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His life altered. It was not that he merely began to talk differently from what he had done; that he only put on the garb of religion; that he just added to former habits some new acts that looked serious and devotional, an amount of change which some, alas! mistake for conversion, but which utterly comes short of it in the sense of the word as we find it in the Bible, and as alone it ought to be used by Christians. No. That was not the sort of alteration which took place in the history of this distinguished nobleman. His life alteredhis whole life. He was not given to talk much of his secret experience. He had no fondness for revealing the mysteries of the soul to public gaze; perhaps there might be too much reserve in his allusions to his own spiritual consciousness; but the altered tenor of his ways in general showed that some mighty power had touched his heart, that the gospel of Christ had subdued him, that he was born again, that he was a new creature in Christ Jesus, that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new. about his piety. He was not, like taking up his position on the church and the world.

There could be no mistake many, a religious borderer, debatable land between the

This was

"He was, as all who knew him can testify, a decided man— decided in whatever he embraced, and decided, therefore, for the Lord, when he embraced the Lord's cause. proved in various ways, indeed whenever occasion served: witness the weekly meetings held at his house in Belgrave square, when God's truth was, and without compromise, too, set forth, and that before a mixed assembly, including many of the children of this world, full of vanity and folly, but welcome there, in the hope that a ray of the light from heaven, entering their souls, might bring them to the cross of Christ, and make them monuments of grace to the glory of God! These meetings in his own house, meetings in which he rejoiced, unequivocally demonstrated whose he was, in whom he gloried, and with whom, in the sight of all men, he desired to be closely and unmistakably identified.

"Also, let his own immediate neighbourhood and estate, let schools and missionaries, and other helps and adjuncts to the propagation of truth, set on foot and supported by himself, and greatly cared for-to say nothing of the aid rendered by personal supervision and liberality to the County Scripture Readers' Association, and other kindred institutions-let all these things testify to the bent of his mind, and the tendency of his heart." Lord Ducie, then, proclaimed by his life that he was an altered man, that the gospel had altered him. A testimony

earthly course about a year ago, furnished for some years before his death an example of spiritual regeneration; and in his closing hours an illustration of christian peacefulness, hope, and joy, by far too conspicuous and striking to be passed over without an attempt to direct to the interesting facts of the case the notice of both the Christian and the unbeliever, that the one may be encouraged and the other convinced.

It is well known that Lord Ducie was an eminent agriculturist, and introduced various improvements into farming, amongst which an implement of husbandry, invented through his experience and ingenuity, and known as the Ducie cultivator, is likely long to preserve his name in the memory of British farmers. Nor will the unequalled excellence of his stock breeding, and the admirable arrangements of his Whitfield example farm be soon forgotten. But his eminence as a nobleman devoted to the useful pursuits of agriculture, was at length surpassed by his eminence in those respects, which, though little noticed by many, and less esteemed by some, are alone of infinite moment, and are now yielding to him honour and glory in that world where the social distinctions of this life are for ever unknown. In proportion to the vigour of a man's mind, the firmness of his purposes, and the decision of his character, will be the degree of magnitude in the effect produced on other minds by a religious change in his history. One feels that it was no ordinary proof of the power of the gospel, when it vanquished a Paul and a Luther: and it was to the class of strong-willed, earnest men, at the head of which we must place the illustrious names we have now mentioned, that the late Lord Ducie belonged. The fashionable pleasures of the world, and especially the sports of the field, were pursued by him in early life with a characteristic ardour which engrossed his soul. With a clear head and a bold heart, full of kindness and honour, he shone in the circle where he moved, attaching to himself the friendship of many by his generous sentiments and social affections; but at the time of which we speak he was without any sympathies for what afterwards, in an intense degree, drew forth the energies of his thoughtful and active nature. One who knew him well observes, that till within a late period, comparatively speaking, he had been a mere man of this world; living in the world, and for the world, and nothing else. His temperament, habits, character, conversation, were all signally of this stamp: to say the least of it, he was naturally and practically as far from God, and in real truth, as much without God, as man ever was." Some years before his death he became an altered man.

His life altered. It was not that he merely began to talk differently from what he had done; that he only put on the garb of religion; that he just added to former habits some new acts that looked serious and devotional, an amount of change which some, alas! mistake for conversion, but which utterly comes short of it in the sense of the word as we find it in the Bible, and as alone it ought to be used by Christians. No. That was not the sort of alteration which took place in the history of this distinguished nobleman. His life altered— his whole life. He was not given to talk much of his secret experience. He had no fondness for revealing the mysteries of the soul to public gaze; perhaps there might be too much reserve in his allusions to his own spiritual consciousness; but the altered tenor of his ways in general showed that some mighty power had touched his heart, that the gospel of Christ had subdued him, that he was born again, that he was a new creature in Christ Jesus, that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new. There could be no mistake about his piety. He was not, like many, a religious borderer, taking up his position on the debatable land between the church and the world.

"He was, as all who knew him can testify, a decided man— decided in whatever he embraced, and decided, therefore, for the Lord, when he embraced the Lord's cause. This was proved in various ways, indeed whenever occasion served: witness the weekly meetings held at his house in Belgrave square, when God's truth was, and without compromise, too, set forth, and that before a mixed assembly, including many of the children of this world, full of vanity and folly, but welcome there, in the hope that a ray of the light from heaven, entering their souls, might bring them to the cross of Christ, and make them monuments of grace to the glory of God! These meetings in his own house, meetings in which he rejoiced, unequivocally demonstrated whose he was, in whom he gloried, and with whom, in the sight of all men, he desired to be closely and unmistakably identified.

"Also, let his own immediate neighbourhood and estate, let schools and missionaries, and other helps and adjuncts to the propagation of truth, set on foot and supported by himself, and greatly cared for-to say nothing of the aid rendered by personal supervision and liberality to the County Scripture Readers' Association, and other kindred institutions-let all these things testify to the bent of his mind, and the tendency of his heart.'

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Lord Ducie, then, proclaimed by his life that he was an altered man, that the gospel had altered him. A testimony

better than that of oft-repeated words, or a lengthened narrative of inward experience, showed the spiritual transformation. The worldling became devout, the man of pleasure a lover of God, and he who had not cared for Christ, took up his cross and followed him. There could be no vain pretence, no selfishness, no hypocrisy here. Nor could a clear intellect, a searching, inquisitive mind, one that never took things upon trust, but searched all questions to the bottom, become in such a case the dupe of delusion, or the victim of blind fanatical ardor. Unquestionably, his lordship was neither a deceiver nor an enthusiast. He "thus" judged like Paul; it was an act of calm thoughtfulness, of the purest and strongest reason. He "thus" judged, "that if one died for all, then were all dead; and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again." Evidently something divine had led him so to judge. The Spirit of God was the teacher of his reason, the guide of his will.

The best evidence of a real change of heart is to be found in the tenor of an individual's life, yet it is natural and proper to inquire how a man died, as well as how he lived. Expressions uttered in the prospect of eternity, come with no small force. Words are then generally evidence of sincerity. The peace that is undisturbed by the king of terrors, is indeed cious. The hope that smiles on the grave, worth more than worlds. Lord Ducie richly enjoyed that peace, triumphantly manifested that hope, and thus added another proof to the millions already existing, of what the gospel can do for the soul in a dying hour.

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The following account of his last days is given on the highest authority; and with regard to the manner in which he expressed himself at that critical period, it was observed by one who was often present, that his testimony was most calm and deliberate; not the language of excitement and impulse, but the utterance of a man who "knew where he was, what was before him, and what he said." "He spake more and more to the purpose in the last few days, than many of us speak in as many or double the same number of years."

Sunday, May the 29th, was the first day that he was considered, if not hopelessly, yet dangerously ill. He expressed a wish to see a young clergyman who was staying in the neighbourhood. Upon his entering the room, and seating himself by the side of the afflicted Earl, the latter, having made a passing allusion to his want of sleep, observed, "I do not think I shall recover, though others do; and I wish to be prepared for

THE ENGLISH MONTHLY TRACT SOCIETY, 27, RED LION SQUARE, LONDON.

the worst; no, I ought not to say the worst, but I wish to see my way clear." The visitor began to speak of the all-sufficiency of the Saviour, and his willingness to receive the chief of sinners. To this Lord Ducie replied, "I have the most entire faith in the historical records of Christianity, but I want to feel it. I want to feel it.” The drift of his thoughts was apparent, and he was at once directed to the Holy Spirit, as the gracious Comforter who applies the work of Christ to the heart. "Yes," his Lordship went on to say, "that is what I want; I want to realize my personal interest in all that he is, and has done.” At another time, when the same friend spoke to him of the Saviour, as he was when on earth, and asked Lord Ducie if, had he been living then, he would not have followed and loved his Lord, he rejoined very earnestly, "Yes, indeed, I should ;" and again, when reminded of the company gathered around the cross, who look in faith and love at the great sacrifice, "Ah!" he said, "so I look ;" and then seemed completely absorbed in the contemplation. Presently he remarked, "I have been thinking for some time of this text: 'The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.' Now, do you think I can take that text to myself?" Upon his being told that it was a matter of experience, and that he himself would know whether or not he had applied the blood and righteousness of Christ so as to be delivered from the curse and menace of the law; throwing out his arms, he said, with great earnestness : "I have utterly cast off all attempts to save myself; I have felt an inward change, and power has been given me to overcome." When urged to remember the spiritual presence of Christ, the merciful and faithful High Priest, ever touched with the feeling of our infirmities, he repeated the closing sentence with great emphasis, "Touched with the feeling of my infirmities." Then, looking very earnestly, he said, with deep solemnity: "You may depend upon it I do not forget that." In the evening, when the physician came into his room, he very calmly inquired how long he might last; and during the night appeared not only resigned, but joyful, in the prospect of his dissolution, often repeating texts, and talking of his Saviour. When requested not to exert himself, he replied, "I have been silent too long, I must speak and tell all God is doing for my soul." He then declared he could leave his wife and all his children with perfect composure. "I have not a feeling about it," he said; "and yet no man can have more to leave than I have, but I leave all without regret: God will take care of you." During the night, when restless from disease, he exclaimed,

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