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was accomplished without any further injury to his bleeding lungs.

This last removal of Mr. Merryman, until he returned in a hearse, produced such a scene of woe throughout Sandover, as Sandover never felt before; and had it not been for the prudent attention of Mr. Sprightly, half the town would have been at the rectory, to bid him their last adieu. The grief that was evidenced, was not less universal, than he was universally beloved.

Alas! what must the family of Brookfield Hall have felt; what Mr. Lovegood must have felt, when he attended to lift him out of the carriage; and what all the Parish felt, when he entered that house, in which it was supposed he would breathe his last; is more than the writer of these Dialogues, with his briney eyes, has sufficient spirits to narrate.

The next Dialogue will finish the account of the trying, yet triumphant exit of this excellent man: but yet brightens with a pleasing issue, of this most painful event.

BETWEEN MR. WORTHY, MR. LOVEGOOD, MR. BRIGHTMAN AND MR. SPRIGHTLY.

THE DEATH AND FUNERAL OF MR. MERRYMAN,

TH

HOUGH Mr. Merryman, as might be supposed, from the flattering nature of the consumption, revived from the depth of that languor, which from the loss of an abundance of blood, he had sustained; yet still his vitals were consuming by the same disease, so that he now found he could attempt nothing further in his delightful work. The necessary supply of his Church was his chief concern. At times he was obliged to put up with Mr. Anything, while Dr. Orderly and his Curate, were as kind as circumstances would admit; Mr. Lovegood at the same time, watched every opportunity to give all the aid he could. In the course of about ten weeks Mr. Brightman was at liberty, and he left Mr. Whimsey with no regret. He first came to Brookfield Hall, before he went to Sandover, to visit his dying Rector. O that I had time to narrate half the profitable conversation, (especially as far as Mr. Merryman could converse,) which passed between these good men! For it seems that Mr. Brightman ill knew how to express what an abundance of good was communicated to him thereby: and especially in seeing and conversing with such a man as Mr. Merryman, in his declining state; possessing such calmness and serenity, such a peaceful resignation to the holy will of God; and withal, so blessed with such a lively sense of gratitude and praise

to him, by whose almighty grace he was saved from a state, once so depraved, but from which he was now so mercifully and powerfully redeemed. So bright an evidence of the vital influence of the Gospel, he nad never seen before: and he has since solemnly declared, that out of all the volumes he had ever read, and from all the sermons he had ever heard, he never derived so much profit and benefit to his mind,

Another very great advantage Mr. Brightman obtained as a minister, from this intercourse was, that it rendered him much more beneficial to the souls of men. From the natural strength of his mind, he was apt to be too discussional and metaphysical to be well understood by the generality of his hearers; but he observed with surprize, how much more good had been done by Mr. Lovegood and Mr. Merryman, than by himself, by a much plainer, and consequently, more scriptural style of address: before, he was wise and cold, but now, he became wise and warm; while what he delivered to the judgment, he applied to the heart with divine success.

Before the Dialogue begins, it should be noticed, that Mr. Merryman continued full three months at Brookfield Hall, before his disease terminated in his dissolution. By his own desire, his remains were taken to Sandover, to be buried in the Chancel of his own Church, requesting at the same time, that Mr. Lovegood would perform that last office, and improve his death, by a sermon to the congregation. His remains were accordingly taken on the Saturday after his death, to Sandover, when the interment took place, and on the next day, the Funeral Sermon was preached. It was therefore necessary that Mr. Brightman should serve for Mr. Lovegood, while he performed the painful task requested of him.

The day afterwards, Mr. Lovegood returned. Having first visited his own family at the Vicarage, he next went to the Hall, to communicate what had passed. No wonder that the disconsolate widow, had not sufficient strength and spirits, to hear the narration

of these events. After she had retired out of the room with her Mother, the following conversation thus commenced between the before-mentioned Gentlemen with Mr. Sprightly, who in consequence of the death of Mr. Merryman, came to transact some business at Brookfield Hall.

Wor. O Sir! I almost tremble to ask what you must have felt in performing the last offices for my dear departed Son-in-law.

Loveg. In all my life time, I was never more affected and overcome.

Bri. I should suppose so, for since my short residence at Sandover, I have discovered that there never was a man more beloved, or more deserving of it; for ever since it has pleased God to change his heart, what a character he has sustained! He was the father of every dejected widow, and the parent of every orphan child. The pains and care he took in the instruction of the children of the poor, especially in a religious point of view, was beyond all praise; even while he reproved them, he constrained them to love him, forgiving them tenderly, rewarding them freely, provided they would do better for the time to come. There was not a cause of distress that he would not with the greatest assiduity seek out and relieve. In short, a spirit of universal humanity seemed to occupy all the feelings of his heart. And as a minister, I hope I have been taught of him, what I never shall forget. It seemed almost impossible for any person to be more devoted to the salvation and good of souls. His conduct was one perpetual sermon: even the very enemies of religion, who hated him as a prophet, are ready to garnish his sepulchre now he is gone.

Loveg. No wonder that a man like this was se honored, when he was taken to the grave. The hearse was met by crowds, full two miles out of Town, 21

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all dressed in mourning, singing as far as they could sing, solemn and penitential hymns, for having forfeited by their unprofitableness, so truly good a man ; and when the corpse arrived at the Church, O what a scene !

Wor. I suppose the Church was much crowded at fue funeral.

Loveg. Beyond all description. And when I began reading those solemn sentences appointed for the funeral service, every eye seemed floating in tears, and many wept aloud: indeed my own feelings were so overcome, that I could scarcely utter one word after another; and the people seeing me so much affected, were the more affected still.

Wor. I can easily imagine what your feelings must have been, for I know how you loved him.

Loveg. Yes Sir, I did love him, and who could help it; the sight of him, the very mention of his name, at all times did me good. He lived for the best of purposes; and the surprising change that the grace of God had accomplished upon his heart, has surprised thousands, and dethroned prejudice astonishingly.

Wor. But how did you get through the service? Loveg. Indeed Sir, I could not get through the service: and the children who were appointed to sing a funeral hymn, as he was carried from before the reading desk to his grave in the Chancel, could not finish their office, before they were so overcome, that many of them actually wept aloud, and I was so overpowered by the sight, that I could not speak, nor read another word; and when I requested Mr. Slapdash, who was one of the pall bearers, to finish the service, dear old man, he seemed to be more affected than myself, so that the lot fell upon Dr. Orderly, (who attended as another of the pall bearers,) to finish the service; and he also found it a difficult task.

Wor. I hope you will let us see a copy of the hymn that was sung on that occasion.

Loveg. O Sir! you must not ask to see my poor poetry.

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