This rendered it advisable that, for a time at least, he should desist from writing. With the re-establishment of health came the accumulation of duties which had lapsed into arrear, and thus the completion of his original design was prevented. Enough, however, was written to form a very valuable addition to the brief record of himself; the more so, indeed, as he enters with considerable minuteness into the state of his own mind during the time when he fell into the sad heresy that the Lord Jesus Christ was not "equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, though inferior to the Father as touching His manhood."

And this brings us to his "General Correspondence." It was a question rather difficult to determine, whether the Letters should be incorporated with the Memoir, or printed separately, as they stand now in the volume.

Among the reasons which led to the adoption of the latter plan were the following:-It has always appeared to the Editor that the manifest duty of a biographer is, as far as himself may be concerned, to retire, and to advance his own opinions with most sparing hand. If he would hope to write the life of another fairly, and without rendering himself liable to a just charge of partiality, he must deal more in unvarnished facts than deductions. The one it is his province to furnish, the other it is equally his duty to leave the public to draw. And he only can be said to have acquitted himself with any claim to even a moderate execution of his work, who has succeeded in laying such materials before others as may enable them to form for themselves a just estimate of the individual whose biography he has attempted.

If this principle be sound, and applicable to any case, it applies most emphatically to the son writing the

"Memoir" of his father-to a Churchman editing the "Remains" of a Dissenter.

Hence it was my chief anxiety that my father should speak for himself;-that his opinions upon all matters of interest or controversy should appear without note or comment. And, although I am free to acknowledge that I think the interest of the volume, for the general reader, is affected by the separation of the Letters from the Biography, still I am better satisfied to have furnished the stones which every reader may put together in the style he pleases, than to have attempted to construct a building, more finished and complete, but concerning the due proportions of which opposite opinions would have been formed.

An examination of the Letters themselves will, I hope, exhibit another reason for their isolation. It will be seen that the bulk of the "General Correspondence" is composed of letters addressed to his Daughter in India; to whom allusion has been made already. My father was in the habit of writing once, and occasionally twice a month, by the Overland Mails, during the time of their separation; and hence this correspondence extended over a period of more than ten years. These letters will be found to contain a faithful record of his innermost feelings, and matured opinions, upon the subjects which have principally engaged the attention of the Christian public, during the later years of his life; and, as need scarcely be added, he makes in them constant and unreserved allusion to himself. Those who would seek more intimate acquaintance with the nature of his daily occupations and engagements, or such as may feel interest in knowing the encouragements which he experienced in his ministerial labours, his difficulties,

and his not unfrequent disappointments, will find them there detailed with a fidelity which none can question.

Nor are the matters discussed of an individual interest only. Many a general principle of Holy Truth will be discovered in them laid down and elucidated; many a word of wisdom, whose application is universal.

I am well aware the public look with a suspicious eye upon Biographies, the larger part of which consists of Correspondence; but thus much I may be allowed to state, with reference to this portion of the present volume-no letter has been printed without an object.

Generally, it has been the interest of the matter treated of, which has determined the insertion. A list of the subjects will be seen in the table of contents of cach letter, which has been prepared with some care, and which will enable the reader to turn readily to those points, which are to him of the greatest interest. I would just, by way of example, draw the attention to pages 380 and 514, where will be found a very favourite subject of his enlarged upon—the duty of proclaiming the invitations of the Gospel freely and unreservedly to all.

One of the peculiarly-prominent features in his theological system was his dread of undervaluing the work of the Holy Spirit, and this we find strongly brought forward in the letter, see page 362. Again, for his views on the doctrine of Assurance, see pages 336 and 494. And as the letters are arranged in chronological order, they mark the way of truth along which he was led by the Holy Ghost, as well as the progress of his own mind in Divine things.

Other letters, again, have been introduced to exhibit character. My father's love of nature, which was

intense, is manifest in pages 289 and 310. The natural vivacity of his disposition, which some would scarcely have supposed, is discernible in his graphic description of the scene on board the Glasgow steamboat: see page 221.

Of his "Pastoral Letters" I need say no more than that a few of the earliest have been transcribed out of those addressed to the Churches at Milford and John-street, not so much for their own positive merits as to show the affection he felt towards them from the first. A comparison of the early with the later epistles will also prove how much the work of the Spirit was deepened within him as his ministerial experience became wider, and that the lamp, both within and without, shone brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.

I will only add, for general guidance, it must not be inferred that the whole of a letter has been given because no asterisks occur, as it was deemed advisable these should be introduced only when the sense would appear abrupt, unless there were some evidence of the hiatus.

Where the individuals mentioned are deceased, their names are given in full; otherwise, only the initials appear, saving where an intentional exception has been

made.

As considerable allusion is made to the subject of his preaching, a few of his sermon-sketches have been added, which exhibit the plan he adopted. Writing, as he did, three full sketches every week for many years, he has left a large number behind him, out of which twelve have been chosen, which will show both his method and careful diligence in preparation for the pulpit.

In bringing to a close these few introductory observa

C

tions, it would little accord with my feelings even to venture upon a critical summary of my father's ministerial character. Indeed, such an attempt would be at variance with the principle which has been laid down. But that which I would refrain from. undertaking myself I may be permitted to present through another, for the same objection does not equally lie against the conclusions which he has drawn.

And as it has been the privilege and comfort of the Editor to be associated with the servant of Christ whose name appears at the head of the following extract more than with any other incumbent in London, he willingly avails himself of the excuse this circumstance seems to afford (if, indeed, such be requisite), which enables him to lay before his readers the outline of his father's character as a pastor, sketched, it will be seen, by a vigorous hand.

The following reference to my father was made in the sermon preached at St. James's, Holloway, by the Rev. W. B. Mackenzie, the Sunday evening after his funeral:

:

"And if, this morning,* it was justly due to pay a tribute of honour to the memory of departed royalty, I am sure that I only fulfil a duty to the Church of Christ to make mention, this evening, of that distinguished minister of the Lord, the late Rev. J. H. Evans, who, for so many years, has been one of the most mature and successful pastors of Christ's flock which this country has enjoyed.

"He was a burning and a shining light. It does not fall to my province to sketch his life, to enumerate his

* The morning sermon had referred to the death of Queen Adelaide.