498 
it was impressive, and often affecting. 
The matter of his sermons tended more 
to the discussion and enforcement of the 
moral duties of the gospel, than to the 
consideration of the subtle points of theo- 
Jogy. .His compositions for the pulpit 
were, as I think, formed chiefly on the 
model of Massillon and Flechier, in whose 
writings he was conversant. He con- 
scientiously adhered to the church of 
England from principle, and had an 
aversion to all dispute and controversy. 
He maintained and recommended, pub- 
licly and privately, every doctrine which 
upholds legitimate government, and pre- 
vents confusion political and theological. 
He loved his country ; le loved her laws, 
her ordinances, her institutions, her re- 
ligion, and her government: for he knew 
that they ave made, and still make, 
England, to be what itis. He abhorred 
every troubler of the state: the specious 
reformer, the obstreperous tyrannical 
demagogue, and the disorganizing sophist. 
He dreaded also the influence and the 
principles of the Romish church; and, 
however they may be softened or ex- 
plained away by modern statesmeny he 
deprecated their encouragement or their 
revival among us: bat he. loved that to- 
Jeration and freedom which the church 
and constitution of England, steering 
between opposite extremés, grant with 
evangelical discretion to every -sect: of 
christianity, however distinguished. | In- 
deed, it may be said to his honeur as a 
clergyman, a scholar, and a man of un- 
common attainments, that he was mo- 
derate, enlightened, indulgent, and lh- 
beeal. ¢ Nullius obseuravit gloniam, 
nullius obstitit commodis, mnullius ob- 
strepuit studiis; dignitates non ambivit; 
questum non venatus est.” 
When he was.a child his constitution 
was delicate; but as years advanced, by 
care, by exercise, and afterwards by fo- 
reign travel and change of scene and of 
climate, by a scrupulous attention to 
his person and to a neatness never ex- 
ceecied, and by an even placid temper, 
his frame acquired a strength, an ala- 
crity, and a springy activity, which I think 
accompanied him to the last, and gave a 
zest to his pursuits, and vigour to his fa- 
enliies. But on ali the labours, the 
troubles, and the enjoyments of our na- 
tare, the night,in whichno man ean work, 
advances fast; and, however unwilling, 
- we must all hear 
The due beat 
Of time’s slow-sweeping pendulum, that 
é marks 
The momentary march of death on man. 
Letter onthe Death of the Rev. Norton Nicholls. 
[June 1,’ 
The hour was now approaching rapidly 
when his sun was.also to set; for an un- 
perceived decay was undermining his 
constitution, and many a flaw hinted 
mortality. Yet it must be confessed, 
that, with all his cheerfulness of temper, 
with every internal assurance of a well- 
spent hfe, and with every assistance from 
philosophy and from religion, Mr. Ni- 
cholls, like many other good and blame- 
less men, could never sustain in thought 
the shock of final separation from the 
world, without a visible reluctant emo- 
tion when he spoke of death. But ere 
we make any remark, surely we may 
ask, who is sufficient for these thoughts? 
Can we answer, One of a thousand? 
However, if there were.any weaknesses 
about him (and who is exempt?) I think 
one of them was that of flattering him- 
self with an extended prospect of long- 
continued health and strength beyond’ 
what is permitted to man: 
Que facili sperabat mente futura 
A:ripuit voto levis, et presentia finxit. 
His appearance indeed never bespoke 
his age; and in the best sense of the 
word, I think he was always young. 
In the spring and summer of the year 
1809, Mr. Nicholls was attacked by aspe- 
cies of cough, the nature or the cause of 
which he could not ascertain. His coun- 
tenance, during that period, sometimes 
bore marks of great indisposition, and of 
a tendency to what is called a breaking 
up of the constitution. But still he con- 
tinued his accustomed occupations; he 
ehjoyed, as usual, the company of his 
friends, and he promoted their happiness. 
But his infirmity evidently increased, yet 
without any alarm or apprehension of its 
fatal tendency. I think, indeed, that 
he bad by no means a distinct view or ex» 
pectation of his dissolution, either in. the 
beginning or in the progress of his malady. 
A very few. days before that termi. 
nation which was so soon to take place, 
he returned home, much indisposed, to 
Blundeston, where he received every as- 
sistance from his faithful and afflicted 
domestics, and experienced every affec- 
Uonate attention and relief from a phy- 
sician,* for whom, I know, he uniformly 
and constantly expressed his esteem, — 
and in whose care and skill he placed a 
confidence unlimited and unvaried. But 
his complaint, which was bilious, in- 
creased beyond the reach of art; a dis- 
solution of strength, without a pang 
- which tortured, or a pain which exhausted 
him, succeeded; and, from the sudden 
* Dr, Girdlestone, of Yarmouth in Norfolk. 
bursting _ 
