LIFE

OF

REGINALD HEBER.

CHAPTER I.

REGINALD HEBER was born April 21st, 1783, at Malpas, a village in the county of Chester, England. His early childhood was distinguished by mildness of disposition, obedience to his parents, consideration for the feelings of those around him, and by that trust in God's providence which formed, through life, so, prominent a part of his character. When little more than two years old, he was dangerously ill with the whooping-cough, for which he was ordered to be blooded: his mother took him on her knee, saying, 'Dr Currie wishes you to lose a little blood: I hope you will not object.' His answer was, 'I will do whatever you

please, mamma.' On the nurse screaming out that they were going to murder her child, 'Poor- -,' Reginald said, 'let her go down stairs. The apothecary then took hold of his arm, on which he exclaimed, 'Do not hold me;' when assured that if he moved, he would be much more hurt, 'I won't stir,' he replied, and steadily held out his arm, looking the whole time at the operation.

The following year, when travelling with his parents in a very stormy day, across the mountainous country between Ripon and Craven, his mother was much alarmed, and proposed to leave the carriage and walk. Reginald sitting on her knee, said, 'Do not be afraid mamma, God will take care of us.' These words, spoken as she herself expressed it, by the infant monitor, carried with them conviction to her heart, which forty-three years of joy and sorrow had not effaced.' In 1787, he had an attack of the inflammation of the lungs, and was very dangerously ill; the severe remedies to which he was forced to submit, were borne without a murmur, and his patience was sɔ remarkable, that on his father asking the physi cian whether there were any hopes of saving

his life, Dr Currie answered, 'If he were not the most tractable child I ever saw there would be none; but I think he will recover.' In childhood he suffered much from inflammatory disorders; the hours of convalescence were invariably employed in endeavoring to acquire information; and at six years old, after an attack of typhus fever which again nearly brought him to the grave, the first indulgence for which he pleaded was to learn the Latin grammar, that he might have some employment while lying in bed. He could read the Bible with fluency at five years old, and, even then, was remarkable for the avidity with which he studied it, and for his accurate knowledge of its contents. A discussion had one day, about this time, arisen in his absence, between his father and some friends as to the book in the Old Testament in which a particular passage was to be found. On Reginald's entering the room, his father referred the question to him, when he at once named both the book and the chapter. It was by Mr Heber's direction that the Bible was first put into his hands, in preference to any abridgement of it, in order that he might become more familiar with its beautiful lan

guage, and more ready in applying it. The memory with which he was endowed enabled him fully to profit by this system; and its effects were visible in the piety which marked his youth, and was his distinguishing characteristic through life. A trifling anecdote will serve to prove his intimate acquaintance with the sacred volume: when he was about seven years old a party of his young companions were amusing themselves with riddles and cross questions in the room where he was reading. His attention was attracted by the question, 'Where was Moses when his candle went out?' On Mount Nebo,' was Reginald's immediate reply; 'for there he died, and it may well be said that his lamp of life went out.'

He very early became sensible of the necessity and importance of prayer, and was freqently overheard praying aloud in his own room, when he little thought himself within reach of observation. His sense of his entire dependence upon God, and of thankfulness for the mercies which he received, was deep, and almost an instinct planted in his nature; to his latest hour, in joy as in sorrow, his heart was ever lifted up in thankfulness for the goodness

of his Maker, or bowed in resignation under his chastisements; and his first impulse, when afflicted or rejoicing, was to fall on his knees in thanksgiving, or in intercession for himself, and for those he loved, through the mediation of his Saviour.

He had a considerable talent for drawing, especially for architectural designs; and the juvenile sketches, almost entirely from fancy, which have been preserved by his family, bear strong marks of genius, and give promise of the superiority to which, with little or no instruction, he afterwards attained in that art. The study of natural history was also a favorite pursuit; and he was fond of exercising his powers of observation in watching the changes of insects, and the various habits of animals and birds; but the kindness of his heart would never permit him to keep any creatures in confine ment, far less to gratify his curiosity at the expense of their sufferings. When his little sister had a squirrel given her, he persuaded her to set it at liberty, taking her to a tree, that she might see the animal's joy at being restored to freedom.

His mind seemed never to be at rest; and