I FEEL sincerely and deeply obliged to you for the kindness you have shown in sending me the interesting extracts you have made from Miss Mortimer’s letter, relative to her beloved father. There are few, if any, to whom I am so deeply indebted as I am to that dear and valued friend. At an early period of my life he noticed me with a kindness and humility which I can never forget. These were, indeed, traits constantly exhibited in his Christian character, but they were the more affecting and attractive as appearing in a man of such ability and accomplishments. Whatever I know of Christian truth and experience I owe in a high degree to the daily conversations which I was permitted to enjoy for many months in three or four successive years, with him, and to the sermons and expositions which I heard from him at that time, every Sabbath and every week. After I left Madeley I saw less of him, though our intercourse was renewed, in some measure, when he came to Bristol, and, in the end, he succeeded me in my old curacy at Hutton, on my presentation to the living which I now hold. * * * Not many letters ever passed between us; but _I have never ceased to remember him with admiration_, _gratitude_, _and love_. _Indeed_, _take him altogether_, _and I have never seen his equal_. With my very kind regards to yourself and family, I remain, my dear Sir, Very sincerely yours, G. L. Y. THE WATCHFUL SERVANT. A SERMON PREACHED AT THORNHILL CHURCH, JUNE 19, 1844, OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OF THE REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A., _Rector of that Township_. BY THE REV. F. L. OSLER. LUKE XII. 37. “BLESSED ARE THOSE SERVANTS WHOM THE LORD, WHEN HE COMETH, SHALL FIND WATCHING.” ON receiving an invitation to officiate on the mournful occasion which calls us together, accompanied with a request that I would also preach a sermon suitable to the afflicting circumstance, the oft-repeated encouragement of my dear departed friend, eagerly to embrace every opportunity of setting forth Christ, was brought home to my mind, and a voice from the dead seemed to say, Stand in my accustomed place, and for me tell to my bereaved family and friends, to the people of my charge and of my many prayers, that the Gospel which they have so often heard proclaimed by the lips now cold in death, is not a vague uncertainty, but the power of God unto salvation; and while they weep for one whose most earnest endeavours were to promote their welfare, that they should not sorrow as those without hope, but seek earnestly to become imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.