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Life of Thomas Eddy

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The celebrated preacher alluded to, has since fol-lowed Mr. Eddy to the silent grave;—they are bothremoved beyond the sphere of human praise or cen-sure, and we may safely leave them in the hands ofHim who judgeth righteously, and who alone knoweththe secrets of all hearts. When the mind is serene, there is nothing of thevalue of life lost in pungent regret for hasty conductand irritable feelings, and nothing by the intoxica-ting influence of inordinate joy. To one prepared tobe happy by religious philosophy and self-discipline, bent on pursuing the even tenor of his way, curi-osity, desire of knowledge, and love of fame, thelast infirmity of noble minds, are all subservient to happiness. Mr. Eddy had fine powers of conversation. Hewas gently animated in speaking in public or pri-vate, and seemed to proceed with ease and fluency.If his eloquence had nothing in it of the force of therapid stream, or the sweep of the tide, still it wasmore difficult to resist; it was like the gentle drop-pings whose continuance will wear away the stone.He had no equal in managing a matter before a deli-berative body. He watched the mollia temporafandi, and said no more than just what was wantedfor the occasion. He was unruffled when hardly listened to, and sometimes rudely treated; but at thenext interview, it was seen that he had made an im-pression on him, who had, perhaps, in a moment of irritation, turned hastily away. Most minds are tobe won, if the suitor only knows the means, andnotices the proper seasons for his appliances. He was conscious that he was acting for the pub-lic good, and was therefore always self-possessed. As a neighbour, Mr. Eddy was kind and obliging,and attentive to all the little courtesies of life, andwas loved and respected by those near him, whichcannot always be said even of those who are strivingto benefit mankind.