week and day, had never occasion to complain, that his stock of thoughts was exhausted, or that there was nothing more to be learned from him. By those who had any claim on his time, his advice was asked in doubtful cases, almost as a matter of course; and it was not asked in vain. With readiness and precision, but without the too common airs of dogmatism, patronage and superiority, the advice was given; and it was seldom that he who came for it went away dissatisfied, or that the counsel proved unsound. His aid was anxiously sought in all references; and many a dispute has been decided by the weight of his opinion, which would else have become a subject of expensive and tedious litigation. His well stored experience, and the natural acuteness of his intellect, rendered him highly worthy of this confidence. He had observed closely and accurately the tendencies and results of passing events, and he looked with penetration into the bosoms of men.

Integrity, firm principle, and a high sense of true honour, were the habits of Mr. Cabot's soul. It was no more to be suspected, that any temptation could prevail on him to swerve, even in thought, from the direct path of uprightness, than that a being would act in opposition to its nature. And therefore it was, that there were no bounds to the confidence reposed in him by his friends; they knew that every trust was sacred with him.

His sympathy with the feelings, and delicate attention to the opinions of others, were truly remarkable in one, whose own feelings and opinions were of so high and decided a character. But his benevolence was equal to his genius and good sense, and he could not

bear, that the weakest of his brethren should be unnecessarily offended. He always wished to conciliate, and, where principle did not come in question, to concede. Without prejudice himself, he gave a patient hearing, and paid a gentle deference, to the innocent prejudices of his neighbour; and in this manner secured the love, as well as the reverence, of all ranks, parties, and sects.

To his other excellencies was united a singular and genuine modesty. He knew too well what was real greatness in the human character, to be vain; and was too sensible of men's mutual dependence, and of the dependence of all men upon God, to be proud. He repelled no one by haughtiness, offended no one by presumption, disgusted no one by arrogance. He carefully avoided making himself the subject of conversation; more carefully indeed than his friends would have desired; for perhaps there never was a man, who had seen and attained so much, who talked less of where he had been, what he knew, and what he had done.

In short, there was in Mr. Cabot's character a rare union of those qualities, which constitute true goodness, and raise man to the high dignity, of which his nature is susceptible. To borrow a passage from the eloquent serinon, preached on the Sunday after his interment, by President Kirkland, it may be said with confidence, that "the enumeration of the principal virtues, considered in their relation to ourselves, our fellow men, and the Deity, is a delineation of the character of our venerated friend. He was distinguished by prudence, which seeks lawful advantages by right and appropriate means; by contentment, which acquiesces in a moderate portion of good, is reasonable in wishes and

expectation, and keeps at a distance from selfish repining, though not without keen sensibility, and a constitutional predisposition to anxiety; by fortitude, a spirit collected and resolute in difficulties and dangers, and evincing always an entire superiority to fear; by patience, bearing trials with an equal mind, and espeeially showing exemplary composure in bodily sufferings; and by modesty, refusing to make pretensions, and display superiority; whilst estimating highly the value of opinion, paying a delicate respect to the impressions of other minds, and pleased with the favoura ble judgment of his fellow men. He exhibited the spirit of application and industry, executing seasonably and thoroughly what he undertook; and, though less willing than was desired to assume responsible employments, he was far removed from any thing like indolence. He maintained a wise and careful self-government, disdaining the bondage of sense; in pleasures, regarding the boundaries prescribed by nature, by health, and by duty. He saw the value of the golden mean in conduct, and cultivated the moderation which prevents virtue from degenerating into vice by irregularity and excess, and which, in relation to distinction and place, rather avoids than courts preeminence."

Mr. Cabot's religious views, principles, and feelings, were in perfect harmony with the whole of his character. A deep sense of his relation to God was the foundation of his virtue. A firm belief in the divine authority of the Christian revelation was the result of a full and candid examination of its evidences; and, though he punctually attended on all its ordinances, and was never backward to profess and maintain his convictions of its truth and its excellence, his Chris

tianity was yet more in his heart than it was on his lips, and was to be seen in the conduct of every hour, and in all his usual occupations, as conspicuously as on the first day of the week, and in the temple of God. His ideas of the nature and attributes of the Supreme Being, and of the character and demands of religion, were eminently rational and liberal. He believed that God was infinitely merciful, compassionate, and kind; and that love, and not terror, was the prevailing language of religion. There was neither cant nor levity in his conversation, superstition in his thoughts, uncharitableness in his feelings, nor censoriousness in his judgments. He could not conceive of any other end in religion, than to make men virtuous, and consequently happy. If his neighbour was a good man, he took him by the hand, and inquired not too curiously into his faith; if he was a bad one, he was made no better in his eyes by any similarity of communion. His own creed was strictly unitarian; but two of its principal articles were universal charity, and unlimited toleration. He believed in one God, in one person; that Jesus Christ was his messenger and son; that men were to work out their own salvation; and that they would be accepted, not on account of what another had suffered, but, through divine mercy, for what they themselves had done. He had no faith in the utter vileness of hu. man nature; and thought, that whatever pretended sanctity, or mere outside morality might be, true righteousness was infinitely better than filthy rags. He was no sectarian, nor maker of proselytes; but he was desirous of the advancement of liberal Christianity because he was firmly convinced that it would best promote the happiness of men. His opinions were not to

be shaken by the usual arguments, or cavils, for they were formed by impartial and mature investigation; and he was better acquainted with theology, than many are who pretend to teach it. The faith, which he had deliberately adopted in the strength of his days, remained to comfort his age, to cheer him in illness, and support him in the hour of death.

The writer knows that these are terms of high eulogium, but he is not sensible that one word is undeserved. For the last years of Mr. Cabot's life, he was honoured with his personal friendship; and he is well acquainted with the public sentiment regarding him. That sentiment will bear concurrent testimony with his own most vivid impressions; for, while the subject of this notice lived, he was spoken of with but one voice of esteem and veneration, as he is now with but one of regret and mourning.

Influence of a Knowledge of God.

AMONG the means of piety and goodness, none is more valuable than a knowledge of God; not merely a knowledge of his existence, but of his nature, attributes, dispensations, and providence. Do we know God to have infinite power? It should teach us that we are entirely at his disposal, that our strength is weakness, and our boldest efforts of no account in his sight. His justice should encourage us to perseverance, and patient submission under the trials and pains of life, assured that no good design will go unrewarded. God knows all things. And shall it be no restraint over our vices, that we are watched by so pure an eye,