courage the devotions of others, rather than weary them with long performances. On days of fasting and humiliation, he was more copious, but equally fervent. In 1623, a drought of six weeks succeeded the planting season, and in July, a day of fasting was observed. The morning was clear and hot, but after eight hours employed in religious exercise, the weather changed, and a gentle rain came on, which continued with intermissions of fair and warm weather, fourteen days-on which account a day of public thanksgiving was soon after observed. The Indians remarked on this occasion, that "the Englishman's God was a good God."

In his public discourses, Mr. Brewster was clear, distinguishing and pathetic-addressing himself first to the understanding, and then to the affections of his hearers; convincing them of the superior excellence of true religion. In his private conversation he was social, pleasant, and inoffensive; yet on occasions he exercised that fortitude.

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which virtue inspires, but so mixed with tenderness that his reproofs gave no offence. His compassion towards the distressed was an eminent trait in his character, especially to those who were suffering for conscience' sake. Nothing was more disgusting to him than vanity and hypocrisy.

In the government of the church he was careful to preserve order and purity, and suppress contention. Had he entered the pastoral office, he would have been better able to keep intruders at a distance.

He was owner of a considerable library, part of which was lost at his being apprehended at Lincolnshire. After his death, his remaining books were valued at fortythree pounds, in silver, as appears by the colony records, where a catalogue of them is preserved.

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WILLIAM BRADFORD.

WILLIAM BRADFORD was born in the year 1588, in an obscure village in the north of England, called Ansterfield, where, according to Dr. Mather, the people were both ignorant and wicked. His parents died while he was young, leaving him to the care of his grand-parents and uncles, by whom he was brought up as his ancestors had been, in the practice of agriculture. His paternal inheritance was considerable, though he had no better education than was usual for the children of husbandmen. At the age of twelve years his mind was seriously impressed by divine truth in reading the scriptures, and an illness of long continuance tended to preserve him from the follies of youth. His good impressions were.confirmed by his attending upon the ministry of Mr. Richard Clifton. Being brought by

this means into the company of pious people, as he advanced in years he was stigmatised as a separatist; but such was his firmness of principle that he cheerfully bore the frowns and scoffs of his friends and neighbors, and persevered in what he believed to be the path of duty. Conceiving that many practices of the Established Church were inconsistent with the simplicity and purity of the christian religion, he endeavored to learn by reading, conversation and prayer, whether it were not his duty to withdraw from the communion of that church. After many distresses of mind concerning it, he deliberately resolved so to do, and connected himself with the church under the united care of Messrs. Clifton and Robinson, fearless of the persecution which he foresaw this act would draw upon him ;—thus giving evidence of the sincerity of his faith, and of his choice rather to suffer affliction, than to

Stigmatize, v. a.; to disgrace with a note of reproach. -Separatist, s.; one who separated from the established church.

enjoy a temporal advantage, arising from bending his conscience to the opinions of others. His friends tried "all imaginable ways" to reclaim him, but he answered them that "to keep a good conscience and walk in such a way as God has appointed in his word, he must prefer before them all, and above life itself; and that he was thankful God had given him a heart to be willing to part with every thing for this good cause, and would accept him so to suffer for him." The sudden deaths of the chief relatives who had so much urged him, soon after, convinced him how unwise it would have been had he yielded to a desire of pleasing them in opposition to his own convictions of duty. This honesty and decision of mind was a happy presage of his character and usefulness in after life. The youth who aspires to be good, happy, and useful in the world, must remember that "honesty is" in all cases "the best policy," and that it should be the unwavering purpose of his mind to

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