reminiscences of that beloved man of God, CHARLES SIMEON?'

There is not one feeling of a spiritualized mind that may not flow on, unchecked, in full luxury of enjoyment, while tracing the work of God in and by that blessed servant of His. There lives not a flower, a shrub, or a plant that could so exquisitely typify the man as this fallen king of the forest, on whose trunk I seat myself, to follow up the resemblance. Here it first shot forth the young roots of its growing strength: here it attained a vigorous maturity, while succeeding crowds sat under its pleasant shadow, and rejoiced. Here it faded into venerable age, and fell at last by the same breath which so long had nourished it; fell quietly, so ripe for the blow, that nothing is disordered around it— there is no rent, no chasm: a vacancy indeed there will be, when its frame is removed and out of sighta vacancy felt by many a one, who in the stormy or the sultry hour will habitually turn hither, saying, Where is our ancient friend, our pleasant shelter? But who can tell how many of the noble trees extending all around owe their being to this parent stock? For an uncomputed period it has flourished here and perhaps those stately buildings-perhaps yon gallant vessel that may be bearing seaward a freight of missionary treasures, owe their frame-work to the progeny of this tree. Sure I am, that its prolific boughs have yielded seed for many an acre of forest plantation; while every little leaf that fell assisted to fertilize that rich and smiling sward that carpets the spot.

And so it was with Simeon: where he first vegetated in spiritual existence, there he flourished, and

there, honoured with more of reverential love and regret than usually falls to the lot of man, he calmly reposes. Generations have successively sat under the teaching of his faithful ministry, acknowledging him to be indeed like a tree planted by the water-side, bringing forth his fruit in due season, while his leaf withered not; and in a most singular manner was fulfilled the promise-" Look, whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper." Oh, if all the rich ones of this world, or even the rich ones of the Lord's own fold, would so consecrate themselves and what they have, to the service of their Master, as did that highly-favoured man, what a blossoming Eden we should have in many and many a spot where the howling desert now meets our shrinking sight! The recollections of what he was, and what he did, come crowding with overpowering force. So eminently did he act upon the solemn charge, "Go, work to-day in my vineyard," that no one can be pointed out, since the times of inspiration, better worthy of the too-much-neglected title of a working Christian. His was not the faith that dances like a moth about the candle, doing nothing but dazzling its own eyes, and perhaps endangering its own wings by too presumptuous an approach: no, he used every beam of that shining light as a help to read his Master's will, and to do his Master's work, and to illuminate the darkness of those who were yet afar off, and to whom his incessant, fervent, persevering invitation, given as largely, as fully, as universally as the need of a Saviour exists, was blessed to an extent only to be revealed at the last day.

“ Blessed is he that blesseth thee," reiterates the

God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, to them; and with an undoubted reference to their now outcast race. Of this blessing our beloved brother now knows the value and extent. I passed not many days in his honoured company, but some three or four at one time I did: and truly can I testify that of these days scarcely an hour passed without bearing on its wings some record of his heart's desire and prayer for the conversion of God's ancient people. For many years I had especially loved his name, as standing so conspicuously forth among the actual pityers of Zion, who longed to raise her from the dust and very sweet it was to be so circumstanced as to time and place, when sojourning under the same roof with Mr. Simeon, as to see his warmest zeal called forth in this sacred cause. He was so active, so earnest, so open, and withal so very playful, that had he been an utter stranger in name and character, I should have marked him among a thousand, as one to whom the statutes and work of the Lord were the very joy of his heart. But he was no stranger, though I was one to him; and a weeping stranger too, whose peculiar trial, just then, appealing to all the sympathies of his warm and generous heart, brought me more within the influence of his personal attention than otherwise I could have hoped to be admitted.

A few weeks-not a month-had elapsed, since I buried my precious dumb boy; and the debility occasioned by long, anxious attendance on him, joined to the grief of such a loss, and other afflictions just then accumulated upon me, rendered me an object of even more than usual tenderness to the fond," friends whose guest I was. The master of the house

was indeed a devoted brother in the faith and the ministry with Simeon, still more endeared by long friendship, and by fellowship in the work for Israel. They are now together with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God, and the cup, not of cold water, but cordial wine of Christian love-so freely ministered to a fainting pilgrim, is not forgotten now. No sooner did dear Mr. Simeon understand the cause of my sable weeds and tearful looks, than he set himself to comfort and to cheer me.

There was something so peculiar in the physiognomy and manner of the venerable good man, he was so long and extensively known among Christian people, that many will be able to realize the very look and gesture with which he used to beckon me to sit close beside him on the sofa, and then opening a large bible, resting one half of it on his own knee, the other on mine, he would say,' Now let me hear something of your happy dumb boy.' The subject was too near my heart to be strange to my lips, and he had not long to wait. Ere I had proceeded far, one hand was laid on my wrist, the fore-finger of the other held up, and, Stop-stop' articulated in a leisurely manner. Then he would turn over the blessed pages, until he found some scripture most beautifully, most exquisitely illustrative of the thing I was relating; and that he would require me to read aloud to him, keeping his finger under the line, carefully pausing at the respective stops. When it was done, he would look in my face, with a gentle inclination of the head, saying, 'Now'-and so continue, until something else called for another reference to the word of God. All around were smiling at the scene: it was so quaint, so perfectly

characteristic of the man: but none can tell how delicious was the soothing to my really lacerated heart, as I felt the pressure of his fatherly hand on my wrist, met the complacent look of his intelligent eye, marked the interest excited in his mind by the turns of his singularly expressive mouth, and followed the movement of his finger along the precious lines of inspired consolation, and knew that whither the happy dumb boy' was gone, there should his own bright spirit follow ere long. I remember too, that I never was more anxious to read correctly, than when reading those short passages to him; and yet never in my life was man's applause or censure more utterly indifferent to me. Although there was eccentricity enough in Mr. Simeon's character to force a smile from the most devoted of his reverential followers, there was enough of authority, decision, and confidence in his own powers of guiding, to compel respect from the most giddy and inconsiderate.

Our parting breakfast was very delightful: there were present a son and daughter of God's ancient Israel, both become doubly the children of Abraham by faith in Christ Jesus-the one a zealous preacher of his adored Messiah; the other a fond and faithful wife, rejoicing in that he, the best beloved of her heart, had been made also the means of saving her soul. Towards them every feeling of our venerable friend seemed to set in, so to speak, with a springtide, strong enough to overthrow everything before it. He quite sparkled; and often did he speak to me, and bid me rejoice, as I sat beside him, in the joy of those children of Jacob. It was one of the special privileges allowed me in that house, to take