnestness of manner; but it attended him wherever he went, and manifested itself in whatever he did. In the house of mourning it shone with distinguished lustre. Nor was this all. He probably never was known to enter a human dwelling, for the purpose of paying an ordinary visit, without saying something, before he left it, to recommend the Savionr and his service. Seldom did he sit down at the convivial table, without dropping at least a few sentences

adapted to promote the spiritual benefit of those around him. The transient visitor; the momentary interview in the street; the hasty call of business; the ride of pleasure; the inquiry respecting the health of his friends; the answer to inquiries respecting his own health; the mode of telling and of hearing news; the valedictory benediction, -could all bear witness to the habitual devotion and spirituality of his mind, and his constant desire to be active in his Master's service. In all the domestic relations of life, piety pervaded and regulated his conduct; controlling a temper naturally hasty and irascible, and prompting to the affectionate courtesies of christian benevolence. He seemed never, for a moment, to forget that he was a servant of Jesus Christ; a minister of Him who went about doing good to the souls and bodies of men; and whose meat and drink it was to do the will of his Father, and finish his work. The writer well remembers a circumstance, which, though small in itself, was considered, by an impartial observer, as not a little significant. A young clergyman, who had paid a short visit to the city, and who had enjoyed two or three pleasant interviews with Doctor Rodgers, a few years before his death, at the close of the last interview, rose and offered him his hand for the pur

pose of bidding him farewell. The Doctor took it, and squeezing it affectionately, with a very few simple words, expressive of pious hope, and tender benediction, dismissed him. The clergyman, on retiring, inquired, whether what he had just witnessed was the Doctor's common manner of taking leave of his friends? adding, that he had seldom seen any thing so much like the pious and primitive style of an apostle before. There have been better days of the church, when such things were not rare. Would to God they were less so now!

It scarcely need be added, because every one acquainted with the nature of vital piety will take for granted, that the Doctor was habitually attentive to those means which God is wont to bless for maintaining the power of religion in the soul. He had a deep impression of the efficacy of prayer; and he abounded in this duty, as well as in the other duties of the closet. Besides the stated and ordinary exercises of devotion, he set apart, in every year, a number of days of fasting and special prayer. On these occasions, as was observed in a preceding chapter, he was accustomed, as a means of more deeply impressing his own mind, to com

mit to writing some of his reflections and prayers, and afterwards to review them, as a record of his former exercises, and as a pledge of his subsequent fidelity.

II. Another quality in Doctor Rodgers, which, next to his piety, contributed to his high reputation, was his PRUDENCE. By prudence here is meant, not that spirit of cold and carnal calculation, which the world is apt to call by this respectable name, but which the apostle styles conferring with flesh and blood, and which, perhaps, can be expressed by no single word more appropriate than that of cunning. Prudence, in the scriptural sense of the term, means PRACTICAL WISDOM. The prudent man, in the estimation of Solomon, is one who looketh well to his goings; who openeth his mouth with wisdom; who foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself. The wise in heart shall be called prudent*. Without this qualification, piety, talents, learning, eloquence, may be, and have not unfrequently been found to be, worse than useless. It is so important to a good minister, that our blessed Lord made a pointed reference to it a part of the very brief

* Proverbs xiv. 15. xvi. 21. xxii. 3.