We see, at once, as we read even one page of his numerous volumes, that it was the object of the writer, his fixed, his pure, his predominant aim, to glorify his God-to honour his Saviour-to illustrate and apply the truth of Christianityand permanently to benefit the human race. "Such was the aim

And signal, in its glory, is the end."

The lectures on the "Female Characters of Scripture," just issued, are a choice and beautiful specimen of the pulpit discourses of Mr. Jay, more than thirty years ago. The female character is nicely and admirably discriminated, and illustrations the most striking and appeals the most pathetic and powerful are furnished. This volume, in connexion with the autobiography, are affecting and memorable productions, now that Mr. Jay has rested from all his useful and much-loved labours below.

CHAPTER IX.

A GENERAL REVIEW OF MR. JAY'S LABOURS AND

USEFULNESS.

IN terminating our remarks and reflections on the revered and honoured minister whose character we have endeavoured concisely, yet accurately, to delineate, and who has lately entered on the rest of immortality, we are anxious to submit a few observations, temperately and dispassionately, as they have occurred to us, with regard to the labours which Divine Providence and grace disposed and enabled him to perform, and the useful and important results which have issued, through the wisdom and mercy of God, from those labours.

And, we think, it must be palpable to all, that the exertions of Mr. Jay-especially his studious, his intellectual exertions-during his exceedingly protracted and honourable career, must have been vigorous and unremitting.

No man, unless he had been a diligent and indefatigable student-unless his mind had been habitually exercised-unless his pen had been regularly employed-unless the powers of his intellect, and the emotions and affections of his heart, had been awakened and concentrated on the great subjects of the ministry, and of Christianity could have accomplished what Mr. Jay, while he lived, was permitted to accomplish. When we consider the early period at which his ministry commenced-how soon he was not only brought into notice, but attained general celebrity; when we dwell on the large and influential congregations in Bath, and the metropolis, to which, throughout life, he administered the Word and ordinances of God; when we contemplate the number of intelligent and superior men among his hearers, at all periods; when we recur to the frequency and variety of public and important services in which he has been engaged -preaching on Ordination occasions-at the opening of large places of worship—delivering funeral discourses on the decease of eminent ministers-aiding by his advocacy, from year to year, great educational, benevolent, and missionary institutions; when we review the extent

and diversity of his compositions, we must immediately perceive that the labours of Mr. Jay could have been of no common order.

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Granted, that he did not accustom himself to much pastoral visitation. "This," he said to us, was my vice;" still it must be borne in mind that his time was much occupied in journies, in receiving visitors, in preaching on special occasions for one society and another, in preparing carefully for the pulpit, in working hard for the press, and in constantly replenishing his own intellectual and theological stores. We admit that Mr. Jay did not labour so actively and extensively as many eminent ministers have done, going from town to town, from district to district, on behalf of one great institution and another. This was not his practice, nor was it in unison with his tastes and inclinations; and, as he remarked to us, "I could not have done it, and maintained my position, and have completed the writings which I have published;" still, after every admission that is made, Mr. Jay was a most conscientious, diligent and laborious minister of the Gospel, and a "pains-taking" and indefatigable author, and what was done by him in the study, the pulpit, or through the press, was

done in the most careful and accurate manner. There was no precipitancy, no approach to slovenliness; he worked quietly, steadily, continuously; and what he did, he did well, as a Christian and ministerial workman of the right order, whom the Master greatly sanctioned and greatly honoured, and whose energies were always awakened in the best of causes, and for the honour of the best and the holiest of Beings.

And as the labours of Mr. Jay, as a universally admired preacher and writer, were important and extensive, and continued for so long a period, so their results have been proportionably great, and his usefulness has been remarkable. Few men occupying a prominent position in the Christian ministry have been, we believe, so useful as Mr. Jay, by his varied, unremitting, and important labours during a period advancing to seventy years.

His usefulness as a striking, faithful, and truly evangelical preacher, extending to between sixty and seventy years, must have been surprisingly great when we consider the large spheres in which he had laboured statedly and occasionally, and the immense congregations to which he had so often ministered the Word of God; especially when