formality of reading their sermons, and while many others conceive the perfection of preaching to consist in ranting to their congregations, there seems no fixed medium of communication between the preacher and his people.

It was the excellence of Bishop Porteus's eloquence, though not confined to him, that it was suited to his literary composition; while the labours of his closet, at the same time, derived the greatest effect from his powers in the pulpit. His style of writing easy and perspicuous, his enunciation was distinct and equable, his emphases judicious and forcible, his delivery unaffected but impressive. There was something awfully becoming both in his words and looks.

Notwithstanding the shortness of his stature, for he was below the middle height in men, his deportment rendered this deficiency almost imperceptible; and the indescribable seriousness of his countenance, which was naturally not strong, deeply impressed, on all who saw him, the sacred importance of his character. It is not

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possible for me to convey to others, by any effort of mine, the sublime emotion with which I have heard him deliver such passages as the fol lowing. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit yourselves like men; be strong, be resoute, be patient. Look frequently up to the prize set before you, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. The conflict will soon be over; a few years will put an entire end to it; and you will then, to your unspeakable comfort, be enabled to cry out with Saint Paul, "I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day!” Here is the triumph of the preacher, when, kindled by piety, his people, full of faith, elevated heavenward, look only to their divine teacher.

Viewed merely as a public speaker, Bishop Porteus was by some persons thought to be wanting in the quality of energy. His eloquence, however, was peculiar to him. What

in other preachers is called energetical, was in this preacher impressiveness. Persuasive, rather than peremptory, and conciliating, instead of being commanding, he found his way to the hearts of those who heard him, and obtained their affection without losing their respect. Always understood, always esteemed, and often admired, his pulpit labours unquestionably ranked him high among the best preachers of the christian church.

Bishop Porteus's published Sermons are in two volumes; of which the first came from the press in 1783, and the second in 1794. He afterwards sent into the world, in two volumes, the Lectures on the Gospel of St. Matthew, which were very timely preached by him, to numerous and respectable audiences, on week days, at St. James's Church, in Piccadilly, during the Lent Season of 1798. About the year 1807, his lordship collected one volume of Tracts on Various Subjects; all of which, it will be found, had been published separately before. This last volume contains his excellent Life of Archbishop Secker, his Diocessan Charges, Pastoral

Letters, and some Tracts. He owed his preferment to his greatness, and not his greatness to his preferment. His name will therefore live long in the church.

Having known him in the pulpit, I could not leave him in the coffin. I have therefore endeavoured to speak of him, when suspicion cannot attach to my testimony; when all I can look for, as the price of my zeal, is (if such hope there be!) some religious interest in the hallowed breathings of one who is eternally associated with the spirits of just men made perfect!' There now remains little to add.

This truly great and nobly good man, this Christian Prelate, of whom I must cease to write, finally exchanged the pangs of mortality for the joys of eternity, after long illness, early on Sunday morning, May the 14th, 1809, at Fulham House, in the 79th year of his age. He married, many years ago; but he has had no children.

Novelty made no part of his theology. Doctrinal as well as practical, but not less

prac

tical than doctrinal, his sermons, instructive

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and edifying, conduce alike to the belief and practice of our religion. He built on the rock, and not on the sands.

His religious liberality was great. Some of our ablest divines owe their rise to him. He even promoted Paley, though it was impossible for him to countenance all he wrote; and his regard for merit, especially when connected with theological literature, induced him, against the remonstrances of friends, to confer on a foreigner, the Rev. Mr. Usko, one of the best livings in his gift. While he earnestly contended, both in word and deed, for what he esteemed to be the faith once delivered to the saints,' he was nevertheless remarkably considerate of the various christians who dissented from him on minor points, and often extended personal kindness to them.

Were it not my design to confine myself to the clerical character (especially as to eloquence) of Bishop Porteus, I should gladly enlarge the limits of the present memoir. His works will follow him!