United Brethren, and such, under the direction of the all-governing Lord, was the cause of his religious awakening, and of the character of his Christian life, passed habitually under the influence of these three dispositions, simplicity, humility, and love.

Well read in the Greek and Latin classics, and gifted with imagination and taste, he had a decided inclination for literature; and he would assuredly have become an eloquent preacher, in the fullest sense of the term, had he not been aware that "this also is vanity." But, if he feared lest the self-love of the student, composing in his closet, should interfere with the zeal of the preacher; if he carried his renunciation of what he regarded to be "the words of man's wisdom," to too great an extent; if he was willing to make the riches of sound learning subservient to the triumph of the truth, only so long as this external resource could remain concealed; let us do justice to the purity of his intention, to that simplicity which was found in his discourses, as, indeed, it was in all his religion; to that humility, which made him fearful of preaching himself, and of seeking the smallest portion of the glory which comes from men, when he had determined only to "preach Christ Jesus the Lord," and to advance the glory of God. Still his preaching was full of interest and life, and distinguished for that originality which is discoverable in compositions of talent. His words flowed with sweetness and unction; the Gospel seemed in his thoughts and by his lips to be invested with the most attractive and persuasive forms: it appeared under its gracious and consoling aspect, as the merciful covenant of God, made with men, and ratified by the blood of Christ.

M. Gachon was suffragan, or pastor, successively in the churches of Vallon, Nage, Codognan, Saint Hippolyte, (Department of the Gard,) where he preached for twenty years, and Mazères, at which place he died, after twenty-two years of labour. During this long ministerial career, he fulfilled all his duties with unalterable fidelity, and employed in reading, meditation, and prayer every moment of the day which remained after the discharge of his pastoral engagements, and the education of some pupils, who had been entrusted to his care; several of whom now occupy distinguished places among the French pastors, or in

other vocations. His bosom friends alone could tell, for he was too humble to mention them himself, his studies, and his exegetical and theological works. He read, with pen in hand, and made a collection under the title of Succus Theologicus ex variis Auctoribus depromptus, in the form of aphorisms, or detached thoughts, or observations and remarks, both of his own reflections and the ideas of authors whom he was studying. I have had the privilege of looking through one of these voluminous collections -a precious repository of Christian thoughts upon the doctrines of the Gospel, moral science, our particular duties in the different situations of life, and especially upon the Christian ministry.

But this merit, of which he was himself unconscious, this theological learning, which was a secret to all except his most intimate friends, came to light in a remarkable manner. The chair of theology, in the Faculty of Montauban, vacant by the death of Daniel Encontre, was, according to the regulations of the college, and by the authority of the civil government, submitted to competition. At the warm solicitation of his friends, M. Gachon overcame his reluctance, and, putting force upon his own inclination, contested the appointment with a young competitor, M. Alard, with whom he shared the votes of the eight judges. Your readers, Sir, know the history of this contest, which showed M. Gachon under other aspects than as a man of simple faith and unassuming piety. His composition, written upon the spot, and without any aid of books, was in very elegant Latinity. His essay on the dectrine of Providence, treated philosophically, after the system of Leibnitz, and theologically, upon the principles of the Bible: his Exegesis of the Twentysecond Psalm, in which with his discussion of the Hebrew text, he interspersed practical and edifying remarks, among those of a more critical character-all these different proofs convinced the religious public, as well as the examiners, that M. Gachon was no less qualified to teach theology to well-prepared students, than to preach the word of God to a simple congregation; whilst the result was the confirmation of a remark, which long before had been familiarly made by the late Prof. Encontre to some of his friends, "We have a master in theology in our brother Gachon."

After this competition, so honourable to himself, although he did not obtain the election, M. Gachon returned to the church of Mazères, to carry on his delightful labours; and he continued them peaceably until the infirmities of a premature old age obliged him to take a joint-pastor. M. César Boissier, afterwards his son-in-law, assisted him with zeal and talent, and bore alone, for nearly six months, the burden of pastoral duties. The consistory at Mazères has just given him a proof of their satisfaction and confidence by unanimously inviting him to succeed his venerable father-in-law.

The infirmities of M. Gachon increased during the past year; his strength rapidly declined, until, at length, a slow nervous fever hastened the departure of this faithful pastor, so tenderly beloved by the flock which he fed constantly with the word of God; of this father, so invaluable to his children; of this friend, so dear to his numerous connexions.

The last change of nervous affections which M. Gachon experienced, presented, though less distinctly, those phenomena so interesting to the Christian psychologist, which had been observed in a preceding illness. He fell into a lethargy, which rendered him a stranger to all that was passing around him. Dead, as it were, to all external impressions, he seemed to live only in religious feeling; his ear, deaf to all conversation, opened only to the friendly voice which repeated passages of scripture or verses of hymns. It seemed that his soul, pressed down by the weight of a disease of the brain, retained its activity only to receive from without such impressions as bore some relation to those celestial objects upon which it was entirely concentrated, and that this was the only point of contact which it had with the material world. This remarkable fact explains several circumstances of the illness which proved fatal to M. Gachon; and this one in particular, that, three days before his death, there succeeded to this confusion of ideas, a perfect lucidness; manifestations the most delightful and affecting; calmness, peace, and joy, the ineffable fruits of "the love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit." He spoke of his approaching end with a sweet hope, or rather with a full and entire assurance

of the happiness which he was soon to enjoy in the bosom of his Saviour. "I long," he often said, and especially on the day of his death, "I long to be in heaven." His wishes were granted: his death was sweet and peaceable, because the Lord granted him all that could facilitate the passage from earth to heaven, usually so painful and distressing. His daughters, who lavished upon him every attention, and who fulfilled every duty of filial piety with the greatest tenderness, were near his bed of death, which was not a bed of sorrows: he received their last embraces, committing them with confidence into the hands of their heavenly Father. He fell asleep, tranquilly and happily, for his faith visibly triumphed over the formidable array with which sin arms death--death, of all terrible things the most terrible without the knowledge of Christ, but which Christ has conquered and disarmed for all his children.

Such had been the views of M. Gachon respecting death, and such was his happy experience of it. Calmness and serenity were depicted in his features, and a sweet smile preceded his last sigh; it was like a ray of immortality, darting on the venerable countenance, which the soul at the moment of its departure had left-an impression of that heavenly peace which it had tasted by anticipation, and which it was gone fully to enjoy.

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The funeral of M. Gachon took place Dec. 31, 1838; and that day exhibited the most affecting proofs of the respect and love of which he was the object, and of the universal regret which was felt at his loss. The house of the deceased could not contain the multitudes who were anxious to attend the funeral. The elders of the consistories of Saverden, Calmont, and Gibel, were united to that of Mazères. M. Falle, pastor of Calmont, and Lacroix Saverdun, with the local authorities, walked in front of the procession, which was composed of the Protestant and part of the Catholic population: the children of the Mutual Instruction School formed a double row on the right and left of the procession, which, notwithstanding the concourse, reached the burying-ground in profound silence. There, on the brink of the grave, just as it received the mortal remains of the revered pastor, M. Falle, his voice almost choked with

"My brethren in Jesus Christ our Lord, we have just paid the last mournful tributes to a man as distinguished for his faith, his piety, and his Christian life, as for his talents and his knowledge. We have known many pastors worthy of praise on all these accounts; but we have known very few who possessed so enlightened a faith, so real and lively a piety, and so determined a desire to glorify the Saviour. He looked continually to Jesus; he lived in him and for him; but although his life, as that of every true believer, was hid with Christ in God, still it manifested itself outwardly by the practice of every Christian virtue.

"One of his most habitual engagements was prayer. He regarded it, not as a duty, but as one of his most pure enjoyments, to make known his wants to God on all occasions, by prayers and supplications, with thanksgiving; he could speak to the Lord, as a friend speaks to his intimate friend, and thus he lived in communion with his Father and his Saviour, because he was a man of prayer, because he felt his wants and his weakness, and had the desire to strengthen himself in God, and in the power of the Most High.

“But if he felt his need of prayer simply as a man and a Christian, he felt it especially as a pastor; thus we are assured, that he continually dwelt near the throne of mercy, praying for the flock which had been intrusted to his care, and the words which he more than once addressed to us will never be ef

faced from our memory, 'The work of the Gospel ministry, the work of the Christian pastor, should be principally carried on in his closet; it is a concern between him and his God.'

"Another trait of his character which it has often pleased us to remark, was humility. He presumed not on himself, he neither relied upon his efforts

nor his virtues. Before God, he only thought of his sins, and of the sacrifice and merits of Christ; and in his relations to his brethren, he never affected a superiority; though it did indeed belong to him on so many accounts. In the exercise of his ministry, he never sought to please men, and to withhold from the Lord the glory which is his due. Convinced that 'every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning,' he believed that God alone could bless the preaching of the Gospel and render it effectual; and he said to us one day, alluding to the ministry of John the Baptist, I can only baptize with water; but the Lord, whose power is infinite, and whose mercy is unspeakable, will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'

"And as to his Christian love, who is there among you, my brethren, who has been able for himself to appreciate it? How many proofs has he given of it in every way! What sympathy! what condescension! what a disposition to judge favourably of others! and in his manner of preaching-in his explanations and exhortations, have you not observed this feature of his character? And you are aware that he always conversed of the mercy of God, of the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world; of the expiatory sufferings, of the cruel death, of the righteousness and merits of Jesus: because he wished to draw you as with the cords of love, and because he was convinced that the Gospel, the good news, is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.'

“The Christian feelings which animated our brother in life, were manifested in the hour of death. All those who were privileged to see him in the last days of his earthly career, and to witness his last moments, render unanimous testimony that his faith sustained him; and we have the sweet assurance, that he now enjoys, in the presence of the Lord, that communion which he delighted in while here below. But there is one circumstance, my brethren, which I must mention: only a few days ago, I entered the chamber of the happy deceased: he told me, with a solemn tone, that he did not think he should live through this winter. Well,' I replied, 'when we know that Christ is our

life I intended to have proceeded, but he immediately interrupted me, and exclaimed, with an expression of cheerfulness and happiness, And when we know that death to us is gain!'

"Let us now, my brethren, in the name of the Lord, meditate on, and profit by the lessons which the event of this day affords us. The readiness with

which you have come to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of your revered pastor, shows the respect and affection which you entertain towards him; but allow us to tell you, that the best way to honour his memory, is to live as he lived. Christ was his life, let him also be yours. Remember with

what love he pointed you to this adorable Saviour. Reply to the appeals he made to you on the part of God himself.

Place your hope and confidence in him, who alone hath the words of eternal life,' in Jesus, who has been made sin for you, that you might be made the righteousness of God in him. Amen."

M. Boissier, succeeding M. Lacroix in the pulpit, delivered the following address, which was listened to with the same feeling of interest and deep sympathy:

"My brethren, amidst the proofs of regret and esteem with which you encompass the memory of the much-loved parent, the revered pastor, the excellent man, of whom death has just deprived us, I feel compelled to express to you, in the name of all the members of his family, how deeply they are affected with, and grateful for the sympathy that exists in all your hearts. Could they experience any alleviation of their grief in the irreparable loss they have sustained, nothing would be more delightful to them, after the assurance of the perfect happiness, which is enjoyed near the throne of God by him who was their head, but whose loss they now deplore, than this eagerness of the church which he loved, as well as of the whole population, to show, even to the end, proofs of the most tender attachment. deserved, my brethren, this attachment; and I have no need to remind you of it He loved you, he loved us all, with a sincere and cordial affection.

He

"He would willingly have sacrificed himself for the flock, which the Lord had intrusted to him. Nothing was nearer his heart, than to bring you to the knowledge of Christ, and to see you live to the glory of Him, who had his

chief love. We may now say of him, for he is gone, that his was one of those choice minds, one of those sincere and upright characters, the examples of which daily become more rare, and of which he more than any one else so clearly and touchingly reminds us.

"No one more deserved praise, and no one less regarded it. He bestowed it willingly on the good qualities and intentions of others, but would not receive it himself. And this arose not from a false modesty; it was the sincere feeling of his heart. I have never seen Christian

humility so fully displayed as in this faithful servant of Christ. He joined to the most exalted merit, the most sincere and complete renunciation of himself. It only derived its brilliancy from him, he despised it. He feared to give any place, however small, to sentiments foreign from the doctrine of the Master whom he served. He had only in view the glory of his Redeemer; he fled from his own; yet he could not escape it. Glory followed him in his voluntary obscurity, and he was obliged to submit to it against his will. He was happy in being able to be useful. He scattered, secretly, blessings around him. He was of a stern integrity, and of sincerity and candour, which were never infringed by the least dissimulation.

"He united, in the most eminent degree, purity of faith with profound learning, and an exact observance of the Christian law; and whilst we delight to acknowledge these, he seemed unaware of them himself. But He, to whom he devoted all, determined to reward him even upon earth. He leaves the memory of a man well versed in the knowledge of the Scriptures; the recollections of an exemplary piety, faith, and fidelity; a name revered by the whole church of France; a fifty-two years' pastorate, worthy to be a model for all those who wish to serve the church of Christ.

"Mourn, then, my respected brethren, for the pastor you have lost, for you will not easily replace him. You will not again find that unction, that simplicity, that entirely Christian life, which are far more valuable than all the talents and all the eloquence in the world. Ah! the secret of his power was in a heart filled with the love of Jesus, with whom he lived in habitual communion on earth, and with whom he lives and reigns now, and will for ever reign in heaven.

"With what tender affection he served