and triumph of the artist in atchieving his design. In all these points, the plain but admirable monument before us transcends every other that has come or can come from the same hand, since the experienced and renowned proficient can never again be placed on a trial so severe, with an issue so momentous, as the youthful aspirant, unknown and unpractised, had to endure in this first essay of his skill on the block that might eternize his name, or crush his hopes for ever. This I believe is the true history of the outset of Mr. Chantrey, a native of this neighbourhood, who was destined thenceforward at his pleasure to give to marble all but life, for

"What fine chisel

Could ever yet cut breath?"

Shakspeare's Winter's Tale. I should not have done justice to my theme this day,after contending that the bulk of the people of Sheffield might bear away the palm of general knowledge from the most enlightened nations of antiquity, if I had not shewn, by these examples of our illustrious contemporaries, that Hallamshire is as capable of giving birth to men of genius, as were Egypt, Greece, and Rome, when literature and philosophy flourished most among their privileged orders. This neighbourhood, therefore, is well prepared to found and carry on, with credit and advantage, the institution now proposed.*"

The Effect of an Exhortation made in private unto two parties at their contracting before the witnesses by Mr. Hildersham.+ (Communicated by J. B. W.)

THEAR is no action of this life with more religious care to be undertaken than the action of knitting man and woman together in holy wedlock Because as God first instituted wedlock soe the covenant of marriage is called the covenant

*The speaker has been since informed, that to this list of illustrious names belonging to Hallamshire, he might have added that of Mr. Lindley, the inimitable performer on the violoncello, who was born at Attercliffe. His talents are of so splendid, and at the same time of so original a character, in his profession, that no more need be said in this place, than that, for the honour of the town and neighbourhood of Sheffield, Mr. Lindley may be worthily classed with the gentlemen above-named.

The custom of contracting before marriage was formerly common. See Neale's History of the Puritans, v. 5. Appendix No. iv. p. 16.

of God Prov. 2.17 and the parties who are joyned together in marriage are said to be joyned by God himself Matth. 19.6 soe as they may not be severed noe not by mutuall consent of both partyes.

2. This estate is subject unto many crosses and troubles 1. Cor. 7. 28. and nothing maketh us able to bear al those troubles with patience and fruit so wel as when we know we have undertaken this estate and entered into it in the fear of God and according to his ordinance, in such sort as the parties to be joyned may saie that God hath sent them into it; as the Lord said to Gedeon in another case for his comfort and encouragement Judg. 6. 14. 16.

3. As marriage though it be lawful for others yet it is not good but onlie to them that know and beleeve the trueth I. Tim. 4. 3. That estate (as al other things els) is sanctified and made good unto the married parties only by the word and prayer 1 Tim. 4. 5. And, therefore, if anie enter into this estate without beleeving harts, without being persuaded yt. they enter according to the direction of God's holy trueth, and wthout seeking God's direction & blessing therin by prayer, they cannot be sure to fynd anie comfort in that estate, nor be able to bear the crosses which befall yt. Hereupon this will follow that though this dutie of contracting the parties together som space before the solemnizing and accomplishing of the marriage be a straunge thing at this daie in the world, and practised of very few, yet seeing wee have the direction of God's word for it, and the practice of the godlie commended to us in the scriptures, thearfore soe many as would marry according to the word should use it.

To prove the necessitie of contracting the parties som space before the solemnizing of the marriage we have not only the example of that holie couple Joseph and Mary Matth. 1. 18., but an order and direction also wee find given for it in the law of God Deut. 20. 7: yea this kind of contract is in the scripture judged to be of that force that the parties contracted and espoused are caled man and wife Deut. 22. 24., as wel as the married parties, as wear Joseph and Mary Matth. 1. 19, and the bond between the parties contracted is counted the same and as inviolable as between the parties-married. The same causes by God's law may separate between man and wife as between parties contracted insomuch that a lawful contract can by no other means be lawfullie dissolved and broken, then wherby the bond of marriage may when consummate, therefore, the

same punishment is ordained by God's law for falsifying and breaking their faith in the contract, through abusing their bodies with other, that is appointed for breaking the bond of marriage that way; namely, as the falt is accounted adulterie: so the punishment is deth Deut. 22. 23. 24. And as thease testimonies prove the necessitie of contracts som good space before the marriage so is the same made further manifest by thease reasons following.

1. For avoyding manie inconveniences that might fal out in the church by suddain marriages wthout such contracts made by consent of parents, and published before.

2. For the modesty and shamefactness wch Christians should use in entering into this estate wch is much hindred when, like bruit beasts, for satisfying of filthy lust men and women doe sodeinly live together in th' use of marriage psently after they have fansyed ech other.

3. That the parties by this space and time between the contract and the marriage may be prepared to the great & weighty dueties of marriage; the which, as no other action or duetie, cannot be perfourmed wel without gret care, and preparation.

Thease things being thus considered we must now in the third place consyder of the things to be perfourmed in the contract-making which is instructing the parties touching their dueties.

The first thing, thearfore, which the parties to be contracted must consyder of is whether the Lord have fytted them to the dueties and works of marriage or no? for yf he have fitted them unto that estate then hath he called them unto the estate of mariage: and as he said unto Gedeon so wil he say to them-have not I sent thee? and so they shal be able to bear al the crosses and burdens of it with much comfort. The first work and end that marriage is ordained for (since the fal of man) is the auoyding uncleanness, fornication, and fylthiness, and the keeping our vessels in holiness and honor. The second end is that which the Lord also respected in man's innocencie, namelie, propagation and increase of children and so increasing of God's church which, as it is a gret honor and dignitie, so can it not be doon but by mariage lawfullie, and holily. Thearfore the Lord ordained one man and one woman to be coupled together in marriage that he might have a godlie seed Malac. 2.

Thease being so necessarie ends of marriage the parties to be contracted must examin themselves yf they be fit and

willing unto thease dueties yt so they may know whether the Lord hath called them to the estate of marriage, or no. And, thearfore, such transgress against the ordinance of marriage which match wthout hope of having yssue by reason of the age of one of the parties the other being yong. Such also as enter into marriage being made unfit for mariage by som noysom and contagious disease as hyndereth the mutual societie of man and wyfe. But to com to that which more especialie concerneth you two parties presently to be contracted.

One principal end of mariage is that the parties might be helps one unto annother and that in the best and cheef things, namelie, in spiritual matters concerning the soulhealth. Gen. 2. 18. Now touching your fitness to help ech other you must examine yorselves; for yf ye be not as wel fit and able, as willing to help one another in thease things ye profane God's ordinance of marriage. Now the help ye must minister one unto annother is-1. in the outward things of this life-2. in mutual joy and comfort by mutual societie-3. in the comforts of the soul and those things which concern the life to com. Now, therefore, the man and wife must first examin whether they be fyt and willing to help one annother in their outward estate for providing for their families, especiallie themselves mutuallie, and whether they be resolved to take pains herein (without which cas they shal be wors then infidels). The Apostle techeth this plainly 1. Corinh. 7.33.34. The husband must care even in outward things to giv contentment unto his wife; and so lykewise the wife must care to please her husband. Thus they must not onlie take care to mend the portion, and estate they fynde ech other in at their first coupling but also yf the Lord shal exercise them both wth want, or ether of them wth anie cros and trial they must fynd this purpose, willingnes and resolution, as in God's sight, and also som abilitie and fitnes thearunto, by experience of former crosses, namelie, to help one annother to bear their common burden patientlie, and to bear part of ech others several crosses with them so to make them the more easie one to annother.

2. The second help they must yeeld one unto annother is to minister joy, and comfort not onlie in outward things, but even mutual societie and fellowship together: this the Lord expected in man's innocencie Genes. 2. 18. We have said that the comfort of societie is a gret blessing: and the contrary a curs, and outward judgement. Now among al

societies none is so comfortable & sweet as the societie and fellowship between man and wyfe. Now then the parties must examin yf they be able and willing to yeeld this help and comfort by loving societie ech to other. The which abilitie and readines they shal fynd by this-yf the Lord have fytted them ech to his own and proper place assigned him by the Lord in that societie. Now hear the Lord hath ordeined the man to be the head, the woman to be subject; Thear are som men fitter to be under, and to be governed, then to be heads and governours: And thear are some women that are, at least that think themselves fytter to be rulers than to be ruled; but that is a monstrous bodie whose head standeth at the heels, and whose feet are set at the top of the head. And, thearfore, ye two must examin yo'selves if you that are the husband be fyt for the place of a head, fyt to govern, fyt and able to maintayn your authoritie over yor wfe, able to lyve wth yor wife as a man of knowledge 1. Pet. 3. Whether ye be able to bear with her infirmities (which the woman by sex is more subject unto then mans sex is naturallie) able to honor her as the weaker vessel; finallie, whether in societie you can delight yourself in her, and rejoyce in her love above al women in the world els? otherwise God hath not called yo unto that

estate.

Then you that are the wife must also examin yf yoR be able in societie to minister help unto yo husband: whether you can reverence him as your head? yea though he wear base of birth, meaner of welth, and inferior in gifts unto yo'self: whether you can obey him in al things in the Lord, as we must do our magistrates; Ephes. 5., that is, in al lawful things: and even when just cause is to disobey whether yo* can yet disobey in unlawful things with subjection stil.-whether yoe be able and affected to lyve with him with a quiet and meek spirit, both towards him, and also towards the servants, and whol familie? the which meek spirit as it is much commended in the word as her cheef ornament, and fynest decking; so the want of it causeth manie more crosses in the familie then otherwise would be. And, therefore, in the Proverbs the unquietnes of the wife in the hous is set out by odious comparisons, as an evil that breaketh the verie hart of a strong man lyke as the continual dropping of the hous doth weere the hard stone.

But the cheef help which the parties must yeld ech to other is in the matters of the soul, and those duties that concern the lyfe to com, and comforts thearof. They must