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entitled, "The Scripture Doctrine of the proper Divinity, real Personalty, and the extraordinary Works of the Holy Spirit, stated and defended in Sixteen Sermons, delivered at the Merchants' Lecture, at Pinners'-Hall, in the years 1729, 1730, and 1731." With a preface by Ab. Taylor, 1734.

Mr. Hurrion left behind him two sons, who were both educated for the ministry, under Dr. Ridgley. Mr. John Hurrion, the eldest, preached many years at Gosport, and has been noticed in this work. (1) Mr. Samuel Hurrion, the younger son, was ordained at Guestwick, in Norfolk, Sept. 26, 1733; and continued there till 1754, when a bad state of health obliged him to resign. He retired first to Bungay, and then to Beccles, in Suffolk, where he died on the 25th of October, 1763, aged 53 years, and was buried at Denton, his native town. Mr. Hurrion had likewise a grandson, who was a Dissenting minister at Southwold, in Essex.

SAMUEL BRUCE.-This popular young minister was born about the year 1711; but at what place we are not informed. His mind was early impressed with a serious concern for religious things, and he was taught betimes the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and the way of life and salvation by him. As he was blessed with à pious, so also with a learned education, and discovering a good genius for literature, it was carefully improved under able instructors. After passing through the several forms of the grammar-school, being intended for the ministry, he entered upon academical studies at Sheffield, in Yorkshire, under the Rev. John Wadsworth, successor to the eminent Mr. Timothy Jellie. From Sheffield he was removed to London, where he was placed under the care of the Rev. Dr. Ridgley, an eminent tutor in Moorfields, who was instrumental in training up

(1) See THREE CRANES.

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many persons of distinguished learning and worth in their day and generation. Under the direction of so skilful a tutor, Mr. Bruce added to his natural abilities many excellent acquired accomplishments. He entered upon the ministry at an early age, and under circumstances of great popularity. His first stated service was at Kingston, in Surry, where he preached for some time, as assistant to the Rev. Daniel Mayo. From thence he was invited to succeed Mr. Hurrion, in the congregation at Hare-court, Aldersgate-street, and was ordained to the pastoral office in that place in the year 1732. Here his labours proved very acceptable; but they were suddenly interrupted by death, after a service of little more than five years, to the unspeakable regret of his congregation, and of all who knew him.

Mr. Bruce was a person of good sense and learning; he possessed a quick apprehension, and a strong penetrating judgment. And as he was furnished with a good measure of useful knowledge, so he had a very easy and happy way of conveying his ideas. As a preacher, he was a scribe well instructed in the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, and shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God. His composures were very exact, his reasoning solid and convincing, and his delivery grave and serious. The subjects he insisted upon, from time to time, were generally the most useful and important, and such as were calculated to affect the minds of men with respect to their great and everlasting concerns. In all his discourses there appeared a great seriousness of spirit, and a becoming concern for the glory of God, and the honour of religion. He, on all occasions, discovered an ardent desire to promote the interest of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the eternal welfare of the souls of men. And his own heart being warmed, he seldom failed to kindle the like feelings in the hearts of others. He had a very successful way of addressing persons under temptation and distress of mind, and possessed a happy skill in VOL. III.

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answering and removing the doubts and fears of discouraged Christians. He greatly lamented the growing errors and corruptions of the times, and manifested -a just and commendable zeal for the great and important truths of the gospel. But he knew how, both in sentiment and in practice, to distinguish between zeal against corrupt opinions and practices, and charity to the persons of those who differed from him. Though but a young Divine, he was very grave and serious, of a meek and humble spirit, very sincere in his friendships, and faithful without the semblance of flattery. He was very prudent in the management of all his concerns, and condescending to others without any unbecoming meanness of spirit or conduct. Few were more diligent in watching over their flocks, or more successful in the work in which they were engaged. And as he had obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful; so he was careful to live as he preached, and to be an example to his flock, by a holy and upright life and conversation.

As this excellent man lived by the faith and hope of the gospel, so he also died in the comforts of it. He was enabled to meet the last enemy without any fear or amazement; and, throughout his illness, possessed a holy serenity and fortitude of mind, which he derived from a steady reliance upon the promises of God, and the finished work of the Redeemer. He expressed a perfect resignation to the Divine pleasure and disposal, declaring, that " should the Lord leave it to him to choose, whether life or death, he would refer it back again to him, to determine for him." It was a noble testimony he bore to the truths he had preached, when he professed to venture his eternal all upon them; and desired several friends to bear witness, that, "He died in the faith, and had the comfort of them." He declared, that the ground and foundation of his hope and expectation of pardon and acceptance with God to eternal life, were the free grace of God in Christ, and that everlasting righteousness which Christ has wrought out by his active and passive obedience,