sorrow.

He was by turns constructing and Many were the

That mind was ever thinking that hand was ever at work. This activity was not produced or sustained by any artificial stimulant, but was entirely healthy-in harmony with nature; one with the fields, the open sunlight, and free air. Good things were ever dropping from him—a gentle movement of the breeze, or a slight soliciting shake, and down comes the mellow fruit. He was not one of those sickly souls, who undervalue the present life, and who, weary of its strife and duties, squander it away in morbid aspirations after a premature removal to a world free from labour and He knew the value of the present, and shrank not from "the burden and heat of the day." the student and the man of action-ever designing, "like a wise master builder." plans framed with wonderful skill in the secret silence of his thought, which were afterwards brought forth into successful reality, for the good of men. Lethargy, dulness, were to him words without meaning. He dreaded nothing so much for himself as vacancy; he disliked nothing more in others. He was perpetually rousing himself and his company by saying or doing. The giant was ever in motion. Now strong strokes fell in serious earnestness and quick succession, as from the hammer of the Titan; then, in milder mood, Leviathan was sporting among the waves. He was a manysided man, not a mere minister or teacher, but something of the farmer, more of the soldier; something of the philosopher, and a great deal of the man of the world. At times, when observing these manifestations, you felt inclined to believe, that had circumstances made him a monarch of France under the old régime, he would quite naturally have assumed the style and pomp of Louis Quatorze; at others, you almost imagined him Bonaparte; and at others, whom but Epictetus? The multitude and variety of the objects of his mental vision were astonishing, He seemed to have something of every country, of every age, of every remarkable person, and almost of every subject of interest. There were facts, anecdotes, illustrations, apothegms, always ready. His mind was a rich picture gallery, hung with

historical and comic pieces, and portraits; or a large kaleidoscope, ever surprising and charming with something new and beautiful. Tired of one class of subjects, he would turn instantly to another. From important questions of national welfare, or church polity, or religious doctrine, he would turn to descant on a method of agriculture, or admire the proportions of an animal. Though possest of this extensive general information, he was not, in the usual sense, an educated man. Yet, he had a wonderful tact of concealing his deficiencies in this respect. He seemed almost destitute of poetic sympathy with nature. Anything that was alive he loved, but had little, if any, taste for scenery.

He possessed great influence over others. Royalty was assumed by him as a native right, not liable to discussion. You were overpowered by a kind of fascination, and for the moment, were almost obliged to think and feel-say, and do what he would have you. With an intuitive glance, he performed the spiritual diagnosis, discerned every man's intellectual and moral stature and worth, found a place for him, and assigned him his work. This sway was much aided by advantages of person. The figure was extremely dignified, and the face noble.

We need hardly say, that he possessed very marked individuality. This appeared in his modes of thought and speech, in his dress, his domestic habits, and his methods of work. With regard to the last, the characteristic was staying at home. Not that he was without sympathy or help for the great modern public movements of philanthropy and evangelization which are centralized in the metropolis; but these were never allowed to divert his attention, even for a moment, from Christchurch-his proper sphere. On this, all his efforts were concentrated. His theory was, that the influence and usefulness of a minister were proportioned to the degree in which his energies were put forth at home. And certainly, the result did credit to the theory. Were this example generally followed, what a quiet but sure and mighty change for the better would soon come over the face of religion! He hated

ostentation, and was averse even from making public the religious statistics of his neighbourhood. When at any time a violent effort of opposition was put forth by adversaries, his advice to his friends was characteristic: "Leave them alone-take no notice-work on quietly-they will soon be tired." His convictions of the general injustice and the injury to religion itself, involved in the union of Church and State, were most decided and strongly exprest; and perhaps, no man in his own neighbourhood ever did more for the cause of enlightened nonconformity. Yet, he was a strenuous advocate for an order of ministers, and would have even its ceremonial dignities preserved by the inviolable sacredness of the pulpit for the regularly trained and "ordained," by gowns, the title, Reverend, &c.

Mr. Gunn's theology, when it showed, was, to speak the truth, of an old scholastic type, and that not the highest. But it seldom did appear. It was not, indeed, to be altogether discarded, but respected for "auld lang syne," and occasionally drawn forth to receive a formal respect. But this was, evidently, no part of his life: he was too genial, too true, and we may add, too scriptural. He was a man of faith; he believed in God; he believed in the soul of man; he believed in himself. He had a calm possession of the truth of Christ. He well understood the relation of "the things which are seen and temporal," to "the things which are unseen and eternal." His pulpit topics were not usually theological, but chiefly characterized by scripture exposition -by practical religion, and by what may be called, churchmember morality. His pulpit style was remarkable for the total absence of cant, which he abhorred, and of that canting tone, by some, mis-named unction.

Possest of considerable property, he never made this an end, but used it as one, and that not the chief means to his high end. In society, Mr. Gunn was geniality itself. He was the life of every company; he was full of humour, and extremely apt at repartee.

After what is said above about Sunday Schools, it is hardly necessary to add, that Mr. Gunn possessed great love for

children and young people. These were the favourite, the darling field in which his activity and his power over other minds were exercised, and the notable means by which a very large proportion of his success was achieved. He was their more than father-his influence over them was complete. What a sight, when he was with a child! He looks on it with admiration. It is to him, a being which has not yet been spoilt by worldly influences-which is yet capable of training for noble things. The old, he regards as but too confirmed and unalterable; but children are instruments, whereby he lays hold of the future, and moulds it to his purpose. And how looks the child at him? Mark the trustfulness, the love and reverence, little short of worship, shown in that face.

To conclude this imperfect sketch of an extraordinary man, whose due it is to be made better known to the churches for their benefit, we quote Dr. Bennett's expressive and appropriate words in the Funeral Sermon:-" The jewel of Christchurch is gone." He lived long and well, and his life will yet have great results. His name will not soon die. While the religious body which he adorned exists in this country-while children are taught religion in Sunday Schools -while the town, the favoured scene of his labours, remains, so long will his name be associated with it in the minds of lovers of truth, religion, and men. When much, which now fills a greater space and makes a greater worldly figure, shall have been long forgotten, we may safely prophesy of the deep reverence with which posterity will pronounce the name of Gunn. But the results of his earthly life and activity will overstep the limits of time, and be nnconsumed by the burning of the world. In eternity itself, heaven will be more glorious that there was once such a man on earth, and that his life was so spent.

W. C., M.A.

"ALL operation of God is really one, and the yearly awakening of nature in the spring is quite as immediate an operation of God as the first awakening of nature on the morning of creation."-Bretschneider.

"Two things fill the mind with ever new and growing admiration and awe, the oftener and more continuously thought is employed therewith -the starred heaven over me and the moral law within me. Neither of these dare I seek, or merely imagine as veiled in darkness, or as in the expanse beyond my sphere of vision: I see them before me, and connect them immediately with the consciousness of my existence. The former begins with the spot which I occupy in the outer world of sense, and widens the connexion in which I stand to unappreciable extent, with worlds on worlds and systems of systems, moreover to the boundless times of their periodic movement—its beginning and duration. The second begins with my invisible self, my personality, and exhibits me in a world which has true infinity, and with which, I know myself to be, in universal and necessary connexion."-Kant.

"Nature is an enemy to everlasting possessions. She demolishes after fixed laws, all signs of property, extirpates all tokens of formation. The earth belongs to all generations; each of them has a title to all. The earlier may not thank this chance of promigeniture for preference: The right of property goes out at determined times. Amelioration and deterioration stand under unalterable conditions. But if the body is a property, whereby I gain the rights of an active citizen of the earth, yet by the loss of this property I cannot suffer the loss of myself. I lose nothing but the place in this college of princes, and enter into a higher corporation, wither my beloved colleagues follow me."-Novalis.

"Truth is the law of knowledge. Knowledge is the first groundwork of the spiritual life of man. The idea of truth demands, that man gain inner clearness of thought, procure himself insight; and to this cultivation of insight and to every kind of knowledge truth imparts an immediate inner value, since therein the life of our spirit is fashioned."-Fries.

"I am immortal, imperishable, eternal, as soon as I form the resolution to obey the laws of eternal reason; I am not merely destined to become so. The transcendental world is no future world, it is now present; it can at no period of finite existence be more present than at another; not more after the lapse of myriads of ages than at this moment. My future sensuous existence may be liable to various modifications, but these are just as little true life, as those of the present. By that resolution of the will I lay hold on eternity, and rise high above all transitory states of existence."-Fichte.