1846.] 



ADDRESS TO YOUNG MEN 



9i 



themselves, but as one who was the more ashamed of himself, 

 because no outward shame had befallen him ; and he was also 

 earnest in sustaining those who, like himself, strove to resist 

 temptation. The Sunday but one before he left Stand, he 

 gave a Sunday evening lecture in the school-room, to young 

 men, convened by private printed circulars, from the different 

 schools and congregations. There were about eighty, very 

 attentive ; and he had reason to hope that good was done. 

 In his pulpit journal he stated that he selected the hymns 

 from Wesley's collection, and read many passages of Scripture. 

 He and Mr. Howorth both engaged in prayer. " Felt it very 

 humbling to give this address to young men, but I thought it 

 right. About eighty to a hundred of all sects, and very atten- 

 tive. I think not without fruit; but God humbles me very, 

 very much." 



On his last Sunday (June 22, 1846), he preached in the 

 morning a sermon addressed to the consciences of his hearers 

 and his own — " Christ's word will judge us " (John xii. 48). In 

 the evening his discourse was extempore : " Armour of faith, 

 hope, and love" — u not a farewell sermon, but a looking for- 

 ward one. ... no ebullition of feeling on either side, which 

 I was anxious to avoid. God help us ! " 



His " private " pulpit journal, from which this quotation 

 is made, contains a register of hymns, lessons, written 

 prayers and sermons, with a few brief notes in shorthand, 

 obviously intended for no eye but his own. They show 

 how faithfully he judged himself. For some time he was 

 liable to make occasional mistakes in the service, which would 

 not be expected from one so methodical ; but his feelings 

 carried him away. He often notes the need he found of private 

 prayer, that he might not think too much of himself or others. 

 He had a humble opinion of his own capacity as a preacher ; 

 he disliked writing sermons, unless they were on subjects that 

 deeply interested him ; and he felt it desirable for the congre- 

 gation that he should often avail himself of their consent to 

 preach the sermons of others. During these five years, he 

 preached fifty-two of his father's sermons, and about a hundred 



