cles, shedding abundant and unaffected tears at the plain and faithful exhibition of religious truth!

Mr. Sloper's preaching was as powerfully recommended to her by the delightful illustration of christian principles, exhibited in his private character, as by the intrinsic importance of those principles and the simple gravity and penetrating earnestness with which they were announced from his lips. He afterwards procured for her, at her request, a copy of Scott's admirable "Commentary on the Bible," which he accompanied with a letter, warmly urging upon her attention the great realities her profession had so manifest a tendency to exclude from her contemplations.

Mrs. Siddons more than once expressed her gratitude for the interest Mr. Sloper had evinced in her eternal welfare; she thanked him, in writing, for the advice he had given her, adding an emphatic wish that "God might enable her to follow it"—a wish which her pious and amiable correspondent echoed with all the fervour of his heart. She returned into the glare of popularity: but a hope may surely be indulged, that the

pressure of subsequent relative afflictions, and of old age, were not permitted to come upon her, unaccompanied by the impressions and consolations of true religion. Her elegant biographer, Mr. Campbell, draws a veil over the state of her mind during her last hours, which it would be deeply interesting to penetrate. Would she not then, if reason were undimmed, reflect upon the faithful counsel she received with Scott's Bible, as being of infinitely greater value than the applause of myriads or the fame of ages?

CHAPTER VIII.

Meeting-house rebuilt-Daniel Delf-Formation of the Beccles District Missionary Society-Bible meetingsAssociation Sermon- Meetings of ministers-Samuel Archer-Illness of Mr. Sloper-Attacked with paralysisLetter to the Treasurer of the Suffolk Missionary Society -Second attack-Rev. John Flower-Mr. Sloper resigns-His character-Ordination of Mr. Flower-Death of Mr. Sloper-Tablet to his memory-William CrispEnlargement of the chapel-Conclusion.

THE dilapidated state of the meeting-house, as well as its inadequacy to the accommodation of increasing numbers, gave rise, in the year 1809, to the design of erecting a more substantial and commodious place of worship. This was accomplished in 1812, at an expense, including the purchase of a small piece of ground, of £2140 18s. 4d. Besides a regular periodical subscription, repeated efforts were made, by those who

felt an interest in the work, to liquidate this debt.

It was not, however, till ed a balance in hand.

1829, that there appear

To a society who, as a

body, could not boast of opulence, this was naturally a subject of much pleasure. The pecuniary and personal aid of their benevolent minister, had been rendered with cheerfulness and alacrity; and he heartily sympathized with them in the final accomplishment of their design. It was a fit occasion for the exercise of the best social feelings. Mutual congratulations were blended with ardent thankfulness to God; and the account of the various donations and subscriptions were closed with the following memorandum.

"Be it remembered with gratitude to the Giver of all good, that the debt of £2140 18s. 4d., contracted in the erection of the chapel, in the year of our Lord 1812, after sixteen years' persevering exertion, was this year entirely discharged; in commemoration of which, forty-four of the subscribers dined together at the King's Head Inn, and in evidence of which the minister

and deacons have hereto subscribed their names, this 16th day of February, 1829.

In the margin of the entry a reference is made to a passage of Scripture, which indicates the character of the joy and the proper object of the thankfulness thus manifested. 1 Chron. xxix. 16, "O Lord, our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name, cometh of thy hand, and is all thine own."

While the new chapel was building, this christian society was deprived by death of a member whose character and usefulness, as a man and as a Christian, are entitled to be recorded hereMr. Daniel Delf. He was favoured in early life with the religious training of a pious mother, and the public ministry of Mr. Bocking. Settling at