CHAP. XIV.

SACRA PRIVATA OF MR. BURGESS.

THE life of Mr. Burgess at Winston was divided between the faithful discharge of pastoral and parochial duties, the prosecution of his learned studies, and the assiduous cultivation of personal religion. The piety and integrity of his heart, and his conscientious desire to consecrate his various talents to the glory of God, have already been described; but his portraiture as a private Christian has not been attempted. We shall now place him before the reader in this character; and in doing so, shall not be reduced to indulge in imaginary traits, since he has himself furnished the requisite particulars in a variety of private reflections and soliloquies, written at different intervals, though chiefly about the time to which we now refer, and which prove him to have been, early in life, a bright example of faith and holiness. To subdue his own will, and to bring his senses, passions, and affections into subjection to the law of Christ, had so become his predominant object, that, without any hyperbole, it might have been said of him,

Thy care is fix'd and zealously attends

To fill thy odorous lamp with deeds of light,
And hope that reaps not shame.

MILTON.

At the same time it will appear how sensible he was that his best services were marred with imperfection, and that "he gloried only in the cross of Christ, by which he was crucified to the world, and the world to him."

The reflections alluded to were chiefly written in the blank leaves and in the margins of some of his favourite devotional writers, among whom may be enumerated Bishop Wilson's Sacra Privata, Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion, Payne's Thomas à Kempis, Robinson's Scripture Characters, Nelson's Practice of True Devotion, Law's Serious Call, and Baxter's Saint's Rest. Only eighteen months before his death, he took down from a book-shelf a copy of Payne's Kempis, and pointed out with much feeling to the present writer its numerous marginal annotations, as indexes of the state of his mind while residing at Winston, and as no less expressive of his latest convictions. He added, that he had written similar notes and reflections in the margin of another devotional book, which, however, has, unfortunately, been lost. His Nelson on True Devotion is also replete with similar annotations. These, and a few sheets of manuscript, are the principal sources to which we are indebted for the means of graphically developing his inmost thoughts. To such spiritual exercises he could have been no stranger before he came to Winston, but the opportunities he there enjoyed for calm and uninterrupted reflection tended, as he

himself avowed, to deepen and confirm in his soul every holy principle.

By some memoranda referable to this period, it appears that he so apportioned his time as to assign particular hours to study, to devotional exercises, and to his active duties; and in order to compass these objects without injury to his health, he practised the strictest temperance. We shall now, without further preface, place before our readers the following specimens of his "Sacra Privata.”

A Heathen Emperor used to say of a day in which he had performed no good action, "I have lost a day." Go and do thou likewise. Look out for objects, and seek for opportunities of doing good; and when thou hast neglected any such, then, at least, say, "I have lost a day." Record omissions. Keep a moral register, with a column for omissions.

If we expect no return for any good we do but from God, he will repay us with infinite interest.

Those occasions in life are truly valuable which give exercise to the best Christian virtues, such as long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, forgiveness, and all other gifts of the Spirit, and the graces of charity that charity "which suffereth long and

is kind."

Thou hast been all mercy to me, O God! May I be so to others!

Labour after and pray for simplicity of intention. In every act of good which you do, endeavour to perform it from love to God, and obedience to his will.

All is vanity, but the love of God and a life devoted to his will. O my soul! consider those words "Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things."

Lord, increase my faith;" increase my love of Thee, and my hatred of sin.

Bring thyself every day to such particulars of

SELF-EXAMINATION

as will be satisfactory to recur to at the hour of death.

1. Dost thou believe that Almighty God hath by his power made heaven and earth, and all things therein, and that he doth by his Divine Providence govern the same?

2. Dost thou confess that thou hast transgressed and broken the holy commandments of Almighty God in thought, word, and deed? Art thou sorry in thy heart that thou hast so broken his laws, and neglected his service, and so much followed the world and thine own vain pleasure? And wouldst thou not lead a holier life if thou wast to begin life again?

3. Dost thou from thy heart desire to be reconciled unto God, through Jesus Christ, his blessed

Son, thy Mediator, who is at the right hand of God in heaven, now appearing for thee in the sight of God, and interceding for thy soul?

4. Dost thou renounce all confidence in all other mediators, saints or angels, believing that Jesus Christ, the only Mediator of the New Testament, is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them?" And wilt thou, with David, say unto Christ, "Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee?" Psalm lxxiii. 25.

5. Dost thou hope to be saved by the only merits of the precious death and passion which thy Saviour Jesus Christ suffered for thee, not putting any hope of salvation in thy own merits, nor in any other means or creatures, being assuredly persuaded that "there is no salvation in any other;" and that "there is none other name under heaven whereby thou must be saved?"

6. Dost thou heartily forgive all wrongs and offences offered unto thee, and dost thou cast out of thy heart all malice and hatred, that thou mayest appear before the face of Christ, the Prince of Peace, in perfect love and charity ?

7. Dost thou firmly believe that thy body shall be raised up out of the grave at the sound of the last trumpet; and that thy body and soul shall be united together again in the resurrection day, to appear before the Lord Jesus Christ, and thence to