THE EXHAUSTIVE BARROW.

Charles II., in his humorous fashion, was wont to say about his chaplain—that distinguished philosopher and divine, Dr. Isaac Barrow—that he was the most unfair preacher in England, because he exhausted every subject, and left no room for others to come after him. This was indeed too much the doctor's characteristic; when he had once got hold of a topic, he knew not how to leave anything unsaid upon it. One of his best discourses, on the duty and reward of bounty to the poor, actually occupied between three and four hours in the delivery. Although, however, his sermons are unusually long, they so abound in matter, that his language sometimes labours in the utterance of his thought; hence his style is at times involved and parenthetical, though passages of sublime and simple eloquence frequently occur. It is related that, in preaching the Spital sermon before the Lord Mayor and Corporation, he consumed three hours and a half. Being asked, after he came down from the pulpit, if he was not tired, he replied, "Yes, indeed, I begin to be weary in standing so long."