mate he would astonish. Much of it was seen also in his preaching and his behaviour;-in that disinterestedness, which made him think that he was the debtor of all if he could do them good ;-that patient submission to the divine will in a variety of trying afflictions, and none more trying than the dissolution of a long and a most affectionate connexion, by the death of his wife;-that forgiveness of injuries, and disposition to put the best construction upon the actions of other people; that abhorrence of evil speaking, which, as it was commonly remarked of Mrs. Stennett, that "no one heard her speak evil of any one however bad:" so if the Doctor heard any one spoken evil of, he would reply, Well, see now if you can't tell something good of that person.”

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Mrs. Stennett's dissolution was a very great affliction to the Doctor and his family. Though she had been for some time rather declining in her health, yet her being at last so quickly removed was what they little expected. She was confined to her bed only about a week. His disorder was of the nervous kind, and greatly affected her spirits. A delirium attended her illness, but yet she was enabled at intervals so to express herself as afforded those round about her no small pleasure. Being happy that those whom she so tenderly loved were with her in her affliction, she said at different times, "I dwell among my own people,"--and then, "Jesus is the only Saviour,"

My Christ! Glory! Glory!" Her son asked her if she did not love Christ, she replied, "Yes." Dr. Stennett said to her, “All is well, my dear," she answered, "Yes." She had walked humbly with God, was remarkably fond of the duties of retirement, and took great delight in reading books

of experience. Her end was peaceful and serene her death bed was a most pleasing one, and she might well be said to fall asleep in Jesus. She died March 16, 1795, and was buried in the family vault in Bunhill Fields. Mr. Booth delivered the address at her interment, and Mr. Josiah Thompson, of Clapham, preached her funeral discourse the following Lord's day, at Wild-street.

The death of Mrs. Stennett was an event that presaged his own removal. He was submissive to the supreme disposal, but did not appear to have any further regard for living in this world, or to think of his long continuance in it. All his talk seemed to be a repetition of these words, "The time of my departure is at hand." The duties of his ministry indeed he went to with redoubled diligence, as if aware that the night was coming when he could no longer work; and he was hardly withheld from those super-abundant exercises, that must have been immediately detrimental to his health. His retirements were chiefly spent in meditations on the bible; in which also he indulged his taste for poetry, as some admirable specimens he has left behind him demonstrate. His conversation and prayers were particularly spiritual, and his people will long retain the savour of the two last discourses he preached to them. The first, on Christ as an High-Priest "touched with the feeling of our infirmities," was the result of his meditations during a sleepless night the preceding week; but a night so comfortable as, he confessed, he had never before enjoyed in his life. The perfect knowledge the Lord Jesus had of his wantsthe tender care he exercises, and the sufferings he so freely underwent, were his astonishment. None who knew Dr. Stennett could suspect him to be

deficient in exalted sentiments of the Redeemer, yet all he had before conceived and preached of him, appeared small to what he then experienced ; and hence he exhorted his people to "come boldly to the throne of grace, that they might obtain merey, and find grace to help in time of need."* Though illness and approaching death prevented his preaching, it had not lessened his love to his flocks. He desired a friend to tell them, “that he loved them all in the Lord, and that the truths he had preached, were his alone consolation in the hour of death." The temper and comfort of his mind in his illness, were discovered by several little incidents which cannot but be pleasing to those who had such a value for him. Before he was confined to his bed, he prayed one evening in his family in a manner which deeply impressed all present, that God might give an easy passage out of life;" and God granted him that which he requested. Some vinegar and other ingredients being given him as a gargle for his throat, he said, with great emotion, which shewed his thoughts to be directed towards Jesus, "And in his thirst they gave him vinegar to drink. O! when I reflect upon the sufferings of Christ, I am ready to say, what have I been thinking of all my life? They are now my only support;" and he added, respecting those tennets that would degrade Christ's person and atonement, "What should I do now, if I had only such opinions to support me ?"-Taking his daughter

Hebrews iv. 15, 16.

Mentioning Dr. PRIESTLY by name; and I think (says Dr. Jenkins, it argues very highly in favour of the doctrines of our Lord's Deity and atonement, and of his free and efficacious grace, that Dr. Stennett, a man of strong natural parts, a cool and dispassionate reasoner, and whom none that knew would charge with ignorance or enthusiasm, believed in, and avowed those doctrines in his life, and gave so explicit a testimony to their use

by the hand, he said, "Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him. -He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." To the kind enquiries of a friend he answered, "Here I am, cast down but not destroyed;" And upon another occasion, repeated a verse of the charming hymn he had formerly composed, and which was printed:* Father at thy call I come! In thy bosom there is room For a guilty soul to hide

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Press'd with grief on ev'ry side.

To his son, who (at that time very ill also) came to see him, he said, "My son, God hath done. great things for us, He is very gracious to us. I can leave myself and my family with him." In short, every little speech he uttered indicated the invariable frame of his mind, that he was happy in God, and that the ground of his happiness was the love of God in laying down his life for us. "Other foundations," as he expressed it with energy, can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. His name is as ointment poured forth. O! he is the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely." The powers of expression were taken from him, a few hours before his departure; but he went off in a tranquil and easy manner. He quietly fell asleep in Jesus, August the 24th, 1795, in the 68th year of his age. His remains were deposited in his family vault in Bunhill-fields, where Mrs. Stennett his beloved

fulness and importance, when he viewed himself as going to appear before God the Judge of all. If Dr. Priestly should ever see this note, I wish it may be duly weighed, as he also must die.

* Hymn cclxx. of Mr. Rippon's Selection.

wife had been interred a few months before him. The pall was supported by the following ministers: Dr. Kippis and Dr. Rees of the Presbyterian; Mr. Brewer and Mr. Towle of the Independent; Mr. Martin and Dr. Jenkins of the Baptist persuasion. The last of these gentlemen, who was a member of Dr. Stennett's church, and by that people sent into the work of the ministry, preached his funeral sermon, Sept. 6, 1795, on 1 John iii. 16. The discourse was immediately printed, with Mr. Booth's Address at the grave; and the providence was felt, not only by all the Baptist Churches throughout the three kingdoms, but by great numbers of the most respectable persons in the other denominations of Protestant Dissenters, not to mention pious and evangelical ministers and people of the establishment-and John's Eulogy concerning one of the best men in apostolic times, was pronounced in every circle of the godly," Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself; yea, and we also bear record, and ye know that our record is true."

The Doctor has left behind him two affectionate children, the Rev. Mr. Joseph Stennett, and Miss Elizabeth Stennett, in both of whom he had "inexpressible satisfaction.”