dant flow both of words and ideas at command, as his regular family expositions proved, he always preached written sermons: indeed, he had a particular fondness for the act of writing, and often had recourse to it-too often for his health-as a relaxation after his long and laborious day's work with his pupils. His correspondence also was very extensive; and judicious advice or well-timed reproof, conveyed by him in a letter, has proved of important service in many instances. It is indeed rather remarkable, that, with the particular facility for composition which he possessed, he never became an author to a greater extent than writing a few occasional papers for periodical works, and two brief memoirs—one of Mr. West, his early patron; and the other of his brother, the Rev. Benjamin Scott, prefixed to a volume of his Sermons, which he edited. But his time was fully and usefully occupied. The necessity which he was under of taking pupils, in order to provide for the wants of his family, has been already adverted to. This laborious and burdensome occupation, which of late years he particularly felt to be such, was continued to the time of his death; no one, however, can tell the amount of good which his truly evangelical mode of instruction has, under the Divine blessing, already produced, and will continue to produce, through the instrumentality of those who had the advantage of being educated under his roof. It is unnecessary to dilate upon other parts of his character: not only as a minister and tutor, but as a husband, parent, and friend, Mr. Scott's conduct was most exemplary, and becoming the gospel of Christ. It is not, however, pretended that his was a faultless character:-far from it; but he had no prominent faults. Whatever he might feel in his own mind, and confess before his God upon his knees, there did not appear, to those who knew him, any thing that might be pointed to as his "easily-besetting sin." By the grace of God he became what he was. This led him constantly to place before him, as his great ruling motive, the honour of God, the credit of the religion he professed, and the spiritual welfare of his family, of his pupils, and of the people committed to his charge; and though his natural temper was kind, affectionate, and conciliating, in no ordinary degree, and he was ready to become all things to all men, as far as he consistently could--scrupulously avoiding to give unnecessary offence to any one-still, where his principles were concerned, he was most unbending, and would never shrink from declaring them, and acting up to them, be the consequence what it might. The suddenness of his removal from this world, prevented his bearing that testimony to the efficacy and truth of the faith he professed, on his death-bed, which has been so edifying to survivors in the cases of many of the faithful servants of Christ. But for a considerable time he had been impressed with a conviction that his life was drawing to a close; and though it does not appear that he apprehended so speedy a dissolution, or was aware of the nature of the disease under which he laboured, he felt that his days were numbered, and he lived and conversed like one habitually expecting, and prepared for the solemn event. Continued allusions, indicating the state of his mind in this respect, pervaded, for some time past, his sermons, expositions and prayers; as well as his letters and conversation : and while finishing his house, and stocking his garden with fruit-trees, it was his frequent remark, that he was doing this for others. His anxiety that every thing in this respect should be substantially and usefully done, was another indication of his amiable and conscientious character; for there is not the least reason to believe, that the idea of his son's succeeding him in the living, ever entered his mind. It is a painful consideration, and amongst the mysterious dispensations of providence, that a man so talented, so laborious, and so exemplary, should be, as he was, constantly oppressed with poverty, and harassed with pecuniary difficulties: nor can it be doubted, that distress of mind, arising from this cause, served materially to shorten his days. He is, however, now at rest, and his worldly cares and sufferings, “blessings in disguise," sent to him in infinite love by his heavenly Father, will serve to render more vivid the enjoyment of those pleasures which are at God's right hand for evermore. Mr. Scott married, in 1806, Euphemia, the only daughter of Dr. Lynch, of the Island of Antigua, and niece of the Rev. Nathaniel Gilbert, Vicar of Bledlow, and few unions have been blessed with a greater portion of domestic harmony and comfort. He had in all thirteen children, of whom six sons and three daughters survive. The eldest son has been most kindly presented by the Bishop of Lincoln to the living so prematurely vacated, out of respect and regard to the memory of his excellent Father. Shortly before his death, to his great satisfaction, the trustees appointed by Mr. West, conferred the perpetual curacy of Gawcott upon his son-in-law, the Rev. J. H. Oldrid. He was interred in that place, in the Church which he himself built, amidst the tears and lamentations of his affectionate family and friends, and of his loving and beloved flock, from whom he had been separated so short a time. May the additional conviction, which the perusal of the short narrative is calculated to produce, of the uncertainty of life, lead us all to increasing watchfulness-to more careful preparation for death,and to more diligent attention to our blessed Saviour's solemn exhortation, "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning, and ye yourselves like unto men that WAIT for their Lord." The preceding Memoir is reprinted, with some necessary alte- SERMONS. SERMON I. 2 CORINTHIANS iv. 5. FOR WE PREACH NOT OURSELVES BUT CHRIST JESUS THE LORD; AND OURSELVES YOUR SERVANTS FOR JESUS' SAKE.' SUCH is the language in which that most eminent servant of God, the Apostle Paul, describes the manner in which he discharged the office of the Ministry. We pretend not to place ourselves on a level with him; we claim none of his infallibility; we boast not of a zeal like his, or of success like that which attended him; the purpose, however, for which we are appointed to the ministry is exactly similar, and, by the blessing of God, we hope to see some of the same happy effects. But if we would accomplish this, we must use the same 1 Preached at Wappenham, the first Sunday after Institution to the living. |