While home engaged the first, it did not engross all, the energies of our departed friend. Of the enviable power of producing charming epistles of friendship, with ease and rapidity, he possessed a remarkable share. This power he habitually made subservient to the interests of religion; considering a talent for epistolary correspondence as involving serious responsibility. Could his numerous letters of remonstrance, advice, and Christian sympathy be collected, I am persuaded they would constitute a volume of no ordinary interest and usefulness. As in common conversation he was accustomed to throw out useful hints to those around him; so in letters of business, he often took occasion to remind his friends that they were only probationers in a world "which passeth away," the inordinate love of which must ruin the soul inevitably and for ever. To his friends it has always been a mystery how he could discharge, with his proverbial correctness, the numerous and onerous duties which he imposed on himself; the management of his private concerns being always sufficient to engross the attention of any ordinary mind. His habits of extreme regularity doubtless afforded him great assistance; but had he not possessed an incessantly active and a master mind, no such habits could have enabled him to attempt one half of what he accomplished. As a man of business his motto was "dispatch;" and whatever he undertook for the interests of benevolence, he attempted with all his might, exemplifying that beautiful and comprehensive injunction of Scripture: "Be diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." That a life so valuable should have been suddenly terminated, in the midst of usefulness, at the vigorous age of forty, is a providence, in many respects, deeply painful, and mysterious; especially when, surveying society at large, we behold the useless and the injurious permitted to prolong their earthly existence. There are, however, in this case, various modifying circumstances which demand observation and gratitude. If the days of our departed brother on earth were short, they were singularly _vigorous_ and useful. He had already acted his part both in civil and religious society: scarcely had the dew of his youth passed away when he performed many of the duties, and was invested with many of the honours, of age; and although the continuance of a judgment so mature, a disposition so benevolent, and habits of usefulness so self-denying and energetic, would have been an invaluable favour, comparing the amount of his speedily accomplished work, with what is ordinarily allotted to the servants of God, we ought not, perhaps, to be greatly surprised that he has been thus early admitted to his rest.